A/N: Thank you again for the reviews and alerts!

Chapter 8

The next week, on a Wednesday evening, Aaron came down into Zach's lair to see him in his usual spot and dressed the usual way; but since the All-Star game was played the day before, there were no MLB games scheduled that night. Zach was watching a special on the History channel.

Aaron sat down next to him. "Any good," he queried.

Zach shrugged. "It's something to watch."

"What's Caleigh doing?"

"She's working again," Zach said. "She's trying to get her savings account built back up after being gone for ten days."

"You got any plans for the weekend?"

Zach shook his head. "She's working Friday night and a double Saturday so she can be off Sunday for the game." With college baseball now done, Zach and Pete were once again playing for the Pirates, the town baseball team.

"That's right," Aaron said. "You play Fairfax."

"For the regular season championship," Zach added.

"I'm afraid I'm going to miss it."

"You got a case dad," Zach asked, looking at him.

Aaron shook his head. "Beth and I are going away for the weekend; that is if you don't mind taking care of Jack."

Zach smiled at him. "Since when has that been a problem?"

"Thanks Zach," Aaron said, rubbing his knee. He got up from the couch to leave.

"That's all the details I get?"

"We're leaving Friday afternoon and will be home Sunday night."

Zach nodded and watched his dad start up the steps. "Vegas or Reno?" Aaron stopped mid-step. "Yupppppp, nailed that profile," Zach said with a laugh. "Please just don't get married by some Elvis dude. That will totally blow your image in the Bureau." Aaron turned to look at him. "You didn't think Jack and me needed to know that tidbit?"

"You weren't around for the first one."

"I hope the hell not or someone fudged on some marriage or birth certificates," Zach smiled. Aaron smiled. Zach laughed more.

"For the record, we're going to the Bahamas. One of Beth's friends is the Chargé d′Affaires at the U.S. Embassy."

"Who can legally marry you?"

"Yes," Aaron said. "And if you say one word to Dave, so help me Zach….."

Zach held up his hands. "I won't even ruin your surprise for Jack," he smiled.

"Thanks son," Aaron smiled and started back up the steps.

"God help the people staying next to your hotel room," Zach zinged.

Aaron just shook his head and kept on going. Zach laughed out loud. "That was too easy dad." Aaron shook his head again walking up the steps to bedroom level of the house, sticking his head in the door to check on Jack sleeping.

-00CM00-

Aaron and Beth walked into Zach's lair Sunday night to see him, Caleigh and Jack enjoying popcorn and a movie. "How'd the game go," Aaron asked.

"We shelled them 14-3," Jack said, grabbing a handful of popcorn, engrossed in the movie. He never looked away. Aaron looked at Zach, who paused the movie.

"What's going on," Jack asked, looking around.

"Dad and Beth are home," Zach said, pushing his Jack's head. "Hello?"

"Where'd you go for the weekend," Caleigh asked.

"We went to the Bahamas," Beth smiled.

"And got married," Aaron added, smiling brightly.

"What? No way dude," Jack said, clambering to get to them. "That's awesome," he said, nearly tackling Aaron giving him a hug. Caleigh and Zach joined him in the congratulations and hugs.

They stood around talking for a bit. Caleigh looked at Zach. "You knew didn't you?"

"Yes, I did," Zach confessed. "But I keep my promises," he smiled at this dad. "And they didn't get married by some Elvis impersonator in Vegas so I was in." That drew more laughter in the home.

Jack eyed Zach. "Boy is Uncle Dave going to chew you a new one tomorrow," he said. They all roared.

-00CM00-

Zach woke the next morning to hear his dad and Beth in the kitchen. He walked in with his glasses on, a pair of sports shorts yet bare-chested and his usual morning facial scruff that he was scratching. He looked at Beth who was dressed for the day and not casually as she had been most mornings since she moved in.

Zach took the apple juice bottle out of the fridge. "Goin' somewhere," he nodded with question, loosening the cap and taking a gulp.

"My first day at my new job at the Smithsonian," she smiled.

"'Bout time you freeloader," he said, putting the juice bottle back in the fridge. Beth shook her head at Aaron with a smile. "Have a good day you two," he smiled, giving Beth a kiss on the cheek.

"Where you going," Aaron asked.

"Jack knows where to find me and Caleigh," he waved heading for the steps.

-00CM00-

A week later, Aaron tiredly climbed into bed, getting home from a case. He kissed Beth and then settled. "Welcome home," she smiled, rubbing his chest, already lying on her side.

"It's good to be home," he yawned. "How'd it go around here?"

"Honestly Aaron, it's been an eye opener." Aaron's senses went on high alert and he widely opened his eyes.

Beth smiled at him, shaking her head, rubbing his chest more. "It's nothing bad," she smiled, bending her elbow to put her other hand underneath her chin line to hold hear head up, still rubbing Aaron's chest. "It's just that being around here fulltime, instead of part time like I was before has been…" she stated, shaking her head.

"Beth," Aaron questioned.

"Well first off, there's the laundry." She looked at Aaron. "Zach, when he was doing laundry on Saturday told me to throw my things in with rest."

Aaron slightly laughed. "He helped Haley with the laundry when they were in witness protection," he yawned and then looked at her. "I believe he told you he was used to folding bras," he smiled.

"Yeah he did," Beth laughed. "But really?"

"Really," Aaron smiled, kissing her. "Beth, I understand that it's probably more than a little uncomfortable and intimidating for you getting into this home fulltime. But let Zach do the laundry. The machines are down there near his lair. The money I give him every month is Jack's Social Security check. He wants to earn that." Beth smiled at him. Aaron smiled back. "And Zach likes to fudge it Saturday mornings." Beth eyed him. "He believes Jack and I think he's slaving away doing the laundry; when in reality, he's sleeping between loads." Beth looked at him. "He's got the first load," Aaron got out.

"The whites with bleach," Beth added.

"Timed down to the minute; he resets his alarm clock to that time; throws that load in the dryer; starts the next load and then sleeps until the dryer buzzer from hell he likes to say wakes him," Aaron smiled.

Beth laughed. "OK, I can live with Zach handling my unmentionables. But Aaron…." He looked at her. "We did a Sam's run plus Cub for groceries. Like Zach said, with things earlier this summer, it was re-stock time. I get that. But my god Aaron, what he bought; and spent."

Aaron smiled. "I checked our account online the other night. I saw what he spent," he said, looking into Beth's eyes. "And honestly, I didn't blink."

"Really?"

"Beth, before we moved in here, Zach pounded me over the head how much we could save by buying the items we needed wholesale at Sam's. That's why there's the freezer in the garage."

"Aaron, between Sam's and Cub, he spent nearly five hundred dollars."

Aaron smiled. "And our freezer is now well stocked again after being gone half of June."

Beth smiled. "Yes it is. And the pantry closet; a case each of regular green beans, plus French cut for casseroles and cream of mushroom soup; plus the two industrial size bags of frozen peas and corn. Not to mention twenty pounds of burger, three large packages of TP, a huge supply of Kleenex, charcoal and lighter fluid." Beth looked him in the eye. "He had Jack grab a second cart at Sam's."

Aaron smiled. "Zach knows what he's doing." He looked her in the eye. "Please just tell me he explained it all to you and his logic with his buying."

Beth kissed him. "Right down to putting the burger he prepackaged into two pounds each in the freezer along with the steal….." Aaron looked at her. "We got on the bone-in pork chops at Cub," she smiled. "According to Zach."

Aaron yawned deeply. "So you understand what he's been doing around here for four years," he smiled.

"That's my point Aaron," Beth said, rubbing his chest more. "My god, what he's done around here for four years. I've got a lot to learn."

Aaron pulled her to his chest. "And a few things he's got to learn to let go of," he smiled at her, kissing her temple. "But Zach will help you," he said, yawning again. "I'll help you nudge him along to do that." He yawned again.

Beth giggled. "I'll let the extended honeymoon go for tonight so you can sleep."

Aaron kissed her again. "Thank you; I wasn't looking forward to my oldest son kicking my ass about the headboard banging tomorrow morning anyway."

Beth laughed again and fell asleep, her head resting on his chest, nestled into the crook of his arm.

-00CM00-

Aaron, Beth, Jack and Dave walked towards St. Vincent's Catholic Church on a Saturday one week later. They spotted Zach standing around in his tuxedo. "What," Dave asked. "The best man isn't with the groom?"

Zach laughed. "I'm getting a break," he smiled. "Pete's big brother Danny is keeping his feet warm right now."

"He's that bad," Aaron asked.

"Dad," Zach said, shaking his head, "he's asked me at least twenty times in the last hour 'I'm doing the right thing aren't I?' They've been going together for over five years and he's asking now?" They all laughed.

"You look very handsome," Beth commented, kissing his cheek, and then wiping her lipstick off.

"Thanks Beth," he smiled. "The tux isn't bad," Zach confessed. "But the shoes are killers. Thank God pictures are done. If I have to smile one more time, I'm walking away." That brought more laughter.

Aaron rubbed his arm as more people started to show up. "We'll see you after the ceremony," he smiled.

"You do have the rings," Dave asked.

"Don't you get in my head Uncle Dave," Zach warned.

"I still owe you for the Bahama cover-up," Dave pointed.

"Get him inside," Zach pointed back, "before I kick his butt." Dave laughed.

Pete and Lisa's wedding was beautiful. Zach and Caleigh, as the best man and maid of honor, looked wonderful. Father Marsh kept his homily short; Zach got a laugh from everyone as he feigned forgetting where he put the rings in his tux jacket and the small bridal party got to sit down while Mass was served. Zach and Caleigh sat together, with Zach's arm around her. "Remind me why she doesn't have a ring yet," Dave whispered to Beth. She shushed him to Jack's giggles. Dave got up to go to Mass with Beth, Aaron standing in the aisle to let them get out of the church pew row, along with two other Stanlovsky relatives.

When Dave returned and finished his prayers on the kneeler crossing himself he sat back down next to Jack and winked at him. "I don't have to go see Father Jimmy tomorrow," he whispered. Jack giggled more. That earned them both the Hotchner glare, drawing more silent laughter from the two offenders.

The wedding finished, Aaron took a picture on his phone of Zach and Caleigh coming down the church aisle after the bride and groom, arm in arm. Smiling at the picture, he quickly sent it to Sean, with Beth smiling as well.

After they went through the receiving line with Pete, Lisa and their parents, Dave giving the happy couple the traditional Italian kiss on each cheek, the four looked around and found Zach and Caleigh standing together in the shade of a tree on the church property. Zach had his tux coat hanging over his shoulder, holding it by his index finger. "You five get together and I'll take a picture for Sean," Dave said. He took the picture and then looked at it. "Damn I'm good," he said, hitting the send button. Zach rolled his eyes at his dad.

"Let me see Uncle Dave," Caleigh said. He showed it to her. "I want a copy of that," she smiled.

"Done sweetheart," Dave said, kissing her check. "You look beautiful." And she did. Her long hair was rolled to the back of her head running vertically down the center. A curled dangle of hair fell in front of each ear. Dave noticed the diamond stud earrings she was wearing.

"They're Haley's," she smiled. "Zach let me borrow them."

Aaron deeply eyed Dave, expecting a comment. Dave took the high road. "He's good like that," he smiled.

The reception at the local country club was special. Lisa's mom had put together a slide show of the couple from their days as infants through Sean's video of the two at the College World Series. Aaron, Beth, Jack and Dave were seated at the same round table as Rachel, Tom, Mike and Caleb Graystone. They all had a great time chatting together, with all of Caleigh's family sharing hugs and congratulations to Beth and Aaron.

Caleigh, sitting at the head table with the bridal party, gave her toast to the bride and groom fondly remembered growing up with Lisa. "I saw something on Facebook last week and it was so true. First cousins are the first friends a child has. We were the two cousins stuck together at the hip," she smiled. "And we still are." After Caleigh finished and the toast done, the two shared a hug with a few tears shed.

Zach's toast as usual was humorous, telling stories on Pete mostly and the both of them. "There were a couple times I thought I was going to be the godfather instead of the best man," Zach deadpanned, drawing howls of laughter. The happy couple blushed.

Zach stuck his hand in his tux pants pocket and turned serious. "Yet, in the darkest period of my life, I was sitting in Principal Shaw's office at Central High School and looked up to see Pete walking in." Beth rubbed Aaron's shoulder as he slightly smiled, remembering the day himself. "I knew in that instant, I was meeting a very special person; a friend for life. And then I got to meet Lisa. Another moment of clarity hit me," he said, turning to Pete. "I thought to myself, 'dude you are one lucky guy'. And today, you are the luckiest man on earth."

Zach looked at them. "Thank you for allowing me to be a part of this day; your day; I'm honored." He picked up his champagne glass. "Please join me in a toast to two people that are the most wonderful friends a person could have; to Lisa and Pete and their lifelong happiness." Zach raised his glass to them and then took a sip.

Zach and Pete shared a deep hug. "I love ya my friend," Zach whispered.

"Back at you my friend," Pete said. "Thank you."

When it was Lisa and Pete's turn at the microphone after dinner was served, they each shared heartfelt thank you's to their respective families. They each also took a swipe at Caleigh and Zach. Lisa looked at the crowd. "I'll do the traditional tossing of my bouquet later. However, all you single ladies, don't bother getting in line. There's only one person I'm tossing it to," she smiled, looking at Caleigh.

Pete, during his said, "Cob you taught me so much playing baseball with you; and more than that; your integrity both on and off the field. You are the most awesome friend and person I know. But honestly; I hope the hell you're taking notes right now." Dave and Mike loudly whistled at the comment. Pete pointed at them. "See, I'm not the only one," he smiled, drawing laughter.

The dance started a bit later. Zach and Caleigh walked up to the new table the two families in their lives were sharing and sat down. Zach had a drink, while Caleigh had a glass of ice water. "You're toast was wonderful Zach," Rachel smiled.

"Thank you Rachel; I had some help," he smiled back, rubbing Dave's shoulder.

Dave smiled at Caleigh. "Yours was as well Caleigh. But did you lose the coin toss?"

"No Uncle Dave, my turn to be a bad girl was Thursday night after the groom's dinner," she smiled.

"And she did it quite well," Caleb zinged. Caleigh stuck her tongue out at him.

"It's…" she said pulling off her high heels, "thank you God," she smiled at the heavens, "his turn tonight. Plus, if I start off with champagne, it's a long night." She looked at Aaron. "I've already got the truck keys."

Aaron smiled his acceptance taking another sip of his scotch. "Beth is getting Dave and me home tonight."

"And I've got a baseball game tomorrow at one," Zach said. "I'm taking it easy. With ding dong gone, we're a man down. Brummie is going to catch and I'm going to play first. Which means I'm taking some infield practice at eleven-thirty."

"Zach, you've never played first base before," Jack said. Mike winked at him.

"Jack, if Pete can handle it, how hard can it be?"

"I heard that," Pete growled, putting his forearm around Zach's neck in a faux choke hold.

"We had to come over and see the other newlyweds," Lisa smiled at Beth and Aaron.

Later that evening, the DJ played Ed Sheehan's Thinking Out Loud and Dave looked out on the dance floor to see Zach and Caleigh dancing closely together. Aaron and Beth joined them on the dance floor. Dave sighed and slightly shook his head. Mike, sitting next to him, looked at Dave. "I thought feebs were required to carry at all times?"

"We are," Dave said, wondering where the question was going.

"Well then pull it out and use it on someone. I'm sick of waiting," Mike grumbled.

"I'd love to Mike," Dave smiled. "But I'd be looking at Aaron's Glock up my nose." Everyone left at the table laughed and then smiled as another slow song played. Zach and Aaron switched dance partners. Dave sighed again.

#####

A/N: MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Y'all are just gonna have to wait like Uncle Dave.

Thanks again for the reviews, favorite and following alerts. I appreciate them all. And thank you so much for taking the time to read. I appreciate that even more.

Oops; I almost forgot some explanations for my internationals. Sam's is Sam's Club; the wholesale version of Walmart. It has great buys; for my family of two, not so much other than certain products. For this FF family; a huge cost saver. Cub is Cub Foods another major grocery store in my area of the world. I can save bundles buying their weekly specials, such as pork chops. ;)

TP is toilet paper. Kleenex is the most popular brand of nasal tissue here in the States; bar none. Tissues are not tissues; we generically call them "Kleenex". The box of tissues I set out in my stories is always Kleenex. ;) "Feeb" is the nickname some people call the FBI. I hope that helps; PM me if you have any more questions. :D

Btw; to my reviewers that was expecting Maddux or Glavine as the surprise guest at the start of Chapter 7. I went with the true Braves' front office. Bobby Cox is a special assistant to Schuerholz and Hart. Glavine is a home body that only does color commentary on the Braves TV network for games in Atlanta. And Greg Maddux is now working in the front office of the Texas Rangers organization in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. But there are more stories in this universe. Ya never know. ;) :D

See ya soon!

*Knightly bow*