It seemed like the universe had decided to conspire against them after their brief holiday, as the team was out on increasingly brutal cases with little time to breathe, let alone think, during the five weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Their last case before the holiday break wrapped up the afternoon of December twenty third, and JJ made certain they were on their way home as soon as possible.

"So, Penny's what, thirty weeks along now?" Reid asked as the jet took off.

"Yeah. She seems to be doing better now than she was, but I still worry about her and Irene."

"Well, she is only six weeks from being full term. The baby would be okay if it came any time now." Reid smiled. "And it will be nice to have a girl in the mix."

"Yep, a little princess we can spoil and protect." Morgan clapped Rossi's back and grinned. "And how are things with you and Erin, Hotch?"

He'd given up all pretense of hiding their relationship when Shepperd had given him the okay. The man had looked like a great load had been removed from his shoulders as he left and Aaron found himself strangely furious with their Director. Sighing at the memory, he smiled up at his team. "We're doing fine."

Ashley leaned against the wall of the plane, fixing her gaze on him. "So, when are you going to tell her you love her?" The rest of the team began to laugh as Aaron raised his eyebrow at her. "It's Christmas, Sir. The time of unconditional love and miracles." He just shook his head and went back to his report.

By the time they got to the bullpen, it was deserted. Aaron went up with Rossi to his office. "I hope you and Penelope have a wonderful first Christmas together. The party is Boxing Day at your house, right?

"That's what Penelope wanted." Dave swung the door open and stepped inside, chuckling lightly. "Ah, Kitten, you never cease to amaze me. I'll see you in a few days, Hotch." He closed the door and Aaron went over to his office. He flipped his light on and went over to his desk, setting his briefcase aside. As he looked down at his desk, he saw an ornate key sitting dead center on it.

"I'm yours," he read aloud from the attached note as he looked up to see Erin sleeping peacefully on his couch. Aaron went over to her, kneeling down and kissing her gently. Her eyes fluttered open and she smiled at him

"You're home."

"I am."

"I asked Jessica to keep Jack until tomorrow afternoon." She broke eye contact with him as she sat up. "I'm ready."

He nodded and held out his hand. She took it and together they stood. Erin grabbed a duffle bag from off the floor and followed him out into the bullpen. Without thinking, he wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her close.

"Merry Christmas!" They looked up to see Dave and Penelope coming down the stairs. "Look above you." Penelope was grinning as Aaron looked up at the mistletoe. The rest of the team came out of the woodwork, grinning like fools as well.

"Well, I'm not one to back down from a challenge," Erin quipped, arching her eyebrow. She turned to Aaron and reached up to kiss him. He wrapped an arm around her waist, drawing her close as the kiss lingered on. They were both breathing heavily when she finally pulled away from him. "Will there be anything else, Agent Morgan?"

"Hey, don't look at me! It was all Baby Girl's idea!"

"I believe that as much as I believe I'm the queen of Sheba." He laughed at the statement and Aaron led her out to the elevators. "I do believe they've been setting us up this entire time."

"I think you're right, my dear. Was it worth it?"

"Oh, yes." He was surprised to feel her snuggle into him on the elevator. "No one's here who doesn't know. I can be a little free tonight." Aaron tightened his grip on her and Erin smiled up at him.

By the time they got to his place, though, he could tell her nerves were starting to get the better of her. "We have all the time you need tonight." She smiled and took his hand, letting him carry her bag as they climbed the stairs to his apartment.

"Will you go to the bedroom while I get ready?" she asked softly as they entered his home. He nodded and watched her pull out something from her bag. "And I brought something that might help us from Penelope's basket, it's in the bag." She blushed bright red and disappeared into the bathroom.

Aaron went into the bedroom, kicking off his shoes and taking off his jacket and tie before pulling out the aid Erin had mentioned. He raised his eyebrows as he read the box and knew why Erin's face had turned red. It was one thing to have sex, another to read about how to do it,

A soft cough got his attention and he turned to look at her. She was wearing a navy blue satin teddy. "Penny told me your favorite color. That's one of the questions we haven't gotten to in our journal yet." She touched her hair nervously. "Do I look all right?"

"Beautiful, my dear. Absolutely beautiful." Setting the box on the bedside table, he took a step towards her and she went willingly into his open arms. Aaron buried his fingers in her hair and pulled her in close for a hard kiss. Her fingers quickly unbuttoned his shirt, tugging it from his pants. Once she had gotten his down to his boxers, he led her to the bed, pulling her down with him.

Erin's eyes closed as he kissed along the neckline of her nightie. Slowly, he drew the straps of the nightie down her arms and then pulled it down her body, letting his hands roam over her flesh. Her body moved fluidly beneath his as he thumbed her nipples to erect peaks. "Oh, Aaron, more, please," she said quietly, tugging on his hair.

He obliged her by softly licking one of her nipples, swirling around the peak without taking it fully in his mouth. He chuckled slightly as she sharply pulled his hair once more. Deciding to move down her body, he left his hands to tease and pinch her nipples while kissing her stomach. Aaron felt her muscles twitch slightly at the sensation and then he felt her leg curl around him, pulling him down and closer to her. "Do you want me to continue?" he asked as he positioned himself between her legs.

"Yes," she panted out, her hips moving restlessly as he leaned in and kissed her mound. "Aaron, please, I, oh god, Aaron." Her little mewlings drove him mad and he gently pulled her thighs apart a little wider, giving him better access. Erin stiffened slightly as he lapped at her clitoris and he paused, only for her to roll her hips up closer to him. Aaron brought her to the brink of orgasm, letting her feel how pleasurable making love could be.

Using his thumb, he finally brought her over the edge. As she writhed beneath him, he tugged off his boxers and carefully entered her pliant body. "You feel so good, honey, so tight and wet around me," he murmured in her ear as he thrust in and out of her body. Her arms wrapped around his neck, pulling him down close.

"Honey, I feel, I feel, oh… Please, please, Aaron." She captured his lips in a bruising kiss as she wrapped her legs around him again, bringing him in deeper. He could feel her inner muscles tighten around him as she came closer and closer to orgasm. She keened loudly as she came, her nails raking down his back.

Once more, she burst into tears when they'd finished, and she clung to him, not letting him go. Aaron tenderly kissed her forehead, wrapping his arms around her waist. "Merry Christmas, Erin."

"Merry Christmas, meine Leben." She rested her head on his chest. "Do you think we could do that again?" He chuckled and rolled onto his back, pulling her on top of him. He ran his hands over her soft curves, mapping the swell of her hips. She giggled slightly as he found a ticklish spot just below her breasts.

"We can do whatever you feel comfortable with." Aaron smiled at her and reached over to grab the box she'd packed. "We could even try this out."

"You mean?"

"Babe, that was all you." A soft smile spread across her lips. "Well, you are full of wonderful surprises, my ear, why should this be any different?" Aaron took out the vial and read the instructions before pumping out a few drops onto his fingers. "Okay, here we go."

Gently, he wriggled his fingers between her folds, seeking out her clit. "That's nice," she said lowly as her hips moved against his hand. Erin's body bowed back, her hands kneading his upper thighs as she let herself go to the pleasure he was bringing her. "I never knew I could feel like this. That such pleasure could be possible." Her orgasm took a long time to build up, but it was the most intense one yet.

When she came down from that high, she squirmed and tried to position herself over him. "Um…" she began, looking at him for help.

"Let me." He adjusted how she was sitting and carefully entered her in one movement. He hissed in pleasure as she took her time riding him, seeming to find her way at last. She collapsed against him, her hips still moving as he thrust up into her. They came together, and he placed butterfly kisses all over her face as she wept with pleasure.

"I'm tired, Aaron, but I don't want to lose this moment." She clung all the more tightly to him as she yawned.

"You won't lose anything, Erin. If anything, this brings us closer together."

"This is one of the most precious gifts I've ever received, you know that, right?"

Aaron kissed her forehead and she smiled. "So, will you stay with us through Boxing Day? That's when Penelope and Dave's big party is, and I'd like for us to go together, as a family."

Erin reached up and brushed her hand through his hair, her eyes blinking rapidly. "I would love that, Aaron." She cupped his face and leaned forward to kiss him. He deepened the kiss and rolled onto his side, pulling her tight to him. "Hold me until I go to sleep?"

"How could I refuse a request like that?" She sighed and scooted down so that she could rest her head on his heart. Within minutes, she was sleeping and he stroked her hair softly until he fell asleep as well. A few hours later, he woke up to her violent thrashing and low whimpers. "Erin?" he said softly, stilling her body.

Her eyes flew open and stared up into his. The terror and sorrow there broke his heart and he pulled her close. She sobbed against his chest, her arms tight around him. "It was a nightmare about Wyoming, Will it ever leave me be?"

"I still see Foyet's face in my dreams, when I least expect it. Our demons follow us for a long time." He kissed her temple and felt her relax against him. "Nothing seems to fix it, no matter how hard I try." They sighed at the same time.

"Honey, where did the scars on your back come from?" It was his turn to stifle in her arms and she looked up into his face. "Who hurt you? Does his face blend with Foyet's in your dreams like his does with Erik's in mine?"

Aaron nodded, not trusting himself to speak. Finally, after a few minutes, he said, "Spare the rod, spoil the child, yeah?" He wrapped his arms around her a little more tightly.

"Oh ,Aaron," she softly said, nuzzling her face into his shoulder. He felt her tears splash down onto his skin, and he rubbed her back absently, fighting to keep his own tears from falling. Aaron let go of his emotions when he felt her fingers tracing the faded scars lightly. "My Aaron," she whispered possessively, splaying her hands out on his back.

He bent his head and kissed her, tasting the salt of their tears on her lips. "My Erin," he echoed, his heart lighter than it had been in years. She kissed him once again, murmuring something against his lips. He broke contact with her sweet lips and strained to hear what she was saying.

"Hallelujah," he finally caught and drew in a shuddering breath, recognizing the song she was singing lowly. His thumbs brushed her cheeks clear of tears before he kissed her again. Soon, she was asleep again, her hands still spread out against his back.