A/N: I took my Dutch Delight's suggestion and ran with it. Thank you all, from the bottom of my heart, for the reviews. And trusting me with this extra inspiration! Yet, to my loyal readers of my Family series, you may be wondering about the side track the story took. However, even with DD's request, I wouldn't have did all this if I couldn't still put it back together to my original premise. This is my chapter to tie it all up with a bow. Just like a present. ;)

Chapter 11

When they were finished, everyone pitched in to help with the clean-up from the wonderful meal. JJ washed the few cooking dishes that need it, while Garcia dried them and Cait put them away. Derek and Will helped Aaron get the paper plates and plastic cups into the appropriate containers in the garage; one for garbage and the other for re-cycling. Reid took JJ's wash cloth as she finished and wiped down the dining room table, with Emily's help, both of the profilers taking note where the two young boys sat.

They all gathered around the kitchen, as Cait smiled at them. She pulled out a cake pan. "Who wants my chocolate cake?" she smiled.

To a chorus of "I've stuffed" Morgan looked at Hotch, both of them standing on the fringe of the group. He whispered to him. "Can I? Hotch, we need this." is all he said.

Aaron shook his head, putting his hand on Derek's shoulder with a smile. "Yes we do."

Before Derek could speak up, Matt looked at all of the team. "Thank you all for the job you do. It's appreciated. All the rest of us love you for it." Kevin nodded his head in support of the statement. "And we will always support you." That got a nod and a smile from Will. The entire team smiled at the sincerity of his statement. "However, it's my last Friday at home on Christmas break before I head back to college, so I'm going out."

Garcia rushed up to give him a hug. When she pulled out, she looked at him. "You be good my sugar plum."

Matt smiled. "I'm just going to Pete's to do some video gaming. Lisa is working until midnight at Perkins." He smiled devilishly. "He has no one to play with right now." They all laughed, getting Matt's meaning.

Dave looked at him. "You and Pete share a college dorm and you're not sick of being together that much?"

Matt smiled. "Yeah, Uncle Dave we were. Other than him and Lisa dropping off presents at Christmas, this is the first time we've been together through break. A friend in need….." he smiled.

Dave smiled back. "Is a friend indeed; have fun Matt," he said as pulled the muscular young man into a hug.

"Thanks Uncle Dave; you too. You all deserve this given the ass kicking you've taken the past three weeks." Dave let him go as Matt received a handshake from Derek and a kiss on the cheek from Emily.

"Do be careful Matt," she said.

"Emily, I'm my friend's sober cab and why I didn't drink a beer with all of you." He looked her in the eye. "Which also tells me that the profiler in you didn't notice that." He pulled her into a hug. "You guys need this tonight. Have fun." He let her go and smiled, as JJ gave him a kiss on the cheek as well.

He gave his mother a kiss and his dad a hug and then looked at them. They both smiled. Matt shook his head, grabbed his car keys and headed for the garage door, pulling his coat on. As he opened the door, he heard his parents say together, "Be careful."

Matt walked back into the kitchen, looking at the rest of the team. "That's what I was waiting for," he smiled.

Aaron looked at his oldest son. "Get," he smiled. Matt smiled back at him and disappeared out the door, to the laughter of the team.

Will looked at Derek. "I know I'm not a profiler," he drawled, "but it seems to me you had a big announcement to make before Matt left."

Derek smiled. "The Hotchner's have been holding out on us." He nodded at the team to follow him. Aaron and Mike knew where they were going, smiling at each other. They let Derek lead the team downstairs

As Derek led the team down to the basement of the Hotchner house, Cait whistled at Jack upstairs. The steps to the upstairs took a 180 degree turn half way up so they couldn't see each other. "I'm here mom," he hollered back down.

"Jack, we're all going to the downstairs den if you need us."

Jack smiled. "Got it mom."

"What are the two of you doing?" she smiled back.

"Putting together my new Star Wars puzzle from grandma and grandpa I got for Christmas," he smiled.

"Have fun."

"We will."

The team followed Derek down the steps and walked into an area with two large couches at a ninety degree angle, facing a flat screen TV. They noted the speakers and quickly figured it was a home theater area. As they ventured into the large area, they noticed a wet bar in the back left corner, with six chairs. In front of the fireplace was a table with four chairs with a round poker chip container in the middle. But the crown jewel was the pool table area to right of the home theater.

The team was a bit stunned. They didn't see Aaron Hotchner as a man that needed his hang out. But with the two older boys of the family, and Jack growing up so fast, it did make sense. They all looked around some more.

Except of course for Dave who pulled out a bar stool, as Mike walked behind the bar. Sitting down, he said, "Michael, my favorite bartender, I'll have my usual." Just then the audio speakers came alive with music from an area radio station.

Hotch smiled at them. "Cait must have turned it on upstairs. Slapstick already bellied up to the bar helped me wire that." He started putting logs in the fireplace in the home theater area as the team continued exploring.

Mike smiled at Dave, grabbing a glass from the shelf, filling it with ice from the fridge door (an expense of a fridge like that in a basement den was one the Hotchner's could afford) and pouring Dave some scotch. He slid it across the bar to Dave as Aaron continued his story.

He looked at his team smiling proudly. "The boys and I, with help from Jamaal, Dave, and Pete pretty much did the work ourselves. The only thing we didn't do was the tile work." The bar area had beautiful tans and light brown tiles in it on the back walls of the bar and a tile floor. Derek, looking around, also noticed the half bath off to the side, and then saw their workout room. He whistled appreciatively at it as JJ walked in as well.

"So that's how Hotch stays in shape."

Derek smiled. "I think he has a workout partner or two." JJ nodded.

"This is what you've got to see," he said. He led her to the room where he found Jack and Henry earlier, nodding at Penelope to tag along.

"Wow," is all JJ could say about the space that Jack could play in. Garcia coming in as well added her appreciation.

Derek smiled at them. "I think the Boss Man has found the family and happiness he deserves." JJ and Penelope both smiled. When they re-entered the den area, they saw Emily getting a drink as well from Mike, along with Cait who had joined them. Both their scotches were mixed with Bailey's. Reid stood by the fireplace watching Hotch light the newspaper on fire that would get the logs burning.

Hotch smiled at Reid, touching his arm and headed for the bar himself. Dave turned to look at the group. Derek smiled at him. "Dave, you're too close to this family. I've got this," he smiled at the senior profiler, as Mike slid a scotch to him. Derek picked up the glass.

Morgan looked around. "We've had probably THE three most horrible weeks that I can remember, and except for Hotch and Rossi, I've been the BAU longer than all of you." He looked at the team again. "Yet, once again, when we're all hurting, we are welcomed into this haven." He looked at Cait and smiled and then looked at Aaron. "Hotch, I know how happy you are. We all do. You, and Jack, of all people deserve it." Mike got the rest of the team set-up with drinks, as Hotch wrapped his arm around Cait's shoulder taking a sip of his scotch.

"We've all been a pretty tight-knit group given the job that we do. That goes without saying. However, you two," he said, looking at Cait and Aaron, "at the times we needed it most, have opened your home to us; hell even our families," he added, remembering the wonderful Thanksgiving they all had not so long ago. He looked at Dave. "You're not bad yourself, Big Dog," he smiled.

"Bottom line: this team is a family. However, when we are here, in this home, with its warmth and the love we get, I mean, Matt's words were from the heart before he left," he shook his head, "That's just gold. And it tells all of us, especially you Cait," he added lifting his glass to her, "that you understand what we do, and support us in ways we never thought we would have."

Derek looked at his feet for a second and then looked around. "I think all of us are pretty blessed to be a part of this family. And we thank for doing this for us." He raised his glass. "Happy belated anniversary Cait and Hotch from all of us that love you as well," he said with a soft smile. Mike, standing behind the bar with his soda, raised it as well.

"Here, here," Emily said, as the team raised their glasses in a salute to the couple. Hotch and Cait just smiled. Aaron kissed his wife's temple and everyone took a drink.

"Technically, it's all sorta our anniversary," Reid piped up.

"Kid?"

"Yeah Derek," he softly smiled. "This is the same time that Cait helped us with the case in Chicago. Just after she and Hotch got married," he smiled.

JJ smiled. "Well happy anniversary to all of us." They all clinked glasses.

Cait smiled and lifted her glass. "To all of you; I'm honored and privileged to support you. And I'll do it any way possible." She blushed a bit, knowing what her next statement would do to her husband. "However, it starts with me loving my husband; my soul mate," she said, looking into Aaron's eyes. "My life." Aaron kissed her again. "You all just get the bennies," she smiled broadly.

As the touching moment hung in the air, two little boys exploded into the room. "Hey mom," Jack said, "Henry and I finished the puzzle. Can we play basketball?"

Cait smiled at her youngest son. "Go for it." Emily looked at her with a question. "Jack has a basketball hoop in his play room," she smiled. Garcia grabbed Em's hand and led her into the room as the boys started their game.

Derek smiled at Cait and Hotch and then looked at Reid. "I gotta get my homeboys some dunk action," he smiled. Reid followed him in to see what was happening.

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A/N: A wet bar in a home is one that has a sink. A half bath is a bathroom with just a shower and no bathtub. "Bennies" are US term for benefits. The basketball hoop is not a full sized one like you see in some peoples driveways. It's a smaller version about five feet tall (~1.5 meters) tall and kids use a smaller basketball. My nephews have one in their basement. It's perfect for boys that age.