Disclaimer: Criminal Minds and its affiliated characters do not belong to me. I mean no copyright infringement.

Author's Notes: Thanks for the alerts I've been getting for this story. Happy New Year!

Responses to your reviews are at the end.

Holiday of Angels

Chapter 12: Sweet Dreams

From Chapter 11:

When their evening was over, it was already midnight. Prentiss and Hotch had already taken Ryan to the hotel when Rossi and J.J. returned with news that Sean Jacobs was safe at home with his parents. Morgan and Reid had finished questioning Jaden Gibson and let him go when they didn't have enough evidence against him and they were now ready to question John Tyler who was brought into the station just minutes earlier.

"Go," said Morgan. "All of us don't need to be here losing sleep."

"Smart man," said Rossi. "You know where to find us if needed. Let's go, Jen." And he guided her back out of the station.

"Is it just me?" asked J.J. "Or is it just as cold inside as it is outside?"

"Hmm. I didn't notice. But if you're chilled, snuggle up," he said with a grin as he pulled her closer with his arm that was already wrapped around her. He opened the door to the SUV for her and she gave him an odd questioning look. "Go with it. It's the holiday spirit which means it has an expiration date." J.J. laughed. He ran around to the other side and quickly hopped in to get the engine started. Thankfully, it hadn't had time to cool off yet.

~oOo~

J.J. slipped into the room quietly when she noticed it was dark and figured Emily was already asleep. Once her eyes adjusted to the darkness, she was surprised to find the room empty. She knocked on the bathroom door. "Emily?"

But she wasn't there. Curious, she walked to Hotch and Rossi's room and knocked on their door. She wasn't surprised to be greeted by Emily. Behind her were Hotch, Rossi, and the teen from the youth group, Ryan, who was already asleep on one of the queen sized beds.

"We're trying to figure out new sleeping arrangements," Emily explained quietly. "Hotch and I thought it best if we protected ourselves by having both a man and a woman in the same room as Ryan."

"That makes sense," replied J.J. and she followed her into the room.

"J.J., please spare me from bunking with Morgan and Reid. It looks like you have a spare bed in your room tonight," said Rossi looking hopeful.

"Or you and Rossi can share this bed and Hotch could use the spare bed in our room," offered Emily.

"I think I like Rossi's idea better," answered J.J. "I don't think Will would appreciate that I slept in the same bed with another man."

"I have to agree," said Hotch trying to maintain his stoic appearance. He was secretly very happy with how things were turning out.

~oOo~

It was dark when Emily slipped into bed with Hotch. For a couple of minutes, she assumed he was already asleep considering he hadn't said anything, but it turned out that she was wrong. She was finding that Hotch was full of surprises lately. Well, she could be just as surprising.

Hotch had been lying in bed wide awake even though he should have been dead tired. While Emily was in the bathroom getting ready for bed, he couldn't help but wonder what she was doing. Was she rubbing lotion into her skin? He would be more than happy to help her if she'd ask. He wondered what scent she used. He would start with her feet and work his way up her long creamy white legs. Before he could get any further in his fantasy, he felt her slip under the sheets on the opposite side of the bed. He really wasn't sure how he was going to get any sleep that night. Without realizing he was talking aloud, he asked her if she was wearing the same pajamas he'd seen last night.

"Your room is much warmer. I decided to go with my burgundy nightgown. It's sleeveless and hangs just above the knees," whispered Emily.

"Really?" he practically squeaked. It was so unHotch like. He may not be gullible with unsubs, but apparently he was with women.

"Emily?"

She laughed softly. "I'm wearing the same pajamas, Hotch." She faintly heard him sigh in relief.

"Oh, okay. That's good. Goodnight."

She could have said goodnight and end it at that, but she decided to tease him a little bit more. After all, he teased her enough that evening with his display of muscles while running and practically stripping in front of her before showering. The man deserved some torture in return.

"Oh, I hope it's a good night," she responded with a suggestive whisper, this time turning her head to look at him.

"What?" he gasped not daring to look her way.

"I hope it's a good night," she repeated, this time as if it was an every day discussion. She sat up slightly to look at the alarm clock. "It's already one o'clock. Hopefully, we can fall asleep quickly. Goodnight, Hotch."

Hotch wanted to know if she seriously thought he would fall asleep easily and quickly. Would she be able to do that?

"Relax Hotch. Turn your brain off."

"How did you…"

"How did I know you're brain was on overdrive? Anyone who's known you for a day would know that," she laughed. He laughed with her.

"Shh. Or we're going to wake up the boy."

"Fine, but if you must think, make it something good and not stressful. No working in your sleep. That's an order."

"I'm the boss, remember? And do you really think I'll be thinking about work tonight?"

"No, not really, that is why you're not the boss right now."

Hotch groaned.

"Sweet dreams," she sang and turned over on her side facing away from him.

"Oh, I don't think that'll be a problem," he mumbled.

~oOo~

In his excitement, it had taken Jack much longer to settle down to sleep than usual. But it was nine thirty and he was drowsy and lying still.

He walked into the family room to find Emily waiting on the couch gazing at the Christmas tree. It was obvious she was thinking about something that made her happy. Just the sight of her made him happy. She looked adorable wrapped up in the red and white Christmas blanket that Jessica had given to them last Christmas. Peeking from beneath it were a pair of reindeer slippers that made him grin wide enough to show his dimples.

"How many stories did it take tonight?" she asked.

"Only three stories, a drink of water and an extra trip to the bathroom."

She laughed. "Too much hot chocolate."

"Hmm. I wonder how that happened."

"It wasn't me," she said innocently.

"Right," he laughed good-naturedly. "Maybe we'll get lucky and he'll sleep in after going to bed so late."

"Doubt it," she answered with a smile.

"It's a nice thought, though."

She cuddled up next to him when he sat down. "Mmm, very nice. Maybe we could get in an early Christmas treat," she said looking up at him with sparkling eyes.

His eyes darkened at the thought before he leaned down for a kiss. "How about we get started on putting the gifts under the tree?" He toyed with the top button of her low cut warm & fuzzy emerald nightgown. "I'd like to open one of my gifts early," he whispered seductively in her ear before pulling a lobe between his lips.

Emily stood up lazily letting the blanket fall to the floor and reached for his hands to help pull him up off the couch. "Come on, Santa. We have work to do."

Several minutes later, they were placing the last of the gifts under the tree with the ones Jack already had there from what they guessed he made at school. Just before Hotch pulled the plug on the outlet to turn off the tree lights, Emily spotted a beautiful rectangular package wrapped in silver paper and cranberry ribbon. "Oh," she said in surprised excitement. "I wonder what this could be."

"Would you like to open it early?"

"I shouldn't. What would Jack think? We didn't let him open any of his gifts early."

"Oh, he doesn't even have to know about it. I hadn't really planned on having to explain it to him."

Emily raised her eyebrows in curiosity. "Now I have to open it early!"

He picked it up and handed it to her. She pulled on the ribbon and released the bow and then delicately unwrapped the box. When she looked inside, she was stunned. Looking up into his eyes, she saw hope and love.

"Do… Do you like it?" he asked uncertainly.

"I wasn't expecting something like this, but I like it very much."

He let out a sigh and kissed her passionately. "I hope you use it as much as you're comfortable with."

She nodded and leaned in for another kiss before he let go to unplug the lights on the tree. Bringing her back into his arms, he led her down the hall to his bedroom and locked the door behind him.

~oOo~

Emily woke up slowly to the sweet feeling of a warm body spooning her from behind and an arm wrapped around her waist. The more aware she became, the more she remembered about the night before and how she got there. She carefully turned around in his arms. It elicited a soft moan which led to a kiss on her forehead and then one on her lips. She gasped. It was clear that he was dreaming. His hand started to rub her back and he kissed her more intimately. She knew she couldn't let this continue, but what was the best way to get out of this position without waking him and causing embarrassment?

"Good morning. Merry Christmas," he said in a husky sleep induced voice with his eyes still closed.

THANKS FOR REVIEWING! I LOVE READING THEM!

They keep me motivated!

A little bit of foreshadowing? I thought it would be a fun especially since it's already after Christmas. *u*

EmBonesAddict & p95000 - It looks like J.J.'s bluntness and Rossi's "snuggle up" comment were popular! And I second guessed myself on those!

p95000 – I laughed when I wrote Rossi's comment about stinking and needing a shower. Hubby thinks I'm strange to laugh at stories, especially my own. What can I say? Rossi makes me laugh!

HGRHfan35 – Thanks for the compliment about the case clues and facts. Should I give away my writing secret to make it difficult to know who did it? Nah! And so, how did I do with Hotch and Emily? Do you want to be her in this chapter?