A/N: Thank you everyone!
And yes, Big Dog, aka Uncle Dave always has a plan.
*points* The Kleenex box is in its usual place. Just in case. ;)
Chapter 3
Aaron looked at his watch. "Aaron," Beth asked, rubbing his bicep as he locked the last leaf into Dave's nook dining table.
"Zach and Caleigh should have been here by now," he said with a bit of worry. Dave had explained to them what they were doing for him. Aaron bought the story. The rest in the nook area, Caleigh's parents with Mike now there, Haley's family and Sean looked at them. Rachel and Jess were talking over how to organize the table for the huge buffet of food while Sean prepared the lunch counter for the appetizers. Beth had made her crabmeat, shrimp sauce and cream cheese platter. Rachel brought a bacon flavored cheddar cheese ball and Sean started to expertly put the crackers around both of them. Mike looked at Sean. "Hand me a cracker please." Sean complied, smiling.
"Really," Hannah asked, feigning anger at him putting her hands on her hips as Mike took a scoop of the crabmeat concoction.
"Grandma," he smiled. "I worked the overnight shift. This is breakfast." Hannah laughed at him and Mike grabbed another cracker Sean handed him. Tom and John, sitting at the counter with Mike, smiled at each other with Mike calling Hannah "grandma". Jack and Caleb were watching the Nationals game in Dave's den. Dave had gone into the den as well.
Jess smiled at the scene and then looked at her brother-in-law. "Aaron, they've got some time to themselves. Let them enjoy it."
Dave walked into the kitchen, hearing the last part of the conversation. "I'm sure they're fine Aaron," he smiled. "Relax."
Mudg, in the den with boys, woke from his nap and sprang to his feet. He raced through the nook, his tail wagging and stood in the back entry sending out one of his mighty barks. Dave smiled. "That's gotta be them."
"Dave," Mike asked.
"As many times as Zach has come here to pick up Mudgie when we get called out on a case, he knows the sound of Zach's truck. And Zach always parks in the back by the garage." Just then Mudg noticed the couple approaching through the door window and happily barked more, wagging his tail.
Caleigh and Zach came in the door and rubbed down Mudg. His strong tail banged against the doorframe heading into the kitchen enjoying the loves. Caleigh rubbed his sweet spot.
Mike looked at John and winked. "I think Mudg just moaned," he joked.
"You don't like your sweet spot rubbed," Zach joked as they walked in.
"Don't go there bro," Mike growled. "Not in mixed company." Everyone laughed.
Dave looked at Zach. He noticed the twinkle in Zach's eye and smiled. "You get the job done?"
"Here's your file Uncle Dave," he said, pulling up Caleigh's left hand. The area erupted. Caleb and Jack looked at each other and raced in to see Caleigh hugging her mom as Aaron reached Zach. Sean put his arm around Hannah's shoulder, smiling at her. Beth and Tom were waiting their turn.
"What's going on," Jack asked.
"Zach and Caleigh got engaged," Sean and Mike said together.
Caleb looked at Jack. "It's about time," they both deadpanned together.
Tom starting to pull Caleigh into a hug laughed. Beth, already hugging Zach laughed as well. "Dad wait," Caleigh said, looking him in the eye. The room quickly quieted. "Zach told me he talked to you and you approved."
Tom smiled at her. "My only daughter, you are going to marry an honorable man," he said, kissing her cheek. "He asked me if I and your mom would approve." He pulled her into a tight hug. "I told him it would be my greatest honor to walk you down the aisle to his waiting hand," he said in her ear. That set off another round of Caleigh's tears of happiness. "Sweetheart, don't cry," Tom said.
"I'm just so happy daddy," Caleigh said into his neck. That started all the waterworks on the rest of the ladies.
Caleb nudged Jack. "I'm sooooo out of here," he said, rolling his eyes.
"So am I," Jack said. They took one step towards the den, did a one-eighty and raced to them, with everyone laughing. Zach pulled Jack into a hug and Caleb nearly buried Caleigh in his. "I'm so happy for you Z-man," Jack said, squeezing his brother's neck. Aaron pulled Beth to him, smiling at her.
"I'm happy for me JP," Zach said, holding him close. He let Jack down.
"Switch," Caleb smiled.
After they finally received all of their family's congratulations and hugs, Caleigh looked at Dave, who was standing off to the sidelines, his arm around Jack. Caleigh walked to him. "I don't know what to say to you," she said, wiping a tear away.
"You don't need to say anything Caleigh," Dave softly said, pulling her into a hug. "I know how much you love Zach. That's good enough for me." After kissing her cheek, he let her go to look at Zach. Caleigh kissed Dave's cheek and pulled Jack to her.
Zach shook his head. "Thank you seems so trivial right now," he started. Zach's eyes welled with tears. Caleigh wiped away the one that was already racing down his cheek as Jack smiled.
Dave took Zach's chin in his hands. "Zach, my boy…" Dave said, choking up a bit, "my pride and my joy." Aaron and Beth shared a smile.
"I love you Uncle Dave. Thanks for being there for me. Again," Zach said, pulling Dave into a hug.
"I love you," Dave said.
"I know Caroline and Erin are hugging mom right now," Zach whispered into Dave's ear. Dave squeezed him tighter picturing that moment.
When they let go, Zach wiped a tear and looked at Dave. "Caleigh and I have already talked. There will be no traditional toasts from the people that will stand up for us. You're doing the toast." Dave beamed.
Jessica looked at them with a smile. "So do you two have anybody in mind to stand up for you?"
Caleigh shook her head, wiping away a tear. "Aunt Jess, please don't. I'm so overwhelmed right now, I can't even think about that." Everyone laughed.
"But we do have a date picked out," Zach smiled. Everyone eagerly looked at him. "You all better not be doing anything November twelfth next year." Everyone smiled.
"I think I'm working that day," Mike zinged, winking at Sean.
"Yeah, I'll probably be busy as well," Sean added with a smile. The grouped laughed.
"I can tell you this," Caleigh smiled. "We've got our flower girl already lined up." She and Zach told the story of how they met Becca and the special surprise she gave Caleigh. Zach passed around his phone with the picture of the three of them.
Beth put her around Zach's waist and looked at Caleigh. "Where's your rose sweetheart?"
Zach pulled her tightly to him and kissed her forehead, looking at her. "You already know." Beth smiled, nodding. "Mom's holding it." Beth hugged him. Hannah pulled Aaron to her side as John rubbed his shoulder.
-00CM00-
The tears of happiness and remembrance shed, the group stood around the nook, talking and laughing. Sean and Mike did some bartending. As they joked, they all heard a bunch of car doors slamming.
Dave looked at his watch and smiled at Aaron. "When I say three, they're right on time," he winked.
"Your team," Mike said, looking at Aaron, "are moochers like me," he laughed. Aaron laughed as well, walking out the door with Mike.
Dave grabbed Zach and Caleigh. "Not so fast you two; get into my study." Zach looked at him. "Humor me Zach and disappear." He smiled at the two of them. "And take some downtime; you two need it." Zach smiled and took Caleigh's hand, taking her to Dave's recommendation.
Everyone filtered out to meet the team and their relatives coming into the backyard. They all smiled as Derek, Savannah and Fran appeared, followed by Penelope and Kevin. The LaMontagne family walked in with Will carrying Micah in his car seat. He set Micah down next to Hannah sitting underneath the umbrella of Dave's patio table and gently pulled him out after loosening the safety straps. He handed Micah to Hannah's waiting arms with a smile. "He's all yours Hannah," Will smiled. "I gotta go to the car to get our cooler."
"Thank you Will," Hannah beamed. John looked over her shoulder, smiling and putting his index finger into Micah's hand. Micah griped it, snuggling to Hannah while still soundly sleeping. The LaMontagne cooler soon joined the others lining the garage.
Beth, Jess and Rachel helped the ladies get all the food into the kitchen with Caleb, Mike and Jack doing the heavy lifting. Coming back out, they all noticed Spencer Reid walking into the backyard. "Sorry, I'm late," he smiled, with a wave. "I had to make a detour over to Dulles." Just then Emily appeared, smiling at all of them.
"And thank god, he finally got a different car," she joked.
After sharing hugs with the entire team, Aaron introduced Emily to Caleigh's family. "So where are they," she asked, looking around. Emily had meet Caleigh when Zach first started to date her; she left soon after to re-join Interpol.
Dave covertly hit the remote in his pocket for his sound system in the den he had wired to speakers into the backyard. His oldies rock music gave way to the brassy notes of the introduction of New York, New York, the volume turned up a bit. Micah stirred in Hannah's arms as Emily was smiling at him with JJ standing next to her. Emily looked up. "What the hell Jayje?" JJ shrugged.
Zach, in Dave's study with Caleigh, winked at her. "I think that's our cue," he smiled.
As they walked out the door onto Dave's patio area, Frank Sinatra crooned Start spreadin' the news…..Dave paused the music. Everyone went silent.
Zach smiled with his arm around Caleigh as she held up her ring hand.
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A/N: To quote my favorite Italian CM character: "dat's how you do dat." ;)
"Stand up for" means the maid/matron of honor and best man. Before any of you ask, I've already envisioned that it will be Lisa and Pete.
Luvs and hugs to you all. Thanks for luvs back. :D