Disclaimer: Criminal Minds is owned by CBS. I own nothing but my imagination.
Christmas Magic-Chapter 11
Neither of JJ or Dave mentioned the goodnight kiss at work the following Monday; they were both afraid that if they talked about it, their easy relationship would be ruined. Instead, they both pretended as though it had never happened and it seemed to work for them. The next week flew by and, before they knew it, it was Saturday afternoon and both of them were working in Dave's kitchen.
"I have it timed so that the rosemary chicken should be done fifteen minutes before the parsley buttered potatoes," she told him, as she coated the potatoes in melted butter. "Just open up the bag salad right before they're scheduled to arrive, put it in a bowl and put the bowl in the fridge and you should be fine, they'll be none the wiser." She set the utensils in the sink and moved towards Henry, who was sitting in a highchair watching as JJ and Dave prepared the meal for his family.
"Um, Jen? Why are you telling me this like you're not going to be here?"
She blinked, "Because I'm not going to be here. This is a family function, Dave and I'm not family."
"Bullshit!" He exclaimed, "You're as much a family member to me as anyone! Besides, you've got to be here, I can't do this alone!" He sounded panicked at the end and it was all JJ could do to keep from laughing.
"You can do this by yourself; all of the food is prepared, now it's just a matter of putting it in the oven at the correct time and pulling it out before it gets overcooked," JJ told him with a smile.
"You can't leave me," he said, shaking his head, "What if something goes wrong?"
"I'm just a phone call away; you're a big boy Dave, you can handle this."
"Uh-uh," he said, snatching her keys off of the counter and putting them in his pocket. "Now you can't leave, unless you want to take a very long walk."
"Are you kidding me?" JJ asked loudly. She wasn't angry, she was amused by his sheer terror of serving a meal on his own. He faced down the worst of humanity on a daily basis, but God forbid he disappoint his parents!
"See? That's how desperate I am, JJ! I'm willing to kidnap a federal agent for Christ's sake!" Dave said in a high pitched voice.
Laughing, she finally relented, "Fine Dave, I'll stay, but I look like shit. Will you keep an eye on Henry while I shower and change?"
"You look great JJ, but yeah, I'll do anything if it means you'll stay. Does Henry need a college fund? How about you, do you want a new car?" He asked, not joking.
"All I need is a babysitter, Dave," she said as she walked out of the kitchen and went up the stairs. Dave could hear her giggling at his offers the entire time and it was music to his ears.
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An hour later, just as he was putting the chicken in the oven, he heard the doorbell ring. As he picked Henry up from his highchair, he glanced at the clock and smiled; it had to be his parents since his siblings subscribed to the 'within a half hour' rule; meaning that they considered it to be on time if they arrived at a function within half an hour of the scheduled start time.
"Okay Henry, get ready to have the stuffing hugged out of you! My mother hasn't held a baby in years, so she probably won't let go of you all night. Hell, JJ will be lucky if she doesn't take you home." Dave tickled the boy as he made his way to the foyer, and the baby was laughing as he opened the door.
"Hi ma, hi dad, come on in," he said, holding the door open for them. Since he was holding Henry on one hip, he gave each of his parents one armed hugs as they crossed over the threshold. "Can I take your coats?" He asked politely.
"Are we really going to ignore the fact that you're holding a baby, son?" His mother asked.
Dave grinned, "Ma, meet Henry Jareau; his mother Jennifer is upstairs getting ready."
"Jennifer? As in the Jennifer? The one you work with? The one I've heard all about since you returned to your dangerous and crazy job?" She asked in glee. While her son had been married three times previous and he'd had legions of 'lady friends,' she'd never heard him speak about a woman with such reverence as he had this Jennifer person. She could tell that her son was head over heels in love with her, and if he had learned how to take care of a baby, then so much the better.
Dave nodded, "That's the one, although I'd appreciate it if you didn't tell her all of that; I don't want to come across as a crazy, obsessed stalker." He took their coats with his free hand and struggled with both them and the squirmy infant in his other arm.
"Give me the baby, Davie," his mother ordered, holding out her arms.
Dave grinned, "See? I told you Henry; she hasn't been here two minutes and already she wants to hold you."
His father, being the strong, silent type, chuckled, "You'll be lucky to get him back, son," he warned.
His mother was about to retort back when they heard footsteps on the staircase. "Dave, did you put the chicken in the oven yet?" JJ asked and then realized they weren't alone. "Oh, hello; you must be Dave's parents." Her heart softened as she saw the older woman holding her son tenderly; it saddened her that a stranger showed Henry more affection than his own grandmother did.
"Jen, these are my parents, Gisella and Edoardo Rossi. Ma, dad, this is Jennifer Jareau, my good friend and colleague," Dave introduced.
"It's a pleasure to meet both of you," JJ said, holding out her hand. Gisella stared at it for a minute before handing Henry back to her son. Ignoring the outstretched hand, she pulled JJ into a bone crushing hug.
"The pleasure is all ours, Jennifer," she said as she finally released the young woman. As soon as she did, she motioned for her son to hand Henry back to her and Dave, not wanting to die a slow and painful death at her hand, readily complied.
"Please, call me JJ," she told the older woman.
"And you call me either Gisella or Ma," Gisella told her absently as she cooed at the baby.
Dave's father pulled her into the same tight hug as his wife had. As he released her, he said, "And you can call me Eddie or just dad."
JJ, overwhelmed by the love she felt from the two virtual strangers in front of her, nodded her head mutely. She hadn't felt affection from her own parents in over a year and she wanted to cry at the warmth Dave's parents had shown her.
She was just starting to blink back tears when the doorbell rang again. She watched as a grin came over Dave's face and he started for the door. "Brace yourself honey," he warned her. "It's about to get a lot crazier in here."