This is my entry for the CCOAC Christmas Challenge. My song was Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella. My prompts were star anise, cloves and cinnamon. This is for cedricsowner.

This was supposed t o be a one-shot. Honest. Unfortunately Dave and his Kitten didn't want that so this is it. Don't worry. It'll be finished by Christmas. Enjoy!

Wednesday, 12/21

David Rossi was standing by the railing next to his office watching the resident tech kitten make her usual holiday rounds in the BAU bullpen. He had to give Penelope credit for trying but, with the exception of Morgan, he knew her better than anyone in the room. She might be smiling and laughing as she talked with everyone but the smiles and laughter didn't reach her eyes.

Her very public breakup with Kevin Lynch almost four months earlier still had her upset. It wasn't bad enough he had cheated on her. He had humiliated her as well, listing all her perceived faults where everyone could, and did, hear them. Penelope had run into her lair crying quickly followed by JJ and Emily.

That left Kevin standing in the bullpen with everyone looking at him and the rest of the team standing in front of him. He's lucky all he left with was a broken nose, courtesy of Derek Morgan, and a strongly worded suggestion from Hotch that he consider transferring away from Quantico... far away from Quantico.

She tried to get back to her old self and, for the most part, she was successful. At time like this, though, it was harder for her to hide what she was feeling from her friends, especially from the man who had fallen in love with her, although she didn't know that and he had no plans on telling her.

He was still watching her when someone walked up next to him. Glancing next to him, David saw Derek standing there. Neither man spoke for a couple of minutes.

"Well, I give her credit for trying," Derek finally said.

"We knew she was a good actor," Dave said.

"She's not the only one," the younger man said. Dave gave him a puzzled look. "She's not the only actor around here. You're doing a good job yourself."

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Dave said, turning to look back at Penelope. He had no plans on leaving that particular Egyptian river any time in the near future.

"Sure you don't," Derek said.

"Derek..." Dave started.

"Look, man," Derek said, turning to face the older man. "If this was a couple of years ago, you'd be the last person I'd send after my baby girl but you've changed. I think your Romeo reputation now is all talk."

"I go out," Dave argued.

"I know," Derek smiled, "but I think you go home alone after a lot of those dates and I think that's a choice on your part not the ladies you're with. Lately, though, a lot of your attention seems to be on your kitten and it has been even before Lynch's epic foray into stupidity."

"I don't play in other people's backyards."

"I know. You get a particular look on your face when you look at at her, kind of a cross between longing, sadness and love," Derek said. "We've all noticed."

Dave's eyes went wide then he sighed. "I don't know why I'm surprised," he said. "So you've been sent to deliver a message?"

"It was either me or JJ and Emily," Derek chuckled. "Trust me, I'm the better option."

"You going to warn me off?" Dave asked.

"Actually, no," Derek said. "I'm here to give you a push in her direction."

"Excuse me?"

"I think you'd be good for each other," Derek said. "She could use the stability you'd bring her and heaven knows you could use her kind of fun in your life."

"Any idea how I can accomplish this?" Dave asked.

"Hotch wanted to lock you both in a supply closet," Derek chuckled. "We talked him out of it. It's way too clich d. We're leaving the particulars up to you. I do know that, like you, she's spending Christmas weekend alone."

"She's not going with you?" Dave asked.

"She turned me down," Derek shrugged. "I think she was afraid of being a downer during my visit home." He paused for a moment. "Look, the only thing that matters to me is Mama's happiness," he said. "I think you could make her happy. I think you could make each other happy." He patted the older man's shoulder then walked away.

Dave watched Penelope for a few more minutes before walking into his office. Sitting behind his desk, he thought about what Derek had told him and what he actually felt about his kitten. Derek had been right. He was in love with Penelope. The question he had for himself was did he plan on doing anything about it. That he would have to consider very carefully.

Saturday morning, 12/24

Penelope sighed as she sat down at her kitchen table to eat breakfast. She didn't even know why she'd bothered getting dressed that morning. It wasn't like there was anyone there to see if she spent the weekend in her pajamas. She had almost finished her cereal when there was a knock at her front door. Who would be visiting her? she thought. Everyone she knew that might drop by had other plans for the holidays.

She had stood up and headed for the door when she heard a bark in the hallway. That really confused her because no one she knew in the building, and she knew most of them, had a dog. There was another knock as she reached the door and opened it. When she saw who was standing there, he mouth dropped open.

"Hello, Kitten," Dave said, Mudgie by his side. "Merry Christmas. May we come in?" She didn't say a word as she moved back and opened the door wider so he and the black lab could come into the room. She shut the door once he was inside.

Once inside, he dropped the bags he was carrying on the couch. "I need to get the rest of the bags," he said, heading back to the door. "I'll be right back." With that, he was out of the door again.

Penelope stared at the door for a moment then down at the dog sitting by the couch. "Do you know what's going on?" she asked. The dog just yawned and laid down.

Dave was back less than five minutes later with several more bags including his go bag. He put them on the couch which was now covered in bags. He began to go through them. Penelope just watched him, not saying a word. He looked up at her.

"Are you going to help me or just stand there?" he asked.

"Uh, Superagent?" she asked.

"Yes, Penelope?"

"What's going on?" she asked.

"Christmas," he simply said. He handed her two bags. "These two need to go in the fridge."

She took the bags and walked into the kitchen. She got more confused as she unloaded the bags and put the food in the refrigerator. There were fixings for a small Christmas dinner as well as several other meals it looked like. When she finished, she walked back into her living room.

Dave had unpacked more of the bags. Setting on her coffee table was a small Christmas tree and ornaments to match. "A tree?" she asked.

"Well, you don't have one," he said as an explanation.

"Right," she said.

He pulled out two bowls, a small bag of dog food and a can of dog food. "Put these in the kitchen, too," he said, handing them to her. She looked at him. "Mudgie needs to eat as well," he said.

"Of course," she said, heading back into the kitchen. He was poking through the other bags when she walked back into the living room. "What else have you brought?" she asked.

"Just more stuff for Christmas," he shrugged.

"And all the food?" she asked.

"Christmas dinner of course," he said. "There's also stuff for lunch and dinner today as well as breakfast tomorrow. Snacks, too."

"So you're coming back tomorrow?" she asked.

"No," he smiled.

"You're not?" she asked. She was so confused.

"Nope," he said. "I'm spending the night."

TBC