This chapter is a bit longer than I intended, but the characters were speaking to me, and I really didn't want it to end. I hope you have enjoyed reading this two shot. Let me know what you think. Thanks.

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

"Damn Mother Nature and her change of life," Pen muttered to herself as she climbed the porch steps of her home. "Someone needs to give her a Prempro and a calendar to remind her that we are in winter!" The sudden gale force winds and heavy rain showers in LA only added to the misery of the case. She had hoped that the weather would have cooperated and given some sunshine to chase away the dreariness.

Then to add insult to injury, the white Christmas she had set her heart on never materialized. As the team had disembarked the BAU jet, the warm air teased her. All her hopes for a winter wonderland was gone out the window on the wings of global warming.

"No," she corrected. "It's a heavy low pressure system coming in from the Gulf of Mexico." She shook her head. "Oh God! I'm starting to sound like Reid!" Yawning, she inserted the key in the lock and turned. She was so tired, she was going to go to bed for a week. She wondered if Amanda would understand.

Picking up her go bag, she opened the door and stepped into the foyer. Throwing the deadbolt, she yawned again. But this time she stopped cold as she took in the sight in the living room.

"What in the world?" she whispered. Blinking quickly, she tried to clear her vision. Speechless, she looked at the dozens of snowflakes hanging from the ceiling and tree, and the ones taped on the windows. The lights on the tree blinked in and out of sync to add to the ambience.

"You're home," Derek's voice greeted her from the dining room.

"Oh, aren't you a sight for sore eyes," Pen sniffled. She set her go bag down and ran into her husband's arms. Hugging him tightly, she relished in the protective embrace of his strong arms. He was her port in the storm - and after what she had seen the past week - she needed him more than ever before.

"It's okay, Pen; you're home," Derek soothed. His hands gently rubbed her back.

"I missed you and Amanda so much," she sobbed into his pajama jacket.

"I know. Was it that bad?" From the look on her face, he could tell that it had not ended well.

Pen nodded. "Yes. How can someone do that so close to Christmas?" She closed her eyes tightly to wish away the images she knew were going to be burned into her brain forever.

"I don't know, Baby Girl. I don't know. But you're with us now and it's Christmas, so…"

Pen pulled back and looked at the room. "What went on here while I was gone?"

"We decided to surprise you for Christmas."

"I'll say you did."

"Do you want something to drink?" Derek asked.

"Oh yes. Please. Let me go change. Wait, am I going to wake Amanda?" Pen inquired in whisper.

Derek shook his head. "I doubt anything will wake her before noon. Now go change and be back here in five minutes," he ordered. Pen hurried up the stairs to the bedroom to freshen up. She had been given a few uninterrupted moments with her husband on Christmas morning, and she was going grab it with both hands.

Five minutes later, dressed in her pajamas and robe - pink bunny slippers decorated her feet (a gift from Amanda the year before) - she walked into the living room and took in the winter like beauty. Almost immediately, she could tell which snowflakes had been made by whom. Haphazardly cut and huge holes that a semi could drive thru, Pen fingered the paper and felt the tears leak from her eyes.

"She tried so hard to get it right," Derek whispered as he came up behind his wife. "She wanted to surprise you."

"She did." Pen turned around in a circle. "This room is perfect! I don't know how you did it!"

"Well, Baby Girl, you aren't the only person who can use a computer to locate important information on anything. When I was watching the news the other night, the weatherman mentioned that an unusual warm front was going to move in while the opposite was going to happen in California. I know how much you like snow on Christmas, so I thought I'd bring it indoors for you." He handed her the steaming hot mug with the candy cane sticking out. "Here. Drink."

Pen took the ceramic mug and soaked in the heat. It felt so good. "Thanks." She sipped the scalding liquid. "Mmmm, this is good!" She sipped again. "This is really good. What is it?"

"A recipe handed down from my mother's family. It's hot chocolate Dutch style."

"Oh?" Pen sipped again.

"Heavy on the chocolate and cream, heated until just boiling, then you pour into a mug, top with marshmallows, and add the candy cane for that little kick."

"This is so good!" Pen couldn't get enough of the delicious liquid that was warming her body and making her feel alive again.

"I'm glad. I had to call Mom and get the recipe. And since we couldn't make it to Chicago this year, she figured she'd surprise you with a unique gift."

"Now I'm worried that her gift won't equal this."

"Mama, don't worry; Mom is going to love what you chose." Derek sat down and wrapped his arm around her shoulder to pull her close. A little over a week without her in his arms or bed had driven him to the point of madness. He was going to make it up to her later.

"How did you know I was coming home today?" Pen asked.

"Hotch called me. Good thing he did too, because I fell asleep on the couch, although I had wanted to surprise you."

"I guess he is a romantic at heart," Pen murmured.

"Who would have thought it?" Derek played with a lock of Pen's hair. "Do you want to talk about what happened out in LA?" he probed gently.

"No. It's Christmas and I want to keep good, pure thoughts for the rest of the day. Besides, you'll be able to read the report when you get back on Monday."

"That bad?"

"Let's put it this way," Pen quipped wryly, "it was bad enough to take the jingle out of 'Jingle Bells'."

"Ouch!" The Grandfather clock struck seven. "Well, it's officially Christmas morning," Derek whispered in Pen's ear. "Merry Christmas, Darling."

"Yes it is." Pen turned her head just in time to have her lips covered in a hot, wet kiss full of love and desire. Moaning softly, she rubbed her hands over Derek's chest.

"Oh, Pen," he groaned between kisses, "that is so unfair."

"Do you think we have time to make it to the bedroom and back before Amanda wakes up?" Pen asked as she took his earlobe between her teeth and nibbled gently.

"Yes…"

"MOMMY! YOU'RE HOME!" Amanda yelled out. In an instant, she was down the stairs and across the room. Before Pen could blink, her daughter flung herself into her arms before delivering dozens of kisses and hugs.

"Hi, Precious!" Pen greeted with an 'oomph' as the girl landed in her lap. Automatically, she hugged the girl as though she might never get the chance again.

"I told Daddy that I wanted you home for Christmas and you did come home!" Amanda exclaimed between a dozen more kisses.

"You did?" Pen teased.

"I did and I told Santa, too."

"Well, here I am."

"See, Daddy? I told you."

Derek nodded. "Yes you did."

"Do you like what we did for you?" Amanda asked as she jumped up and ran toward the tree. "I helped Daddy make the snowflakes."

"You did a very good job." Pen observed.

"I helped Daddy hang them all over the room." She stretched out her arms in an exaggerated style. "I did good, right?"

"It's beautiful," Pen agreed and felt her heart swell. "I think it looks like a winter wonderland."

"That's what Daddy wanted to do. He said it would make you smile."

Pen smiled. "Daddy was right."

"As always," Derek muttered. Pen elbowed him. "Ouch! Baby Girl…."

"I see that Santa brought something else," Pen said and looked at the gifts under the tree.

"PRESENTS!" Amanda screamed.

"There went my left ear," Derek grimaced.

"What do you say we get something to eat, then we open your gifts, then we call Granny Fran?" Pen asked.

Amanda thought it over. "Oh, okay." Distracted by something outside the window, she turned around. "Mommy, I think Santa brought you something," she said in complete awe. She pointed toward the window.

"What do you…?" Pen asked, then stopped. "Oh my!" Standing up, she walked over to the large bay windows to get a closer look. "It's…"

"It's snowing!" Amanda cried happily. "It's snowing, Daddy!"

Derek moved over to where his two favorite women stood. "I see. Looks like your wish for a white Christmas came true." He kissed Pen quickly.

"It's nice, but I think you and Amanda one upped Mother Nature this time."

"Oh really?" Derek wrapped one arm around Pen's shoulders. Reaching down, he lifted his daughter into his other.

"I would take this homemade winter over that any day of the week."

"Maybe you can have both," Amanda piped up.

Pen kissed her daughter's cheek and rumpled her auburn curls. "Yes, I can."

"I love you, Mommy. I'm so glad you're home." Amanda snuggled into her father as she watched the snow fall outside.

"I love you, too, Precious," she returned.

"Merry Christmas, Penelope," Derek commented.

Pen looked at her husband and child and felt an inner peace fill her heart and soul. She smiled contently.

"Yes it is."

With the tree flickering in the corner, and the snowflakes hanging from the ceiling, the Morgan-Garcia family stood at the window and watched the snow fall outside.

It didn't need to be spoken, but all agreed it was the best Christmas.

Ever.