A/N: See my standard disclaimer on my profile. I was getting bogged down with some of the heavier stuff in 'Partners' and needed something more cheerful to write to hopefully get me past my writer's block. So here is my Christmas offering set in the same universe, although some chapters won't require any knowledge from those stories. Each chapter will feature a different pairing of characters, some romantic and some not, doing a different holiday activity. When each one happens will also noted in the beginning.

Hope you enjoy and Merry Christmas!


"Under the Mistletoe"
Featuring: JJ and Reid
When: Starts in December 2011 (Season 7, around Chapter 9 of "Second Chances")


"Spence, can you put the star up on the tree? I think you can reach it better than me," JJ asked, slightly teasing her boyfriend of just a month.

"Well I am seven inches tall than you," he replied, taking the star from her after putting up one last ornament on the tree. He worked to secure the star on the top of the live tree in the corner of JJ's living room. It was his first time decorating a Christmas tree as an adult and he was really enjoying it. He had never bothered with a tree in his own place and could only recall a few memories of doing it as a child. Something his dad had insisted on.

JJ glared at him a little. "Calling me short?"

Once he was satisfied with the positioning of the large, gold five-pointed item, he turned. "Of course not. In fact, the average height for American women is around five foot four, so you're a little above average and therefore not short."

JJ's smile grew as he spoke, loving all the knowledge he stored. Although she could already see how it might work against her if they had an argument and he could use actual science to defend himself. She was just going to have to employ other tactics if she needed to win one herself. She wiped the smile off her face, deciding to deploy one of those strategies right now for fun. She wasn't sure how of she'd get him to stand there otherwise and she wanted to take advantage of Henry being in New Orleans. "Yes, well, I still think that might have been a comment on my petite stature…" She started to walk out of the living room, knowing full well he'd follow her.

"JJ…" Reid caught her when they were under the doorway between the living room and the entryway. She stopped there on purpose, letting him turn her to him. "I'm sorry if that is how it came out, it wasn't intentional."

JJ nodded, "I believe you, I, uh…"

Reid raised an eyebrow. "What?"

JJ sighed. "I just wanted to you to follow me here, to this spot."

Confusion was all over the genius' face until he followed her gaze as it looked above them. She had hung mistletoe when he wasn't looking. Reid smiled and blushed. "So you pretended to be upset?" JJ nodded, biting her lip. "You didn't think to just ask?"

JJ shrugged, "I guess I just didn't know how to bring it up since this is all still so new." She slipped her arms around his neck, his hands going to her hips. "Forgive me?"

He smiled, "I suppose." He looked back up at the small spray above them. "Did you know the original custom in England was that a berry was picked off of the sprig before each kiss and when there were no more berries, the kissing requirement was broken?"

JJ looked up and smiled, "Well then I'm glad that one is covered in berries."

Reid blushed, but reached up and pulled one of the tiny red berries off before pulling her close and kissing her with such intensity that she felt a little lightheaded when he pulled back. "Me too."

She rested her forehead against his, catching her breath. She wasn't sure how long she was going to live if all of her kisses with Spence were like that, but at least she'd die happy. "So should we pick another berry now or spread them out?"

Reid grinned and reached up, "Well, we only have a limited time before Henry is home and who knows if we'll get a case tomorrow so…"

JJ giggled before his lips covered hers once more.


JJ stood in the kitchen, enjoying the last few sips of her tea as it was settling her stomach nicely.

"Hey, JJ, can you come here a second?"

JJ furrowed her brow at her husband's call and set her mug down. "Sure." She went up towards the front of the house, finding him just a foot into the living room. He met her in the doorway as she crossed it. "What's up?"

"I thought of something else I wanted to do for Christmas this year," he smiled, a hand slipping onto her waist.

She grinned, "Oh?" It warmed her heart that between her and Henry they were helping him experience a more traditional holiday. He nodded and looked up; pulling a berry off of the sprig she hadn't seen him hang up earlier. Her smile grew. "Oh."

"I thought it could become our own tradition," he offered before cupping her cheek and pulling her in for a tender but passion filled kiss. It still amazed her how well he could convey his love for her in just a kiss. It made her feel so loved and safe.

JJ's grip on his shoulders tightened as her knees weakened before he pulled back for air. "I think that's a very good idea."


JJ combed her hair, getting ready for bed on Christmas Eve. Reid had just gone to check in on Ella, the infant having gone down about an hour ago. Henry was down the hall in his bedroom when he was visiting Will and Jackie. The New Orleans residents had insisted the couple and baby stay at their house while they were visiting for the holiday. They had set up Ella in the couple's office so she could easily sleep when needed without there being a worry about Henry running into the room.

She was trying to put on a happy face; trying to suppress her anxiety related to what she knew was coming when they got home, but it was hard. Seeing how happy Henry was at the festival earlier had helped some. Sighing, she tried to push holiday thoughts to the front of her brain as she took a seat on the bed. She plugged in her cell phone and shifted to get under the covers when she heard the door quietly open and close. "She still out?"

Reid nodded, not that JJ saw it. "Yes." He slid into the bed next to her, but it took JJ a second before she turned and really looked at him. That's when she saw his arm over his head. She glanced up and couldn't stop the small chuckle that escaped her lips. "It is our tradition, no matter where we are."

JJ felt a little bit of water in her eyes at the thought that he remembered, even under these circumstances. "That it is." She reached up and pulled off one of the berries before tugging on his neck and capturing his lips.


Reid came down the stairs after putting Ella down for her nap. He hoped she slept a little longer today, knowing she'd be more cheerful at the holiday party at Morgan's if she did. He smiled at the sight of Henry quietly reading in the library and was going to join the boy when he heard JJ calling from the living room. "Spence? Got a sec?"

He cut through the kitchen and rounded the corner to head into that room when he spotted her leaning against the door frame, something in particular hanging over her head. "Didn't even try to be creative to get me here?" he teased, wrapping his arms around her easily.

JJ's fingers went just as easily into his hair. "Do I need to be?" she joked back before they crashed into one another.

"Merry Christmas Jen…and baby," he whispered when they pulled back. He reached up and pulled off two berries, one for the kiss they just had and one for another.

JJ smiled, "Merry Christmas Spence…and Daddy."

The two shared another deep kiss, conveying their love for one another and their excitement for their new bundle. They only pulled apart at the sound of another voice.

"Eww!"


Reid held his wife close to him as they stood in the doorway, watching his mother read to Ella with his father silently sitting by the pair. Sandy was showing Andrew a musical toy he had gotten from his godfather. This wasn't quite what he imagined possible for the holiday just a few weeks ago, but he couldn't be more thrilled. The only thing missing was Henry, in New Orleans this year.

"Hey," JJ whispered, getting his attention.

"Hmm?" he replied, still taking in the scene before him.

"There's still a few berries left, you know," JJ teased.

That got him to look at her. "Really? I could've sworn I counted correctly when we hung it up after I got back." He looked up and then squinted. "You put up a new sprig, didn't you?"

JJ giggled. "Yeah, well, can you blame me? It was a long month, Spence."

He smiled, tucking some of her hair behind her ear. "I'll give you that." He reached up and pulled off a few berries. "Well, we better keep with the tradition. It's been five years, after all."

When their lips met it was as if they were transported back at that first kiss under the mistletoe.