Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays all! This is my Christmas gift exchange story for GraveyGraves. My prompts were: Advent calender, Christmas cake, decorating a tree, and the song 'Walking in the Air'.

I hope everyone has a great holiday weekend and GraveyGraves, I hope you enjoy your present :)

I do not own Criminal Minds

Morgan opened the second to last door on his advent calendar and popped out a piece of chocolate.

"I don't think that Mickey Mouse was on the traditional advent calendar." Emily laughed as she stuffed files into her bag.

"All that I care about," Morgan said in between his chewing, "is that I'm not here tomorrow to open the last one. I plan to be on a plane heading towards Chicago."

"Visiting your family?" Emily asked.

Morgan nodded. "How about you Prentiss? Visiting family?"

Emily snorted and nearly dropped her bag.

"Okay… have a hot date then?" Morgan tried again.

"As a matter of fact I do." Emily strung her bag over her left shoulder as she stood up from her desk. She was heading towards the door leaving the office when Morgan caught up with her.

"Hey, Hey! You can't just leave me hanging like that," He jogged next to her.

Emily just smiled and continued to walk.

"Who's the unlucky guy?" Morgan asked and winced as he saw Emily strike out to hit him playfully.

"The night is going to be very, very hot, I already know that. And well we might just spend the whole weekend in bed." She drew out her words, while getting on the elevator.

"Come on Emily!"

"He does have a problem with falling asleep right on top of me, and then in the middle of the night he wakes me up wanting more." Emily snickered at the look on Morgan's face, it was priceless.

"So what about you?" She continued nonchalantly, "Do you have a foxy mama?"

Morgan faltered briefly, and then smoothly said, "Well, I've got all the girls chasing me, but none are just right."

"Is that right?" Emily asked as she stepped off the elevator and starting walking towards her car. Morgan was following her like a small child following his mom in a crowded mall.

"What's his name Prentiss? If you don't tell me I'll have to knock down the door of every man in this city!" He threatened as Emily walked up to her car and sat down in it, keeping the door open.

"Who said it's a man?" Emily tried to suppress the smile threatening to spread across her lips.

"But- a- you said, him…" Morgan stuttered.

"Just so you don't keep yourself up all night imagining things that only exist in your dreams, I'll tell you. For your information I have a very hot date with my cat Sergio. I will be in my bed reading a good book, oh and the fire will be on."

"What?"

Emily shut the door of her car and sped home, she was looking forward to cracking open a new book and doing nothing else.

XXX

As promised Emily sat on her couch in front of a blazing fire with Sergio curled up against her side. Deadeye Dick by Kurt Vonnegut was open in her hands, but she was no longer reading the pages. Her eyes gazed around her apartment as she noticed just how un- Christmas like it was. She didn't even have a Christmas tree.

But then again, she had never been a big fan of these holidays. Everyone on the team went to visit their families, but for her it was just like another weekend. Those in themselves were rare, so she appreciated the time, but nothing was really special. The only thing that gave a hint of Christmas was the flurries of snow outside her window.

Other than that she had no lights, no stockings, and no presents. Just her and Sergio sitting on her couch like every other holiday there was.

"How do you feel about being my hot date for tonight, Serge?" Emily asked petting his head. He purred in response and she took that as a yes. "I bet everyone else is jealous of me. I have the most handsome man around."

Emily pulled out her cell phone and debated calling her mom to wish her a Merry Christmas, but eventually just set it down on the table. A call would mean an interrogation. It would mean her admitting she was doing nothing. That she had no boy friend, no friends, hell, no one who wanted to spend the holidays with her.

But despite all of that, she didn't want to spend it with her parents. The last one of those ended in politics. The room was filled with tense politeness, but it was that or they would start a full out brawl. Emily just didn't want to be involved in either. Why should they discuss the current stock market while eating Christmas dinner, or fight about the President while opening presents?

She had mailed her parent's presents, and was expecting her own to come any day.

A yawn escaped from Emily's lips and she reluctantly stood up, scaring Sergio. He glared at her as she turned off the fire.

"Sorry about that Sergio. Some on, let's go to bed." She patted her leg and he followed her up to her bed. She got under her covers and he curled up next to her head.

"What would I do without you?" She asked as she closed her eyes and dreamed of a family Christmas. The kind she had never had. Not in stiff coordinated Christmas outfits, but one with kids running around and playing with presents, and adults are showing them how to work things, and talking. But they would talk about their children's latest ideas, or creations. Not just trying to show- case them.

Emily smiled as she dreamt of the perfect Christmas. One that she would never have.

XXX

"Dammit," Morgan grumbled as he glared at his computer screen. He slammed his mouse down and then punched numbers into his phone.

"Hey Derek!" His sister answered the phone with excitement in her voice.

"Hi, is mom there?" He asked and the phone got handed off. "Hi ma, it's Derek. Do you have a blizzard down in Chicago or something?"

"We've gotten more snow than usual, yes. Wait, why? Derek is something wrong?" She asked with concern in her voice.

"Every single flight to Chicago has been canceled! They say that flying conditions 'aren't suitable.'" He put audible air quotes around the last two words.

"Now, now honey, no need to get mad." She soothed her angry son.

"But Ma, we spend every Christmas together!" He argued back.

"I guess this year we will just have to have a late Christmas. You can fly up next time you get a few days off." She suggested.

"Except I don't know when that will ever be." He informed her.

"We'll make it work sweetie. We all love you and wish you could be here, but make the most of your holiday at home. Do you have anyone you can spend it with? Christmas is a time to be around others and spread cheer!" It was just like his mom to turn a situation around to focus on the good.

"No, Ma. Everyone is with… Wait." He paused as a smile spread across his face. "I know just who I can spend Christmas with. Thanks ma, I love you."

"I love you too Derek, call soon."

"I will," He promised as he hung up the phone.

Derek set it down and moved to the kitchen. He pulled out ingredients and then made a mess. Tomorrow was going to be one hell of a surprise.