A/N: This story has been written and proofread for two weeks before its posting date. I got bored. And added another chapter. Just to wrap things up. :D
And OK Teacher approved.
Epilogue
Like usual, the BAU team had four cases in two weeks, starting January second. And as Hotch and Mat Cruz had anticipated, the team was split up for three of the four. The last case they all finally worked together. Flying home exhausted after so many cases in fifteen days, Hotch, Dave, Morgan and Emily shared the four top of seats on the jet enjoying a scotch together late Thursday night. The rest were conked out. Hotch looked at Emily and Derek. "The brass at JEdgar are impressed. Derek, you did a great job with your team. Thanks for coming back Emily. You two and JJ did wonderful work."
"Thanks Hotch," Morgan smiled.
Emily looked at Hotch and Dave. "It was great working with them. But can I say this last case is the one that made me feel home again. To work with the whole team."
Dave and Hotch smiled. "We get it Emily," Dave said. "Welcome back. We missed you too."
-00CM00-
The next morning, around eleven, Zach pulled his truck up to the security gate at the Quantico campus of the FBI. The security guard walked up to the truck as Zach pushed the window down. "Good morning agent," Zach smiled at the guard. "I'm Zach Hotchner. My dad is Aaron Hotchner, the SAC of the BAU." He nodded at the console between him and Caleigh in the truck. "I'm going to pull out my driver's license and FBI dependent card from my wallet. My wife is going to get the same from her purse. And agent, please look over my shoulder." The agent looked into the backseat of the truck. He smiled at the twins in their car seats.
The agent smiled at Zach. "I take it they are not terrorists and are SAC Hotchner's grandkids."
"That would be correct," Zach smiled back, handing his and Caleigh's IDs to the agent.
"You know the drill," the agent smiled, looking at the IDs.
"It's not my first time here," Zach smiled. "And for the record agent, my wife is about to use my cell phone to have Agent Brian Anderson of the BAU meet us at security to escort us to the seventh floor."
"You're good Cob," the agent smiled. Zach looked at him. "I'm an Atlanta native," he smiled. "And a huge Braves fan."
"Then agent," Zach smiled, "please help Cal and me with one thing more," taking their IDs back, handing Caleigh's to her.
"Name it Cob," he smiled.
-00CM00-
Zach and Caleigh got off the elevator on the seventh floor with Anderson. Caleigh looked at the BAU logo etched into the glass door going into the bullpen. "Wow," she said. "That is impressive." She smiled at Zach. "Thanks for bringing me here."
Zach nodded her down the hallway away from the doors, winking a Brian. He smiled. "I think you four have your escort the rest of the way."
Zach softly whistled. "Yo! Dum, dums," he smiled, winking at Caleigh. Derek and Emily came out of their offices. "Hey Cob," Derek smiled.
"Hi Caleigh," Emily smiled. "You brought babies!"
Caleigh smiled at her. "It's my tour of the BAU. We didn't think it was right to leave the kids home alone with Lex." Derek and Emily both laughed.
Emily smiled at the couple. "Thanks for having Declan for dinner earlier in the week. He really enjoyed it."
"Our pleasure," Caleigh smiled. Zach nodded at Garcia's lair to Derek.
Morgan smiled. "I'll get you in there. But I need some deets as the Mistress of Info would say."
"Dee?" Zach asked.
Morgan zeroed a look at Zach. "We got one day off the Friday after New Year's. Rossi was a pile getting on the plane the next morning. Was it the blowout with you, Mike and Bub at his place?"
Zach smiled. "Yes it was."
Emily looked at Caleigh. "How was he the next morning?"
"Better than my two brothers," Caleigh smiled.
Zach looked at the two of them. "I've got more experience. I know how to pace myself. And stay away from Uncle Dave's damn pre-embargo Cubans." Emily and Derek both laughed, moving to Garcia's lair.
Derek swiped his ID, put in his security code and opened the door. "Hey mama, you got visitors," he smiled.
Garcia swung around in her chair. She brightly smiled. "It's my oldest Hotchner golden boy and his lovely wife. And babies!"
Caleigh shook her head looking at Garcia's screens. She looked at Zach. "Why none of our electronics will ever get hacked," Zach smiled.
"I do that on the DL," Garcia smiled with a wink. Garcia looked at the couple. "Can I hold one?" she said, nodding at the twins.
"Which one?" Caleigh smiled.
"You choose," Emily said to Garcia. "I've got the other one," she smiled. Derek smiled rubbing Zach's shoulder.
Garcia and Emily came in the side door of the BAU holding the twins. Derek and Zach carried the empty carseats with Zach's arm around Caleigh. "Welcome to the bullpen of the BAU," he smiled at Caleigh.
"Ummm gang," Morgan said. All the agents looked up. "We have some special visitors," he smiled.
JJ got up from her desk and went to Emily. "Hi you," JJ smiled at Trevor, rubbing his tummy. Trevor kicked his feet back in response. She looked at Caleigh and Zach. "This is the fun time," she smiled. "When they start to respond to voices." Tara and Reid smiled at the twins.
Aaron and Dave came out of their offices and went down the steps. Aaron looked over Garcia's shoulder. "Hello my granddaughter," he smiled. Taylor, in Garcia's arms, smiled and kicked her feet.
"I think she's yours boss," Garcia smiled, putting Taylor into her grandfather's arms. Dave smiled. "Because she so recognizes that voice."
"It's a hard one to not miss," Dave smiled, as Hotch cuddled his granddaughter. Caleigh rubbed Zach's back.
"Hi sweetheart," Aaron said to Taylor. She smiled and opened her hand to his voice. The team all smiled as Aaron kissed her fingers.
"Hey big guy," Dave smiled at Trevor. Dave got the same response from Trevor.
"Really?" Emily asked, putting Trev in Dave's arms.
"Really," Dave smiled at Trevor, who kicked his legs more at the sound of Dave's voice.
A junior agent from the first floor, carrying a large cardboard box, opened the doors of the BAU. He let in two Subway employees carrying two three foot long sandwiches. The agent looked at Hotch. "From Zach and Caleigh," he said.
Zach and Caleigh smiled at the entire team in the bullpen. "Happy Holidays to you all," Zach smiled. Caleigh opened the box to hand out small bags of potato chips to the agents that dove into the subs.
Dave smiled at Trevor. "Your mom and dad are good."
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A/N: Yes, Uncle Dave always gets the last word. :D
When I have the luxury of taking my time writing a story (which I usually try to plan), I love how it all falls together. This one is no exception. I really enjoyed writing this at my own pace.
I will say one thing before someone hits me over the head with it: I'll get the college that Caleb is attending straight in my stories. However, in my world, that's a minor detail I missed. I won't lose any sleep over that.
My thanks to everyone again for all the favorite and/or following alerts. Your reviews like always are greatly appreciated as well.
Another reason I took my time writing this one is that I knew when I wanted to post it. And that worked with my OK Teacher getting her holiday break to do her proofreading. Thank you again my friend.
To all my loyal readers – Happy New Year. I appreciate you all. My new year writing schedule is starting to take shape. I may take January off. Or not. :D
*Knightly bow*