A/n normally I dislike Christmas, but this year I'm in the holiday spirit for some reason. So this chapter and the next one are pure Christmas fluff. Hope you enjoy it. Thanks for all the reviews and the encouragement to continue this story. The rating has changed for later chapters.
The bull pen at the FBI's BAU unit was usually bustling with activity, agents running from office to office or out the door. The phones were always ringing, and voices were always raised. Only in the late evenings was it quiet, like tonight. This evening, only two people remained in the bull pen, one was Special Agent Derek Morgan, and the other was Special Agent Dr Spencer Reid.
The former was staring at the latter with a mixture of confusion, and bemusement on his face. The bemusement was due to the fact that, Reid had been walking around for the last weeks happier then Morgan had ever seen. It was a welcome change from the weeks before Agent Jennifer Jareau had left the BAU for a new job in DC. It hadn't taken Morgan's superior talents as a profiler to figure out what was going on. The younger man had thought he'd hidden his feelings for the lovely JJ very well. Of course he'd forgotten what they all did for a living, keeping a secret from them was next to impossible.
Then after the night of her farewell party, Reid had begun to change. He still wore the same clothes that made him look like an eccentric college professor. His hair was still cut like a ten year-old, and he'd still worn the most god-awful glasses Morgan had every seen. No, it was more then that, he looked and acted more comfortable in his own skin, and he was happy. Morgan figured the young man had finally worked up the courage to approach the object of his affections. Obviously, his feelings were returned, Morgan was happy for him.
The concern was due to the fact that today, Reid looked unhappy, and he was staring at the computer screen without seeing it. Usually when it came time to do the endless paper work they all had, he would attack it with the same concentration, and single-mindedness he showed on a case. Normally Morgan would ignore him and do his own work, but something kept pulling his gaze back to the younger agent. Sighing, he got up and crossed to Reid's desk. Leaning up against the side of his desk he asked.
"Hey kid, what's got you down tonight?"
"Hmm…oh, hi Morgan, I didn't realize you were still here." He looked up at his partner, his large chocolate brown eyes showed dark circles Morgan hadn't seen in weeks.
"Yeah, I'm nearly finished with my paperwork - you on the other hand haven't made much of a dent in yours. What's wrong?"
Sensing that his partner was sincere in his concern, and not just nosy Reid said, "Morgan did you know that fifty six percent of fatal plane crashes are caused by pilot error, and eight percent by weather, traveling at Christmas time is-"
"She'll be okay Reid. Besides it's also true that flying is safer than driving, right?"
"Yeah, it's kinda crazy for me to worry, huh. I mean we fly all over the country all the time...and in all weather right...and we're always ok."
His eyes pleaded with Morgan to say something reassuring. Morgan may have teased him mercilessly about JJ in the last weeks, but he also cared about Reid enough to say.
"Sure kid...you're right we always get to and from our cases with no problem and JJ will as well, you'll see, she'll call you the minute she's on the ground. Besides isn't it a little early for you to worry, she doesn't leave for two days."
"I was looking forward to spending time with her for Christmas, but she'd already promised her mom months ago that she'd come home this year. We decided it was too early in our relationship for me to meet the family. I mean meeting a girl's family is serious, right?"
"I suppose it is Reid, but look at it this way, you have a whole year to figure things out before you have to face her Dad. Can you imagine meeting him right now?"
Reid paled a bit, which Morgan found interesting, he was so pale normally. "Um...no I don't think I'd be ready for that right now. Anyway she'll be back for New Years Eve." He said, his face brightening.
"There you go kid...there's always a bright side - now get to work, or you'll be here all night." Morgan said with mock sternness, and laughed when Reid marked off a salute.
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The next morning was Friday, and Reid was off till the day after Christmas, thanks to Hotch and Gideon ganging up on the Assistant Director. They'd gotten him to agree to the four day holiday, and they were off the on-call list unless something extraordinary occurred. Reid hoped the psychos would get in the holiday spirit, and leave off killing and maiming until after the New Year.
He'd tried to get a flight to Las Vegas, but everything was booked solid. He was glad he hadn't promised his mother he would see her. At least JJ had met his mother, and still she wanted to be with him, which was a weight off of shoulders, he didn't know what he would've done if he'd had to worry about introducing her to Diana Reid. Knowing your boyfriend's mother is a paranoid schizophrenic could scare any girl away. JJ wasn't like that, she didn't care if his mother was mentally ill, she accepted him in spite of it, and it made him love her even more.
JJ called him at about two o'clock. He was surprised; he thought she'd be busy packing, and running errands for her trip.
"Hi Jen"
She had asked him early in their relationship to call her Jen, or Jennifer. She liked JJ only for work. She said that in the FBI boys club, Jennifer was too girly, and she didn't feel taken seriously if called that by colleagues, and the press.
"Hi Spence" Her usual bright tone cheered him up and depressed him at the same time.
"It's good to hear your voice, but I thought you'd be busy packing."
"I just finished that, and it occurred to me that since we can't spend Christmas together, that we should do something tonight."
"What do you have in mind?" He was intrigued.
"Nope, I'm not gonna tell you, just dress warm okay."
"Jen, what are you up to?"
"Trust me babe, you're going to love it, I promise."
"I'm not sure I should, but okay."
"You won't be sorry; I'll be there in about two and half hours. I just have to finish up a couple of things, and I'm out the door. Love you."
She hung up, and as usual the words I love you, from her mouth to his ears, caused him to completely forget anything else for at least fifteen minutes, then he was back to worrying. What was she up to?
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At precisely four thirty pm there was a knock at his door. He opened it, and found her standing there, dressed in a winter coat and scarf, with an adorable knitted cap on her head, her blond hair falling around her shoulders. Every time he saw her beautiful face, he couldn't believe that she wanted him.
"Are you going to let me in, or are you going to stand there gaping, Dr Reid." She grinned at him, and that along with her cold flushed cheeks, made his heart race.
"Ah-yeah sorry," he stepped back to allow her access.
He bent down awkwardly to kiss her. He was always embarrassed to kiss her, as if she would laugh at him. She'd given up trying to explain to him that he needn't be embarrassed, she welcomed his kisses. She'd decided that one day he'd accept the fact that he was allowed to be affectionate with her. Until then, she didn't make a big deal out of it, even though she wondered how long it would take for him to be comfortable enough to take their relationship to the next level. She longed to show him just how sexy he was to her.
"Are you ready to go?" She saw he wasn't dressed for outdoors yet.
"Why don't you have some coffee and warm up before we go." He wondered what she was plotting.
"Come on Spence, stop stalling, we're on a tight schedule." She almost laughed at the dismayed look on his face.
He turned to the closet and pulled out his coat, gloves and scarf. While he put them on, she thought about what she'd planned for the evening, and couldn't wait to see the look on his face when they got to their first destination.
She insisted on driving, the weather was cold but clear, and since she'd planned the evening, he didn't argue with her too long. He hated driving anyway; most people were maniacs on the road.
When they arrived at the orphanage, he turned to her stunned. "You seriously don't expect me to go in there with you!" The look of sheer panic on his face was priceless, and she almost laughed out loud.
"What's the big deal Spence, their just kids, and Christmas in this place with it's reminders that they don't have families, is the worst time of the year for them." She scolded him.
"Jen, I don't get along with kids, they hate me."
"Don't be ridiculous, why would they hate you?"
"I don't know the same thing happens with dogs."
"Well dogs can smell fear, maybe kids can, too," She said quiet serious on the outside, but laughing on the inside. "Come on, I promise no one will bite you."
She went around to the trunk of her car and began to pull out bags of gifts and food. "I do this every year, I was afraid that with the move to DC I wouldn't be able to get up here, so I decided to bring you along. I get to make this delivery and I get to spend time with you."
"Well, when you put it that way, how can I refuse?" He picked up some of the packages, stumbling under their weight, and followed her into the entrance of the orphanage.
"Agent Jareau, how good to see you again. We look forward every year to your visits." A voice said. Spencer couldn't see the owner of said voice, as he had several packages piled in his arms, which he felt would break unless he could put the stuff down soon.
"Father Malone, it's good to see you too."
"Come this way, I'll show you where to leave your packages."
He led them down a poorly lit hallway to an office that was currently over flowing with items similar to what Spencer and JJ carried in their arms. It was a relief to set everything down.
"It looks like a lot of people have been generous this year, Father." JJ said looking around in satisfaction.
"Yes, we are lucky; I only wish we saw the same generosity all year long."
"I know Father, I wish it too, and I also wish I could get up here more often."
"We know your busy my dear, and what you do is very important, too. Now who is the young man with you?"
He scrutinized Spencer, who began to feel very uncomfortable. JJ seemed to have a close relationship with the people that ran this place. How is it he didn't know this side of her?
"This is Special Agent Dr Spencer Reid."
"Ah, so this is one of your co-workers from the BAU."
"Not exactly, you see I have a new job with the bureau in DC. We used to work together, but know he's my boyfriend."
"Ah yes...well Jennifer, why don't you go say hello to some of the others, Dr Reid and I are going to have a talk."
"Okay Father." She turned to Spencer squeezed his hand and said, "I'll be back in a few minutes babe." She left the room and felt no guilt what so ever at having just thrown him to the proverbial wolf.
Father Malone regarded Spencer as he rocked nervously on his heels, his face pink. "Why don't you sit down Dr Reid?"
Seeing how nervous the young man was, he took pity on him. "Relax, Dr Reid the Inquisition ended over five hundred years ago, besides we learned then that thumb screws and the rack weren't the most reliable way to get people to talk honestly."
Reid managed to bite back the multitude of facts he had in his brain about the Inquisition. Instead he said. "Ah…Father Malone, have I done something to offend you?"
The priest began to laugh, "Oh no my boy, I just wanted to be sure your intentions are honorable with Jennifer. Did you know that she comes up here twice a year, once on Christmas and once in the summer? The kids love her and she loves them. In all that time she's never brought a man with her. So I know you're special to her, am I right?"
Reid wondered if all priests were this intimidating or if it was just this one, in any case he couldn't lie. "Yes sir I guess I am."
"She loves you…I can see it in her eyes…I see it in yours as well."
"Yes Father I love her with my whole heart."
Reid thought this man would make an excellent profiler. He had managed to get him to open up in less than five minutes and that was amazing.
"Then God bless you both, son."
They sat and talked for a long while, entering into a pretty lively debate over the merits of the Da Vinci Code, which Reid had read and memorized. The priest was fascinated to hear of Reid's eidetic memory and asked him many questions about it and his speed reading abilities.
After a knock on the door JJ stuck her head in and said, "Hey babe, are you going to hide in here for ever, we've got a schedule to keep remember."
She said goodbye to Father Malone and they were followed out the door by some of the kids who badgered her till she promised to come back soon.
In the car Reid said, "Don't think I'll forget that you abandoned me in the lions den."
"Oh come on Spence, he isn't that bad, besides you looked like you were having a great time, when I stuck my head in."
She grinned at him; it had tickled her to see him in deep conversation with a good friend of hers. They had seemed to get along famously.
"He's an interesting person; I always wondered what makes a person choose that kind of life, all self-sacrifice and doing good for others."
"He's a great man, who worries constantly about all those children."
"They all like you Jen."
"I love children; they remind me of the good things in life, the innocence of life. It helped me stay sane working for the BAU."
They talked of this, and many other things till they reached their second destination. It was one of those farms that specialized in haunted corn mazes at Halloween, and gave sleigh rides for carolers at Christmas time. JJ had already reserved a spot for them on the large horse drawn wagon piled high with hay.
"Jen, we're going to freeze our butts off."
"Come on Spence, people come from all over the area to take one of these rides, why do you think I told you to dress warm?" She clambered up onto the wagon and sat down on one of the many blankets thrown over the hay.
She patted the empty space next to her. "Come on babe, get your adorable butt up here and keep me warm."
He flushed crimson at the looks the other riders gave him, and climbed up to where she sat. He put an arm around her and said, "Jen, it's going to take more than body heat to stay warm, the temperatures about twenty-five degrees and if we travel at a speed of five miles an hour, that makes the wind chill factor-"
She shut him up by kissing him firmly on the mouth. He didn't say anything else till they were underway and everyone began to sing carols and talk to one another. He was right, it was very cold, but it was also enchanting.
The horses pulled the wagon smoothly over the snow. The stars were ou,t and he couldn't believe how many he could see. There was no light pollution from the cities out here, and he could see more stars then he'd seen in years.
"What are you thinking?" JJ asked.
"Did you know that light we see from distant galaxies left them millions of years ago, so when we look at the universe we only see it in the past?"
"That's kind of depressing don't you think?"
No…don't you see…millions of years from now, someone will look up at our star and see us as we are now, it makes me feel so small. My problems are insignificant compared to the universe. It makes what I do bearable, because I know that no matter what happens to me, time, and the universe will go on." He was so animated that she bit back a sarcastic reply and instead snuggled closer to him and watched the stars while the others sang.
When the ride was over they were able to enter a large heated barn and have hot chocolate and cookies. There was music and a story teller. They got warm while they listened to him tell a story about the colonization of Virginia. Too soon it was getting late, and JJ had to get back to DC.
They arrived back at his apartment around ten pm. He convinced her to come in for coffee; he wanted her alert for the drive back to Washington.
He didn't want her to leave; he wanted her to stay with him for the holiday. It had never mattered to him before where he was, or who he was with on Christmas, but now that she was a part of his life, the most important part, and he couldn't imagine spending the holidays alone. Eventually she had to go. She kissed him long and hard and then she was gone.
He sat down in his favorite chair, and watched the lights on the houses across the street from his building. There were so many different colors and configurations. Some twinkled, some flashed on and off, and some were steady. He'd never considered the hypnotic quality of Christmas lights, but before he knew it he was asleep and dreaming of her. New Years Eve never seemed so far away.
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When Spencer awoke the next morning, it was to pain in his neck from sleeping sitting up. He got up, stretched, and looked at the clock. It was seven fifty-two am; she would be on her way to the airport. He walked over to where he laid his jacket and picked it up. He noticed that one pocket was heavier than it should have been. He reached in and pulled out a bag with the logo of the gift shop at the farm they'd been at the night before. She must have bought whatever was in the bag when he left her to use the restroom. A small card was inside, it read.
Dearest Spence,
I saw this and knew you had to have it.
I love you, baby.
Jen
He turned the bag upside down, and a crystal star fell out into his hand. It hung from a slender gold rope. He walked back into the living room, and hung it from the Christmas tree. It caught the sunligh,t and reflected back all the colors of the rainbow. It was beautiful. He stood staring at it for a long time, then he turned with a smile to head into the bathroom, and a hot shower. He may have been small, and insignificant in the grand scheme of the universe, but to her, he was everything.
