Chapter 10
Spencer and Bill talked about his new hybrid car that Spencer was driving on the way to the home on Deer Valley Road. "I really hated giving up my old car; its hiccups like Morgan called them and all. But in the end, it was bleeding me keeping it fixed. I need a reliable ride to get to work every day."
Diana piped up in the backseat. "You seem really comfortable on the Metro system Spencer."
He smiled at her in his rearview mirror. "That's the only way I get around the city and I love it. But the Metro doesn't go to Quantico. There's talk about it someday, extending the Yellow Line. But the timetable is 2025 at the earliest."
"It's hard to give up a beloved car Spencer," Bill smiled. "I had a tough time letting go of the '72 convertible Mustang I inherited from my uncle."
"What attracted me to your dad in the first place," Diana remembered.
"Cars are chick magnets," Spencer smiled. His parents both looked at him a bit shocked. "Sorry, channeling my inner Morgan." Bill and Diana laughed as Reid pulled his car to a stop in the driveway of the Hotchner home.
The three went up the walk and ascended the stairs to the front door. Reid instinctively reached to open the door. "Spencer," Diana scolded, "you're not going to ring the bell?"
He smiled. "Mom, this is my second home. That's the way Cait and Hotch prefer it," he smiled, opening the door for her. They walked into the foyer, Spencer hung up their coats and they entered the home.
"Hey you," Cait smiled from the kitchen, taking a drink of her beer. Aaron, Jarrod and Sean were seated at the lunch counter, drinking their own beers. Maggie, Leslie and Cait were in the kitchen, leaning against the island. Wyatt was happily playing in the living room with a couple of Jack's no longer used plastic cars under the watchful eye of Beans and Mudg.
Diana looked at Cait. "Dave's here?"
They all laughed as Aaron got off his chair. "Diana, its Dave; and a home cooked meal. He smelt Sean and me cooking the ribs on the grill outside."
Bill smiled. "So that's what smells so good."
"Don't listen to my son-in-law Diana," Maggie said. "Dave knew he was invited the minute he bought the ribs for dinner," she smiled.
"So where is he," Reid asked. He heard a noise from upstairs and looked around. "Never mind," he smiled at his parents. "Rossi is playing video games with the boys." Aaron smiled at him with a nod.
"He plays video games," Bill asked.
"That's Uncle Dave," Sean smiled.
Aaron went to the garage and got a beer for Bill. "What did you three do yesterday," Cait asked.
"Savannah didn't tell you," Diana asked.
Cait shook her head. "All I got from Savannah was a text about your BP readings," she smiled. "And that's all I needed." The Reid family smiled and recounted their family time together exploring some of the DC area monuments the last two days.
Just then, Wyatt sent one of the cars crashing into the floor moldings around the great room. "Boom," he shouted.
Diana eyed Cait. "I know how you keep your home," she questioned.
Cait smiled. "I raised two sons on my own; I learned in a hurry that dings in the furniture and the woodwork can be replaced sometime; children can't."
"That's a good philosophy to have," Diana smiled. "I never had to worry about that with Spencer."
Cait laughed. "Diana, you got the one in a million son." Maggie and Leslie nodded as well.
Diana clicked her mouth. "Yes I did." She looked at Cait. "How 'bout that tour," she smiled.
Cait looked at Maggie and Leslie. "You got this," she asked, looking at the ovens.
Leslie shook her head. "Cait, you fixed the 'dumb' meal. Maggie and I can watch it all cook in the oven."
"I know when to put the garlic bread in," Maggie added. "Go," she told her daughter. "You too," she pointed at Aaron.
"Yes mom," he smiled. Maggie smiled and tried to glare at him.
Spencer laughed. "Maggie, I think the world of you. But on a scale of one to ten, that was a two in Hotch glare department." They all laughed. Cait and Aaron moved to join Diana and Bill, grabbing their beers.
"You're bedroom is your private place," Diana said. "I appreciate you letting me in there but you don't have to show us that."
"It's OK Diana," Aaron smiled, leading them into their haven. Diana smiled at their wedding picture on their dresser.
"Wow," Bill smiled. "I like the set-up of having the fireplace from the great room opening into here as well."
"Bill," Diana almost whispered. "You have to see their master bath; it's what we dreamed about." Cait and Aaron smiled. The four went in. "If we had had this, we would have had a few less arguments," she smiled. Bill laughed and nodded his head.
Cait smiled. "We like the privacy of the toilet area to save some comments in here."
"Definitely," Diana agreed. The ladies rolled their eyes together. Aaron and Bill just shook their heads.
Leaving the master bedroom, the four of them dodged Wyatt playing. Aaron rubbed his nephew's head. "Cait," Diana asked, "can we check out your study again." Cait looked at her. "I've got some questions."
Cait and Aaron smiled at each other and lead them to the study. Diana pointed to the glass enclosed case on the wall. "What is that," she asked, pointing to the case with pictures and Cait's Olympic gold medals.
Aaron smiled. "Long before I met my wife."
"It was long before I got married and had kids," she smiled. "I was a swimmer." Diana looked at her. "I competed in two Olympics, representing the US; in '84 in Los Angeles; I was a senior in high school then. And '88 in Seoul, South Korea; my senior year at Georgetown." Diana looked at her. "It's what brought me to the east coast. I accepted an athletic scholarship to Georgetown to join their swim program." Cait smiled. "I was a fish," she said. "What I really wanted was a pre-med degree with a chance for my advanced studies at Johns Hopkins."
"Good for you," Diana smiled. She lightly laughed. "I love the fish part though."
Aaron laughed. "And she's made our youngest son into one as well," he smiled. "And the woodwork basher as well."
Diana looked at her. "You got Wyatt swimming?"
Cait looked at her. "Diana, our children are in our womb with water. It's the most natural thing they know."
Diana looked at her. "I failed on that lesson. Thank you for giving that to Spencer."
Cait shook her head. "Diana, you never failed your son." Diana shook her head back at Cait. Cait smiled. "You didn't Diana." Cait looked at her. "No matter the circumstances, you and Spencer formed a bond that will never be broken." Cait smiled.
Diana smiled. "Aaron, you've got to show Bill your man cave." The Hotchner's smiled and took them down the steps.
Bill looked around. "I'm not into sports all that much, but I'd love this set-up to watch movies," he smiled. He looked at Cait. "I remember your story the other night about your first husband. Can I ask how you got this home?"
Cait smiled. "In a nut shell? Mark was from big Pittsburgh steel money family. And he was a drunk and philanderer. The morning I decided I had enough, eight and half months pregnant with Mike and wouldn't let him in the house for the last time, was the last time I saw him."
"Spencer told me in one of his letters what he did to you," Diana said, almost growling.
Bill looked at Cait. "We had a horrible argument; he pushed me down the steps and took off. He picked up another one of his floozies, got drunker and wrapped his Porsche around a tree doing 110 miles per hour while I was having an emergency C-section. I became a single mother with a new born and a two and a half year old." Bill shook his head. "The home," she smiled, "I like to think is penitence for that, compliments of his family."
Aaron looked at Bill. "Cait worked with the architect to plan the design," he proudly smiled. "She wanted a home for the boys to grow into."
Diana looked at Cait. "You didn't buy this?"
"Nope," Cait smiled. "I built my dream home for myself and my sons. The builder's did it from the ground up."
Bill looked at Aaron. "Now I understand more how 'Uncle Dave' figures into all this," he smiled.
Cait shook her head. "My folks were out in California. It was just me and the boys. When I started the house, Mike was nearly two. I need the space for my growing sons. Dave was my rock," she smiled.
Diana looked at Bill. "I think we understand now why he's more than a little special around here," she smiled.
"Yes, we do," he smiled back.
Aaron smiled at them. "Then you've got to see the best part of Cait's house plan." They all went up the steps into the foyer and then ascended the steps to the boy's lair. They stopped to look at some of the pictures Cait had of the boys as they were growing up on the stair walls. When they reached the second floor, Diana and Bill looked around the mini-den the boys had, complete with their own TV and a whole wall that was a bookcase. The shelves were filled.
"This is perfect," Diana beamed. "Spencer would have treasured this." Aaron nodded to the two of them into Jack's room. The four entered.
Bill smiled at the smaller scale model of Han Solo's Millennium Falcon hanging from the ceiling. "That was a dad and three son's project that started out as a Christmas present for Jack from my mom and dad," she winked. "Uncle Dave provided the fishing line," she smiled. Bill nodded his appreciation.
Diana honed onto the window bay and picked up Jack's pillow. "You really do keep Haley alive for him," she smiled at Aaron, showing Bill the embroidery. 'I remember mom' it read.
"Jack and I still sit there and talk to Haley every now and then," he softly smiled. "So does Cait with him."
Diana looked at them. "He looks out at the stars, knowing that's where Haley is in his heart," Cait softly smiled.
"How did you know Jack would be here," Diana asked.
"I didn't," Cait said. She softly smiled. "I'm just glad this room was built this way so he can have that."
Diana clung to the pillow a bit, looking out the window with sun setting and a few stars already appearing. She stood like that for a time and then put the pillow back in its place. "That's special," Diana said. "I just told Haley that," she smiled.
Aaron put his arm around her shoulder. "Thank you," he smiled.
They moved to each of the older boy's rooms. Cait shook her head at Matt's. "Welcome to the cyclone known as a son home from college." She looked around. "At least he doesn't have a jock strap lying on the floor." Bill laughed as Diana looked at Cait, nearly mortified.
"Welcome to our world Diana," Aaron smiled. "Matt is our student athlete." Diana looked at him. "Matt plays baseball for the UVA."
"I remember his letter jacket," she smiled. "What's his major?"
"Pre-law," Aaron proudly smiled.
Bill looked at him. "Dad is getting his lawyer?"
"No," Cait smiled. "The FBI is getting a second generation Hotchner," she winked. "But like his dad, after he gets his law degree."
Diana rubbed Aaron's back. "That's special," she smiled. Aaron beamed more.
"What's Mike majoring in," Bill asked.
"He's our Bill Nye, the Science Guy," Aaron said.
"He's studying Chemistry at Georgetown," Cait smiled.
Diana looked at Cait. "And be close to mom?"
Cait nodded. "With Mike's hearing impediment, and how hard we worked together to get him mainstreamed, he's my momma's boy," she admitted.
Just then the four heard shouting from the loft. "Look out Uncle Dave," Jack said.
"Matt, don't let him flank you," Mike said. The four walked in the door.
"Yeah Uncle Dave," Jack whooped. Dave and Jack shared a high five.
"Idiot," Mike glared at him brother. "He suckers you into that trap every time."
Cait looked at the Reid's. "Wanna guess who the kid is?" Bill and Diana laughed.
Aaron looked at his watch. "Shut it down guys; dinner is in twenty minutes." He started to walk out and stuck his head back in the door. "And all of you," he said, pointing at Dave, "wash your hands before you come downstairs." The Reid's roared with laughter.
When the four of them got downstairs, they stopped to watch Spencer and Wyatt sitting together cross legged on the great room floor. Spencer was entertaining Wyatt with him magic tricks, making Wyatt's car disappear and then re-appear. Every time the car re-appeared, Beans barked her happy one to Wyatt's delight.
Diana looked at Cait. "Why does Mudg just sit there, looking over the situation?" Cait smiled, and explained the lineage between the two dogs. "Ahhh," Diana smiled. "A father knows." Aaron rubbed her shoulder.
"Get you a fresh beer Bill," he asked.
Bill smiled. "Only if I'm not the only one." Aaron smiled and went to the garage with Sean following him. Soon three of the four gamers had beers, along with Cait, Sean, Jarrod and Aaron.
"Grandma," Jack started.
"Jack," she eyed him, "I'm like your mother. Zip it."
"But I'm getting hungry," Jack said under his breath.
"So am I partner," Dave whispered, not too quietly. Cait rolled her eyes at Diana and shook her head. Diana laughed.
The twelve sat around the smaller version of the dining room table, enjoying BBQ ribs, baked potatoes, Cait's broccoli casserole, Maggie's Oriental Cole Slaw, and garlic bread. Diana eyed Spencer as a drop of BBQ sauce hit Cait's tablecloth.
Leslie smiled. "Diana, look down at this end of the table." Jack had sauce up to his wrists, gnawing on a rib bone. Wyatt, in his high chair was worse. Diana had to giggle.
"Diana, my tablecloths are wash, dry, fold and put back in the drawer," Cait smiled. "I've learned from mom." Maggie proudly smiled.
They enjoyed another round of wonderful conversation around the table with Sean supervising the boys doing clean up and then re-joining them. Twenty minutes later, Diana looked at Cait. "I've had a big day," she admitted.
"Message received," she smiled. "Let's head to the study," she winked. The two of them left.
Reid looked at Hotch. "She was a trooper again today, but I think she's getting tired." Aaron nodded.
The boys came into the dining room to get excused for the night. "Sorry guys," Aaron smiled. "Can you hang around for a bit longer? The Reid's are leaving soon."
"Sure dad," Matt smiled. They all moved to the great room. Cait and Diana reappeared. "Did you pass," Matt asked with a smile.
"You know it kiddo," Diana clicked. They shared a high five.
Matt looked at her. "Can I give you a hug? For being just awesome brave to take this journey and make our holiday even more special? Diana's eyes welled with tears as she nodded her head. Matt engulfed her into a hug and kissed her cheek. Mike was next in line and did the same. Bill shook their hands.
"Thanks for making Spencer smile so much," Jack said. "We like that," he said, powering into a soft hug for her.
Diana rubbed his hair. "Thank you Jack for making this so special for me," she said, kissing his head. Sean held Wyatt for another kiss on her cheek and hugged her as well. Leslie did the same.
"Have a safe trip home my motherhood sister," Maggie smiled. Diana pulled her into a huge hug. Jarrod shook Bill's hand and then gave Diana a hug as well.
Dave moved to her. "I'm next Diana," he smiled. "And I agree with the boys. It's always a special Thanksgiving around here. You and Bill made it more special," he smiled, pulling her into a hug.
"Keep mentoring my son," Diana whispered in his ear, sharing the hug.
"Promise," Dave whispered back. He shook Bill's hand, looked at the group and nodded them out of the foyer.
Diana looked at Aaron. "Thank you seems so trivial," she said.
"I think our sons and Dave addressed that Diana," he smiled. "It was a pleasure to have you here." He hugged her. "I'll take of him," he whispered. Diana hugged him tighter.
Spencer pulled Cait into a hug. "I don't know what to say to you," he said. Cait could feel him choking back tears and rubbed his back.
She pulled out of his hug. "How 'bout we do this again," she smiled.
"There's always my big ass Memorial Day picnic," Dave added from the great room.
Cait winked at him. "Enjoy tomorrow with JJ, Will and Henry."
Aaron looked at Diana, while shaking Bill's hand. "That was just not a mere hint," he smiled.
"Message received Aaron," Bill smiled. He and Cait shared a hug as Spencer got his mom's coat on.
Diana looked at Cait. "I know my meds are wearing off because I just want to cry right now."
Cait pulled her into a hug. "No tears Diana; just know the door is always open for you and Bill." They shared a quiet and heartfelt hug. "I'm going to drop Dr. Norman's socks off with my report." Diana giggled in her arms.
"Thanks Hotch," Spencer smiled, reaching out his hand. Aaron pulled him into a hug. The Hotchner boys smiled at Dave.
Bill opened the front door. Diana started to head out and then turned. She came back into the foyer and gave Aaron a kiss on the cheek. "Damn government agent," she smiled, heading back out the door. The rest roared with laughter. Mudg appeared and barked his good-bye. Beans did the same. Diana smiled with Bill rubbing their heads.
Cait and Aaron stood arm in arm in the doorway, waving as Spencer started to pull out of the driveway.
As Spencer turned onto Deer Valley Road, Aaron shut the door, kissing his wife.
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A/N: Like I said at the start, I sorta went out on limb with this one. I felt I had established with a previous story to get Diana Reid to this place. I truly appreciate all the support I've received.
Thank you again for all of the favorite and following alerts. And to those that have reviewed, you have my deepest thanks.
I'll see you all next year with a new case fic. Until then, I'm taking a break.
Merry Christmas to everyone that shares my faith. For those you that celebrate a different holiday around that time, I wish you blessings for a joyous one. And to everyone my warmest and best wishes for a wonderful New Year.
*Knightly bow*