All I Want For Christmas Is You

Disclaimer: I own nothing but the ideas.

So this chapter wasn't going to happen, but I decided you deserved a little more Reid before I went to the epilogue.

As I promised this would be up before Christmas you will get both chapters posted today as i don't want my gift to be late and can't promise I will post the epilogue tomorrow.

. . .

Spencer was shuffling uncomfortably on the couch as he tried to find a suitable position to continue his slumber. His mind was drifting in and out of scenarios as it tried to process the flood of information it had received this evening.

His vivid memory flashed back to Will and JJ at Hotch's and how they showed no sign of the separation she had declared they were going through. There was no arguments or snide comments as he had remembered when his parents had split. He remember how they had got to the stage where they couldn't even agree what day of the week it was, let alone anything else. Instead Will and JJ had been calm, though as he replayed the scenes it became increasingly obvious how distant they were. That made him begin to think how long this had been the case. Tracing back through the archive of his mind he tried to pinpoint the time that the distance he had observed today had first kicked in.

He couldn't.

From those points in the past his mind raced back to tonight. How he had wanted to lean down and kiss JJ when she had knelt before him apologising for loving him. Loving him, Spencer Reid – it almost made him laugh out loud in his sleep. The years he had spent watching from afar as she had built the perfect family with her prince charming. Only to know now that all the time he had hidden his feelings for her, and she had done the same for him. Had she really meant that? Had she really loved him all this time? He knew she had cared but he had always assumed it was in the way siblings cared for each other.

From there his mind jumped to Henry, how would the little boy be about all of this? Spencer had become so bitter towards his own father for leaving and he had to guess that at present Henry was oblivious to his parents' decision. Would Henry accept Spencer as a replacement to Will? Would he be replacing Will or just be an addition to the family? Spencer had to admit he couldn't imagine Will just walking away and leaving Spencer to slot into his son's life.

Could they make this work? The three of them, could they find a way for Henry's sake?

Eventually he let his mind drift to the future, images of him, JJ and Henry and maybe, just maybe, a child of their own. He pictured museum trips, soccer practice, even Christmas together. Was Spencer ready to be part of a family? Was he capable of being part of a family? He hardly had a perfect childhood model to work from. In fact his own childhood was the polar opposite of perfection.

Then there was the constant threat hanging over his head of schizophrenia. Although he was emerging from the 'typical' period for the disease to manifest itself he was aware that he was not out of the woods for a good few years yet. Could he risk introducing that to JJ and Henry's life, let alone passing that sentence on to a child of his own.

Tossing and turning as he continued to dream, the flurry of thoughts morphing his features as he tried to wrestle which each concern in turn.

Watching from the same armchair he had sat in earlier, Katherine worried about the young genius. She knew she shouldn't even be here, let alone interfere, but when she had seen JJ leave to come and talk to Spencer she had had to follow. The only difference was that she hadn't returned home with her sister.

Now Katherine was torn, guiding Spencer was not her responsibility. It was not her call to make. He had his own guardian angel. Though she made a mental note to kick Riley up the arse when she returned upstairs, she knew the kid was young but he had been doing this for a long time now. Yes the pair had many a rough ride over the years but surly he could be here now giving a helping hand in Spencer's thought process.

Sat watching the pain contort Spencer's features once more she move smoothly to position herself beside him, placing a gentle hand onto his head instantly soothing the overactive mind. Shushing and cooing, as you would a newborn child, she stayed by his side until peace returned to his sleep. Closing her eyes she channelled her energies, trying to reassure him that this was the right thing to do. That JJ and he deserved a future together.

And there she stayed, comforting the young man through the remains of the night.

. . .

JJ stood in the empty park, freezing cold yet unable to move. If Spencer was here right now he would probably give her some lecture about the probably of catching pneumonia or hyperthermia or something.

Yet she felt at peace in the serene blanketed area, slowly walking on from staring at the frozen lake, JJ watched each footprint imbed itself in the shin deep snow. She hadn't been ready to go straight home so instead she had come for a walk. Maybe not her wisest decision given the weather conditions, but the snow had made it all the more peaceful.

Collecting her thoughts she made her way back to the car, blissfully unaware of how long she had been standing around. Once inside and the engine started she cranked up the heating and begun to make her way home. Satisfied that whatever Spencer's decision was that she was ready to move forward. She knew Will would not abandon her and Henry and that with his support she was strong enough to carry on.

Just having Spencer make the journey with her would be a true bonus.