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"--This is going to be interesting…--"

--What's going to be interesting?--

"--This,--" Oliver signed and then waved his hands around to include the whole room and the ten other people that sat there with them. "--We're here in Josh's home and he's cooking for us. I've never had French food for Christmas.--"

"--What makes you think we're getting French food?--"

"--Come on Chase, just because you can't boil water doesn't mean that others can't cook.--"

"--Very funny, Ollie. This isn't about my cooking skills. Just because Josh is French, doesn't mean we're getting escargot and pate for dinner. Besides, it's December 30th -- not Christmas. Josh said this gathering was a sort of between Christmas and New Year's party, so really, anything goes.--"

"--My point exactly, anything goes, including delicious French cuisine.--"

--Whoa you two… let's not draw blood before the food is ready.--

"Yeah, I didn't bring my gun." Hotch deadpanned and everyone laughed.

The large living room held a sectional sofa and several overstuffed chairs. There was a large bookcase on the left wall that Reid was perusing while ignoring Morgan, who was teasing him about Austin again.

"She should have stayed and hung out with all of us."

"I told you, she had to go back to Atlanta before the New Year."

"But you didn't tell us why."

"It's none of your business."

"Leave Spence alone," JJ said from her place next to Will who was holding Henry in his arms and talking to Rossi.

"--Who's Austin?--"

Morgan launched into the story of the serial killer in Atlanta and their encounters with Austin and Viper.

"—I'm surprised you didn't just take out your gun and shoot him.--"

"Nah… too many witnesses," Emily laughed through her glass of eggnog. "Besides, we needed him."

Chase just shook her head. "--I would have changed him from a rooster to a hen.--"

--Yeah, don't mess with Chasie.--

Chase leaned over and punched Kyle in the shoulder. "Hey!" he cried out, rubbing his shoulder. --That was hardly necessary!-- Then he made a hand sign that they all recognized and the whole room erupted in laughter.

"What ees going on 'ere?" Josh entered the room from the kitchen looking confused and pleased with himself at the same time.

"--A joke you missed,--" Oliver had jumped to his feet and nearly knocked the glass of eggnog from Kevin's hand.

"Ah, eef you please, the deener ees served."

They followed him to the table and Kyle elbowed Oliver in the ribs. --See, I told you it wouldn't be French cuisine.--

In front of them were two large tables filled with turkey and ham and all the trimmings. "Eenjoy," Josh said and he smiled at all of them.

---

"I knew he'd fool them all, except for Kyle."

"Of course you knew sugar, he's your charge."

"That's why I didn't bet against Malcolm."

"Alright, Reginald, I want all of you to focus on the challenge."

The angels returned their attention to Stephen. They'd been focused on the huge white screen at one end of his office that resembled a huge plasma screen television. It allowed Stephen to monitor his angels if need be.

"Now… I have everyone's charges names in this basket. Wilhelm, would you like to go first?."

The tall angel with a military bearing and a buzz cut to his black hair stood up with a "Humphf..." and approached the basket. He reached in and pulled out a card. "Just vhat I thought, I haf been given Miss Garcia."

Peter laughed uproariously. "You better take good care of my girl."

"Thees ees not funny."

"Yes it is," Charlene chortled. "Maybe she'll teach you to loosen up a bit."

Wilhelm scowled and returned to his chair where he sat ramrod straight and watched Charlene pick her name.

"Hm… I'm going to be looking out for Hotch. I'll have him taking off his tie and relaxing in no time."

Wilhelm opened his mouth and Stephen said, "No complaints from you."

Anya glided up to the basket, her perfectly groomed wings fluttering a bit behind her small body. Her black hair was long and her light blue eyes flashed with barely contained fire. She pulled out a card and almost smiled. "I guess I'll have to sit down with Jorge and brush up on my American Sign Language."

Jorge went next and his wings ruffled impatiently around his shoulders. --Here goes,-- he signed then went a bit pink when the others smirked. "I told you it was invading my whole life."

His new charge was Rossi. "Have fun, sweetheart." Charlene's southern tones drifted over to him.

Stanley pulled his card out of the basket with a trembling hand. His face went red, then white. "Um… I don't think I can handle this one."

"Stanley…"

"Sorry, boss. Um, Morgan is just fine."

"What!"

"Oh, can it Constance. Your precious charge will be just fine with Stanley."

"Charlene!"

"Enough!"

They all turned back to Stephen, whose wings were spread out to their full span. "Reginald, take your pick."

The tall, dark and handsome angel sauntered up to the basket and dug his hand in. "Hm… Dr. Reid. This will be fun." He winked at Stanley, who'd gone a shade whiter, if that was even possible.

"But boss -"

"I said enough!"

The laughter was cut off abruptly at the glower on their boss's face. Terrence reached into the basket and pulled out JJ's name. "Hm… this will an interesting change."

Gina glared at him and stalked up to get her name. "Oliver.." She read and looked at Anya, they locked eyes--and wills, it seemed--before Gina went back to her seat clutching the card.

Connie took Chase's name and Malcolm took Emily. Both Connie and Stanley wore equal expressions of intense worry.

"Well, this is shaping up to be more fun then I've had in centuries." Peter said, holding Josh's name in his hand.

---

--Thanks, Josh, that was great!--"

"What deed 'e say ?"

"--He said thanks. Josh, you really need to learn some sign.--"

"I am 'aving eenough trouble with Eenglish, 'ow do you theenk I can learn thees 'sign language'?."

Kyle brayed laughter at Chase's translation. They were moving from the dining room back to the living room.

"So, what are we going to do, now that you've given us time off till the fifth?" Garcia had taken Hotch's arm and he was smiling at her to the amusement of everyone else.

"I don't know…"

"Well, I can die happy, Mama. You've sort of left the boss man speechless."

"Morgan!"

"Sorry, Hotch…"

"I have an idea!"

Garcia cuddled up with Kevin in one big easy chair. The rest of them took seat and watched Morgan roll his eyes in her direction. "I'm sure you do, baby girl."

"Get that tone out of your voice right now, mister. I think we should spend the next three days on a scavenger hunt."

There was a general outcry from most of the team, except for Rossi who looked like a muse and Hotch who was back to stone-faced and silent.

"--What kind of scavenger hunt?--" Oliver asked.

"Well, I was thinking that we could pair up randomly. Instead of looking for specific items, we all have to do things that are completely out of character for us."

"Um… What k-kind of 'things'?."

"Don't worry sweet thing, you won't have to do anything illegal."

Reid choked on his coffee while Will slapped him helpfully on the back. "Illegal…" He squeaked.

"Of course not!"

"I don't theenk it ees dignified for me to parteecipate in thees game."

"--Come on, Josh… It'll be fun.--"

"Chase!"

"--It'll be a great way to blow off steam.--"

All eyes turned on Oliver, but he didn't flinch. "Come on Garcia, let's you and me plan it out," he said with a certain twinkle in his eye.

They jumped up and left the room with a chorus of protests following them into the kitchen. The group waited without talking as the two voices rose and fell for half an hour. Chills went down Reid's spine when the voices began to laugh and take on the distinct quality of plotting.

When the two of them finally came back, the rest of the guests had plotted out their objections which were all overturned. Even Hotch conceded defeat due to the fact that Jack was out of town with Haley and her new husband. He was facing a week at home alone, and that was unacceptable.

Will and Kevin declined, using the excuse that someone had to play judge and make sure that the activities were completed. Reid tried to horn in on this responsibility, but Will shouted him down.

"You're going to get out there and have some fun,." he drawled, making JJ giggle.

"You're taking his side because he's your boyfriend," the young agent whined.

"Of course, Spence--, I have to stand by the father of my child."

"Yeah, you can't compete with that my man."

Reid sulked in the corner chair while Garcia read out the assignments. JJ, Josh and Emily were grouped together. Hotch, Oliver and Reid were in the next group. Rossi and Garcia paired up and Chase went with Morgan and Kyle.

The groups moved to sit next to each other and there were a lot of uneasy looks between them. Garcia said, "Now… its time to figure out what we're going to be doing for the next three days."