A/N: Did ya really think I wouldn't get Uncle Dave involved in this?
I dropped enough hints. :D
Oooppss! Tissue alert! They're in the usual spot.
Chapter 5
Aaron, Cait, Dave, Maggie, Jarrod, Jessica, Hannah and John sat around the table they shared watching the BAU team whoop it up, dancing to Uptown Funk. Sean and Leslie had already left to get their boys in bed. They all smiled, sipping their after dinner drinks. Matt and Lauren approached the DJ as the music started to fade and the lights dimmed. The DJ handed the microphone to them.
"Thanks Jay," Matt said to the DJ and looked at his parents. "Mom and dad, this is your dance."
Lauren took the mic. "Please," she smiled, "for us. We love you."
Diana Reid smiled at the BAU group sitting back down at the table with her, Bill and Spencer. "I've got five bucks that says I know what that song is."
Will LaMontagne smiled. "No bet," he drawled, rubbing JJ's shoulder.
Aaron rose out his chair and offered his hand to Cait, pulling her out of her chair as Ed Sheehan's Thinking Out Loud softly started to play. Jack came away from the bridal party table and sat down on Jarrod's knee. "You're good enough to join us for this?" Jarrod softly chided with a smile.
"You bet grandpa," Jack smiled back. "This is special." Hannah rubbed his back with her bright smile that Haley had inherited.
Cait and Aaron danced by themselves as the guests got to see another Mike produced video montage of the family's cross country trip a few years ago. Jack looked at one of the pictures while watching his parents dance. "Miss you Beans," he softly said. Maggie rubbed his head.
Aaron kissed Cait's temple as the song ended. "I love you Doc."
"I love you too Aaron," Cait smiled. "Thank you."
"For what Doc?" Aaron asked.
"Loving me; my sons; our family we have."
Aaron softly kissed her lips. "I starts with you Cait," he smiled. "I love you."
A couple of songs later were the type the younger crowd enjoyed. Dave stood up to excuse himself from the table. Aaron looked at him. "Potty break and then yes Aaron, another scotch. My car service is waiting for my text."
"That's all we ask," Aaron smiled, putting his arm around Cait. Haley's family had already left along with Maggie and Jarrod, taking Jack home. Jake was on the dance floor with Tara. Dave pointed at Jake.
Cait smiled. "We'll get him home." Dave smiled, moving off.
Dave came out of the bathroom and noticed Lauren's parents hanging around the bar area. Here we go he thought to himself. "Dave," Paul smiled. "Do you mind if I ask you a question?"
"Shoot," Dave smiled, nodding at the bartender for another drink.
"What is your relationship with Cait? You all seem pretty close."
Dave beaded a looked into Paul Granson's eyes. "My relationship with Cait?" He shook his head. "For being a smart man, that is a pretty dumb question. And I don't appreciate the implication. Cait has been a consultant on seven of my last eight books. I felt for her way back then being a single mother; but more importantly, she was damn good and knew her profession. An article she wrote for a review of my first book added profiling details I had never heard of. She is that damn good in her field. I knew who I needed as my consultant on my second book. And being a single mother with some money to spend to build a home for her the two sons, she asked my advice. I gave it. And yes, the boys and I got close. When she and Aaron fell for each other and I found out about it some months later was the happiest day of my life. They deserved each other. I'm happy being Uncle Dave."
Paul shook his head. "I'm sorry; I didn't mean to insinuate anything."
"Then what are you saying?" Dave growled.
"Mark Burnham's brother Phillip and I were roommates at college." Dave hiked an eyebrow at him. "Yeah, it was Phillip's idea of rebellion against his family. But he took it hard losing his brother. And his brother's sons."
"Then maybe Phil should have recognized the SOB brother that he had that hurt his then eight and half month pregnant wife, leaving her lying on the steps of their home with a toddler upstairs after being out all night with a whore drinking together. And then going to get another whore who he killed in a car crash being drunk. Child protection services had to take in Matt until Cait's parents could get here from the west coast. How do you defend that?
"Phillip never condoned Mark's behavior," Paul said.
"Cait has said he's as big as bastard as Mark. He just hides it better. He tried to move in on her. 'Burnham boys share'. But maybe you should text your friend. And ask him about the deal his namesake, also his grandfather, made with Cait. You bringing this up to me could cost your friend's family sixteen million dollars."
Paul looked at him. "Yeah; the Burnham family cut a deal with Cait so she and her sons wouldn't get all of Mark's inheritance. But part of that deal that Cait and her lawyer so brilliantly played knowing the old man's love of his family's wealth and standing was her sons would have absolutely no contact from any representative of the Burnham family again. Period. Or the full will kicked in. Cait and her boys are sixteen million dollars richer. Is that what you're asking Paul? On behalf of your friend? Because I'm not a lawyer; but you are sure pushing that boundary."
Paul and Liz Granson walked away, heading out the door of the banquet hall. It was past eleven and the bar was cash only. The bartender smiled at Dave, handing him his glass of scotch. "This one is on me Dave," he smiled.
"Thanks Johnny," Dave smiled back.
-00CM00-
Dave opened the French door from the pool area the next morning a little past nine. Cait took one look at him and pulled a mug off the mug tree and poured him a cup of coffee, winking at Aaron. Aaron smiled at him as Dave crawled into his usual nook counter chair next to Maggie and Jarrod enjoying their coffee and a muffin. "How are you?" Aaron asked.
"Shuddup Aaron," Dave said, smiling his thanks to Cait for the cup of coffee. He looked at Cait. "Why are you all so bright eyed?"
"We partied Thursday night," Cait whispered with a fiendish smile.
"We're too old for that," Maggie said. "Something you should learn." That earned Maggie a David Rossi glare. She and Jarrod laughed.
Dave looked at them. "I owe Lauren an apology."
"Dave?" Aaron asked.
"Her parents approached me last night." He looked at the two couples. "Lauren's dad and Phillip Burnham were college roommates." Cait looked at him. Dave held up his hands in the air. "He brought it up; not me."
"What did you say," Aaron growled.
"Relax Aaron," Dave smiled, taking a sip of his coffee. "I told them about the deal and how they might be threatening it. They ran out the door. So I don't think they'll be around today." He looked Cait and Aaron. "Do you think Lauren will miss them?"
Cait smiled. "She never accepted a dance from her dad. And he offered."
"Really Doc?" Cait nodded at Aaron. "Good riddance," he smiled. "Two less around here today."
Dave looked at Maggie and Jarrod. "How's your youngest son?"
Jarrod rolled his eyes. "All I know is Cait and Aaron got him here and he's not in jail."
"Thank you for using your car service," Cait smirked at Dave.
"Shuddup and give me one of Papa Stan's lemon poppy seed muffins." Cait smiled, handing the muffin to him. Sean and Leslie soon joined them with two hungry boys.
An hour and half later, the entire Barkley family filled the home along with Matt, Lauren, Mike, Andi, Sammi and Lauren's grandparents. They all enjoyed the brunch of the egg bakes and muffins while Matt and Lauren opened their wedding presents.
Matt and Lauren thoughtfully looked at the last present they opened. Wyatt looked around. "Uncle Aaron! Aunt Cait! Does this mean I can get into the pool?"
"Me too!" Ethan added.
"Me three," Jack smiled.
"You three find a life guard, you're gold," Cait smiled.
Jake raised his hand in the air. "I can use the soak."
"Because you were last night?" Luke fired at him.
"Screw you Luke," Jake said. The group all laughed.
"Hey Jake," Aaron smiled. Jake turned to look at him. "As Morgan always says, paybacks are a bitch. Cait and I will expect that at the ranch Fourth of July party."
"Gotcha bro," Jake smiled, shooing the boys upstairs so they all could change into their swimsuits.
Four days later, Jake paid back the favor.
At Maggie and Jarrod's insistence, issuing an invitation, and the BAU team being on their annual leave, David Rossi was in the truck as well. "Damn that was fun. The food was primo and the fireworks were amazing," Dave hiccupped. Jake smiled at Cait and Aaron in the rear view mirror at them sitting in the backseat.
Cait giggled and looked Aaron. "I don't think we're getting him on a horse tomorrow," she whispered.
Aaron rubbed her shoulder and smiled at her. "Let's not even try." Cait giggled more.
"You talk to Jack in the morning," the couple said together, pointing at each other.
Jake laughed, shaking his head at the two of them.
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A/N: And that's how you do that. :D
Thank you for those of you that read, favorited or reviewed this story. I know it's hard for some to read stories about our once cherished show. For those of you still hanging in there, I thank you again. I keep my promise. I'll keep the true CM that we all know and love alive. I appreciate all of you taking the time to read.
And thanks again to my proofreader the OK Teacher. I appreciate that so much.
Zach story coming next. Soon!
*Knightly bow*