Chapter 7

Lauren had Zach, Caleigh, Henry and Becca outside, taking pictures of the four of them. Zach was down on one knee, a discrete piece of plastic under his knee to protect his tux pants. Becca sat on his bended leg with Zach's arm lightly around her waist as Caleigh had her hand across Henry's chest with her engagement ring showing, holding her bouquet in the other under a beautiful crimson maple tree on the church grounds. The tree had refused to give up its fall leaves with the warm weather that had lingered into November. Aaron, Beth and Jack were there as well.

"That's beautiful," Dave smiled, walking up to Aaron and Beth.

"I knew she would be a gorgeous bride," Sela smiled as she and Merrill joined them.

Jack moved and hugged Dave. "You OK Champino," Dave asked, rubbing his back. He knew this day would bring up the memories for his boys.

Jack looked at him with a smile with his arms still around Dave. "I'm OK Uncle Dave." Aaron, Beth, Merrill and Sela let them have their privacy.

Dave knelt down and looked into Jack's eyes. He rubbed his chest. "She's right here Jack. Just feel her," he smiled, pulling him into a hug. The two couples smiled as Jack deeply hugged Dave again.

"The kid cleans up real well Aaron," Merrill smiled, rubbing his friend's shoulder, nodding at Zach. Aaron proudly beamed.

"So does Jack," Sela smiled, hugging Beth.

Just then, two large barks, one very deep, the other still featuring a bit of a puppy voice, echoed through the air. Zach and Caleigh looked around. Rafe walked up to the group on the sidewalk with Mudgie by his side and Lexie in her collar and on her leash, straining a bit to get at Caleigh and Zach. Mudgie walked up to Jack, wagging his tail. Jack petted him.

Dave smiled at the group and took Lexie's lead that Rafe handed him. "Come Mudg," he commanded. Dave kept Lex closely tethered at his side. Mudg approached the couple, wagging his tail. They both loved him down as did the kids. Lauren took pictures of the moment. "You be good," Dave growled at Lexie. "No jumping." Lexie barked at him and wagged her tail. Dave let her walk up to the couple and smiled at them. "Its family picture time isn't it," he smugly smiled.

He let Lexie off the leader after Zach and Caleigh and the kids pet her. He pointed to Zach's feet. "Sit Lex." She obediently sat at Zach's feet. "Mudgie," Dave said. Mudg, playing with Henry immediately came to his side. Dave pointed at Caleigh's feet. "Sit." Mudg did. Lauren smiled with her camera at the ready. "Oh wait a minute," Dave said, with his usual Rossi flourish. He pulled a white bow tie out of one of his tux pockets and put it around Mudg's neck. Aaron just shook his head at Beth with a large smile.

Out of the other pocket, he pulled out a large crimson cloth and lace garter and put it around Lexie's neck. Dave smiled at Lauren. "Now." Lauren moved in for the picture. Dave whistled to get both dogs to look at him. Lauren snapped the picture.

Zach looked at Dave. "The next one is with you," he smiled. Dave moved in and put his arm around Caleigh. But the dogs wouldn't cooperate for Lauren's picture.

Henry went to Lauren's side. "I got this Uncle Dave," he smiled. Henry sharply whistled like Dave. The dogs looked at him and Lauren got her shot. And then took one of Becca and Henry petting the dogs in front of Caleigh, Zach and Dave as Merrill whistled like Dave and Henry. The final picture was Aaron, Zach, Jack, Dave and Mudg.

"That one is going to the cabin," Dave smiled.

"But I think there should be one more to bookend that," Lauren smiled. The three "girls", Beth, Caleigh and Lexie joined them. Sela smiled her approval as Merrill whistled again.

Dave put the tether back on Lexie, taking off her and Mudg's neckwear. Rafe walked up to him. "I've got them Dave," he smiled, taking Lexie's tether and the neckwear Dave handed him.

Dave looked at Rafe and added his SUV keys. "I'm riding home with Sela and Merrill," he smiled. "I plan on being in no shape to drive," he smiled.

Rafe smiled, took the keys and looked at Caleigh and Zach. "Congratulations you two," he smiled.

"Thanks again Rafe," Zach said, as Caleigh pulled Dave into a hug.

Rachel and Tom smiled as Lauren climbed up her small ladder to take the family picture of the Hotchner family. Dave, Sela and Merrill were included in it, along with Haley's family.

Zach smiled at Lauren coming down from the altar area. "Take a break you. Go hit the munchies again."

Lauren laughed. "Your best man and groomsmen are raiding the last of that," she smiled, rubbing his arm. "And I'm not big enough to fight for the last scrap." They all laughed.

-00CM00-

The pictures done, Caleigh and her bridesmaids went upstairs to their room they used. Zach, Pete and the groomsmen were standing outside the small room off the chancel of the church. The room, with its other door, would be their entrance to the church proper. The guys were all sipping from water bottles. "Damn," Jack said.

"Really Jack," Zach asked. Jack nodded his head.

"Me too," Henry added. The back lot of the church featured a deep, yet neatly groomed thick hedge row.

Pete looked at Zach and nodded towards it. Zach shook his head. "Its church prop….."

Mike, Caleigh's brother interrupted him. "Zach, this is not my first wedding in this church. It's tradition," he smiled.

"Maybe why it's back here," Pete smiled. Mike smiled with a nod. The whole groom party collectively "watered" the hedge row.

"Thank god Lauren wasn't around for that picture," Jake said, zipping up his pants. They all laughed.

Pete looked at the guys. "My job," he smiled at Zach that did the same for his wedding. "Make sure your flies are zipped up." Henry looked and zipped his. They all laughed more.

Inside the church, Sean and Caleb, being the ushers, started seating the guests. Dave came out of the fellowship hall to see JJ, Sandy and Will standing in the entry way of the church. "Get in here," he said with a nod.

"Dave," JJ asked, following him in.

"We're the last to get seated," he smiled. JJ and Will looked around to see Becca's parents and the immediate family along with Merrill and Sela.

Sandy smiled and rubbed Dave's arm. "These kids do it right, don't they?"

Dave smiled at her, kissing her cheek. "Yes they do."

Sean and Caleb, following Pastor Hartwig's suggestion, alternatively took turns seating guests that followed the polite warning of the "promptly at three-thirty" portion of their invitation. By three-fifteen most of the guests were seated; including John and Karen Schuerholz, along with Bobby and Pam Cox.

Sean walked Gina up the aisle with Brian Anderson following, her left hand in his right elbow and put her in the fourth pew from the front on the right side of the church, also known as the "groom's side". Caleigh's family was seated on the left side of the church across the aisle. Gina looked at him. Sean smiled and nodded. "Go down the pew a bit," Sean whispered handing her and Brian service folders. Gina smiled at him and entered the pew with Anderson following her.

As Caleb took some more of his family to their "prime seats", Sean hooked his index finger at Tara Lewis. He and Caleb had the team cooling their heels in the entry way of the church. Sean smiled at her. "You're up to bat," he smiled, holding out his right elbow. Tara smiled and took it. Sean got her seated next to Brian.

He came back down the aisle and stepped aside to let Caleb pass, seating his family's guests. Sean smiled at Fran and Savannah Morgan. "I love a two-fer," he broadly smiled. He looked at Derek. "Guess where that leaves you Big Dog," he wickedly smiled, with a question.

"Right behind my two special ladies," Derek smiled. "I get it Sean." Sean held out his right elbow to Fran and then his left to Savannah and led them up the aisle, seating them in the pew next to Tara, handing the three of them their wedding service folders.

With a break in Caleigh's family members arriving, Sean got Father Jimmy sat in the third pew. Jimmy was wearing his traditional priest clothes.

Caleb did his thing with his family members. Sean looked at Emily. "It's you beautiful," he smiled. He glanced at Reid. "Hey pretty boy," Sean smiled. Reid was in his best suit. "Tag along."

"But we're not in a…." Reid stammered.

"Just follow us," Sean said over his shoulder, "and save me another trip." Reid followed along as Emily, escorted by Sean got sat in the third pew. Sean nodded at Emily to slide down the pew to Father Jimmy. She smiled and gently pulled Reid's arm that was busy looking around to follow her. They were soon joined by Kevin and Penelope.

Caleb stuck his head into the fellowship hall and softly whistled with a smile at the group. "Let's do this." They all heard another piece of the prelude music starting by Nadine, the organist from Zach's home church. Now retired from playing at his church fulltime, Zach had begged her to play for the wedding. It didn't take much. Sean seated Sandy, JJ and Will next to Kevin.

As Caleb led the first ones of his immediate family out, Sean smiled at Sela and Merrill. "You're next." With Sela holding his elbow, he sat them in the second pew from the front. Sela looked at Merrill as they sat. "I think we're sorta loved," Sela smiled at her husband with a whisper as they both opened their service folders. Doing a quick scan of the folder, they both looked up to the altar to see the red rose honoring Haley that was mentioned in there. Garcia and Emily were doing the same. Penelope looked at Emily with tears quickly forming. Emily reached across Reid to grasp Garcia's hand. "Before you cry, check out Hotch, Zach and Jack's boutonnieres," JJ said, leaning over to them. "And Caleigh's bouquet."

Sean came back to the entrance. "You're up next Uncle Dave," he smiled. He held out his elbow with an evil grin.

"Screw you Sean," Dave smiled, now wearing a boutonniere as well. Sean laughed and they walked side by side up the aisle. Lauren snapped a picture of them. Dave took his seat next to Merrill.

As Caleb took Donna, with her husband down the aisle, Sean smiled at Jessica.

Jessica shook her head. "I can go with mom and dad."

Sean shook his head. "I have my marching orders," he smiled, extending his elbow.

Sean seated Kim in the front row as Nadine ended her prelude piece. Lisa Ponce, Nadine's fill in that had previously played once a month, now the fulltime church organist at Zach's church, began to play at the electric piano in the balcony next to the organ. Nick Jackson, another member of Zach's church, that was a multi-talented musician, joined her playing the flute, doing a beautiful rendition of Josh Groban's hit You Raise Me Up. Caleigh and Zach had heard him play it before in an Easter service and wanted it for this special time before the service.

Caleb slowly walked his maternal grandparents up the aisle as Lauren took their picture. He got them seated in the second pew. He went around the front of the pews and walked down the side aisle as Sean moved up the aisle with Hannah and John, both of them beaming. Hannah's corsage and John's boutonniere also featured a red rose. Sean, like Caleb, waited at the pew end until the grandparents sat and settled as a sign of respect to them and then did the same as Caleb going around the front pew. Caleb started up the aisle with his paternal grandparents.

Sean walked into the entry way of the church. "Now batting," he smiled, extending his elbow to Beth. "Let's rock and roll Mrs. Hotchner," he winked. Aaron smiled and Sean led them into the church with Lauren taking pictures. Hearing Lauren's camera working, everyone in the church turned to look and smiled at the three of them. Garcia started a fashion commentary that was quite complimentary. JJ and Emily shushed her to be quiet. Aaron's boutonniere matched Jack's. The red rose but without the baby's breathe. Sean got them seated in the front pew at the aisle end, handing them their service folders; and then sat down between Beth and Kim.

Lauren's camera buzzed and once again, the gathered turned to look as Caleb walked Rachel up the aisle. They each had huge smiles. Caleb got her seated and moved down the side aisle.

As Nick was nearing the end of the song, Pastor Hartwig walked out from his vestibule in the left altar area, wearing his robe. He was followed by Pastor Damrow; the man that helped Zach through his darkest time. As the two pastors stood before the altar and slightly bowed their heads in prayer, Aaron shook his head and then bowed it, shutting his eyes. Beth put her left arm around Aaron's shoulder and rubbed his thigh with her right hand. "Blew that profile Hotchner," she smiled at him with a whisper. Aaron looked at her. "You didn't think he'd be a part of this?" she smiled more.

"I hope Zach can handle it," Aaron whispered.

Beth pulled down her left arm and patted his thigh. "He will."

What Zach and Caleigh didn't know about Lisa Ponce was that she brought the entire "band" with her to support the wedding music. There were a number of very talented teenage instrumentalists at Zach's church; Lisa's four teenage children among that group. There were eleven in total. She had recruited them all to help with the music for the wedding.

Lisa nodded at the group, smiled at Nadine and got them started on the music for the entrance of the bridal party. Nick, now playing a clarinet started it with two of the kids joining in on their violins. Two of Lisa's sons joined in playing the cello and bass violin. It was Pachelbel's Canon in D. The groomsmen walked out of their room and stood before Aaron and Beth. Zach was not with them. Aaron smiled that Pete had Henry in front of him.

Pastor Hartwig stood at the altar, now facing the congregation while Pastor Damrow took his seat on the left side of the altar. Hartwig smiled as Sarah Toabit, Caleigh's best friend on the George Mason soccer team, slowly making her way up the aisle. When she got to the pew that Will and JJ were sitting in, Jake Beckham walked to her with a smile, offering his left arm. They entered the altar area behind the communion rail and parted, taking their places moving to each side of the rail towards the altar area wall.

Victoria Regis came up the aisle next with Lauren taking her pictures. Andy Minton moved up to stand in front of Aaron and brightly smiled at his fiancée. He moved down the aisle and offered her his elbow and escorted her up as the violin music with Nadine helping out with some background music of the wonderful piece that Lisa's oldest son Josh had arranged. They moved to their spots.

Katherine Hollis, another of Caleigh's closest cousins, come up the aisle next. Mike Graystone, now standing in front of Aaron, smiled at her, walking towards her.

Jack moved up to be next in line. He looked at Damrow and then his dad with his huge smile. Beth rubbed Aaron's thigh again. Samantha Fowler, another of Caleigh's cousins that was ten and Caleigh had babysat many times in high school, came up the aisle next. Jack greeted her at the assigned place and escorted her to their positions.

Pete, crouching down, put his arm around Henry. "You OK Hank?" He nodded at Aaron. "Go stand by Hotch if you need to."

Henry smiled at him. "I'm good Stan."

"Get 'em Big Dog," Pete smiled, rubbing his shoulder, standing up and stepping around Henry. Aaron and Beth smiled at them as Pete moved in front of Aaron to see Lisa walking up the aisle. Henry smiled at Aaron and gave him a reassuring nod of his head as Lisa and Pete walked by them. Aaron and Beth smiled at Henry. Will, with his arm around JJ's shoulder, pulled her closer with a huge smile at his wife. The team all beamed with pride.

Becca Thornton came up the aisle as the music slowed, carrying a miniature match of Caleigh's bouquet minus one thing as Henry moved to stand in front of Aaron. As Becca came to the fifth row of pews, Henry walked down the aisle, extending his arm with a smile. Aaron and Beth smiled at the two of them as Henry escorted her to the altar area. They went up the three steps to the altar area, and then parted, leaving an opening for Caleigh and Zach and smiled at each other.

The instrumental group was finishing the last of their music when Caleigh came down the steps from the bridal room and smiled at her dad and Caleb. "You look beautiful Sis," Caleb said, kissing her cheek.

Tom offered his elbow and looked at his only daughter. "You ready?"

"More than ready daddy," Caleigh smiled. Tom kissed her cheek. They moved to stand near the doorway of the church. Tom looked at her. "You nervous?"

"No dad, I'm not," she smiled. "I want to marry that man."

"Let's get it done," Tom smiled, kissing her cheek again.

"Rock the house sis," Caleb smiled.

The final notes of the music faded through the church as Caleb tugged the rope of the church bell, signifying the start of service.

Reid looked at his watch. "Precisely at three-thirty," he whispered with a smile. Dave turned and winked at him.

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A/N: I told you all at the beginning of this story I had all the music picked out on YouTube. If you want to hear the version I picked for the processional of the bridal party, search for Pachelbel Canon in D (the ultimate version). Use that complete phrase.

And yes, I listened to it again, writing the last part of this chapter.