A/N: *points* It's still in the same spot. :D

Epilogue

August eleventh provided Zach with another day off. And he got a bonus. The Wednesday day game in Norfolk, Virginia the day before got him home at a decent hour that night with the team traveling by motor coach. And Zach had finally learned how to sleep on the team bus. He woke up refreshed with sleep and quietly slipped into the shower a little after eight that morning. He smiled at Caleigh still sleeping as he pulled on some cargo shorts and a Mason t-shirt. He sat down on the bed and kissed her awake. "Come on sleepy head," he smiled.

Caleigh rolled over to look at him, stretched out and looked at the alarm clock on her side of the bed. "What's going on," she yawned.

Zach smiled. "I've got a day off and you have a birthday coming up. We need to get your present from me today. Please get in the shower babe." That was enough to spike Caleigh's interest.

"Do I get a hint," Caleigh yawned with a question.

"Nope," Zach smiled, kissing her. "Get moving babe."

Caleigh pulled the covers off and got out of bed.

Zach quietly crept down the steps and walked into the bedroom Jack was soundly sleeping in. He sat down on the bed and shook Jack awake. "What's going on," Jack yawned.

"Bro, Caleigh's birthday is Sunday."

"I know that," he yawned.

Zach smiled, shaking Jack awake a bit more. "I've got a game that day. So she's getting her present from me today when I can enjoy it with her."

"Sounds special," Jack yawned again.

"It is bro," Zach smiled. "Please get up. We've got a bit of a drive to get it."

Jack poked a more alert eye open at him. "Do I get a hint?"

Zach laughed. "You sound like Caleigh. Getting moving bro; and don't forget brushing your teeth and taking your vitamin. We'll get breakfast on the way."

A bit later, Zach went up the steps. "Cal, Jack is getting antsy; and hungry. So am I," he said walking into the bathroom. Caleigh was putting on her light touches of make-up. "The coffee maker is done for you." He paused, looking at her in the mirror. "You look beautiful babe," he smiled.

"Thanks," Caleigh smiled back.

"Then come on; let's move. I don't know how much longer I can hold off Jack wanting breakfast."

Caleigh laughed. "Be down in three."

Zach left. Thirty seconds later, she heard Jack bellow up the steps. "I'm counting Cal!" She laughed more and left the bathroom.

Walking into the kitchen, Caleigh heard the brothers in Jack's bedroom. She smiled as she poured her large travel mug full of coffee and shut the coffee maker off. Zach and Jack came into the kitchen as she added her cream and put it back in the fridge. "You got your bed made," Caleigh asked Jack.

"Yup," he smiled. "And some time with bro," he beamed.

Caleigh rubbed his head. "You need that," she smiled.

Zach looked at Jack. "When I'm not here, you get your bed made on your own?" Jack looked at Caleigh.

Caleigh laughed. "Sorry bud; you are totally busted." Jack looked at Zach.

"Totally bro," Zach said. And then he smiled. "Let's get going."

Ten minutes later, Zach pulled into the parking lot of diner that was a page out of an ad in a nineteen-sixty era newspaper. Gideon would love this Zach thought with a smile. Caleigh looked at Zach as he put the truck in park. "Dix grew up around here. He swears by the place."

Walking in, the three looked at an old day cafe filled with customers, including a single stool dining area near the kitchen. A waitress smiled at them as a couple got out of booth. "Give me a few to get that booth cleaned up," she smiled with a point, "and it's all yours."

While they were waiting for their order, Caleigh's cell buzzed with a text. She read it and smiled. "Mom, dad and Bub are going through Richmond."

"They got an early start," Zach noted with a grin.

The breakfast they enjoyed was heaven on earth. "I'm stuffed," Jack smiled. Caleigh and Zach smiled at him. "Please tell me we're coming back here again." Zach gave him the Rossi point as Caleigh nodded her head with own finger point.

Zach shook his head at the bill Rose had put on the end of the booth table, pulling out a twenty dollar bill and a five, putting it on the table with the bill. Caleigh looked at him. "That includes the tip?"

Zach smiled. "A healthy one for Rose."

"Wow," Jack commented.

"Word bro," Zach smiled. "Let's keep moving." They drove for twenty minutes more, past Athens, Georgia.

Caleigh looked at him, draining her final sip of coffee from her travel mug. "You do know where you're going?"

"Yes dear." Caleigh smacked his arm with her hand. Jack laughed in the backseat.

Zach pulled off the two lane state highway they were on and followed a series of small country roads he had in his GPS on his phone plugged into the screen navigation system his new truck had.

He pulled into a small farmstead. A woman came out of the house and waved at them as Zach parked the truck. The woman smiled. "You must be Zach," she said to him as he got out of the truck and opened the backdoor for Jack.

"Yes ma'am," Zach smiled. "You've got to be Jenna." Caleigh came around the truck.

Jenna smiled. "That's me. And we've got your present all ready," she winked.

A man joined her. "Hi Zach," he smiled, extending his hand. "I'm Charlie." Zach introduced Caleigh and Jack to the couple. Charlie nodded towards a building. "Follow me."

He led the three of them to an old cow milking barn with Jenna following. "We've done some renovations obviously," Charlie smiled. He opened the door and waved Caleigh to walk in. Caleigh took one look around and froze.

"Cal," Jack said, coming around her. Caleigh shook her head and waved her finger around. The barn held kennels for six dogs. All were empty except for one.

Charlie looked at her. "Jenna and I are not a puppy breeding factory. We're responsible dog breeders and take good care of them."

Caleigh looked at Zach. He smiled, putting his arm around her shoulder. "Uncle Dave's breeder that he used for Mudg to sire three litters of pups highly recommended them."

Caleigh's eyes filled with tears. "Really?"

Zach kissed her. "Really," he smiled. "Uncle Dave and I have been working on this for weeks." He pulled Caleigh's shoulder to his chest. "I know when I'm traveling with the team, it gets lonely for you. Having the squirt around," he nodded at Jack, "has helped. But he has a little thing called school. His schedule is limited," Zach smiled.

"No way," Jack brightly smiled.

"Yes way bro," Zach smiled back. Charlie smiled and nodded at them to follow him. As he approached the lone occupied kennel, a smallish yellow Lab pup sprung to her feet, stretched and yawned. Caleigh stopped, looking at the pup.

Zach held her close. "She's the runt of the litter. She'll never be a hunting dog. Charlie, Jenna and I have talked; at length. She just needs a loving home." He looked at Caleigh. "And someone to share that home with on lonely nights."

Charlie smiled at her. "Guess who this pup's grandpa is?"

"Mudg," Jack questioned. Charlie pointed at him with a bigger smile. Jack looked at Zach that winked at him. "No way," Jack beamed. "That's awesome!"

Caleigh wiped the tears that started to escape looking at Zach. Jack walked up to the kennel. "Hi girl," he smiled. The yellow Lab pup deeply wagged her tail, giving Jack a soft yip of a bark of excitement.

Charlie smiled. He looked at Zach. "The male pups of the litter were brown like grandpa." Zach smiled. "Open the kennel Jack," Charlie said.

Jack opened the door and the pup made a beeline to Caleigh. She scooped the pup into her arms. "Hi you," Caleigh smiled. The puppy licked away Caleigh's tears.

Jack looked at Zach. "You are good bro," he smiled.

"I have my moments," Zach smiled, winking at Charlie and Jenna.

Caleigh put the puppy on her feet. The pup raced at Jack, recognizing a playmate. Jack didn't disappoint her.

Zach looked at the couple. "You got my payment?"

Charlie and Jenna smiled with a nod. "She's already microchipped, spayed and up to date on her vaccinations. She just needs a good home and a name," Jenna smiled.

"We've got the first part," Zach smiled. "The birthday girl does the second part."

Jenna and Charlie took the time to tell the young couple, and new puppy owners, how to handle their little one. Jenna handed a file folder of reading material to Caleigh. "Charlie and I agree with everything you'll read in there," she smiled. "Just let us know when you find a vet for her. We'll forward her records to the vet." Caleigh smiled her appreciation, taking the folder.

"The best thing about Labs is also an owner's biggest headache," Jenna added. Caleigh looked at her. "They're very social; they'll love anyone, especially the female ones. And remember, she is nowhere near as old as her grandfather. And Mudg is one of a kind." Jenna smiled. "He knows his master too well. He takes care of his family like Dave." Jack smiled.

Charlie continued. "Jenna is right; Labs are horrible guard dogs. The worst damage they would do is lick a burglar to death." Jack laughed getting the same treatment, rolling on the floor. "And they will bolt at any opportunity to meet someone. Until she's fully grown and trained to be with you, you keep her on a leash outside at all times."

"Thank you Braves for a fenced in backyard," Zach smiled. He looked at Jack, pulling the pup into his lap. "Poop patrol or mowing," he asked with his fiendish smile.

"Gee thanks bro," Jack said, petting her. "But I'll take poop patrol for two hundred Alex." Zach, Jenna and Charlie laughed.

Caleigh wiped away a few more tears and looked at Zach. "Happy birthday my love," he smiled, kissing her. "I know what I do is tough on you. I want you to have some company," he softly smiled.

"Thank you so much," Caleigh said, throwing her arms around him for a hug as the puppy and Jack romped some more. She wiped away a few more tears, pulling out of her hug. "But we'll need things."

Zach pointed at Jenna with a smile. "Our daughter is the manager of the PetSmart in Lawrenceville," Jenna smiled. "Trish is waiting on you. She'll get you all set."

Caleigh shook her head, looking at Zach. "You had this all planned."

Zach smiled. "You know me; the absolute anal retentive guy you agreed to marry." He kissed her. Jack, Jenna and Charlie smiled.

"Including an off spring of Mudg," Caleigh smiled.

"That's me and Uncle Dave," Zach smiled back.

Caleigh knelt down. "Come on Lexie; let's go home." Lexie sped into her arms. Jack and Zach smiled at each other.

Jack walked to his brother and looked at him. "Lexie," he smiled. "I like that." Zach rubbed his shoulder with a smile.

Two hours later, Lexie proudly pranced out of the PetSmart store on the leash attached to her harness collar that went around her front shoulders. She had an Atlanta Braves collar around her neck. A gold dog bone with her name etched on it hung from the collar. On the back was contact information for Caleigh and Zach should she run off; including her microchip number. Jack took Caleigh's other hand. "That was pretty cool of Trisha to give Lexie the name tag."

Zach, with an eighty pound bag of puppy feed on one shoulder, carrying Lexie's kennel in the other, shook his head. "Damn right we deserved the perk." Caleigh eyed him. "I'm just sayin' babe. We chipped in nearly two hundred dollars to their till. They should throw in the freebie." Jack smiled carrying Lexie's new dog bed that would fit her when she was full grown.

Caleigh shook her head. "Anal retentive and a miser."

"Blame that one on Uncle Dave," he smiled. "I learned from the best." Caleigh laughed.

Jack, with Zach's truck key, unlocked the doors and opened up his back door after opening Zach's. Caleigh handed him the leash with a leader string. Jack handed Lexie's bed to Caleigh. Lexie jumped up into the truck. "You're riding with me girl," he smiled, getting in and quickly shutting the door so Lexie couldn't bolt into the parking lot. After he got the door shut, he took Lexie off her leash.

Caleigh beamed as Zach put the puppy food into the back of the truck, adding the huge bag she carried and the bed. Caleigh took the kennel from Zach and put it on the floor behind her passenger seat as Jack buckled up with Lexie already in his lap. Caleigh went back to Zach.

Caleigh kissed him as he shut the tailgate on the truck. "I love you."

"Happy birthday babe; I love you too."

-00CM00-

The BAU team, flying home from a case in St. Louis around two that afternoon, were enjoying some downtime. JJ and Reid were in the two top at the front, their eyes shut without sleeping. Tara, Morgan, Hotch and Dave sat around the four top, engaged in a cribbage game.

Aaron's cellphone pinged with a text. While Tara shuffled the cards for the next hand, Aaron turned the cell lying on the table over and looked at the text. It was from Zach. It's a girl! was all it said.

Aaron put his free hand to his forehead and rubbed it. He put his cellphone back on the table facedown and shook his head. "Hotch," Morgan asked.

"Aaron," Dave asked.

Garcia pinged on the always present laptop on the table. "Sir, since we're in down time, I'm on social media. Which I know I shouldn't be sir on company time but ….."

"What is it Garcia," Hotch nearly growled.

"Sir, a very dubious FB message from Caleigh."

"It's a girl," Hotch said.

"Oh sir, you are way good." JJ and Reid opened their eyes and got out of their seats to join the four-top.

JJ smiled. "There's a girl in your future," she smiled at Hotch. She got the Hotchner glare in return. Reid looked at JJ, shaking his head.

Dave had his best poker face on. "Not looking forward to being a grandpa Aaron?" That got him the same glare.

"Hold the phone," Garcia said. They all watched her type like the fiend she could be. She looked into the camera. "And shut the front door," she beamed, putting up a picture.

The picture appeared on the laptop. It was Caleigh sitting cross-legged on the back lawn of the townhouse holding a happy Lexie with her lab smile in Caleigh's lap. Zach was kneeling behind them with his arms around Caleigh. Lexie was sporting her gold bone shaped name tag in plain view with a pink bandana around her neck. Dave noticed Aaron smiling at the picture and relaxing.

Dave winked at Derek. "Birthday present mission accomplished," he smiled like only he could. That earned him the Morgan point with Derek's broad smile. Hotch looked at him. "I used my connections to hook Zach up with a breeder in the area," he smiled.

"O.M.G. peeps!" Garcia enthused. "I could only send you the photo off FB. But listen to what Caleigh sent next!"

"Penelope, take a deep breath first," JJ smiled at her.

"Oh Jayje, it's so sweet."

"Mama, you can't do a screen capture?"

"Shut up my Chocolate Thunder," Garcia growled. "This is just too good." Reid and Tara shared a smile.

Now that I've got your attention, Garcia read, "And three smiley faces," she added with a huge smile into the camera. We welcomed Lexie into our family today. She's a twelve pound, ten week old bundle of energy that is microchipped, spayed and up to date on her puppy shots. She's an early birthday present from my loving, awesome husband to be on his day off. And doing his usual conspiracy, behind my back stuff with Uncle Dave. I think they're both keepers. That doesn't include Uncle Dave. "A wink and two smiley faces there," Garcia added with her huge grin. But I know how much he meant to the Brothers Hotchner the first day I meet him. Dave beamed at the team. While Lexie is a pure bred, she did not come from a puppy mill. This is where Uncle Dave comes in. His breeder in Virginia hooked up Zach with the wonderful Jenna and Charlie that operate an awesome, well-loved and clean breeding facility. And Lexie is Mudg's granddaughter! Garcia added the new pictures Caleigh posted for everyone to see that Zach had took of the facility including Lexie with an adult Lab. We even got to meet Lexie's mom. And a huge shout out to "Uncle Jack" who took the picture and is already Lexie's best bud. When Jack returns home, I'll miss him so much. So will Lexie. But I'll have Lexie to keep me company on those lonely nights when Zach is travelling with the team. I love my man and can't wait to marry him. The team all smiled at Hotch.

Tara looked at the rest. "Am I the only one that is really, really looking forward to that wedding," she asked with a smile.

Morgan gave her a point with his broad smile and then shook his head. "Morgan," Hotch asked.

"Mom's coming for the wedding. So she's out as a babysitter for Hank. Savannah and I don't know what we're going to do."

"Oh my big brown six pack, you think Mama hasn't already got you covered," Garcia smiled into the camera. "And the younger LaMontagne as well," she smiled at JJ. Garcia looked at her screen and pointed in her usual vibrant style when she had good news. "And my friend Lisa in the accounting IT unit on the second floor just emailed me; she and her significant other Gwen will take Lex as well," she smiled. "And if IRU team isn't out, Monty will be there as well," Garcia smiled. "Tech wonder workers stick together."

"Thanks Mama," Morgan smiled. Dave smiled at Aaron.

"I can't wait to see Henry in a tux," Reid smiled. JJ put her arm around him.

Dave rubbed Aaron's shoulder. "Your oldest son is a good man," he smiled. "Just like his dad. And he loves that precious lady he's got in his life. You and your oldest son are blessed my friend."

Hotch smiled. "Tell me about it." Just then his cellphone pinged. Aaron lifted it off the table and looked at the text. Gotcha Dad!

Hotch looked at Dave shaking his head with his big smile, showing him, and the rest of the team, the text. "He can also be an…" The laughter from the team drowned out his last word.

#####

A/N: I couldn't wait to write this chapter! It was one of those OMG writer moments when you get an inspiration.

And yes, I do fully believe in "adopt not shop" for getting a new pet. But I had to run with the idea of Zach giving Caleigh an heir of Mudgie's.

A special thanks to my OK Teacher. What I didn't know is that she once lived in Gwinnett County. So with her daily, private reviews she was telling me about her time there. What she didn't know is that I was silently wondering if she hacked into my laptop (LOL) because she was telling me things that I had to quickly correct in some upcoming chapters. So thanks for the help Teach! :D

And thank you everyone for the reviews and alerts or just reading. I know I say it at the end of every story; but I mean it from my heart. I realize the time commitment it takes to read an FF. I so, so appreciate those of you that do.

*Knightly bow*