A/N: Writing OC's is a gamble. I think back to the original in this series. The thought I couldn't get out of mind so I had to write it. But probably won't go back to again. *shakes head* Who knew? I certainly didn't back then. *giggles* And all it took was a CM episode that had the B storyline of a softball game.

When I outlined this story, I knew this chapter would be my signature one. My bring "it home" chapter. I want to show my OC for what he has become outside of baseball. A husband that married a wonderful and beautiful woman. And a loving father. This is Aaron and Haley's oldest son in my world. *whispers* But there will be a little baseball. To show more of what Zach is all about.

My deepest thanks and respects to the various Criminal Minds writers that helped me grow this OC into this man with their little gifts I've gleamed off. And ran with.

And…oh s*** Tissue alert. A special one I enjoyed writing.

Chapter 3

The Monday morning after the Thanksgiving weekend with their guests gone, it was the usual for Zach and Caleigh. Caleigh and Vic working with Marissa while Zach kept on eye on the twins. After Caleigh finished, she looked at Zach. "You didn't bring your laptop to nitpick on the presentation while watching the kids?" she smiled.

Zach pulled her into a hug, shaking his head. "If I nitpick anymore, I'll drive myself and the rest of team the crazy. And I have no doubt we'll do that this afternoon." Caleigh softly laughed in the warmth of his arms. Zach kissed her temple. "How are you feeling?"

Caleigh looked at him, still in his embrace. "Pregnant," she smiled. Zach looked deeply at her. Caleigh shook her head with a smile. "Do I feel absolutely terrific? No. Do I feel totally crappy? No on that too. I go back to my to one-word assessment," she smiled at him. Zach kissed her, holding her close with the twins and Lexie joining them in the kitchen.

Trevor opened a cabinet door. "Don't even think about it mister," Zach growled at him. Trev sheepishly shut the door.

Caleigh softly laughed. "Channel a little dad there?" Zach shook his head, scooping up the twins, taking them back into the great room.

After the twins' lunch and getting them down for their afternoon nap, Zach came down the stairs with his briefcase, wearing his usual jeans and long-sleeve polo shirt. Caleigh, doing a bit of dinner prep, smiled at him as Zach put his briefcase on the kitchen counter. "I don't think that wardrobe is going to fly tomorrow in front of the Commonwealth's House of Transportation Committee."

Zach rolled his eyes. "Tell me about it. Mike Hillman, the most dressed down professor to walk the hallowed grounds of George Mason University has been all over the team's ass the last week with a dress code." Caleigh giggled at Zach shaking his head. "You'd think there might be something big at stake."

Caleigh pulled him into a hug. "You think?" she smiled.

Zach shook his head and kissed Caleigh. "I'm off to do mortal combat with Mike," he smiled, letting Caleigh go, grabbing his briefcase and heading out of the kitchen towards the garage.

"Zach?" Caleigh asked.

"He expects me to wear a goddamn tie tomorrow." Caleigh laughed. "Luvs ya babe. Get a nap. See you later."

"Love you too," Caleigh smiled as Zach went into the garage.

Three hours later, Zach looked at his watch and shook his head. Hillman looked at him. "Problem Zach?"

Zach looked at him. "Mike, with all due respect, we," Zach said, waving his hand around the table at the five other designers and the team's computer guru, "can't pick this apart more. The presentation is solid." Hillman looked at him more intently. "And yes, I need to get home to my wife to help her with dinner for us and our twins and battling D.C. traffic to get there."

Hillman looked around the table. "You all agree?" The group smiled at him. Mike looked at Zach. "You are wearing a tie tomorrow." Zach burrowed the Hotchner glare into him. "You're doing the design presentation."

"I'm what?" Zach said.

"You heard me," Mike smiled.

"You're the project coordinator," Zach argued. "That's your job."

"And you're the lead designer," Hillman fired back. Zach looked at him. "Zach, will your name recognition being a pro baseball player hit with some, if not all of the committee? Yes," Hillman said. "That will last thirty seconds. I'll say again. You're the lead designer. It's your presentation."

The next morning, Aaron was in his office by eight. The rest of the team filtered in at their usual time. A little after nine, with Dave in his office, the usual BAU morning gossip group was gathered around JJ, Tara and Reid's desks in the bullpen. They noticed Hotch shutting his office door. Morgan shook his head. "Why doesn't he just put out the do not disturb sign?"

Reid looked at Morgan. "I think the shutting of the door effectively does that." Dave came out his office and descended the steps into the bullpen.

JJ leaned back in her chair to look at Morgan leaning against her desk. "Spence has a point."

"Yup," Reid smiled as he and JJ shared a fist bump.

Dave shook his head at the group. "He's being dad," Dave nodded at Hotch's door. "Zach is on his way to Richmond with the design team to make their presentation to the committee."

Tara smiled at JJ and Reid. "Maybe that?"

"Ya think?" Emily snarked, sitting on Tara's desk. She got on her feet. "The boss' door is shut. I've got more time to finish another report I don't have to get beat over the head about in less than an hour," she said, heading to the bullpen side door to get to her office.

Dave looked at Morgan. "I hate when she's right," Morgan said. Dave smiled.

"I heard that," Emily said, pulling the door open. Morgan shook his head at Rossi and followed Emily. Dave eyed the rest of the group. They all shook their heads, getting back to work. Dave smiled heading to get his coffee refill.

Caleigh looked at the caller ID on her cellphone and smiled. "Hi Aaron," she answered.

"Hi Caleigh. How was he this morning?"

"Honestly Aaron? Like he was the morning before game five last year of the World Series. Prepared and focused. And still bitching about the tie. So totally not dad. Haley gets a hug."

Aaron shook his head. "I'll give you that," he smiled. "She would be so proud of him."

"Aaron, you know she is always in his heart."

"Yes Caleigh, I know that. It makes me very proud of him." Aaron said. There were a few seconds of silence on the call. "How are you feeling?"

Caleigh shook her head. "I'm joining Penelope's 'I hate profilers club'."

Aaron smiled. "Caleigh, it didn't take a profiler to see the biggest morning coffee drinker pass on said brew Thanksgiving morning. Just an observant dad that cares. And for the record, senior profiler Rossi missed that."

"Thank god for small favors." Aaron laughed. Caleigh smiled. "Sorry Aaron, I'm still joining Penelope's club." Aaron smiled. "I'm feeling pregnant. That's it. I nap in the afternoon with the kids."

"So you're not hiding another surprise?" Aaron asked.

Caleigh shook her head at her cellphone with her huge smile. "I've already talked to Dr. Lisa. I'm in three weeks from today to get an ultrasound. But Aaron, I can definitely tell you it's only one baby. I'm not getting every ounce of energy vacuumed out of me by two kids."

Aaron shook his head. "It was that bad with the twins?"

"Aaron, why do you think I was on bed rest the last two months?"

"Point taken," Aaron smiled.

"Aaron," Caleigh said. Aaron heard her pause. "Our secret. Please. Buying Christmas presents for you, Beth and my folks is not easy. I won't even mention Dave." Aaron shook his head with a knowing smile. "An ultrasound picture is the perfect gift."

"Got you covered," Aaron smiled. "It's our secret. Take care sweetheart. Get your nap with the kids this afternoon."

"Yes Aaron," Caleigh smiled. "Love you."

"Love you back. Call me later with an update," Aaron smiled.

"That update will be how much beer he drinks," Caleigh smiled.

Aaron laughed. "That won't take a profiler either."

Caleigh smiled. "No it won't. It will just be his dad."

Aaron smiled. "Thank you Caleigh. Please nap."

"Yes dad." Aaron smiled again, ending the call.

-00CM00-

Mike, Zach and the design team sat down in their chairs before the Transportation Committee in their hearing room. Chairman Mosely nodded at Mike. "Welcome Dr. Hillman. We look forward to your team's presentation. Please introduce them to us."

Mike introduced his team, leaving Zach for last. Chairman Mosely shook his head at Hillman. "Sir, you think this committee should really hear the design on a major highway project that was headed by a former baseball MVP?"

"With all due respect Mr. Chairman," Hillman growled, "you haven't seen our design or heard one word of our presentation. And after our hours and hours of hard work, we deeply resent your attitude without giving us a chance. I didn't bring to this committee a baseball MVP. I'm bringing to this committee the most talented engineer I know. He has a master's degree in Civil Engineering from MIT, the top civil engineering university in the country after transferring to their program upon a recommendation from the head of the engineering school at Georgetown. Which he did online working his day job. He holds a Commonwealth license in civil engineering. Zach has provided sound leadership and expertise to this design team to give all of you a rock-solid design. One that will be within budget for the taxpayers of the Commonwealth of Virginia. That is what this committee tasked us to do."

Mosely cleared his throat. "I stand corrected. Proceed Dr. Hillman."

For the first half-hour, the team outlined their process for selecting their design, taking in a multitude of factors, including soil bearings for the near sea-level area of the greater Potomac River basin and possible weather scenarios. Mosely looked at Zach. "Why so much importance on the soil bearings?"

"Mr. Chairman," Zach said, "any road project like this relies on one basic ingredient – concrete. You need a solid base to put concrete on or it degrades rapidly given the weight and the volume of traffic."

Another committee member looked at Zach. "Why so much attention to the weather?"

Zach smiled. "An easy design would be to build a series of ramps, rising in elevation off the ground surface to handle the flow of traffic. The problem with that, with the amount of merging traffic at this junction is one or two of those ramps could reach over one story in height. We've had our share of tropical storms hit the D.C. area and Potomac basin. Large semis on those high ramps in that kind of weather pose a huge safety risk. Both to the semi driver and the general driving public." The committee person nodded her acceptance.

Zach looked at the committee. "One of the things I love most about designing projects like this is I can look at other major projects that worked well. Which everyone on this team did. Unlike the music industry or the printed word, road design projects are not copyrighted. In fact, those design engineers take pride in someone studying and using their design for another project model. It's a 'whatever works' philosophy. I like to use the best," he smiled.

Juan, the team's computer tech, put up a picture on the video screen in the hearing room. "President Eisenhower signed the Federal Aid Highway Bill in 1956 that started the interstate highway system in this country. One of the last areas to have a true four-lane interstate in the continental forty-eight states was I-70 through Glenwood Canyon, west of Denver," Zach continued.

"The population around the area deeply worried about how expanding I-70 to a four-lane freeway would impact the natural beauty of the canyon. Northwest Engineering Company, based in Denver, made it work." Juan ran the video of how the interstate wove through the canyon.

Zach looked at the committee. "Given the land space issues around this construction site and the commercial property around it, this design quickly became the most logical to us: a closely tiered freeway with multiple lanes to handle the volume of traffic." Juan ran his CGI of the teams' design to the committee.

Four hours later, Zach walked into the house from the garage. Lexie and Molly happily greeted him. "Hi my ladies," Zach smiled, petting them both. Walking in more, he smiled at Jack putting puzzles together with the twins in the great room and walked towards the kitchen. Dave, his dad and Beth were sitting at the nook counter. Caleigh was standing in the kitchen.

Zach put his briefcase on the kitchen counter below the nook counter. He reached into the pocket of his winter dress coat and pulled out a beer. His tie was in his suitcoat pocket and his dress shirt collar was unbuttoned. The four looked at him. Zach looked at Caleigh, taking the cap off the beer bottle. "If you weren't here," he smiled at his wife, "I'd be shaking this up and spraying it around," he beamed.

"Yeah baby!" Dave shouted as Zach pulled Caleigh into a hug.

-00CM00-

A couple weeks later, Zach was in a Zoom session of a different kind. He was sitting at the kitchen nook, with his headphones plugged into his laptop. "Zach, get ready. Ten seconds, coming out of commercial."

"Got it," Zach smiled.

"Good afternoon," Zach heard. "It's two in the afternoon and time for Braves Baseball Talk with me, Kevin McAlpin on 680 The Fan. Atlanta's number one radio station for all things sports. We're going to talk Braves baseball for the next hour. And I've got a special guest for all of you this afternoon. From Annandale, Virginia welcome Zach Hotchner to the show. Happy Holidays to you and the family Zach."

"Thanks Kevin for having me. And same back to you and your family. And congrats again to you, Lisa and big brother Max on welcoming Mia to the family. How's she doing?"

"You know how it goes Zach," Kevin smiled.

"Times two," Zach smiled back. "God willing she's healthy and happy. Eating, sleeping and filling diapers."

"That's my girl in a nutshell," Kevin smiled. "How are you and the family? And when did you head back home?" Zach spent some time talking about he and Caleigh's reasons for staying in Atlanta for the summer. And then why they headed home in September. "We, as a family, really enjoyed our September once we got home. After living on Skype sessions for three months, it was wonderful to be with our families again living with my dad and stepmom while our new house was finished. Except grandpa and grandma spoiling the kids on Saturday morning, pulling the kids into their bed." McAlpin laughed.

"Yet since we've been home, we're still basically living our same lifestyle. Following CDC protocols, not going out much except for essentials. But we sorta like being home bodies, back with our families."

"How did the design project turn out Zach?" Kevin asked.

"Mike Hillman was a great team leader. And I was blessed to work with five other incredible designers. We knocked it out of the park."

"Thanks Cob for a great segway into a commercial break. Zach and I will talk Braves baseball after the break."

After the commercials, Kevin re-introduced his radio audience to his guest. "So Zach, let's talk about the Braves. How was it for you to sit on the sidelines with their phenomenal run into the playoffs?"

"I was a fan and I loved it," Zach said. "And knowing everyone on the team, I was so damn proud of what they accomplished. They all really stepped up with all the injuries the team battled through. Starting with Freddie returning from Covid."

"Is Freddie following your MVP title last year with his own this year?"

Zach shook his head. "If he isn't, it's a damn shame. Freddie deserves the MVP with the season he had. But that's Freddie. It's all about the team winning, and he'll give one thousand percent to make that happen. Every game. That's how he's wired. That said Kevin, if Snit doesn't win Manager of the Year, I'll be more pissed. What Snit did with the guys, juggling all the injuries, especially to the pitching staff, was just outstanding. People around baseball shake their heads at all the late innings games the Braves win and wonder why. That's easy. Every player on that team will go to hell and back for Snit. He's that good, that respected by the players, and most importantly, that loved."

McAlpin and Zach talked more about the Braves and their prospects for next year. "I can't wait to get back with all of them next spring. I think we're loaded and going to be a force with the young kids stepping up."

"And that leads us into another commercial break," McAlpin said. "When we return, I ask Zach the sixty-four-thousand-dollar question and we take your calls. Back in two minutes."

McAlpin smiled at Zach in the Zoom camera. "You ready?"

"Bring it," Zach smiled.

Kevin did his usual after commercial spiel. "Zach, the elephant in the room question. Do you regret making your decision to sit out the season?"

"Yes and no," Zach quickly answered back. "Was it hell to sit on the couch at home and watch the guys make that incredible run? Yes. I dearly missed being a part of that."

"And Kevin, I'm like Freddie. I've been wired to be a baseball player since I was ten. But I've become an adult since then. And while I'm loyal to my employers and the fans, and extremely loyal to my coaches and teammates, my first priority is to my family. I'm a husband and father first. Caleigh and the kids are my world. I'm nothing without them. Baseball comes after that. There's no hindsight in my world. But for the record, even with the Braves' amazing season, I'd make the same decision."

McAlpin smiled. "Zach, you should see my phone board. Half the calls just dropped. I don't think you'll get many callers chewing your ass for the decision you made."

Zach didn't. And thoroughly enjoyed the last fifteen minutes of the interview talking with the fans.

-00CM00-

After spending Christmas Eve day and part of the night with Caleigh's family, the four Hotchners came into their home with the twins ready for bed. Aaron, Beth, Jack and Dave were waiting for them, already settled in their rooms to spend the night. Beth helped Caleigh get the twins to bed.

Zach winked at Jack. "Come on Santa Claus," he smiled. "Let's deliver some presents."

Jack looked at him. "You know, when I finally learned about Santa, Christmas sorta wasn't the same for me." He smiled at Zach. "But I get it now. This part is really more fun being on the other end."

"Yup, it is," Zach smiled, winking at his dad and Dave.

The ultrasound picture of the newest, healthy, growing Hotchner that would debut sometime in late July or early August, was the special gift that Caleigh envisioned. Dave cherished his.

-00CM00-

The Monday after Christmas, the Atlanta Braves executive staff of Terry McGuirk, Derek Shiller and Alex Anthopoulos were on the Braves corporate jet, heading to D.C. for meetings with executives of MLB. Social distancing with masks would be required for the needed in-person meeting.

After the jet landed at Reagan Airport, it taxied to the corporate air facility and came to a stop. Alex, getting out of his seat, smiled at the two extra passengers on the flight, getting out of their seats and pulling up their neck gaiters that Gabby had given them at Christmas. The gaiters featured the Braves logo and were made with protective fabric. Alex pulled up his own as well. The jet door opened. Alex handed a Braves stocking cap to each of the passengers. "You might need them," he smiled, waving the passengers in front of him to get off the plane. The passengers pulled on the stocking caps before getting off the plane.

Zach was standing on the tarmac a bit away from the jet. He was wearing his own neck gaiter. The first passenger got off and bolted at him. Zach pulled Rashad off his feet into a huge hug. "Hi you!"

"Hi Cob! I've missed you!" Rashad smiled in Zach's arms.

"We've all missed you pal," Zach smiled, putting Rashad on his feet. Zach looked at Miguel. He got tears in his eyes. "Miguel, do you know how proud I am of you right now?"

Miguel walked up to Zach and hugged him. "Proud of me." Zach kissed his stocking cap covered head and looked at Alex.

"Thank you Big Dog," Zach smiled at Alex.

Alex smiled back. "It was our pleasure Zach. The boys were great flying companions."

Zach looked at McGuirk and Shiller. "Thank you both," he smiled at them.

"We agree with Alex," McGuirk smiled back. "See you in February in Florida Zach. We can't wait to have you back."

"I can't wait either," Zach smiled, taking the boys' shared piece of luggage from the airport employee.

Driving towards their new home, Zach pointed out some of the D.C. tourist sites to the boys just past the airport. "Lincoln Memorial," Miguel pointed.

"We'll visit a bunch of them before you head home," Zach smiled. As they got closer to Annadale, Zach took out his cell from the pocket of his Braves letter jacket styled coat and handed it over the front seats of the truck to Rashad in the backseat. Miguel was sitting with him up front in the passenger seat. "Send Caleigh a text please."

"Saying what?" Rashad said, taking the phone.

"We're close," Zach smiled.

"Really?" Miguel asked.

"Really pal," Zach smiled at him, pulling into the development.

Caleigh smiled at the text, looking at Aaron, Beth and Dave sitting at the nook counter. They all had the holiday week off and had been in since day one on Jack's late Christmas present.

"Hey Jack," Caleigh said. Jack was in the great room, watching a movie on the TV with the kids playing around him. He didn't respond.

"Jack!" Caleigh said.

"What?" he mumbled. Just then, Lexie and Molly bolted to the entry door from the garage.

"Jack," Aaron softly barked.

"What?" Jack said, pausing the movie and getting off the couch.

Caleigh looked at Jack. "There's a reason my and Zach's Christmas gifts to you were a little light," she smiled. Lexie and Molly warmly greeted the visitors with Lexie happily welcoming her buds, barking her enthusiasm.

Zach got the boys into the home, pulling off their stocking caps. "Merry Christmas," Rashad smiled at Jack.

"No way!" Jack shouted with a smile.

"Yes way," Zach beamed. He nudged Miguel. "Bring it home," he smiled.

"Flew without mom and dad. Staying here without mom and dad."

Caleigh wiped a tear, getting to Miguel first. Beth smiled at Aaron, wiping her own tears. Dave smiled, rubbing her shoulder. Caleigh looked at Miguel, pulling off his winter coat. "I'm really proud of you pal."

Miguel hugged her. "Proud of me." Caleigh kissed his head, took his jacket, let him go and then hugged Rashad. Miguel gave Aaron a small smile and shared a fist bump with him. Beth rubbed his head while Miguel got a fist bump from Dave.

"Missed you too pal," Caleigh smiled at Rashad, hugging him.

Rashad smiled at Caleigh. "Just tell me breakfast sliders are on the menu tomorrow morning." Aaron, Beth and Dave laughed.

"Beth is our back-up tomorrow," Caleigh smiled.

The three boys shared high fives. "How long you here for?" Jack asked. The twins raced at the newly arrived boys as well. Rashad scooped up Taylor, giving her a hug. Trev smiled at Miguel, taking his hand to hold it. Miguel smiled and held out his other hand for a fist bump. Trevor happily compiled with his big Hotchner smile.

Zach looked at Jack. "You three are sitting the twins New Year's Eve while Caleigh and I are at Uncle Dave's. That's part of the deal. With New Year's Day on a Friday, the guys go back home Saturday."

"Holy crap!" Jack said. "I need to get some clothes from home."

Zach shook his head with a smile. "It's across the street Jack. I don't think that's a problem."

"Or I might have already packed you a bag," Beth smiled at Jack.

"You rock," Miguel softly smiled at Beth.

Beth smiled at Miguel, rubbing his shoulder. "You rock more pal. I'm so proud of you."

"Ditto Miguel," Dave smiled. Miguel smiled back at them.

Homemade pizza night with Dave supervising was a huge success. After dinner, the boys helped with clean up. Rashad looked at Zach. "Why did our moms pack our swimsuits?" he questioned, pointing at the pool area in the backyard, covered in snow. Aaron clamped his hand over Jack's mouth. Beth beaded a look at him. Dave smiled.

Zach shrugged. "Maybe there's a Y around here."

The boys headed off to Jack's room with Molly and Lexie tagging along. The twins brought up the end of the parade with the adults smiling.

"I think there's two other people in this house that missed those boys," Dave observed.

"Ya think Uncle Dave," Zach snarked. A couple minutes later, they heard the twins laughing at the boys and their antics playing video games.

Jack came into the kitchen thirty minutes later. "Now?"

"Now," Zach smiled.

Dave looked at Zach. "You pour me a scotch, I'll lifeguard," he smiled. Zach looked at him. "I packed a bag too," he smiled. "I'm not missing out on breakfast sliders."

"Of course you won't," Caleigh snarked. "But you're sleeping across the street."

"Thanks a lot," Aaron snarked. They all laughed.

Jack and the boys came into the kitchen five minutes later, wearing their swimsuits, sweatshirts and slides. "Follow me guys," Zach smiled, nodding them to the garage.

Caleigh and Beth scooped up the twins. "You two are swimming in the tub upstairs, getting ready for bed," Caleigh smiled at them.

Zach opened a door at the far end of the garage and nodded Rashad and Miguel through the door. The boys walked in and stopped in their tracks. Jack walked around them, pulling off his sweatshirt. In addition to the pool in the backyard, the latest Hotchner home design featured a domed heated area with a two lane, four foot deep, twenty-five meter lap pool. "Work for you?" Zach smiled at the boys as Dave sat down by a little table in the area. Aaron joined him with his own scotch.

With the twins in bed, Aaron, Beth and Dave across the street and the boys showered, Zach and Caleigh let the boys have a late night together, watching videos in "Jack's" room on the TV. They shut down the night at eleven, tucking the two southern boys into the pullout couch and Jack into his bed. Molly snuggled around Jack's legs. Miguel and Rashad deeply yawned with Lexie curling up with them.

Zach and Caleigh walked up the steps together, arm in arm. "I love it when a plan comes together," Zach smiled at her.

"Me too," Caleigh said, kissing him.

XXXXX

A/N: For the record, Terry McGuirk is the Chairman of the Atlanta Braves organization. Derek Shiller, is the President and CEO. Anthopoulos, I've mentioned in previous stories, is now President of Baseball Operations while still being the General Manager.

Kevin McAlpin is real. He does that weekday radio show. And is a reporter for the Braves' radio network. Plus, he's a cool guy to follow on Twitter. Mia was born during the Braves playoff run this fall.

Neck gaiters are masks sorta like turtlenecks. You pull them over your head and they stay around your neck, until you pull them up. The original ones marketed took a bunch of heat for the porous material they were made of. Hence the reference to the new and improved design.

Remember the S4 ep The Angel Maker? JJ's comment that from conception to birth is ten months instead of nine? Why new Hotchner baby debut date.

Once again, I give my usual shout out and thanks to the OK Teacher for doing the proofreading. She's counting down to the Thanksgiving holiday week to get a break from the middle school kiddos. The whole week.

But gee, I think I may have to put her to work again soon. The ol' brain is working on another angle for the usual Thanksgiving story. And then the writer machine, my own fault, is shutting down.

Thank you again to everyone for the favorite/following alerts. And the reviews. They mean so, so much to me. To those of you that just read, you have my thanks and appreciation as well.

One final note. A friend of mine shared this on Facebook. Autistic children are undercover geniuses.

*Jedi Master bow*