A/N: I had a recent chat with my OK Teacher about the upcoming National Memorial Day Concert on PBS here in the States. We both immensely enjoy the concert hosted by Joe Mantegna and Gary Sinise. Then she asked me this: "Ever thought about doing a Memorial Day story?"

No, I hadn't; but what a great idea! And gee, I think I have the perfect OC to pull that off. And while I'm still stymied in writing a case fic with Matt, I can get the team involved in this one easy enough. I think I owe my OK Teacher a drink. :D

All rights to the Criminal Minds characters belong to Mark Gordon Studios, CBS and ABC Studios.

*Knightly bow*

And with this story, I honor all nationalities that have lost military service personnel in the line of duty.

Chapter 1

The BAU team was sitting around the Round Table the Friday before the Memorial Day weekend having just finished their morning briefing. They had been in the office all week, and the briefing mainly hit on outstanding cases they were tracking for a possible serial killer MO. Tara looked around the table. "Unsubs take a vacation over the first summer holiday?"

"Don't jinx it," Emily snarked. "Declan and me are looking forward to having the weekend together."

"Ditto that with my fam," Matt smiled at her with his point.

"Same here," Hotch smiled.

"I'm down with that and all my boys," JJ added with her own smile.

Morgan beamed. "My mama is coming from Chicago to spoil her…." The team all joined in on the "new grandbaby" chorus with laughter.

Garcia rubbed his shoulder. "That's awesome my chocolate…" Hotch and Matt loudly cleared their throats. The rest laughed and Garcia blushed. "OK; I get it," she said looking at the two of them. "Kevin and are looking forward to the down time as well."

"How 'bout you kid," Morgan asked, looking at Reid.

Reid looked Morgan in the eye. "I won't tell you my reading list," he smiled with an almost challenging grin.

"Thank you for that," Morgan retorted with a smile.

"Any plans for you Tara," Dave asked. She shook her head. "Great; it's settled," patting his hands on the table. "The Memorial Day picnic is on. I provide the place, pool and burgers. You all work out the rest of the menu," he smiled, getting out of his chair. "And I've got a special guest from my past that has re-entered my life that I want you to meet," he smiled, walking out.

Emily, Derek, JJ, Reid and Garcia looked at each other, with Morgan giving a point at Rossi to Prentiss with a questioned look. "Oh shit," Matt said, leaning back in his chair, looking at Hotch. "You were right. And Abbey and I need to spend long hours working on Colin." The team looked at them.

"Explanation please you two," Emily said.

Hotch slightly shook his head. "Matt noticed Dave might have something going on in his life."

"You mean profiled," Reid asked.

"We don't profile each other," Matt said.

"Yeah right," Emily snarked. "What did you notice?"

"A little pep in his step and a few other things. I asked Aaron if he noticed the same."

"And I did, after Matt pointed it out," Hotch added.

"Hotch figured out the rest," Matt smiled.

"So why the 'oh shit' Matt," Tara asked.

Matt pointed at Hotch. "You heard Dave; it's someone from his past." Hotch slightly smiled.

"His first wife Carolyn is dead," JJ said.

"And we know quickie wife number three the card dealer in Vegas is out of the equation," Reid added.

"That leaves wife number two," Morgan said. Emily and JJ nodded their heads.

"What's up with wife number two," Tara asked.

Matt looked at her. "She's African-American. Which means Abbey and I will have to spend all weekend kicking our youngest son in the butt to not blurt out upon meeting Hayden Montgomery, and will all due respect Tara, the totally obvious and not politically correct statement," he smiled. Tara looked at him. "'She's black'."

"That's our Colin," Garcia smiled. The team around the table all laughed as Matt pointed at her with a smile. Garcia looked at them as Matt started to get out of his chair. She whispered, "You really think it's her?"

"I've got a Ben Franklin that says Hotch and I are right," Matt said, gathering his files and tablet. He looked at Hotch. "We've got the fruit salad, homemade ice cream and hotdogs between us. I'll have Abbey call Beth."

Hotch smiled at him. "Works for us and we'll call Hannah and Jessica," he said, leaving his chair as well, looking around the table. "You all work out the rest."

"No takers on the bet," Matt asked over his shoulder, leaving the room.

"Get lost Cob," Morgan smiled. Emily pointed at him.

-00CM00-

Hayden, standing in Rossi's kitchen looked at him. "David, you're having this big party here and you're not catering it?"

He kissed her cheek. "It doesn't work like that Hayden; not with my family," he smiled. "My team all contribute; the two I'm most close to doing the most," he smiled.

"The most close to David?"

"Aaron and Matt," Dave smiled. Hayden looked at him. "I got Aaron into the BAU after working with him on a serial killer case that went up and down the west coast. Aaron, at the time was a field agent in charge of the case that was in Seattle. He had done his homework, thoroughly," he smiled at Hayden, "and he impressed me. I recommended him for the BAU. And then mentored him, once he joined. He was my first; and learned quickly," Dave smiled. "He's now the Unit Chief and my boss."

Hayden hiked an eyebrow. "And you are OK with that?"

Dave beamed. "More than OK with that; I'm damn proud of Aaron. And he deserves to sit in the big chair."

Hayden softly smiled. "He must be good to have your respect." Dave nodded his head and filled her in on Hotch's history with Foyet. And how he, Matt and Abbey supported Hotch and Jack through those dark days. "What about Matt?"

Dave slightly laughed. "Matthew I inherited." Hayden looked at him. "Matt was hired to join the BAU as the Assistant Unit Chief to help out Aaron; but mainly for a tactical reason. He's a former Marine and Medal of Honor recipient. To say he does tactical is an understatement; he's the one that is tasked to keep all the rest of us alive. And will take the bullet to protect the rest of us if necessary. With a wife and three kids."

Hayden looked at him. "Oh my; he's that dedicated?" Dave nodded with a smile. "I like him already," she smiled.

"But Matt had no one to teach him profiling. Aaron tried, with the time he had being boss, but the kid basically had to learn it on his own. Jason Gideon," he said looking at Hayden, "you remember me talking about him?" Hayden nodded. "He didn't like Matt being in the Unit and refused to help him. When I re-joined the team, I did."

"He was that bad," Hayden asked.

Dave shook his head. "No, Matt could hang with any profiler, including Aaron." Hayden looked at him. "He just hadn't learned to trust the profile and run with it."

Hayden smiled. "You taught him that."

Dave smiled. "He's still a Colonel in the Marine Corps; inactive reserve. Because of his MOH they like having one of their star ponies around when needed." Hayden hiked an eyebrow in question. "His first job is with the BAU. They just nab him when they need him; back to my story." Hayden smiled. "Matt led a combat company into a horrific firefight the night before Stormin' Norman's tank attack in the first Gulf War. He understands and trusts the wise wisdom of NCO's."

"NCO's?"

"A sergeant like me," Rossi smiled. "I mentored; he learned." Dave beamed. "And then there are their kids; they mean the world to me. I'd die for them."

Hayden eyed him and noted his true sincerity with his last statement. She smiled. "I can't wait to meet them all David." They both heard car doors shut. Mudgie, taking a snooze in the dining room, went to the back door with his tail wagging.

Hayden looked at her ex. "They come in the back door?"

Dave smiled. "They're family."

Jack blew the door open, carrying a duffle bag, which he dropped upon entering the kitchen and a bag of groceries. Mudgie gave him a happy bark with his tail wagging. "Hey Mudg," Jack smiled, giving him a rub down. Hayden smiled at Dave. Hotch and Beth came in, carrying grocery bags. Jack put his bag on the counter, moved to Dave and put his arms around Rossi's waist. "Hi Uncle Dave." Hayden smiled at the boy. "Thank you."

"Hey Champino," Dave smiled, rubbing his head. "Did you grow on me some more?"

Aaron and Beth came into the kitchen, setting their grocery bags on the counters. Dave rubbed Hayden's shoulder, still holding Jack to his side. "Hayden Montgomery, this Aaron, Beth and Jack," he introduced.

"Pleasure to meet you Hayden," Beth smiled, shaking her hand.

"Likewise Hayden," Aaron smile, offering his hand as well, which Hayden shook.

"Hi Hayden," Jack smiled.

"Hello you," Hayden smiled at him. "And it's a pleasure to meet all of you," she said, looking at them. "David has just been filling me in," she said.

Beth kissed Dave's cheek. "So Hayden has the 4-1-1?" Dave smiled with a nod.

Aaron looked at Jack. "Come on buddy, I need help with our cooler."

"Got it dad," Jack smiled; now being old enough to help his dad. Mudg blew out the door with them.

Dave looked at Beth. "He's growing up too fast," he lamented. "I miss my boy that sat in my lap while we read together." Hayden smiled at Dave.

"You and me both," Beth said. She winked at Hayden with a smile. "Matt, Abbey and the kids are about two minutes behind us."

Dave looked at Hayden. "Hoist the red flags." Hayden looked back at him with a question.

Beth laughed. "Hurricane Colin is about to arrive."

Dave smiled. "That's Matt and Abbey's youngest. He's….."

"Colin," Beth smiled. "The mold got broke after him," she said to Hayden.

"Thank you for the warning," Hayden smiled.

Thirty seconds later, Beth, Dave and Hayden heard two dogs barking. "The alarm for Hurricane Colin?" Hayden smiled at Dave.

"Yup," he smiled, kissing her cheek.

Abbey walked into the kitchen with two grocery bags of her own. Cam and Casee each carried one as well. Beth helped the kids get them on the counter. Matt walked in with a huge watermelon on his shoulder and a large bottle of Bailey's in the other hand, followed by Colin and the two dogs.

Beth rubbed Hayden's shoulder with a smile. "Welcome to Uncle Dave's world." Hayden smiled brightly as Dave pulled Casee off her feet for a hug. Matt put the bottle on the counter and set the watermelon into one of Dave's double sinks.

"Hi my luvs," Dave smiled.

"Hi Uncle Dave," Casee said wrapping her growing long legs around his waist and her arms around his neck. "I love you. Thanks for having us." She kissed Dave's cheek. "And thank you."

Hayden smiled at Abbey. "That's too precious."

"That's how much we all think of him," she smiled. "I'm Abbey by the way."

Hayden laughed. "I figured that out," she smiled. "I'm Hayden; pleasure to meet you."

"The pleasure is mine," Abbey smiled.

Dave set Casee down on her feet. Cam was waiting and gave Dave the same hug as Jack. "Hi Uncle Dave," he smiled, squeezing his arms around Dave. "Thank you."

"Uffffff kiddo; go easy on the old man," Dave smiled at Cam. "As my grand mama used to say, you'll squeeze the stuffing out of me."

Cam laughed. "Not happening Uncle Dave; dad says you're an old war horse."

Hayden laughed at Dave. "Hayden these are the twins; Cam and Casee." Hayden looked at him. "Cameron and Catherine Elizabeth," he said, shaking his head. "Don't try calling either one of them that."

"We only hear that when we're in deep doo-doo," Casee smiled.

Hayden laughed. "Hello you two," she smiled. "Who's the oldest?"

"Me," Cam smiled, raising his hand. Casee stuck her tongue out at him.

"Catherine Elizabeth," Matt growled.

Casee rolled her eyes at Hayden. "See what we mean?"

"Yes I do," Hayden laughed.

Colin powered into Dave for hug like he only could do, nearly knocking Dave off his feet. "Hi Uncle Dave," he enthused with his own mighty hug. "Thank you; I love you."

"Whoa Col," Dave smiled.

Col looked at Dave. "When can we get in the pool Uncle Dave?"

Matt just shook his head at Abbey. Hayden looked at Dave. "He is direct," she smiled. Hotch and Jack has just re-entered the kitchen. Jack snickered at the comment.

"Ooooo, that's our Colin," Dave smiled back, rubbing Colin's shoulder. "Col, this is Hayden."

Colin went to her and put his arms around her. Matt and Abbey held their breaths. Yet Colin was gentle. Accepting his hug, Hayden smiled, rubbing his head as Colin looked at her. "Do you love Uncle Dave?"

Hayden laughed. "Monsieur, you are very direct." The twins giggled. "I've always loved your Uncle Dave. I'm just working on how much of my heart I want to give to him. Again," she smiled. Matt put his arm around Abbey's shoulder with a wink and a smile. Dave just shook his head, expecting Colin's response.

"Work a little harder."

"That's my boy," Dave smiled at her. Hayden roared with laughter. Wilma walked up to Hayden and politely sat down.

"And who may you be Mademoiselle," Hayden asked with a smile.

Casee rubbed the Golden Lab's shoulder. "This is Wilma," she smiled.

"Pleasure to meet you Wilma," Hayden diplomatically said. Wilma softly barked at her and held out her right front paw. Hayden shook it with a laugh. "Such a proper lady; the honor is mine Mademoiselle." Wilma warmly barked back, getting up on all four paws with her tail wagging. Hayden rubbed her neck. The rest in the kitchen laughed.

"Hayden, this is Matt," Dave said.

Matt offered his hand. "Il est un honner et un plaisir de vous rencontrer madame."

Hayden smiled taking his. "The honor is mine Monsieur. Your French is impeccable."

"He speaks eleven different ones," Casee proudly said. "He's teaching all of us Spanish."

"Twelve," Abbey corrected.

Dave looked at Matt. "I finally mastered Mandarin Chinese." He looked at Hayden. "Language Arts was one my degrees from the Naval Academy," he smiled.

Dave looked more closely at Matt. "What happened to your goatee? I know there's only one reason why you shave it." Hotch smiled at Matt.

Matt smiled at Dave. "The kids asked questions."

###

A/N: I love having my muse back!

While I'm bringing Hayden into this world, just because I think Rossi needs a little lovin' in his life ( :D ), that's as far as I'm going. There is no joy (my apologies for the pun; its intended) for the rest of CM canon. I love fanfiction; it's my decision.

I'm gonna get this right this time. *waves to pmp1208*

And happy 34th wedding anniversary to my OK Teacher and her awesome hubby.