A/N: Thanks again to all who read and reviewed

A couple of lines from Twas The Night Before Christmas by Clement Moore

Disclaimer: As always, I own nothing

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The team was busy helping Dot and Gloria clean up. They did the huge pile of dishes and the women filled buns with leftover turkey for the homeless to take with them while the men set up numerous cots as most of the homeless guests would spend this cold night in the warmth of the shelter.

"I want to thank you all so much for coming and giving up your Christmas day for us. I don't know what we would have done without you all," Dot said her voice shaking with relief when the work was completed.

"It was Reid's idea and it was a good one, as usual. I think we all enjoyed the experience and got a lot more out of it than we gave," Hotch told the two women and the others nodded.

Hotch had made arrangements with Tara Croft, to let Dot know when he had word regarding her situation. She had promised to check with Dot every day. Reid had gotten contact information from Scott and would be in touch once he spoke to Sarah Harris.

They said good evening to the ladies and were all hugged by both Dot and Gloria. They were also wished well by the homeless community as the team started the journey back to their hotel, happy and fulfilled by the events of the day. The wind had gone down so the return journey was not as cold as the morning trek had been, but it remained a challenge wading through the high snow.

Happiness and relief washed over their faces when their hotel finally appeared, like a beacon in the night, and the team headed for the restaurant for coffee or a drink before they called it a day. The restaurant was almost deserted on a Christmas evening so they had their choice of tables. Talk revolved around the day and the unique people they'd met. Everyone agreed that it had turned out far better than they had anticipated.

"Reid, you even survived playing Santa unscathed," Emily remarked.

Reid nodded his assent but inside he wasn't sure if that was really true. He wouldn't soon forget the little ones he had met today and the difficult lives they led. He hoped he and Hotch would be able to help them. While lost in thought, he hadn't noticed Garcia slip quietly from her chair until everyone started to laugh. Reid turned around to find the computer tech behind him holding a sprig of mistletoe over his and Emily's heads.

"Well Reid, looks like you're caught," Morgan laughed. Today was just too much fun, he thought, first Reid playing Santa and now caught under the mistletoe.

"Do you know the origin of the word mistletoe, Garcia," Reid asked, grinning at his friend?

"No, sweetcheeks, but that won't stop you from having to kiss Emily."

"In ancient times it was observed," Reid began, "That mistletoe would often appear on a branch or twig where birds had left droppings. Mistel is the Anglo-Saxon word for 'dung' and 'tan' means twig. So mistletoe means dung on a twig."

Garcia dropped the plant like it had burned her and backed away like it was a poisonous snake. "Reid, did you have to tell me that?"

"Well, you're the one who brought it out, don't blame me. I was just explaining a little about the plant." He laughed that the joke, for once, was not on him. The others all laughed even Garcia as she lovingly cuffed him on the head.

"It's a good thing I love you, honeybunch," she said sitting down once again.

"I really don't think Emily would want to kiss me under the mistletoe because in European folklore it was supposed to bestow fertility and-"

"Reid," came the chorus from his teammates.

"Right, I'll shut up now."

They talked a little longer and then decided to head to their rooms, hoping that the weather would allow them to head back to Quantico in the morning. They all said Merry Christmas to each other outside their doors. Reid and Emily were the last to reach their rooms. Emily said, "Reid, that was a really nice thing you did today. I thought you were a terrific Santa." She leaned in and softly kissed him on the cheek. "Who needs mistletoe," she whispered?

Reid entered his room, exhausted but feeling more satisfied than he had in a long time, maybe ever. He noticed the gifts from his teammates, his family, sitting on the table where he'd left them. This had to be one of his best Christmases ever. There had been a tree and presents but there had been other gifts far less tangible but no less important or special. There had also been a delicious turkey dinner and people to share it with. He looked at the inviting bed. His eyes squinted. There was a gift laying on the bed wrapped in bright festive paper tied with red ribbon and a red bow! Had the hotel left gifts for its guests? He picked it up. The card said 'Merry Christmas Spencer from Santa'. Santa? Alright, whose idea of a joke was this? It was the size of a coffee table book. He shook it. It didn't shake. He sniffed it. Nothing. He looked at it for a few moments longer and then undid the bow and removed the paper. It was a coffee table book of Twas The Night Before Christmas by Clement Moore. He opened the book, thinking the giver may have signed it inside. Inside the cover was the handwritten word Believe and it was signed Love Santa. Pasted to the opposing page was a beautifully written copy of Francis P. Church's editorial from the 1897 New York Sun, 'Yes Virginia, There Is A Santa Claus.'

He turned to the next page and began to read the classic poem. When he reached the end, written in the same hand were the words, 'Yes Spencer, There Is A Santa Claus.'

He picked up the phone calling Garcia's room, telling her about the book and asking whose idea of a joke it was. "Now sweetcheeks, think about this. We were all with you all day. How could we have done it?"

"You got somebody from the hotel to do it," Reid persisted.

"Oh Reid, come on. Would somebody from the hotel go out in this weather on Christmas day to find a copy of 'Twas The Night Before Christmas'? That's not logical."

"Okay, thanks Garcia, good night." He looked down at the book again. He turned and walked to the window. The snow had suddenly stopped. The moon shone brightly and the stars glistened in the now cloudless sky. "The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow gave the luster of midday to objects below." He suddenly looked up and then chastised himself; what had he expected to see, a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer?

He put the book on the table and went into the bathroom to get ready for bed. Coming out of the bathroom in his comfortable old sweats, his hair still damp from the shower, he picked up the book again. He didn't recognize the handwriting. It wasn't any of his teammates. He looked out the window again. The stars twinkled as if they were winking at him, saying they knew the secret but would never tell. Finally he went to bed and fell asleep trying to get his big brain around the fact that some things are not meant to be understood while a mirthful ho ho ho faintly echoed in the distant night.

The End

A/N: Hi everybody, I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone in the fanfiction world the very best of the holiday season.

How ever you celebrate in your part of the world, may your celebrations be joyous and may you spend the season with those you love.

Merry Christmas and a very healthy and happy New Year.

REIDFANATIC