On the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love sent to me…

Eleven Ageless Traditions

It was Christmas Eve and Joss felt dispirited. Sure it was nice to visit her mother and have a nice evening with her, her son, and Taylor's cute girlfriend Hayley, but she hadn't heard from John since the disaster of his office Christmas party for John Warren; the one where Shaw and Root set things up with the help of the machine where he kissed her in an entirely 'unfriendly' way. The passionate, I-have-to-kiss-you-because-my-life-depends-on-it kiss part she relished; it was the part where John was alerted to the fact that Shaw and Root were behind the reason Leslie's number came up that she didn't.

"She's obsessing…."

Joss was drawn back from her thoughts by her son's rather loud declaration.

"How do you know that?" Hayley whispered back.

"She's quiet," Taylor answered.

Joss rolled her eyes as her son's and Hayley's whisper discussion was about as quiet as a blow-horn in a library.

"Maybe your mom is concentrating on driving and not on this guy that she made out with."

Joss debated on how long she was going to let the two 'whisper' as though she couldn't hear them. She hadn't wanted to tell Taylor about what happened between her and John because her son and John were friends and she didn't want any friction between the two men because of her. But, of course, her mother had pinned her into a corner about John until she spilled about their kiss at the office party and Taylor walked in on the conversation.

"No. Trust me, it's about Mr. Badass."

"You two know I can hear you right?" she demanded, unable to remain silent anymore. "And I'm not obsessing Taylor. I'm just thinking things over."

"What's to think over?—you and Mr. Badass are made for each other."

Joss let out a half-laugh half-sigh. "There's a lot more to factor in than just how we feel about each other, Taylor."

"Love is all you need!" Hayley exclaimed. Joss smiled at the innocence, wishing it was true. "Hear me out Mrs. C; I know it sounds like a fairytale but as long as you two love each other the rest will fall into place. That's what my mother always told me."

"Sweetheart, your parents have been married for what twenty-plus years?" Joss asked.

"Yes. I want that too," Hayley admitted with a quick look Taylor's way before looking away.

"So did I, but my marriage to Taylor's father ended badly. I tried again with a new man and lost him too. The 'love' department hasn't worked out well for me. But I appreciate your vote of confidence for John and me."

Things grew quiet as she arrived at Hayley's parents' place and pulled up to the curbside. "I'll walk you to the door." Taylor murmured as he climbed out and reached in to take Hayley's hand to help her out.

"Merry Christmas Mrs. C!" Hayley called out.

"Merry Christmas Hayley, and please call me Joss!" she insisted for what had to be the millionth time. The girl's manners were even more engrained in her than her son's were in him.

The girl just waved bye before Taylor slid the door closed and walked Hayley up to her front door. Joss shifted her attention on the rearview mirror and pretended to look at her hair when her son leaned in for a kiss. She looked as the passenger door opened and Taylor climbed in.

"I hope she had a nice time. Your grandma loves her," Joss said as she slowly pulled away from the curb once more to drive them home. After they were there she was sure her son would disappear into his room to go call Hayley to talk. Oh how young love was the best kind of love.

"I know she did but you're changing the subject," he stated.

Joss sighed. "What subject Taylor?—because the topic of John and I is over," she replied firmly.

"Just don't give up on John, mom. He likes you. He even told me so," Taylor insisted.

"Uh-uh, I doubt John said that," she muttered. That didn't sound like John who hid from his feelings and wouldn't openly admit to anything, especially to her son.

Taylor frowned. "Well he didn't tell me in so many words but you could read between the lines. He told me you make him happy and that he rarely feels happy."

She smiled, almost picturing their conversation as they play basketball. "Now that sounds like John." she whispered. "Baby, just don't get your hopes up about this. If John doesn't want to go for it I can't force him."

"But you want to?—go for it?"

"Yes." she answered honestly. "But John might not want to."

"And you'd be okay with friendship if that was all John wants?" Taylor asked incredulously. His mom never settled for anything so the fact that she would settle for friendship when she wanted more surprised him.

"Taylor, I'm through with this discussion."

They arrived home and thankfully her son dropped the subject. She unlocked the door as Taylor looked at his phone texting someone, most likely Hayley, as the two have been inseparable. Joss set her phone and keys on the small table near the staircase and removed her coat.

"Want to watch a movie?" she asked.

"Actually I was going to call Hayley."

She smiled. "Young love is the sweetest. Okay, but don't come crying to me to restart Terminator." she retorted as her son took off up the stairs.

Joss rubbed her hands together as she flipped the light on in her living room coming to an abrupt stop as she saw a small present resting near her fireplace. She looked around before slowly moving towards it. Joss hesitantly picked it up and saw it was addressed to her. There was only one person who would break into her home to leave her a present and that would be John. But why would he bring her the gift tonight when they were supposed to have dinner tomorrow?

She stared at it for over a minute before finally beginning to remove the wrapping paper; eyeing the small box dubiously before removing the lid and found a white envelope in it. The mysterious gift set her heart thundering as she picked it up to find out what exactly this was.

Joss smiled before setting it on the couch and walked to go grab her cell phone she left with her keys. She found and clicked his name and set her phone to her ear waiting for him to answer.

He did on the second ring with a tentative 'hello'.

"I got your gift." she said simply.

"Do you like it?" John asked quietly.

Joss sat down on her couch where the gift rested. "An all expense paid for trip to Hawaii…uh, I love it."

"It's a trip for two. I figured you could take Taylor with you to spend some time together."

She nodded, doubting Taylor would want to spend a week away from Hayley even for a Hawaiian trip. "Why did you give me it today and not tomorrow though?"

He was quiet for several minutes. "I thought it was tradition for you to find a gift while you were out?"

She felt her heart melt. How John ever thought he wasn't a good man still was a mystery in itself? "You remembered that?" she whispered.

"I always remember what you tell me."

"Does that include when I tell you to not do something illegal?" she demanded, swallowing the rising desire to ask where they stood.

He softly laughed. "Sometimes you need to break a few eggs to save a life."

She snorted as she fingered the trip info. "That's still not the saying John." she retorted before they slid into silence. "We're still on for tomorrow right?"

"If you still want to come over." he said, now sounding hesitant.

"Why wouldn't I want too?—you're the one that kissed me and have been avoiding me because of it," she accused.

"Carter…"

"Never mind, forget I said anything. I'll see you tomorrow," she said softly, not wanting to fight. Not tonight.

"Goodnight, Joss…."

"Goodnight John," she responded and when they hung up Joss ran a hand through her hair losing herself in her thoughts.

Taylor came barrowing down the stairs, breaking her from her thoughts, as she didn't know how long she was sitting there just thinking. "I thought you were going to put Terminator on." he questioned.

She got to her feet. "I will be in a minute."

"What's that?" Taylor asked nodding to the gift she had just opened.

"A gift from John." she replied as she gathered it up. "And you asked if I was okay with just friendship with John if that was all he would offer….no, I have no intentions of settling for just friendship with him."

Taylor grinned. "I knew it! You never settle for anything."

Joss smiled in return. "Let me go grab some milk and then we can put the movie on." she said as she walked away. Tomorrow she was going to get the best present of all: John himself.

AN: Joss is about to grab the bull by the horns ;D

Thanks for reading!