A/N: It's been pointed out to me that the web address I put at the end of Chapter 14 was blocked. It is family home plans (all one word) dot com. Then put in the plan number 73097 in the box to the right under the home page banner. My apologies.

Chapter 16

As moving day approached for the Hotchner's, the emails between the team flew fast and furious. While Hotch knew they were going to help, he didn't have a clue to all of their plans. He and boys worked tirelessly to get what they had around Aaron's small apartment packed up. Their excitement, especially the boys, grew each day. On Friday night, with them all packed up and everything ready to move, including their beds, they bunked in with Dave. He loved having them around and they had a wonderful "guy's night" like they did at the cabin. Mudg snuck into Jack's room after Dave had let him out, jumped up on the bed and curled around Jack's legs.

Jack woke when Dave got Mudg off the bed to let him out the next morning. He raced into his dad's room jumping up and down on the bed. "Wake up daddy! It's moving day!" Aaron smiled broadly and pulled his youngest son to his chest. They heard Zach get up and get the shower running in the bathroom. To get Zach moving at 7:05 on a Saturday morning gave testament to the magnitude of the day.

Dave, of course, made them breakfast and they headed to Aaron's apartment. Pete was waiting for them. Zach climbed out his truck, leaving Aaron to pull Jack out his car set. Pete smiled. "Let's get at this Cob," Dave heard as he got out of his vehicle.

"I can't thank you enough for helping out Stan," he smiled, giving Pete a fist bump. "With two trucks, this should take no time." While the temp was hovering around 40˚, he and Pete only wore sweatshirts over their t-shirts with their jeans. It made sense going from warm to cool. Aaron greeted Pete as well and Pete grabbed Jack to put him on his shoulders.

Jack laughed as Pete tickled him on the way up. Settling on his shoulders, he said, "Come on Stan, its moving day." Pete raced to front door of the apartment building with Jack giggling the entire way. The other three joined them and Zach introduced Pete to Dave.

"Pleasure to finally meet you Agent Rossi," Pete smiled as he shook Dave's hand.

"It's just Dave, Pete, and it's great to meet you. Zach has a pretty special friend."

Pete thumbed at Zach. "He pays me," he said smiling broadly and followed Zach in as he unlocked the door to get into the building.

Dave stopped Aaron and looked at him. "Birds of a feather?"

Aaron just nodded. "Yup; one will BS your socks off while the other takes your wallet," Aaron smiled and shook his head. Dave smiled broadly, slapped Aaron on the back and followed him down the hall. The rumors about Pete were true. Zach couldn't have found a better friend.

Morgan and the LaMontagne crew showed up a little after 9 am to see Zach and Pete filling the last space in the bed of Pete's pick-up with the packed up boxes. Zach's was already full. They got out and joined the guys. Zach made the introductions.

"Holy shizzers Cob," Pete said, careful of his language around Henry. "I get to meet the whole BAU crew today?"

Zach shrugged. "They're not that special. It's all in their heads," he devilishly smiled. Will laughed.

"Got it Cob," Pete smiled. Morgan took his hand and pushed Zach's head to the side, like he did with Reid.

JJ, holding Henry, smiled at the group. "I'm going to go inside and get Jack."

Will looked at Pete's truck. "Wow, a mint condition 1978 Ford F-150. Pretty sweet ride Pete," he smiled.

"One of my brother's is a car crank." Will looked at him with a question. "He's an auto mechanic that runs his own little shop. On the side, he restores old vehicles. He got this one done last year and the customer bailed on before he could pay the bill. I got it at cost."

"Well, she looks in mighty fine shape, Pete," Will smiled.

Derek looked at Zach. "Whose truck is this?"

"Mine," Zach said, smiling proudly.

"Whoa, this is yours? No way," he smiled.

"Yeah, dad wants me in a dependable vehicle. And God love mom, but her car wasn't it."

Morgan smiled broadly. "You deserve a ride like that Zach. You're really stepping up for your dad taking care of Jack."

"Amen to that," Will concurred.

"Thanks, but he's my brother." Derek and Will just smiled at him. The four of them got heads down in their game plan. Zach pulled Jack's car seat out of his truck and Will put it in their car. JJ came out with the boys, along with Aaron and Dave. Hotch got Jack buckled in; JJ did the same to Henry, gave Will a kiss and climbed into the car.

As she pulled out, Dave looked around. "Let's get these two loads over to the house. I'll ride with Pete." Aaron climbed in his vehicle, its bike rack in the back filled to transport over the three bikes he and boys had. Zach and Pete had stuffed a bunch of boxes in his vehicle as well, folding down the backseat, before he added the bikes.

Pete smiled brightly and the other two along with Zach got into Zach's pick-up. Fifteen minutes later, the boys were backing the trucks into the driveway. Aaron, ahead of the two trucks and having the garage door openers, had hit the buttons and pulled into the garage. Prentiss zoomed to the curb as they all got out. "I'm the house sitter between loads," she smiled.

"Emily, how did you know…." Hotch started to ask and then stopped short. "Garcia." Emily just smiled and pointed at him.

Zach walking around his truck to get the tailgate opened, looked into the garage and stopped dead in his tracks. "Cob; what's wrong?" Pete questioned.

Zach looked at the freezer, already plugged in the garage and then at Aaron. That freezer would be a major grocery bill saver for the family. Zach could take advantage of grocery store sales. And they could buy in bulk at the warehouse store. Aaron smiled at his son. "I rolled into the house loan a few extra things," he said as he pulled off the first bike and put it in the three car garage.

"Holy shit, dad. A few?"

Aaron smiled, reaching for the second. "Yeah, a few." Dave beamed. "And btw, watch your language." Pete snickered and grabbed the third.

The group followed Hotch and Zach into the house.

Aaron, walking by the thermostat, bumped up the heat that was set at 64˚. "Tour first Hotch," Morgan smiled broadly.

Zach looked at them. "Two dollars please; pay at this window." Zach introduced Pete to Prentiss.

Hotch looked at Dave, shaking his head. "What are you looking at me for? He's your kid," Dave said with a large smile. The rest laughed and Aaron gave Morgan, Prentiss and Will the tour as Dave and the boys started hauling in boxes, emptying Hotch's SUV first.

As the tour finished Dave walked in with a box marked for Jack's room and looked at Hotch, Morgan and Will. "You three going to help or not?" They all shook their heads and dived in.

As Pete and Dave brought in some boxes marked for the kitchen, Prentiss whistled for Aaron. "Hotch?"

"Yeah," he said coming around the corner into the kitchen.

"I know you and Zach want to put things where you want them. But do you mind if I start unpacking it and putting in on the counters?"

"Go for it," he smiled. The six of them got both trucks unloaded in less than fifteen minutes and in their proper rooms. Only the Hotchner's would have every box organized and clearly marked where they should go.

They looked at Emily. "Go; I've got the fort, my Glock and enough to keep me busy," she said looking at the boxes in the kitchen. The crew headed out.

As they arrived back at the apartment, Spencer and Kevin arrived in Reid's car. It did its usual burp and hiccup as he shut it off. "When the hell kid are you going to get rid of that?" Derek asked. "Gideon is gone and that car should be as well. You can't hang onto the past."

"But I sorta like it Morgan, and I don't give you hell about your ride," he smiled. Zach made the rest of the introductions to Pete.

Kevin looked at the group. "Penelope is over at JJ and Will's with the boys," he smiled.

Zach looked at Pete. "There's a no brainer," he said. "Just wait Stan until you meet her," he whispered. Pete looked at him. "But she's the bomb," Zach smiled.

They got all of boxes into the second load, using Morgan's Hummer, with the back seats folded down, along with the two trucks and made the run. Everyone, mostly importantly Zach, got the feeling that Aaron's SUV was in the garage for the day; at home. As Pete, Zach, and Dave put some boxes in Zach's bedroom, he noticed the large box already in the room. Aaron walked in behind them and sat a box down. "Dad?"

"Son, I know you worked your butt off a couple summers ago to buy that water bed from the neighbors. But you always complained about your back hurting, which, btw, you haven't lately, even sleeping on the couch." He nodded at the box. "Take a look."

Pete got to it first. "Holy shit Cob: it's a Sleep Number bed."

Aaron smiled. "When we get your waterbed frame out of storage, I want that water bed mattress in the garbage can." Pointing to the box, he added, "That should fill it much better." Zach just looked at his dad and smiled.

As Aaron and Dave walked out of Zach's bedroom, Dave looked at Hotch. "Another extra you mentioned?"

"Yes; and if he's playing ball with the team that Pete is on, he'll need it," Aaron smiled.

Dave rubbed Aaron across his shoulders. "You do have your moments, Aaron," he smiled.

The crew working together got the big furniture from the apartment over on the next two loads. There was a bit of a snafu as Reid and Kevin tried to pull the couch out from Pete's truck. The teenage boys showed up and make quick work of it. Spencer shrugged at Kevin. "Alpha males."

As they finished unloading the last run from the apartment of the big stuff, which emptied the place, a man showed up from Subway, bearing a three foot sub that they delivered. Emily already had the fridge running, with drinks in it. She directed him to set in on the lunch counter in the kitchen and paid him, tipping his generously.

Aaron looked at her. She shook her head. "We're all in on this Hotch; Garcia and JJ have been planning this since you told us you were closing on the house," she smiled.

Morgan ran his hand across Aaron's shoulder. "Let it go Hotch; we're a team," he smiled.

Zach smiled. "Good, 'cause I'm starving."

"Right behind you Cob," Pete said. Emily pointed out the end portion that wouldn't upset Zach's stomach with no veggies. Two prayers for the bounty they were about to receive, for the different faiths were said. The boys dived in. The rest of the crew dived in as well. Zach spotted the glasses on the counter that Emily had already unpacked and poured two glasses of milk for himself and Pete. The rest grabbed the bottles of water that Emily put out, along with chips from the bag she had brought, along with the paper plates.

Thirty minutes later, the three foot sub was gone, mostly compliments of the teenage boys, Zach pulling out veggies in other portions to get full, with Pete just piling in behind him. Emily just looked at Derek, who smiled. He and Pete polished off the gallon of milk. Reid blinked at Hotch. "Welcome to my world," he smiled. The group, minus Dave and Morgan that already knew, just shook their heads.

Morgan looked at Hotch. "What's the plan from here?"

"The stuff in storage," he smiled. Zach smiled at his dad.

Pete looked at Zach. "Pretty special stuff?"

"Yeah Stan, it's from the house." Zach's special friend grabbed his shoulder and gave it a heartfelt tug. Pete had dragged out of Zach the story about his mother. He knew that having some of her things around, and other items from their old house would make this a home. The rest of group didn't need to be profilers to figure out the significance.

"Then, if you two are finally filled up," Dave smiled at the teenage boys, "let's get at it."

Emily smiled at them all. "I'll keep plugging around here. Hotch, I noticed the box next to linen closet in the hall; do you really care how the towels go?"

"No Emily, I don't," he smiled. "Btw, we packed them as they came out of the closet at the apartment. Scruffy ones on top; stuff we really use on the bottom. And thank you." She shook her head at their attention to detail and then smiled. The guys headed out the door.

Zach looked at his dad. "The big stuff is in front. Morgan's Hummer won't do us any good. We just need the trucks." They did a head count.

Pete looked at Will. "Do you mind sitting in the middle with Dave and me?"

Will smiled. "Hell no; I want to see how that sweet truck of yours checks out. I'm from the Louisiana bayou and I understand re-built rides. My daddy did that in his spare time from being a New Orleans cop. I helped him more than once."

Dave smiled. "Zach, you got the rest." Zach opened the driver's side door to his truck, and then the half door.

Morgan pushed Reid in. "You sit in the middle." Reid balked, and looked at him.

"With you still nursing that knee but with that big brain of yours, you'll figure out to get these loads done. That leaves the rest in this vehicle, plus the other three, doing the heavy lifting. You ride in the middle. Get your butt in there." Kevin and Hotch walked to the other side of Zach's truck and got in.

Four loads later, with the all the guys working profusely they nearly had all of the stuff from the storage place. As they unloaded the latest one, they all walked in to see Sean, helping Emily break down some packing boxes. It was a race between Hotch and Zach to see who got to him first. He was engulfed in a hug from his brother. "Sorry, I couldn't get here sooner, but I had the late shift last night. I needed sleep before I came down to help."

Hotch looked at his brother. "No apologies, Sean, none; it just means the world that you're here," he said, pulling his brother into another hug. The crew just smiled.

As Sean pulled out of the hug, he smiled at Aaron. "And I'm here until Tuesday to help you get settled. But holy shit bro, with this crew, I think we're going to make quick work of this," he smiled, his full buy-in on what his brother's team was doing. He pulled Zach into a huge hug as well. Zach introduced his uncle to Pete.

Sean had worked with Emily to get the bedframes set up for Aaron's and Jack's beds before they group had got back. The mattresses for both beds were leaning against the walls in the room.

"There's just one more load for one truck," Pete said.

Zach looked at him and the rest of the crew. "If you don't mind, this one is just dad and I." Hotch smiled, knowing what was waiting.

"You two go for it," Dave smiled. "I think we all can keep busy around here." The crew worked to get the box springs and mattresses on the beds. Emily found the sheets in the boxes for each room, freshly laundered she noticed, shaking her head at Zach. She and Reid made the beds.

What was left was garage stuff such as rakes, the lawn mower, snow blower and shovels and the like and one large box. Zach looked at Aaron. "The Christmas tree." Aaron nodded.

Zach shook his head and then turned away. Aaron pulled him into a hug. "I know Zach; it's going to be tough. But what's the real Christmas story? Why did God send his Son?"

"For Easter morning," Zach smiled, and then shook his head again. "That helps dad, believing that. It really does. But it doesn't take away from missing mom."

Aaron pulled him into another hug. "I know son."

Zach pulled out of his father's embrace, and smiled at him. "I'd really like to see that Christmas tree up, with a bunch of packages under it. That's what mom would want."

Aaron smiled at him. "Once the team leaves, who I have no doubt has dinner for all of us, you, Jack and I will put the tree as a family in our home. For mom."

"And for us." They hugged again and got the box loaded with the rest of the stuff.

The walked into the house as JJ was taking Henry's coat off. Jack was tugging Sean by the hand to show him his room. "And Uncle Sean, starting Monday, I get to ride the school bus," he enthused. "Plus look at the driveway and street. I can ride my bike!" The rest had most of the plastic removed off the furniture from storage. Zach heard Pete down in his room. He walked in to see him finishing putting Zach's bed frame together that was in storage. "Where do you want it Cob?" Pete smiled. The two of them got it in place as Dave walked in with Mudgie. He looked at what the boys had already done and turned to leave as they started to get Zach's new mattress out of the box. Mudg bounded up the steps to find the two little boys he heard laughing.

He stopped and turned in the doorway. "Guys, there's one I learned being married three times. It really does help to follow the directions."

Zach looked at him. "Just one thing Uncle Dave?" Pete smiled and snickered.

"Yes Zach, just one thing." He turned and left. The boys smiled at each other, shared a high five and dove in to get the mattress put together.

Pete looked at Zach. "You're right; Garcia is a trip," he smiled.

"Yeah, she is. But she's huge for the team and has a heart of gold."

By the time the boys came upstairs around five, their stomachs rumbling for wanting food again, the rest had all the big furniture in place, with Aaron, Jack's and the spare bed completely made. It was just a matter of getting boxes unpacked and the items put away. Something only Hotch and the boys could do.

The doorbell rang and soon the table in the nook that used to be at the old house had four large pizza boxes sitting on it with two more on the kitchen counter for the four boys that didn't like all the extra toppings. Dave tipped the delivery kid twenty dollars. "Tell Tony I'll stop by tomorrow and pay the bill."

"No problem, Dave. Tony said to tell you no rush." Morgan stopped him and gave the kid another ten. Hotch looked at Sean. "Can you give me a hand?" Sean followed him to the garage and helped him carry in a big cooler. Hotch opened it up to reveal everyone's favorite beer iced down.

The team looked at him. "What? I'm a profiler." They all laughed and dived in. Zach helped Jack and Henry sitting at the lunch counter, while he and Pete stood in the kitchen. With two extra boys, albeit on the short side, and Morgan grabbing a glass for himself, nearly two gallons of milk bit the dust.

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