Chapter 17

By seven, the Hotchner's thanked, hugged and waved good-bye to the last of the team leaving with Henry giving Mudg an extra hug and getting a "kiss" along the ear in loveable return. Pete had left shortly after eating, wanting to get to the restaurant to help with the Saturday evening rush. Hotch looked at Zach. "How's it going downstairs?"

"I'm completely moved in. When Pete and I walked into the kitchen to eat, we had taken the boxes to the garage." They all moved downstairs to look. The flat screen TV that Haley had bought for the living room at the house, along with the stand was set up and hooked to the satellite TV system, as was the DVD player. Aaron had the service come over before they moved in to have it ready. On the opposite wall was Haley's sofa, encased in a solid colored cover that Zach had bought to hide the floral pattern Haley had selected.

The futon Haley had in the room where Jack hid was in there in an "L" shape from the sofa, as well as the coffee table from the house in front of the sofa. So were Aaron's old recliner, an end table between the futon and the sofa and a lamp. In one corner was the rack that Haley and Aaron had bought for his collection of DVD's and video games. They walked into Zach's room to see all his bedroom furnishings in place. The dresser, desk with his chair, the bookcase, already filled again, the bed neatly made and the bed stand with his lamp and alarm clock. On top of the bookcase was the picture that Aaron carried in his wallet of Haley and the boys, along with Zach's four baseball caps that he loved.

Aaron looked at Zach and slightly smiled. "Have you got the new mattress set?"

"OMG, dad yes; it's the bomb," he said, throwing his arms around his dad's shoulders.

Sean grabbed Jack and threw him on top. "You better check it out as well," he smiled.

Jack frowned a bit. "I miss the waves from the water bed." Aaron and Zach laughed as they pulled apart.

"Jack, this is better for Zach. And he needs it to play baseball," Aaron explained.

"Then," Jack smiled, "I think it's the bomb too." Aaron checked out the large closet that Zach had to see his clothes neatly hanging. While he had did the shopping spree with the boys after Haley died, it was still pretty minimal, with only two pairs of shoes, plus the sneakers Zach had worn through the day, now by the front door. He made a mental note with Christmas coming.

"Pete and I even got the laundry room set up." They looked in to see all of the items needed neatly in place on the shelf above the machines.

The four of them headed upstairs. Zach continued to work on the kitchen while Aaron and Sean got Jack unpacked and his room set. As they finished, Jack let out a big yawn. Aaron looked at him. "You had a big day, didn't you buddy?"

"Yeah, daddy; me and Henry had a great time. And then get to play in our backyard with Mudg! That was just awesome daddy." Yet Aaron knew the signs and quickly got Jack headed to the tub for his bath, grabbing the linens out of the closet that Emily had set up. As Aaron helped Jack, Zach looked at Sean and nodded towards the garage. By the time Aaron and Jack walked into the living room, with Jack in his pj's, the other two had the different parts of the Christmas tree out of the box. Zach had turned on the radio, from the house in the kitchen to the station that was playing all Christmas music. A board, spray painted green that held the tracks to Aaron's old train set was in the corner. The train, still working, would eventually circle the tree in an oval. Zach already had the tree stand in the middle and the first part of the tree securely fastened in the stand.

Zach looked at Aaron and Sean. "This is where the fun begins," he said rolling his eyes, as he plugged in the bottom part and it lit.

Sean looked at Aaron. "Haley and I bought it when Jack was one for Christmas. It's pre-lit; but getting everything plugged into the right places so the whole tree is lit is like walking a maze," he half smiled at his brother.

"Yeah, Uncle Sean; Zach even swore in front of mommy last year tryin' to get it all hooked up," Jack confessed. Aaron beaded a look at his oldest son.

"Seems to me I remember the first year holding the flashlight for you and hearing just about the same," he smiled. Jack giggled and yawned. Yet working together, Aaron and Zach made all of the connections and the entire tree was brightly lit. With the Hotchner mindset, Aaron and Zach worked meticulously to get all of the branches of the fold up tree bent back into shape.

Sean sat with Jack in his lap on the couch as Jack ate a brownie that Garcia had made and had some milk. Jingle Bell Rock played on the radio and Aaron's sons sang along to the tune, giving Aaron and Sean large smiles. Both of the boys had inherited their mother's ability to sing. As the song ended, Jack yawned deeply again. Aaron reached into the bottom of the tree box and pulled out another box. He opened it to reveal the angel that Haley had bought for the top of the new tree the four of them had decorated together three years ago.

"That's mommy's angel," Jack said, his eyes showing tears. Aaron moved to the couch and Sean handed him to Aaron.

"Buddy, you're just super tired," he said wiping away the tear as he pulled him to his shoulder. "Tomorrow, when you get up for church, you'll look at that angel and smile." Jack sniffled a bit and then nodded. "But buddy, I think you and Zach should put the angel on top of the tree."

Zach looked at his brother and nodded his head. Jack stuck his arms out to Zach, letting another yawn go. Zach lifted Jack to the top with his strong arms and Aaron handed him the angel. Jack put it in place. The four Hotchner's headed to Jack's bedroom. He was sleeping two seconds later after saying Amen to his prayers.

Aaron and Zach pulled the three small boxes out from the bottom that held the different plastic icicles, wrapped in tissue paper. Haley, a wonderful decorator, liked understated. They finished hanging them and Zach wrapped the blanket around the bottom, covering the tree stand. Sean walked in with the box holding the train set. In less than ten minutes, they had that set up as well, with the train working. Zach smiled at Aaron. "That will make Jack happy," he smiled.

"Yeah, it always does," he said, looking at Zach as the three of them rose to stand. "You OK?"

Zach pulled his dad into a huge hug. "Welcome home dad; and thank you." As Aaron accepted the hug, he noticed Zach trying to stifle a yawn of his own.

"Go to bed and use that new mattress," he said to his oldest son. "You did more than your share around here today."

Zach didn't argue, giving his dad a good-night hug and Uncle Sean was well. Aaron ambled into the completely set up kitchen, compliments of his oldest son and found the scotch bottle. Sean followed him. They enjoyed a small glass, sitting at the lunch counter, both their bodies getting tired as well.

Sean raised his glass and clinked it to Aaron's. "Welcome home. You deserve this as much as the boys."

"Thanks Sean, and thanks for being here; again."

"Dave gave me the heads up. Aaron, I'm an hour plane ride away; or a three hour train trip. And I have seniority at the restaurant. Any time you need me bro." Aaron just smiled at his brother. They finished their scotches and less than fifteen minutes later, the lights in the new Hotchner home were completely out.

Aaron was up and showered at 6:30; Sean walked into the kitchen fifteen minutes later. "Bro, do you ever take some down time? Or even consider it?"

"Sean, I'm a parent. I've got two to get out of bed, one I have to help get dressed and both of them have to eat. I know the timeline."

Sean just shrugged and smiled. The four of them walked into church at five minutes before the opening bell ringing in the church bell tower, signaling the start of the service. Jack slept on Aaron's lap most of the service, his big day yesterday still wearing on his young body. Afterwards, Jack went to Sunday School and Zach once again joined the team group.

Aaron and Sean joined the coffee klatch. "What brings you back down Sean," Eileen, Gary's mother asked.

He smiled at her. "Aaron and the boys moved into their new house yesterday." That set the group off, demanding to know why they weren't told and why they couldn't help.

Aaron smiled his apology. "Because, it was basically a surprise for the boys until a couple of days ago and I knew my team had it all pretty much covered. I just didn't expect Sean." They all relaxed and laughed.

The four Hotchner's spent the rest of the day getting the house settled. After they had dinner, Sean looked at Aaron. "I know you brought a bunch of the paintings from the house here. You three decide where they should go."

Aaron looked at him with a question. "Aaron, tomorrow I'm going to be around here by myself after you and boys leave and I want to be productive." Aaron nodded and they finished decorating the house, leaving the artwork on the floor where they wanted Sean to hang them.

-00CM00-

Zach opened the garage door for his truck, as he started to pull into the driveway and noticed Dave's another vehicle parked along the curb. Leave it to Uncle Dave to give Sean a ride he thought. He walked into the house at 3:10 to a wonderful smell. He followed the smell into the kitchen. Sean was pulling chocolate chip cookies out the oven. Sean smiled at him. "Hey Zach, how was school?"

Zach shrugged. "The usual; nothing exciting or noteworthy." Zach said as he grabbed a cookie, and ate it while taking the cap off the milk container in the fridge and took a swig. Sean just smiled. He looked at his watch, which Sean noticed.

"When does Jack get home?"

"In about ten minutes. He's the first on the bus in the morning, which means he's the first to get off in the afternoon. I'm going to take my backpack to my room Uncle Sean. I'll be back up to keep an eye out for Jack."

"Go for it Zach. I can watch for Jack if you have homework to do."

Zach shook his head. "Seventh hour study hall; the last class period of the day; I've already got it all done, except for some stuff I have to look up on the internet." He looked at Sean. "We could use a computer around here."

Sean smiled. "Christmas is coming."

The four Hotchner's enjoyed a wonderful evening, three of them basking in the glow of their new home. Sean marveled at how much this meant to them.

The next morning, Sean was up to cook breakfast for the boys and to help send Jack off to school before the bus got there. He pulled his youngest nephew into a hug. "I miss you and love you Jack," he said, rubbing his blonde hair he inherited from his mother.

Jack wrapped his arms around Sean's neck. "Uncle Sean, you are gonna be here for Christmas, right" he asked in his ear.

Sean pulled Jack back and leaned his forehead to Jack's. "Yes buddy; I'm gonna be here for Christmas. Promise." Jack beamed.

"See ya then Uncle Sean; loves ya," Jack smiled. Sean hugged him again. He set him on the floor.

Zach looked at his dad and smiled. "Hey buddy, you need to get your jacket on and get ready for the bus," Aaron said. Sean and Zach smiled as Aaron got Jack ready for the school bus. He raced back to Sean for another hug and then Zach as well.

"See ya when you get off the bus JP," Zach smiled, ruffling the hair that matched his. "I'll be waiting." Jack gave him another hug and then raced to his dad, as the school bus pulled up. Aaron pulled his youngest son into a hug, put him down, put his backpack on him, and sent him out the door watching closely until the bus pulled away with Jack safely on board.

Zach looked at the other two. "Shower time for me." They both smiled as Aaron went into his room to dress for work, consulting his laptop again for any more emails that he hadn't taken care of since he was up at six. He had his desk in his bedroom that he quietly worked from, while still be around for the boys in the morning.

Aaron came back out of his bedroom, fully dressed in his usual FBI suit as Zach came up the steps, dressed for his school day. They both looked at Sean. "Sean, how are you getting to the Metro Center?" Aaron asked.

"I'll call a taxi Aaron; no worries bro. I'm a big kid." He tossed the keys to Dave's other vehicle on the counter towards Zach. "I think you and Pete can get it back home," he smiled. Zach nodded, and pulled Sean into a big huge.

"Uncle Sean, it was huge that you were here this weekend," he said pulling away. "You are going to keep that promise to Jack?"

Sean smiled. "You bet Zach. You are holding up more than your end of the deal with your dad and brother. That's the least I can do."

Aaron smiled at his brother. "Sean, it's not about deals. It's about being a family. And you are part of this family." Sean rubbed Aaron's shoulder as Zach looked at his watch.

"I've gotta head. Uncle Sean, see you in a couple of weeks," Zach smiled, knowing that Sean's promise would be true. They hugged again; Zach hugged his dad as well and grabbed his backpack. It was sitting by the garage door on the wooden bench Haley had bought for the boys to take their shoes and boots off. The seat opened to the chest below for stocking hats, gloves and mittens. We they had emptied the house, they found Aaron's gear, still in there. Zach smiled at them both, and headed out.

Aaron looked at Sean. "You will be here" he questioned.

"Yeah bro, I'll be here; with bells on. I need to be here," he smiled. The brothers hugged and Aaron followed his oldest son out the garage door. Sean heard the garage door safely shut. He called a taxi service. As the cab pulled up to the curb, Sean set the alarm and locked the front door with the key Aaron had given him. He looked at the house as he got into the taxi. He smiled and whispered, welcome home guys.

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