A/N: Back again with a whole new story for your enjoyment. I had decided to skip over of the next five years and come back in to the story at a later date, but then a very wise woman close to me pointed out that I would need to do a lot of explaining about what had happened in the break and where everyone was at now. So I gave it some thought and came up with this piece. We are still going forward five years, but instead of skipping it entirely, this piece will touch on all the highlights of those five years before we drop completely back into the timeline.

Reviews for my alphabet piece really thrilled me and while I would love to thank absolutely everyone who reviewed through the whole alphabet, I think that might get a bit messy. So I will simply say a HUGMONGOUS thank you to you all, and an equally generous thank you to those who reviewed Z; Hazmatt, HGRHfan35 and Wtiger5.

My Beta, my girl…honey, you have been simply amazing from the moment of our first collaboration over your stuff, through you coming on board with my stuff, to me not being able to do this crazy-wild journey without you. Love you so much sister mine!

Warnings will be fluid and dependent on whether the chapter is a huge piece of fluff, or a great big ball of drama. So check the AN's at the start of each chapter just like you did for the alphabet.

WARNING: This chapter is rated T, just to be on the safe side.

PLEASE NOTE: This is NPH 20. If you aren't already following this series, I recommend that you make your way to my author profile page and start with NPH 1, as some or all of this will not make sense otherwise.

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Criminal Minds at all, although they do own me. And the list of those I do own is getting so incredibly long that I am just going to say that I own anyone who does not come directly from Criminal Minds.

Chapter 1

Christmas/New Year 2013/2014

Aaron looked out over the bullpen and smiled as he watched his team packing up for the week over the Christmas and New Year break. Reid and Dave in particular were excited to be celebrating their very first Christmases as fathers. And then there was Kelly, who had been so incredibly animated in the past week; her excitement over having a Christmas at all as anything more than just a couple with Brad when they were told for so very long that it would never happen had been so contagious that the atmosphere in the bullpen completely belied what they did for a living.

His smile turned introspective as he thought back to when Jack was only a couple of months old, remembering Haley's excitement mixed with his own despite knowing Jack was too young to really care about all of the holiday festiveness around him. He had really only had that one Christmas with Jack and Haley, having only half the day the following year before their team was called out to find a missing child, and then simply not being there at all the following two years before Foyet happened and then it was just Jack and him…or so he'd thought until Jessica's invitation had both of them and Emily sharing Christmas with them. His life had changed, Jack's life had changed, and now nothing would ever be the same.

Dave turned and raised an eyebrow that clearly demanded to know why he wasn't down there with them waiting to go. Aaron grinned in return and pulled his office door shut. He had promised Emily that he would leave his briefcase at the office, and was thoroughly excited that the work hadn't even caught his attention at all once he had decided it was time to pack up. He thought about his first Christmas with his youngest sons, and how much more the holiday would mean to his daughters now that they were old enough to appreciate such things. And suddenly he couldn't wait to get home and get the long drive out to the Prentiss family holiday home underway.

New Section

Kelly hummed happily to the radio as she drove home from FBI headquarters. Thinking back to when she'd first started discussing with Brad the need to find the most perfect Christmas tree ever for her children's first Christmas with them, she shook her head in renewed wonder.

Flashback

"Mummy?"

She looked up from the pile of Josiah's clothing that he had already outgrown and smiled anew at hearing a title she never thought she'd hold.

"Hey baby mine. What's up?"

Danielle moved closer, walking around the large pile of clothing still to be sorted and came in close enough for a cuddle. Kelly didn't hesitate to shove the neatly folded pile of clothing out of the way as she tugged her oldest onto her lap. It hadn't taken them more than a few weeks to figure out that while Nicola liked spending time with them, she didn't always want much in the way of physical contact. On the other hand, Danielle craved that physical closeness, always seeking out cuddles, preferring to hold hands when she was walking with one of them, and leaning up against them when they were stationary. And because she herself adored cuddles, Danielle had fast become 'Mummy's Little Princess'. Which wasn't to say that she didn't love Nicola and Josiah just as much…

Leave it alone Kelly…figuring out something that intricate will only tie you up in knots and make you feel sick. You love them all, and that is the most important thing at the end of the day.

"Mummy, what's a Christmas tree?"

Kelly felt like she had been sucker-punched, like maybe if she wasn't already sitting down her legs would have gone right out from under her.

She turned Danielle around so that she could see the child's face as she spoke. "Sweetie, a Christmas tree is a special tree that gets put up around this time every year. And once it is all decorated, presents go underneath it to be opened all together as a family."

"Why would we get presents? It isn't our birthdays is it?"

Kelly blinked rapidly, trying to process what she was hearing without giving away her growing horror. "Sweetheart, you do know what Christmas is right?"

Danielle thought about it a moment before shaking her head slowly. Kelly thought she just might cry as she pulled her three year old closer and wrapped her up tighter in her arms. Taking a deep breath in, she ordered her heart to stop pounding so hard as she tried to think on how best to explain the most important holiday of the year.

It took her almost half an hour to get Danielle to the point where she had a basic understanding, but promised the child that it would all make sense over the next month as they prepared. It wasn't until after all the children went to bed that she was able to flop down on her bed and communicate to Brad her startling revelation of the day.

"The girls have never had a Christmas."

Present Day

She pulled into the driveway at home and laughed joyously. That had been at the start of the month, when they were just beginning to plan the festivities. The girls had never seen such funny trees, but they'd certainly had a blast as they helped to choose and then decorate their tree. Then Brad came home one day last week with three small boxes, two of which Danielle and Nicola opened and the third that Kelly had opened after shooting Brad a suspicious look that had only provoked a somewhat smug smile from the man she'd been married to for the last twelve years. Then the box was open and she was trying not to cry as Danielle and Nicola exclaimed in delight over their gifts. Nestled in some tissue paper, was a beautiful blue glass ornament with Josiah's name on it. Looking at him again had shown her a look filled with love and she'd had to take a deep breath before standing with Josiah in her arms to put it on the tree, urging the girls to do the same with their matching pink ones.

They'd admired the now-completed tree before Kelly noticed the time and started the bedtime ritual they all knew by heart now. Then, once they were certain all the children were happily snoozing, they had pulled out the presents they had so carefully selected, wrapped and hidden away for just this moment. The best part had come in the morning when the girls had first come into the room to admire the tree at the start of the day, something they'd been doing since it was erected. Seeing their faces all lit up like the tree lights that had at that moment been off had made Kelly glad that she'd gotten there first with her camera to capture the moment.

And now it was Christmas Eve. Walking through the front door to be accosted by excitedly little girls demanding to know if now was the time to open all the presents made her wonder if any of them would be getting any sleep that night. Closing the door behind her, she decided she just didn't care.

New Section

Aaron walked into extremely loud chaos and wondered immediately what bomb had gone off as the noise and mess assaulted his senses. He caught sight of India running from one room to another waving something about in her hand. Chloe appeared shortly after, clearly trying to catch her sister but the second she saw him she veered off the path and ran towards him with an unhappy wail that just added to the noise.

He leaned down to scoop her up, settling her against his chest as he carefully picked his way down the hall. A few minutes later, Chloe was happy and India was sulking, but at least some of the noise had been dealt with. He put his girls on a hip each and headed up the stairs, beginning to pick up the noise of two unhappy boys who almost never fought with each other clearly having a fight over something while Mirkal tried to mediate it. Not hearing the babies crying, he turned toward the nursery, setting Chloe and India inside their room on the way and quietly suggesting they finish putting their things to go with them on their beds.

Slipping into the nursery was like stepping into a well of blessed silence despite the fact that he could still hear the noise outside the room. Micah was clearly asleep in his cot and James was just as clearly falling asleep in his mother's arms as he fed.

"I swear there is no better view right now," he said softly as he approached, leaning in for a tender kiss.

"Mmm, flattery will get you lots of places, but achieving peace between Jack and Toby, or at least something quieter, will get you everywhere you could possibly imagine tonight."

He winced. "That bad huh?"

"It started when I asked for Jack's help in watching the girls while I fed these two earlier in the day. I left Toby out of it because I'd heard Mirkal ask him to help Carrie with something. Not a problem, right? Only then Toby gets upset, not at me which would be accurate since I was the one who left him out, but at Jack, who apparently heard Mirkal make the same request and was honouring his wishes by not distracting his friend. But Toby made a snide comment about being the best person to help watch his little sister when she's born and Jack goes all quiet for a few minutes. The next thing I know, they're watching Toby's favourite movie without having invited him and Toby is unfolding and throwing around all of Jack's packed clothes. They've both been informed that there will be no dessert for them this week and that they are grounded for the week following our holiday, since Carrie and I would still like for them to join us for holiday activities. But now the argument is over whose fault it is that they are in trouble. The shouting is making the girls cranky, I've only just managed to get Micah and James to sleep after three hours of trying and I am so ready to just leave them all behind, just so I can gain a week of peace and quiet before I have to return to the bedlam having six children in this house creates."

Aaron waited while Emily settled her emotions, rocking gently to ease James back to sleep after her rising voice had roused him. "How about that being exactly it."

She raised an eyebrow at him. "What is it?"

"If the boys don't stop the argument, apologise to each other and everyone else and fix what I'm sure by now must be both suitcases, they both get left behind. I'm sure we could find someone to look after them this week, and even if we couldn't, they don't need to know that."

Emily grinned at him as she stood slowly and eased James into his cot. He watched her tidy her appearance and then suddenly she was in his arms with her legs wrapped around his waist. "Babe, I am so glad you're home."

He wriggled his eyebrows at her with a soft hum of agreement before kissing her soundly and walking them out of the room. When she would have hopped down, he held her fast to him and murmured that she should play along. When he walked into the boys' room seconds later, she was still happily wrapped around him and he was certain, giving him a hickey. Not that he minded though.

Toby noticed him instantly and screwed up his nose as only little boys did when they saw adults kissing. This caused Jack to turn around mid-shout while Mirkal raised an eyebrow at them once he too saw them, though he said nothing.

"Here's how it's going to be; your mother and I are going to take a nap. I can see from the comprehension on your faces that I don't need to fill in the blanks, so this is a good start. While we are napping the two of you are going to apologise to each other. You'll apologise to Mirkal, to Carrie and to India and Chloe as well. If you don't know what you are apologising for, you will still make the apology and we will tell you later where you went wrong. There will be no more shouting, no more arguing, no more destruction, either of your stuff or other people's stuff. And you will immediately help each other to repack your suitcases before you offer your help to everyone else. If you do not do any of these things by the time we resurface, we will be returning all your presents back to the stores we got them from and we will be calling someone to come in to look after the both of you over the next week because you certainly won't be bringing your snooty attitudes on our fun family holiday. Do I make myself clear?"

They both nodded vigorously, the horror that had been growing from the moment he'd opened his mouth now full blown on their faces. Emily shook in his arms, clearly trying hard not to shout with laughter. He himself was struggling to keep a stern façade, particularly when Jack and Toby stumbled immediately over their words and their things as they went rapidly from apology to hug, both of them peering at him to make sure he'd seen their reconciliation. He shot them one more stern look for good measure before turning and walking out. Somehow they made it to their bedroom, got the door shut and fell down on the bed before their laughter got the better of them.

Of course, the laughter faded in time and when they looked at each other, the love they shared was so clear that their nap wasn't such a farfetched idea after all.

New Section

"Okay kids, as much as I love and adore Jack and Toby, may I ask why they're being so completely solicitous of each other and of the rest of us?"

Carrie rubbed the twenty-eight week old baby in her tummy who had decided that her mother's sleeping time was the perfect time to play. "Toby and Jack decided today was the day to have the biggest fight of their friendship together. Three hours later, they're still going at it at the top of their lungs. Then Aaron gets home, threatens them with no presents and being left behind and suddenly they're not only best friends and brothers again, but they feel the need to make sure everyone knows they love them by doing things for them. We're all of course pleased about this turn from such an unhappy afternoon, and are enjoying milking it for all it's worth."

Thomas chuckled, shaking his head as Elizabeth laughed til she cried. "That's brilliant. I'm guessing the rest of you were too run off your feet getting ready to go to think of that?"

Emily snorted softly. "I had two screaming seven month old babies demanding attention and two mischievous eighteen month olds running around and disappearing every time I turned my back on them. It wouldn't have dawned on me even if you'd slapped me with a two-by-four."

They all laughed again as Emily eyed her mother speculatively before abruptly changing the subject. "Something's different with you Mother, and I can't quite put my finger on the how or why of it. What gives?"

Elizabeth went bright red as a hush fell over the room. Thomas grinned, clearly enjoying the attention his partner was getting and the expectation of some grand surprise grew in the atmosphere. Then just as suddenly as she'd shown her embarrassment over being placed on the spot, Elizabeth straightened up in her chair and despite the red still tingeing her cheeks, she looked her daughter in the eye and stated confidently, "Thomas and I got married last month while we were in France. We then renewed our vows here in the US to make it legal when we returned to the country."

Emily gaped, unable to formulate a response as she tried to wrap her mind around the fact that her mother, after thirty plus years of being alone after her first husband died, had taken the most binding step imaginable to never being alone again. In fact, she continued to sit in dumbfounded silence until her own husband cleared his throat.

"Congratulations to the both of you. That's just wonderful news; and I'm sure when she gets over her shock, Emily will echo that sentiment."

Carrie and Mirkal agreed as Emily continued to process her thoughts. Since seeing her mother at her wedding, she could not have imagined a more drastic change taking place. The woman who had never had time for her growing up and was always brushing her off now called once a week and spent several hours talking with all of them, catching up on their lives and sharing what was going on in her own. And it wasn't just the phone calls either; she took time out of her life to visit, to help out when needed. Emily had never felt that she mattered to her mother more than she had over the last couple of years. She laughed and joked more than Emily could ever recall her doing combined through the years she was growing up. And when Thomas was mentioned, or even around, she turned into a young woman in the first throes of love.

Thomas does that…he makes your mother feel special and she in turn makes those around her feel special. She loves him, and he clearly loves her; so what's the problem?

There isn't one…

Emily felt a smile coming on that she did absolutely nothing to hide as she stood up and walked to her mother, who watched her closely as she also stood.

"You're happy Mother?"

"More than I ever thought I deserved to be. He'll never replace your father, but then he never wanted to. He loves me for me, who knows why, and I love him with everything I am."

"Then that's good enough for me. Congratulations Mother; I'm really happy for you."

Everyone looked on as the two women embraced, smiling and happy. Then Emily moved to Thomas and embraced him, welcoming him to the family and threatening him should he ever hurt her mother.

"I have no intention of ever hurting either of you. You're a daughter any man would be proud to have, and your mother is a woman any man would be proud to introduce as his wife. So there isn't any way in this life or the next one that I would ever seek to hurt either of you."

Emily closed her eyes, swallowing the emotion that came with knowing that, despite her advanced age and having five children of her own, she now had a father figure again for the first time in thirty-two years. She felt his arms embrace her anew, his lips placing a tender kiss on her temple as a single tear tracked down her cheek.

Do you know, maybe having a father this late in life won't be so bad after all…

New Section

Jordan stretched her arms up above her head and rolled her shoulders. Christmas Day was coming to a close and she was happily exhausted.

The day had started at five with Ben's over-excited, shrieking bomb run on their bed. It had taken several minutes for the shouting to become coherent enough for them to realise Ben had been down to see that the few smaller presents under the Christmas tree the day before had tripled overnight into a pile of massive gifts…and most of them had his name on them. Derek had shot her a cheeky smile right before he tickled his young son into an almost comatose, but extremely happy state, allowing them a few more minutes of cuddling into the warmth of the bed and each other before they had to get up.

Thankfully food had the same effect it always did on the toddler, completely distracting him long enough that they were able to enjoy their morning coffee in peace before the chaos of an active child tearing into wrapping paper turned their living room into an utter mess. They had spent the rest of the day convincing Ben that his new tricycle could not be ridden in the snow while they did their best to distract him with his other toys. Jordan was able to spend an hour stretched out on the couch with the new book Derek had bought for her while he helped Ben set up the new train set that required almost an entire room to house. She then got in on the action while Derek checked out thoroughly the new tool set she'd bought for when he was remodelling his many houses.

Then came the arguments and tantrums at the announcement that it was bed time. Now, two hours later, Jordan was ready for a private little celebration with her man, and an exchanging of their private gifts, the one gift they bought for the other's eyes only a tradition started the year before.

She closed their bedroom door and flopped down on her back on the bed, smiling up at her husband when he raised an inquiring eyebrow at her. "The little man finally down in the land of nod?"

She smiled happily. "Yes finally. I thought it was never going to happen."

"Sorry to leave that to you."

"Don't worry about it. I knew you wouldn't get another opportunity to speak with your mother and sisters today, so it wasn't a problem."

"They send their love to you."

She smiled again. "I love your family; they make me feel so welcome."

"Well they know I couldn't have scored better elsewhere."

"Darn straight!"

He chuckled softly and held a box over her face. With a soft squeal, she took it and sat up, turning to face him as she crossed her legs. Forcing her impatience down, she took a moment to lean over to the side table and open the drawer, pulling out a box which she in turn handed to him. They grinned at each other for a few seconds before they turned to unwrapping their gifts, making time to draw out the suspense as they did what they could to save the wrapping.

She gasped to realise the blue box unveiled by the removal of the paper had come from Tiffany & Co; the very thought that her husband might have gotten her something so elaborately expensive…

She pulled carefully at the perfect bow before sliding the lid off and moving the top layer of tissue paper aside. Then she just stared as she battled tears. The locket was heart shaped sterling silver, with an attached chain studded in tiny diamonds. The inscription on the locket read To My Beloved. Wondering if he had already put something on the inside, she carefully eased the locket out of the box and popped it open, smiling softly to see her favourite wedding photo – she was standing facing Derek, the two of them absolutely lost in each other as a shaft of sunlight lit them up – on the right hand side, and the most recent professional shot they'd had done of Ben on the left, when he had caught sight of her after she'd ducked out to make a purchase, and his entire face had lit up as he happily called out to her on her return.

She lifted her head to see Derek sitting with his box unopened, his eyes on her as he watched her reaction.

"It isn't too ostentatious is it?" he asked anxiously as he saw her battling tears.

She shook her head. "It's just beautiful Derek. Can the pictures be changed?"

"They can be changed as many times as you'd like. You don't like my choices?"

"No, they're just perfect Derek. Just, open my gift to you and then I'll explain."

He nodded, though he didn't look so happy now. She hated that she'd done that to him, but she also knew that he'd figure it out soon enough. She held her breath as he lifted the lid and carefully dug through the layers of tissue paper she'd put at the top, only to find another box underneath that one. He lifted his head and grinned at her.

"Cheeky minx."

She just smiled back, placing the locket around her neck carefully before lifting her knees and wrapping her arms around her legs. She rested her chin on her knees as he reached the third lid and rolled his eyes slightly. Then she just waited as he again dug through the tissue paper, this time reaching the end goal of her mini torture…and knowing it was worth it to see the look on his face as he realised what she meant.

"Is this what I think it is?"

"You know it is babe."

"When?"

"Sometime in August. Is that alright?"

"Oh yeah," he murmured softly as he carefully set the box off to the side and pulled her forward to straddle his lap. "That is definitely more than alright."

He tunnelled his hands into her hair and kissed her hungrily as she shoved him back to the bed and started what would be a long night of celebration.

New Section

"I don't know which one of the three of you looks more tired," Dave said as he stopped in the doorway of his den. "Carrie I can understand, since she only has about nine or ten weeks to go. But what about the two of you?"

Emily didn't even bother opening her eyes. "Five kids for Christmas Dave; think about it. Especially since three of them are active enough to give every adult in the state a run for their money. And in fact, you might as well say six, since we were trying to keep Carrie's load as light as possible during this crazy-busy week of the year. So I'm not even going to bother explaining that further."

"So what's Jordan's excuse?" Dave asked as he stepped out of the way to allow the other adults to trickle in. The younger kids were all sound asleep now. Only Jack, Toby and Henry were being allowed to attempt to stay up for this years New Year's Eve countdown, so they were currently set up in the living room with some games and puzzles while the adults got to talk. He frowned to realise that he'd need more chairs unless Emily and Jordan moved as the entire team and their partners started arranging themselves on the available space. Carrie appeared to be asleep, and comfortable, so he certainly wasn't going to make her move.

"Who knows?" Emily mumbled sleepily in reply to Dave's question. "Someone tell me how long it is until midnight?"

Aaron grinned as he lifted her up and settled her on his lap once he'd taken a corner of the couch. "You have time for an hour long nap before I would need to wake you for the countdown."

"Yay…" she mumbled as she snuggled in to him and drifted off to sleep. He shot Derek a grin as his friend settled in to the other end of the seat with his own sleeping bundle.

"So, what is Jordan's excuse? She's normally so full of energy?"

Derek grinned around at all of them. "Even the most energetic of women can lose that spark when they're creating new life."

"She's pregnant?" Penelope squeaked as it clicked in her mind.

Derek nodded happily and accepted the congratulations that were extended to him. "One of her Christmas gifts to me was a pair of intricate, hand made wool baby booties. I'm thinking of getting them framed they're so cute. Anyway, hopefully that explains to all of you why she is in here and sound asleep; I actually sent her in here to take a nap with the promise to wake her for the midnight countdown."

"Well then, let's toast," Dave said as he raised his glass. "To amazing family and friends, to first Christmases as new families, to surviving the week of Christmas, to new life growing as we speak and to the ending of this past year and the beginning of the new one."

"Here here," they all chorused, lifting their glasses and sharing a drink as the camaraderie and friendship wound even tighter, and laughter-filled conversations filled the air.

End

A/N: Hope you liked this first chapter. The next one will be coming up soon.

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