A/N: I know it's not Saturday here in the States, but I thought I'd put this out a little early considering my work shift tonight. Enjoy! And thanks for all of the reviews, favs, etc!

Chapter 10

Thursday morning after a breakfast of the last of fruit salad from the night before, some cereal and muffins, the family loaded up into Abbey's vehicle and headed for the National Zoo. Reed sat on the floor between the seats that Mac and Stella occupied. "Is this legal?" Reed asked as he climbed in.

Matt pulled out his Bureau credentials and smiled. "It is now."

They spent the morning wondering around seeing the animals, especially the pandas, which were the kids' favorite, along with the big cats and the new elephant exhibit. The kids also got to see the seal and dolphin show for the first time, which was a major hit with them. Yet, they left by 12:30, Matt wanting to get home and get the lawn mowed before the forecasted rain started to fall later that night. Given the big day they had yesterday, the kids didn't argue. The morning walking around had tired them out, with Colin spending the later part on Matt or Mac's shoulders. As Matt pulled the vehicle off Constitution Avenue and got on I-95, the three of them were visiting the Sandman. Stella snuck a peek at the three of them sleeping in the back and smiled at Mac.

When they got home, the kids, with their 30 minute power nap seemed charged a bit while they ate lunch. But full bellies quickly dispelled that and Abbey and Stella put them down upstairs for nap without much protest. As they guys stood in the garage, about to make a game plan, the two women walked out.

"Our afternoon is laundry day," Stella smiled. "And Reed, don't be shy."

"Reed, you don't want to know how many boxers and little briefs I fold in a week," Abbey smiled. "And that's just starters. Raquel does not do laundry. She's got enough to do. That's on us. But I have to give Matt credit. He knows how to run the laundry room when he's home and he irons his own dress shirts."

Matt smiled at his wife. "Marine training; I'm good to go. You've got all my dirty stuff."

The two NYC males looked at him. Matt smiled. "I've been trained well."

"You've not heard of a dry cleaning service?" Reed asked.

Matt looked at him. "This is cheaper."

Mac and Reed went inside to gather their dirty laundry, while Matt gassed up what would be needed to take care of the lawn. A lawn, Mac had noticed from day one seeing his brother and sister's new home that was meticulously taken care off.

Mac and Reed re-joined Matt in the garage. "You old man," Matt said looking at Mac with his devilish Irish smile, "can ride. I'll trim with push mower. Reed, do you mind doing the weed whipping?"

Reed just stared at him. "Uncle Matt, I'm a NYC kid with parents with money. I know nothing about taking care of a lawn." Mac fired up the riding lawn mower and pulled out of the garage, pointing at his brother with a smile.

"First off, where are your shades?"

"My what?"

"Your sunglasses Reed; the job I'm giving you can throw grass and a few other things up. You don't need safety glasses, but god bless OSHA, you do need your eyes protected." Reed pulled his sunglasses off the top of his head.

Matt rubbed his shoulder. "That ends my OSHA compliance because I've already lost part of my hearing. They say you need ear protection. I say they passed stupid; you don't need ear protection for your job." Matt showed Reed how to operate the weed whip and how he wanted him to trim around the areas that neither he, with the push mower, or Mac on the rider could not get to.

Reed, now understanding his job, looked around the lawn at how well Matt kept it up and just shook his head. Along with Abbey's flowers; the home, with its lawn and flowers just bellowed to visitor. "Welcome home." My god, my uncle chances monsters, and yet he wants this lawn to look that good? When the hell does he find the time? Reed just shook his head as he dived in following Matt around to give the lawn its precision Marine groomed state.

As they finished, and each walked into the house with beers in hand, Matt looked at Abbey. "Dinner is?" he questioned.

Abbey smiled at him. "Kids choice: tacos." Matt looked around to see his merry band of children, wide awake and ready to rumble, coloring pictures at the nook table.

"I can live with that," Matt smiled. Case smiled at her dad.

Reed smiled at Abbey. "I know Matt's stomach, but tell me you're gonna do more fixings than what he can handle." Abbey smiled at him, dicing on onion.

Stella pointed at the jalapenos she was cutting. "Work for you, Mr. Spice?" she smiled.

Reed walked around the kitchen island the two ladies were working on and gave Stella a kiss and looked her in the eye. "You bet," he smiled.

Reed looked at her. Stella took a sniff of the air the two were sharing. "You know I love you right?" Reed nodded. "You need a shower…." As the predicted storm front approached, the temperature and humidity had risen. Abbey and Stella just smiled at each other

As Matt walked away from giving Abbey a kiss, he added, "He's not the only one."

Mac looked at Stella. "Yes, I had the easy job, but I'm heading as well."

The three guys, with beers in hand, went to find their nearest shower options after the work they had put in.

-00CM00-

While the weather front did move through, it did not provide the fireworks that woke Matt a couple nights before. But it did provide some needed rain that lingered into Friday morning. Matt and Abbey, knowing where Reed really wanted to go in the DC area, had banked on it, per Matt's suggestion. As they rolled out of bed, Abbey looked at her husband. "I really don't want to play poker with you, do I?"

Matt pulled her into a strong embrace and then lovingly kissed her. "Nope, babe, you don't." They shared a smile, with Matt moving into the shower and Abbey going downstairs to get the coffee started. She scooted back upstairs to take her own shower as Matt stood in front of mirror, shaving around his goatee that matched his lawn – perfectly groomed.

The kids, finally catching up on their sleep from the day they had on the Fourth, plus the visit to the zoo, piled in on their bed. Colin, of course, was bouncing up and down on the mattress. He got to the third one before his dad, still with shaving cream on his face, pulled him into reality off the bed and added the simple words, "Really Col?"

The twins giggled, as Colin said, "Sowry dad." Matt planted him back on the bed.

"You stay there," he warned with a smile. Colin smiled his acceptance at him. Matt turned the TV on in him and Abbey's bedroom to some cartoons. Matt was only in his boxers.

"Dad?" Cam asked.

"Yeah, son?"

"When can I wear boxers like you?"

Abbey walking out of the bathroom, dressed in her robe, looked at Matt. Have fun with that one dad, she smiled as she moved to get her clothes.

"Boxers are for really big guys' son. But you'll get there soon enough." He gave his oldest son a kiss. "And sooner than you, or your mom and I want to think about," he said, smiling at Cam, wiping some shaving cream on his nose. The kids laughed and the boys followed Matt into the bathroom to watch him finish shaving, as Matt completed the trio, putting Case up on the bathroom counter as well, for her to watch Abbey putting on only the touch of make-up she needed. He put Colin on the counter as well, while Cam stood next to him, mimicking Matt's movements finishing shaving. The two parents smiled at the special time they enjoyed with their children.

Matt looked at Cam. "Where's Wilma?" Wilma barked at the mention of her name, standing in the doorway of the bathroom. He looked at his two oldest children. "You two don't have a job every morning?"

The twins smiled at him and Matt rinsed off his face as Case jumped off the bathroom countertop. The three of them thundered down the steps as Abbey smiled at Matt, pulling Colin off the bathroom counter, into a hug, looking deeply in his eyes. "Don't even think about asking dad and I about your boxers."

He looked deeply into his mother's eyes. "How come I'm the little guy?" Abbey and Matt both laughed, as Abbey kissed his cheek.

"Son, mom and I just made you after the twinners," Matt smiled, giving his youngest son a kiss. "But you know what bud," Matt grinned, pulling Colin out of Abbey's arms. "You get to pick breakfast this morning."

"That's easy dad," Colin beamed. "Pancakes and sausages."

"Col, we just had them earlier in the week."

"I know mom; but they're my favorite; and mom, dad asked." Abbey smiled at Matt.

"Guess the breakfast menu is set," she said, giving Matt a kiss and Colin as well. Matt put him on the floor.

"Think you can get Uncle Mac and Aunt Stella up?" Matt gave his youngest son the big Irish smile.

Colin matched his dad's smile. "Done dad," he boasted. Colin waited for his parents to get some clothes on, his dad pulling on a pair of shorts and t-shirt as Matt tossed him back on the bed with Colin giggling. Abbey went into the bathroom to quickly change, with a son that already asked too many questions around. The three of them went downstairs, with Colin proceeding to Mac and Stella's bedroom downstairs to roust them out. Cam was letting Wilma in as Casee was getting the food in her bowl.

"Casee, did you give her some fresh water?" Abbey asked, pulling the pancake mix out of the pantry.

"Got it mom." Matt walked by her going into the kitchen after getting the paper and rubbed her chin.

"Thanks Case." She gave her dad her angelic smile. He smiled back as he pulled out a skillet to start the sausages. Reed pulled into the kitchen.

"Do I have time to take a shower?"

Abbey smiled at him. "Go for it; use ours." Within twenty minutes the group was assembled around the nook table. After saying grace, they dived in, with Matt on pancake patrol as Abbey got the kids going.

"So what's on the agenda today?" Reed asked, shoving a bite of pancake in his mouth.

Abbey looked at him. "The Holocaust Museum and Arlington." Reed's eyes lit up like a Christmas tree.

Mac looked at her. "And the kids?"

"Aaron and Beth are bringing Jack over and they're gonna watch the kids. I'm sure Beth will keep them entertained until the sun comes out." The kids beamed at the idea.

"I know," Stella smiled. "I talked with her on the Fourth. I'm sure she'll have lots of artsy things to do for the kids.

Mac looked at her. "Artsy?"

Stella smiled at him. "She's an art museum curator." Mac just nodded his understanding.

Reed, at his insistence, finished cleaning up the kitchen, with a little help from Stella. Hotch, Beth and Jack blew in. If the Taylor house wasn't busy enough with three kids and a dog, the fourth kid made it official.

Matt looked at Beth with a wicked smile. "Have fun."

Beth eyed him back. "I can handle this. Plus I've got my back up," she thumbed at Hotch.

Matt kissed her cheek. "I know you can. And please make yourself at home. But Beth," he said leaning into her right ear, "you're back up sucks. And he has no imagination what so ever," he whispered, just loud enough for Hotch to hear.

Hotch looked at him and growled, "Get your ass out of here before I kick it."

Matt smirked at him. "Want to put money on that?" They looked at each other and enjoyed a laugh. Less than ten minutes later the five were on the road to the Metro.

-00CM00-

At half past three, Matt, Abbey, Mac, Stella and Reed walked out onto the deck to see the four kids in the pool. By one that afternoon, the skies had cleared, bringing at beautiful day to the DC area, with very manageable July temps. Hotch and Beth were in the pool with the kids. Matt looked around. "Where's the Italian Stallion? Figured he would be here as well?"

Hotch shook his head. "We sorta figured the same. Who knows with him." He looked at Matt. "How was it?"

It was Matt's turn to shake his head. "Unbelievable. You've been to the Holocaust Museum?"

Hotch smiled. "Haley and I went one day when she was pregnant with Jack." He shook his head. Beth nodded her assessment.

Reed looked at Hotch and Beth. "That was truly a moving and humbling experience. And to know that grandpa helped liberate Buchenwald, just made it that more special. And Arlington, with two military men…" He just shook his head and walked into the house.

###

A/N: To those of you that do not know the Holocaust Museum in DC. When you enter, you are issued an ID card that gives you the identity of a person that faced the Holocaust. As you move through the museum, you put your card into a reader, finding out if that person, and you, perished in the Holocaust or survived. Its four hours of goose bumps that makes it very real. And Arlington National Cemetery, well, is just Arlington. Two "must see" if you ever have the chance to get to Washington, DC.