Christmas Wishes (A CM fanfiction) ©mccabebabe (Reidfan}

K+ CM Team, Reid, Rossi, Prentiss

Merry Christmas to all my faithful readers! And many, many thanks and hugs and appreciative kisses to my JitTTwin, Lady Diana for the Italian Christmas help; and to Aut for the BAU verification and invaluable second set of eyes.

"As we give presents at Christmas, we need to recognise that sharing our time and ourselves is such an important part of giving."—Gordon B. Hinckley

"I need everyone in the conference room, please," Emily Prentiss told them and as the other agents rose to comply, Tara Lewis touched Spencer Reid's arm and motioned him aside. David Rossi stayed behind as well, and waited for Lewis to begin. Once Prentiss and the others were safely out of earshot, Tara spoke in low tones.

"So, Reid—Spencer—Dave here wants the rest of us over for Christmas."

Reid's face registered surprise and a smile stretched across his face. "The rest of us?" he asked.

"JJ and Will are flying out to her mom's with the boys tomorrow morning. She made those arrangements ages ago. But I'd like everyone else there," Rossi told him.

He nodded. "Okay. What's with the subterfuge?" he asked, gesturing towards the team members who had just left the bullpen.

Rossi looked past Reid to ensure Prentiss and the others were still out of range, "You still have that old car, Spencer?"

Again, Reid nodded.

Rossi smiled, "Okay, here's the thing. I need you to help me make sure Emily comes. Ask her for a ride. Claim your car's not working."

Reid smiled. "I don't have to claim that at all, Rossi. My car is out of commission right now."

"Well that works out well," Lewis smiled.

"But why would Emily not come to the party, Rossi?" Reid asked.

"I doubt she'd decline, but there is her mother. And that boyfriend in England."

Reid nodded acknowledgement, "She hasn't mentioned anything about her mom in ages. Or Mark. But I will need a ride. I've got this, Rossi, she wouldn't want me to miss the party because I have no ride."

"Thank you, Spencer. That will really help. Saturday's Christmas Eve. I have lots of room in my mansion. I'd like you all to stay over for Christmas. I'm flying out to see Joy next week, but I was hoping my DC family could spend Christmas with me at my place."

"That would be great," Reid agreed.

"Just go along with us, Spencer," Lewis said, "We wanna make sure Emily will come."

Rossi clapped Reid on the back and the three of them headed to the conference room. Luke Alvez, Penelope Garcia, Jennifer 'JJ' Jareau and Emily Prentiss were already seated.

Prentiss rose from her seat, file folder in hand. "All right guys, just wanted to pass on to you the thanks from the DCPD for our help in the Christmas killer case. Section Chief Cruz was pleased we managed to conclude this one without any further deaths, and before the holidays. Our unsub, Joshua Saunders is at the youth correctional centre undergoing evaluation." Prentiss paused and gave Reid a smile, "Cruz was especially impressed by the way you handled talking Joshua down, Reid. Exemplary work."

Reid acknowledged the praise with a returned smile as Prentiss continued to debrief them,

"And Joshua's little brother Jason is being cared for by Children's Services until his aunt and uncle from California can come and get him, he'll be with them in time for Christmas." She stopped to take a breath and smiled, "Which brings me to that. Christmas." Sitting back down, she gestured towards David.

Rossi stood up, waved acknowledgement at Prentiss and addressed the group, "Christmas at the Rossi mansion, folks. If everyone could bring their jammies and toothbrush, I'd like everybody to spend Christmas Eve with me, and we'll all have Christmas Day together too, after Santa has stopped by with gifts for good little BAU boys and girls. Alvez, please bring Roxy, Emily, Sergio is welcome too, if he's okay with dogs."

"Wow, I'm sorry we're gonna miss it," JJ lamented.

"JJ, please," Rossi shushed her, "You made your plans weeks ago, it's okay. We'll miss you, but those boys should see their grandmother." He turned back to the rest of the team, "So, if you're all not previously engaged?"

Lewis and Alvez were on board immediately, the latter particularly grateful that Roxy was included. As they chatted happily, they noticed the disappointed look on Reid's face. Lewis ventured,

"Something wrong, Reid?"

"I'm not sure I can make it," he began, looking from one to another team member until he made eye contact with Emily Prentiss and put on his best sad puppy dog look.

"Reid?" Emily asked, instantly concerned.

"I, well, I hate to ask, but Rossi lives way out in the suburbs and my car isn't running right now." He bit his lip then continued, "Emily, I, um—"

A look of relief flooded her face and Prentiss interrupted him, "I can give you a lift, that's no problem."

He heaved a sigh and thanked her, smiling as JJ playfully punched his arm and teased him, "You don't honestly think for a minute that nobody would offer to take you?"

Momentarily distracted, Reid didn't see the conspiratorial grins shared by Lewis, Rossi and Prentiss.

"All right then. Everyone. We'll have our weekly debriefing meeting tomorrow morning, and then we'll be breaking for the holidays. See everyone tomorrow," Prentiss dismissed them. Rossi followed her down the hall to her office; the others made their way to their desks. Sitting across from Reid, Alvez couldn't help but overhear Reid's unsuccessful phone call. The team's youngest member gave his iPhone a disappointed scowl and muttered, "Voice mail. Again," before issuing a deep sigh and shoving the offending device back into his pocket. He gathered his jacket and messenger bag and headed to the elevator. Alvez watched as Reid disappeared into the elevator and turned back to find himself face to face with Garcia and JJ.

"He," Alvez gestured over his shoulder to indicate Reid, "Is really unhappy about something."

"We should go after him. I could go after him," Garcia began, hauling one of her smartphones out of a pocket, "I'll text him to wait for—"

She was interrupted by the sudden positioning of a hand on hers, stopping her from composing the text, Garcia looked up from the hands and found herself looking into the eyes of Tara Lewis who shook her head.

"No, Penelope. Leave him be," Lewis directed.

JJ's brow furrowed. She wondered why Lewis seemed to know what was going on with Reid yet she did not. She hated being out of the loop and was grateful when Garcia asked.

"What's up with Boy Wonder?"

"I'm not exactly sure," Lewis said truthfully. While she was a party to the plot concocted by Rossi and Prentiss, she had no idea what they actually had up their sleeves.