A/N WOW This one is LONG. i would have put it up in parts, but i thought as i had it already written i thought 'why not'
AJ
JJ reached the door handle and swung it open but instead of yelling at whoever was on the other side JJ's mouth dropped. Who should she see standing on her porch…more than half of her team.
"Erm...Hey" JJ said even more confused now she had answered the door.
"Hey Jayje, can we come in? Its freezing out here" Emily asked as her teeth chattered.
"Oh yeah sure" JJ stood aside to let them all in.
Emily walked in carrying boxes of what looked like food, and then Hotch walked in carrying a slightly sleepy looking jack on his hip with a bag in his other hand. Rossi walked in behind Hotch carrying a massive turkey and last to enter was Reid who was bogged down with brightly wrapped gift boxes.
"Erm...not that I'm not please to see you at..." JJ shuffled a content looking 3 Month old in her arms to check her watch "7:10 guys but...why are you here?"
"Can we have Christmas here please Auntie JJ" Little jack asked before anyone could answer her. JJ raised an eyebrow at Hotch.
"The storm blew out all the power North of Quantico and you're the only one on the team that lives south. I hope you don't mind" Hotch said as he smiled at the now babbling baby in JJ's arms.
"I've brought all the food from my place and everything else we might need for the next few days" Rossi said with a smile.
JJ took a look at all the pleading faces of her colleagues and people she considered family, which they certainly had been since Will had up and left.
A Smile crossed JJ's face as she looked at Jacks puppy dog eyes. 'Maybe this wont be such a lonely Christmas after all' she thought to her self.
"Of course you can all stay" She rolled her eyes and giggled as Emily and Jack high fived "I don't know where you're all going to stay sleep" JJ paused thinking for a second and noticed Spencer shivering.
"Why don't you all go into the living room and get warm in front of the fire and put all the food stuff in the kitchen. I'll just go and put this little one to bed" JJ finished gently tapping Henry on the nose.
They all showed their gratitude and ran off to get warm.
JJ walked into her bedroom, it was where she was going to put Henry for the night as she might need the nursery for some of the other guests. She reached her door when someone grabbed her arm and turned her round.
"Are you sure you don't mind us all staying Jayje?" Emily said as she looked a little worried and stroked Henrys blond hair.
"Do you want to know something?" JJ replied biting her bottom lip.
"Anything" Emily answered looking into JJ's eyes,
"I was dreading spending the morning just me and Henry. There was always family round when I was growing up and that's what I want for him." She finished looking down at the almost sleeping boy in her arms. Emily put a finger under JJ's chin to make her look up her.
"Why didn't you say anything JJ?"
"Because you can't be there for ever. I have to do it alone at some point, don't I?" JJ answered tears welling in her eyes.
"Oh c'mon JJ, we've all had this convocation with you many times since Will left. You will never be alone do you hear me? You're going to be stuck with us for the rest of your life. No matter how much we annoy you, we're not going anywhere, and if you ever need any of us all you have to do is call and we will be there as fast as possible. You and Henry are family JJ and nothing will ever ever change that ok?" Emily finished as a tear slid down hers and JJ's cheek. Emily tipped her hear towards JJ's room "Go and put your beautiful boy to bed while I go and get warm" she winked at JJ, kissed Henry on his head and walked away.
JJ walked into her room and placed Henry in the cot. With in seconds he had fallen asleep, he looked so peaceful and innocent. JJ stood there and watched him sleep for 10 minutes.
JJ sighed and switched on the baby monitor that was already in her room, then she turned on her bed side light, tip toed out and closed the door behind her. JJ grabbed her other part of the baby monitor, strapped it to her jeans and went to find her new house guests.
JJ turned the corner to her living room and stopped in her tracks.
"Merry Christmas eve buttercup" Garcia ran up to JJ and embraced her tightly, when she let go, JJ was embraced again but this time it was a large set of muscular arms that wrapped them self round her.
"Hey baby girl," Morgan let go to look at JJ "I hope you don't mind, our flight was cancelled, this storm's taking over"
"Oh" JJ was still a little shell shocked by the others turning up and now the rest of the team were stood in front of her.
"Can we stay as well kitten the lights are out at our places too" Garcia asked sitting down in front of the fire and putting Jack on to her lap and hugging him. JJ glanced at Emily who smiled back.
"Find somewhere to sleep and I don't have a problem at all" she giggles at Garcia squeaked in delight.
JJ stood in the door for a minute looking round the room. Morgan was sat in one chair next to the roaring fire with Reid sat on the floor beside it. Garcia was still sat on the floor talking to Jack and looking at the brightly lit Christmas tree. Hotch and Rossi were sat on one side of the large sofa talking about Rossi's next book, which was when JJ made eye contact with Emily. She was sat at the other end of the couch patting the free space next to her for JJ to go and sit down. JJ went to join Emily. She sat down and rested her head on Emily's shoulder.
"Did Henry get off ok?" Emily asked.
"Yeah, he's sound asleep. I thought I had better put him in my room for the night as I might need the nursery for something else." JJ finished with a chuckle.
Emily laughed "Yeah I think you might."
They all spent the next half an hour talking amounts them self's. JJ watched Jack ask Garcia a question then they both looked at JJ. Garcia whispered something to Jack and he ran up to Hotch.
"DADDY!" Jack jumped on Hotch's lap.
"What's up buddy?" Jack whispered something into Hotch's ear and a smile crossed their faces.
"Why don't you ask Auntie JJ" Hotch said to Jack as he climbed of his fathers lap. JJ looked at the older man with a raised eyebrow as everyone stopped talking and watched Jack walk over to JJ.
"Auntie JJ"
"Yes big guy" JJ pulled the 5 year old onto her lap.
"Please may I have a cookie and a cup of milk for Santa?" He asked with a smile that would melt the hardest of hearts.
"Well…I made some cookies with Henry today…"
"Henry can't make cookies, that's silly, he's a baby." Everyone laughed at the little boy's response.
"Ok well I made cookies while Henry took a nap, but…" Jacks face seemed to fall a little "their not decorated, I don't think Santa would like boring cookies, so how about you decorate a few then we can put them on a plate for him?"
"Really?" Jacks face lit up as JJ nodded "And a glass of milk?"
"Yep and a carrot for Rudolph too. How dose that sound?" JJ asked the little boy and quickly glanced at Hotch to see if it was ok, he nodded in reply.
"Yes please! Can everyone decorate the cookies?" Jack asked JJ giving her a big hug.
"If they want to" JJ answered getting up from the sofa with jack on her hip. Jack looked round at everyone in the room with pleading eyes. Everyone either gave a yes or nodded. 'This kid knows how to work these people' JJ thought to her self.
"Em, can you grab the baby monitor please." JJ said as she walked into the kitchen with everyone else.
"Got it!" she yelled back.
The team spent the next half an hour eating more chocolate and icing than was actually going on the cookies.
"Their all done Auntie JJ" Jack jumped down from the chair he was standing on and ran round to JJ who was just wiping frosting on Morgan's cheek.
"Uncle Morgan" Jack said with a giggle.
"Yes?" Morgan knelt down to Jacks level.
"You have green frosting on your cheek." He laughed harder. Morgan took some of the frosting off his cheek and rubbed it onto Jacks nose.
"And you have some on your nose." Morgan said tickling Jacks tummy.
"EWWWWW! GROOS!" jack squalled wiping it of onto JJ's hand.
"Oh thanks Jack." JJ said as everyone burst out laughing.
"Opps" he shared a sheepish grin with Morgan "Sorry"
"It's ok. If you go into the cupboard behind your dad there should be some carrots" JJ said grabbing a plate of the shelve.
"OK!"
As Jack grabbed a carrot and closed the door Hotch scooped the little boy into his arms.
"Let's go and find you some PJ's while Auntie JJ gets the rest of the stuff ready."
"Ohh but daddy I don't want to go to bed!" Jack said sticking his bottom lip out.
"But Jack" Garcia handed JJ a glass "The quicker you go to bed the quicker Santa will come."
Jack took a second to ponder what Garcia said "OK!"
Hotch gave Garcia a thankyou look as he walked out the kitchen with his son.
"Rossi could grab the milk out the fridge and finish this for me please while I go and get the nursery set up?" JJ asked.
"Yeah Bella"
"Thankyou" JJ said as she walked out the room. She always loved it when Rossi called her Bella; it was like they had a little connection.
"We'll give you a hand JJ" Garcia said as she grabbed onto Emily's hand and walked out the room.
"Morgan, Spence keep an ear out for Henry for me please." JJ yelled from the other room.
"Sure" They both yelled back in unison.
JJ, Emily and Garcia reached the top of the stairs to find them self being followed by Hotch and Jack.
"JJ can we use your bathroom?" Hotch asked whispering. He knew Henry was asleep somewhere up stairs and didn't want to risk waking him.
"Yeah sure, it's just through there." JJ pointed to a door at the end of the corridor.
"Thankyou" Hotch turned into the bathroom with Jack.
The 3 women walked into the nursery together.
"So where's everyone sleeping gumdrop?" Garcia asked picking up the Christmas book that was on the floor.
"Erm…I was going to put Jack and Hotch in here and maybe Rossi, then…I don't know" JJ gave Emily and Garcia a worried glance.
"We'll find somewhere, don't worry about it." Garcia said wrapping her arms round JJ waist.
"Em, could you take the mattress out of the cot. Jack can sleep on that."
"Yep" Emily walked over to the white wood cot and started to take off and fold up all the blankets on it.
"and there is a fold out bed in the spare room for Hotch and I should have another one in the closet in the hall." Both Emily and Garcia looked at JJ confused. JJ could tell what they were thinking by the looks on their faces "Will's sister's and their kids used to come and stay with us a lot."
They could see the sadness fill her face at the reminder of will.
"Don't worry about him buttercup. All you need to concentrate on is that amazing little godson of mine."
JJ gave both Garcia and Emily a thankyou smile and they all set up the three beds.
20 minutes later and a quick check in Henry the 3 women went downstairs to join the men. Jack was climbing on Morgan's back saying "giddy up horsey!" much to Rossi and Hotch's amusement from the other side of the room, Reid was standing in front of the fire place staring at the never ending rows of photo frames. Some of the framed were filled with pictures of Henry, some with pictures of the team and others were filled with pictures of a young JJ and her sister. JJ saw Reid and walked over to him.
"You ok Spence?" Reid jumped not realising that JJ was there.
"Yeah…sorry I was just thinking." He stumbles.
"About?"
"This." Reid points to a picture of the team and then pointed over his shoulder to the family behind him "When I was growing up, it was just me and mum. She was never in the right frame of mind to remember Christmas let alone celebrate it. Then when I started this job, I never thought that the good things truly existed." The both turned round to find Jack pinned to the floor by Hotch and Morgan being tickled mercilessly.
"They do exist Spence; I think times like this prove it. The job we do the things we see, it's horrible, but you have to remember not everyone is like that. We're not like that."
"I know" Reid rubbed him arms uncomfortably. JJ gave him a quick hug then disappeared off into the kitchen, only to appear seconds later with a plate and glass in her hands.
"Jack do you want to put this by the fire place?" JJ asked holding out the plate.
"OH! Yes please." Jack squirmed out from under Hotch and ran at JJ. JJ followed Jack over to the little table and put the plate down.
"Daddy, can I have my letter please?" Jack turned to his father. The others also turned to look at Hotch questionably.
"Erm…" Hotch stood up with his back to the rest of the team and patted his shirt and trousers down "hmmmm I can't…." Jack's eyes widened in fear when Hotch didn't pull out the letter.
"Jack" Rossi whispered and signalled for the 5 year old to go to him. Jack ran to Rossi with tears in his eyes "Look" Rossi pointed to a white bit of paper sticking out the back of Hotch's trousers.
"THERE!" Jack pointed.
"What where?" Hotch turned round to look at jack "Where?"
"It's behind you daddy!" Jack giggled as smiles crossed everyone's faces when they all realized Hotch was playing with his son. Hotch turned round to look behind him.
"I can't see anything." Jack ran up to Hotch and pulled the white piece of paper out of Hotch's trousers.
"Its here" Jack giggles more waving the paper in the air.
"What! how did it get there? Did you put there?" Hotch asked scooping up his son.
"No silly, it was you!"
"ME! Really? Are you sure?"
"YES!" jack giggled as Hotch tickled him a little. The father and son walked over to the table and rested the bit of paper up against the glass. The front of the note read 'Dear Santa."
"Right, it's time for you to go to bed" Hotch said placing Jack on the floor.
"Do I have too?" Jack caught Garcia's eye and she nodded her head and winked at him "I mean…OK!"
Hotch leant down and whispered something into Jacks ear. As quick as a flash Jack was running full pelt for JJ and she caught him just in time.
"Thankyou for letting us stay Auntie JJ" Jack said as he wrapped his small arms round JJ's neck.
"You are very welcome Jack." JJ said hugging him back. Hotch walked up to then and lifted Jack out of JJ's arms and back into his.
"What room are we in JJ?" Hotch asked sitting Jack in his hip.
"You, Jack and Rossi are in the nursery first door top of the stairs. All the beds in there are set out."
"Thankyou" Hotch smiled at JJ "Say goodnight to everyone Jack"
"Goodnight everyone" Jack with a wave of his small hand and a big yawn.
"Night Jack" Everyone said as Hotch and Jack disappeared up the stairs.
10 minutes later Hotch walked back in and sat on the free spot on the couch.
"Hotch." Emily had a question look in her eye.
"Yes?" Hotch asked cautiously.
"What's with letter?" Emily asked what everyone else was thinking.
"It was a tradition Haley got into with Jack" a sad smile crossed his face "It's say thankyou for the presents he's going to get, that he hopes Santa is having a good Christmas and that he promises to be a good boy till next Christmas."
"That is the sweetest thing I have ever heard." Garcia said squeaking a little.
"Yeah. It's the first year he has written it by himself." They could all see the hurt fill Hotch's eyes but as soon as it appeared it seemed to go "Right I'm going to get the presents in from the car" Hotch said changing the subject and standing up.
"I need to get ours too." Garcia said also standing up.
"I'll get them baby girl, stay inside. Although"
Morgan turned to Reid and Rossi "We might need a hand" He finished with a massive grin as the last two men stood up with a huff. The men walked out the door.
"Emily, Pen could get mine out for me please, their under the stairs." JJ asked as she headed for the kitchen.
"Ok" they said together.
A few minutes later JJ was joined at the sink by a very cold looking Morgan.
"What you doing princess?" He asked shivering.
"Just making a stack of bottles for Henry's night feeds and for tomorrow. Are you ok?" She asked filling up another bottle with boiled water.
"I'm fine; I wanted to check on you though." He asked rubbing his cold hands on her warm arms.
"Why? I'm…oh" That was when JJ understood why he wanted to check on her "Yeah, I'm sorry I snapped at you the other day Derek."
"It's ok baby girl. You had been acting really distant for a few days and we were all getting a little worried."
"I no and I'm sorry I didn't want to worry you all, I just…I wasn't looking forward to this" JJ put the last bottle down and looked up at Morgan "When I found out I was pregnant and Will talked me round, saying that a baby was a good thing. I really started looking forward to our first Christmas together as a family. Then it hit me a few weeks ago. Henry is never going to have that kind of family Christmas." Morgan wrapped his strong arms round the small woman in front of him.
"Your right, he wont have a Christmas like that. But what he will have is a Christmas like this and many more of them. He might not have his father round Jayje but he has all the male influences round he will ever need. He 3 men that will teach him everything he will ever need to know and then he has me, his fun and down right amazing Uncle Morgan, Who will teach him how to pull all the girls and party hard."
"Oh god help me!" JJ mumbled just loud enough for Morgan to hear.
"OI you, I heard that" They laughed together for a few seconds. Morgan pulled away from JJ "I'm serious though JJ. He doesn't need that man when he has all of us round him and neither do you."
"Thankyou Derek" JJ went up on tip toes and kissed him on the cheek.
"Guys get in here!" They Heard Reid call from the living room.
"C'mon" Morgan grabbed JJ's hand and dragged her into the room with the others.
"OH MY GOD!" JJ almost yelled "Is my Christmas tree still under there?"
There were stacks of brightly wrapped boxed piled high up round the Christmas tree.
"We're going to be opening them till new year!" JJ just stood there shocked.
"Mine and Morgan's are in there too. We stopped of and picked them up on the way over." Garcia walked over and closed JJ's open mouth.
"Look what I've got!" Rossi said to the group as he reached down the side of the couch. He pilled out 2 bottled of wine, a bottle of whisky and a crate of beer.
"Super agent Italian stud, I think I love you!" Garcia said running into the kitchen and back again with her hands fill of glassed.
"Oi, I thought you loved me?" Morgan grunted sitting himself down on the couch.
"Don't worry my stack of chocolate thunder; there will always be a place in my heart for you awesomeness. Now Rossi, pour!"
Rossi poured the drinks and Garcia handed them out before joining Emily and JJ on the other end of the couch. They all sat round drinking and laughing.
By the time the clock struck midnight most of the crate of beer had gone, both bottles of wine had vanished and half of the bottle of whisky had been drunk and the team were all starting to feel extremely tired.
"Where are the rest of us sleeping tonight Jayje?" Garcia said lifting her head from Emily's lap to look at JJ.
"Rossi and Hotch arrrrrrr…." JJ yorned "Sorry. Rossi and Hotch are in the Nursery with jack. Em and Pan are in the spare room" She turned to look at her two best friends "Your going to have to share the bed, I'm all out of camp beds sorry." Garcia rested her head back on Emily's lap.
"Its ok, I don't mind." Emily chuckled a little.
"And Spence and Morgan are on the couch."
"WHAT!" Morgan started to protest "Oh C'mon baby girl don't do this to me, he talks statists in his sleep!"
"No I don't" Reid started to defend himself but stopped when he saw everyone else nodding along with Morgan.
"Sorry kid but you do."
"It's either the couch or out in the car Morgan." JJ said with a smirk.
"Fine." Morgan crossed his arms over his chest and sank back into the chair.
They all started talking quietly amounts them self's for a little while, that was until they were interrupted by screaming. They all looked at the baby monitor worried and then to JJ.
"Damit!" JJ said lifting Garcia's legs of her lap and quickly standing up.
"Is he ok JJ?" Hotch asked also standing up.
"I don't know, this is the second night terror he's had today." She said running out the room and up the stairs.
The team all looked at each other worried and Garcia was about to say something but stopped when they heard JJ talking over the baby monitor.
"Shhhhh its ok baby boy, mummies here." She reached over the cot and picked up the scared looking baby "I've got you peanut, you're safe now." JJ repeated the last few words over again and gently rocked Henry from side to side till his crying stopped.
"Shall we go and find the others?" JJ held his tiny hand in hers as Henry started to fuss.
They made their way down into the living room and joined the others back on the sofa. JJ sat her self between Emily and Garcia. Henry was sucking his thumb a sure fire sign that he wanted feeding but JJ wanted to keep to his schedule as much as possible and he wasn't due for a bottle for half an hour. So they all went back to their convocation they were having a few minutes before.
After about 5 minutes Henry started to fuss in JJ arms but settled down when Garcia started to stroke his fine blonde hair and Emily started to rub his little toes. That seemed to work for another 10 minutes but after that nothing seemed to calm the infant.
"Who wants' him while I make his bottle?"
"ME!" Emily and Garcia said together sitting up and reaching out for Henry. When they saw that the other one wanted to hold the baby they started arguing like children.
"You held him last time" Garcia said pointing to Emily.
"Well you had him for 3 whole days when we were in Florida!" Emily answered back.
Everyone sat and watched them argue for a few seconds and It looked like neither of them were backing down. Neither Emily or Garcia saw JJ walk over to Reid and hand him the baby.
"Erm…JJ what?" Reid stuttered when she Put Henry in his arms.
"He's not going to bite Spence, you've held him before." JJ stayed there for minute just to make sure both Henry and Reid were ok together. Henry seemed to settle a little and Reid stopped looking so uncomfortable there was even a slight hint of a smile on his face. JJ stood up and was about to head to the kitchen but before she walked away she bent down to Reid's ear and whispered "The good things are worth the wait Spence." JJ kissed his cheek and left the room, returning a few minutes later with a warm bottle. Reid went to hand Henry back to J but she stopped him.
"No, here" She handed him the bottle "You feed him."
"JJ I don't think…I've never given a baby a bottle before, I think you should do it." He stuttered again.
"Reid" Rossi piped up "You can read one of my books in less than 10 minutes but you can't feed an innocent little baby?"
Reid looked at Hotch for a little help.
"Sorry, Dave's got a point" was the only reply he got of Hotch.
He looked at JJ with panic in his eyes.
"Here I'll help you." JJ said sitting down on the couch next to him. She grabbed the pillow Garcia was holding and tucked it under Reid's elbow to prop Henrys head up a little.
"Ok, take the bottle." Reid followed JJ instructions down to the T.
He placed it at Henrys mouth but the little boy wouldn't take his thumb out.
"Henry will you be a good boy for mummy please."
Henry opened his mouth and started gulping away. Reid looked up at JJ with a little pride in his eyes.
"See. It's not that hard." JJ smiled from ear to ear at the interaction of her son and the youngest member of the team.
By the time Henry had finished, he had fallen asleep in Reid's arms and Reid himself looked like he was nodding off as well as Emily, Garcia, and Rossi. JJ scooped Henry up.
"I'll be back in a second I'm just going to put him to bed." She whispered to Hotch and Morgan who were now sat together talking about something.
JJ returned a few minutes later to find that both Emily and Garcia were on their feet.
"There you are Jayje. Me and my little elf over here" Garcia looped her arm with Emily's "are going to head off to bed."
"Ok." JJ kissed both Emily and Garcia on the cheek before they walked out calling back "Merry Christmas everyone!"
"I think we should all head to bed JJ." Morgan said now getting up from the chair he was in.
"Its almost 1am and I have a feeling I will have jack jumping on me in a few hours." Hotch said watching JJ giggle and nodded with him.
"Ok. I think you should take sleeping beauty over there with you." JJ pointed to Rossi who head his head back and mouth open. Hotch growled and walked over to his old mentor.
"C'mon Dave wake up" Dave just grunted at him "Fine stay here then and do your back in old man." With the last comment Rossi opened and threw a glare at Hotch. Ho got up and walked over to JJ hugging her and whispering in her ear "Goodnight Bella" and kissing her on the cheek. Hotch was closely behind him as he walked out the door.
"Night JJ." Hotch said before he was completely out the room.
JJ quickly followed him out and returned a minute later with blankets and pillows. She put the on the chare and turned round only to be pulled into Morgan's strong arms for the third time that night.
"What was that for?" JJ asked as they pulled apart.
"For being you." Morgan said kissing her forehead.
"Thankyou Derek." She kissed him on the cheek and went to walk up stairs.
"Anytime Jayje, I mean it."
She turned round to face him with a smile across her face "Goodnight Derek and Merry Christmas." JJ left with out another glance or another word.
JJ tip toed into her room and a quietly as she could she got changed and ready for bed. Once she was comfortable tucked under the sheets She pulled out her laptop from the bed side draw and powered it up, she was going to check her Email like she always did before she went to bed. It took a few minutes for it fully load and when it did JJ want straight to her Emily. There was nothing on there that couldn't wait till she got back to work. Then JJ stayed there thinking for a few minutes and she started wondering how far this power cut had spread. JJ opened the local news website and started to read through it.
After another few minutes JJ became really confused. The website didn't mention anything about power cuts. So she tried another one and it said the same thing.
That was when JJ's mind started to work overtime. She clicked onto the airport website and looked up all the cancelled flights but it said there weren't any that night.
That was when JJ understood what was going on. They had all cancelled their plans to Spend Christmas with her. A Tear slid down JJ's cheek. She had let quite a few tears fall over the past few weeks, but this one was different. This one was a tear of happiness and most of all relief. She finally knew that they were all there to stay. They weren't going to abandon her like Will did. All of them, Hotch, Jack, Rossi, Morgan, Garcia, Reid and Emily were in this with JJ for good.
They weren't going to let her struggle through this alone.
I didnt get as much of a responce to this as i had hoped but I can't stand it when people give up on stories for no good reason. I had planned on finshing it there (because i dont think its left hanging). If you give me a little time i might write some of Christmas day where the team find out that JJ knows what they did for her.
Please let me know what you think, otherwise i might just leave it finshed there.
AJ x