Author's Note: This story is a pinch hit for bouncing off the walls again in response to the Christmas Fic Exchange from CCOAC.

This is a gift written especially fordestinyismsand the following prompts were requested: Carol of the Bells, Decorating the Christmas tree, Christmas lights, and snow. All of them will be used.

Thank you so much to everyone who took the time to review the last chapter. I love reading your thoughts!

I have to say, the response to the last chapter blew me away. Thank you so much for all of the reviews! You guys warm my heart!

The anticipation was so immense that Emily hardly slept a wink that night. She awoke bright and early, wanting to have time to coddle herself before she spent the evening with Aaron. She'd made an appointment for a wax that morning, wanting to get in as soon as possible. Upon arrival she'd requested some 'definition' south of the border along with a trim. On impulse, she stopped at a beauty shop and had about an inch taken off her hair in order to give it more body, then gone to the mall for a new bra and panty set to wear. There was nothing like fresh lingerie to make a woman feel sexy.

When she'd gotten home, she'd taken a long, hot bubble bath, and then covered herself in her favorite scented lotion. After styling her hair in big, loose curls with her bangs pinned back, she dressed in a pair of black slacks and a red cable knit sweater in spirit of the season.

Then she waited.

His aunt Jessica had picked Jack up early that morning, so Hotch spent his time tidying the house, then headed to the supermarket to get everything they'd need for the next few days. This would be his first time trying his hand at cooking a turkey, but he was willing to give it a go. He'd done extensive research on line and had always been a whiz at following directions, but he threw a couple of frozen pizzas into the cart just in case.

He'd gotten home and taken care of his groceries, then spent the rest of the morning wrapping what remained of Jack's presents. He was anxious for his son to get home so they could go pick Emily up. The thought that he was going to be with her tonight was more anticipation than he could handle. He'd been denying the attraction for so long that he hadn't realized how much he'd wanted her until he'd finally determined that he was going to permit himself to have her.

Now all he could do was wait.

Emily sat across the table from Jack and Hotch and dipped her knife into the red frosting, then slathered the candy cane shaped sugar cookie with it. All she'd brought for clothes were pajamas for tonight and an outfit for tomorrow. She wished she'd brought a spare; she was sure she didn't paint a very alluring picture sitting there with white flour covering her sweater.

"Emily, these are Santa's favorites," Jack informed her.

"They are?" she asked, prompting the boy to continue.

He bobbed his head up and down enthusiastically. "Yep. We leaved chocolate chip cookies out last year, but he only ate one of them. But when we leaved out this kind, he ate all of them, didn't he, Daddy?"

Hotch nodded in agreement, and Emily bit back a grin. She could just see 'Hotch-Claus' standing at the coffee table eating the cookies, leaving just enough crumbs to convince his son that Santa had been there.

She swiped green frosting over the tree shaped cookie in her hand and put it on the plate with the rest of the finished ones, then picked up another. "Do you leave anything out for the reindeer?" she asked.

"Oh, yes," Jack informed her. "We leave carrots out."

The little boy grinned triumphantly at Emily's nod of approval.

Hotch made a delicious homemade pasta bake for supper and after cleaning up, they headed for the living room to watch some Christmas specials that he'd DVR'd for his son. Before Emily could make her way to the couch, however, she wandered over to the fire place to study the stockings on the mantle. She couldn't help but think how bare it looked with just two of them hanging there. Jack's had a space on the front that was meant for a picture, and the one inside was of him on Santa's lap; he couldn't have been more than two years old and he wasn't looking into the camera. You could see Haley standing off to the side trying to get him to smile; instead he was reaching for her. She ran a finger over the picture and grinned down at Jack. "I love this picture of you and Santa," she told him.

He beamed back up at her, and then with an 'oh,' disappeared down the hallway. He returned excitedly a moment later with a red piece of fabric in his hand. "This is for you," he said, thrusting it at her.

Emily took the offering and unfolded it; it was a Christmas stocking, and across the white cuff at the top was her name. It looked like it had been written in black sharpie and it was clearly the little boys writing. The 'M' and the 'Y' in her name were uppercase, the rest lower.

"Jack," she said softly, touched beyond words that he'd thought enough of her to present her with such a gift. Emily had never had a Christmas stocking before; her mother had insisted that such frivolities represented greed, and one needn't appear greedy when they were trying to be altruistic. She fell to her knees before the little boy and wrapped her arms around him, pulling him close. "Thank you," she whispered.

"Do you have another nail, Daddy?" Jack asked eagerly as he hugged her back.

Jack had fought sleep for as long as he could, desperately hoping to catch a glimpse of Santa Clause. His body had finally given in to its fatigue, and Hotch had just returned to the living room after tucking his son into bed. "Would you like a glass of wine?" he asked.

Emily nodded. "Please."

He disappeared into the kitchen, and then came back with a glass of wine for each of them. Handing her one of the flutes, he sat down on the middle cushion so they were side by side, then rested his arm on the back of the couch behind her. "You've hardly said a word to me all day," he said softly, turning to face her.

"I…I'm sorry," she returned. "I'm nervous."

"We don't have to do this," he told her.

"I want to," she said quickly.

He nodded, his eyes darkening with desire. "So do I." He took the glass of wine from her hand, placing it on the coffee table along with his. He locked his gaze on hers as he lifted a hand to her to her cheek, then leaned forward to place a soft kiss on her lips. He pulled away, and then stood as he took hold of her hand. He gave it a gentle tug, and Emily made her way to her feet.

He led the way to his bedroom and pushed open the door, moving aside so she could precede him into the room. She took one step inside and froze, taking in the sight before her. There were dozens of candles placed around the room, rose petals strewn across the floor and bed; there was classical music drifting from a radio that she couldn't see. She immediately turned to Hotch. "What's all this?" she breathed.

He gave her a sexy grin, his eyes dancing. "It's called a seduction, Emily."