Christmas is for Family
"Are you ready?"
Aaron looked up from the file he had been reading and smiled at the woman in the doorway. "I just need to sign this and I am done."
"Good. I can't wait to get to your place and see what you and Jack have done to instill the Christmas spirit," Beth teased. She entered the room and perched on a chair across from his desk.
Aaron scribbled his name with a flourish and closed the folder. "You are in for a treat," he promised. "Speaking of Jack, I thought you were picking him up first and then coming here."
"I did. He wanted to see Uncle David."
"Ah," Aaron smiled knowingly. He stood and began packing his briefcase. "His partner in crime."
"I've heard stories," Beth smiled. "Speaking of Dave, what is he doing for the holiday?"
Aaron shrugged. "He hasn't said."
"Did you invite him for dinner?"
"I did. He declined."
Aaron moved around the desk and helped her to her feet then placed a sweet kiss on her lips. "Merry Christmas."
Beth smiled and kissed him back. "The best one yet."
"I'm ready," he announced unnecessarily. "Let's get Jack before they hatch a plan to raid Toys-R-Us or something."
They both laughed as they exited the office and walked the short distance to the elder profiler's office. They peeked into the open doorway and smiled. Jack was sitting on Dave's lap and both of them were hunched over as they colored something on the desk.
"Are you boys almost done?" Aaron asked.
Two heads popped up simultaneously.
"Hi Daddy," Jack smiled. "Uncle Dave is helping me color."
"I see that," Aaron nodded solemnly.
"Alright, Champ," Dave announced as he picked up the crayons and placed them in a box. "Let's clean this up so you can get home in time for Christmas."
"Yeah," Jack cheered.
When the crayons and paper were picked up and put away the four of them made their way to the bullpen. Dave had grabbed his jacket and bag on the way out and closed his door.
"UGH! I gotta get out of here," JJ wailed.
"What's the rush, Sugarplum?" Penelope asked as she teetered into the room on a pair of blinking red high heels.
"Will, Henry and I have to hit the road by 5 o'clock or we won't make it to his parents in time," JJ explained as she scrambled to straighten her desk.
"Wait, you're driving to New Orleans? Tonight?" Derek asked.
JJ nodded and forced a smile. "We promised Will's parents we would be there when we couldn't make it for Thanksgiving."
"Why don't you fly?" Alex asked.
"We didn't know that we could go for sure until three days ago," JJ continued. "By then, there were no flights available."
"Speaking of flights," Penelope broke in. "Chocolate Drop and Candy Cane, we need to get going ourselves."
"Where are you going?" JJ inquired.
"Vegas," Reid piped in.
"Chicago," Derek smiled.
"Chicago," Penelope echoed.
"Ooh," Alex and JJ cooed in unison.
"What about you Alex?" Penelope asked.
"Staying home this year," she smiled. "My husband came home yesterday."
"Well, you all have fun travelling in the snow," Dave spoke up.
"Are you staying home, Dave?" Spencer asked.
Dave shrugged. "I have plans."
"What, a bottle of Scotch?" Aaron snickered.
"A warm fire?" Alex smiled.
"A pile of Tony Bennett records?" Penelope questioned.
"And a cigar to top it off," Derek laughed.
Dave grinned. "Sounds perfect to me."
"Sounds lonely," Spencer murmured. Everyone turned to look at the young profiler. "You can come to Vegas with me."
"Or Chicago," Derek and Penelope chimed.
Dave held up his hands to stop the onslaught. "I appreciate the offers. I have an open invitation to dinner…" He sent a glance to Aaron. "I have plans. They are my plans and if they should change, that would be my decision."
"And with that," Aaron broke in. "Let's all get out of here before something spoils our plans."
End Part 1