Prompts: Rossi/JJ; fireworks, midnight kiss, countdown

Disclaimer: Unfortunately I do not own Criminal minds or any of its characters

"Penelope, I said no."

"JJ, everyone else will be there. You have to come too."

"Why? Why is it so important for me to be there?"

"Because it just is. It is important to me. JJ, I'm not asking you, I'm telling you." With that, Penelope picked up her multi coloured purse and flung it on her shoulders. Just before she walked out of the office door, she turned back to JJ and said ominously, "You had better be there tonight or the demise of our relationship will be on your head."

Slamming the door behind her, Penelope winked at her Chocolate Adonis. Morgan smiled back at her and raised both his thumbs up. Nodding she slipped her arm into the crook of his and pulled him towards the elevator. "Come on my love, we've got a big night ahead of us."

Meanwhile in the office, JJ was stunned at Penelope's behaviour. She couldn't figure out why it was so important that she attend Penelope's annual New Year's bash. She didn't attend last year because they had been in New Orleans's visiting Will's family for the holidays. Maybe that was the reason that Penelope was insisting that her newly single friend not be alone on her very first new year's eve since the split.

Packing up her briefcase, JJ figured she had better get home and get ready. There was no way she could refuse to show up after that display of guilt from Penelope. Mentally she tried to figure out what she was going wear as she walked towards the elevators. She was so lost in her thoughts she didn't see Hotch as he was coming around the corner with Rossi.

"Hey, JJ"

"Sorry, Hotch, just on my way home."

"Not to worry. Us too." He said pushing the elevator button. The elevator reached the floor quickly and the three of them got on. Once inside, Dave pushed the parking garage floor and they rode the next few floors in silence until he asked JJ if she was coming to the party tonight.

"Yes. I wasn't really given much of a choice." JJ told them.

"You too?" Hotch asked as JJ nodded.

"Well, it appears that our little tech kitten has something up her sleeve, although I'm not sure why she means to do at my place."

"What do you mean? I thought the party was at Pen's place."

"Well, it was until yesterday. The apartment above hers had a leak and part of the ceiling is falling down. So I offered my cabin and now it appears that we are going to be having a New Year's slumber party."

"Oh, I hadn't realized. I figured I'd be crashing at Pen's tonight. That changes things. I I'd better go then since I've got to make arrangements for Henry."

Reaching out to touch her arm, Rossi tried to convince her otherwise. "Listen, JJ, I've got a big place. There is more than enough room for everyone and their neighbours. Please, I'd like you to bring Henry along with you. He hasn't been there yet and I know he'd love to come to Uncle Dave's house." Turning to Hotch, he extended the same invitation. "You too, Hotch."

JJ was taken aback. "Oh, I don't know. I don't want to impose."

Rossi put his hand on his heart and told her with as much sincerity as he could, "JJ, I would love for Henry to come. You know how much I love that little guy and I don't get to see him as much as I'd like."

JJ knew what he was saying was the truth. Rossi had always gone out of his way for her son. When Will had gone back to Louisiana, it was Rossi who came over to help her with any household problems she had. During his many visits, Henry became attached to 'Unca Dave'. To be honest, Hotch had also helped on occasion, but trying not to impose on his time with Jack, she only bothered her boss if Rossi was not available. "Okay Dave, I'll bring him if Hotch brings Jack. That way he'll have a friend."

They both turned to look at Hotch; each seemed more desperate than the other for Hotch's answer. "Umm...well...Jessica will be disappointed but I'm sure Jack would love it."

Dave rubbed his hands together and then placed one hand on Hotch's shoulder. "Okay pal, I'm going to follow JJ home so that I can give her a ride to the cabin. Are you okay to come up on your own?"

Hotch gave Dave a dirty look. "I'll try my best, Dad."

JJ meanwhile was starting to feel uncomfortable. "Dave, that's not necessary. I'm perfectly capable of driving my car."

Smiling, Dave placed a hand on the upper part of her back as he guided her out of the elevator. "JJ, I understand that and I accept your decision but I'd really like to spend some time with Henry before everyone else gets to my place."

JJ was ready to fight him until he said those last words and then her heart melted. How could she say no to that? "Okay Dave, I give up. If you go pick up Henry from the FBI child care centre and I'll go to my place and pack up our stuff. Let me give you the car seat."

Holding up his hand, he indicated that he did not require JJ's car seat. Popping open his trunk, he pulled out a spare seat. Seeing her raised eyebrows, he shrugged his shoulders. "What? I'm like MacGyver. I like to be prepared."

Shaking her head, she chuckled as she got into her car. Just before she shut her door, she called out, "I'll let Henry's teacher's know you'll be picking up so there won't be any problems." Putting the car in drive, she looked back through the rear view mirror and watched as he bent over the seat he was installing in the back of his truck. Her heart swelled at the effort that Dave was putting in for her and her child. Far more effort in the last few months, then Henry's father did since he was born.

While JJ felt sorry for her son that his father's top priority was which wench he could bed, she certainly realized that her son was better off since she kicked Will out. It wasn't that Will hadn't tried to make amends, it was that JJ realized that every lie Will told was at the expense of his child and his fiancé. No amount of apologies or grovelling would change the fact that Will had missed some of the most important months of his child's life because he couldn't keep it in his pants. The final straw came the day she came home early to find Will in her own bed with his latest "partner" all the while Henry was crying in his playpen downstairs. She kicked him out that same day and never looked back.

She was grateful for the men on her team. As soon as she told them what had happened, they had stepped in to be the "man" in her son's life. They dropped by often to help fix the broken garbage disposals, or to shovel the driveway after a snow storm. Unless they were on a case or he was off to do some publicity for his newest book, Dave made sure he came over at least once a week and cooked for the two of them.

They had gotten very close during the last few months but JJ was closed off to relationships. While David's reputation as a ladies' man preceded him, he had done nothing that JJ would perceive as anything other than friendship. Certainly they were much closer than before and she trusted him with her life, but it was more important that she trust him with her son's life. She couldn't imagine what her life would be like without David Rossi in it. Their relationship was complicated, that was for sure.