I am so sorry about how long its taken to update. I by no means meant to make you all wait this long, but the holidays were crazy and then it was year end in work.

It might be about a week or so before the next updates - I need to watch the rest of season 6 again, make notes, and get everything plotted out since from this point on things get well - you all remember what happened the last half of season six - I need to get it all laid out - at least roughly and then we'll be back to handling cases - which I know you are all looking forward to :D

I don't own Criminal Minds.

Happy reading and enjoy :D

JJ sighed and snuggled more deeply into Spence's chest as she woke up. Her hand danced along his belly and then up his side as she enjoyed the feeling of waking up in his arms, a feeling that she had been missing ever since she woke up back in her old life.

Spence woke to the extremely pleasant feeling of JJ in his arms. He smiled, staring at the ceiling, as he realized that his fingers had been tracing the line of the bottom hem of her t-shirt and strip of skin that was exposed in the expanse between where the hem of her t-shirt had ridden up in her sleep and the waist of her pajama pants.

He turned his head and to look down at JJ hoping to be able to watch her sleep for a few moments, only to find that she was watching him.

"Hi" JJ said softly, with an encouraging smile on her face.

"Hi" Spence replied, his voice gravelly and husky from sleep.

JJ shifted her elbow to the outside of Spence's shoulder, using it to prop herself up above him. Then she leaned down and kissed him softly and slowly, her tongue tracing the seam of his lips.

Spence moaned into the kiss as his lips parted and his and JJ's tongues began to dance together, playing tag as they caressed each other.

JJ gasped as Spence tightened his grip on her back, and then giggled as he rolled them over; so that he was now on top, his hand gripped her side, his thumb gently stroking the soft skin of her belly and her hip. Her hands shifted, one hand slipping up Spence's back underneath the soft cotton of his t-shirt, her fingers tracing his spine and rib cage. Her other hand raised to cup his head, holding him close while her fingers tangled in and ruffled the disarray that was his morning bedhead.

"Well that was quite the pleasant wake up call." Spence murmured softly as he pulled back with a soft smile etched into the morning scruff on his face.

JJ nodded in agreement, her eyes flitting back and forth between her boyfriend's gorgeous eyes and his very kissable lips. She leaned up giving him a soft peck on the lips, once, twice, three times. Then she slipped her hand down his shadow of a beard covered jaw line and traced her thumb across his bottom lip. "We should probably think about getting up. Henry will be awake soon." JJ said as her eyes met Spence's.

Spence nodded. "Right so… do you want the bathroom first?"

JJ shook her head. "No, you can have it first. Just remember we're staying in our pjs this morning. And don't shave…" she said running her hand over his jaw as she appreciated the sexy shadow of his morning stubble.

"Don't shave…. Why?" Spence asked curiously.

"Mm" JJ moaned "because you look really sexy with your just-woke-up bedhead tussled hair and morning stubble." JJ said leaning up to whisper in his ear. She kissed him softly just in front of his ear and then proceeded to trail kisses across his cheek and jaw until she reached his lips and kissed him once more.

Spence wrapped an arm around JJ's back as the kiss deepened. He lost all sense of time and wasn't sure how long the kiss had lasted. However long it was, it was long enough that when they separated, his arm that had been supporting his weight and JJ's was trembling. Both of their lips were slightly swollen from the kiss, as well as their breathing being erratic.

"Okay then… no shaving today…" Spence replied with a grin as he pulled away and then walked on air across the bedroom floor and down the hallway to the bathroom.

JJ smiled as she watched Spence walk out of the bedroom. Then she collapsed back on the bed with a contented sigh.

JJ smiled as she sat cuddled up in Spence's arms on the couch in front of the fireplace with a sleeping Henry in her arms. The little boy had been exhausted after a busy Christmas Day. When he'd woken up this morning they'd come downstairs to see what Santa had left. After that excitement, there was the entertainment of seeing what was in the stockings and a couple hours of opening presents, as every time a new toy was opened, it needed to be played with for a while before moving onto the next gift. Henry had been very excited to spend the day playing with his new toys with Mommy and Uncle Spence. He'd also been excited to talk to Daddy on the phone.

JJ sighed as she snuggled a little deeper back into Spence's chest. "It's a little sad that there is so much build up to Christmas and then it's over in one day."

"Actually it isn't over yet. Today is actually only the first day of Christmas. It's a popular and common misconception that the 12 days of Christmas ends with Christmas day, but in reality Christmas Day is the first day of Christmas." Spence accessed his wealth of knowledge on the subject while enjoying the feel of JJ and Henry in his arms. "It is traditionally the 12 days in between Christmas Day and Epiphany, January 6, which is the day that the Wise Men, or Magi, reached the baby Jesus. Did you know that it is usually mentioned as being three Wise Men because there were three gifts, but the Bible actually doesn't specify how many Magi there were."

JJ smiled as she tipped her head back to look at Spence. "So my true love, where's my partridge in a pear tree?" she jokingly asked with a smile on her face.

"I… um… well, er… that is to say…" Spence stammered at JJ calling him her true love.

JJ smiled and shifted to be able to stand up and put Henry to bed. "Spence, it's okay. I really wasn't expecting you to get me a partridge in a pear tree." She said leaning in and kissing him softly.

Spence cleared his throat. "Actually that wasn't what um… well caught me off guard."

JJ tipped her head in thought as she repeated her own words in her head, and then she smiled as she realized what it was that had Spence flustered. True love. "I'm going to go put Henry to bed, but hold that thought. We'll talk when I get back."

Spence nodded and watched as she stood up and headed up the stairs to put Henry to bed. Once JJ was out of sight, he rubbed his temples, willing the headache that he could feel building to go away.

A few minutes later JJ came back down the stairs and returned to her spot in Spence's lap, only this time sitting sideways so that they could face each other while talking. "You know I meant it right? That I was joking about the partridge in a pear tree part, but not about the true love part?" JJ asked she looked up at Spence.

Spence nodded as JJ leaned up to kiss him, distracting him from his headache while he thought up ways that he could make JJ's wish for Christmas to last just a little bit longer come true. Perhaps it was time to put his knowledge of how Twelfth Night was celebrated to use in order to give JJ one more night of holiday magic. Perhaps Twelfth Night could become their special tradition.

The week in between Christmas and New Year's Eve flew by, and before they knew it, Spence and JJ had tucked Henry in for the last time of 2010. JJ had managed to convince Spence to dance with her a bit to the music playing on TV as they watched the events happening in Times Square.

They settled into the couch and cuddled up together. Spence wrapped his arm around JJ and looked down at her and smiled. "Did you know they've been dropping The Ball in Times Square for over 100 years now?" he asked.

JJ grinned and tipped her head back to look at Spence. "Really?"

Spence nodded. "The tradition was started in 1907 and the only years it wasn't dropped were 1942 and 1943 due to the lighting restrictions during World War II. This is the sixth incarnation of The Ball. It's made of Waterford Crystal, is 12 feet in diameter, and weighs 11,875 pounds. It's the first Ball to stay in place year round on the flagpole at One Times Square." Spence said rambling as JJ traced random patterns on his chest.

JJ nodded as she listened to Spence while she focused on his lips. Deciding that she didn't want to wait until the stroke of midnight, she leaned up and kissed Spence stopping his words for a brief moment.

"JJ, it isn't midnight yet." Spence said as JJ pulled back from kissing him.

"I know." She replied and leaned in to kiss him again, only longer.

"We're going… to miss… The uh… mmm" Spence moaned as their kissing became more involved. One of JJ's hands was splayed in his hair, one was exploring his back. For his part, Spence's hands were gripping JJ's hips, as he was afraid to let them wander… "Ball… dropping." He gasped.

"Don't care" JJ murmured against his lips as she continued kissing him, opening her lips to allow his tongue entrance as their make out session continued. She enjoyed running her fingers through his short, soft, sexy hair; the scent of his cologne, the feel of him pressed against her, the sound of him moaning which let her know that he was enjoying this just as much as she was.

Sometime later, after they pulled apart to catch their breath, JJ giggled and looked up at Spence. "I hope what they say about New Year's kisses is true." She said as her eyes flickered between his lips and his eyes while 'Auld Lang Syne' played in the back ground on the TV.

"What do they say about New Year's kisses?" he asked playfully.

JJ looked at Spence. "You know the size and weight of The Ball, but you aren't familiar with the significance of the New Year's kiss?" she asked somewhat shocked.

Spence shrugged. "I've never had someone to kiss at New Year's before."

JJ grinned. "Well then, allow me to enlighten you. According to tradition, if you are lucky enough to kiss the guy or girl of your dreams at midnight on New Year's, then you are in for a lucky year. Legend has it" JJ said allowing her voice to drop "that a kiss at the stroke of midnight on New Year's Day will bring a full year of happiness, and kissing those closest to you willstrengthen the bonds of those relationships in the year to come."

"Well then…" Spence said clearing his throat and eying JJ's lips. His head tipped forward, and he renewed their kiss, causing JJ to moan softly.

"Just a second" JJ called out at the sound of knocking on the door, as she hopped up from where she was entertaining Henry and contemplating what to make for dinner,

"Hi" Spence said as JJ opened the door.

"Hi." JJ replied. "Not that I'm not glad to see you, but I didn't know you were coming over tonight. Remind me to get you a key." She said stepping back to allow Spence to enter. With the ending of the holidays, Spence had technically gone back to his own apartment; however he'd still been over spending time with her and Henry every night as the team had yet to go out of town on a case. When JJ had tried calling Spence earlier, she'd just gotten his voice mail.

"Sorry, but I wanted to surprise you." Spence said as he picked up the few bags at his feet and moved past JJ into the house.

Henry glanced up from where he was playing on the floor and at the sight of Uncle Spence; he popped up off of the floor and rushed over to greet him. "Unca 'pence!" he shouted cheerfully as he wrapped his little arms around Uncle Spence's knees.

"Hey Henry!" Spence replied setting his bags down at his feet and scooping Henry up into his arms. "How are you?" he asked.

"I good. How you?" Henry parroted, causing JJ and Spence to laugh.

"I'm good buddy." Spence smiled.

"So, what's this?" JJ asked nodding towards the bags.

"Ah, well I had to pick up a few things for tonight. I wasn't sure you'd have what we needed." Spence replied.

"What's tonight?" JJ asked in confusion.

"Twelfth Night." Spence replied. "Merry Christmas and happy twelfth day of Christmas." He said leaning down and kissing JJ softly.

JJ's eyes searched Spence's as he pulled away from the kiss and handed Henry to her.

"So I thought we could celebrate tonight. You, uh… commented on how quickly Christmas went by… and well… I thought this could maybe be something special we do…" Spence stammered blushing as he attempted to explain his thought process to JJ.

"Spence, baby, that's very sweet and thoughtful of you." JJ replied leaning up to quickly peck Spence on the lips. She really did like the idea of them having something special. "So what are we doing?" she asked as Spence started to head towards the kitchen.

"Well, did you cook yet?" Spence asked.

"No, actually I was trying to figure out what to make." JJ replied as Spence sat the bags down on the counter.

Spence nodded. "Well it isn't exactly a traditional Twelfth Night meal, but I was thinking it might be fun for Henry if we made pizza." Spence explained as he pulled ingredients from the bags.

"Pisa Mama?" Henry asked at hearing the mention of one of his favorites.

"Yeah baby, we're going to make pizza." JJ replied.

Spence shook his head. "Actually Henry and I are going to make pizza. You are going to relax and let us cook for you."

"Oh really?" JJ asked.

"Really" Spence replied with a smile as he continued pulling ingredients and items out of the bags.

"Cake!" Henry said pointing at the cake that Spence had just pulled out of the bag.

"Cake?" JJ asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Well we can't celebrate Twelfth Night without a King's cake." Spence replied.

"Okay…" JJ replied. "And the apples, and cider, and all of that stuff, what's that for?"

Spence smiled. "Lamb's Wool."

JJ stood looking at Spence and then she looked ingredients he had lined up on the counter. "Lamb's wool?" she asked confused if she had heard him correctly or not.

"Lamb's Wool" Spence replied. "It's the drink of good wishes and holiday cheer associated with Twelfth Night since the 1400's." he explained.

"Ah" JJ said nodding in understanding. "Okay Henry, if you want to help Uncle Spence, we have to wash your hands."

"Otay" Henry replied, excited at the prospect of helping.

JJ smiled as she sat watching Spence as he flitted about her kitchen. He and Henry had made a bit of a mess making the pizza, but Spence had insisted on cleaning it up himself since making pizza had been his idea. So while Henry finished eating, Spence began the cleanup.

He was currently multi –tasking. As he was washing the dishes and cleaning up from his and Henry's pizza making adventure, he was also making their Lamb's Wool. Once the pizza had been done and out of the oven, He'd cored the apples and put them on a baking sheet in the oven.

JJ wasn't sure exactly how the apples were going to be used, but the smell of the apples baking in the oven was heavenly. She watched as Spence poured the two quarts of cider into a pan and started adding brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger. If she didn't know better, from the smells in her kitchen as his concoction in the pan came to a boil, she'd swear he was baking an apple pie. She was also enjoying the view of his backside as he bent over to check on the apples in the oven.

"JJ, do you have a punch bowl?" Spence asked startling her out of her day dream.

JJ blushed slightly as she looked at Spence, afraid that she been caught out. "Um… yeah… in that cupboard right there." She said as she pointed out the right cupboard to him.

Spence put the apples in the punch bowl and broke them up with a fork. Then he poured the apple cider concoction he'd boiled in the pan over the apples and ladled some into mugs and handed one to JJ. He watched as JJ blew on the hot beverage and then took a sip.

JJ moaned in contentment as the delightfully spiced cider slid down her throat. "Mm, this is good Spence." JJ said as her eyes popped open to look at him.

Spence was left speechless by the sight of JJ, head tipped back as she savored the Lamb's Wool, a throaty moan of contentment crossing her lips, and then her dazzling blue eyes popping open… well quite frankly it took his breath away.

"Unca 'pence?" Henry asked, startling his Uncle out of his reverie.

"Yeah Henry?" Spence replied, clearing his throat.

"Cake now?" Henry asked causing JJ and Spence both to laugh.

"Um… as long as Mommy says it's okay, then yeah." Spence replied.

JJ smiled at Spence. "What do you say?" she asked as she turned to look at Henry.

Henry paused in thought for a moment, and then grinned at Mommy and Uncle Spence. "Pease and fank ou!" Henry exclaimed throwing his hands up in the air.

JJ giggled. "Okay, we can have cake, but just a small piece. Then somebody needs a bath." She said as she looked at the very messy boy who was covered in pizza and she was sure would soon also be covered in cake.

"So this is a special cake." Spence said as he pulled out a knife and prepared to cut the cake. "Have you ever had a King's cake before?"

JJ shook her head.

"Really?" Spence asked surprised. "I would have thought that… never mind." Spence said realizing that it might be awkward to bring up Will. But, quite frankly he was surprised that Will being from New Orleans hadn't shared the tradition of Twelfth Night and a King's cake with JJ already as big of a part of the New Orleans culture as it was. Twelfth Night, the last night of Christmas, was also the first night of Carnival season, which many people mistakenly knew as Mardi Gras. However, Mardi Gras was a day… the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, Carnival was the season. The literal translation for the French Mardi Gras was Fat Tuesday… and given how big a part of the New Orleans culture Mardi Gras and Carnival were… Spence couldn't fathom why Will wouldn't have shared this part of his hometown's culture with her.

"Spence what is it? Talk to me." JJ said as she tipped her head in curiosity at her boyfriend who appeared to be lost in his thoughts.

"Well… it's just I would have thought that Will would have told you about the significance of Twelfth Night… and a King's cake…. What with him being from New Orleans…" Spence said blushing slightly at the awkwardness he felt as he repeated out loud the thoughts he'd had in his head.

"Spence," JJ sighed glancing at Henry, "Will and I, we never really got to know each other. So, I can't say that I'm not surprised that he never shared that part of his culture to me. We went to Mardi Gras… or I guess Carnival like you said… and it was fun, but he didn't explain it, and I didn't ask. But to be honest… I like when you explain things. It's nice to know the history behind events." She said with a smile and then stood up from her seat and leaned across the table to kiss him.

Someone however was anxiously waiting on their special treat. "Cake?" Henry asked chipperly as he looked up at Uncle Spence and kicked his feet in the booster seat.

Spence chuckled and JJ laughed.

"You're right Henry. I'm supposed to be cutting this cake aren't I?" Spence asked.

Henry nodded his messy pizza covered face.

"So," JJ began, "what's so special about a King's cake?" she asked smiling up at Spence as he carefully cut the cake.

"Well, a King's cake is to celebrate Epiphany which is when the three Wise Men reached the baby Jesus, or so the tale goes. So somewhere, baked in the King's cake is a … well I suppose you could call it a gift or a token… and whoever finds it in their piece, they get to be the King or Queen for the night." Spence explained as he placed cake on plates. He gently prodded Henry's piece to see if the token was in that piece of cake and finding that it wasn't he placed the cake in front of Henry.

"There is one thing that I don't understand." JJ said.

"What's that?" Spence asked as he handed JJ her piece of cake.

"Well… and I don't mean this in a bad way, but I didn't think you were… well…" JJ paused trying to say what she was trying to say without it sounding offensive.

"A believer?" Spence asked having a feeling for what she was attempting to ask.

"Well, yeah" JJ replied.

Spence shrugged. "My mother was a 15th Century literature professor. People have been celebrating Twelfth Night since long before then. It was a part of the culture. Literature is most often about the culture. Any scholar or member of academia worth their salt would be able to tell you the history and origins. Being familiar with the cultural significance of holidays and why we celebrate them doesn't make someone a believer."

JJ nodded. "So do you?"

"Believe?" Spence asked in response.

JJ nodded curiously.

Spence thought for a moment. "I'm a man of science, so most of the time no," He said pausing for a moment in thought as if he was remembering. "but sometimes… sometimes I'd really like to." He finished cryptically.

JJ nodded in thought. His answer might be cryptic, but hopefully she'd have a lifetime to learn what he'd meant by that.

A freshly bathed Henry had been dressed in his pjs and tucked into bed after his Uncle Spence had read him a bedtime story. And now JJ and Spence were stretched out together on the couch in each other's arms enjoying each other's company into the late evening hours. Spence was enjoying the low lighting, not just for the romantic atmosphere it provided, but also for the way it helped to stave off the excruciating headaches he'd been having lately.

JJ shifted in Spence's arm and rested her chin on his chest as she looked up at him. "Stay tonight? I've missed sleeping cuddled up with you since you started staying back at your apartment."

Spence smiled as he rubbed her back. "Well, whatever my Queen commands." JJ had been the one to find the token in her cake earlier in the evening, although to be honest he would have agreed even if she hadn't been the Queen of Twelfth Night.

JJ shook her head as she rose up off the couch and held out a hand to help him up and then she led him up the stairs, turning on the lights so that they wouldn't trip and fall.

Spence winced and rubbed his temples and forehead as he followed behind JJ up the stairs to bed.

In case you were intrigued by the beverage Spence made for JJ, I give you the receipe to make Lamb's Wool - either the alcoholic or non-alcoholic versions. Enjoy :D

Lamb's Wool Ingredients:

2 qts. cider, hard cider, ale or a mixture of cider and ale
6 baking apples, cored
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/8 tsp. nutmeg
2 tbsps. to 1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 tsp. ground ginger

Prepare the Apples

Get out the apples, an apple corer and a baking sheet.
Core the apples, but don't break the skin on the bottom, taking care to leave it intact.
Butter the baking sheet, or spray it with non-stick spray.
Place the apples on the baking sheet about 2 inches apart. They will swell up a little.
Bake at 450 degrees F for about an hour.

Prepare the Punch

Gather together the cider or ale, sugar and spices.
Pour the cider or ale into a large saucepan over medium heat.
Begin adding and dissolving sugar one tbsp. at a time until the mixture is to your taste.
Add the spices.
Bring the liquid to a boil.
Turn down the heat and simmer for about 10 or 15 minutes.
Get out a large, decorative punch bowl and put the apples into it.
Break the apples up with a spoon or fork. This is optional depending on how you want the bowl to look.
Pour the Lamb's Wool punch over the apples and serve immediately.

You can make the punch in advance and refridgerate, however the apples must be made fresh