Author's Note: Special thanks to Lenika08, deeda, happysunshine01, beaglelover719, Flames101, MaddieNicole, and misalason for the reviews! I love that the first chapter got seven reviews. Thanks to everyone who has alerted, too. Those of you that read my fic, "The Christmas Bracelet" will recognize this format. It's very similar. I just loved the idea so much!
DECEMBER 19TH:
"I'm telling you, Aaron," Rossi protested, standing in the middle of Hotch's office the next morning after the younger agent had summoned him, "I had nothing to do with that tree."
Hotch frowned. He didn't doubt the sincerity in Rossi's voice, but the lack of any other suspects made him nervous. "If you didn't, then who could have?"
Rossi sighed, already frustrated by Hotch's inquiry. "I don't know. Penelope, maybe? Or Jessica and Jack wanting to make sure that you have a good Christmas with them not there?"
"Maybe," he agreed, slightly buoyed over the thought that his son was thinking of him. Hotch's eyes narrowed. "But why wouldn't they sign the card?"
Rossi opened his mouth to counter Hotch's argument once more, only to be cut off by a knock on the door. He sighed gratefully when JJ's head popped in. She grinned at them both.
"Sorry for the interruption, but I need you to sign off on these cases for me," JJ told them.
"Not a problem. I was just leaving anyway," Rossi assured her before scurrying out the door.
JJ watched him leave, curiously, before handing the stack of folders to Hotch. "Everything okay?"
"Yes," Hotch replied, then sighed, "No. I don't know. When I got home last night, I found a Christmas tree on my porch with a note that just said 'Merry Christmas.' I have no idea whom it's from or why."
"My guess is that someone wants you to have a Merry Christmas," she replied, wryly. "Did you set it up?"
Hotch grumbled, "Yes. But I didn't put anything on it yet. The branches have to settle first. And I watched a Christmas movie, too - Elf - in case that didn't count as Christmas-y enough for you."
JJ grinned, warmth spreading through her chest knowing he had taken her advice to heart. "That's perfect. You should do something else tonight."
"Like what?"
"Bake cookies," she told him without hesitation. "I'll send you my grandmother's famous sugar cookie recipe."
Hotch grimaced, he was not known for his baking skills. "I don't know."
JJ raised an eyebrow at him. "They're easy to do and if they turn out bad, you can just toss away the batch." She bit her lip when he still hesitated. "Tell you what: you make the cookies tonight and Henry and I will come over tomorrow to help decorate the tree. I'll even bring dinner."
"That little Chinese place by your house?" he questioned, hopefully.
"Yep," she replied, holding out her hand. "Deal?"
Hotch shook her hand, relishing the feel of her soft skin against her own. "Deal."
JJ slowly slipped her hand from his, too wrapped in watching his hand to notice him watching her. "Now, about those papers..."
"Oh, no!" Hotch gasped as one of the grocery bags he was carrying started to slip from his grasp. He caught it inches before it hit the ground. Not for the first time since he left the office, he wondered why he was making cookies, but every time he thought about not making them, JJ's disappointed face flashed through his mind. Fleetingly, as he climbed the stairs, he thought that he should analyze why he saw her face and why it made him tingle, but he just wanted to enjoy the emotions for a change without thinking.
He was nearly at the door when he hit something with his foot. Hotch glanced down to see a medium sized box wrapped in red paper with green, purple, and blue ornaments. There was the same red envelope on top as on the tree yesterday. Hotch put down his bags to open the envelope. It read "Kala Christouyenna."
"I'm going to assume that means 'Merry Christmas'," Hotch muttered to himself. He unwrapped the box to reveal set after set of lights. "Looks like I'm putting up some lights."
Despite his growling, a smile spread across his face. Putting the lights on the tree meant that Henry could start putting up ornaments right away tomorrow. Hotch couldn't wait to see Henry's face when he got to decorate the entire tree his way. He knew the little boy would be thrilled.
