The third story in the "A Baby Changes Everything" finds JJ and Hotch celebrating Christmas at Dave's cabin. Estranged since late May after a big fall out, neither has spoken to the other. With a little help from Santa and his helpers, maybe these two knuckleheads will get back together soon…but since JJ is pregnant and due in two weeks, they might want to speed things up!
Ironically, this story was planned BEFORE the Christmas Gift Exchange prompt, but it - along with the pairing and prompts managed to work out perfectly. The prompts were: Christmas cookies, homemade stockings, a real tree, and the song "Mary, Did You Know?"
This story is dedicated to: ReadingRed
Song prompt: "Mary, Did You Know?" by Kathy Mattea (Sorry, but I like that version better!)
Mary, Did You Know?
The timer on the stove went off with a loud buzz. Pushing a lock of hair behind her ear, JJ stood up from the kitchen chair and grabbed an oven mitt. Opening the oven door, she grabbed the baking sheet and placed it on the stove burners. Taking a spatula, she began placing the cookies on the cooling rack. The aroma of the pastry weaved around her and tickled her senses. Her stomach rumbled loudly.
"I can't," she murmured. Taking the other sheet of unbaked cookies, she placed it in the over and reset the timer. Her stomach rumbled again. Eyeing the cookies, she sighed. "What's one cookie?" she whispered. Picking up the still warm biscuit, she took a bite. Heaven!
"Mommy, what are you doing?" a little voice spoke up.
Caught by surprise, JJ covered her mouth and swallowed quickly. "Hi, Henry."
"Are you eating Santa's cookies?" He eyed her carefully.
"You caught me."
"Why?"
"I'm taste testing them. Do you want a bite?" She offered the cookie to him. Taking it, he looked at her.
"When can we decorate them?" He nibbled gently.
"As soon as this next batch comes out of the oven." JJ walked to the refrigerator and pulled out the milk. "What do you say we have some of the cookies with some milk and when the ones in the oven are done, we'll decorate them and then start on the stockings?"
Henry knelt down on the chair to be able to reach the table. "Can I have chocolate milk?" JJ reached for two glasses and placed them on the table.
"What do we say?" JJ paused the container over the glass.
"Pwease?"
"That's my good boy." Sitting down, she grabbed a couple of cookies. "Are they good?"
"You make the goodest cookies ever, Mommy!" Henry devoured his treat and gulped his milk. "When can we get our tree?"
"Do we really need one?" JJ asked, as she dunked her Santa in the milk and took a bite.
"Yes! Where will Santa put the presents?" Henry asked in an exasperated tone.
"I think he might forgive us this year." The baby gave a kick. Rubbing her stomach lightly, she took a deep breath. "I don't think I can chop a tree down."
"Can we still look?"
"I don't know. Let's finish the cookies and then we'll see how the weather is. Okay?"
"But Santa is coming!" Henry threw out his arms dramatically. "No tree means no presents!"
JJ tried to stop the throbbing in her head. Lately she had been getting dull throbs in her head to match her back. Her appointment had given her a clean bill of health with her due date still scheduled for January 6th.
"I'll tell you what," she replied and picked up another cookie, "maybe Uncle Dave has a tree in the closet we can use."
"Really? I go check, Mommy!" Running out of the kitchen, Henry's feet pattered along the wood floor. The sound of doors opening and closing filled the quiet. "I don't see it!" he called out. Another door opened. "No tree in here!"
Running back to the kitchen, he threw up his hands in frustration. "No tree!" Grabbing JJ's hand, he tried to pull her to her feet. "Come on!"
"Whoa! Henry! Stop honey. Give Mommy a minute, okay?" The oven timer went off. Standing up, she rubbed her lower back and took the baking sheet out.
"Hurry, Mommy! I think it's snowing!"
"Go get your coat on," JJ told him and finished taking the cookies off the sheet. Rinsing her hands, she turned as a clomping sound came near.
"I is ready," Henry announced. JJ tried not to laugh as she took in the little boy in the coat with a scarf wrapped haphazardly around his face. Looking down, she saw that his boots were on opposite feet.
"You're almost ready, honey. Let me go get my coat and then we can go outside."
"Okay." Suddenly his ears perked up. "Mommy, I hear something! I think Uncle Dave is here!" Running out of the kitchen, his feet made a funny sound as he headed for the front door.
"Henry! Wait!" JJ called out.
Throwing open the door, Henry looked at the man exiting the SUV. His eyes widened with surprise, then narrowed with anger. "Go away! I don't like you no more! You made my mommy cry!"
****
Hotch looked at his song sitting in the back seat. "Hey, Jacks."
Making eye contact, Jack looked away.
"Are you alright?" Hotch asked as he guided the vehicle down the slick road.
"I don't want to go to the stupid cabin."
"May I ask why?"
Jack crossed his arms over his chest defiantly. "Because it's stupid."
"You already said that, son."
"I want to spend Christmas with Aunt Jessica."
"I know you do, but she is going out of town. Besides, I want to spend time with you."
"Why can't we stay home?"
"Because Uncle Dave wants us to stay at the cabin." Hotch slowed the vehicle down to make the sharp turn down the road to the cabin.
"I don't want to go," Jack demanded.
"It's too late son; we're almost there."
"I'm not getting out of the car. You can't make me." He held on to his Robo-Sapien tightly.
Hotch sighed heavily. He knew this was going to happen, but he had prayed that Jack would have been a little more cooperative. "I know I can't make you, but I really want you to join me, okay?"
Holding on to the steering wheel tightly, he drove over the narrow bridge and held his breath. Once cleared, he kept a look out.
"Uncle Dave said we could chop down a tree and decorate the cabin."
"Don't want no stupid tree; don't want to decorate the cabin."
Ignoring the rant, Hotch continued. "He also said Santa would have a special gift for us."
"No such thing as Santa."
"Jacks…" Taking a deep breath, Hotch counted to ten. "Cut me a break, okay? Let's spend two days here and if you don't like it, we will go back home."
"What do you care? You'd rather be with JJ and Henry? You don't care about me."
Hotch pulled up in the circular driveway. He noticed another car in the driveway. Putting the engine in park, he turned off the ignition.
"Come on Jacks; I'll race you inside."
"I'm not going!" the boy stomped his foot angrily.
"Jackson Aaron Hotchner…" Hotch stopped as the front door was thrown open. Stepping out of the vehicle, he walked around to the porch stairs. He blinked quickly as he recognized Henry. He went to speak, but was interrupted.
"Go away! I don't like you no more! You made my mommy cry!"