I know I haven't been as active about updating my stories (Or doing other things) as I would like to, but I'm having a spot of trouble with finals (Basically, all my classes involve me having to write something or other for finals week, and I'm basically dead on my feet).

This is kinda what I look like... (X)_(X)

...So I'm doing my best to get everything done for everyone, but it's going to take longer than it usually would. Please don't bail on me! Just give me most of next week to do my finals and recover, and we'll go from there!

This is something I'm entering for The-Vampire-Act's holiday contest. It's feel-good holiday oneshots about each member of the BAU. Each one is a Christmas story based on a holiday song, TV special or some random idea that popped into my head, and includes each member of the team, including Ashley, Elle and Gideon (Not Strauss; I'm planning a seperate story for her. I think you'll like it.).

I own nothing; it's all CBS. Enjoy! :D

...

JJ and the Christmas Shoes

JJ had left the BAU only months ago, but the departure still gnawed a hole into her chest. She wanted to go back, but in reality, there was no way that she could. And she reflected on this as she cruised through the aisles of the department store.

JJ had never been the most popular girl in school; soccer had never been an important sport in her small hometown, and in college she'd been known as 'that small-town girl with a full-ride soccer scholarship.'

But after joining the BAU, she'd become something… more. She'd been a friend, a person to talk to, a shoulder to cry on, and everything in between. She'd been there for her team and her friends when the going obviously got tough… But then the higher-ups had shuffled her off to the Department of Defense at the Pentagon.

She'd always known that the team had worked long, hard hours, and that if you had a social life you dearly wanted to hold on to, then you shouldn't bother joining. But, after experiencing what the Department of Defense did, and how easy it was to go home at the end of the day to Will and Henry, she wondered if maybe there was a silver lining to all of this….

Now, she could go watch Henry grow up and become a larger presence in his life. Now, her boyfriend, Will, could finally spend more than a few hours a week with her. And, she could visit her family back home on weekends.

But that didn't mean that she had forgotten her FBI family; last week she'd spent an afternoon with Emily and Garcia, shopping for Christmas presents until they had been called away for a case. She'd seen Spence four times in two months; once at a bookstore with what later became Henry's birthday present, once at a coffee shop, where they'd caught up with each other, and he'd come over with Garcia for Thanksgiving and Halloween (He'd given her and Will tickets to Phantasmagoria while they took Henry out Trick-or-Treating).

And now, last week, she'd received a text from Garcia; the BAU's annual Christmas Party was being held at Reid's apartment, and the tech had wanted to know if she was interested. JJ hadn't said no, but she hadn't said yes, either.

That was what had led her to this store at Christmastime. Picking up those last few gifts for Henry and Will; they were planning on spending the holiday season together, since snowfall in the DC area was preventing them from going anywhere other than to the store and back or work and back. As of now, there was a Leap Frog with games and Leap Books for Henry, as well as some picture books on dinosaurs. She had also picked up all the Shrek movies and all the Toy Story movies, as well as a small Police Officer play set, complete with costume, plastic gun and handcuffs. For Will, there was a new pair of shoes, a tool set and golf clubs.

As she made her way to the front of the store, she noticed a scruffy little boy wearing a threadbare coat with worn-out sneakers and secondhand jeans. Under his arm was a box of woman's shoes. JJ fell into the cashier's line right behind him, watching as he set the box on the conveyer belt. Suddenly, he turned and looked at JJ, smiling as he did so.

"Who are those for?" she asked.

The boy looked at the shoes. "My mom," he said proudly. "I picked them out myself." He paused, glancing around at the other shoppers as they, too, made their way to the front. "You see, she's not feeling well, and hasn't for a while. Dad says she doesn't have much time left, and I want her to have nice shoes in case Jesus visits her tonight."

As the boy spoke, the cashier rang up the shoes. "$22.47," she tells the boy, who begins digging into his pockets. JJ watches as he pulls small bills and loose change from the pockets of his jacket and jeans. The cashier takes it all, counting it as she does.

"I'm sorry, honey," she says suddenly, glancing up at the boy. "There's not enough money here."

The boy dug into his pockets again, looking desperately for something he could pay for the shoes with. JJ felt her heart go out to him as he looked at her, tears in his brown eyes. "I gotta get these shoes!" he begs. "Mom made Christmas good at home, and most of the time she gave everything she had to us, and left nothing for herself. She deserves something. Please."

JJ stared at him for a moment before looking at the cashier. "How much was that bill again?"

"$22.47, Miss," the woman replied. "But… you don't…."

"Yes, I do," JJ said, handing over the cash. The cashier stared at the twenty and the five now sitting in her hand. A moment later, the little boy had his shoes, cash, and JJ's change in his hand. JJ paid for her things and the cashier stuffed them into bags for JJ to take home.

"I believe this belongs to you," he said, handing JJ the extra money, but she took the boy's hand and folded it up over the small wad of bills.

"You keep it," she told him, "And a very Merry Christmas to you and your family."

The boy's eyes lit up in delight. "Really? Thank you!" he cried, pocketing the money and racing for the door. "Momma's gonna look so great!" he cried as he raced out into the snow.

JJ watched him for a moment before opening her phone and dialing a familiar number. "Hey, Garcia," she began. "Is there still a chance I can stop by Reid's place for the party tonight?" There was a moment's pause before JJ's face split into a grin. "Great! Just give me twenty minutes to pick up Henry and Will…."

….

So... Like it? Hate it? Drop me a line! Please review! :D

*~N_CBAU~*