A/N: I had only hoped and dreamed the Braves season would go like this.

My team came through. It makes it a lot easier to write.

Chapter 3

The next six game home stand for the Braves was a statement series for them. After taking two out of three from the New York Mets, the Los Angeles Dodgers, with the best record in the National League came to town.

Aaron, Beth and Jack listened to the Sunday afternoon game on the radio driving back to their DC home. Jim Powell, the voice of the Atlanta Braves radio network called the last pitch. "Melancon strikes out Bellinger and the Braves take the series over the Dodgers!"

"Yes!" Jack said pumping his arms, as Aaron drove through the southern part of South Carolina. "That's huge! The Dodgers don't scare the Braves anymore. We're in their class. And they know it now."

Beth smiled at Aaron. "Jack, what did you mean earlier this week about a travel agent's nightmare?"

"Beth, the team has three games against the Marlins in Miami. Then three games against the Mets in New York over the weekend. Then they have to fly out to Denver to play a make-up game against the Rockies on Monday. Then play a two game inter-league series against the Blue Jays in Toronto."

Beth looked over the front seats at Jack. "It's a shame they don't get Delta airline points."

Jack pointed at Beth, as Molly got restless. "Dad we need a rest stop."

"Molly is not the only one buddy," he smiled.

At the same time, Snit looked at his team in the clubhouse. "Go home guys. It's a day off tomorrow. I know y'all are packed and ready to fly. But we had a big home stand and you played your asses off. I went to bat for you with the front office. We're not flying until tomorrow. Be here at nine in the morning. With our upcoming schedule, y'all deserve an extra day with your families."

Zach and Caleigh took full advantage of late afternoon. They enjoyed the pool with the kids and tacos for dinner. Caleigh shook her head at her husband as he devoured his fourth. Zach smiled at her, pointing at Trev in his highchair as Caleigh fed him another spoonful of applesauce. "He'll pound down two by the time he's in kindergarten," Zach said.

"I so can't wait for that," Caleigh said, rolling her eyes. "With all the money you're making now can we just invest in buying a herd of beef cattle?" Zach laughed.

-00CM00-

The road trip was hell on the team. But they fought through the lack of sleep and won seven of nine games. The Atlanta Braves were sending statements to the rest of the National League. They were a team on the roll.

Back home and with a day off on Thursday, the players should have enjoyed some downtime. But Josh Donaldson had scheduled a bowling fundraiser for his favorite charity, supporting kids going through cancer treatment. Fans paid twenty dollars a person for the event, each receiving a raffle ticket number when they entered to possibly get signed team uniform shirts, bats and balls.

What the fans didn't expect was the entire Braves players and coaching staff showing up at the event. And the married players or those with significant others had their ladies along. The ladies hustled the crowd more for raffle tickets that involved a photo with a player as the team enjoyed a night of bowling together. Chip Carey, the TV voice of the Braves even showed up along with Tom Glavine, the Braves Hall of Fame pitcher.

"Hey gang!" Chip said. "Buy a five dollar ticket from our Braves' wives. You've got five minutes. After that, the first Brave to roll a strike is the Braves player you get a photo with."

"That won't be Snit," Glavine laughed. Eight minutes later, Chip called out the winning number.

A young kid, with Down's syndrome, walked up to Chip and Glav smiling with the winning ticket. Chip, using the bowling alley microphone said, "Cob, get your ass up here."

Caleigh, that had sold the ticket to the kid winked at him as Zach come up to the kid. "This is Jonas Zach," she smiled.

"Hi Jonas," Zach smiled. Jonas was wearing a jersey with Zach's number. Jonas' parents took the picture on their cellphones with him together with Zach.

"Thanks Cob," Jonas smiled.

Zach shook his head. "I'm not done buddy," he smiled. Caleigh handed him a Sharpie. Zach knelt down and autographed Jonas' jersey. "Now we're good," Zach smiled.

Jonas threw his arms around Zach's neck. Zach hugged him. "Be all you can be Jonas," Zach said, letting him go. "And then be you to find something more to do."

"Thanks Cob," Jonas said. "I'm in Special Olympics. I'm a swimmer."

"Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming," Zach smiled, sharing a high five with him.

After the crowd had left the bowling alley, it was team time. They enjoyed pizza slices and pitchers of beer. Josh Donaldson walked up to the trio of couples of Zach, Andy and Freddie with their ladies. "I can't thank you all enough for supporting this," JD smiled.

"Our pleasure," Freddie smiled.

Brianna Murphy, Josh's significant other, looked at the ladies. "Especially with you all having young kids."

"It's called a night out away from the kiddo with my husband," Chelsea Freeman smiled. "I'm in." Victoria Minton pointed at her, rubbing her expanding belly.

"Times two in my world," Caleigh smiled.

Vic looked at Zach and Caleigh. "Who's got the kids?"

"Rashad and Miguel," Zach smiled. He looked at his watch. "But we've got to run soon babe," he said, looking at Caleigh. "It's a school night for the boys."

"Miguel?" Andy asked. "He handles that with his autism?"

"We're pushing his buttons a bit," Caleigh smiled. "But yes, for the most part, he can. He's wonderful with the twins, including changing and feeding them. It's just the curveball he has to learn to handle better."

Chelsea hiked an eyebrow at Caleigh. "Chels, he's autistic. Yet, he has learned the routine of taking care of the kids, even as they've grown. That's what autistic kids need. Routine. The curveball is the kids. They're active and starting to explore walking. They pull themselves up around the coffee table in the living room. I have no doubt in a month they'll be racing around that table, hanging onto it as they learn to walk. But right now, they can fall down and bang a head or arm. Then they cry. That's a variable in Miguel's world. His wrist starts to twist."

"Why Rashad is around," Zach smiled. "Miguel is the hawk that watches the kids. That's routine. Although the kids may change that around a bit. Rashad handles the curveballs. And being his best friend, Miguel as well."

Freddie smiled. "Why do I think Jack makes that pack the Three Musketeers?"

Zach smiled. "They Skype together three nights a week. They are Jack's best buds when he's down here." He looked at Caleigh. "Babe…"

"Yup," she said. "We've got head out."

They enjoyed hugs with the other three couples and shouted out good nights to the rest of team.

JD and Brianna pulled them aside as they headed for the door. "Thanks again man," JD said, hugging Zach. "I appreciate your support."

"When you two, Andy and Vic do a fundraiser for your charity, we'll be there," Brianna smiled at Caleigh.

Zach hugged Brianna. "That's what friends are for."

JD looked at Zach. "Wasn't there a sappy 80's song with that title?"

"Shut up asshole," Zach growled.

"Thanks again you two," Josh smiled. "Get those sitters home to bed for school tomorrow."

XXXXX

A/N: Thank you all for the alerts and reviews. I appreciate them all.

I do have to mention the story title. It's from one of my favorite old, and I mean old movies. El Dorado. A John Wayne western flick, with Robert Mitchum and a very, very young James Caan, playing the character of Mississippi. His line, in a sarcastic tone was "I have a host of friends."

The line as always stuck with me.

Thank you all again for reading.

Thank you OK Teach for the proofreading job. Again. While working. I can never forget what you do for me. Luvs and hugs my friend.