Chapter 6

The first half of the game ended with the Packers down 10-7 with David Akers, the Lion's field goal kicker, shanking one off to the right. Aaron looked at Dave and Jarrod. "We dodged a bullet on that." They both shook their heads.

Reid looked at Morgan. "Kid, being down by three is better than being down by six. And that's a win for the Packers; something they can build on in the locker room at half time." Reid looked at him with a question.

Matt walked by the two of them. "The Packers are playing like shit Doc," he stated. "They should be losing by a lot more." Derek just nodded his head at the young genius with his finger point at Matt.

Aaron headed up the steps. He smelt Cait's apple pie baking in the oven, looking around. "Where's mom?"

Cait shook her head. "In the den bitching and trying to keep quiet so she doesn't wake up Wyatt." Aaron laughed. "How's it going down there?"

Aaron shook his head. "I just learned our oldest son knows the cold water cure for a hangover."

Cait looked at him. "He's a sophomore in college; that surprises you dad," she said pulling him into a hug. "And Mr. Profiler," she laughed in his arms.

Aaron laughed as well. "Not really; but it was an eye-opener for him to admit it." Cait giggled and they shared their hug a bit more.

Dave walked into the kitchen and smiled at them. He pulled the refrigerator door open. "Dave," Cait asked.

"I'm getting hungry; that pie and bird," he said, pointing at the oven "is starting to smell too good." Cait looked at him. "Yeah, I know; I don't want to fill up; but I just need something to tide me over."

Three minutes later, the entire group was in the kitchen, enjoying a few crackers and cheese spread that Cait had in the fridge. Cait smiled that they all enjoyed her kitchen. She remembered the plaque that her grandmother had in her kitchen. No matter where I serve my guests, it seems they like my kitchen best.

The doorbell rang and Mike went to answer it, shoving a cracker in his mouth. He smiled at the group on the porch through the peephole and opened the door. The rest had arrived. Mike whistled for Matt as Kevin and James helped carry in the pies, sweet potatoes and salad for Fran and Sandy. Garcia blew in like her usual whirlwind with Alex smiling at the wonderful tech agent that was a godsend in the lives of the team. James smiled at her as well, handing Sandy's salad to Mike.

Mike looked at him, whispering. "Alex has explained her to you?"

James nodded and rubbed his shoulder. "And you look better than the last time I saw you," he smiled.

"I feel better," Mike smiled, hanging up his coat as Penelope and Alex took the pies and salad from the boys so they could get their coats hung up. Both of the boys shared huge hugs with Fran and Sandy. James and Kevin smiled at each other. Garcia was the next one to get some loves from her boys.

"It's halftime in the game; we're all snacking a bit in mom's kitchen," Matt smiled, pointing them to Cait's haven. They all ventured in. The greetings and Penelope's enthusiasm filled the kitchen with even more warmth.

Penelope looked around. "Where's Maggie?"

Jarrod shook his head. "Trying to decompress from a bad first half of football."

Penelope looked at him, shaking her head. "I have no idea what that totally means, but I'll assume that it has something to do with her youngest son playing."

Morgan kissed her cheek. "That's exactly it Baby Girl," he smiled.

"But where's my two little angels," she asked. She looked at the older boys. "You're my older angels," she smiled.

Mike kissed her cheek. "Thanks Penny; they're downstairs playing basketball, getting hot, sweaty and smelly."

Garcia looked at him. "This is really a sports day?"

Dave smiled at her. "Kitten, they're being boys."

Cait pulled her oldest sons aside and signed a message to them. They both smiled and disappeared. Maggie joined the group and greeted them, with Aaron introducing her and Jarrod to Alex and James.

When the "mom's club" aka Maggie, Sandy and Fran had shared their warm greetings, Matt walked back into the kitchen and winked at Cait.

Will looked at the TV in the living room. "The second half is about to start. The Packers will be getting the kick-off."

"Not so fast Will; please," Cait said. He looked at her. "I received a package yesterday," she smiled at the group. Emily looked at JJ and Alex with a smile. "It meant the world to me," Cait said, her eyes brimming with tears. Aaron wrapped his arm around her shoulder. She nodded her head for all of them to follow her. She and Aaron walked arm in arm to the formal dining room of their home and Aaron opened the doors.

They all looked in. The table for their Thanksgiving dinner was exquisitely set with the plates, silverware, water/milk goblets and wine glasses perfectly placed along with the name tags that Cait always made with cookies, candy corn and chocolate covered cherries that looked like turkeys. Maggie had added the calligraphy names to them. There was an additional goodie next to the name tags. A small ginger snap cookie had some chocolate frosting holding a curved piece of pretzel on the top. On the bottom, was a Hershey's kiss, held by the same frosting. They looked like acorns.

And in the middle was the beautiful centerpiece the group had bought for Cait with the little white lights brightly shining.

Aaron held her close as Cait looked at all of them. "If this your way of telling us that you want this tradition," she smiled, wiping a tear, "I'm in. It's beautiful and I love it."

The team all looked at each other with smiles. Emily had shared a photo of the centerpiece with Dave and Derek.

The elder statesman of the group spoke up. "No Cait, this tells you how much we appreciate and love the tradition you've started." Dave kissed her cheek.

"And how much we love this haven you have created here for us," Derek added, squeezing his arms around his mother and Garcia.

Cait looked at Emily and JJ, arm in arm. She knew what they both went through with Doyle and shook her head. They both had tears in their eyes as well. Cait just shook her head at them with a smile.

Alex looked at James and smiled at them all as he pulled his wife close. "I'm just so thankful we're a part of this family now," she added. James nodded as well.

Yet it was Reid that added the perfect coda. "I'm going to get my mom here for this; someday; somehow."

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A/N: Just because I love all of you, I adjusted this story to get all of you your Monday two for one special.