A/N: This story is written for the Chit Chat on Author's Corner Fanfic Challenge 2010 – Round 6 – Christmas Gift Fic Exchange. It is a gift for wordofwyrd whose prompts really inspired me! Merry Christmas, hon. I hope you enjoy your story.

Pairing: Morgan/Garcia

Prompts: All I Want for Christmas is You; mistletoe, snow, "the best gift ever"

Disclaimer: I own nothing of Criminal Minds. I'm just playing a little :)


I don't want a lot for Christmas, there is just one thing I need
I don't care about the presents underneath the Christmas tree
I just want you for my own more than you could ever know
Make my wish come true ... all I want for Christmas is you

The sound of the Christmas carol floated out of hidden speakers in the airport waiting area, penetrating the usual bustling noises that accompanied travelers trying to make it to various destinations around the country in time for Christmas. It was already late afternoon on Christmas Eve, and the people seemed to fall into one of two types – anxious and resigned.

Penelope let the words of the song wash over her, trying not to think too much about how appropriate they were to the way she was feeling at the moment. Then the voice of her traveling companion broke her out of her thoughts.

"Tell me again why we're flying on Christmas Eve!" Derek groaned in the most whining, complaining tone of voice Penelope had ever heard from an adult.

It took her a good couple minutes to get her initial burst of laughter under control, not helped in the least by the thunderous expression looming on the face of her Chocolate God of Thunder.

When she finally got it down to the occasional snicker, she responded gaily, "Well, let's just see now … there are several reasons for that, Hot Stuff. Let's recap, shall we?"

Ignoring the black look he shot her, Penelope continued, "First of all, you only returned from your last case a week ago, then you wanted to be here for JJ and Will's Christmas party on the 22nd, but most importantly, you requested … how did you put it? 'As little pre-Christmas time as possible' in Chicago this year, because by Christmas Eve, the rest of the family would already be there to take the pressure from Fran off of you."

Shooting her a mock-glare, Derek muttered, "You do know that I really didn't need an answer, right?"

"Mmm." Penelope grinned good-naturedly at him. "I know. But it was such fun to provide one!"

With a mock-scowl at his best friend, Derek went back to watching people in the crowded airport as Penelope turned her attention back to the magazine she had been reading. They were waiting for their flight to Chicago to be called. It was already two hours delayed due to poor weather conditions, and as Derek looked out of the plate glass window in front of him at the snow coming down, he wondered how much longer they would have to wait.

I don't want a lot for Christmas, there is just one thing I need
I don't care about the presents underneath the Christmas tree
I don't need to hang my stocking there upon the fireplace

Santa Claus won't make me happy with a toy on Christmas day

I just want you for my own, more than you could ever know
Make my wish come true; all I want for Christmas is you

Normally, the sappy little Christmas song would not have even registered on Derek's subconscious mind, but somehow, as he sat next to Penelope with nothing to do but wait, the words penetrated and he couldn't help but think how fitting they were.

Derek hadn't been one to want anything in particular for Christmas for a very long time. As long as he was with his family at Christmas time, he was happy. This year, however, even that didn't seem to be enough for him. Instead, this year there was a restless feeling in his heart, and while he thought he knew how to ease it, he wasn't sure that the one dream he still clung to stood any chance of coming true.

He remembered the conversation he had overheard less than a week ago, when the team had returned from their last case.

He had been pushed to the edge by that case and once they returned to the BAU, all he had wanted was to spend some time with Garcia. As ever, she had been his rock and his support. He had wished he could find some way to thank her for everything she had always done for him.

Stepping up to the partially open door of her lair, he had heard Penelope's slightly raised voice.

"No thank you, Kevin. There is no way I'm ever going to think that us getting back together is a good idea."

There had been a small pause, and Derek had understood that she was on the phone when he didn't hear the other voice. Then Penelope had continued speaking, "Of course I'd rather not be alone at Christmas, but you seem to think that I'm going to fall apart without you. I promise you, that's not going to happen. I will have a perfectly fine Christmas, Kevin!"

Derek had listened quietly for a moment longer, but when he heard nothing more, he stepped away from the door and made a short phone call of his own. When it ended, he had smiled a satisfied smile, and knocked on Garcia's door.

"Hey, how's my Baby Girl?" He'd greeted her as he walked in.

Penelope had swung around in her chair and beamed at him.

"Derek! You're back!"

She jumped up and practically threw herself into his arms. Laughing, Derek had caught her and hugged her close to him, pressing a gentle kiss to the top of her head. He relished the chance to hold her in his arms, loving the feel of her warm, curvy body pressed against his own. He needed to distract himself, however, before he gave away much more than he intended to do just then.

"So, I have a confession to make." Derek had said, looking down to meet a curious expression on her pretty features. "I overheard the end of the conversation you just had."

"Oh," Penelope had colored slightly and moved out of the circle of Derek's arms. "It's okay, Hot Stuff, I'm fine."

"Oh, that you are, woman! I never doubted that for a second!" Derek had looked her up and down and waggled his eyebrows in an exaggeratedly suggestive manner, making Penelope laugh. "Still, it did give me a great idea."

"Okay, Hot Stuff, spill. What have you done?"

"Called my mom and told her I want to bring you to Chicago for Christmas."

Derek had watched as her face fell. He wasn't concerned. He'd known from the start he'd have to talk her into it.

"Derek, you don't have to feel sorry for me. I will be just fine. It's not like I've never spent Christmas alone before."

Penelope had turned away from him but Derek could see the tense set of her shoulders. It broke his heart to see her vulnerable. If he had his way, she'd never need to feel that way again. To lighten the mood, he'd decided to shift the focus to himself .

"Oh no, Baby Girl. I'm definitely not feeling sorry for you!" Derek had moved closer and turned her to him with a gentle hand on her shoulder. "I'm taking shameless advantage. If you come to Chicago with me, my mom and sisters will be so distracted by seeing you again, that they'll lay off me … especially if we get there late on Christmas Eve."

"Why then?"

"As little pre-Christmas time as possible, to keep the questions away. They'll be far too busy with the Christmas Day stuff anyway."

Watching doubt linger in her eyes, and trying not to reveal how much that made his heart twist in his chest, Derek pleaded, "C'mon Baby Girl! You gotta help me out. Come with me. I sorta told my mom just now that you'd be spending Christmas alone, and she said I'd be an idiot if I didn't invite you to Chicago."

"Derek Morgan, tell me you're above laying a guilt-trip on me to get me to go to Chicago with you!"

"Of course I am." He pretended to be offended, widening his eyes dramatically.

As she smiled, he had continued, "However, I'm not above calling my mom back and making her do it!"

When she gave him a mock-huff, followed by one of her brilliant smiles, Derek knew he'd succeeded.

He grinned widely at her, and snickered when she said, "Don't gloat, Hot Stuff. It's not nice."

Derek had slid an arm around her, kissed her forehead softly and murmured, "I really appreciate you doing this for me, sweetheart."

She'd tensed on hearing the endearment, ""But Morgan, what if your family thinks something's going on between us? Your mom'll be disappointed when she finds out it's not true."

"Don't you worry your head about that, Baby Girl. I've already told my mom exactly how things are between us."

He'd seen a quick look flit across her features, but couldn't interpret it.

Derek was drawn out of his memories by a little gasp from Penelope. He looked over at her, a question forming on his lips. Before he could speak, she pointed at the display board above their heads, where a message flashed next to their flight number.

'Delayed … 8 hours.'