Chapter 7- Family Dinner and Getting Home
"Experience: That most brutal of teachers. But you learn, my God do you learn." -C.S. Lewis
Hotch's POV
We all sat down at the table, Reid on one side of me, and Gwen on the other. Next to Reid was Morgan, then Garcia, then JJ, then Alex, and finally next to Gwen was Rossi. "You sure you want to pay for this, Dave?" I asked.
"Please, Aaron. I have too much money, and I like spending it on and with my family," Dave answered.
"Awwww, that was the sweetest thing I have ever heard!" Garcia crooned. I smiled at her. I love my family.
"So can we have a get together at your mansion tomorrow, Dave? I want to introduce Gwen to Jack," I asked Dave, who just smiled and nodded.
"I will make Pasta Carbonara. I know that is Jack's favorite," Dave told me, from beside Gwen.
"Can I bring Will and Henry?" JJ asked.
"Why not, it will truly then be a family dinner," Dave assured JJ.
"I can help cook, Dave," Gwen offered Dave who nodded.
"Can I bring anything? And can you make a portion of the food vegetarian?" Garcia asked.
"Yes to both," Dave responded. "I have some of the best wine, Case Basse di Gianfranco Soldera Brunello di Montalcino Riserva DOCG."
"Wow, that is one of the 12 most expensive wines in the world," Spencer exclaimed. Rossi just nodded.
"Isn't it like $834 a bottle?" I asked.
"Yeah it is," Dave answered. The waiter arrived at our table, and looked confused at the number and the differences of our group.
"Hello, what can I get you guys to drink?" The waiter asked.
"I would like a lemonade," Gwen answered. He nodded.
"I would like three fingers of scotch, please," I requested.
"I would like an Arnold Palmer," Reid ordered.
"I would like a craft beer," Morgan responded.
"I would like some water," Garcia replied.
"I would like a tequila sunrise," JJ answered.
"Can I have some sweet tea?" Blake asked. The waiter nodded.
"I would like some Cabernet Sauvignon." Rossi responded. The waiter nodded, and left to get the orders.
"So I am driving everyone home?" Gwen asked.
"I can help," Blake stated.
"So can I," Garcia pitched in.
I can't wait for a weekend off!"Spencer exclaimed excitedly.
"What are you planning about doing this weekend?" I asked Spencer. He blushed.
"I was planning on going to the Smithsonian before dinner at Rossi's," He stated.
"Can Jack and I come with you? I have been meaning to take him, but haven't had the time, plus, we could use a guide," I asked Spencer.
"Sure, Hotch. I was planning on going at 10 am," He told me.
"If you want, you can swing by my apartment, I can drive us to the museums, and I am making Jack breakfast, if you want to eat with us?" I asked, with a slight blush.
"Sure, I will swing by around 8:30?" Spencer replied. I nodded.
"Sounds good," I told him. Both of us blushed.
"So what are your plans for this weekend?" Dave asked Gwen, I shot Dave a grateful look, he nodded in response.
"I was planning on going to a Navy training exercise at Headquarters. They are running a joint FBI, Navy, and NCIS recruitment day on Sunday, where high ranking members of each run a couple of stations, some in physical defense, some in shooting, some in solving murders. I do this day every year, I run a crime booth, and I also am the referee for a couple of sparring matches. In fact, if any of y'all are free on Sunday, you guys should come check it out. Especially you, Derek, since you are one of the main self defense instructors at the academy, and you Dave, as the interrogation instructor," Gwen informed the team. "Tomorrow though, I am planning on having a Star Wars marathon, before five. At five I plan on leaving to head to your place, Dave."
"You remember my address?" Rossi asked Gwen.
"Yeah, I have a photographic memory," Gwen assured Rossi.
"What is your IQ?" Spencer asked.
"I have an IQ of 180," She answered.
"Wow, it is like having two Reids," Morgan exclaimed. I laughed.
"No offence to Reid, but Gwen is nothing like Spencer. She loves human contact, she loves to cook, and she doesn't like Indian food," I informed the team.
"She is also harder to profile than I am," Spencer pointed out. Gwen blushed at that. "Which do you like better, the originals, or the prequels, of Star Wars?"
"I prefer the originals, but the light-saber battles of the prequels are amazing!" Gwen exclaimed.
"I prefer Star Trek to Star Wars," I interjected.
"What, no! Star Wars is so much better!" both Spencer and Gwen exclaimed.
"You guys sound like Jack," I commented.
"So he likes Star Wars?" Gwen asked.
"Oh yes. He wants to be Darth Vader for Halloween," I told her.
"Oh, that is going to be so cute!" Gwen cooed. I smiled.
The waiter brought our drinks, and later our food. The whole team ate, and laughed. We were in the restaurant for about two hours, just eating and talking. After dinner, the team parted ways, Gwen brought Rossi, and Reid home, Garcia took Morgan, and Blake took JJ. I did a breathalyzer on myself, and I was at .001, so I drove myself home.
"Hi Dad!" Jack greeted me, when I walked into our apartment.
"Hey buddy, where is your aunt Jess?" I greeted my 8 year old son.
"She left once she saw that you were on your way home, about 5 minutes ago," Jack answered.
"Oh, right, she texted me. BTW, tomorrow, you are going to meet someone who I am very close to," I informed my son.
"Who?" Jack asked.
"Well, we are going to spend the morning and afternoon at the Smithsonian with your Uncle Spencer, and then we are going to go to dinner at Uncle Dave's place. Do you remember the letters from Aunt Gwen?" I asked.
"Yeah," Jack responded, while I put down all my stuff, and started walking towards my room.
"You will get to meet her tomorrow, and also she is your Godmother," I informed her.
"Do you have a current picture of her?" Jack asked.
"Yeah," I replied, while pulling out my phone, and pulling up the picture that Penelope had sent the team group chat. It was a picture of the team after dinner, before we all parted ways. I zoomed in on Gwen, who was in between Dave and I.
"She is really pretty," Jack commented.
"She is, isn't she. I have known her since she was eleven. When she was in high school, I took a day off to go see her because she was going through stuff. Did you know, she is the first person that I ever saved," I told my son.
"Wow, Dad! I can't wait to meet her!" Jack exclaimed excitedly.