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A/n Thanks to all of you that have supported this story. Thanks to my beta REIDFANATIC for her friendship and for making sure these chapters aren't riddled with mistakes. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all

Henry climbed into Reid's lap as soon as the three of them entered the room. He hugged his godfather hard around the middle. "I love you Uncle Spence," he burst out.

The embrace and the spontaneous declaration brought tears to prick Reid's eyes. He hugged Henry back hard. "I love you too Henry. I'm so happy you're awake."

"Why is everyone so happy?" Henry demanded as he picked up Robbie to cuddle.

"They're happy you're okay little man." Garcia said, as she ruffled his wavy blonde hair.

Henry frowned up at her. He seemed to be trying to say something but couldn't find the right words. "Uncle Spence was there when I saw the light," he said solemnly. "It was warm and I wanted to go there, because the water was cold."

"Uncle Spence and Uncle Derek helped save you." Emily said, kissing the top of his head. "They both love you very much and wanted you to be safe."

Henry frowned again and looked up at Reid who was staring back at him. The three-year-old boy seemed to sense something because he leaned up and said into Reid's ear. "I have a secret."

"You do?"

Henry looked at Garcia and Emily, then back at Reid. "Can we have a minute of guy time?" Reid asked them.

Garcia took Emily's arm. "Of course you can," she said. "We'll just go outside for a minute and leave you two alone."

When the women were gone, Reid adjusted Henry on his lap so that he could look at the little boy's face. "What's wrong?"

"I tried to tell Mommy, but she said I didn't have to talk about it."

Reid stroked Henry's hair with one hand and touched Robbie's nose with other. "Sometimes mommies don't like to talk about scary things," he said.

"It's not scary Uncle Spence. I saw light, like my Snoopy light only lots more. It was really warm and not scary like the dark water. I wanted to go there, but I heard you saying my name and then I wanted to see you and mommy and daddy again, so I came back."

Reid sat stunned and riveted to his seat as Henry described the same thing he himself had experienced when he'd died in Georgia for a few minutes. He swallowed hard and fingered Henry's pajama sleeve.

"I'm glad you came back Henry. Your mommy loves you a lot. She would've been very sad if you'd stayed with the light."

Henry's eyes got big, "Really?"

"Yes… Henry, I know how you feel because one time I saw the light too. It was so bright and warm and I didn't want to come back for a minute, but then I thought of everyone that loved me that would be so sad."

Henry threw his arms around Reid's neck, letting Robbie fall to the floor next to Reid's feet. "I'm glad you came back Uncle Spence."

"Me too buddy, me too."

When everyone was gathered in the room with Henry, much to the chagrin of the nurses and Henry's doctor they began opening gifts, or rather Henry opened his gifts. He was so excited that Santa had come to his house and that he got to open his gifts in the middle of the night, he didn't notice that he was the only one with gifts.

"Thank you mommy," he was saying as he pulled a tiny soccer ball, already inflated from its box. "Can I play with Jack?"

"You're too little to play with the boys, but I'll bet he'd help you practice." JJ said.

"Okay mommy," he pouted only until he opened the next box.

Reid stood next to Henry's bed watching him tear into gifts. The paper was flying, he thought, literally, and he wanted to laugh for joy. It didn't matter if it was the middle of the night, or if they were in a hospital. Henry was awake and healthy.

Henry wasn't interested in the clothes JJ had got for him, and he seemed to think a new pair of sneakers was blasé when compared to the toys. Will only laughed, making the bell on the end of the Santa hat he wore jingle merrily.

"At least Santa was smart enough to bring toys." He winked at JJ and she smacked his shoulder with great good nature.

Henry didn't notice because he had a new Bumble Bee Transformer toy that changed from car to amazing butt kicking robot as easy as pie. That was infinitely more interesting than clothes.

"We didn't know when you'd be awake." Garcia told him, "So there'll be more gifts later." Henry clapped his hands and they all laughed.

"Never underestimate the power of brightly colored packages that may contain wonders unknown to childlike hearts." Rossi said and they all laughed.

It was as though a weight had been lifted off all of their shoulders and even though it was two in the morning and they were all exhausted, no one wanted to go home.

Finally, all the gifts were opened and Henry was in JJ's lap hearing all about what she and Will had found at their house when they'd gone home to see if Santa had come.

"The cookies we left out for him were gone and so were the carrots you helped me cut for the reindeer." JJ told him seriously. "They must have liked the oatmeal, because there was just a little left on the plate when we got home."

"They did?" Henry's eyes were huge with delight.

"Oh yes, and he left a note for us all about you." JJ told him.

"He did?"

"Yes, it said he was leaving his gifts for you at the house because he didn't want to disturb the hospital. He knew you'd wake up and we'd bring them to you."

"Is Santa as smart as Uncle Spence?"

Morgan burst out laughing with Rossi and Garcia, who looked ashamed, but not enough to stop laughing. Emily was trying not to giggle, while Will laughed and JJ smirked. Henry didn't seem to notice that Reid's face was going scarlet.

"I think he must be," Will stated with a big smile. "You have to be pretty smart to know when someone's going to wake from a coma."

"Can we talk about something else?" Reid hissed as his face approached magenta.

"I don't think so." Morgan said. "I think it's a fascinating topic of discussion."

JJ had recovered first. "Leave him alone Morgan. It doesn't matter who's smarter only that we have Henry back." She cuddled her son close as Will stood next to them, beaming with pride.

Rossi began filling glasses with the champagne he'd snuck into the room. He poured a paper cup full of apple juice for Henry and Garcia passed them around.

"Here's to Henry," he lifted his glass. "It's true what they say "out of the mouths of babes," we hear the truth. We thank God he was returned to us safe and happy. May he remind us of the child-like innocence that lies deep within all of us?"

They tapped glasses and drank down their treat. "Can we have pumpkin pie?" Henry demanded.

JJ kissed his head. "When we go home little man."

"I think we need to let Henry get some rest. We'll all see you tomorrow. Hotch and Jack will be here then." Rossi said.

Hotch and Jack came to the hospital the next afternoon. Jack had brought several new toys from Santa and they were thoroughly enjoying themselves in the day room.

Reid sat on one of the couches near a window that showed a grey sky with snow falling softly, but to him it was sunny and golden because it was the best Christmas he'd ever had.

"Hey," Emily put a hand on his shoulder as he watched the boys play together. "What are you thinking?"

"That this is the best Christmas I've ever had."

She sat down next to him and looked over at the boys. "I always say it's not Christmas without kids."

He smiled over at her. "I think you're right. I just wish…"

"I know what you wish," she said quietly. "You can't change what was, but you can always make sure that every Christmas is the best for Henry."

"You're right," he said. "So did you see Jupiter in the sky last night? It looked like a bright star."

"Maybe that's what the three Wise Men saw when Jesus was born." Emily said.

Reid decided not to remind her that they saw a new star and Jupiter had always been there. Just for once, he didn't have to say the first thing that came to his mind. He could just sit there and watch his little godson play happily and be grateful that they'd have years together.

"Maybe you're right." He decided to say.

"I'm right!" Emily seemed amazed at this admission.

"There is a first time for everything."

She reached over and pulled on a lock of his short hair. "Ouch!"

"Then stop acting like a smart ass."

He grinned at her. "I'm sorry."

"No you're not."

He smiled again. "Alright, I'm not sorry, but I am happy."

She threw an arm around his shoulders. "I'm glad. Why don't we go down to the cafeteria and see if there's anything resembling a Christmas dinner."

He laughed. "I don't care if it's just bread and milk. It's Christmas."

"It's going to be dark again soon," she said as they headed to the elevators. "Why don't you show me Jupiter?" She winked at him.

He almost fell over a man in a wheel chair. "Really?" he squeaked.

"Oh yeah, and just maybe I'll have a present for you. Have you been naughty or nice Spencer?"

"I'm not a child."

Emily snorted out laughter. "I don't think that matters to Santa Claus."

"Then logically, I should ask if you've been naughty or nice." Reid said.

Emily stopped dead in her tracks almost bumping into a hurrying nurse. "Did you just make a joke Spencer Reid?"

He shrugged. "No, I was just asking a question."

She smirked at him. "Oh Reid, how did I ever get through life without you?"

He said with some surprise. "I don't know."

Emily laughed again, "Merry Christmas Spencer."

"Merry Christmas Emily."

He followed her onto the elevator still confused about why she asked if he were naughty or nice, but he decided it didn't matter. He didn't get most of the jokes the team told, but that was okay because they were his family and he loved them

THE END