A/N: *points at tissue box*

Chapter 9

Tom, Rachel and Caleb rose together. Tom softly put his arm around Rachel and got her first to Caleigh. "Thank you mom; for everything," Caleigh said, hugging her.

"You got your dream wedding," Rachel said in Caleigh's ear. "Partly because of the man you married." She looked at Caleigh. "Please realize how much he loves you. And never let go of that thought," Rachel whispered to her.

Caleigh hugged her again. "I know that mom. I will never forget how much he means to me." She looked at Rachel. "And how much I love him," she smiled. Rachel rubbed her arm and eyed Zach.

He smiled. "I know I'm the good guy." Rachel laughed and pulled Zach into a deep hug as Tom embraced Caleigh.

"I know you're the good guy too. And you'll take care of my daughter. I'm just so happy you showed up in her life."

Zach kissed her cheek. "Me too," he smiled at her. Rachel rubbed his bicep and stepped aside to let Tom greet Zach. Rachel, standing near the other front pew, rubbed Aaron's shoulder, smiling at him.

Tom got Rachel to start heading down the aisle. Caleb lifted Caleigh off her feet with a huge bear hug kissing her cheek. The congregation laughed. He got to Zach. "Good luck with her bro," he smiled, pointing at his sister. Caleigh lightly slapped his arm, laughing.

"I got it Bub," Zach smiled. They shared a large hug. Caleb moved to follow his parents. Caleigh and Zach smiled at Beth and Aaron.

They both rose and Aaron gently put his arm on Beth's back to have her go first. Zach pulled her into a hug. "Thank you," he said in her ear. "For everything," he said, kissing the side of her face. "I love you."

Beth tightly hugged him. "I love you too," she smiled into this shoulder. "I'm so proud of you and wish you and Caleigh all the best." Zach kissed her again and gently guided her to Caleigh.

Zach looked at his dad. Garcia pulled out another tissue to be at the ready. Aaron pulled Zach into a hug. "I was so proud of the young man you became. I knew I was deeply blessed as a father by the man you have become. Right now my son, I could not be prouder. Promise me you will never, ever stop loving this wonderful, beautiful woman you have in your life."

"I promise," Zach said, deeply hugging his dad.

Aaron smiled at him. "Good decision," he said. "Make all this short, sweet…."

"In front of everyone; we got this dad; all of it," Zach smiled. "Thank you dad," he said, giving Aaron another hug. Garcia used her tissue with Kevin putting his arm around her. Aaron smiled at him and smiled at Beth, her arm around Caleigh.

Aaron hugged Caleigh. "On that point," he said, looking into Caleigh's eyes. "I'll be brief. I love finally having a daughter," he beamed.

Caleigh smiled back at him. "I love being your daughter." Aaron kissed her cheek, hugged her tightly and then gently put his hand on Beth's back to head down the aisle. It was their job, along with Tom and Rachel to greet the guests as they left the church. Zach and Caleigh shared hugs with Kim and Sean. Lauren was in balcony, taking pictures of the family greeting the bride and groom. She smiled, climbed into one of the balcony pews and took a picture of Nadine playing more recessional music. And then got Lisa and the instrumentalists together for a group picture.

After greeting all the grandparents and Jessica, Zach shook his head at Dave. "Just give me a damn hug. I know you'll have us both in tears later."

Dave, tightly hugging Zach said in his ear, "That's the plan."

"Thank you Uncle Dave," Zach said.

Dave looked at him. "I love you," he smiled, rubbing Zach's shoulder.

"I love you Uncle Dave."

Looking at Caleigh, Dave softly smiled. "You do know he waited for you to come around to him?'

Caleigh smiled. "Yes Uncle Dave. Now just give me a hug. We gotta keep this moving in the middle of the church aisle." Dave laughed and hugged her, kissing both her cheeks. The couple shared hugs with Sela and Merrill.

When it got back to the groom's side of the church, Will stood up and let JJ go in front of him, putting his hand on the small of her back, smiling. Zach pulled JJ into a deep hug. "Thank you. Again."

JJ smiled at him, pulling out of the hug. "You and Caleigh spiffed up our oldest son in ways we'll never see again." Caleigh smiled, rubbing her shoulder. JJ looked at the couple. "And he was soooooo proud to do it," she smiled.

"We were honored to have him JJ," Caleigh smiled. JJ hugged her as Will hugged Zach and then gave Caleigh a quick hug and kiss. Sandy did the same.

Kevin extended his hand to Zach. "Congratulations," he smiled. "Get ready," he winked.

Zach held his hand. "I know all too well the Hurricane Garcia warnings," he smiled, letting Kevin go to Caleigh.

Garcia looked at him. "My oldest golden Hotchner boy," she smiled.

Zach pulled her into a hug. "Your mere mortal dress is wonderful with just the right Garcia accent," he smiled in her ear.

"Who blabbed," Garcia demanded with a question, pulling away from his hug.

"Your boss," Zach laughed. "Thanks for you Princess P. I love you," Zach sincerely said, kissing her cheek. He pulled back and looked at her.

"Back at ya luvs," she smiled. "And I know," she smiled more deeply. "Keep things moving."

Zach laughed, kissing her cheek again. "Why it's in front of …

"God and creation," Garcia smiled. "I know your routine my golden Hotchner boy."

Zach looked at her. "Then never forget to be this family's princess." Garcia hugged him again and then nearly tackled Caleigh.

Reid came out next. Zach put his hand on his shoulder. "Thanks Doc for coming," he smiled.

Spencer gave Zach a hug and patted his shoulder. "It was honor to be a part of this beautiful and moving ceremony," he smiled at the couple.

Caleigh smiled at him after Penelope and Kevin left her. "Does this mean I get a hug?"

Spencer Reid smiled. "And a kiss," he smiled, hugging her, kissing her cheek.

Zach pulled Emily into a hug before she could say a word. "You'll never, ever understand what this means to us."

Emily pulled out of the hug and looked Zach in the eye. "I think you have this marriage thing down already."

"Em," Zach questioned.

"You just said 'us' luvs," she smiled, kissing Zach's cheek. She hugged Zach. "And I wouldn't have missed this for anything." She rubbed Zach's back as he let her go and deeply hugged Caleigh.

Zach stuck his hand out to Father Jimmy. He shook it, hugged Zach and smiled at him. "You know to be prepared for Uncle Dave's toast," he asked as he moved to kiss Caleigh.

Zach laughed as Caleigh returned his kiss. "We know were going to get an earful," Caleigh laughed.

"And me more than her," Zach smiled, rubbing his shoulder.

Jimmy sincerely looked at them. "My blessings to you both," he smiled. "The ceremony was lovely."

"Thanks Jimmy," Zach smiled, patting him on the shoulder.

After greeting the next pew on Caleigh's family side of the church, the couple smiled at the Morgan family. Derek rose from the pew and let Savannah get to the couple first. Zach warmly hugged her. "Thanks for thanking care of the big dog that protects dad's back," he said, kissing her cheek.

Still in Zach's arms, Savannah answered, "Thank you for taking care of the man that I know will protect my husband." Zach kissed and smiled at her, letting her go to Caleigh.

He looked at Derek. "I don't know what to say to you man. You've had dad's back for how many years?"

Morgan smiled. "The same thing man you said to me at Savannah's and my wedding," he smiled, shaking Zach's hand, pulling him into a deep hug. "We're family; and family takes care of family."

"Thanks man," Zach smiled.

Morgan smiled. "Does that mean I get to love up your honey," Derek smiled with his infectious grin. Caleigh smiled at him, with Savanah's arm around her. Morgan looked at Caleigh, pointing at Zach. "Did he not say that to me at our wedding?"

Caleigh laughed. "Yes he did," she smiled, pulling him into a hug as Zach hugged Fran.

Tara smiled at Zach. "I gotta tell you kid," she smiled, "you two did it up right," she said hugging him. "Your wedding was beautiful."

"Thanks Tara," Zach smiled. "We love that you're a part of our family."

Tara rubbed his bicep, reaching for Caleigh. "I'm honored to be a part of this family," she smiled. She hugged Caleigh. Zach smiled at Gina and Brian Anderson.

Getting to the guests seated behind Zach's church family that supported the Hotchner's so much, Zach smiled at the man sitting on the outside of the pew. He rose up. Zach beamed. "I'm so glad you came Doc," he smiled.

Schmidt smiled at him. "It's our honor to be here," he smiled, shaking Zach's hand, introducing his wife Monica. Zach shared a deep hug with John Schuerholz as he left his pew.

With the guests finally ushered out, Zach looked at Caleigh and smiled. "I think we can relax now," he smiled, pulling her into a hug.

Hartwig, in his suit, smiled at Zach, coming down the aisle. "We've got one more thing to do." Lisa and Pete entered the church and followed Hartwig and the couple to his vestibule. They signed the marriage license.

"We're legal," Zach smiled, kissing Caleigh.

Lauren was waiting for them when they came out. "Just a few quick pictures with your rings on." She had Becca and Henry with her. Pete re-created the moment from the ceremony when Henry pulled out the rings from his tux pockets.

While Lauren did her thing with Zach and Caleigh, the bridal party went outside to see the small motor coach Zach had rented to take them all to the reception. Pete looked at Mike and nodded at Mike to follow him to his truck. Pete opened the back and started to tug out a huge cooler. "Give me a hand with this," Pete smiled.

Mike looked at him. "We need to talk Pete," Mike seriously said.

Zach and Caleigh finally emerged from the church thirty minutes later after thanking Nadine, Lisa and all the instrumentalists. Zach was carrying Haley's rose. Pete whistled at him.

Zach shook his head. "You guys go," he smiled, "and have few on the way. Caleigh and I have a stop to make." Zach noticed Sean and Kim standing by the bus, smiling.

"Get your asses over here," Pete barked.

They crossed the street to the waiting coach. Pete looked at him. "We all," he said, nodding at the bridal party on the bus, "took a vote. You two are coming with us. And we'll be with you to make that stop." Caleigh and Zach looked at him. Pete softly smiled. "You asked all of us to be a part of your day. This is part of it. We're going to do that. Get on the coach." Becca, Henry and Caleb were with their parents.

Zach looked at Sean. "Shut up; listen to your wonderful friends; give me your truck keys and get your butts on that coach," Sean smiled. He burrowed the Hotchner glare into Zach. "Jack needs this too."

"Thank you Uncle Sean," Caleigh smiled, wiping a tear away.

Pete looked in the coach to see Mike talking with the driver. "We good," Pete asked.

"We're good," Mike smiled. "Get your asses on here you two," he bellowed.

"Gotta love a fireman," Zach smiled at Sean, handing him the keys to his truck. Sean slapped his shoulder with a smile and he and Kim moved to Zach's truck.

Pete's large cooler stayed closed for the trip. Zach directed the driver to the spot and then rubbed his shoulder. "Thank you for doing the detour."

"My pleasure," he smiled. "I know what you're doing," he said, opening the door. "My wife and I did the same thing for my mom two years ago." Zach rubbed his shoulder and headed towards the steps, holding out his hand to help Caleigh down the steps.

They got off and started to walk to Haley's gravesite. The rest started to follow them. "Hold on a second," Lisa said to them. She looked at Jack. "You go with them," she softly smiled. What the group didn't know was Sean had filled Lauren in on Mike and Pete's plan. She and her video camera guy were covertly recording the scene. The rest got off the coach.

The three of them approached Haley's grave. Caleigh held Jack close to her. Zach smiled and crouched down. "Hi mom." He placed the rose that was on the altar on her headstone. "Thanks for being with me today. I felt you the entire time."

Caleigh pulled out the red rose from her bouquet and knelt down. She rubbed the headstone. "I love you mom," putting the rose on the headstone.

Jack looked at his brother. "Help me Zach," he said, messing with his boutonniere. Zach smiled and found the pin that Donna had used. He pulled it off and handed it to Jack.

Lisa looked at Pete. "Do you have your knife in your pocket?"

Pete looked at her. "You know better."

"Get it out," Lisa smiled, waving her bouquet at him. Pete smiled, pulled out his knife and cut one of the calla lilies off Lisa's bouquet.

Zach put his arm around Caleigh as Jack put his red rose on Haley's headstone. "I felt you too mom. I love you," he said, rubbing his hand over the black granite. Caleigh pulled Jack to them and they took some time together.

Lisa looked around. "Sami; your next," she whispered. Pete quickly cut a lily from her bouquet. Sami walked up and put it on Haley's headstone and moved away. Pete handed his knife to Mike and joined Lisa walking up to Haley's grave site, pulling off his boutonniere. Two by two, the rest of the bridal party honored Haley as Zach, Caleigh and Jack stood in front of her grave. Victoria wiped a tear away as she and Andy put theirs down.

There was one other person that Sean has quietly filled on the plan. Pastor Damrow walked up as the bridal party stood around Haley's grave. Zach shook his head at him as he put his boutonniere on Haley's grave as well.

Pastor looked around at the group. "You have taken your roles for this couple to a new height. I'm honored to be joining you," he said, looking at the group with pride. "Now please, bow your heads in prayer." The group did.

"Dear Lord, as you take care of us on earth, we simply ask you give a hug to your angel that we honor now. In your Son's name we pray." The group said a collective "amen". Damrow smiled at them all, silently nodding them away, leaving first. Two by two they left, with Lisa and Pete taking Sami with them.

Zach looked at Jack, rubbing his shoulder. "You OK?"

Jack smiled at him. "I meant what I said Zach. I felt her," he said, rubbing his chest, "in here all afternoon. Just like you." He smiled. "Why I didn't pee my pants with nerves."

Zach and Caleigh laughed. "Love you mom," the three said together and moved away. They got on the coach and the driver pulled away. Terry, Lauren's video camera man, handed her his handkerchief, shaking his head with a smile as they got in their vehicle.

After leaving the cemetery property, Zach stood up and looked at the rest. "Thank you all for that," he said patting his chest. "But you know what?" They all looked at him. Zach smiled, rubbing Jack's shoulder. "As the three of us were walking away, mom chewed me out a bit." The group eyed him closer. "You just got married and you haven't had a beer yet?"

The group roared with laughter as Mike and Pete opened the cooler. Mike handed Jack a soda as Pete grabbed two beers for Zach and Caleigh.

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