A/N: Please note the rating. My potty mouth shows up again. So, I'm making it up to all of you by giving you a "2 for 1" special. Enjoy! And thank you for all of the reviews, favs, alerts, et al. You folks are really special.

Chapter 6

While the kids enjoyed the time in the city, four hours of looking at memorials was starting to push their patience. The group made their way back to the Metro stop to head home. After they had switched to the Yellow Line, Matt looked at Abbey.

"Do you mind if we host a bigger than planned Fourth of July party?" Abbey looked at him. "The text message earlier?"

"Umm, got it. How big?"

"The whole team, plus Morgan and JJ's mothers."

"If everyone chips in," Abbey looked at him, shrugging "why not?" They looked at Stella and Mac, already knowing Reed's response. "Do you two mind?"

"The more the merrier," Mac smiled. "And I guess, I'm like Reed; I would really like to meet all of them."

Stella added, "I'll be more than happy to help you out and we can chip in as well."

As they pulled into the station above ground, Matt fired off the text he had already composed. By the time the family sat down to their supper, the next day was completely arranged.

Reed took the kids outside so they could ride their bikes, as the four cleaned up the kitchen. Mac and Matt, doing the dishes, stood side by side. Stella looked at them. "Bring back memories."

Mac looked at her. "Not really; because when we did it at the farm we were kicking each other in the calves and shins and the elbows flew as well." Stella and Abbey just shook their heads.

When they finished, Matt looked at Abbey. "Give me the low down about tomorrow babe."

Abbey pulled out a piece of paper with her notes. "Here we go: first off, it's BYOB. Dave is buying the burgers; plus, he knows the kids love a fruit salad, so he's going to pay for the fruit as well."

"But he buys it and you make it," Matt said.

"Matt, give me a chance," Abbey said looking at her husband. Matt raised his hands in the air. "Fran, Derek's mom, wants to make your grandma's chocolate cake recipe I sent her, but obviously, Derek doesn't have any of the ingredients around his place, so she's coming here to make it. She said she would help us with the fruit salad."

Mac looked at Stella. "And you're not?"

"Oh, I'll help with that, but I'm also making my infamous Greek salad."

"Damn you," Matt said.

"Excuse me," Stella retorted.

"Don't get me wrong Sis, it always smells and looks absolutely wonderful. But do you really have to add the red onion, tomatoes, cucumbers and olives? My guts; remember?"

Stella shook her head. "Sorry little brother; but that's what makes it a Greek salad."

"That," Mac said smiling, "and the olive oil."

"Oh hell bro, even I know it's not Greek if it doesn't have olive oil."

Mac rolled his eyes at his younger brother and looked at Abbey. "Just what am I doing in this process?"

Abbey looked at him. "You're as bad as him," pointing at Matt. "Shut up and listen."

Matt pointed at Mac. "The class good guy just got called out."

"Screw you."

Stella laughed as Abbey just shook her head, rolling her eyes. "I don't have enough testosterone in my life." Looking at the two brothers, she added, "Do the two of you mind?"

"Go babe," Matt smiled.

"JJ made a pan of the M&M bars for Henry and Will on Monday. But since it's so huge, she's going to bring some of them. Her mom, Sandy, is going to make a potato salad."

Matt looked at Mac. "I think the salads are covered."

Abbey looked her husband in the eye. "Asshole."

"Oh, she called you an asshole? You two are really married," Mac commented.

Matt stared his brother down. "And Stella hasn't called you that?"

Mac looked at the floor and then at Matt and Abbey, "Maybe once or twice," he sheepishly admitted.

"Oh, you two are so ready," Abbey laughed. "Just give me the word. I'll blow Jack McCoy's socks off so you two can get your heads out of your collective asses. I know how he plays."

Matt kissed Abbey. "You rock babe." Mac and Stella just looked at each other. Matt put his index finger into Mac's forehead. "Moving on."

"Moving on," she said, looking at her list. "Derek is making a batch of lemonade for the kids." Matt just looked at her. Abbey stared back at him. "Penelope is bringing the turkey burgers for her and Kevin. The three of them will also join Dave on the kick in for the fruit salad."

Matt nodded. "Emily is on bun patrol, as well as the fruit salad committee, plus a couple of bottles of wine for us girls; she'll be here by two," Abbey added. "And Reid is in charge of paper product, which I outlined to him in detail and buying the canned baked beans that I only serve."

Matt smiled, and then looked at Abbey. "You're not done."

"No, I'm not. Aaron is buying the ingredients for homemade ice cream. I emailed Beth the recipe; she's putting it together for him."

"Whoa Abbey, just a second," Mac said. "Homemade ice cream?"

"Yes; another one of your grandma's recipes I have. And that's where, you my brother, come in. You are in charge of getting the ice to make it; as well as crank it."

"Crank it?" Mac said.

Abbey smiled. "Matt told me how every Sunday at the farm in the summer, you boys would help Da crank homemade ice cream in the afternoon that your grandma put together. I found an old fashion one that was the same as the two of you used on the farm on eBay that was refurbished and in mint condition. I bid on it and got it."

"I'm normally the lone cranker," Matt intoned, harkening back to the days of the Lone Ranger on the radio. "The kids love it. But I'm guessing I'm off that duty for once?"

"Yup," Abbey smiled. "Because you obviously have grill duty along with Aaron; but Mac and Reed will be here, along with," she smiled largely, "the very muscled Derek Morgan. And btw, my husband; you get to put them to work." She nudged him. "Get Dave to do his turn as well."

Matt smiled. "I like this."

Stella smiled at Abbey. "I think this sounds like a meal."

Matt looked at Abbey. "One thing: hot dogs."

Abbey walked over to the freezer section of their side by side, and pulled a package of hotdogs out of the freezer and placed them in the refrigerator to unthaw.

Stella looked at both of them. "Damn you two are good," she smiled.

Matt waved his wedding ring at both of them as he put his arm around Abbey's shoulder. "So why don't you two join the club?"

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A/N: Did I mention another reference to a TV show that might set up another crossover? *face palm* Gee, I never even thought of that. *giggles* And yes, you can make homemade ice cream. But you gotta start with my grandma's recipe, which I have. It involves a round metal cylinder with a paddle inside that turns the recipe. Most are now electric. The old school ones, that I described, involves a wooden bucket holding the cylinder in the middle that you add ice and salt (to melt the ice while adding more ice) around the outside of the cylinder to get the mixture hard. On the top is a handle process, involving the "tongue" that comes out of the top of the paddle that fits in a groove wheel through the lid that turns the cylinder around the ice to get it hard. And it involves "cranking" it by hand, with the handle on the side of the top apparatus. But the thing is, as you continually crank, that mixture gets hard in a hurry. So "cranking it" towards the end, involves some strong arms and elbow grease. Some more of my precious childhood memories; my family did this every summer holiday. My family still does get together one holiday in the summer and we make ice cream like the old days on the farm; all 25 of us. The teenagers now fight over doing the "cranking". I just sit back in my chair, drinking a beer, and laugh at them. Age brings wisdom. *lifts beer in toast to my readers*