A/N: I've wanted to do this story. But in my mind, it had to wait until the Braves finished their playoff run before I could start it. That said there will be a mention of baseball. That's it.

This will be another Heinz chapter for my family. I'm sure you all get my old jokes by now. And, per the OK Teacher, maybe a tissue alert.

All rights to the Criminal Minds characters belong to Mark Gordon Productions, CBS and ABC Studios.

*Jedi Master bow*

Chapter 1

Zach was on the phone with his former professor and mentor Dr. Michael Hillman, sitting at his desk in his home office in Lawrenceville. Zach had been hired by Hillman to be the lead designer on a big freeway construction project in the D.C. metro area. The two of them were discussing Zach's initial assessment of the project. It was mid-August, two weeks plus from Zach opting out of the baseball season.

"Zach," Hillman said, "like always, you've nailed it."

Zach shook his head. "Why do I feel a 'but' coming?"

"What is my first rule of designing Zach?"

"I remember," Zach smiled. "You have to see the area to visualize your concept. I've done that. You've sent me all the video footage you've taken."

"That's two-dimensional Zach," Hillman said. "You need to see it with your own eyes. And you know the deadline for our initial project concept plan."

"Yes Mike," Zach said. "December first, I've got it highlighted on all my Google calendars."

"So when are you going to get here to see it?" Hillman's question was valid. "Don't get me wrong, you're damn good Zach. But getting here in October doesn't work."

"Mike, I agree. And honestly, Caleigh and I are being hit over the head by our general contractor that we need to make some decisions on the new house. Paint colors for the walls, flooring...you get it."

"Yes I do Zach," Hillman smiled.

"And my wife is starting to stress a bit about getting furniture ordered. Online isn't working for her. Thank God we could pick out the countertops and backsplash tiles for the kitchen and bathrooms online with that subcontractor."

Hillman laughed. "Sucks to be you Zach."

"Welcome to my world Mike," Zach replied. "Caleigh and I have already talked and we've agreed to head back home after Labor Day. With great support from her mother, the nurse."

"Does she really think the fall wave of predicted spikes in Covid is coming?"

"Mike, why do you think she wants her grandchildren home before October besides missing them like my family does?"

"Damn," Hillman said.

"Yeah," Zach said. "Give us a couple weeks to get things taken care of around here, get home and I'll be your…"

"Bright, shining star student that I praised you up to get you on this project," Hillman finished.

Zach laughed. "No pressure Mike."

"You've been through a World Series," Mike countered.

"That was baseball Mike. I can do that in my sleep. This is the real deal for me. I'm excited to work on the project. And yet, scared shitless."

It was Mike Hillman's turn to laugh. "When you're scared shitless Zach is when you usually do your best work."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence Mike. I'll keep in touch, working on the notes we discussed today. I should have more initial specs for you when I get the soil analysis reports for the area. Which you could light a fire to get them to me."

"Fire already lit Zach," Hillman said. "I chewed the ground analysis company butts again this morning."

Zach smiled. "When I have a firm back home in D.C. date, I'll let you know."

"Talk to you next week Zach," Hillman said.

"You got it Mike."

Zach left his office and looked in on the napping twins, then headed downstairs, walking into the kitchen. Caleigh was doing some dinner prep. "How'd the call go with Mike?"

Zach smiled at her. "I think your mom is paying him under the table." Caleigh looked at him. "Mike hammered me over the head that I need to get home to start my design of the project."

Caleigh smiled. "That's not the only thing we need to take of."

Zach kissed her. "Duly noted and mentioned to Mike. I get it Cal. We need to get our butts home."

-00CM00-

The Labor Day picnic, also send-off party for the Hotchners, was at the Minton home. Zach was in Andy and Vic's pool during the afternoon with Rashad and Miguel. Caleigh was still at their home with the twins, who were taking their nap.

Miguel smiled at Zach. "Needed this last time."

"Me too," Zach smiled, rubbing his head.

"Bad summer, good summer," Miguel added. Zach looked at him. "Baseball without you playing. But time with you all summer."

Zach smiled more. "It did rock," Rashad smiled, swimming up to Zach and Miguel. The boys shared a high-five.

Zach beamed at the boys. "Shut the front door. A high five?" Rashad beamed back at him while Miguel softly smiled. Zach dunked them both and then roughhoused more in the water with them.

Andy and Vic watched the scene from their kitchen window. "Who needs this last time more?" Vic smiled at Andy.

"I think that's a tie," Andy smiled, kissing her.

Zach surfaced after the boys had dunked him. He looked at Miguel and Rashad. "You guys know you can use this pool while the weather is still good?"

"Andy and Vic are cool like you and Cal," Rashad smiled. Miguel shook his head.

"Miguel?" Zach said.

"More work on talking," Miguel said. "They like you and Cal."

Zach smiled. "That's the plan Stan," tossing Miguel into the deep end.

A couple hours later, the four families were sitting down to enjoy their dinners. "Da-dee!" Taylor complained. Loudly. "No cut hot dog! Eat like Miguel!"

"Tay, how old are you going to be next month?" Taylor proudly held up two fingers. Zach held up his hand, spreading out his fingers. "When you get that old, you can eat your hotdog in a bun like Miguel. Until then," he said, pointing at the cut-up pieces, "you eat it like that." Taylor deeply looked at him. Zach laughed. "Sorry sweetheart, grandpa's Hotchner glare hasn't worked on me for years. And yours needs work." Everyone snickered.

Trev, taking a bite of his cut up hotdog, looked at his sister with the smart-ass smile he inherited from his father. Caleigh lightly thumped his shoulder. "Zip it," Zach growled at his son.

Tay pointed at Zach, looking at her brother. "Cunckle Dave," she smugly smiled, taking a bite of her hot dog. The group roared with laughter.

Later that evening, it was time for good-byes. Josh Willingham looked at Caleigh and Zach as the twins gave hugs good-bye to everyone. "Usual plan getting home?"

Caleigh smiled. "With some deviance with the kids being older. We're going to have an early lunch with Gabby and then head out. The kids take their long afternoon nap…"

"And we pray they can ride for another hour to make it to Gastonia," Zach added.

Alec looked at them, handing Tay off to Pedro. "You're staying in Gastonia?"

Caleigh smiled. "The hotel we always stay at is practicing cleaning standards to CDC recommendations. We can't check in until four tomorrow so the deep cleaning of the rooms can work. And they said the poolside rooms aren't being booked too much since the pool is shut down. We're regulars," Caleigh smiled again. "They'll get us in a room that wasn't used the night before."

"We're fine with traveling now," Zach said. "A month from now…" Everyone nodded and shared one last hug.

Zach looked at Miguel as they were getting ready to leave. "Step up Miguel. Make us proud."

Miguel softly smiled. "Promise Cob."

Andy rubbed Miguel's shoulder. "Travel safe all of you," he smiled at the Hotchners. "Keep us in the loop."

Caleigh and Zach looked at their yawning children. "Wave good-bye."

Rashad buried his head into his mother for a comfort hug. Mo kissed his head as the rest all waved good-bye back. Miguel moved to his mother, putting his arms around her. Alec gently rubbed his back.

-00CM00-

Around noon the next day, the good-byes got tougher. Gabby was playing with the kids in the front yard. Lexie happily barked, joining the group. Andy helped Zach put in the folded-up playpen and the last of their luggage into the back of the truck. Andy smiled at Zach, sticking out his hand. "Travel safe. Call Vic and me tonight."

Zach shook his hand. "Promise," Zach smiled. "Thanks for the help Andy."

Andy smiled at the kids with Gabby and hugged Caleigh. "I'll let you guys have that good-bye to yourselves." He walked out of the garage, hugged the kids again and headed towards him and Vic's home.

Gabby got the twins into the garage. She pulled Taylor into a big hug. "I'm gonna miss you so much my little lady," holding her tight. Gabby kissed Tay and got her into her carseat. Caleigh buckled Taylor in.

Zach scooped up Trevor, who was still running around with Lexie. "Buddy, you've got to say good-bye to Gabby."

Trev held out his arms to Gabby. She pulled him into a deep hug. "I'm gonna miss you my little troublemaker." Trev kissed her cheek. Gabby smiled at him, handing him to Zach. "You get buckled in like the big boy you are."

"Kay Gabby," Trev smiled.

Caleigh deeply hugged Gabby. "We'll miss you," she said as Zach got Trev in his car seat.

"The feeling is mutual," Gabby sniffled back. "Skype here we come," she smiled, looking at Caleigh.

Zach came around the truck. Gabby looked at him. "Don't start," she pointed. "Luis and I have the house. With my big brother Pedro, Josh and Andy as back-up."

"Just keep it away from lightning bolts," Zach snarked. Gabby shook her head as Zach pulled her into a hug, kissing her cheek. "We'll miss you."

"Back at you," Gabby said. She squeezed Zach again. "That one is for my mijo," she smiled, letting go.

"I'll be happy to deliver it to Jack," Zach grinned.

"Travel safe all of you," Gabby said, rubbing Zach's arm and squeezing Caleigh's hand.

Caleigh hugged Gabby again. "We love you."

"I love you all," Gabby smiled as Zach got Lexie into the truck. She waved good-bye again as Zach backed the truck out of the garage as Gabby walked to her car. Getting at the bottom of the driveway, Zach turned the truck to head down the street while shutting the garage door down. He put the truck in drive, drove forward two feet and stopped.

Caleigh rolled down the back windows. "Luvs ya Gabby," the twins shouted, waving at her. Lexie, standing on the backseat stuck her head out the window by Trev and barked her good-bye. Gabby blew them a kiss.

Heading up the street towards the Minton home, the Hotchners got their final southern neighborhood good-bye with Andy, Vic, AJ and Gabe waving at them. Dani barked her good-bye, wagging her tail. The Hotchners waved good-bye back.

-00CM00-

The next day, the BAU team assembled for their usual morning briefing. Dave joined them for the usual BS session. Reid came in a minute later. "Sorry for being late," he said, sitting down.

Dave looked at him. "I think Hotch already used up the boy-band line," looking at Reid's new haircut.

"Couldn't get the new do styled Pretty Boy?" Morgan smiled.

"No, mom and I Skyped," Reid said, looking at Morgan. "She likes it. We talked a bit longer."

"Good for you Spence," JJ said, rubbing his shoulder. "And for the record, I like it too," she smiled.

"Thanks Jennifer," Reid smiled back.

Tara glared at Morgan and pointed. "Back down. I'm backing Mama Reid."

"I've got your back," Emily added.

Morgan waved his hands. "I'm done ladies. I don't mess with the Mama Reid seal of approval."

"Wise decision Derek," Dave smiled.

Penelope blew in. "Where's Hotch?" she said sitting down.

"On the phone," Dave answered, already looking at his tablet.

Aaron walked in. "Sorry for being late," he said, sitting down.

"Problems Hotch?" Morgan asked.

Aaron shook his head with a smile. "No Derek. Zach called. He, Caleigh and the kids are getting ready to leave the hotel in Gastonia to get home this afternoon."

Dave looked at him. "How'd it go yesterday?"

Aaron smiled at Dave. "Thankfully, exactly like they planned. The kids slept for nearly three hours. Rest stop, diaper change and some running around for all of them. The kids happily watching Nemo before getting into Gastonia. Dinner at the Outback socially distanced. They kept the kids up late and they slept in this morning. They're heading out to a big breakfast at Perkins. Nap and finding Nemo to get them home later this afternoon."

"Finding Nemo is a parent's godsend," Morgan said. JJ pointed at him with a smile.

"It's all the bright colors and movement of the animation that keeps younger eyes attracted to the movie," Reid said.

"Ya think kid?" Morgan smiled at him.

"Dr. Reid," Dave intoned, "I found that movie visually entertaining as well and enjoyed it with the then much younger version of the now high school freshman sitting on my lap."

"Thank you SSA Rossi," Reid smiled back. Tara and Emily shook their heads at each other.

"Was a big bowl of your homemade popcorn involved with that as well Uncle Dave?" JJ smiled.

"You know it," Dave smiled with a point at her.

"Hotch," Emily said, looking at him. "How does your and Beth's home look later today?"

"Emily, you mean with two more adults who have more than made themselves at home there before, along with two toddlers and another dog? When we've all essentially lived on Skype calls for eight months?"

"That's my profile," Emily smiled.

"Hectic," Aaron deadpanned. The team all looked at him. "Beth, Jack and I can't wait," he broadly smiled. "And with a teacher in the home plus the fill-in one back in the day, Jack will do better with his schoolwork." Dave rubbed his shoulder with a smile. The team around the table smiled as well.

"Time out Big Dog," Morgan said, looking at Rossi. "Since we were gone last weekend, is there a big welcome home plus we missed Labor Day blowout this weekend at your place?"

Garcia smiled. "Fret not my…" Hotch loudly cleared his throat. The team all snickered. "Yes Derek. Potluck sign-up is going out this afternoon via email to all the usual suspects. Including grandmas Morgan and Jareau who are still in town. And the Greystone and Brooks families."

Reid looked at Morgan. "Sounds like a party to me," he smiled.

"Ya think Pretty Boy?" Morgan smiled back.

"Which Chief Cruz has assured me we all be able to enjoy. Thank you Garcia for your usual pre-planning. Please include Teresa Cruz on that email list," Hotch said.

"Check boss," Garcia smiled.

"Let's get started."

Later that afternoon, Jack was in his room. He was struggling again with homework, doing balanced learning with days in school and days at home. Today, was a day at home. Deep in thought over a history essay outline he had to turn in by the next day, he didn't hear the garage door go up. Molly, taking a nap by his desk, sprang up on her feet. "What's up Molly?" Jack said. Molly raced out of the room.

"Jack, you better be getting homework done!" Zach bellowed, coming into the house.

Jack flew out of his room and down the steps, hearing Molly and Lexie barking at each other. He ran into the kitchen. "Cunckle Yack!" the twins shouted, running at him.

XXX

A/N: You now are officially caught up. Fill in the blanks for the rest that was hinted at but unwritten. I've done that enough.