A/N: Remember the rating is T. And I told you the reason why.
Chapter 8
It was a time of total relaxation around the deck of the Taylor home. Everyone enjoyed watching the kids in the pool, especially with the dads, Matt, Hotch and Will playing with the kids, as they enjoyed their drinks, the munchies Hotch and Beth brought and just being together.
Derek walked to the edge of the pool and looked at Colin. "Hey Col! I heard a rumor big dog that you can jump off the diving board now."
"I can Uncle Derek," he said, swimming to the pool ladder by the diving board. "Ya wanna see?"
"You bet big dog. Show me your stuff." Garcia and Emily shared smiles.
Henry looked at Matt. "Uncle Matt? Can I do that too?"
"You remember what Uncle Aaron and I told you about water?"
Henry bobbed his head. "You have to trust it and 'spect it."
"That's right; trust and respect," Matt smiled. "You watch Colin and then have Uncle Derek help you."
"OK Uncle Matt," Henry said, swimming to the ladder to follow Colin up to the pool apron.
By then Colin was on the diving board. "Watch this Uncle Derek!" Colin ran to the edge, using his little weight to get some spring off the board and went sailing into the pool feet first. His head bobbed up to the surface a few seconds later, with Matt and Hotch closely watching.
Reed, enjoying a HoneyWeiss that Mac had found, and Matt paid for, much to Mac's chagrin, sitting next to Abbey, asked in a whisper, "This team is really this close? The kids call all of them 'aunt' and 'uncle'? Stella and Mac sitting next to Reed just smiled. Dave, a few feet away on Abbey's left, heard the question and smiled as well.
"Yes Reed, we are. We deal with the worst. And the only thing that keeps us sane is each other; and the kids. That's the bond. We share the same nightmares," he said. Dave got out of his chair and walked to Reed.
"Kid, I may have been part of the group that started this unit. But I will tell you an absolute. They are the best, they've upped the game, and it's my honor to work with them." Abbey just smiled at Dave.
Reed looked at Rossi. "Can I quote you on that?"
"Damn straight kid," Dave said, waving his finger around the pool area. "Just do them right. Reed, you are very talented. I follow your blog as well." Dave walked off into the house.
Reed just shook his head. "He's the one that keeps their shit together, isn't he?" Abbey just smiled at him and rubbed his shoulder.
"That's why he's Uncle Dave and loved dearly."
By then, Henry had started his long walk across the diving board. Like his absolute bud Colin and fellow diehard fan of Pirates of the Caribbean, he felt like he was walking the plank. And then he heard Derek walking up behind him. "Henry, you can do this. What did Uncle Matt just tell you?"
"Trust and 'spect Uncle Derek."
Derek waved his hand at the pool. "And who's waiting for you?"
"Daddy, Uncle Matt and Uncle Aaron."
"That's right my man," Derek said, gently cupping Henry's chin in his hand and lifting it so that Henry would look him in the eye. "It's all trust my man. You can do this."
Henry looked Derek in the eye again, took a step back and then jumped off the board feet first, plugging his nose. When he floated to the surface on his own, Will grabbed him. "I'm proud of you son."
Henry beamed at him. "I'm proud of me Daddy," he shouted. JJ and her mother shared a hand squeeze. Dave reappeared a few seconds later in his swimsuit, and climbed onto the backend of the diving board. Matt quickly got all the kids away from his landing area.
This was just in time as David Rossi, nearly 60, executed a perfect "jackknife" dive into the pool. As he floated to the surface, Matt looked at Abbey and winked. While all the kids shared a look in awe, there was only one that was going to be there to greet him when he reached the surface.
Smiling, Casee latched onto Dave with a hug. "That was really cool Uncle Dave."
"Thanks sweetheart," he said, matching her hug and kissing her cheek. "But you know what Case? There's someone around here that's even better."
Casee looked him. "Really Uncle Dave?"
"Yup," he smiled. "Someone that was a three time letter winner on the diving team at the US Naval Academy."
Mac looked at Abbey and smiled. "Think that will stroke his ego enough?" he whispered.
As Abbey raised her hand to wave at the crowd around the pool, the taunts already started. Abbey winked at Mac.
"Really Cob?" Morgan asked with a broad smile, standing on the pool edge. "You've been holding out on us man."
"No kidding Cob?" Emily added.
JJ joined the chorus. "Come on Matt; show us."
Doc piped up. "Given Cob's age, and his war injury, a one and a half forward twist would do the trick."
"Come on big dog; show us you stuff," Penelope egged.
Matt looked at Hotch. Hotch shrugged. "You know I always listen to Dave. And Doc."
Matt scowled at his partner, but couldn't resist the opportunity. "Until Doc starts rambling."
"He's Doc; that's a given," Hotch smiled. Reid just looked at Hotch, which he noticed but ignored. Hotch smiled. "You still haven't stepped up to the plate." Matt swam to the pool ladder Colin and Henry had used, got out of the pool and stepped onto the back end of the diving board. Without hesitation, he perfectly met the other end of the spring board and executed the dive Reid called him out on.
Yet, he spent some more time than needed at the bottom of the pool before he bobbed to the surface. "You OK," Hotch worriedly asked.
Matt gave him the full Irish grin. "I'm fine. It's just that I'm not wearing my usual diving Speedo. I didn't want to show everyone, as Garcia and Morgan say, all my 'stuff'. I like to keep that for my wife, if all of you don't mind." The pool area erupted with laughter.
Penelope piped up. "Oh, I could make a really bad comment right now."
Hotch and Abbey both looked at her. "Don't," they both emphatically said in unison. Garcia just giggled and blushed a bit while everyone around the pool got her point and laughed more.
Dave swam by, looked at Matt and whispered, "How bad?"
"My trucks were down around my damn knees." Dave and Hotch roared as each of the kids swam by Matt to give him a high five. Of course, Case gave her dad a big hug.
Casee swan to edge of the pool and batted the baby blues at Mac, getting him and Reed back in the pool with the kids. Abbey, Stella, Beth, JJ, Reid and Emily joined the festivities, allowing Matt and Hotch to get the grill going.
After they got the charcoal going, the two of them walked into the garage to grab a beer. Hotch looked at Matt. "How's Reed fitting into the family?"
"He's really settled in. The kids love him and I think he just likes being around a family. The people that adopted him have lots of money but I get the sense, that while they love him dearly, they aren't the type to do a lot of family things together. He said summer vacations were spent in Europe or Asia. I think that's why he's become so close to Mac and Stella. Even with their schedules, they make time for him, even if it's just getting together for a quick meal someplace." Hotch just smiled and rubbed Matt's shoulder.
"He's sure absorbing his time around DC. But the big thing on his list is the Holocaust Museum. And Abbey and I have never been there either. But that's not a place you take three kids to."
Hotch looked at Matt. "Why don't you just come out and ask."
Matt smiled. "You, Beth and Jack could come up here."
Hotch smiled. "Just let us know. Beth is off the rest of the week. We'd love to. And I think I owe – big time."
As they walked back onto the deck, Matt looked at Hotch. "Thanks partner."
"Any time part." They walked out to a pool that was literally a beehive. Yet, by the sounds of the laughter, a very happy beehive.
Matt and Hotch spied Fran and Sandy sitting together in the shade, and slid in on the other side of the picnic table and sat down. Matt, getting in last, looked at their wine glasses. "You two need a refill?"
"I'm fine Matt," Sandy said.
"So am I," Fran added. "Besides I got the warning from my son. 'You may have to drive home tonight mom'."
Looking at Fran, Sandy added, "Gee I sorta got the same heads up. What do you do around here Matt?"
"He and Abbey give us a place to be together and relax," Hotch said.
"Which you need," Fran smiled. "All of you. Derek always tells me about when he's here," she smiled.
"And Matt, I can't thank you enough," Sandy said.
"For what?"
"When Jennifer said she was going back to the team as a profiler," she dipped her head, and then looked at the two of them, "I'm a mom. I worry. But Matt, I know you take care of this team, even at the expense of your own life. And with this gathering, I now understand what you do. And Aaron, your leadership is one of things Jennifer listed to me why she wanted to come back. 'Mom, I know him and trust him. Both he and Matt'."
"She earned the shot," Hotch said. "With the job she did before, I knew she could step in quickly and fill an empty spot that we needed filled ASAP. Sandy, I know it's a tough job. But JJ is tougher than you think."
"Your daughter Sandy, as Derek calls her, Pennsylvania Petite, can handle herself in the field, thanks to Morgan. And Hotch and I will do our best from there." Matt looked at Fran. "For all of them; that's why they deserve this time."
The two mothers reached across the picnic table to grip the hands of the Agents in charge of the BAU and just smiled. Just then, Morgan gave a whistle from the pool.
"That convo looks just way to serious."
Matt smiled devilishly at Hotch and then winked at Fran. "You in?" he whispered to Fran. Fran just smiled.
"I was just explaining to your mother," Matt said, "about getting her own little ones in her life."
Hotch gave Morgan his glare. "It starts with you getting a woman in your life," then adding his big smile, which the team was seeing more and more of. Fran just pointed at him. Derek Morgan received the worse ration of shit he had in quite a while from the team, as Matt and Hotch rose from the picnic table and shared a large high five.
Above the din, Morgan looked at the two of them. "Pay backs are a …." Abbey just looked at him. "You two know what I was going to say."
Matt smiled at him. "Bring it." He and Hotch clinked their long neck beers together and walked over to check the grill.
"Abbey," Matt said, looking at the clock in the pool area, "we're on schedule."
Abbey looked at Stella. "Ya just gotta love a military planner mind." Matt and Hotch pulled on t-shirts to start the cooking.
Stella just laughed. "I'll help you." The two of them climbed out of the pool and grabbed towels to dry off. Fran and Sandy moved to help them in the kitchen.
JJ swam to the deep end and whistled at Matt. "Do they need help?"
Matt shook his head. "With your mom and Fran in there, I think they're good. And you know Abbey; she'll let you know if she does."
While the four ladies inside discussed their game plan with the food, Matt and Hotch grabbed the burgers and started grilling. Kevin ambled over. "You haven't started the turkey burgers?"
"Kevin, they're pretty thin and my way of grilling is not to cook the snot out of everything. If you and Penelope like them more done let me know, but they don't go on right now either way. Dave didn't skimp on the burgers," Matt said.
"I'm sure special order," Hotch smiled. Matt smiled at Kevin and rolled his eyes at Hotch.
"No shit."
Mac rolled out of the pool, grabbed a towel and dried off, walked into the garage and grabbed a beer. He can back to join Matt and Hotch. "Need help guys?"
"I think we're good," Hotch said as he moved a couple burgers away from a hot spot. Mac pulled on a t-shirt of his own.
"This means bro you can supervise; but I've heard a nasty rumor you suck at that."
Hotch looked at Mac. "The joys of being big brother; always take the younger brother's crap," he smiled.
Mac looked at Aaron. "I meant to tell you. Stella, Reed, and I ate at Sean's place last week. It was great food with great service and very reasonably priced. He's got a helluva business going there."
Aaron smiled. "We email back and forth. I've noticed he isn't stressing as much as he did."
"Hotch, he invested his life and soul into that place he bought. Shit, I would stress too," Matt said.
"His biggest worry is his silent investor that backed him with the bank after his original loan application was turned down. He doesn't want to let that person down," Hotch smiled.
"Gee, let me guess who that was," Matt said, looking in the pool at Rossi. Mac laughed at well.
"Aaron, from what we seen last week, he'll be paying off Dave by the end of the year. He's got a damn good thing going. And a staff that has total buy in on his idea of customer service. They're earning a big reputation in a hurry. And the food is absolutely fantastic." Hotch just smiled broadly at the review.
Matt eyed Mac. "See; younger brothers aren't always fuck ups," he smiled broadly.
"I've never called you a fuck up," Mac retorted.
"Nope, you haven't. But you rub the younger brother shit under my nose every chance you get."
Hotch smiled. "The joys of being the older brother," he said as he winked at Mac.
Matt looked at the two of them. "You two do know that you can be assholes?"
Mac and Hotch smiled and said together, "That's part of being big brothers." Matt just shook his head and started flipping burgers.
"Well big brother, even though Dave didn't skimp on the burgers, we're moving along here. Can you grab Garcia's turkey burgers and then get the package of hot dogs from Abbey?"
Mac rubbed his shoulder. "You got it bro," he smiled. He returned with the turkey burgers and two more beers for the cooks. "I noticed you two were getting low," he smiled, uncapping his own beer.
"Damn, big brother, you do have one redeeming quality," Matt smiled, as he chugged the last of his open beer, and uncapped the new one. Hotch did the same, grabbing the two empties, walked into the garage and threw them in the recycling bin. Matt added the turkey burgers while Mac went into the house to get the hot dogs.
Matt whistled at the crowd around the deck and in the pool. "We're less than ten minutes from eating." JJ, Will and Emily, along with Beth, took over the crowd in the pool.
But it was David Rossi that got them all moving. "Everybody out!" Morgan smiled and helped the three ladies get the kids herded out. Dave and Reed got the three Taylor kids dried off, while Beth took care of Jack.
Stella came out with a platter, as Mac smiled at her. She handed it to him. "You do know what goes on there?"
"I think I can figure it out Stell," he smiled. She smiled back at him and went back inside.
Hotch looked at Mac. "You are a dumb shit."
Mac looked at Hotch. "Excuse me."
"If I was you, she'd be wearing a wedding ring by now. Screw those damn NYPD rules. There's ways to get around anything. If you need a lawyer, I can recommend at least four."
Mac shook his head. "You hang around my kid brother too much."
The three men took another swig of their beers and then got down to business. JJ, Beth, and Reed got the kids inside to get their hands washed. Garcia and Emily went in as well, to help Abbey and Stella. Morgan, Will, Kevin and Reid hung around with the chef crew. Matt looked at the four of them. "No comments from the peanut gallery," he lovingly growled.
Morgan raised his hands in the air. "You are the Weber master Cob. We're just observing." Matt and Hotch did some last minute moving of the hot dogs and then looked at Mac. He held the platter while they loaded it up, and Mac took it into the house, with Doc opening the sliding door for him.
"Abbey, where do you want this?" Stella pointed to an open spot on the kitchen island, where all the rest of the bounty of food was set out. Mac set the platter down, while the other three kibitzers moved inside, followed by Hotch. Matt shut down the Weber and headed in as well.
As the group gathered around, the doorbell rang. Matt walked into the foyer and waved in the guest that was peering in through the window at the side of door.
"I hope I'm not too late. I just finished my case paperwork."
Matt gave Ashley Seaver a hug. "You're right on time. We're just about ready to eat. And congratulations on bringing another big case home," he said, draping his arm around her shoulder. "You're doing a great job," he proudly smiled at her, escorting her into the kitchen.
The BAU team almost attacked Ashley, welcoming her. Everyone took turns introducing Ashley to their family members. When that was done, Colin tugged at his dad's swimming trunks. "Dad, I'm hungry."
"Me too, Uncle Matt," Henry seconded.
Matt looked at the boys and smiled at them. "Well, you know the drill around here. It's business first before we eat."
Dave loudly cleared his throat getting everyone's attention. The three Taylor kids, along with Jack, lead one prayer for the food, as Henry added his, with Uncle Dave's help.
The group dived into the bounty. The kids sat around the dining table, laughing and giggling as they ate heartily, their exercise in the pool showing in their appetites. The adults loaded up their plates as well, spreading out around the pool area. Reed looked at Abbey, JJ and Beth. "I've got the kids. Go enjoy."
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A/N: To my international CM readers that follow my stories, I think you know what a Weber is. For any newcomers, it is a brand name of a charcoal grill used here in the States (for outside cooking). One of the best darn things invented. If you get to know how to use it, you can grill anything to absolute perfection.