A/N: The OK Teach, knowing my outline, deemed this chapter was needed. Like always, her wish is my command. But that blew my outline out the window. Again. If she is kind enough to proofread, I write.

For those of you wondering, in this chapter, the twins are fourteen. They will be fifteen in the fall. Logan is twelve. Keegan is four.

Chapter 3

Everyone that was going to Zach's induction into the Hall of Fame the next day received a text from Aaron on Wednesday night. I'm sorry, I have very bad news. Early Tuesday morning, Amelia Stanlovsky, Pete and Lisa's daughter, suffered a seizure at home. She was rushed to Children's Hospital in D.C. An MRI revealed she has a tumor at the base of her skull near the brain stem and spinal column. When Amelia stabilizes, they will be doing surgery.

Obviously, this news is very upsetting for Caleigh, Zach and the kids. Caleigh and Zach briefly visited Amelia earlier night. She was not in good shape. Zach immediately wanted to put off going to the HOF ceremony. Pete wouldn't hear of it.

So let's try to be "business as usual" around the family, especially the kids, while keeping Amelia in our thoughts and deepest prayers.

It's a good thing Zach chartered a Gulf Stream 650 that could hold twenty passengers. It was a large contingent that got off the minibus Dave had rented, in front of the Signature Flight terminal at Reagan Airport in D.C. It was an early July afternoon on the Thursday before Hall of Fame weekend in Cooperstown, New York. The group entered the terminal as a Signature employee got the luggage on to a baggage cart and headed out to the jet.

Jack put Mason on his feet to let him run a bit. Jessica smiled at Jack. "So he'll sleep on the flight?"

"Do you really want him running around loose for two hours on the jet?" Jack smiled back.

John looked at Jack. "Thank you," he smiled. "I love my great-grandson. But I need my afternoon nap."

"You're welcome grandpa," Jack grinned.

Sela and Merrill Dobson were standing next to Caleigh as Zach kept an eye on Keegan who was exploring. Trev, Tay and Logan were already sitting in lounge seats, on their cellphones. "Your folks aren't coming?" Sela asked.

Caleigh smiled. "Carly, Caleb's wife, is overdue with baby number two. If she doesn't have him overnight, they are going to induce her tomorrow morning. Mom and dad need to be around to take care of Bennett." She grinned. "And they are dog sitting Millie and Gertie, Jack and Jordan's lab."

"Him?" Merrill asked. Caleigh nodded with a smile. "How is Rachel handling having only two granddaughters?" he smiled. "Mike and Sarah have Katie and Jake."

"Like me with only one granddaughter," Beth smiled. "You count every grandchild as a blessing."

"Which might be the theme of this weekend," Caleigh winked at Beth.

Dave looked at her. "You've read his speech?" Caleigh smiled.

Aaron looked at Dave. "You haven't helped Zach?"

"I offered," Dave said. "I was politely turned down."

Caleigh grinned. "It's from the heart Uncle Dave. You two are close. But not that close."

Zach walked up to the group. "Dad, have you heard from Uncle Sean?"

Aaron smiled. "He and Kim are on the Amtrak Lake Shore Limited. Last text I had was they were going past the USMA at West Point. They'll be waiting at the hotel when we get to Albany."

A Signature gate agent approached the group. "We have to get you through security before you board. With all the law enforcement credentials, including the retirees, we've got the metal detectors turned down," he smiled. "We have to do it for the security cameras. We will need to X-ray the bags." He winked. "Those are turned down as well."

"Hot damn," John smiled. "My two new hips won't set them off." Everyone laughed as the group started through the security check.

Zach pushed Jack's head. "Thanks junior G-man," Zach grinned.

"Hey!" Jack said, pointing at Zach. "That was the right Halloween costume for the right time."

"Yes, it was little brother," Zach smiled, rubbing Jack's shoulder. "But then you sucked your way into a post at the JEdgar right out of the Academy. After giving up a cushy ADA job."

Jack grinned at Zach. "It's not what you know…"

"But who you know," Zach grinned back, pointing at him.

"At least I'm not sitting on my a-double s, retired at thirty-three like you," Jack zinged.

"Whatever," Zach said, getting the boys, including Mason, through the metal detector. "The checks from the Virginia DOT for the projects I've designed are accepted at the bank." Caleigh, Taylor and Jordan followed the brothers through the security process.

"Like you really need the money," Jack said as they headed out to plane with Jack grabbing Mason into his arms.

"I need to stay busy Jack. And I got my degrees for a reason."

Jack softly smiled. "Keeping mom happy."

"Yup," Zach smiled back, putting his arm around Jack. They walked to the plane together. Zach nodded Jack up the steps. "I'll get on last."

Aaron and Beth came out last. Beth started up the steps. Aaron looked at Zach. "You ready for all this?"

"Ready as I can be dad," Zach smiled, following him up the steps.

The captain of the flight greeted Aaron as he got on board and then smiled. "Hello Zach and welcome," he said, extending his hand. "I'm Brad Thornton. On behalf of the entire crew, we're honored to be a part of your special weekend. Congratulations," he smiled.

"Thank you Brad," Zach said shaking his hand. "We all appreciate you taking care of us."

Thornton nodded at him. "I'll get in the cockpit and get us going," he smiled.

Zach walked into the seating area. The four top to his immediate right was the Dobsons, Dave and Jessica. He looked at Jess. "You and Sela gonna get some revenge against these two?" Zach gestured at Dave and Merrill with this big grin.

"From your lips to God's ears Zach," Jess smiled. "Is grandpa OK?"

Zach looked around the jet and grinned at her. "He's in the two-top in the back next to the bathroom."

"Perfect," Jess grinned.

"Kick their asses you two," Zach winked at Jess and Sela.

Zach looked across the aisle to the other four-top. The four kids were sitting together with Logan and Keegan in the window seats. Taylor was next to Keegan. "Really?"

"Really dad," Trev smiled, pulling out everyone's tablet from his backpack and handing each one around to their owner.

Zach tapped his index finger on the table. "No arguments," he growled.

"We're cool dad," Logan smiled.

"Famous last words Lugnut," Zach said. He looked around. Jack and Jordan, with Mason already snuggled with his mom, were sitting in the two-top across from John. Zach sat down next to Caleigh in the four-top behind the kids with his dad and Beth.

"Nice ride," Beth smiled.

"Go big or go home," Zach grinned back. "Weekend to remember."

Aaron looked at Zach. "I hope you truly understand the magnitude of that statement."

"Yes I do dad," Zach answered, shaking his head a bit. Just then, the jet began to move.

"Good afternoon everyone from the cockpit. I'm Brad Thornton, your captain this afternoon along with First Officer Mike Nolan and crewmember Tyler Bradshaw, who will be taking care of all of you on the flight to Albany. As you can see, we're getting a push back from the gate. Please take a moment to watch the safety video."

When the video ended, Thornton came back over the intercom. "Due to the upgrade construction on one of the major runways here at Reagan, our taxi time is going to be about twenty minutes before take-off. Once we're in the air, we expect a smooth ride the whole way. And we should make up our late take-off time. Please stay in your seats and buckled up."

Caleigh looked over the top of her seat at the kids. "All those devices in airplane mode?"

"Yes mom," the four voices chorused.

"Not our first rodeo mom," Trev said. "We've done this for how many years?"

"Thank you son," Caleigh said, rolling her eyes at Aaron and Beth. They both smiled.

Zach looked at Caleigh. "We taking bets on that world peace?" he thumbed over his shoulder.

Caleigh smiled at him. "They're heads down in their tablets. They'll be fine."

Beth looked at Caleigh. "What are they doing on their tablets?

"Keegan is doing simple number search puzzles. The other three are doing Sudoku's. While the teens and the tween are listening to their music playlists. You don't want to know our Amazon Music bill."

Aaron looked at her. "Even Logan?"

Zach shook his head as Caleigh grinned. "He plays harder ones than the twins." Aaron looked at her. "He gets his first IQ test this fall. He's no match for Spencer. But I have no doubt his score will be in the top fifteen percent."

Beth looked at Caleigh. "And he's not bored in school?"

"Oh he's bored," Caleigh said. "But he's also very social. Which is our saving grace. He won't show up his classmates because he wants to be with them."

"We've talked to him," Zach added. "He does not want to move up a grade. He has too many friends. 'I'll be bored to stay with them'," Zach quoted. "We have to honor that."

Aaron shook his head. "You two are wonderful parents," he smiled.

"We've had great examples to follow," Zach smiled at his dad.

After take-off, the jet quickly ascended to cruising altitude. The seatbelt sign went off. "Thank God," John winked at Jack, getting out of his seat to head to the bathroom. "Then I can settle in for my nap."

"Rock on grandpa," Jack whispered. Mason was conked in Jordan's lap.

Tyler appeared in the aisle with a drink and snack cart. He looked at the four playing Cribbage. "Oh I know you need snacks and drinks," he smiled.

"Drinks first," Dave smiled. The four were set three minutes later. Dave and Merrill had beers while the ladies each had a glass of wine. A bag of chips and almonds were on the tabletop to share.

Tyler looked at the four kids. "Anything to drink?"

Taylor shook her head with a smile, pointing at the bottles of water they all four had. "But you need a snack," Tyler smiled, pulling open a bag of popcorn, setting it on the table in the middle for the kids.

"That'll work," Trev smiled. "Thank you."

Tyler pushed the cart to the next four-top. "Drinks or snacks?" he asked.

"Beer me please and come back soon," Zach said. Aaron looked at him. "Dad you know my guts. They are already rumbling."

"You've been in how many World Series?" Aaron retorted.

Zach shook his head. "This is different dad. Way different. I'm joining the best baseball players in the world."

"Zach, your speech is solid," Caleigh smiled at him, rubbing his thigh. "And I get the magnitude of what is happening. This was your goal playing baseball." She looked at him. "You're in. Relax and enjoy it," she grinned.

Zach looked at her. "Thanks babe," he grinned as Tyler passed out the drinks and two bags of snacks. "That might you get you naked tonight," Zach whispered.

"TMI for me," Tyler snarked.

"You're not the only one," Aaron smiled, taking a drink of his beer.

Zach got out of his seat with his beer to check on the cribbage game. Sela played an ace to score the winning point of a close game. She and Jess shared a high five. Merrill shook his head at Dave. "She lives with that ace in her pocket."

"Nice," Zach smiled. "What's the score?"

"The ladies are one up," Dave smiled, shuffling the cards. He smiled at Merrill with a wink. "I see a rubber game in their future."

Merrill smiled at Dave and then looked at Zach. "I checked. Cooperstown is forty-five minutes from Albany."

Zach smiled. "Do you realize how small Cooperstown is? And don't ask me why they built the Hall there," he said, as Dave dealt the cards. "But the HOF committee has taken care of everything. I'll give you all the details when we get to the hotel. Uncle Sean has the same questions."

"Thanks Zach," Merrill smiled.

Zach noticed Jessica studying her hand, a bit perplexed. "Throw that one," Zach smiled, pointing to a card in her hand. He moved to the back to check on the group. John was getting his nap. Along with Jack, Jordan and Mason.

"Yes!" Jessica said, hitting on the cut of cards to give her a big scoring hand.

Zach smiled at her and checked on the kids. Keegan was curled up in his seat taking a nap. He then went into the galley area of the plane and smiled at Tyler while draining his beer. Tyler handed him another one.

An hour later, Tyler came through the aisle, picking up all the trash and recycling. "Really?" Logan asked.

"Really," Tyler smiled. "Welcome to a GS 650. This bird flies."

"No kidding," Logan answered.

Trev pointed at Keegan, who was still sleeping. "What about him?" he whispered to Taylor.

"He's buckled up," Taylor whispered back. "Let him sleep."

"Good afternoon again from the flight deck," Captain Brad said. The announcement woke up Keegan. "We are beginning our decent into Albany International. Please begin packing up any electronics you may have used and buckle your seatbelt. We should be landing in approximately fifteen minutes."

Caleigh checked on the kids. Taylor handed her tablet to Trev for him to put in his backpack. Logan handed his to Trev while climbing around Trev to get out of his seat. "I'm this close to finishing mom," Keegan pleaded.

Caleigh smiled at him as Logan went to the back of the plane. "Get it done Key."

John got out of his seat. "Quick pit stop for me," he winked at Jack with a smile, heading into the bathroom.

"Hurry Gaga," Logan said, coming up behind him. "I gotta go too."

"You got it Logan," John smiled, shutting the door.

Thirty minutes later, the group walked into the small Signature Flight building lobby. Aaron turned off his cell from airplane mode. It immediately pinged with a text. He smiled, reading the text. "Sean and Kim got to the hotel about five minutes ago," he told the group. Just then, a charter bus pulled up outside the front door. The driver got off and opened the doors to the luggage compartments. While the Signature staff began loading the luggage, the driver came in the door. Noticing Zach, he moved towards him with a huge smile.

"Hi Zach, I'm Craig," the driver grinned. "I'm your limo driver for the weekend. It's an honor. I'm a huge baseball fan and followed your whole career."

"It's a pleasure to meet you Craig," Zach smiled, shaking his hand. "That's quite the limo you've got there," he nodded at the bus.

Craig laughed. "It'll get you from Point A to Point B in style around here. I'll be back here in two hours to do the same for the Minton group coming in from Texas. And I'll get both your families to the ceremonies on Saturday."

"We look forward to riding with you Craig," Zach smiled.

After everyone was on the bus, Craig pulled away from the building. Zach was sitting in the front row of seats on the right side of the bus aisle. He had the aisle seat with Caleigh sitting next to him by the window. "Craig, can you give me a more detailed lay of the land of what's happening this weekend? The letter from the Hall was vague. I'm a detail guy." Aaron nodded at Zach, sitting across from him.

Craig laughed. "There's a news flash." Craig briefly looked at Zach and returned his eyes to the road. "You being detailed-oriented. You knew how to weed out pitchers. Why your career batting average was over three hundred. I still don't know how you did it."

"Lots of film study," Zach said.

"Lots and lots of film study," Caleigh added, rolling her eyes.

Craig smiled. "All the HOF players and their families get suites in the big hotels here in town. It's Albany. There aren't that many. So each group is in one specific hotel. You and your family are in the Renaissance downtown. Andy and his family are in the Crown Plaza across the street. Freddie and Bryce are up the street two blocks at the other two big hotels."

"That sounds like a party later," Dave smiled, sitting behind Zach and Caleigh.

Merrill, sitting across the aisle from Dave, shook his head. "I'm not a world-class profiler and I already figured that out you dipshit."

Sela elbowed Merrill. "Good thing the kids are in the back of the bus."

Aaron shook his head, looking over his seat at Sela. "The kids have heard worse. Caleigh has their filters set on high."

"Threatening them within an inch of their lives works for me," Caleigh smiled. "Dad is home to back that."

"There's some butt kicking," John snarked. Jack and Jordan just shook their heads as the rest laughed.

Craig pulled up to a stoplight. "Here's the big thing. The hotel staff needs help getting all the luggage to the different suites. Joaquin will be waiting for us."

"I'm all over that Craig," Caleigh smiled.

Craig made the right turn and pulled the bus up to the hotel doors. Joaquin was waiting for Craig to open the door. "Jake," Craig smiled. "They've already got the message."

Joaquin had four bell staff waiting with their carts. The group started to go off. Caleigh smiled at the family group. "We're in one suite," she said, nodding at the kids getting off. "Trev, can you help one of the bell staff?"

"On it mom," he smiled. One of the bell staff followed him.

"Dad, you and Beth are with Jack, Jordan and Mason."

Jack handed Mason to his dad. "I got it dad," he smiled.

"Sorry, Sela and Merrill," Caleigh smiled. "You're stuck with Uncle Dave." Caleigh winked at Zach. "In the smallest suite."

"Nice," Zach snarked. Sela and Merrill laughed at Dave who feigned resentment.

"Aunt Jess," Caleigh smiled at her, "you and Grandpa are sharing with Uncle Sean and Aunt Kim."

"Works for us," John smiled as Sean and Kim came out the door.

Sean shook his head at his brother holding Mason. "I know to not say they grow too fast. But really?" he pointed.

"He's walking," Beth smiled, hugging Kim.

"God help us all," Sean snarked, pulling Mason into his arms as Kim greeted the other four kids.

The Renaissance Hotel in downtown Albany took up a half block area with the street side rooms facing three different streets. Yet, it featured an open courtyard in the middle of the hotel, with a covered pavilion area just off the large, windowed pool area on the first floor of the hotel. An hour later, Jack and Jordan had the kids in the pool with the rest enjoying the pavilion seating area that included some picnic tables and a gas grill. Everyone was in relaxing mode and dressed down.

"All that's missing is…" Dave started when a bellman rolled a cart into the area with a huge white Igloo cooler.

The bellman looked at Zach. "This was just delivered for you by the Helmer grocery store," he smiled.

"Perfect," Zach grinned. "Uncle Sean, can you help me please?"

"Sure thing," Sean smiled, moving to help Zach get the one-hundred and twenty quart cooler off the bellman's cart.

Dave handed the bellman a ten-dollar bill. "Thanks Sam," he smiled.

"Enjoy," Sam smiled back.

Sean started to lift the handle on one end. "Holy shit, Zach. What's in here?" he asked, setting the cooler on the ground.

"This," Zach smiled, opening up the lid. The iced down cooler was filled with cans of Coors Light and small, plastic wine bottles. "Work for you?" Zach said to Sean, grabbing two cans of beer out. He pulled out a plastic bag with some items and handed it to Caleigh.

Sean shook his head. "I still can't believe you switched to Silver Bullets."

"I got tired of buying two different brands for my brother, the soak," Zach said.

Sean looked at Aaron. "Think they'll grow up sometime soon?"

"I doubt it," Aaron deadpanned.

"Yeah, like you two," Zach snarked back. Dave gave him a high five, laughing with Merrill and John. "Cal…"

"Way ahead of you," she smiled at Zach, tossing two coozies at him from a cloth grocery bag she had brought. Zach headed to the pool area with the beers for Jack and Jordan. Caleigh pulled out a small sleeve of plastic glasses and smiled at Beth, Sela, Kim and Jess. "Uncle Sean, beer me please," she grinned as she tossed coozies to the guys.

He handed a beer to Caleigh. "Sis?" Sean asked, smiling at Beth.

"I'll take a Chard please," she replied, as Aaron started handing out beers. "Thank you Sean," she grinned.

"Sela?"

"I'll take a Grigio please Sean," Sela answered.

"Make it two Sean," Jessica smiled.

"Got it ladies," he smiled, handing them out. He pulled out another Chardonnay, handing it to Kim. "For you my bride," he grinned at her.

"Glad I'm not rooming with you two," Aaron snarked.

"Zach and I rest our case," Dave zinged. Merrill shook his head at John.

"Been that way for years Merrill," John said, rolling his eyes, taking a drink of his beer.

Sela opened her cloth grocery bag, pulling out a small stack of paper plates and a box of Wheat Thins and Triscuit crackers, winking at Caleigh. Caleigh opened the bag from the cooler to reveal an assortment of sliced meat and cheese from the deli section of the Helmer grocery store. And a tube of braunschweiger. "Yes!" Sean smiled, grabbing the meat pate. "We cannot find this in New York." He looked around. "How do I get this open?" Dave and Zach pulled out their pocketknives. "Whose is sharper?" he asked with a smile.

"Mine," Dave said.

"Of course it is. You have nothing to do after chasing unsubs for how many years but to sharpen your knife," Zach snarked after returning from delivering beers. Aaron smiled at Zach with a point.

Kim smiled at Sela. "Pass that box of Wheat Thins over. We love them with the braunschweiger." Sela smiled, handing her a plastic knife as well.

Jess looked at Caleigh and Zach. "How much pre-planning did you do for all this?"

Caleigh smiled. "We're just getting started. The staff at the Helmer grocery store is fantastic. So is the hotel staff."

Zach looked at Jess. "You know my wife," he grinned. Everyone enjoyed a few cocktails and some of the munchies. The kids soon joined them.

Beth looked at Jordan. "Where's Jack?"

"He lost the coin flip on changing Mason's poopy diaper," she devilishly smiled.

"Atta girl," Zach grinned.

Just as Jack and Mason were joining the group, a chef from the hotel wheeled out a grey cart. "Hi! I'm Allison," she introduced.

"Hi Allison," Caleigh smiled. "It's so nice to meet you. You've been terrific."

"I was happy to help. That's the way we do things here at the Renaissance." She pointed to the three-shelved cart. "Everything you need to cook the burgers is on the top shelf. The burgers and hot dogs are in a plastic container on the second shelf. Along with ketchup, mustard and mayo. I also added a baggie with some lettuce and sliced tomato for anyone that wants that." John smiled at her with a point. "I have leftover bacon from brunch this morning I'll nuke up some and bring it out later. The bottom shelf has the buns, paper plates and napkins."

"Plus, I've got the baked beans heating on my stove. When I see you're getting close to eating, I'll bring them out along with the fruit salad," she smiled.

"You are the bomb Allison," Zach smiled. "Now just show me how to work the grill," he pointed. "I'm used to a Weber."

"I've got it Allison," Sean smiled. He looked at Zach. "Let a professional do it for a change," he smiled, pushing the button to ignite the gas in the grill and setting the temperature control.

"What's going on?" Jack asked.

"It's someone's birthday," Zach winked.

"What?" Logan asked. "I thought we covered that this morning with the big brunch at home with everyone there. Even Uncle Caleb and Aunt Carly."

"We weren't there," Sean smiled, pointing at Kim.

"It's your day son," Zach smiled, pulling Logan to him. "All day."

"Thanks dad," Logan said hugging Zach.

Kim handed Logan an envelope. "Uncle Sean and I are adding to the gift card pile," she smiled.

"Thanks Aunt Kim," Logan grinned. He read the front, opened the card and laughed at the rest of the funny sentiment. He then looked at the gift card. "Amazon! Sweet! Thank you both so much," moving to hug Kim and Sean.

Beth looked at Caleigh. "What's the latest on Carly?"

"I had a text from mom after we got off the jet. She went into labor a little after one. They're at the hospital doing the waiting game."

Zach shook his head. "I just hope they don't make her go through twenty hours of labor like they did with Bennett."

Caleigh looked at him. "You don't think mom chewed a few butts about that?"

Zach grinned. "I have no doubt babe."

As everyone was finishing eating, Allison approached the tables and set down a regular cake pan with its matching plastic cover in front of Logan. "That's my personal cake pan," she said to Caleigh.

"Got it," Caleigh smiled. "You'll get it back by Saturday. Clean," she winked.

Allison pulled off the cover. Logan looked. "That looks like Grandma Haley's chocolate cake."

"It is," Allison smiled. "Your mom sent me the recipe. I made it at home this morning." Caleigh started putting candles in the icing.

"Just for me?" Logan asked.

"Yup kiddo," Allison grinned, pulling out a long necked lighter from her chef pants pocket to light the candles. She walked over to the grill area and came back with a half-gallon container of ice cream, handing the ice cream scoop to Beth. "I believe that is your job grandma," Allison smiled. She looked at Logan. "Happy birthday Logan," she grinned.

"Thank you," he smiled back.

Zach put his arm around Allison. "Thank you for everything," he smiled, slipping his hand into her chef jacket side pocket.

The group started to sing Happy Birthday as Allison walked back to the hotel's kitchen. Once inside the door, she reached into her pocket and pulled out what Zach had put in there.

Three Ben Franklins.

Later that night, after all the kids were in bed, the group was in Dave's suite. Caleigh smiled, reading a text on her phone from her mom. Amelia stabilized. Surgery tomorrow at 9 am.

XXX

A/N: USMA is the United States Military Academy. It is the U.S. Army's four-year college to train young officers.

DOT is Department of Transportation. Every U.S. state has one.

Gaga. This one is going to be tough. I'll need the tissue box. When my oldest nephew was around the age of starting to talk, he also battled multiple ear infections. So he didn't hear things clearly, until he had tubes put in his ears at seventeen months. By then, he was already calling dad Gaga instead of grandpa. The name stuck all these years, even with my second nephew who didn't have any ear problems. The boys' flower arrangement at dad's funeral was signed "love you forever Gaga". I use it to honor dad through the Hotchner kids referring to their great-grandfather John. Btw – the oldest nephew graduated from high school in May. The other one is now driving. You wonder why I'm retiring.

The nickname for Coors Light cans or bottles in the U.S. is Silver Bullets.

I won't throw the Ben Franklin test at you again.