A/N: Hey everyone! Here's another Christmas fic, written for the 2013 Criminal Minds Christmas Fic Gift Exchange hosted by the Forum of the same name. My gift is for Jekkah and I really hope she enjoys this. Her prompts were: Chipmunks Roasting on an Open Fire (song); gingerbread men; spiked egg nog; and a Santa hat. And the assigned pairing is, of course, JJ/Hotch. Merry Christmas!

Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds.

Chapter 1:


JJ brushed at her long blonde strands once, twice, and then put the brush down. She stared at her reflection, nervous, very nervous, picking up the brush once again.

"Tell me again how Hotch is coming over tonight, this festive Christmas Eve, and how he's going to stay the night, and how 'nothing's going to happen' between you two?"

She rolled her eyes at Garcia's reflection, not appreciating her use of air quotes. Her incredulousness was also doing nothing to quell the butterflies in her stomach. This was their first Christmas together. She wanted everything to be perfect.

"I told you, nothing is going to happen. At least not what you're thinking… Henry's staying with me this Christmas and Aaron's bringing Jack. This is purely for the boys…" JJ countered.

"But, the two of you have been dating a whole month," Garcia lamented. "And not once have you done the dance of love, that's just not right."

She sighed, turning around to lean against her dressing table. Frowning deeply, she wished that she had never let it slip that she and Hotch, though dating for the past month and three days, had not slept together yet. "It will happen when it happens…"

Garcia shook her head sadly. "Girl, you so have your priorities mixed up."

JJ laughed heartily at her friend's sulking expression. "We're taking our time to get to know each other, you know…"

"You've gotten to know each other for the past ten years. What more is there to know than what boss-man's abs feel like? Come on!"

"Are you going to argue with me at everything I say?" she asked amusedly. "You know what I mean. Yes, we've known each other for ten years. As colleagues and friends. The whole dating thing is a bit different."

The quirky analyst just shrugged her shoulders. "Whatever you say peaches!" She climbed off of JJ's bed. "I've got to go… get ready for my own Christmas Eve…"

"Kevin still coming over?" JJ wondered out loud. It was hard to keep track of her friend's on-again, off-again romance with her fellow analyst. She believed they were currently on-again, but who really knew. At least, Garcia hadn't burned any effigies of Kevin lately. Though, that could just be because of the current time of year.

"Yes," Garcia answered pointedly. "And… unlike for you, something will be happening tonight for me!"

"Oh, Garcia," JJ protested jokingly, putting both hands up in front of her. "TMI!"

Penelope took a turn rolling her eyes at her. "Now, before I go, I got you an early Christmas present. Just a sec…" She was out of JJ's bedroom and down the hall, where she'd left her bag in the living room, before JJ could protest.

When she came back, she held a medium-sized gift bag out to her. "Here you go, Merry Christmas, JJ."

She took the penguin themed, red bag from her hands, smiling. "Thank you, Penelope."

JJ had every intention of opening it later, but Garcia had other ideas. "Open it!"

Tentatively, she reached into the bag, wary of what she might find—she was once on the receiving end of a whole S&M starter kit, courtesy of Garcia, in front of her mother, no less. Feeling around inside, she tried to figure out what it was before she pulled the item out. All she could feel was cloth: velvety material and something furry. Uh oh… she mentally had the foresight to think.

"Come on, JJ," Garcia urged.

Rather reluctantly, she grabbed hold of what felt like a hanger and pulled the gift out. Garcia clapped excitedly at the sight of the red and white garment. Actually, using the word 'garment' for the scraps of material sewn together was probably being generous.

JJ held in her hands a red velvet bra top and panty set, edged in white fur. She could just imagine Garcia shopping for this in the seasonal section at her preferred sex shop. Not helping it, she groaned out loud.

She looked from the 'outfit' to Garcia who was already perched at her bedroom door, ready to make her getaway.

"There's a matching Santa hat in there, too!"

"Garcia!" she objected loudly.

"Merry Christmas, Mrs. Claus! Say hi to the Mister for me when he gets here."


"Here you go, Hotch," Henry said enthusiastically, handing him a traditional looking stocking. "Hang yours first, then mommy's."

Hotch and Jack had arrived at JJ's about a half hour before. With them, they'd brought their stockings, some extra special ornaments to add to JJ's tree, and presents. He had to admit, JJ's idea of spending the holiday together was a brilliant one. This was the first time in years he felt like a proper, special Christmas was occurring. It wasn't a surprise, this was the first time in years that he was in love and could show it.

"Why ours first?" he asked the just recently turned five year old.

"Because, dad," Jack answered instead, handing him JJ's stocking in the process. "The mom and dad always go up first in a family and then the kids."

He had to smile at the two boys who were beaming up at him, very pleased with themselves. According to them, the fact that JJ and Hotch were together was all their idea. And, he guessed, in a way it was. They'd been spending an awful lot of time together, pre-dating, for the boys' sake, and he remembered Jack suggesting he get married to JJ a few times before anything became official. But, the two of them being together wasn't just about the boys. It was about finding your perfect match in every way. And that was JJ, for him.

It was no secret that the boys already thought of the four of them as a family. Pessimists would attempt to caution them of this, considering that they'd only been dating a little over a month. But, not him; Hotch had been in love with JJ forever, now, and would be forever more.

It had never been the right time for them before. But then, suddenly, he was single and, more importantly, so was she. It hadn't taken much to push them together after that. He would never give her up and she felt the exact same.

Finishing the hanging of the stockings, he turned to the boys and said, "Why don't you two arrange the presents we brought under the tree…"

He watched them for a few moments, picking up the various boxes from himself and JJ, along with relatives and the team, before starting to place them under the tree. It soon turned into a shaking-fest with many statements of 'What do you think it is?' uttered by both the boys.

Hotch chuckled and decided to use this moment of delighted distraction to properly greet his girlfriend. JJ had left them soon after their arrival, saying something about gingerbread, before disappearing. It was just now that he realized he hadn't seen her since.

Making his way to the kitchen, the scent of holiday spices became more and more apparent the closer he got. JJ was definitely cooking something up.

He stepped around the corner and stopped inside the doorway to the kitchen. Leaning against the doorframe, he took a glance around, noting and admiring the controlled chaos in progress.

Something new that he'd learned about JJ when they'd started dating was that she could cook, but seldom was it a neat occurrence. Tonight was no exception.

There were stacks of cooking sheets, piled high, threatening to topple over, with already cooked festive looking gingerbread men. Close by were several mixing bowls, empty and full; JJ had enough dough and cookies to feed the entire army. Whole eggs and cracked eggshells adorned the island and a light dusting of flour coated almost every flat surface in the kitchen.

And in the midst of it all, was a very put together looking JJ, going to and fro in a frantic manner.

Her back to him, he could see she was dressed in black and red. A black pleated, mini-skirt, with sheer black tights underneath, made him do a double-take at her already fantastic looking legs. In those black, high-heeled, ankle boots, he was going to have a hard time not staring all night. And on top, she wore a festive red and silver sequined tank top.

"Oh!" she said in surprise when she turned around to find him standing there.

He couldn't help chuckling at the sight of her. From the back, sure she looked put together, however, from the front she looked plain adorable. Around her waist, longer than the skirt, she wore a red, Rudolph embossed apron. And on both her hands were matching oven mitts. But it was the very tip of her nose, covered with a heavy dusting of flour that made him smile the most and had him moving towards her.

"I didn't see you there. How's everything—Oh!" She gasped as he caught her around the waist, shocking her by lifting her into his arms and up onto a messy countertop.

Her oven-mitted hands wound their way around his neck instantly. Her red lips were already parted, ready and waiting for what was so obviously coming. He put his hands on her covered knees to push them apart, coming to stand between them.

His lips found hers in a hungry, rush-inducing kiss. He pressed his body into her warm one as he kissed her hard; harder than what a greeting kiss probably called for, and more like a prelude-kiss to bedroom activities. But, he didn't care, and neither did she, apparently, since she kissed him back with just as much enthusiasm.

JJ was on the very same page he was on, wrapping her legs around his waist to pull him ever closer to her heat. His hands found their way to her bottom, cupping her ass, bringing her closer to his fast hardening length. With moments like these, it was almost hard to believe they hadn't had sex yet.

With his body fast stirring, he knew he needed to pull away. Very reluctantly, he pulled his lips from her hungry ones, only to hear her whimper in protest. Her arms remained steadfastly around his neck, though, she did drop her legs. Eyes closed, he let his forehead rest against hers as they both attempted to catch their breaths.

Finally, he opened his eyes to find her brilliant blue ones firmly planted on him. She was watching him with a look of such intense desire. He had to gulp down his own sense of anticipation and want, knowing that tonight was not the night. Tonight was about the boys and making sure they had the best Christmas ever.

He stepped a foot away, keeping some distance between them as he reached up and wiped his thumb over her nose. She reached for him, doing the same to the transferred white stuff. They shared a happy smile.

"The boys?" she asked as if reading his mind from a moment before.

"Putting the presents under the tree," he answered.

She nodded. She gave him a shy look from beneath her lashes, a look he was beginning to know well. They'd been taking things slow, but that was beginning to be harder and harder to do. "Hotch—" she began.

He reached for her covered hand, pulling the mitten off, before giving it a tender kiss. He knew. "Soon."


That's it for Chapter 1. Chapter 2 will be coming tomorrow and will be M-rated.

Jekkah, I hope you enjoyed this; Merry Christmas to you and everyone else who might be reading.

Let me know what you all think, if you feel like.