Merry Christmas! I'm happy to present my gift exchange fic for Annber03. The prompts were "Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home) - the U2 version, snow, a family gathering, and a Christmas tree. The song, snow, and Christmas tree make their appearance in this chapter. I'm working on a second chapter that covers the family gathering.
Also - one more quick note, I know everyone is worried that I've abandoned my other stories. Don't worry; I haven't. I'm working on the next chapters of Use Your Illusion, The Road Before Us, Though the Road was Never Smooth, and All Roads Lead to Rome... I also have a couple of requests from a few different folks that I'm working on filling - so more to come from me soon (in addition to chapter two of this tale).
Without further adieu, happy reading :D
"Pretty lights on the tree, I'm watching them shine" Spencer sang along with Bono's heartfelt pleas in Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) as he poured hot water from the tea kettle into two mugs and over the peppermint tea bags. "You should be here with me, baby please come home." He tapped his foot in time with the Christmas music playing on the stereo in the other room as he waited for the tea to steep.
As he finished preparing the tea just the way that he knew JJ liked it he thought about how for the first time since he was ten years old he felt like he was home for Christmas. He couldn't help the large grin that crossed his face as he thought, 'Home. Home for Christmas. Home for Christmas with JJ and Henry.' The smile on his face grew as he picked up the two mugs of peppermint tea and headed to join JJ in the living room.
Spencer paused, leaning against the doorway watching JJ where she sat curled up in the window seat watching the snow falling outside. He could tell she was lost in her thoughts and decided to give her a moment before he joined her.
JJ watched the dark snowy night out the window as she wrapped the blanket more tightly around her wondering when Spence was going to be back. She missed his body heat and cuddling with him. She smiled. It was amazing how much things had changed in a year; however she couldn't help but wince as she thought of all the drama and angst she'd had to deal with to reach this point.
She's meant what she said when the team went out to celebrate her and Matt's successful rescue; no more lies. Unfortunately Will hadn't done so well with the truth. The knowledge of the loss of their second child while she'd been in Afghanistan had simply been too much for their marriage to bear. Within weeks of JJ telling him the full truth of what had happened in the Middle East that led to her abduction by Hastings and Askari, Will had moved out.
In the ensuing weeks and months Spence had been her lifeline. Spence supported her emotionally after fights with Will where she begged him to come home and to give them another chance. Spence supported her physically when her PTSD was at its worst and she woke up in the middle of the night screaming her throat raw from a nightmare. Spence held back her hair when she was so upset that she became violently ill. Spence made her tea and listened to her as she told him everything.
With everything out in the open, she and Spence bonded over their losses. They shared in grieving the loss of what might have been as well as coming to terms with how those losses had shaped them and changed them. Spence had lost Maeve and the potential future he'd been beginning to see with a wife and children and a family; a little bit of his faith in humanity; and a little bit of his hope for the future. She had lost a child; a little bit of her innocence; a little bit of her faith in justice that right would always triumph over evil; and in the end her husband and the hope that they would be able to work things out and their marriage could be saved.
The closeness of her relationship with Spence before Emily's "death" returned and intensified. Suddenly one day she was left wondering why they'd never had a second date all those years ago… that, after much discussion had led to a second date and they hadn't looked back since. In the end, for all the faith and hope they'd lost separately, together they'd found love… and in finding love, their faith and hope were being rebuilt as well.
Finally Spencer stood up straight and headed across the living room. In a few long strides he was at JJ's side handing her tea to her. "Hey," he said softly to get her attention as he slipped in beside her.
JJ startled slightly and then turned, taking the mug from him. Her fingers wrapped around the comfortably warm ceramic as she cradled the mug in her hands and lifted it to her lips, a peppermint column of steam rising to her nostrils as she sipped languidly on the warm aromatic tea.
Spencer's breath caught in his throat as he watched JJ take a long slow sip. Her eyes closed in pleasure as the warm peppermint slid down her esophagus, the defined muscles of her swanlike neck twitching and relaxing as she swallowed.
JJ felt Spence's eyes on her and smirked into her mug as she took a sip. "What no hot chocolate?" she teased as she cradled the mug back in her hands and shifted her body to lean back against Spence's chest.
Spence wrapped an arm around her waist, holding her close. "I thought about making hot chocolate… but I don't think Henry would ever forgive us if we had hot chocolate without him when he's going to be here soon." He grinned as he nuzzled into her hair.
JJ grinned at how much closer her son and his godfather had gotten ever since they'd moved into their new place together. "Henry will be very happy we waited for him to have cocoa." She said as she settled her hand to rest on top of Spence's on her belly, her fingers tangling with his. "I can't believe how early it's getting dark still." She commented and she turned back to watch the snow falling outside.
Spencer nodded as his hand rubbed over JJ's side and belly, "Well it is the part of the year with the shortest days… at least the days are getting longer now… and of course the snow storm isn't helping," he said, pausing to catch his breath. "So, you were miles away when I came in…you looked like you were deep in thought…" he prodded, knowing that if she wanted to share her thoughts, she would.
JJ turned slightly as she looked up to meet Spence's gaze, her head brushing against his chest. "I was just thinking about this year… and what a crazy year it's been… and how it didn't turn out the way I would have thought it would if you asked me a year ago." She said glancing up at him with slightly teary eyes and a soft voice, the power of her emotions overtaking her.
"I'm so…" Spencer mumbled as JJ reached up and placed her fingers across his lips.
"We've talked about this Spence. You don't need to be sorry. I'm not. I wonder about what the baby would have looked like and whether Henry would have liked being a big brother. If I'm sorry about anything it's the baby… but I'm not sorry about Will leaving and I'm not sorry that you and I are together. Things happen the way they do for a reason. Some things just aren't meant to be… and others are." She said as she pulled her fingers away from his lips and then leaned up to give him a quick kiss.
"Hmmm" Spencer moaned as JJ broke the kiss, "So, quite the plot-twist this year huh?" Spence joked, attempting to lighten the mood again.
"Better than any book I've ever read… with a happier ending too." She replied with a wink letting him know that she'd noticed his concern. "I'm fine… more than fine actually." She murmured to assuage his fears, her fingers digging into the front of his sweater as she leaned up to kiss him again.
Spencer moaned as the kiss deepened.
JJ stood up on her knees, straddling him as she sat her tea on the side table and then took his from him and sat it off to the side as well. Then she sank down into his lap, her arms wrapping around his shoulders and her fingers tangling in the hair at the nape of his neck.
He grunted in pleasure as JJ's hips settled against his own. His hands dropped to her thighs. He slid them up her thighs, wrapping them around her hips, reveling in the feel of her tight jean clad posterior in the palms of his hands before he slid his hands up to the small of her back, his fingers toying with the hem of her sweater and then splaying across the small of her back and pressing against her skin as he traced the waistband of her jeans.
Meanwhile, JJ traced the roof of his mouth with her tongue in a tantalizingly slow fashion. She pulled away long enough to nip and tug at his lip, and then she retraced his lips, her fingers guiding him to tip his head, her fingers passionately tangling in his hair as their tongues did the same. She arched against him, wanting to curl her body as close to him as physically possible. He pulled away, nuzzling against her neck and kissing a line down her neck to her collar bone where he pressed small kisses into the crevice of her neck where the collar of her sweater met her neck.
JJ whined in exasperation as the doorbell rang interrupting them. She dropped her head to his chest, breathing deeply to catch her breath. Then the doorbell rang again. She shook her head, knowing exactly who was at the door. That was Will, impatient as ever.
She climbed out of Spence's lap and leaned down, giving him a quick peck on the lips. She trailed her thumb across his lower lip as she stood back up. "Hold onto that thought for later tonight." She said winking at him over her shoulder as she turned and headed to answer the door.
"Evenin' JJ" Will said with a nod before she could even get a word out as she opened the door and stepped out onto the stoop.
"Merry Christmas Will," JJ replied with a smile, the good cheer evident in her voice. She was glad they were finally able to work their way back to a cordial level of interaction for Henry's sake. The months of bitter stares, angry banter, and cold silence had been painful… and hard to hide from Henry behind fake platitudes and smiles.
"You too," he replied, practically biting his own tongue to hold back the 'cher' that would have come naturally at the end of any sentence he spoke to her just a year ago. He'd lost the right to use that term of endearment however when he walked away… he realized only when it was too late just what all he was walking away from. Now another man had taken his place, and given who that man was, Will knew he wouldn't get another chance to earn the right to call JJ 'cher' ever again. "Spencer here?"
"Yeah, he is." JJ answered, curious about Will's question since he knew Spence moved in almost two months ago now.
Will nodded in silent understanding, "Tell him I said Merry Christmas too then. I should probably…" he trailed off as he jerked his thumb over his shoulder to point at his truck as he shuffled his feet awkwardly, still uncomfortable about the idea of Spencer Reid being with his wife… ex-wife… but he knew that he had to come to terms with it. It was abundantly clear that JJ and Spencer together as a couple wasn't changing anytime soon. "Hey be good for your Momma and Uncle Spencer bubba." He said as he squatted down to hug Henry goodbye.
"I'm always good Daddy!" Henry said with a giggle.
"Cheeky son… very cheeky." Will said with a smile, rubbing the top of the Henry's knit cap.
Henry let out a giggle as he squirmed in his father's embrace and lifted his hands to push his hat back up out of his eyes.
"I'll see you next week end Henry. I love you." Will said giving his son one last hug before standing back up.
"I love you too Daddy." Henry replied.
A small tear escaped the corner of JJ's eye, glad that Henry and Will's bond was as tight as ever. She wrapped her arm around Henry's shoulders as they watched Will walk down the sidewalk and around the front of his truck. Will climbed in and started his truck and then gave a final wave before driving off into the snowy night.
"Hey come on; let's go inside where it's warm." JJ said, rubbing Henry's shoulder.
Henry looked up at his Mommy, his hands pushing up on his hat as it slipped down into his eyes again. "You should be wearing your coat Mommy!" he said as he reached out with his mitten covered hand and pulled her towards the door.
"You're right… I should have been wearing my coat. What was I thinking?" JJ teased playfully as she followed Henry into the house and knelt down to help him out of his boots and coat.
"I'm thinking that you were thinking about how warm you're going to get helping Henry and I decorate this big huge Christmas tree." Spence said as he stood up from underneath the lower branches of the tree and picked up the now empty water picture and brushed off his knees.
"UNCLE SPENCE!" Henry said excitedly as he rushed towards him.
JJ smiled as Spence caught Henry and lifted him up onto his hip and then turned so they could conspire together on how to decorate the Christmas tree. "Do you boys have a plan of attack for decorating?" she asked as she joined them. "We need to get it done tonight because everyone is coming over tomorrow."
JJ and Spence's eyes met over the top of Henry's head as he rambled off all of the things they needed to put on the tree. "That sounds like a lot little man. We better break it up so we can get everything done. Maybe Uncle Spence can string the lights for us since he can reach the top of the tree without a ladder?"
"Uh huh" Henry nodded in agreement as he turned to look at Uncle Spence.
"Okay buddy, I'm on lights then. Are you going to help Mommy get the ornaments organized so we can hang them as soon as I have the lights up?" Spencer asked as he set Henry down on his feet.
"Yep!" Henry nodded in agreement.
"I think this would look better on the tree than on you little man." JJ teased as she pulled a stray strand of tinsel off of Henry's shoulder and deposited on a branch of the tree.
"It looks pretty good huh buddy?" Uncle Spence asked as he held out his hand for a high five.
"Uh huh!" Henry nodded vigorously as he gave Uncle Spence a spirited high five that involved practically his whole six year old body. His hair flopped over his eyes as the force from his motion caught it and swept it about.
JJ smiled and reached down brushing her baby boy's hair back out of his eyes. "You know what would make it even more awesome?" JJ asked as she stepped over to the nearby light switch, "Check this out." She said as she slid the dimmer switch down, muting the overhead lighting in the living room until most of the light in the living room came from the tree.
The lights twinkled, refracting off of the facets of the shiny ornaments and the tinsel shimmered merrily giving the Christmas tree an ethereal quality as it stood tall and proud, framed by the dark snowy night sky just outside the large windows on either side of it.
"It's beautiful Mommy." Henry whispered in awe as he looked up at the tree.
As JJ made her way back to join Henry and Spence in front of the tree, she noticed the one last final decoration left to place on the tree. "Look, we missed something." She said as she picked up the angel and passed it to Spence.
"Hey Henry, how would you like to put the angel on the top of the tree?" Spencer asked as he squatted down next to his godson.
"Can I?" Henry asked eagerly as he looked back and forth between Mommy and Uncle Spence.
"Don't ask me, I'm not the one who's tall enough to lift you up so you can reach." JJ said as she ran her fingers through Henry's hair.
Henry quickly turned to look at Uncle Spence with an eager expression.
"Here, you hold her and I'll lift you up." Spencer said as he handed Henry the blonde haired, blue eyed angel. Then he stood up with Henry in his arms and hoisted him up ever so carefully so he could reach the top of the tree and place the angel.
Henry bit his lip in concentration as he ever so carefully placed the angel perfectly in her place of honor on the tip top of the Christmas tree.
"Good job Henry!" JJ cheered as Spence lowered him back down on his feet.
"Didja see Mommy?" Henry cheered, looking up at Mommy in earnestness. "Now she can watch over us!"
JJ smiled and knelt down next to Henry. "You're right; I bet she has the best vantage point in the whole house to watch over us all."
"Sort of like a Christmas guardian angel." Spencer added, not able to help but notice how much the angel at the top of the tree reminded him of his two favorite people, the two blonde haired blue eyed angels who stood just next to him.
Henry turned and looked up at the angel at the top of the tree in contemplation as he studied the angel. And then just for a moment, it was as if the angel was studying him in return… it was almost as if she winked at him. "Mommy, she winked at me… the angel winked at me!"
JJ startled and looked to the top of the tree at the angel she'd purchased a few years ago because it reminded her of Henry in a way with the blonde hair and the bluest eyes… and she'd been unable to deny that as beautiful as the angel was, that perhaps that was what the baby might have looked like had it been a little girl.
JJ swallowed thickly, the emotion catching in her throat, "Well little man, I'm sure she just wanted to let you know that you're right. She's watching over us." She answered as she wrapped her arm Henry as she turned and looked up at the angel on top of the tree. Then she looked up to the sky, as she thought of the angel that was surely watching over them and she smiled.