Chapter 5

David Rossi decided this year to celebrate New Year's at home, but certainly not alone. He had invited the whole team, their significant others and the boys were warmly included. Gina Sharp and Brian Anderson had been invited as well, but they were both going on their AL, visiting their own families. Dave was happy for the two support staff of the team and had them book their flights through his travel agent and use up some of his frequent flier points before they expired.

For the holiday season, Dave had his home beautifully decorated on the outside. Small white lights outlined the roofline of the mansion. A huge evergreen wreath with a red bow adorned the front door. Dave's catering service had spent the last two hours getting the food and bar set up. Yet the silver chafing dishes did not hold the usual Rossi high class fare. Rather, they held what the team would enjoy. Cait had offered to make the food since the menu was easy but Dave would not hear of it. "It's your night to enjoy yourself as well," he smiled at her.

JJ, Will and Henry were the first to arrive. It had already been pre-planned that they would be staying the night so the LaMontagne's could see in the New Year with the rest. Dave showed them to their rooms upstairs with Mudgie and Beans bounding up the steps in front of the group and they checked out their rooms. They were at the other end of the house from Dave's master bedroom suite. The two bedrooms the family would use had a bathroom between them, with a door going into each bedroom. "It's perfect," JJ smiled, kissing Dave's cheek.

"It sure is," Will drawled.

Henry tugged at Dave's hand, pulling him through the bathroom to the other bedroom. "This is really for me and Jack Uncle Dave?"

"Yup kiddo, it is," he smiled. Another part of the plan was for Jack to stay as well. The weather had turned cold and no one wanted to pull either sleeping boy out of a warm bed.

"Beans is already here," JJ asked.

"Mike dropped her off a while ago. That way, he won't have to swing home later to let her out." JJ and Will smiled at the entire plan.

The three left Henry happily playing in "his" room with the dogs curling up in the hallway. When they got downstairs, the doorbell rang. Dave ushered in the festively dressed Penelope and Kevin. Alex and James Blake arrived a bit later and shortly after that, Emily and Derek were taking off their coats.

When they were all getting drinks at the bar, Derek looked around. "We're still missing some people," he frowned at bit.

"The Hotchner's are at the New Years' service at their church, hopefully praying for all of our souls later on," Dave devilishly grinned.

"What about Reid," Garcia asked. "Is he back from Vegas," she added, looking at JJ with a question.

"I haven't heard from him, but I really didn't expect to. Emily?"

"I'm in the same boat," she said, looking at Alex. She just shook her head. They all got their drinks and checked out the buffet that Rossi had for them. It was basically "nibbles" as Dave called them, but the selection was to Rossi's usual standard.

The buffet had three different style of chicken wings, depending on your spice tolerance, with the sauces to match; meatballs and cocktail wieners wrapped in dough with bacon and ranch seasoning and baked; mac and cheese, mainly for the boys, two colossal trays, one with assorted meat and cheese selections and huge basket of different crackers and the other with a variety of veggies with two different dips as well. In addition there was a chafing dish full of canopies that were filled with shrimp, lobster or crab meat and another with two vegetarian selections for Penelope.

Penelope eyed them. "Just for you my Information Goddess," Rossi smiled. "That one," he said pointing, "is grilled vegetable tarts with a potato crust," he beamed. "The other is Turkish bread with herbed zucchini." Garcia kissed his cheek, and then wiped her vibrant color of lipstick off to the laughter of the rest.

The doorbell rang and Will went to answer it. Two minutes later, he ushered Dr. Spence Reid into the festivities. "Happy New Year everyone," he smiled.

"Pretty boy," Derek smiled, pulling him into hug. "Missed ya big dog." When he released him, he looked at the genius closer. "No way man." Reid looked at him with a question. "You got some sunshine pretty boy," Derek beamed, rubbing his finger over Reid's cheek.

While he was not a golden tanned person coming back from a vacation in the desert, his face showed a hint of the Nevada sunshine.

Reid sheepishly smiled. "Yeah, I got a little sun; it felt good."

JJ pulled him into a huge hug. "You look great Spence," she smiled.

"Thanks JJ; I feel pretty good," he smiled. Yet they all noticed he was looking around a bit but let it go as he walked up to the bar and ordered a vodka tonic, getting a hug from Garcia and Emily along the way. Alex rubbed his shoulder with a smile.

They all mingled until Rossi heard his backdoor open and smiled. Jack Hotchner blew in mere seconds later and powered into Dave for a hug, wrapping his arms around Dave's waist. "Hi Uncle Dave!"

"Hey champino," Dave smiled, kissing his head. He looked up to see Matt and Mike entering as well, followed by Cait and Aaron.

Still holding Jack to his side, he smiled at the couple. "Happy Anniversary you two." The wish was heartfelt and all the team knew it.

"Oh shit, that's right," Emily mumbled to JJ. Alex looked at them, with JJ smiling, nodding her head.

Dave pulled Cait into a loving hug, whispering in her ear. When Cait pulled away, she wiped a tear away from her eye. "Neither will I Dave," she said, rubbing his chest. Dave kissed her cheek.

"Thanks for being the best man for the Best Man job Dave," Aaron smiled. He and Dave shared a large hug.

Alex looked at Reid. "Hello Dr. Blake," he smiled. "Who else?" Alex and James smiled.

Dave looked at Matt. "I'm glad you joined us Matt, but what gives? I thought you'd be out partying with your friends."

Matt shook his head. "Uncle Dave, I really like my friends; but the older they get, the more NYE becomes amateur night for them. Last year, Pete and I got three beers down and then quit because we knew how it was going to be," he shook his head as the team listened to the conversation. "We spent the rest of the night being the bouncers and then the sober cabs." He shook his head. "Not this year; I talked with mom and dad and they said it was alright if I partied here, with your permission of course."

Dave proudly smiled at him. "Matthew, if mom and dad are good with it, you know I am."

Derek walked up to them and handed Matt a bottle of Miller Lite from his left hand holding three. "You're a good kid Matt," he smiled, sharing the athlete handshake with him.

"Thanks D," Matt smiled, taking the beer.

Morgan handed the next bottle to Cait. "Happy Anniversary Mother Goose," he smiled, pulling her into his huge arms as Emily and JJ took turns giving Hotch a hug.

Dave looked at Mike. "I'm good Uncle Dave; I'm here to forge like no other, beat my brother's brains out in your gaming room downstairs and then be the family sober cab," he smiled. Dave smiled at him, sharing a high five.

Morgan extended the third bottle to Hotch. "You might want to go easy on the joy juice Hotch." Aaron looked at him. "You gotta celebrate an anniversary later man" he smiled with a snicker.

"Morgan, by the time we get home, our anniversary will be over," he said, with his brown eyes sparking of laughter and love. Cait just eyed Derek with her Cheshire cat grin smile.

"Umm right Hotch," Derek said, giving Hotch his beer.

"You, my chocolate God of thunder are so busted," Garcia laughed, pulling Cait into a hug, which she warmly accepted from the team's tech goddess.

Just as the conversation of the group was about to pick up again, Henry barreled into the scene. "Mama, I'm getting hungry."

Jack walked up to Henry and the good friends shared a high five. "You rule Henry," Jack smiled. JJ and Cait rolled their eyes at each other and got the boys to the buffet. Matt and Mike weren't far behind.

Alex shook her head at Emily. "Where do they put it?"

"Into their muscles, tissues and bones," Reid smiled, walking past the conversation.

Emily smiled at Alex. "That's our boy."

"Yup, it is," Alex smiled.

After the boys fueled up, they went their separate ways. The younger boys headed upstairs, as the older ones, with Matt grabbing another beer, headed to Dave's game room downstairs in his own "man cave".

Cait, Alex and James ate some as well, while standing together. Alex looked at Cait. "You're OK with that," she asked pointing to the steps the younger boys had ascended.

Cait smiled. "As long as we don't hear a crash, bang, boom, someone crying or two dogs barking, we're fine with that." Will walking by the three of them to check out the football game on Rossi's big screen TV, smiled his agreement. Cait smiled at the couple. "They're getting old enough to keep themselves entertained." Alex and James smiled their acceptance.

And David Rossi's mansion provided the perfect playground for the boys and their growing imaginations. The two miniature super heroes quickly plotted out their plan to take down the evil agents of the world. Dave's massive upstairs gave them the absolute best area to start their plan. They stealthily moved from room to room, each of the partners backing each other. Dave's master bathroom witnessed a lot of karate and hand to hand combat.

The boys gently came down the steps. Jack, sticking his head into the large room and looking over the scene, pulled back and nodded at Henry to make his move. Henry silently slinked into the hallway to Dave's study and then stopped to cover Jack. He took his own peek and then nodded at his partner. They both quietly slipped into Dave's study.

Yet their ears on heighten alert heard footsteps coming in and dove for cover behind the two legs of Dave's massive oak desk that held his files.

Jack and Henry peeked under the desk where the opening for Dave's chair was. They saw Cait and Spencer through the space. Jack put his index finger to his lips and nodded at Henry to stay covered. Henry nodded his acceptance as the boys stayed quietly hid.

"Thanks Cait," they heard Spencer say. Henry looked at Jack. He shook his head and once again motioned for Henry to stay still and quiet.

"How'd it go Spencer," Cait asked.

Reid looked at her. "I won't keep you from the party long," he smiled. "Let's just say I've got my family back." Cait grinned. "Albeit with mom and her issues." Cait rubbed his arm. Reid smiled at her. "But her meds are working; she's handling things better." Cait eyed him. "You were right," he smiled. "I did need my mom. And she was just my mom. I'll love Maeve forever. But I'm ready to move on with my life," he smiled.

"And dad?"

"I spent more time with my dad than I did with mom. We had a really good time. And mom got in on part of that," he softly smiled. He dropped his head a bit and then looked at her. "I stayed at dad's place every night but one."

Cait pulled him into a hug. "Thank you Cait," Reid said, holding her tight. The younger boys looked at each other.

Just then, David Rossi unleashed a whistle. "Where hell is everybody? It's down to five minutes for the ball to drop," he bellowed.

Henry started to rise from his position and Jack quickly shook him down, nodding at the two still in the room. Cait, still holding Spencer in a hug, smiled behind his ear at the bump she heard behind the desk. She rubbed his back. "Come on Spencer; it's time to usher in a New Year," she smiled.

Reid kissed her cheek. "I'm ready," he smiled. The two left the study and Jack took another look through the opening of Dave's desk behind the chair.

"Hang tight for a little bit," Jack whispered. "We can't give away our position." Henry nodded his agreement. Jack heard his dad whistle down the steps for his brothers. The boys slowly moved from their position and then "magically" appeared in the living room. JJ looked at the two overheated boys, the faces glowing from their exercise and then Cait, who just smiled, shaking her head at her fellow mother. The older Hotchner boys shook the mansion to its foundation as they rumbled up the steps.

Henry moved to his parents while Jack did the same. Both of them had sweat-soaked hair. One of the caterers' walked in with a tray full of champagne flutes as Matt and Mike joined the group. Dave pulled the first one off. It held less than an inch worth of his expensive champagne.

Dave turned and looked at Cait and Aaron. "Derek, you were a beat cop; I need some back-up here."

Morgan quickly figured Rossi's play. "Go big dog; I've got your back man," he smiled.

Dave extended the flute to Mike. "The way you've ate, this little bit won't hurt you. It's two sips at best."

Derek looked at Cait and Hotch. "It wouldn't even register on a breathalyzer test."

"And he's driving what, three blocks. I doubt the Woodbridge PD or the Virginia State Police had a DUI check point on Deer Valley Road," Matt added, supporting his brother.

"Given Mike's height and weight, and factoring in the amount of food he has eaten, I concur with Morgan," Reid smiled. The parents nodded their acceptance and Dave handed the glass to Mike.

"My two special young men," Dave smiled, "you get to join us as well." Another caterer brought in two of Dave's crystal flutes, filled with apple juice for the boys as the first caterer handed out the glasses to the rest. JJ and Will stood together, arm in arm, with Henry in front of them.

"Now mama," Henry asked excitedly, ushering in his first New Year.

"No son," Will smiled. "We gotta wait for the ball to drop." The rest smiled, getting their glass of champagne.

Jack was in the same position with his parents as Matt and Mike looped their long arms around Cait and Aaron's shoulders.

The little boys' eyes were glued to the TV. "Henry look," Jack exclaimed. "In the bottom right corner; that's the countdown!"

"Got it Jack," Henry said. "I know my numbers!"

Spencer knelt down beside him. "What does it say Henry?"

"One minute, three seconds Uncle Spencer," he enthused. Reid proudly beamed at his godson.

"Look guys," Emily said. "The ball is starting to drop!"

The group in the room counted down the last ten seconds of 2013. "Happy New Year," they all shouted. Cait and Aaron, Alex and James, JJ and Will along with Penelope and Kevin shared a kiss. Everyone took a drink of their champagne and toasted each other with deep felt hugs.

-00CM00-

Cait and Matt quickly moved through their hangovers with copious amounts of water and coffee the next morning along with a greasy breakfast. When Father Jimmy, invited for dinner walked into the living room, he looked at the two prone men on the couches and roared with laughter. "Tough night boys?"

Dave flipped him off as Aaron just shook his head. Mike, in the kitchen, helping his mother with her dinner, laughed loud enough to get his father's attention. "Michael, there is coming a time soon when I'll be holding your head while you're throwing up in the toilet. Guess what I'll say to you."

Mike smiled at his mother. "Derek Morgan's favorite phrase." Cait rubbed his shoulder as Aaron pointed at him from his prone position. Matt, sitting at the lunch counter with Jack, helping him solve a word search puzzle shared a smile with his brother.

Dave looked at Aaron. "I take great comfort in knowing he feels a helluva lot worse," Dave smiled. Aaron pointed at him.

Jack giggled. "I bet Derek has lots of fuzz on his tongue today. He didn't look good at all at breakfast." He paused. "Neither did Emily." They rest laughed as well.

The boys were finishing cleaning up the kitchen while Cait provided the blow by blow details of last night's festivities at Dave's to Jimmy. Aaron just shook his head at Dave. They were interrupted by Aaron's cell buzzing on the kitchen counter. He looked at the caller ID and mumbled "Shit." Picking it up, he answered. "Happy New Year Chief Cruz." Dave groaned sitting at the nook table.

Cait chased Jack upstairs to get him in his shower while Aaron packed. He and Mike had school the next day. Aaron got to tuck in Jack and join in prayers before he headed to the office.

Two hours later, the over-tired, over-partied BAU team was meeting in the Round Table room. An hour later, they were taking off for Houston.

"At least it'll be warm," JJ said, rubbing her forehead. Emily, sitting next to her, just groaned.

-00CM00-

Around two in the morning, Cait woke to a small hand shaking her awake. Propping an eye open, she said, "Jack; what's wrong?" as he climbed into bed and snuggled to her.

"Nothing mom; at least with me." Cait looked at him. "Is everything OK with Spencer?"

Cait remembered the two super spies were in Dave's study while she and Spencer had talked. Cait kissed his forehead. "Yes, everything is OK with Spencer now. He's starting to get his family back in his life."

Jack thought for a second. "So that's a good thing?"

Cait smiled. "Yes Jack, it's a very good thing."

She could hear the wheels in Jack's braining still turning. "Should I talk to mommy about them?"

Cait pulled him into a huge hug and deeply kissed his forehead. "Jack, I love so many things about you; however your ability to care about others so much is one of the best things about you." Jack smiled. "But no, you don't need to talk to mommy. We'll just remember Spencer and his family in our prayers," she said rubbing his hair.

"That sounds like a plan mom," Jack said yawning deeply. "Let's hope it works."

"Hope is good thing Jack." Cait kissed her youngest son.

Jack yawned again and fell asleep in his mother's arms.

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A/N: AL is annual leave. The athlete handshake is the standard handshake, followed by wrapping hands around the thumbs, pulling into a closed finger hold together and then sharing a fist bump. I hope that makes sense.

My usual end of story shout outs to some fabulous peeps that support this crazy hobby of mine. Many thanks to the gang at CM Rev; the Euro Tweet peeps and the North American ones as well; my 'Sconnie sister hxchick and the OK teacher. Loves and hugs to you all.

Thank you to everyone who left a review, hit a favorite or following tag, or just took the time to read. I appreciate every one of you for sharing your time with me and my imagination.

*Knightly bow*