A/N: I'm bending CM canon a bit again. Just a tiny bit.

Epilogue

The team had worked non-stop since they had arrived mid-morning Thursday, with Hotch back from his leave of absence. They finally resolved the Dale Shrader case in Lockport, New York. In doing so, they re-united former undercover cop Joe Muller with his kidnapped family. They only had taken a break long enough for a couple hours of sleep in their hotel, with a shower and change of clothes.

When they returned to the police station late Friday afternoon, they did what they had to with the locals and then packed up their gear. Their personal luggage was already in the black Bureau SUVs and they headed for a local restaurant to get a warm, decent meal before making their way to the nearby Buffalo airport to meet up with Chuck and Angie. Their pilots needed the time to get their flight plan filed and cleared by the FAA.

While they were packing up at the station, Matt had received a text from Abbey. Jess, with plans that night, had dropped Jack off at the house. Abbey had talked with length with Jess after Aaron had made his decision to return to the team. The Taylor family was more than happy to help Jess out with Jack when she needed.

They boarded the jet with JJ and Reid sitting down in the two tops of seats to the front. Emily was not given an option by the rest. Given the concussion she had received in the accident when Shrader had killed Detective Bunting, and showing the signs of getting plenty sore from the vehicle rolling, she had no choice but to sit on the long couch, with Hotch, Matt and Morgan telling her that she was stretching out and sleeping as soon as Angie cleared them. Morgan had got three pain relievers in her before he sat down. Hotch, Matt, Rossi and Morgan shared the four top. They all quickly buckled up and Chuck and Angie had them in the air for the two hour flight home. Yet, it was already after nine that evening.

Angie came across the intercom. "You're free of the seatbelts and it should be a smooth flight. Get Emily in the prone position."

"Et tu Brute," Prentiss snarked at the ceiling, rolling her eyes.

Morgan dived out of his seat. "You heard our pilot. Get stretched out on that couch." He reached in the overhead bin and pulled out two pillows and a blanket, while Matt crawled out of his seat by the window to see if Chuck and Angie wanted some coffee going. Prentiss moved so that her head would be at the galley end and away from the lights she knew would light the four top.

As Matt returned from the cockpit, Morgan was covering Prentiss with the blanket and shut out the light above her. He looked at Matt, about to get in his seat. "They all good?"

Matt nodded. "They filled their coffee jugs before they got on." Morgan went back in the galley, shutting that light out as well. The inside of the plane was already darkened with only the bulkhead lights on for take-off. And they were dimmed as well. The only four lights that brightly shined were the ones above the four top. JJ and Reid, once Prentiss was settled, curled up for their own power naps, shutting theirs out as well.

Morgan opened the bulkhead and pulled his MP3 player and headphones out of his briefcase, shutting the light out above his head. He shut the door, put the headphones around his neck and sat down. Rossi looked at Hotch. "With all due respect to the terrific job that Derek did, does it feel good to be back?"

Hotch smiled a bit. "After the house sold so fast, and Haley's estate got settled sooner than I thought, I was going a bit stir crazy. And for the record Derek, you exceeded my expectations and the Bureau's. I thank you for that."

Matt and Rossi nodded their agreement to the statement. "So have you Hotch," he said, nodding his thanks.

"Did you follow our advice," Matt asked, pointing at Rossi.

"I've made some inquiries." Morgan lifted an eyebrow. "As always, these two have their moments of being right. A two bedroom apartment is no place to raise a growing, active four year old. Jack looked at me last week and said, 'Daddy, I need more room to run'." Dave smiled as Matt grinned broadly, nodding his head at Hotch, and hearing the boy saying the words in his head.

Morgan smiled. "I've got a really sweet duplex half available."

"Thanks Morgan, but I'm not paying rent anymore. I need to make an investment in Jack and I's future." Matt pointed at Dave, who proudly smiled that his once protégé had learned another lesson from him. Hotch just shook his head at the two men while Morgan smiled.

Hotch groaned a little and twisted his back a bit. "Guess I got too used to my own bed."

Morgan laughed. "That won't last long." Dave nodded at him.

"At least I'll be back in it tonight," Hotch said.

Matt gave him his version of the Hotch glare. "Whattttt," he asked looking at his partner.

"Where is Jack right now?" Hotch burrowed his eyebrows with a question. "Hotch, where is he?"

"He's at you and Abbey's."

"Aaron do you think for one second my wife is going to let you pull a sleeping, warm four year old boy out of the bed he is in? At midnight?" Hotch looked at him. "The shotgun her dad bought for her for fourteenth birthday is on the shelf of our walk in closet. The shells for said shotgun are hid in a handbag she doesn't use anymore buried on the back of the shelf with the shotgun. The bed Jack is sleeping in right now is next to our bedroom. And believe me; my wife knows how to use that shotgun. Do. The. Math."

Morgan laughed slightly, not wanting to wake the others that were already conked out. Dave shook his head. "Aaron, don't mess with Texas. And that's Abbey. Just climb in bed next to your son and give it up." Matt pointed at Dave again.

Hotch looked at his partner. "So I have no chance?"

"Aaron, how many languages would you like me to give you the number zero in?" Hotch just shook his head with a smile. He knew Matt's language skills; all twelve of them. He then also realized that Abbey would be like that. And more importantly, the haven his partner and his wife provided, and would continue to provide for him and his son. He reached into his brief case and started to pull out files to work on.

"No Aaron, you don't."

"Dave, they have to be done."

"And you can do them tomorrow and Sunday night after Jack's gone to bed. Aaron you need to find a way to balance your time. I have," Matt said.

"Hotch, let me help with that," Morgan said. Hotch looked at him. "I was raised by a single mother. I know time is precious. And having done your job, I now know how much I should have been doing for you that Gideon let me slide on. Matt does more than his fair share of the load, especially with the tactical reports. But please, Hotch," he paused for second or two. "Aaron, let me help as well."

Hotch lowered his head a bit then looked at Morgan. "I'd appreciate it Derek." Morgan's response was his broad smile. Matt pulled out the ever present cribbage board and deck of cards that Chuck had put on whatever plane the team got from the Bureau. He knew the relaxation it gave the three of them and had become the surrogate keeper of the two items, always making sure they were next to Matt's seat. Dave started to get out of his seat and looked at Derek.

"You're welcome to join us."

"Rossi, I've told you three more than one time what I think of that card game you play. It confuses the hell out of me. I just want to wrap my head around some soft jazz."

Dave, standing in the aisle smiled. "Would a glass of scotch, compliments of the Director help with that?"

"Damn straight Big Dog," Morgan smiled. He noticed Hotch loosing his tie and unbuttoning the collar of his dress shirt. As he slid his headphones on and started the music, he watched Matt shuffling the cards and then sending them around the three places face side up. He knew enough of the card game they played that the person that got the first Jack face card would be the first dealer. Matt handed the deck of the remaining cards to Hotch, who gathered up the rest and started shuffling.

Dave returned with the four glasses of scotch, and spread them around the table. As Hotch dealt, Morgan took a sip of the golden goodness and looked at the three men.

They are the Three Musketeers, he smiled. They take care of each other; and all of the rest of us.

It's good to be a whole team again.

Morgan thought a bit more. We, all of us, conquered you George Foyet. You didn't break me and you didn't break Hotch. And you did not break us.

-00CM00-

Like always, Chuck and Angie tried to break speed records for Gulf Stream jets to get the team home. Matt pulled his pick-up into the garage as the clock struck midnight. Aaron parked his car in the driveway behind Matt's, grabbed his go bag and followed Matt into the house.

A huge harvest moon was shining in the window of the landing half way up the steps where the staircase made its turn to get to the bedrooms. It illuminated the steps so well Matt didn't bother turning on a light in the darkened home. When they got to the balcony area of the second floor, the windows on that level, facing the same way, provided all the light the two fathers needed.

Aaron followed Matt as he moved to check on the kids. Wilma, sleeping outside the doors of the two bedrooms, lifted her head and banged her tail of the floor, giving the two men a welcome home. Matt reached down and gave her some love before going into the twins' room. Aaron, after doing the same with the beautiful Golden Lab, used the kids' bathroom. As Matt left Colin's room, Aaron followed him to the other two bedrooms across the balconey and then put his hand on Matt's shoulder, stopping him.

Matt turned and Aaron moved to face him. "Thank you for everything Matt," he whispered. Aaron hung his head a bit and then looked back up. "That's all I can really say. You were there through all of this with me."

Hotch could see Matt's smile in the moonlight. "I'm your partner. I back my partner."

Aaron smiled, patted his shoulder and moved to join Jack in his bed while Matt walked in the master bedroom to see his beautiful wife sleeping just as soundly as the kids. He wouldn't be standing in the downstairs patio door in his boxers, wondering, tonight. They, the family that they were, hugely lost; yet they, the team, were whole again.

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A/N: I can't say thank you enough for all the love and support I've gotten for this story. I know I stepped on CM canon, one time pretty badly. Yet, all of you, buying into my OC, have rolled with it. It is so deeply appreciated. However, and alas, here ends this journey. As I said at the top, this was a huge challenge for me, but one I felt I had to take. Your response has made this journey very worthy of the effort. I'm touched beyond words.

Now my usual end of story shout outs. For my faithful followers, you can probably say them by now. In your sleep. ;) For those of you new to this world, they are the peeps that keep me sane through the writing process.

To my Hotch sisters at CMRev; my nightly haven. You are total goddesses and don't let anyone tell you different! To my Tweet peeps, especially my internationals that are just there when I need them. And the North American contingent that is just as wonderful! Luvs and hugs to you all. Same goes to that special teacher in OK that seems to find my email box when I post stories.

However, this entire story is dedicated to hxchick. She supported Monsters in the Fortress, my story that introduced this OC. And I played with CM canon as rookie FF writer back then. Yet, my girl, my 'Sconnie sister (that's State of Wisconsin for the rest of you; her hometown is four hours by car from mine) is soon to be embarking on a gigantic step. I wanted to get this one done in time for her to read before she left. Yet, I know she is so deeply busy with this new adventure, she may not have the time to read it right now. But she will. I know she will. Stay in touch my friend. Go Bucky!

And as always, the last shout out goes to my mentor. As much as I luvs and respect hxchick, none of this would have happened without the love and support of thn0715. My Jedi Master who once again, gave me the best advice when I needed it with this story. And btw, is still rolling with her 365 story. I encourage all of you that haven't already to check it out.

*Knightly bow*

*looks in Rockie's writer crystal ball* I see another family in the future. ;)