AN: First of all, this story was written for the Christmas Fic Gift exchange on Chit Chat on Author's Corner. That being said, I wish a warm Merry Christmas to LoveMeThatsAllIAskofYou, who suggested the prompts of Silent Night. Fireplace, Christmas cookies, and snow angels. I used some of them in unorthodox ways, but I hope you-and everyone else-reading this story will enjoy. With love, Kricket
PS. This is six chapters long, with the prompt Fireplace, in the epilogue. As a bonus, you can pick the ending you'd like "T" or "M". Consider it an extra stocking stuffer! :)
Chapter 1
Dear PG,
It's that time of year to get in the spirit: eggnog, carols, presents, and here at the BAU—Secret Santa! This season, we are doing three gifts, given each Wednesday for the next two weeks, with the largest gift given Friday before Christmas, when we reveal our Santas to each other.
We randomly drew names. Your assignment this year is Reid.
Thanks for participating!
JJ, this year's Elf Coordinator
After reading that ho-ho-horrible email, Penelope sighed heavily. Normally, she was the one who organized and planned the BAU holiday party. It had been an extravaganza every year—she'd decorated, she'd brought cookies, she'd dressed in silly elf costumes.
Three days ago, JJ had come up to her and said, "What's the plan this year?"
Penelope had been in a terrible mood the entire week. She'd broken up with Kevin a week before and hadn't told a soul about it. That in itself wouldn't have been so terrible. Although it had been a long relationship, there'd been little to no passion left between them. They'd been running their course for too long.
However, not only was she boyfriend-less, she was also family-less. It was twenty years this year since her parents had passed away in the crash that had taken their lives. She was really looking forward to seeing her family, but then Peter, her oldest brother, had called. He, Paul, Parker, and Payton had all decided that this year, due to the expense of travel, they were going to forgo getting together on the holidays and would do a summer get-together instead…if she would be of the same mind, of course.
With all four of her brothers in agreement—an incredible oddity in the Garcia family—she'd felt she couldn't deviate. She'd told them she was fine with it. So, as a replacement for of being home with her family, she would be stuck there in Quantico, alone—or almost worse…being a third wheel at Hotch's or JJ's house.
To top off her day, she'd gotten a speeding ticket driving into work. Due to all of the above, she'd had a decisive lack of holiday cheer when poor JJ had stepped up and asked that question…
She turned on a dime and glared at her poor friend. "You know, Jayje? This year, I don't feel like being the festive one."
"Really?" JJ asked, surprised. "You usually are so…jolly this time of year."
For some reason, that irritated her even more. "Well, not this year. I'm tired of being the fat and jolly one—"
"Penelope, you know I didn't mean it that way!"
Garcia ignored her. "I don't feel like putting up decorations, or having daily treats, or sending cute e-cards. I don't feel like wearing holiday costumes and hair decorations or buying light bulb necklaces to share."
"Garcia…what's wrong?"
Normally, the concern on JJ's face would've moved her, but she was too angry and hurt to absorb it right now. "Nothing! I just don't feel like putting on a happy face and bringing holiday cheer to the rest of you who grumble and moan and complain through everything anyway."
"We're not that bad," she argued, and then gave a sad, but sheepish look. "Are we?"
"It's like pulling teeth!" Penelope snapped, "and this year, I don't feel like being the Annual December Dentist. Get someone else."
With that, she'd left a gaping JJ in the dust. She'd felt like a complete ass afterward; she knew JJ would never be mean or spiteful. Penelope had apologized, knowing it wasn't enough, but JJ had been her usual gracious self.
"We all reach our limits, Garcie. You reached yours," she'd said. "You need to talk, I'm here."
That easy forgiveness only served to make Penelope feel like more of a heel.
As she stared at the email, she thought about all the things she would miss out on doing because she wasn't doing the holiday thing, and felt kind of bad about it. However, she did probably need a break. It was someone else's turn, and JJ would do a great job.
Thinking of the positives, she smiled faintly. Buying for Reid was like buying for a little kid a lot of the time. It was a piece of cake: magic sets, trick cards, Star Wars ornaments—she shopped at the same place she bought Jack his stuff. Maybe she'd get him a new purple scarf to replace his current one that he owned and wore all the time?
She began to scowl again. She didn't know why she cared so much. Christmas was for the young and the young at heart, and at the moment, she felt like neither. She didn't want to spoil anyone else's holiday—certainly not Reid's, Henry's, or Jack's holiday—but she wasn't going to go out of her way to do anything for herself. It was time to grow up and be an adult. She probably wouldn't even put up a tree.
Probably.
She sighed again. Anyway, all that could all wait. Now, she had work to do. She turned back to her computer and began to type, her heart still feeling heavy and weighted down.
For deep down inside, the only thing Penelope Garcia thought she really wanted for Christmas was a miracle...to get her Christmas Mojo back.
