The next morning Reid and JJ had gone out for an early brunch before heading to the airport to wait for the boys to arrive.

"Mummy!" the boys yelled as they ran through the doors straight to JJ's arms.

"Hi boys" she said, hugging them tightly.

Whilst JJ was hugging the boys Reid went to the staff member that had been looking after the boys to thank her and collect their little backpacks. The four of them then went to baggage claims to get the suitcase. "Did you boys have a nice holiday?" Reid asked.

"It was so much fun Uncle Spence" Henry said excitedly as he held onto Reid's hand. The four of them collected the luggage and headed to the car, driving back to JJ's house. The three boys gathered around the tree whilst JJ quickly made them all a hot chocolate. Once they all had their drinks, they began to give the boys their presents. Once they boys had finished opening their presents they got up and handed a few gifts to JJ. "These are for you mum" Henry said.

"Uncle pence took us shopping" Michael said, smiling.

"Thank you, boys," she said, kissing their cheeks before opening the gifts. The boys, with Reid's help had gotten her some new work boots she wanted, a gift card for her favourite coffee shop, some movies that she had wanted, and a gift basket with her favourite snacks, wine, bath salts and her favourite washes and lotions. She smiled as she hugged the boys tightly thanking them again. Once all the presents had been exchanged JJ took the boys upstairs to shower and get ready whilst Reid cleaned the mess downstairs.

Once they were ready the four of them headed over to Rossi's. The boys quickly said hello to everyone before dragging Reid out to the backyard to play. JJ said hello to everyone and thanked Rossi when he gave her a glass of wine before she headed over to Prentiss. "Hey" she said softly.

Prentiss looked over her and smiled "Hey, did you have a nice Christmas morning?"

JJ nodded her head "it was nice, just had a quiet before the boys came home, then we did the usual hot coco and presents" she said as she chuckled a little. "Why didn't you tell me about you and Mendoza?"

Prentiss rolled her eyes as she took a sip of her wine "let me guess, Reid told you?"

JJ nodded her head "apparently I'm not the only one he brings donuts to and gossips with."

Prentiss chuckled slightly before shrugging her shoulders "it only just recently happened, and you looked like you had a lot going on, I didn't need to trouble you with this."

JJ placed her hand on Prentiss's arm and gave it a gently squeeze before letting go "you are never a trouble. You are my best friend and I will always be here for you."

Prentiss took a sip of her wine before setting it down on the table. "He wanted me to move permanently with him, he couldn't keep doing the distance thing. But I told him I didn't want to move, that I didn't want to give up my job. I love what I do, and we've all worked hard and been through a lot to get where we are, I'm not ready to give that up yet."

"I'm proud of you, for standing for what you want. I'm sorry he ended things though, he made you really happy" JJ said softly, and Prentiss smiled slightly. "Well, to give you the truth to your question about why I didn't go with Will, we split up a few months back" JJ said.

Prentiss's eyes widened, and mouth dropped open with shock "wait, what, what happened between you two?"

"It started back when Reid and I were held hostage, he wanted me to leave the BAU again, go to some safer job. We have this argument quite a lot of times, but this time it just dragged out longer. Then we just started arguing over the littlest things, things that wouldn't normally bother us. After a few months it just became too much, and we decided it would be best if we split and had space from each other."

Prentiss placed her hand on JJ's shoulder and gently rubbed it "how are you and the boys holding up?"

"At first it was hard for the boys but eventually they were okay, it took them a while to understand what was happening as we all still live in the house. We have decided Will is going to keep the house as he will have the boys most of the time and I'm going to try and find an apartment. At the moment we've been taking turns at hotels."

Prentiss was about to say something when Rossi came out to announce dinner was ready. Reid brought the boys back up and took Henry to go get something whilst JJ helped Michael. Everyone gathered around the table outside and enjoyed their meals and small talk.

After dinner they all helped clean up before splitting into smaller groups. JJ and Prentiss were standing on the patio watching the two kids run around the backyard. "They might go to sleep quickly tonight, looks like they are going to wear themselves out" Prentiss said, chuckling slightly.

"Hopefully, sometimes bed time can be such a battle, and when you add Christmas and new toys to the mix it's even more difficult" JJ said, smiling slightly as she sipped her wine.

"I was doing some thinking and if you want to get out of the house you are always welcome to come stay with me for a little" Prentiss said softly "you know, so you don't have to keep paying the hotel rooms."

"Oh Em, I couldn't intrude on you like that."

"You aren't intruding, I am offering. I have the space" Prentiss said, smiling slightly.

"That would be great, thank you Em."

Reid came over to join them, holding some mistletoe above their heads. Both girls raised their eyebrow slightly as they looked from the mistletoe, to Reid, then to each other as they smirked slightly. They both leaned in and kissed either side of Reid's cheeks. He chuckled slightly "not exactly what Garcia had in mind" he said, tilting his head over to where Garcia was standing "but I'll take it."

The girls looked over at Garcia and shook their heads, laughing a little. "She always as something up her sleeve" JJ said.

JJ then called the boys up and Krystall set them up in the media room with some snacks and a movie whilst the adults all gathered in the living room with their wine and dessert.

After a couple of hours had gone by JJ decided to get the boys home. Both had fallen asleep watching movies so Reid and Alvez carried them out to the car for JJ and got them buckled in. JJ said her goodbyes to everyone before hopping in the car. Prentiss came around to the driver's side and handed JJ a key. "This is a key to the apartment; you are welcome to come whenever. I will get the spare room sorted for you tonight."

"Thanks Em" JJ said softly. "I think Will is coming back around lunch time tomorrow so I'll see you tomorrow afternoon" she said before driving back home.