Happy New Year to all! Hope you had a safe and joyous holiday season. Well, this is a last minute pinch hit for the CCOAC Christmas gift exchange. The pairing and prompts were: Morgan/Garcia; "It's Beginning to Look at Lot Like Christmas"; Hot chocolate with marshmallows, candy cane and cream; inside winter wonderland; and a real life elf. Also, this is first for me that I actually had it beta'd by another author because I wanted to make sure that although it was late, it would be perfect. So, a special thanks goes out to Katie.

For klcm. Sorry it's so late, but I figure since we're still in the official 'Twelve Days of Christmas", it counts. Hope your Christmas as a good one and your New Year is blessed beyond words. Kate

I don't own Criminal Minds and sad to say, I don't own Christmas, either. I do own Amanda Francine Morgan.

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

Derek Morgan turned the folded paper in his hands and used the scissors to gently clip another corner away. He was a man on a mission: to give his wife a Christmas that she would never forget. His plans that had included a soft Rosé in front of the fireplace while they watched the snow gently fall outside the windows was nipped in the bud by a sudden and unpredicted heat wave.

Unfolding the paper, he smiled at the snowflake he had just made. "Perfect! One down, ninety nine more to go!"

Working like mad, he clipped until his hand cramped. The pile was growing, but it was no where close to what he wanted for his Baby Girl. It was a good thing that she was out on the West Coast with the team and wouldn't be back until tomorrow, so she couldn't see that they were going to have a dry Christmas. But he was going to try and give her what Mother Nature was hoarding for herself.

"Daddy, what are you doing?" a small voice piped up.

Derek paused with his task and looked toward the hallway entrance where the voice had come from. A smile brightened his weary face. "Amanda Francine Morgan, what are you doing up?" he admonished gently.

"I couldn't sleep. I miss Mommy."

"I miss her too," Derek agreed.

"Is she coming home for Christmas?" Amanda's voice trembled.

"She's going to try," Derek replied cautiously. He had worked too many years at the FBI to know that no promise could ever be chiseled in stone - especially when it came to serial killers. Christmas and Valentine's Day were just another day on the calendar when it came to crime. Criminals didn't care what holiday was happening when destroying lives and creating fear. "We could call her, if you want."

"She might be busy." The little girl slumped her shoulders. Slowly she moved over to the couch. "What are you doing?" she repeated.

"I'm making something for Mommy so when she comes home, she'll be surprised."

"That's a pretty snowflake, Daddy. Where did you learn to do that?"

"My dad taught me when I was a little boy." He gestured toward the table. "Do you want to try?" Derek asked.

"I don't know how."

"Then this is the best time to learn. Follow what I do." Derek picked up a thin sheet of white paper and folded it a couple of times. "Just like this. Now fold it again…and once more," he instructed. Amanda followed his lead. "Just like that. Now cut little corners."

Biting her lower lip, Amanda concentrated on following her father's instructions. The pieces fell to the floor. Finally, she pulled the paper apart. "Is this good?"

Derek looked at the lopsided snowflake with gigantic holes in some areas and partially cut ones in others. It really didn't resemble anything ever created, but in her mind it was the most perfect snowflake ever created.

"It's beautiful," Derek choked out as tears filled his eyes and clogged his throat.

"Can I make another? Please?" the girl pleaded.

"It's almost nine o'clock and you need to be in bed if Santa is going to come," Derek stated gently but firmly.

"I only want Mommy to come home. I don't care about nothing else," Amanda pleaded. She looked up at her hero with puppy dog eyes. "Please?"

Derek debated for half a second, then gave in. Yes, he was wrapped around his little girl's pinky finger, but he didn't mind. Not at all. "I have a lot of snowflakes to make, then we have to hang them. Are you ready to help me?"

Amanda clapped her small hands together. "Yes!"

Derek patted the cushion beside him, then picked up the scissors. "Start cutting away, my angel. We need to have this done if Santa is going to make your wish come true."

"I'm not an angel, I'm an elf," she corrected as she concentrated intently on her project.

"An elf?" Derek raised his eyebrow.

"Like helping Santa make Christmas at the North Pole," Amanda explained the way only a four year old could. "We're going to make it here for Mommy."

"That's one way of putting it. Then I guess you're an elf…for tonight." Derek set the paper down and stood up. "Would you like something to drink?" he asked and stretched.

"Yes, please," came the reply, but Amanda didn't look up.

Derek gave one more look at the precious jewel of his and Pen's love, then he left to make them a treat.

"I got the last string in, Daddy!" Amanda exclaimed as she held up her snowflake and let it swing from her forefinger. Christmas music filled the living room.

"That's my good little elf," Derek praised. After two hours of cutting and stringing a portion of the faux flakes, Derek had learned that his daughter was only a tad bit stubborn - a trait inherited from both parents - when it came to her new name and finishing the project for her mommy.

Standing on the second step of the small ladder, Derek reached up and hung the string on the dozens of thumb tacks he had pressed into the ceiling. One by one, and of various lengths, the room began to fill up. As the last paper went up, he climbed down and looked around.

"Looks good," he remarked.

"Yeah," Amanda breathed. "Are we done?"

"Well, you could put some on the tree and I'll tape the rest on the windows." Derek looked at his watch. Nearly midnight. If he was going to get Amanda into bed, he was going to have to work fast.

As the last snowflake went up, the pair stepped back to gaze upon their work.

"Turn on the lights, Daddy," Amanda yawned. Derek reached over and plugged in the tree. Blinking on, then off, then finding a rhythm, the room was quickly filled with bright bursts of blue, green, gold, and red. "That's pretty." Amanda moved to the couch and sat down.

"Yes it is. What do you think?" Derek asked. The bright lights danced off the white paper and gave a colorful glow that was almost ethereal.

"It looks just like Santa's work…" Amanda stopped as a huge yawn overwhelmed her. "His work…" She tried again but couldn't find the words. Her eyes drooped as her head nodded.

Derek held his breath as Amanda's eyes closed and she faded off into dream land. "Oh Angel, you tried so hard to stay awake for Mommy." Leaning over the couch, he pressed a kiss to his daughter's auburn curls. He waited for something, but the girl was out for the count.

Picking Amanda up in his arms, Derek held her close and breathed in her delicate scent. At that moment, the heart he thought was full of love for his daughter began to overflow. Even if the criminals kept his wife away for the holidays, when Penelope walked thru the door, it was for sure she was going to be surprised.

Taking the girl to her room, Derek tucked her in, gave her another kiss, then closed the door softly behind him. He still had enough time to put the gifts under the tree. If he and Amanda couldn't have their one big wish, at least she could have her present.

Fifteen minutes later, the last gift was arranged and Derek could relax. It was perfect. Walking over to the couch, he settled down into the cushions. Closing his eyes, he let the strains of Burl Ives' "It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas" wrap around him and take him off into dreamland where he was with his baby girl.