Just a gentle reminder that although Em did have a conversation with Father Jimmy in an earlier chapter, this is NOT an exact replica. It's been changed up because when the Ghost of Christmas Present showed Dave his "future" there had been NO Santa at the party and Em had not talked to Dave since they had it out at his place the night of the pre-wedding party. His coming back and donning the suit changed that, and then talking to Em in the hallway drastically changed his future. And hers too. The question now is: was it for the good?

A Christmas Carol: Dave Rossi Style

The smell of burnt incense filled the massive room. Soft Christmas hymn music could be heard. The church was empty - save for one person. Father Jimmy Ryan was putting the finishing touches on the sanctuary. Once a year the Midnight Mass on Christmas morning brought out the parishioners of every age to his church for worship and it thrilled him beyond all words. Of all the holidays, the day of his Savior's birth was the one that he looked forward to the most.

Making sure everything was in place, he turned toward the altar for the door on the far right side that led to the rectory. Glancing at his watch, he smiled. Maybe he could get in a little more letter writing and put the final touches on his sermon before he went to bed.

As he reached for the handle, a sound caught his ear. Pausing, he listened closely. Was that someone crying? Turning around, he looked out toward the empty sanctuary and saw a figure hunched over in one of the pews.

Making his way down the steps from the altar, he walked to where the person sat and touched their shoulder.

"My child, are you alright?" he asked gently.

The figure raised their head. "Hi Father Jimmy," Em greeted thru her tears.

Jimmy didn't try to hide his surprise. "Emily. What are you doing here?"

"Hiding," she joked weakly. "I figure this is the last place he would think of to come looking for me, so I'm pretty safe."

Jimmy gave her a quizzical grin. "Him?"

"Dave."

"Ah." The meaning of the situation slowly dawned on him. "Do you mind if I sit down?" he asked. Em shook her head.

"Go ahead." She wiped the tears away with the back of her hand. "I'm sorry, Father Jimmy…"

"Jimmy," he corrected. "I'm off duty right now."

"I thought priests were never 'off duty'," Em questioned and raised her eyebrow.

"I'm on break." Jimmy settled in. "So, what brings you here on the night before Christmas Eve?"

"I needed to be alone. I don't want to hear how everything is going to be alright or that they are there for me if I need them. I need peace and quiet. A church seemed better than my place," Em confessed.

"You said that it would be the last place he would look for you. What did you mean by that?" Jimmy wondered.

"Dave was at the party tonight."

"I thought he was going to Hawai'i?"

Em shook her head. "No. He had to keep one of his promises - just not the right one. But that's just like Dave Rossi, so I'm not too surprised that he was in it for himself."

"What makes you think that?" Jimmy wondered a loud. "That he had an ulterior motive?" he amended.

"When haven't you known Dave not ulterior motive?" she scoffed.

"Once upon a time, Davy only wanted two things in life: success and…"

"Emma," Em finished.

"Emma," Jimmy reluctantly agreed.

Sitting in silence, Em and Jimmy pondered the moment. Both desperately wanted answers to questions but neither felt the need to speak up first. Finally, Em broke the silence.

"What did she have that I didn't?"

"What do you mean?" Jimmy asked.

"Dave has loved her all of his life. Even when she's been gone for years, Dave is still in love with her. What is that magical hold she has on him?" Em pleaded. "Tell me."

"There was always a connection between them," Jimmy confessed. "From the moment he saved her from being hit by a snowball that one Christmas morning, there was something between them. At first it was a hero worship on her part, but as they got older, she started to pull away while he fell in love." Jimmy got very quiet. "They were each other's first. And we thought that they were going to get married."

"Why didn't they?"

Jimmy shook his head. "I don't know. Davy went into the Marines and Emma went off to college. I know that when he went back to Commack for his mother's funeral, he wanted to take Emma back with him. But she didn't want to leave. I know that's when he decided to never come back to Commack."

"He may have left, but his heart stayed behind," Em groused. "What was she like?"

"Emily, I don't think I should be talking about Emma to you."

"Why not?" she replied angrily. "You knew her. Her husband murdered people because of her. Dave can't love because of her. I'm left wandering in the dark over a woman every man was mad about, but no one wants to discuss." Em started to stand up, but Jimmy held her back.

"Emily, sit down. I'll tell you what you want to know."

"Aren't you breaking some kind of 'confidentiality'?" she asked sarcastically.

Jimmy gave a half smile. "She never confided in me, and what I'm going to tell you happened before I was a priest." Em sat down. "She was a lovely kid. Very sweet, very smart, and just all around a wonderful person to know. I guess you could say that you are a lot like her. And I can see why Dave fell for you."

"Comforting." Em rolled her eyes.

"Emma was a cute kid and a nice lady, but she wasn't meant to be with Davy. There was something about her that didn't click with him the way you do with him. They had common interests and they grew up together, but…" Jimmy searched for the right words. "You and Davy are so much alike it's almost scary."

"Pfft!"

"He loves you more than he loved Emma, and I think that's what scared him."

"Yeah, right. And that gives him the right to do what he did."

Jimmy reached out and covered Em's hand with his. "I'm a priest, not a mind reader, so I don't know what's in the heart of another man, but I know that he loves you."

"After what he did to me?" Em shouted. "He stood me up a few days before our wedding! And you can sit there and tell me that he loved me?" As her voice bounced off the hallowed walls, she covered her mouth in embarrassment. "I'm sorry."

"I am sure that God's House has heard worse. But I can understand how you feel."

"Now you're a profiler?" Em snorted.

Jimmy shrugged. "I did have to take a couple courses in Human Psychology while at the seminary. Human behaviour is very similar to what you would call profiling. From what I can gather, you still love him as much as he loves you. Think back to when he went to bat for you."

"That was out of necessity. You told him to protect me. So, he did."

"I never told him to risk his career for you. That was done out of love. And you depended on him to help you."

"I had no choice; he's pretty stubborn."

"He said the same about you. You came back to the BAU when you could have stayed away. You could have let your friends grieve for you and be none the wiser. But you came back. Why?"

Em remained silent.

"You came back because of love."

"I might love the team, but I don't love Dave."

"Are you sure?" Jimmy wondered. "Because if you didn't, you wouldn't be here in a church late at night. You would be at home doing what ever it is that you do with your friends."

"It doesn't matter, because I am leaving the BAU after Christmas," Em stated flatly.

"I see. So, you're going to run away without finishing things with Davy."

"I can't stay around here and see him all the time and remind myself of what happened between us."

"May I ask a question? Is Davy worth fighting for?"

Em tried to look Jimmy in the eyes but couldn't. Instead, she concentrated on her hands that were furiously picking at her cuticles. "I don't know."

"Well, the answer is pretty simple. Maybe it's not apparent at the moment because your heart is clouded with emotion…"

"Clouded with emotion? He stood me up!" Em flared.

"The answer is there, Emily. You have to seek it." Jimmy's tone was patient and kind.

Em lowered her eyes. "That won't be happening."

"Oh?" Jimmy asked carefully.

"I put in for a transfer back to the FBI/CIA anti-terrorist joint task force as a translator and liaison. I'm leaving after the first of the year for London."

Jimmy appeared flummoxed. "London? For how long?"

Em sniffed back the tears. "Forever. I'm never coming back here."

Jimmy's shoulders slumped in defeat. "I see. Then let me leave you with some words of wisdom, Emily. Forgiveness can be asked in many ways. Davy coming back when he could have left is proof that he wants a second chance to make things right. You don't have to give him a second chance - there is nothing in the Bible that says to give someone a second chance to hurt you again. But it does say to turn the other cheek. You say you can't forgive Davy for what he did to you, but maybe you can't forgive yourself for falling for a man you knew couldn't love you."

Jimmy squeezed Em's hand lovingly. "Deep down inside you still care for him or else you wouldn't be here tonight. You should talk to him, Emily, and find out what he has to say. Don't leave before you have your answers." He made the sign of the cross. "I will see you for Midnight Mass?"

"I will try." Em stood up. Stepping to the side, she made her way down the narrow aisle. "Thanks for the talk."

Jimmy reached out and took her hand. "Think about what I said. Sometimes it's too late to go back and get a second chance. Maybe this is yours and his."

Em gave a small, forced smile and pulled her hand away. "Merry Christmas."

"Go with God," Jimmy replied. He watched as Em walked down the aisle to the front doors. The sound of the heavy oak slamming echoed through the empty sanctuary. Sighing, he stood up. It was time for bed.

After he had a drink.