Hi guys! Thank you so much for your patience! I have everything planned out and I am STILL hit with writer's block, go figure haha! But I love reading all your sweet reviews for motivation! I would also like so say a special thank you because I got a PM that this story got nominated for a profiler's choice award, which is awesome! I never ever thought anything I wrote would get so much attention, I am so glad you all enjoy this story as much as I do! If you'd like to vote, then go here: www . fanfiction forum / Profilers-Choice-Awards-2014 / 162134 (take out the spaces!) and follow the instructions! This story is under the miscellaneous category for best Hotch and Emily! You don't have to vote, obviously, but I thought I'd put that info out there for those interested! You have until February 16th! Anyway, these next few chapters are Christmas-y, and I know that time of year has already come and gone but I just couldn't get them up in time! Hope you guys enjoy!

XxxxxX

It was Christmas Eve and Emily, Hotch, and Jack were on their way to Rossi's house. He had decided to host a part for the team and Emily this year. He had the most room—and though he liked to act like it was a burden he secretly loved having the team over. Emily was excited; she was going to spend Christmas Eve night at Hotch's because Jack wanted her there for Christmas morning. She couldn't really remember the last time she'd had a "real" Christmas. When she was younger her parents might be around for a few hours, but neither of them ever made a very big deal about it. Her plans for most of her adulthood were never very extravagant, and it wasn't until she joined the BAU that she felt like holidays meant something. Garcia always made sure they did something as a family for the holidays, and Emily had always been so grateful for that.

Emily was kind of nervous too, because this was the first major holiday she and Hotch were going to spend together. She was excited to stay with him and Jack and felt very lucky that they allowed her to be part of their traditions, but that didn't seem to calm her nerves. She knew everything would be fine, but there was still a part of her that kept expecting the other shoe to drop. She knew she was happy, she knew Hotch was happy. That was enough, she told herself. She glanced over to Hotch as he drove them, smiling as Jack excitedly pointed out all the light displays along their way. Looking at him immediately calmed her anxieties.

"What?" He asked, glancing at her for a second before turning his attention back to the road. It wasn't snowing, but it had earlier in the week and some was still lingering.

"Nothing." Emily shook her head slightly, sending him a smile. "I'm just…really happy." She said.

Hotch reached over and took her hand in his, keeping a strong hand on the wheel. "Me, too." He assured her, giving her hand a soft squeeze. They stayed that way until they pulled up to Rossi's house. It seemed like everyone else was already there, so the three hurriedly made their way inside, each of them carrying an armful of presents. Every year it was said there would be no presents, yet every year there was a gift exchange.

Rossi greeted them with a warm smile as he opened the door for them, directing them to the tree where all the presents were sitting under. Jack hugged Rossi hello then immediately raced off in search of Henry. Everyone else had already arrived, so Hotch and Emily made the rounds hugging everyone before finally making themselves comfortable on the couch, sandwiched between Reid and JJ. Garcia made sure everyone's wine glasses were topped off and they just talked together. They didn't get a lot of opportunity to do that…just talk about things that weren't related to work. It was nice for the team, and Emily had truly missed them all so much.

After a slight lull in conversation, the doorbell rang. Emily's brow furrowed in confusion. She counted quickly, everyone was already present; including Will and Alex's husband James.

"Who's that?" She asked as Rossi moved to answer the door.

"It's a surprise." Rossi smiled as the door opened and George stood there, gifts in hand and a petite, gray-haired woman next to him. Emily knew it had to be his sister, Elaine.

"Oh," Emily managed to breathe, immediately feeling her eyes fill with tears. She'd missed George so much, but she didn't realize exactly how much until she saw him standing in Rossi's house. Emily waited until George came in and sat his array of boxes and bags down before standing up and making a beeline to him, hugging him tightly.

"Hey, you." Emily said after they released each other. "This is a surprise!"

"I hoped they'd be able to keep the secret. I really wanted to surprise you." George smiled widely.

"You all knew about this?" Emily asked.

"Not me!" Henry said honestly.

JJ laughed. "That's because you'd tell." She said, eliciting a laugh from the group.

"That's not true! I haven't told anybody that I'm going to be a big brother yet!" Henry said proudly, then realizing his mistake, added an "oops."

"Oh my gosh!" Garcia exclaimed, immediately enveloping JJ in a tight hug.

"Well, Will and I were going to wait until the New Year to tell everyone, but I suppose my not drinking this wine would have given me away anyways." JJ laughed. "But Henry's right, he's going to be a big brother by summer!"

Everyone swarmed the couple and congratulated them immensely. "I knew Blondie not draining that wine glass had to mean somethin'." Morgan said with a laugh.

"Ha, ha." JJ droned. "Now that we got that out of the way, how about we turn the attention away from me and back to the man that was supposed to be the surprise?" She added. Everyone nodded in agreement and turned to George and the woman beside him, looking a bit bewildered.

"Is this your sister?" Emily asked softly.

George nodded. "Everyone, I'd like for you to meet Elaine." He introduced her and everyone made sure to greet her personally, causing a light chatter among the room for a few minutes.

"We're a lot to take in, but we're not so bad." Hotch said after everyone had made acquaintances.

Elaine nodded. "George has told me so much about all of you and what you did for him and Emily earlier this year. I think you're all wonderful already."

Everyone continued to talk, getting to know Elaine and make her feel more welcome. Emily pulled Hotch to the side, out of everyone's ear shot.

"Did you do this?" Emily asked, nodding to George and Elaine.

Hotch nodded. "Well, kind of. George had e-mailed me about wanting to surprise you, but coming for Christmas was my suggestion. He asked if he could bring his sister and of course I said yes." Hotch told her.

Emily stood on her tip-toes, she opted for flats that night so she was a little shorter than him than usual, and kissed him quickly to let him know she appreciated the gesture. "Thank you." She added after they broke apart.

"I knew you'd love to see him." Hotch said, putting an arm around her shoulder and smiling when she leaned her head into his shoulder.

"He looks happy, yeah?" Emily said. He really did. Emily couldn't imagine losing Hotch the way George had lost Elizabeth. She knew that those two had the same feelings for each other that she and Hotch had. She knew Elizabeth's death had been so hard on George, and that he had put on a much stronger front for her benefit. Seeing him now, smiling and laughing and having fun with the team, she knew he was finding happiness again.

Emily pulled away from Hotch and motioned for him to follow her over to the older man. She asked him about Maine, about his sister and her grandchildren. Of course, Elaine had plenty of pictures to share. No one minded when she went into detail about the children; they saw the way her eyes lit up at the mention of them.

While Elaine was talking, JJ pulled Emily to the side so they could talk together.

"You okay?" Emily asked, wondering what JJ wanted to talk about.

"I'm great." JJ smiled honestly. "I just…well, Will and I were talking a few days ago, and I wanted to ask you this later but I figure tonight's as good a night as any…we want you to be this baby's Godmother."

Emily opened her mouth to speak, but suddenly couldn't find the words. "I…" she started. "Are you sure?" Emily asked.

JJ nodded eagerly. "Garcia and Reid spoil Henry so much, and we talked about giving both children the same set of Godparents, but then we figured that should, God forbid, something happen to us, that you'd all do what's best for our kids no matter what. And over the years you and I have become so close, and I'd love nothing more than for you to be this baby's Godmother." JJ said, her blue eyes filling with tears.

"Oh, Jayje. Of course I'll be Godmother." Emily said as she pulled her friend into a tight hug, the two of them crying on each other's shoulders for a minute before letting go and laughing at how emotional they were getting.

"Can I ask you who you want the Godfather to be?" Emily asked.

"Oh, we want to ask Hotch." JJ said simply.

"Really?" Emily smiled.

JJ nodded. "Do you think he'll be okay with that?"

"He'll love it. I promise you that this little one will be just as spoiled as Henry. We'll see to it." Emily laughed.

"How are you guys?" JJ asked.

"Everything is…it's amazing." Emily gushed, not afraid or embarrassed to be completely honest with her best friend.

"I'm so glad. I always knew you two would figure it out eventually." JJ smirked.

"Figure what out?" Emily asked.

"That you're madly in love." JJ laughed.

Emily thought about arguing, but what was the point in that? "You're right. We are." She said confidently. "Guess it just took a few traumatic events to realize that." The two laughed and joined the group again a few moments later. JJ told the group what she'd just asked Emily, and everyone was thrilled. Hotch readily and happily agreed to take on the Godfather role. Emily couldn't stop smiling, tonight had been so perfect, and her celebrating was only half over.

XxxxX

Several hours later, Hotch, Emily, and Jack were headed back to Hotch's apartment. The trunk was filled with gifts from everyone; it seemed that this year everyone had gone all out. Hotch and Emily had agreed to save their gifts for each other for the following morning, but other than that everyone had traded gifts. Jack and Henry had eaten enough Christmas cookies to keep them awake to New Year's Day. All in all, it had been a wonderful evening full of laughter and memories.

Despite all the sugar Jack and eaten, he seemed to be half asleep in the backseat when Emily looked back at him.

"Did you have fun?" Emily asked the nine-year-old.

"Yeah, I'm excited for tomorrow too!" Jack said, fighting to stay awake.

Emily laughed. "Me too, buddy." Emily said honestly, though she was pretty sure he'd already fallen asleep.

Jack roused as they pulled into Hotch's apartment complex. Hotch and Emily opted to leave everything in the trunk and deal with it tomorrow. All three of them headed inside and Jack promptly went to get ready for bed without even being asked.

"I've never had this easy of a time getting him to go to bed on Christmas Eve." Hotch laughed as they watched Jack go into his room.

"Rossi's parties are just too wild, I guess." Emily joked. After a beat of silence, she spoke again. "Hey, you're really okay with the Godparent thing, right?" Emily asked.

"Of course I am." Hotch agreed, tucking a piece of Emily's hair behind her ear. "I can't think of anyone else I would rather Godparent with than you." He said seriously.

"Me either." Emily smiled. Hotch put his arm around her and together they headed into Jack's room to tell the boy goodnight before going into Hotch's room to start giving each other an early Christmas present.