Author's Note: And here we go: Chapter Three! As always, this is a republication so I haven't changed anything except for any grammatical or spelling errors I've noticed.

10 minutes later, Emily had calmed down enough to be able to talk again, although her voice was uneven and she had to stop even now and then to take a breath to compose herself again.

"I'm sorry baby. It's just I've never spent Christmas with my family before. With any family before. Even the last 3 years I've been in the BAU, I've always been called away by the Ambassador for Christmas day. I've spent days running up to Christmas with those I love and who love me, like the team, but never Christmas day because I'm always called away."

As Emily paused to take a composing breath, JJ interjected with a question; she was confused.

"Em, sweetie, I'm not following you. You said you've never spent Christmas with your family, and then you said your mother always calls you away for Christmas day. Why would she call you if it wasn't to spend the day with you?"

The profiler smiled a sad smile at her lover before continuing.

"I didn't expect you to immediately, I'll explain, but it will take some time. Why don't we have something to drink, and then when I'm finished, you can make me feel better until the early hours? Coffee or wine?"

"Coffee I think, I'd rather you tell me what's bothering you rather than the wine"

Emily smirked and pushed her girlfriend back in to the sofa as she got up to get some coffee for both of them. Heading back in to the living area, she saw JJ curled up in one corner of the couch with a photograph of the 7 members of the BAU, taken the Christmas before, with a smile on her face. Careful not to disturb her, Emily quietly placed the coffees on the coffee table before curling up next to her lover.

"I like that one. It shows we can be happy and have a good time, even with all the devastation we see throughout the year."

Placing the photo back on the table, JJ smiled as she turned to place a gentle kiss on Emily's soft lips.

"Thank you for the coffee. Now explain when you meant earlier"

Emily's smile faulted as she cuddled in to her girlfriend.

"I don't get called away to spend time with my mother every year, I get called away to be the Ambassador's beautiful, smart, career-driven daughter. I spend the day having to make small take to goodness knows. I talk to mayors, presidents, prime ministers. I spend Christmas day building the political ladder for the Ambassador, and heaven forbid I don't make one new connection for her, or accidently do something wrong. Last year, I tried asking her if you could come along as well, if you wanted, and she threatened she'd ruin my career if I ever mentioned you again."

Upon hearing her lover's last comment, JJ gave Emily a confused look.

"The Ambassador knows I'm gay, and had somehow figured out I had the hots for you, big time, and she couldn't stand the thought of me hitting on you at one of her parties, rather than talking to her guests. To be honest, when I asked her if you could come with me, the thought of hitting on you never crossed my mind. I just thought having you there would make it more bearable, since I love spending time with you. But anyway, she was convinced I was going to hit on you at her party, which would have of course ruined her career, so she threatened to ruin mine if I ever mentioned you again. Heaven help me if she finds out I'm spending the day with you and we're not on a case in New Orleans like I told her."

JJ smiled as she snuggled closer to Emily after picking up her coffee and draining what was left.

"You dare devil! I could never have the courage to lie to the Ambassador. If she phones you though to check 'on the case' let me answer it and I'll tell her you're just about to go on a raid so you don't have your cell on you as you use radios. I'd really rather you didn't get in to trouble with your mother, besides; I want to spend Christmas with you. I want to wake up Christmas morning in your arms, not to a cold bed, only thinking of you and how bored you are going to be at the party. Anyway, that explains now, but what about when you were a child. You didn't have to go to these parties when you were a child surely? I hate to think how bored you must have been at them as a child if you're bored as an adult!"

Emily laughed out loud before kissing JJ and replying.

"Luckily sweetie, you're right. I didn't have to go to the damn parties until I was 18. In fact, Christmases up until I was 10 years old were the best because all the staff my mother hired to look after me would spend the day with me. Even the chef would come in and watch me open my presents my mother had left me, once the dinner was cooking. I swear she thought buying me the most expensive gifts made me feel better about her not being there. But on my 10th birthday, the Ambassador decided I was old enough to look after myself so she got rid of all the staff she'd hired for me. And ever since then I've pretty much spent Christmas by myself. This is the first Christmas I've got to do what I want, at 36 years old, and it's only because I've lied to my mother!"

The blond smile at the brunette and leant in for a deep, exploring kiss before commenting.

"Well then, I'm very happy that you've chosen to risk your relationship with your mother for me, by wanting to spend Christmas with me. I love you, thank you."

"I love you too. Now you can help erase the pain you've caused me by making me recall the past, and show me how thankful you are, up in the bedroom. Come on."

Emily teased as she began unfolding herself from JJ and standing up, only to be pulled back down again.

"Nuh-uh. I can't be bothered moving, I'm comfortable. Take me here or not at all."

"Jennifer, no! It's a leather settee to begin with, and I'd rather not have us sticking to it because of us sweating. And secondly, the team are coming tomorrow, and that means Spencer as well. I'm pretty sure he wouldn't want to sit on a couch we had sex on not 24 hours before, even if he didn't know. I'll even carry you upstairs"

And with that, Jennifer Jareau wrapped her legs around Emily Prentiss's waist and was carried through the house to the bedroom for a night of passion.