It was barely noon and she was ready for a nap. Aaron and Jack had her busy since seven with various activities. She knew the pair took their Christmas time together serious but she had no idea it was going to be this intense. Or involve that amount of sugar. What she was expecting was a lazy day full of Christmas movies and some sugar cookies. At this point they had finished breakfast, watched two movies, completed two holiday crafts, and ate the batch of cookies Jessica and Jack made yesterday.

Even though Aaron ended up on a case the week before, Jack's excitement could not be contained. They spent each night making red and green garland to hang in the doorways and carefully wrapping presents. Before bed they read a different Christmas themed book. It was something Haley had always done with him. It was her favorite time of year and she made sure that Jack loved it too.

To say she was surprised when Aaron asked to have a Christmas together would be an understatement. It had been four years since Haley died and six since they separated. In those six years they never celebrated a Christmas together. They had maintained their normal routine of Jack and Aaron celebrating together on another day. Mostly out of convenience because who knew where Aaron was going to be or when he was coming home. It was better to save Jack the disappointment and just plan for Christmas as the Brooks' where he got to see extended family as well.

Also there was no way Roy Brooks was letting the man he blamed for his little girl's death within a hundred feet of his house.

"Aunt Jess you can't nap now! It's time for snowmen."

"I won't be able to make a snowman without some sleep," she mumbled with her eyes closed. Her head was resting on hand as the Whos sang around a tree.

"We don't nap today; we have too much to do!"

Jessica cocked an eyebrow and snuck a peek at Aaron through one eye. She was surprised that Aaron would let Jack get away without a nap of any kind. She should have known though, when he actually got time with Jack he gave that little boy whatever he wanted. Anything to make him happy.

"Let's let her rest so she can go outside with us later. Another movie or a do want to help me cut out the cookies?" Jessica had spent the day before with Jack making batch after batch of sugar cookie dough for today.

"But she has to help decorate them!"

"We can make them now then decorate when we come inside," Aaron told his son patiently. They watched Jack purse his lips to the side and think it over. It was a move Haley had done often.

"Ok," he said thoughtfully then he turned to Aunt. "Do you like the trees or the angels?"

"Trees," she said after thinking it over. "More fun to decorate."

"Cookies!" With that Jack leapt of the couch and climbed onto a stool at the counter.

With a light chuckled Aaron turned off the movie and made his way to the kitchen. Jessica could hear him patiently explaining to Jack that they needed to lay down parchment paper and wash their hands as cheerful music floated towards her. The last thing she could remember before drifting off was a blanket being pulled over her shoulders and a whiff of Aaron's soap.

"Can I open my presents now?" Jack asked as he finished his tomato soup. It, along with grilled cheese, was their customary Christmas Eve dinner. After her nap they had a light lunch, spent two hours in the park making a snowman and snow angels then decorated the cookies Jack and Aaron made earlier.

"Just the ones from me. You'll get Aunt Jessica's at Grandpa's," Aaron gently reminded him as he took the dishes to the dishwasher. "We got to clean up first, Buddy," he called after Jack ran to the living room.

"Ok, Jack. I think we are ready." Jessica called from her spot at the bottom of the tree a few minutes later after the kitchen was clean. Aaron was on the couch with a camera. "Give that one to your dad, Honey."

"Open yours first Jack," Aaron suggested once the presents were divvied up between them all.

"Wow a new Lego set!" Jack's eyes were wide as he took in the Death Star on the large box. He set it aside and immediately started ripping the wrapping off another. It was a giant art set and coloring book from Beth. Next he started on a small box. "United Tickets! Thanks Dad!" He launched himself off the floor before the last word was out of his mouth.

"You're very welcome Jack," Aaron breathed out once Jack loosened his grip on his chest a little. "Did you see that there are three? You get to take a friend."

Due to being the only grandchild on both sides and spoiling from 'Uncle Dave' and 'Miss P,' Aaron figured Jack got enough toys and tried to focus on things they could do together. He also preferred to spread presents and gifts out throughout the year. It might be slightly out of guilt due to being away most of the time but he also didn't want Christmas to be all about gifts.

"And you'll be able to come with?" Jack asked skeptically. Both adults could tell Jack was trying to tamp down his excitement.

"Yeah, Buddy. Already took the vacation time," he stifled a chuckle as Jack tackled him again. "You have a one more to open," He nodded towards the present in brown craft paper.

"Everything on It and Where the Sidewalk Ends," Jack flipped through the pages of the top book after reading the titles. "Poems?"

"Did you see the note Mom left?"

"To remind them that being yourself is a kind and radical act," he recited off a post-it stuck on the inside. Jack scrunched his lips to side like he was trying to determine what that meant. After a moment, he decided the books were ok and set them with the rest of his gifts. "Your turn!"

Jessica opened a pair of new slippers and a tin of herbal tea, fairly standard gifts from Jack. Normally she opened all her Jack gifts at her parents. It was obvious that Aaron prompted Jack to give her the presents that she could use at their house.

"New ties! I don't think I have green ones," Aaron explained as he opened his first present. Most of his ties were shades of red or blue. "Thanks Bud!"

"Beth helped," Jack smiled shyly.

Aaron smiled back at his son making a mental note to discuss his girlfriends desire to dress him. After the ties he opened the next book in the western series he was collecting and crew neck sweatshirt that said 'coach' across the front.

"I didn't know you did that," Jessica said softly as Jack went to place his new things in his room.

"Jack never mentioned he got books from his Mom each Christmas?" It wouldn't have been the first time Jack hid something from his Dad or Aunt to spare them the painful memories associated with his mother. He really was a sweet kid.

"I knew she wanted to get him books each year. I guess I never realized how many she collected. Or that she had a plan for it." She shouldn't be surprised; Haley loved books and the power of language.

"The notes are hers. I'm just guessing on the when," he shrugged in response.

"Time for hot chocolate!" Jack called running back into the room. Another tradition: scratch made hot chocolate to watch Polar Express. They always made it with extra marshmallows and stirred with candy canes to be extra festive.

"Should we talk to Mom first and tell her all about our day?" Once again Jessica was impressed by the things Aaron did for his son. Once Jack nodded, he continued. "You got get the candle and meet me by the tree."

"Aunt Jess, are going to talk to mom too?" Jack asked when he came back into the room. She raised an eyebrow at Aaron when he stopped in his tracks, lighter in hand.

"Sure, Jack," she said hesitantly after not being able to read Aaron's expression. "You go first."

She moved to the end of the couch and listened to Jack ramble about the movies, snowmen and presents for a few minutes. As he finished up, Aaron moved next to his son on the floor. Jessica felt like she was eavesdropping into a private conversation as the two told Haley how much the missed her. Aaron talked about what a great kid Jack was turning out to be and it made her chest ache.

Suddenly the candle was in her hands and two pairs of eyes were watching her expectantly. There was so much she wanted to say to her sister, things she wanted to thank her for and some she needed to apologize for. But she knew it wouldn't come out without a lot of tears.

"It's ok, you can tell her silently," Jack said softly. "She'll still hear you."

A quiet sob wracked her chest. Jessica took a deep breath trying to pull it together. A large hand gently touched her shoulder.

"Take your time," he said softly. "Come on buddy, let's make hot chocolate."

Jessica was still staring at the flame. She couldn't bare to see the sadness on their faces as they left the room. Little arms wrapped around her waist tightly. She soaked up the acceptance and unconditional love of the little boy as she tried to reconcile how losing her sister gave her the best thing in her life.

"Here," Aaron said quietly handing her a mug. "I figured you didn't want to get up." Jack had his head in her lap on the couch where he had fallen asleep about thirty minutes before.

"God!" she breathed out. "Did you put any eggnog in there?"

"It's been a long day," he smirked as he settled next to her on the couch.

"Never thought you'd get boozy with Jack around," Jessica raised an eyebrow at him.

"This coming from the woman who ambushed me with wine in hand when he was asleep," he smirked.

"I needed it for the courage," her cheeks flushed slightly at how brazen she was to try and discuss his sex life.

They sat quietly watching the lights twinkle on the tree. Jessica loved their tree. It was a hodgepodge of meaningful ornaments among colored lights. Some were made by Jack; cinnamon angels, popsicle snowflakes, and a few clear orbs with melted crayon swirled in them. Others were, what she assumed, Hotchner family heirlooms: crocheted stars, a mouse in a walnut shell, a handful of hand blown glass ones, much nicer, and prettier, than any store bought. There were also pictures of loved ones no longer with them in small charms scattered across the tree.

This is what Christmas was about to her. Tradition, family, reminding yourself about the things, and people, you love. She spent the day with two of her three favorite men. They laughed, they remembered and they simply took in the wonder of Christmas.

"Come here," he whispered as his arm came around her shoulder.

"What?" Jessica tried to suppress her twitch at his touch.

"Just come over here," he sighed in exasperation as he nudged her closer.

"Aaron, what are you doing?"

He didn't answer, just kept pulling her closer until she was snuggled against his side. They didn't touch like this; they didn't touch at all in fact. Maybe a shoulder squeezed here or an arm pat there but that was it. Her body was humming under his hand on her hip. She still couldn't figure out what the hell he was doing. Unless he had been secretly knocking back glasses of the highly potent eggnog without her knowledge, he was sober.

"Jessica, I wanted to say thank you for everything you've done this year."

"You know I would do anything for you two."

"I know this last year has been different for us. I brought someone else into our lives and it has taken Jack away from you at times. And I know it's a lot to ask you to watch him so I can go out with someone who isn't his mother or to know that she's watching him and not you. Thank you." Aaron pulled a box from the side of the couch and slid it across her knee.

Jessica took in the thin gold wrapped box and sat up a little. Her heart was beating right of her chest. They didn't do gifts for each other. Obviously they knew that the gifts from Jack were picked out by the other. But they only nudged Jack in the right direction when it came to choice of color, size or title when he couldn't remember.

"You didn't need to get me anything," she looked over to him as she pulled the lid off. "Oh Aaron!" she gasped as she saw the gold heart shaped locket. It had an intricate ivy design around the edges with a script H in the middle. Jessica vaguely recognized it as something that had belonged to Haley. If she remembered correctly, it had actually belonged to Aaron's mother and was given to Haley at their wedding.

"Open it," he gently encouraged.

Inside she found a smiling picture of Haley on one side and a newer one of Jack with Aaron on the other.

"Whatever happens, whatever women come into our lives, know that you are family, nothing will change that." There was a fierce determination in his eyes that had tears threatening to fall from Jessica's.

Jessica had experienced a lot of emotions when she realized he had started dating again. She didn't want anyone to replace Haley or to hurt Jack. There was also a part of her that was a little jealous. But as long as the Hotchners were happy then she would be happy. She never did find out what happened with Agent Prentiss but he was able to move on just fine. She didn't know much about Emily besides what little Jack mentioned and that she had the same job as Aaron. Jessica had hoped that whoever he settled with would understand his work and being able to lighten that load in a way that Haley hadn' couldn't understand the job but seemed easy going enough to limit additional stress. And she knew that Aaron would never bring Jack into the relationship if he didn't foresee her sticking around.

That didn't stop her from disliking Beth on principle of replacing her in Jack's life.

"Is it ok?" he asked tentatively when he noticed her sniffing and wiping her eyes.

"It's perfect," she whispered. "Thank you."

"Thanks for spending the day with us. I know Jack really enjoyed it." He tipped his head over to the still sleeping boy. Jack didn't make it very long past his normal bedtime and was out cold. "Since you're taking him in the morning did you want to stay? Otherwise I can drop him off early on my way to Beth's."

"After this eggnog," she indicated her half full mug resting in her lap with a small smile, "I should probably stay."

"Ok, I'm going to take him to bed then turn in. Unlike someone else, I didn't get a nap today."

Jessica just nodded and took another bracingly stiff drink. Her head was still spinning, trying to process the shift that once again happened in their relationship. It seemed like every time she found solid ground he did something to make her lose her way.

"Good night," he said quietly once he had Jack in his arms. "And Merry Christmas Jess."

"Merry Christmas Aaron."

AN: YAY an update! Thanks for sticking around.

AN2: I have so many thoughts and feels about different aspects of this. If you're interested in the whys and character choices let me know.