A/N: Two more chapters and an epilogue after this :) Sorry for posting so late, bf decided we needed to reorganise the kitchen since it's his realm, so I obliged because he will bake me cookies and cake this week ;)

Thank you so much for all the reviews! Right now I'm concentrating on getting the last of my work done and writing this story, I will reply to all of you later. But, thank you, thank you, thank you :)

Disclaimer: I don't own anything. However, dear TPTB, my Yule tree is still up, and I'm not nitpicky about details like dates and such ;)

"Alright everyone just drop off the paperwork you already have and the rest-" Hotch turned around, stopped mid-sentence by the sight when they entered the bullpen.

The entire room was decorated even more outrageously than the year before, there were strings of garland, tinsels, baubles, fir branches and lights strung everywhere, especially on their desks. Most of the other agents who weren't working on critical cases or were manning the office on guard duty were gone, so the place would've looked rather dark if it wasn't for the exuberant holiday cheer displayed prominently everywhere. There was soft music playing from somewhere, and they would later swear Strauss was laughing when she locked up her office.

"I don't know what you did, Morgan, but thanks for saving Christmas," Prentiss slapped his back with a cheer, as they were discovering the gingerbread houses and gifts on their desks.

"Whatever it was, keep doing it, it obviously pleases the lady," Rossi quipped, humming along with the more traditional "Jingle Bells", holding a set of whiskey tumblers

"Oh no," Reid groaned, making all of them turn towards the young genius who was holding up a knitted sweater.

"Nice outfit," JJ giggled.

"Merry Christmas," Hotch added dryly, much to everyone's delight.

"Man, you have to tell me what's with the sweater, every year she does this to you," Morgan put his arm around Reid's shoulder, smiling brightly.

"It's my aunt Mildred," the profiler said softly, "Or whoever she was." He was met with raised eyebrows and questioning glances, encouraging him to go on.

"My mother hardly ever celebrated the holidays, she thought they were just an invention of the government to turn our attention away from their secret projects," he continued, in the same tone, "So every year I got a package in the mail with a hideous, hand-knit sweater in it, and a note from Aunt Mildred."

He swallowed, before adding the next part of his story, "I had no idea who she was, I didn't know I had an Aunt, and there was no return address. But every year, she made my Christmas, and I wore them with pride until she stopped when my mother was committed."

He paused, knowing fully well that everyone in the room knew what he thought deep down inside of him, that the sweaters had come from his mother. Nobody was going to say it out loud though.

"I only ever told Garcia," he explained why he received new sweaters, "She gifts me with one every year.."

"Because it's not Christmas without one," a happy voice behind them completed his sentence, "Wear that sweater, my sweet genius."

Reid smiled shyly, but obliged, feeling the holiday cheer invading him. He wasn't visiting his mother that year because she'd been ill, so Hotch had invited him at the last minute to spend the evening with him and Jack in Haley's family and he would go to Vegas later in the new year.

"Go on now," Penelope started shooing everyone out of the bullpen, to their respective preparations and parties, keeping her hot stuff for the last.

"You need to hurry, handsome, don't keep your mom waiting," she smiled, she was reluctant to see him go but she knew how much he was looking forward to going home for the holidays. Besides, her systems were waiting for her, and she'd set up a few gaming sessions.

"I could say the same to you, sweetheart," he grinned, enjoying the confusion on her face.

"I, well, I picked up a shift today," she hiked her finger over her shoulder, pointing at her office, "I better get going."

"That's not what I meant," Derek stalked closer to her, snaking his arm around her shoulders, "Do you need anything in your office? Because you're coming with me!"

Penelope wanted to protest, she wanted to say she was fine, that she didn't want to intrude on his family time, that she was way too anxious to meet his mother and sisters, that she was happy enough when her family was happy, but he wouldn't hear any of it.

"Come on, baby girl, my momma's hung up a stocking for you next to mine," he coaxed, "You don't want to disappoint her, now do you?"

"Derek Morgan, you are so dead for using a guilt trip on me," she warned him, fire shooting from her eyes but a smile tugging on her lips, "You will pay for this, but I admit it, you got me. There's no way I could disappoint your momma."

"Hmmm, sweetheart, if only I had ya," he mused, shaking his head slightly before getting her bag and coat from her office,ignoring the look on her face, a mixture of wondering and confusion at his words.

"Lock it up well, mama, you're not going to see the insides of it in a week," Morgan warned her.

"A week?" Penelope shrieked, her hand on her heart, eyes wide, which made Morgan laugh.

"Yes, sweetheart, a week. You and I are going to celebrate the holidays in style," he smiled sweetly, taking her hand which was still resting on her chest, bringing it to his lips and pressing a kiss on it, giving her a wink.

Penelope smiled widely, her heart beating just a little faster when she realised what great lengths her best friend had gone to to ensure that she had something to look forward to the holiday period.

"Hey, hey, no tears, did I say something wrong?" Morgan worried as he saw her eyes filling up and he wiped a tear or two away which were spilling over.

"No, no, handsome," she waved her hand in front of her face, "These are happy tears. Nobody has ever done something like this for me since my parents died."

"Well, maybe nobody has ever loved you as much as I do since then," Morgan smiled, pulling her close into a hug. If anything, he was going to use this week to show her how much he really loved her, and not just as a friend, like she always seemed to think he did.

"I love you too, my sweet hero," she snuggled closer to him, "Thank you." A week with Derek Morgan was already one of the best gifts she could ever ask for. If anything, she knew she loved him more than she could ever tell him, and maybe now, she would get to show him.

"What do you say, let's get out of here?" he gently eased back, "We have 4 hours to make it to the airport."

Never letting go of her, they quickly made their way to the elevators, fully intended on making this the best holiday both of them ever had.

A/N: the return of the ugly Christmas sweater, and the first peek of the stocking. The stocking comes back, and then there's one more prompt I could fit in :)