Chapter 5
Michael and Ethan had toddled off to Bella and Max, pulling out cars from the play box Cait had for them. They sent them careening around the living room with the dogs chasing them and returning the cars to the boys. Declan, Jack and Henry went upstairs to play a video game. Wyatt tagged along to watch. The older Hotchner boys and their ladies moved to clear dishes from the guests. The guests commented, again, about the great meal and thanked all the cooks. Will looked at Fran. "Your sweet potatoes are as good as my grand mama's," he smiled.
"Thank you Will," Fran smiled back. Mike came in with two more bottles of wine and expertly opened the first. He poured his mother some more and then moved around the table.
Sean smiled. "Learned well that Jedi." Aaron just shook his head at him. Cait shook her head at both of them. They both looked at her.
"Aaron, you bite the boys in the butt about getting along and rightly so. And yet you two can't bury the hatchet."
"Old habits die hard Cait," Sean smiled. "Sorry."
"Harder try Jedi," Cait fired back at him. The group at the table all laughed.
Dave held up his glass to Mike. Mike eyed him. "Michael my boy, I intend to repeat last year and have you and Matthew get me downstairs on the couch and tuck me in for the night. I've got nothing to do tomorrow except lay around the house nursing my hangover, watching college football."
"Rock on Uncle Dave," Mike smiled filling his glass.
Brian looked at Dave. "How'd the duck hunting go this year with Max?"
Dave smiled. "We had to work a bit earlier this fall to get him used to my commands. But he was flawless in the water." He paused. "Actually, he proved to me how old Mudgie was getting. I just didn't want to accept it."
Jarrod smiled at Mike. "Nailed that profile." Mike smiled. Dave looked at Jarrod. "When they were all out at the ranch and deeply hurting, Michael, your boy," Jarrod smiled at Dave, "pointed that out to everyone on our big horseback ride up into the hills around the ranch."
The team looked at Mike. He shrugged. "I'm the scientist; the pragmatic. I hate what that bastard did to our family. But that ass saved Uncle Dave and us from making a tough decision down the line. I noticed Beans was showing signs of the Lab hip problems when she would sleep with me at night." The team all smiled at Mike as he moved back to kitchen.
Tara looked around the table. "Big horseback ride," she smiled with a question.
Morgan shook his head looking at Aaron. "I'm sorry man; but I just cannot see you on a horse."
Aaron smiled. "As long as I don't have to keep up with my wife, I've gotten better over the years to the point I really enjoy it as well." He deeply smiled. "And Jack and grandpa are riding partners every morning when we're at the ranch." The group around the table smiled.
Cait rubbed his shoulder with a smile. "You've turned into a great rider."
Tara looked at Cait. "I'm sorry; I want details on this big horse ride."
"Me too," Diana said. "I love stories like this."
Cait smiled. "When I was growing up, being the oldest grandchild, if I wasn't swimming in a pool, I was riding with grandpa. Uncle Nick and Uncle Heath had taken most of the day to day operations of the ranch. He loved having his first grandchild riding with him, no matter what sex. And he literally knew every inch of the ranch. He showed me most of it before he got killed."
Diana looked at Spencer. "Jarrod's father, Cait's grandfather got killed by a former ranch hand that Cait's grandfather had fired," he told her.
Diana looked at Cait. "How old were you?"
"I was nine when it happened."
Jarrod shook his head and looked at Tara. "To answer your real question, the east end of the ranch includes land that has the foothills of the western side of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. The flatland going away from the hills is where the cattle graze and peach tree crops are. The north end of the land, in the foothills is where two of Maggie and I's sons run the Barkley winery. The southeast corner is where the ranch sits. So we always go up into the foothills just north of the ranch for our family ride. It gets steep in places that Caitie knows."
"We pack lunches and drinks for the day and put them on a pack horse," Maggie added. "We love it."
Fran looked at Maggie. "You go too?"
Maggie smiled. "Miquel, the horse barn foreman makes sure I get the gentlest horse. But yes, I do. And I love it. We have a wonderful day. Miner's Falls is beautiful. And we always picnic around a spring fed lake. And Mister Low Tech," she smiled, rubbing Jarrod's arm, "playing around with Goggle Earth found a huge waterfall on the property. Cait took us up there. Even with Lauren and myself being the not most experienced riders."
"Cait," JJ asked.
"Getting there was easy for them. I never took them there before because of the ride back down. It's a steep climb back down; not one for inexperienced riders. I worried about mom, Jack and Lauren."
Emily looked at Jake. "She's that good on a horse," she asked, pointing at Cait.
"She can ride my ass into the ground," Jake smiled.
""You doubted that Emily," Dave said with a smile, taking a sip of his wine.
Jake smiled. "Lightning is the meanest riding horse on the ranch." He pointed at Cait. "When Cait is in the saddle, he's like the dogs. 'I'm answering to the boss'."
"Jake that is the only reason why we fly out there every year. So I can kick Lightning's ass," Cait snarked. The group around the table laughed.
JJ looked at Cait. "Hotch mentioned something about Bella and 'problem child'?" JJ softly smiled.
Cait shook her head. "I thought I was past having to put a 'child' into a timeout." The group laughed. "The worst was the day I came home to garbage all over the kitchen. She had figured out how to open the door on the garbage bin in the kitchen island." The team snickered a bit. "And after I just got that all cleaned up, she threw up on the carpet. That was as close of a 'pull out my service weapon moment' I'll ever have." The whole group laughed out loud.
Cait smiled. "And that's when I said screw this new school method of parenting. I swatted her ass twice." Cait beamed. "Like Lightning, I think she figured out who rules the roost. And it wasn't her." Aaron smiled, rubbing her shoulder. Dave gave her the Rossi point. They all laughed more around the table.
Sean got up out of this chair, looking at Maggie. "Come on grandma – we've got leftovers to take care of," he smiled. The rest of the group around the table helped to clear it. The older boys and their ladies were downstairs sitting around the bar playing Cribbage.
The team dived into doing the dishes as Savannah fed Hank his dinner. Tara washed and Emily rinsed them. Reid and Morgan fought over drying them as JJ helped Maggie put them away. Diana, Sandy and Fran, sitting at the lunch counter, shook their heads at their children as Cait handed Diana the cup of tea she made for her. Dave poured two mugs of coffee and added a touch of Bailey's to them both with a smile and served Fran and Sandy. Gina and Brian went downstairs to kibitz on the action down there. Jarrod and Bill enjoyed a sip of their scotches in the living room with the boys playing. Cait slipped into the laundry room and fed Bella and Max. She threw the load of clothes into the dryer after feeding them and went back into the kitchen.
Aaron came into the kitchen and pulled Cait into a hug. "Thank you again." He kissed her.
"You two need some privacy," Morgan kidded.
"No, we can wait until later," Hotch smiled. The team snickered.
"Now you're bragging," Morgan asked. Aaron just smiled at him. The team laughed as Aaron accepted a scotch with Bailey's from Dave and handed it to Cait. Dave handed a second one to Aaron.
"Atta boy," Dave proudly smiled. Morgan just shook his head at Dave. The team laughed more.
"Gee thanks Derek," Maggie scolded. "Jarrod and I will get woke up tonight."
"We thought you and dad were used to it from when we're out at the ranch and you two are across the hall." Dave high fived Cait.
"That's it," Morgan said. "I'm out of here."
"Yeah, go sulk stud," Emily said, over emphasizing the last word. The team doubled over with laughter. Diana slapped her knee laughing as Sandy and Fran laughed as well. Aaron laughed and pulled Cait to him.
The laughter died down as Jack and Henry came into the kitchen. Declan had stopped to watch the final minutes of the Dallas and Washington football game on TV. "Are we doing the music thing tonight," Henry asked.
"You bet we are," Cait smiled. "You and Jack go get everyone." They took off.
Cait and Aaron heard the door in the garage open. Aaron looked down the entry way and shook his head as the group entered. "We love that you're here; but why so early?"
"Number one," John Brooks said, "we didn't want to miss the musical entertainment," he smiled. "Number two, two of my idiot brothers-in-law started arguing politics. I looked at Jessica and said, 'we're out of here'."
Cait smiled at Hannah rolling her eyes, shaking her head. "That does get old every year," Hannah said as Cait helped her out of her coat. "But obviously, it got nasty in a hurry this year. I was glad to leave."
"And I found a straggler," Jessica said smiling, thumbing over her shoulder.
"Blessings to all in this home," Father Jimmy said with his best Irish brogue. He handed a bag to Aaron. "Be careful with that my son; its two bottles of communion wine." Cait just shook her head as Jessica laughed.
Dave shook his head. "It's about time you contributed Jimmy." Aaron put the brown bag on the counter and pulled out more scotch and a bottle of Bailey's. The four came in and shared greetings with every one.
The three Brooks and Jimmy went to the French patio doors. Aaron had already turned on the patio light. "Oh my, that's beautiful," Hannah softly said as all the kids came into the Great Room. Jessica rubbed away a tear. They turned around and moved away. Jimmy lingered a minute, bowing his head in prayer. When he finished, he made a small sign of the cross out the window to the memorial.
The kids had just finished sharing hugs with the Brooks when Jimmy joined them. Jack gave him a huge hug. "Thank you Father Jimmy."
Jimmy rubbed his back. "Jack you know me. I don't do Saturday morning masses. Except one a year." Jack looked at him. "I will not miss doing the mass where all the pets are blessed. I'll put up with barking, cats hissing and a pot bullied pig snorting rather than your Uncle Dave snoring through my sermon." The room roared with laughter.
Aaron flipped the lights off and on a couple times like a theater did just before the start of the show. "You in a hurry to get that promise later Aaron," Dave growled. "Let me get some drinks poured."
Matt shook his head with a smile. "I'll help you Uncle Dave."
"I'll be the bar wench," Lauren smiled.
Savannah looked at Cait with a yawning Hank, already in his p.j.'s, finishing a bottle. "Where can I put him down?"
"He's had a long, hard day and needs more rest. You can put him down in Matt's old room," Cait smiled. "If you shut the door, he won't hear too much."
Leslie smiled at her. "I'll show you where it is. I've got to get Ethan's p.j.s and diaper stuff to get him ready for bed soon."
Derek pulled Savannah to his shoulder as she sat down next to him when she returned. "How is he?"
Savannah smiled. "Conked out already." Derek handed her a Bailey's on the rocks, kissing her forehead. Cait smiled at both of them. The rest of the group settled in with their drinks. Mike blinked the lights again.
"Oh good," Tara smiled. "The show is starting." Everyone smiled.
Matt walked up to the piano, pulled out a bow tie from his back jeans pocket and attached it around his neck above the open collar of his long sleeved polo shirt he was wearing. He looked at the group. "Good evening ladies and gentlemen," he seriously said. "We begin tonight's performance with Mr. Jackson Hotchner performing Pachelbel's Canon in D." Matt took the tie off and put it around Jack's neck as he walked to the piano to polite applause. Jack approached the piano, put his hand on the end, bowed to the applause and moved between the piano and the bench. When he got to the middle of the piano bench, he faked like his was fanning out the tails of his tux like a concert pianist and sat down. The group lightly laughed.
The version he played of the piece was a simplified one that Cait had found online. They had worked on it all fall. While it was simple and short, it was beautiful. Jack played it flawlessly and in time with the rhythm of the song without any hesitation. And he was now tall enough to reach the pedals of the piano which added to his performance.
When he finished, the group loudly applauded. Jack rose off the bench, put his hand on the end of the piano and bowed again. They all laughed. Jack looked at Cait. "I did it mom!" racing to her.
Cait proudly hugged him. "You were fantastic!"
Aaron pulled him into a deep hug. "Mommy loved that," he whispered in Jack's ear. Cait rubbed Aaron's back with a smile. Aaron set him on his feet and helped him get the bow tie off. "Whose idea was that?"
"Mine," Lauren said. "You got a problem with that dad?" The group all laughed. Aaron tossed the tie at her with a laugh. He and Cait moved to sit down on the piano bench.
"Wyatt, what's the song you're learning in preschool," Cait asked, playing some notes. Wyatt shyly looked at her.
"Come on Wyatt," Henry said. "I'll help you."
Cait pulled Wyatt onto her lap as Aaron did the same with Henry. The boys sang Santa Clause is Coming to Town. They received a wonderful round of applause as well.
Leslie took Ethan into Cait and Aaron's beedroom to get him ready for bed as Jack and Declan joined the younger guys for Jingle Bells. JJ did the same with Michael.
When they finished, the two mothers brought the boys out. Mike looked around the room. "I'm bartending; who needs a fresh drink?"
"That makes me the bar wench this time," Andi smiled. Sean grabbed Wyatt to get him in his p.j.'s and followed Leslie with Ethan in her arms upstairs. JJ and Will followed along to put Michael to bed with Ethan.
"It's intermission already," Jimmy asked. Everyone laughed as he drained his drink and held it out to Andi.
"Matt," Jarrod said. "That fire," he pointed, "needs more wood."
"Got it grandpa," Matt smiled, moving to the wood box. Jake got up and helped him. Jarrod waved his glass. "Ms. Bar Wench?" Andi laughed, grabbing his as well.
Cait winked at Aaron. "I don't think we'll have to worry about waking him up tonight," she whispered. Aaron softly laughed, shaking his head. Sean, Leslie, JJ, Will and Wyatt returned to the Great Room.
"Who's up to bat," Aaron asked.
"I am," Diana smiled. Cait pulled the sheet music down from the corner of the piano and slid closer to Aaron. Diana sat down on the end of the bench as Cait played the introduction to Carole King's Tapestry. Diana sang it beautifully.
She returned to her chair to sit down between Will and Spencer, who hugged her. "That was beautiful mom."
"Yes it was," Bill smiled, rubbing her back as she sat down. Derek, Savannah and Fran shared a smile.
Brian and Gina did an absolute comical version of Rudolph, yet including Wyatt and Henry that everyone enjoyed. Tara stepped up to the piano and totally knocked out a cover of Whitney Houston's Do You Hear What I Hear to great applause.
"Cait," Reid said, "please do something," he smiled.
Cait smiled, playing a few notes. "I did this a couple months ago when Jack went to bed. He came back downstairs and told me it was Haley's favorite song. This is for Haley, Beans and Mudgie who are enjoying this evening looking over us. With Carolyn and Erin." Dave smiled as Jimmy rubbed his shoulder. Jack came over and crawled into Aaron's lap as she sang Streisand's Somewhere. The Brooks family deeply smiled.
Jarrod and Maggie recreated Maria and Captain Von Trapp's gazebo scene doing Something Good to the delight of Diana. Will did Elvis' Blue Christmas.
Cait looked at Declan. "Mr. Show Choir singer – you have nothing to offer?"
Declan walked up to the piano. "I do," he smiled. "But I'll have to do it alone. It's from Hamilton."
"Oooo Hamilton," Cait said.
Declan smiled. "Mom took me to see it the weekend we went to NYC." Emily smiled. JJ rubbed her back. Cait and Aaron smiled as well.
"Good job mom," JJ whispered.
"Rap it out," Cait smiled. Which Declan did; what he didn't expect was Cait hitting the right chords at the right time of his version. When he finished his wonderful performance to great applause, he looked at Cait. "The seven of us snuck up to NYC on a Sunday in June to a matinee of it," she smiled. "But it was train up, car to show, car back to train, train home."
Hannah looked at Sean and Leslie. "They didn't get together with you?"
Leslie shook her head. "It was the only Sunday matinee that Aaron and Cait could get tickets for all of them."
"And they weren't all together," Mike said.
Leslie smiled. "It was also the weekend my sister got married."
"Got it," Hannah smiled.
Mike looked at Matt. "Speaking of which…..we owe mom and dad." Matt nodded his head. Mike walked to the piano, hit a key and the two boys with Lauren and Andi joining them did an absolute amazing acapella version of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah in four part harmony.
"Wow," Emily said.
"That was amazing you guys," JJ smiled.
As they moved off, Cait played some notes and winked at Aaron. They did a rendition of Baby its Cold Outside together. When they finished, Dave started to open his mouth along with Morgan. Aaron rose up from the piano bench and gave them the Hotchner glare. They clamped their mouths shut. The group around the room roared with laughter.
Henry looked at him. "Does this mean it's time for dessert Uncle Aaron?"
Aaron smiled at him. "Yes it does Henry."
"It's about time," Jack said. "I'm hungry again."
Hannah looked at Cait. "Welcome to pre-teen growth spurt time grandma. He can't eat enough and sleep enough."
Hannah shook her head. "And I thought two daughters getting their periods was tough."
Aaron smiled at her. "Hannah, anytime you want to pick up our grocery bill, Cait and I would love it. Even with Matt out of the house."
"I love you all," Hannah said and then wickedly smiled. "But not that much," she laughed.
"You're lucky you missed out on that club grandma," Maggie smiled. "Jarrod and I have absolutely no sympathy for them," she said waving her finger at Cait and Aaron. "We had four boys." She pointed at Jake. "Including one that is a quarterback in the NFL making six figures that still doesn't chip in when he's home."
Cait looked Jake as she headed into the kitchen. "Dude! You are so busted!" Jake hung his head.
Derek put his arm around Jake's shoulders. "Yup dude; you are," he smiled.
By the time the growing boys, plus Cait and Hotch's older boys and Declan, Will, Derek, Spencer and Jake plowed through the desserts, there wasn't much left. Maggie just shook her head as the guests started to leave.
An hour later as Cait and Aaron said good-bye to the last of their guests, Matt and Mike looked at Dave. He smiled. "I know I'm in no shape to drive. But I can find my way downstairs. And I know where the pillow and blanket is in the closest. I'll stoke up the fire again and be fine," he smiled.
"You sure Uncle Dave," Matt asked.
Dave smiled. "I've got it Matt." The boys hugged him with Lauren and Andi joining them. He moved to the stairs as the four of them said good night to Maggie and Jarrod. Cait, Aaron, Leslie and Sean were upstairs tucking in Jack and Wyatt into Jack's bed.
Jake looked at the two boys. "I have no problem sleeping on the couch outside of your rooms so you and Lauren can stay Matt," he smiled. "But you two help me find my bedding to sleep on the couch. You do not involve your mother," he pointed at Matt.
"Understood Uncle Jake," Matt smiled. "And we live up to mom and dad's no sex rule at home. So we won't bother you."
Mike smiled. "Neither will Andi and me. I'm wiped out." Andi smiled at Mike yawning. Jake mulled over their parents promise and then decided to not tell the boys. The group met Cait and Aaron at the bottom of the steps. They shared hugs.
"Mom and dad," Cait questioned, looking at Jake.
Jake laughed. "Dad is snoring already."
Aaron looked at the boys. Matt smiled. "Dave is in no shape to drive home but well enough to make up his bed downstairs, getting the fireplace going again. Max, after I let him and Bella out went with him. Bella is already conked out on her bed."
"The ding dongs," Mike pointed at Matt and Lauren, "are staying the night.
Cait looked at Jake. "I'm cool with sleeping on the couch sis," he smiled, pulling Cait into a hug. "I making the boys get my bedding together. And I'm enforcing the no sex rule in mom and dad's home," he wickedly smiled. "You two owe me. God help you two with breakfast in the morning." Cait and Aaron laughed and deeply hugged the two couples and Jake. The five of them headed up the steps.
Aaron shut the last of the lights down in the home and headed to him and Cait's bedroom after setting the alarm. Cait came out of the bath area with her glasses on and ready for bed. Aaron looked at her. "What about breakfast tomorrow?"
Cait smiled. "I knew this would all end up this way Aaron. I've got two pans of egg bake in the fridge downstairs."
"I love you," Aaron smiled, pulling her into a hug. "You are amazing." He eyed her. "The promise real?"
Cait smiled at him. "That's up to you."
Aaron smiled and kissed her. "Mrs. Hotchner allow me to get you naked."
"Bring it on," Cait seductively smiled.
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A/N: And that folks, is how you do your 100th story. :D
There are so, so many peeps that I cannot thank enough for getting me to this milestone with their love and support. My Dutch Delight. My MA Martial Artist to start. Those two have supported me through the writing process of a lot of my stories when I was struggling. I love you both.
I have no words for my OK Teacher that has been my absolute rock. None. Luvs and hugs my friend.
To hurricanehorse, spk and ten - thank you all for being my solid reviewers. Every story. And Shal, I know once you catch up, you'll be right there. Thanks Dal. :D
To all the rest that have reviewed, favorited or followed my work, thank you so much. Or those of you that have just been readers. I say it again. I realize the time it takes to read. I appreciate it more than you'll ever know.
That said, my final shout out goes to one person. My mentor.
My gawd Tigger – I just completed my 100th story and I can't, for the life of me, find the words to say to you. You, and you alone, inspired all of this with three simple words. "Go for it."
You've held my hand through the bad times, kicked my *ss when I royally needed it and have guided me through this process. I didn't get here without those three words and your confidence in me.
Thank you Thn0715. Always my Tigger. :D
*Knightly bow*
I'm gonna take the Christmas holidays off. I need the break after doing TWO major stories back to back.
*does best Arnold* I'll be back. There's a Matt story lurking in my brain. And then, yes ten, Zach will appear again. That story line is not going away. :D
I love you all!