A/N: However, this one may not be so short. I've sorta found my groove again.

Chapter 2

By five o'clock the entire cast of characters we're milling about the Hotchner's kitchen nook and the great room. Dave and Jimmy were sitting at the lunch counter enjoying a beer, with Hotch standing in the kitchen, drinking his own, waiting to see how he could assist Cait. JJ was helping Cait set up the buffet on the kitchen island as Will sat in the third chair with the "family elders", chatting with them both. Jack and Henry were downstairs, burning off their steam of sitting in class all day.

Derek, along with Spencer got a huge fire going in the fireplace. A line of showers had moved through the area in the morning, still leaving its dampness, followed by a high pressure system that was blowing in cold air from the northwest. Morgan looked at Reid. "You got enough clothes on kid?"

"Including a pair of wool socks, I hope so," he answered. "I don't do cold well."

"Kid, it isn't cold; it's football weather," he deeply smiled. The fond memories of his high school football playing days, Carl Buford be damned, flooded back. "I love it."

Emily, dressed just about like Reid, looked at Morgan. "You would," she said rolling her eyes. Alex nodded her head in agreement to Emily. The Chicago kid just shook his head at them with his large smile.

Alex looked at Emily. "Where's the Olympic medals," she whispered with a question.

Emily smiled. "In Cait and Hotch's study; I'll show you," she said, nodding her head. It was Alex Blake's first time in the house and she was a little nervous. Emily led her into the study and pointed to the wall with framed picture boxes of Cait hitting the swim pool wall in both Olympics and the medals around it.

"She doesn't mind you showing me these?"

Emily smiled, shaking her head. "Cait would never show them off." Alex looked again at the display. "OK, she'd never say 'hey go in our study and look at them'. But they are a part of her life and she's very proud of them."

Alex smiled with the small nod of her head that team had got to know. "She has every right to be proud of them."

"Hey Alex, I know you're still feeling your way around all of us. I get that." Emily rubbed her shoulder. "But you gotta relax; you're in. We trust you. And this home," Emily pointed around, yet still being able to privately talk to Alex, "is home; for all of us. We feel safe and loved here. The boys; the dogs; Cait; and Hotch so fully relaxed." Emily smiled, shaking her head. "And with what we deal with on a daily basis, we all need. Cait knows that and backs Hotch with that. She's more a part of this team than you know. Yet," Emily smiled.

Alex put her arm around Emily. "Thank you; I'm beginning to understand that."

"And Cait is our confidant; because of her knowledge of what we do, any of us can call or email her anytime and she's just there for us." Alex looked at Emily. Emily smiled and shook her head. "After the Doyle situation, the Bureau sent me to their shrink. SOP." Alex shook her head in acknowledgement. "The shrink did jack shit for me; Cait got me through that."

Alex looked at her. "May I ask how?"

"First off," Emily smiled, "she got me to a good shrink. And then she was just there to talk to me when I needed her. I know Jayje, now that she's profiling talks a lot to her. But that's more about juggling a career and a family," Emily smiled.

"I think when I'm teaching at Georgetown, I should have lunch with her," Alex smiled.

"Please do; and don't be afraid to talk to her. What all of us tell her, is between her and each of us," Emily said, putting her arm around Alex. "Hotch hears exactly none of it. And she's good. God knows all of us wish she could work on the cases with us."

Alex smiled. "I read the reports on the case in Chicago she consulted on. She's brilliant in her field."

Emily nodded her head. "Why do you think Rossi has her as a consultant on his books?"

Ales beamed. "'Cause she's the best; and David Rossi will only have the best." Emily pointed at her.

Emily smiled again. "Just let me warn you; between this home and Dave's cabin, the hangovers are legendary." Alex beamed at her as they walked out the study, arm in arm.

As they did, Hotch whistled at the team. "Dinner is on. Derek, can you get the boys please?"

"Got it Hotch," he pointed. He went to the top of basement steps, where he knew the boys were playing basketball and whistled just as loudly. "Hey guys! It's dinner time!" Derek smiled as two sets of young, yet rapidly growing feet flew up the steps, along with two dogs.

Derek gently swatted Henry on the butt. "Get in the kitchen. You and Jack have a job to do," he smiled at the boys.

Henry smiled at him. "Got it D-man!" They shared a high five. As the team gathered around, the boys literally blew into the kitchen. They were both sweating. Cait took a clean dish cloth from the drawer, ran some cold water from the faucet and then drenched the wash cloth, wringed out the rag and wiped both of their faces.

"That's feels good Cait," Henry smiled as she finished with him, sending him to the small bathroom off the kitchen to wash his hands.

Alex looked at Reid. "She's also our earth mother," he smiled. Alex immediately knew that Reid had figured out her conversation with Emily, and shook her head at the young genius.

Garcia piped up. "I'm just the fairy god-mother around here," she beamed, as Cait got Jack cooled down as well and shipped him off to wash his hands as well.

"That feels really good mom," he smiled. Alex smiled at Jack and Cait's relationship and looked at Emily. She just smiled back, nodding her head.

After the boys got their hands washed, they came back in the kitchen. Hotch looked specifically at Blake. "We respect all faiths, but around here, there's only two. If you want us to add a third, please tell us," he smiled.

Alex shook her head. "I'm good with them all."

As usual, Jack led off with the family Protestant prayer for the food they were about to receive. Henry added the Catholic prayer. "Well done boys; both of you," Father Jimmy smiled.

Jack, now eight, and a second grader, eyed him. "Father Jimmy, you rock."

Jimmy laughed. "And you roll Jack; it's all good. When it comes to heaven, we all will not be wearing labels that states 'I'm this or I'm that'."

Jack looked at his partner in crime with a smile. "He's good."

"Father Jimmy, being a hippie, is the bomb," Henry intoned. They shared another high five.

JJ was about to correct her son when Jimmy pulled him into a gentle hug. "Yup, kiddo, I am. Even for an old hippie."

Jack and Henry rollicked with laughter as they all dived in, with Cait and JJ getting the boys fed first. Of course, Cait had her Strawberry Jell-O salad mixed with strawberries and Cool Whip. She knew it was a Reid favorite as well. She had the time. She was off for her usual two days while the teacher's in the school district had their state convention. Alex just shook her head at the relaxed, wonderful atmosphere the Hotchner home provided. She got in line behind Reid for the chili that smelt absolutely wonderful with all the fixings: onions, shredded cheddar cheese and sour cream. Plus Cait had a side dish of raw veggies with a couple different dipping sauces and buttermilk biscuits.

When they finished, Cait pulled out her infamous chocolate cake and watched with a smile as Reid and Kevin made a beeline into the kitchen. Hotch pulled the tub of ice cream out of the freezer portion of the fridge. Will looked at Alex across the nook table. "It is the best," he drawled.

"And homemade," JJ added. "Cait doesn't believe in boxed cake mixes," she smiled.

Alex just shook her head.

The doorbell rang in the Hotchner home and Aaron moved to answer it. He looked through the peep hole in the door and smiled. Opening the door, he stuck out his hand. "You must be James; I'm Aaron; it's a pleasure to meet you. Come in and make yourself at home."

"Thanks Aaron; I appreciate the invitation. I wanted to surprise Alex."

Aaron smiled. "You can thank Garcia for that." He led him into the home and Alex flew into his arms. The smiles in the home were wonderful as Hotch wrapped his arm around Cait.

When they separated, Alex made the introductions. Cait got James into the kitchen and got him in on the chili feed as well. Alex came into the kitchen following her husband and looked at Cait. "I heard a rumor I need to try a piece of that cake," she smiled.

Cait smiled back. "You better do it soon; between the boys, Spencer and Kevin, they're might not be much left."

Cait handed a bowl of the chili to James she heated in the microwave. As he added some onions and sour cream, Hotch handed him a beer. Alex took a bite of her piece of cake and almost melted. "OMG; this is sinfully chocolate."

James smiled. "Save me a piece; I know my wife's penchant for chocolate. It must be great."

Aaron and Cait smiled at them. Alex looked at them with a huge smile. "Thank you for this; I now know why this means so much to the others."

Cait smiled at Aaron, then the couple. "That includes you and James now."

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A/N: Thank you all for the reviews, plus following and favorite alerts. I appreciate all of you reading!

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