A/N: So, it is that time of year once again. As with last year, part of the reason for a very quiet November is that I have been planning a special Christmas project. Who's ready to count down to Christmas with the LaMontagnes?

25 chapters; 25 interconnected moments of Georgia's first Christmas.

If you haven't read Hopes and Fears all you need to know is that it was my take on JJ and Will having a baby after 200 and that Georgia was the result.

I hope you like it and as always I love to know what you think :)

1st December

Considering her friend's obvious skill with technology, JJ couldn't understand why Penelope insisted on shopping at the mall. Especially in December. As she pushed the stroller through the crowded atrium, scanning the flustered and overheated faces for her friend, she felt a little grateful that she had at least won her case for postponing the outing to miss the Black Friday rush.

"Over here!" shouted a voice.

JJ immediately became aware of a familiar figure pushing her way through the crowds, trailing several large shopping bags behind her. And yes, her earrings were adorned with enough tinsel to rival a Christmas tree.

"Hello, my little Christmas marshmallow," she gushed, leaning over the stroller and grinning at her goddaughter.

JJ laughed as her friend spent several moments cooing over Georgia before straightening up and rejoining the world of grown-up conversation.

"No Henry?" Garcia asked, a flicker of disappointment on her face.

"He's at a rehearsal for his school play," JJ replied. "But he asked me to tell you that you can pick him up at 10am next Saturday," she continued, quirking her eyebrows in a questioning look.

Penelope's grin told her she was correct in her theory that godmother and godson were plotting something, but it was also clear that she was going to give nothing away.

"Where do you want to go first?" she asked, changing the subject before JJ could commence a full blown interrogation. "There's a store that sells adorable elf onsies and I know they have Georgia's size in stock."

"Well I guess we'll start there," JJ agreed, knowing she had no real option, as Penelope linked arms with her and directed them towards the store.

"And then we should go to the toy store on the second storey. They have a limited number of Star Wars Lego sets left but if we're quick then we can get one for Jack… or would he prefer the dinosaur set?"

JJ laughed, listening to Garcia think out loud. It seemed that even if the shopping was to be done in the real world, there had been a serious amount of virtual planning beforehand.

/
/

Two hours, and countless stores later, the two women had sought refuge in the relative sanctuary of a coffee shop. Although it was as busy and loud as everywhere else, they at least had somewhere to sit.

Georgia was propped up on her mother's lap, clutching her bottle between her chubby hands and watching the shoppers outside the window with wonder. The constant noise and hustle which stressed the adults only seemed to grasp hold of her attention.

"Okay, I'm excited for her first Christmas," JJ admitted, shaking her head and taking a sip of her coffee. "How could I not be?" she smiled, smoothing down Georgia's hair as the little girl's eyes grew wide at the sight of the large stuffed bear being carried past the store.

Penelope grinned triumphantly. She knew JJ's Christmas spirit had just needed to be drawn out from underneath the exterior exhaustion of being a working mother of two.

"Now, don't get mad, but I have something to give you before the big day," she told her friend, reaching into one of the bags and rummaging around for the item in question.

Georgia's gaze was drawn away from the crowds by her godmother's movements.

"I saw it and just had to buy it. I got one for Henry and it's only fair that they are treated equally."

JJ simply smiled as her friend rambled on. She had given up on passing comment on Garcia's need to spoil her children a long time ago and now accepted the gifts with thanks and a vow that Garcia would never have to buy a coffee or cup of tea for herself when they were together.

Eventually, Penelope withdrew her hands from the bag and presented a soft, pale pink Christmas stocking to her friend. It was embroidered with silver snowflakes and boasted a matching silver ribbon trim along the top edge. In the centre, the snowflakes made way for the felt letters and figures which spelled Georgia's name and marked the year.

"Thank you," JJ smiled, taking hold of the stocking and showing it to her daughter. "Look what you've got to hang up for Santa," she told the infant.

Georgia reached up with a grin, dropping her bottle as she gripped the fabric between her tiny fingers. She laughed happily as she explored the textures of the embroidery and ribbon. JJ and Penelope laughed too - it seemed that the presents the stocking would contain in just 24 days were not even needed to entertain the 10 month old girl.

/
/

"How was the mall?" Will asked, taking his tightly bundled daughter from the arms of his flustered wife. Over the past few days it had been becoming increasingly cold outside and the layers of clothing required for the infant to be taken out of the warmth of the house had multiplied.

"There's a reason Santa prefers online shopping," she muttered under her breath as he chuckled. Their brief coffee break had been followed by another hour trailing from store to store and that was more than enough for JJ.

Will continued through to the living room before he started the process of freeing his wriggling daughter from her snowsuit and mittens.

"Penelope bought us something though," JJ's voice carried through, as she hung her coat on the peg in the hall.

"Yeah?" Will asked, absent-mindedly. He was too busy making faces at Georgia to be giving the conversation much attention.

"Yeah," JJ confirmed, without saying more.

By the time Will glanced up, she was standing in the doorway, holding up the pink stocking for him to see. They shared a grin, before he turned back to Georgia and tapped a finger against her nose.

"You're gonna be one spoiled little girl come Christmas," he told his giggling child. "Santa Claus will need to bring a lot of presents for you."

JJ laughed, thinking of the expanding stash of gifts in their attic. Somehow she didn't think there would be a problem in that department.

Even if Penelope's stocking wasn't going to be the only one hanging by the fireplace on Christmas Eve.

Chuckling again, she placed the pink stocking down with two others which had arrived in the mail that morning. Garcia might have been quick off the mark, but when it came to celebrating Georgia's first Christmas she had two long distance grandmas to compete with, and they were just that little bit faster.

And with family like that, the littlest LaMontagne would definitely be in for a treat this December.