AN: I know y'all are patiently waiting for the meeting and we're almost there. (Spoiler: It's the next chapter). Until then here's a cute little thing I put together. It's not the best, but it has it's moments and it's longer than the last chapter.

While I have you guys here I have a question. I know I have lots of unfinished stories, but I can't help new ideas forming. This is one of my more popular stories, and I'm so thankful for everyone who has taken the time to read it and give me feedback. I have an idea for another Criminal Minds story that will focus on JJ and Emily. It will be AU and I think in first person. It would also be playing with the idea of Rossi and Erin being Emily's parents minus her being abducted. I want to hit a few story lines I haven't really written before or ones I'm not so great at. I want to know if it's something y'all would be interested in.

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Disclaimer: I don't own the songs or quotes mentioned in this chapter.

(We're going to pretend "Wrecking Ball" was released before the year this story takes place)

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"The greatest gift of life is friendship, and I have received it." -Hubert

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Emily had told Mattea not to worry about dinner; they could just get take-out. Mattea was not allowing Caitlin to come over and them have take-out. The team would be back soon and Caitlin would be coming over after that. Mattea suggested they wait a day or two, but Emily said they had plans the next night. She did not elaborate on those plans.

"Why are you nervous? You're never nervous Taya," Chloe said from the kitchen counter.

Mattea was fixing one of the many recipes Nonna Carmelina had taught her. Chloe peered over the counter to get a better look. "Are you making Nonna's recipe?" Chloe asked excited.

Mattea nodded. "We're having company after mom gets home."

"Is it your boyfriend?" Chloe asked with a mischievous glint in her eyes.

Mattea glared at her sister. "No, I do not have a boyfriend."

Chloe jumped off the stool and started running. "Mattea has a boyfriend!"

Mattea rolled her eyes at Chloe and listened to the sound of the front door being opened. Tiny feet were heard as they scurried across the floor to greet Emily. Mattea waited until she heard the thump of Emily's bag hitting the floor before going to greet her mom.

"Hey," Mattea spoke.

Emily stood up from her hug with the younger girls and embraced her eldest daughter. "I missed you."

"I know," Mattea mumbled into her shoulder.

Emily released her and turned to the kitchen. "What are you cooking?"

"Nonna Carmelina's recipe," Mattea replied turning to return to the kitchen.

Emily picked up her discarded bag by the door. "I'm gonna take a quick shower before your friend gets here."

When their was a knock at the door Mattea and Chloe raced to get their first. The hyper six year old won. However, Mattea was able to grab Chloe and lift her off the ground before she could open the door. "Remember we have to look first."

"But Taya," Chloe whined wiggling in Mattea's arms.

"But nothing," Mattea told her. "Now do you want to look?"

Chloe bobbed her head up and down. Mattea lifted Chloe enough to look out the peephole. "It's a girl with blonde hair and blue eyes. She has lollies!" Chloe exclaimed fussing to get down to open the door.

Mattea put Chloe down and watched as she struggled unlocking the door. When the door was finally opened Chloe proceeded to bounce on her toes. "Hi!"

Caitlin smiled and handed two of the suckers to Chloe. "I brought these for you."

"Thank you," Chloe spoke with sparkles in her eyes.

"You are very welcome," Caitlin lifted her gaze to Mattea and widened her smile. "We'll save them for after dinner."

Mattea placed and hand on Chloe's back. "Why don't you go tell mom and Elise Caitlin is here?"

With Chloe gone Caitlin handed Mattea one of the suckers. "I brought you one just in case."

Mattea took the mystery flavored sucker from Caitlin. "Thank you."

"You're welcome." Caitlin held up the last four suckers. "I brought two for Elise too."

Mattea turned to the kitchen. "Well come on then."

As they were walking Caitlin noticed Mattea was favoring one ankle. "What happened?" Caitlin asked.

"I fell during practice today," Mattea stated like it was no big deal.

"Is he still dropping you?" Caitlin asked knowing Mattea and her dance partner, for the big number, were at odds.

"Who's dropping you?" Emily asked from her spot in the kitchen doorway.

"I will explain over dinner," Mattea replied.

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They were all seated at the table digging in. Caitlin had already complemented Mattea's cooking at least ten times.

Emily brought up her question again, "Who's dropping you?"

Mattea frowned. "There's several lifts in our final song and my partner hasn't quite figured out how to keep me in the air. I don't mind being dropped as long as he figures it out before the show."

"Luca would have been better suited for the lead, but Trevor is a jock so he got the lead," Caitlin stated.

"Is Luca the boy with the white hair?" Mattea asked. "The one who has the huge crush on you."

Caitlin blushed. "Yeah, he's not my type though."

"But I thought you had a soft spot for puppy eyed boys?" Mattea joked.

"I do," Caitlin's blush grew as she stumbled over her words, "kind of, not really."

Emily decided to lead the focus away from Caitlin. "How's German going?"

"Gut," Mattea replied with a grin. "Dr. Blake said that if I continue to pick it up so quickly I could be fluent by the end of the year."

"That's good; I expected nothing less," Emily spoke with love instead of the coldness her mother had used when she used that same line years ago.

"Katie what do you like?" Chloe asked.

"Horseback riding, track, guitar, making people happy, and country music," Caitlin spewed quickly. "I also have a bike I like to ride."

"Clyde got me a bike last Christmas!" Chloe exclaimed.

Caitlin chuckled. "I have a different kind of bike."

"Motorcycle or dirt bike?" Emily asked.

"Motorcycle," Caitlin replied.

Emily gave a happy sigh. "I remember in high school John and I-" Emily cut herself off mid sentence remembering her company.

Mattea looked down at her plate with frown. "So you like country music?" She asked trying to change the subject.

"My mama grew up on a farm in Georgia. If she's home there is country music playing in the house. That also explains why we're all named after her animals: Caitlin the goat, Ace the horse, and Porker the pig," Caitlin explained.

Mattea looked puzzled. "You have a brother named Porker?!"

"No," Caitlin stated shaking her head, "He's name is Parker, but he's named after Porker. My mama isn't that crazy; yet."

Mattea couldn't help but smile. "That's good to know."

"What kind of music do you like?" Caitlin asked.

Chloe shook her head. "Don't get her started."

"Fleetwood Mac and Elton John," Mattea answered quickly. "Maybe after dinner we can listen to some of their songs."

Emily watched Caitlin's eyes shine. "I would like that," Caitlin replied. Emily knew in that moment she could be trusted.

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Emily and Elise sat on the couch giggling as Caitlin attempted to teach Chloe and Mattea how to line dance to a song Emily had never heard. She was pretty sure it was called "Watermelon Crawl".

"Do they actually line dance to this?" Mattea asked as she followed Caitlin's steps.

"Don't know; never been to Georgia," Caitlin replied as the song changed, "My aunt Helen says your more likely to catch them doing the electric slide; however, Aunt Lee says that if the right song plays a bunch of them will get out and line dance."

"What's this one called?" Chloe asked flopping down bored with the slower song.

Caitlin blushed just paying attention to what song it was. She immediately ran and turned it off. "It's uhm "Wrecking Ball" by Eric Church."

"Hey," Mattea called stepping next to Caitlin. "You don't have to turn it off. You can just play a different song."

"Okay," Caitlin replied flipping through a few songs before settling on one. "Mama says this song is played at every event."

"What's it called?" Mattea asked joining Chloe on the floor.

Caitlin grinned. "You'll figure it out."

Mattea laughed as Caitlin lip synced the song. "'Sweet Home Alabama'?" She asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Yeah, it's decently popular in the South. Mama said they once played it in her high school during lunch." When the song ended Caitlin handed the music over to Mattea. "You're turn."

"You are going to love this," Mattea exclaimed as "Don't Stop" played over the speakers.

Mattea grabbed Caitlin's hands and spun her around the room; Chloe jumping around them. Before long Elise and Emily had joined them. The room was filled with laughter as they tried to keep from tripping over each other and the furniture.

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"All I want is to see you smile, if it takes just a little while." -Fleetwood Mac