Hey all - I have no witty story to explain the prolonged delays in between posted chapters of anything other than that life in the real world has been crazy busy.

Lemonade ahead - so feel free to go to the other sites where this story is posted (links on my profile page) if the small sip here isn't enough and you'd prefer a full glass. ;)

Happy reading and enjoy :D

"I think that's everything," JJ said as she handed her sister-in-law Kari the last shopping bag.

"Thanks JJ." Kari said as she accepted the bag and then followed JJ to house after she closed the back hatch of the SUV.

"Today was fun girls." Sandy commented with a smile in regards to their mother daughter/daughter-in-law day out while JJ opened the front door. "I wish we could do it more often."

"Oh my…" JJ gasped as she led the way through the front door, stopping short in the living room at the sight in front of her.

"Wha…" Kari started to ask as she stepped up next to JJ and then broke into giggles at the same time as JJ at the sight in front of them.

Sandy shook her head and smiled at the sight of her husband, son, and for lack of a better term, her son-in-law sitting around the coffee table. "You boys look like you had a fun afternoon with Laney and Alexis." She chuckled as she walked around the couch where the girls were curled up asleep while Grandpa, Daddy, and Uncle Spencer each scrubbed at their nails and faces with cotton swabs.

"Honey, I really don't think pink is your color." Kari snickered as she sat down next to Chris and watched her husband swipe again at the pink nail polish gracing his fingertips. "And with your blue eyes, you should really be using different eye shadow." She teased as she reached up and swiped at the hint of eye shadow at the corner of his eye.

"I'm really glad Henry is a boy." Spence pouted, turning at the sound of JJ giggling as she sat down beside him while he furiously scrubbed at the hot pink sparkly nail polish covering his finger nails.

"Cher, I don't want to intrude on your family's holiday." Will said as he leaned hips back against the kitchen counter and crossed his arms defiantly.

JJ sighed in frustration. Damn Will and his stubbornness. They'd been going round and round for the last ten minutes over him joining them for Christmas Eve dinner that evening and Christmas brunch tomorrow morning.

Just then Spence walked into the kitchen. "Hey, what can I help out with?" he asked as he pulled his hands out of his pocket and rolled the sleeves of his shirt up around the cuffs of his sweater and then pushed them both up out of the way.

"Thank God", JJ muttered under her breath and then turned to face Spence, wrapping her arms around his waist. "Tell Will that he will be joining us for dinner tonight and brunch tomorrow morning." JJ said as she looked up at Spence.

Spence's brow furrowed in momentary confusion and then he turned to look at their friend and his slouched over stance. "If you don't spend Christmas Eve and Christmas day with us, what are you going to do?" he asked curiously, his head tipping in contemplation as he studied Will's body language.

Will sighed in resignation and shrugged. "Nothing… but I ain't gonna sit here bein' a spare part and barge in on your family holiday."

Spence nodded in understanding, his mind flashing back to the last few Christmases before he and JJ became a couple. He'd probably experienced every variation on how to spend your Christmas holidays that was possible. He'd visited is mother only to be turned away because she was having a bad day and as such, not allowed visitors. Vegas was a lonely place when you were completely surrounded by mile after mile of casinos, but banned from gambling due to being able to count cards in your sleep. He'd stayed home and taken long walks when his eyes grew weary of reading… long ambling walks through residential neighborhoods where he saw others being warmly received into the homes of their friends and family while he remained on the outside, watching from afar. Even in the warm comfort of his apartment with a hot cup of coffee in his hands surrounded by the faithful familiarity of his books, his ears had been assaulted by the joyful celebrations of his neighbors, where once again, he wasn't included or invited.

Then he thought about Will. Will had hardly anyone to go visit. The only close family and loved ones waiting for him in New Orleans were in graves for him to visit and place flowers. He could not in good conscience let Will sit in his apartment just on the other side of the driveway and not invite him; not let him know that he was welcome; not let him know that he was included; not let him know that they considered him family. "You know, you're not intruding. JJ and I want you to be here. If we didn't, you wouldn't be living in the spare apartment and you wouldn't be Henry's Godfather. I know that it won't be the same as having Christmas with your family and that we can't replace them…"

"I know," Will paused as his voice cracked, "that you can't replace them… and I appreciate the offer… but how am I supposed to celebrate when I… I…"

Sandy paused on her way into the kitchen and stepped back away from the doors at the hushed sounds of Jennifer, Spencer and William's voices debating whether she should walk into the kitchen or walk away. From the sounds of it they were in deep conversation. From what she could hear it sounded like Jennifer and Spencer were attempting to convince William to join them for Christmas. From what she'd gathered when William had come up in conversation in the past year, his mother had died when he was a teenager and his father had died in Katrina. She couldn't for the life of her figure out exactly what William had gone through beyond the loss of his parents, but she was proud of Jennifer and Spencer for being supportive friends.

JJ tightly gripped Spence's side to avoid gasping as she made the realization of what it was that bothered her about Will turning down their invitation. He wasn't turning down their invitation in lieu of another. He wasn't turning down her invitation because he was going home to see family… he didn't have any other options, that she knew of, for celebrating the holidays this year. The thought of Will spending the holiday all alone made her sad. "You what Will?"

"I don't know who I am… where I fit in…" he whispered as looked at JJ and Spencer. "Why does it have to be so hard?"

JJ took a deep breath as she took in the angst riddled face of their friend. He'd been doing so well… but then she and her family knew all too well how you could be blind-sided by the holidays. You could seem to be perfectly adjusted to your new reality one and the next day be hanging the Christmas decorations and realize that out of habit you'd hung one stocking too many… and all of the pain you thought you were past was re-opened and a raw seeping wound all over again. JJ swallowed thickly. "I don't know… but maybe you need to stop being so hard on yourself and focus on what you do know. You're our friend… and you're Henry's Godfather… and we want you to spend the holidays with us… you know that right?"

"I… yeah…" Will replied with a deep sigh.

"So focus on that for now… and then we can help you work on figuring everything else out a little bit at a time if you want. One step at a time." JJ said softly as she stepped out of Spence's arms and rubbed Will's shoulder.

Will sucked in a deep lungful of air and slowly let it out. "Okay. One step at a time." He nodded.

Spence nodded and rocked on his heals with his hands tucked into the pockets of his cords.

Sandy's decision was made easier at hearing the end of their discussion. She smiled to herself as she walked into the kitchen fully intending to make William feel welcome and like a part of the family. "You know you're doing an awfully lot of standing around with all the cooking that needs to be done you three." Sandy said with a wink at Jennifer.

JJ laughed. "Yes Mom. Although I don't know that we'll actually want to eat anything Spence cooked… maybe we can have him peel potatoes."

Will grinned and jumped in on the teasing. "Oh I don't know… those long fingers of his will probably just get in the way."

"Hey I can cook and peel potatoes!" Spence replied winking at JJ, happy to be the subject of teasing if it pulled Will out of the funk he'd been in a few minutes ago.

"Sure you can baby, but if not you can always put together the overnight French toast for tomorrow morning." JJ teased as she bumped him with her hip as she walked over to help her Mom with pulling everything out of the refrigerator.

Spence's face wrinkled in confusion as he turned to look at Will.

"She's saying she doesn't have to worry about you being able to break eggs." Will laughed as he watched Spencer's eyebrows rise on his forehead in surprise. Will bit his lip to stop from laughing as Spencer snuck up behind JJ and goosed her.

"EEEEP!" JJ squealed jumping in surprise as Spence pinched her.

"Children, no fighting in the kitchen." Sandy teased with a chuckle in her voice as she looked over her shoulder and smiled to see Jennifer, Spencer and William grinning at each other at her comment.

"Sorry Mom" JJ and Spencer chorused.

Will joined in with "Sorry Mrs. Jareau."

"William, it's Sandy." The matriarch replied.

"Yes ma'am." Will replied.

Sandy just laughed and grinned as the rest of the family came into the kitchen to see how they too could help with preparing Christmas Eve dinner.

"Spencer, you're overnight French toast was really good… I'm not sure if that or the beignets that Will made were my favorite." Kari said as the adults all relaxed in the living room and watched the girls play on the floor with their new toys while Henry took a late morning nap in his bassinet.

"Thanks" Spence replied with a proud grin, happy about proving he could cook.

"Glad you enjoyed them." Will nodded at Kari.

"Mmm they were both really good." JJ murmured sleepily as she half dozed against Spence's shoulder.

"Auntie JJ?"six year old Alexis whispered as she crawled across the floor to the front of the couch where Aunt JJ and Uncle Spencer were lounging.

"Mmm what is it sweetie?" JJ asked, peeking one eye open.

"Can we watch the Christmas parade?" the little girl asked softly, still learning the correct volume to use when her cousin Henry was sleeping so that she didn't wake him.

"Sure sweetie, hang on…" JJ started to sit up, but Spence's hand on her shoulder stopped her.

"Here Alexis, I've got it." Spence said reaching his long arm out and grabbing the remote from the nearby end table. He turned on the TV and changed the channel to the parade.

"Thanks Uncle Spencer." Alexis whispered.

"You're welcome" Spence whispered back and watched with a smile as Alexis and her older sister Laney curled up together to watch the parade. Then he looked around at the whole family, including Will, who all looked like they were ready for a nap due to the early morning wake-up call for Christmas by the girls. He watched as they dozed off one by one, until he was the only remaining adult awake and watching the Christmas parade with the girls.

The afternoon after everyone woke was spent playing with the girls and their new toys, holding and cooing at Henry, and playing board games and cards and other general family entertainment. When everyone was hungry, they pulled together some snacks and leftovers from the night before. To wind down the day, they decided on a movie night.

JJ smiled as she watched Chris and Kari work to get untangled from her sleeping six and ten year old nieces.

"We're going to go get them put to bed." Chris said as he stood up and took a moment to stretch after several hours curled up the couch for their movie night. Alexis and Laney had made it through Alvin and the Chipmunks and then crashed. Then he leaned down and picked up Laney, leaving Alexis for Kari to carry.

"Be back down in a few minutes." Kari whispered as she shifted Alexis to her hip and followed Chris upstairs to the guest bedroom JJ and Spencer had set up for the girls.

"I think it's time for your father and me to go bed as well." Sandy said with a smile at her daughter as her husband yawned. "Come on Grandpa, if we don't get you to bed you won't be able to keep up with the girls tomorrow." She said as she lightly slapped his knee.

"That's the beauty of having a brand new grandson," Pete replied with a wink at JJ, "I can take a nap with him and count it as quality bonding time."

"Goodnight Daddy," JJ giggled in response.

"Goodnight sparkplug," he replied, pausing behind the couch to kiss her on the top of the head. "Spencer," he added clapping his hand on the younger man's shoulder as he stood back up.

"Goodnight Dad," Spence replied with a nod.

"Goodnight Mom," JJ and Spence chorused together.

"Goodnight Elizabeth, goodnight Johnboy, goodnight Jim-Bob" Chris teased as he came back into the living room followed by Kari.

Everyone laughed except for Spence, who had a perplexed look on his face as he searched his brain for a frame of reference.

"When did we become the Waltons?" Sandy asked as she reached up and ruffled her son's hair and then leaned up and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

"Goodnight children," Pete said joining in on the fun as he wrapped his arm around his wife and directed her towards the stairs.

Chris turned from watching their parents head up the stairs. "Sooo… I was thinking… I want a rematch from last Christmas."

"Oh Lord, here we go." Kari sighed as she sank down onto the couch.

"We don't have a pool table, so you'll have to settle for darts." JJ replied.

"Even better than pool." Chris responded.

"Actually, JJ's really good at darts." Spence added.

Chris turned to look at his would be brother-in-law, "Who do you think taught her everything she knows?" he asked with a large grin on his face.

"More like you taught me everything you know… I picked up more in college. The student has surpassed the teacher dear brother." JJ said smiling sweetly at her brother as she stood up from the couch and grabbed the baby monitor.

"Oh bring it on little sister!" Chris crowed as he wrapped his arm around JJ's shoulders.

Will chuckled at the banter back and forth between brother and sister.

"How about you Will? You in?" Chris asked looking over at his sister's friend.

"Uh…" Will trailed off, unsure of how to answer. He knew JJ and Spencer would keep him included, but he also didn't want to spend the rest of the evening feeling like the fifth wheel hanging out with the two couples.

"Come on man. Someone has to drink JJ's share of the beer since she can't." Chris replied with a wink at his sister.

"Nah, I think I'm going to pass, but y'all have fun." Will said as he stood up and clapped Spencer on the back and kissed JJ on the cheek. "Thanks for including me last night and today. It was… nice."

Spence nodded in understanding of what Will was feeling. It wasn't easy being the odd one out, even if everyone was trying to include you.

"You're welcome. Are you sure you don't want to join us?" JJ asked, trying to read Will's facial expression.

"Yeah, I'm beat. It's been a long day," Will replied as they got to the stairwell, "but I'll see you in the morning."

JJ nodded. "Okay, if you're sure… Goodnight." She said as he headed out the door.

"Goodnight," Will called back over his shoulder as JJ closed and locked the door behind him and then they headed downstairs.

"This is nice… I can see a little bit of both of you in this room." Kari commented as she stopped on the landing and overlooked the finished basement that housed a rec room of sorts.

Several bookshelves lined one corner of the room, completely filled with a wide variety of literature, texts, and manuals. A reading corner had been created with a comfortable couch and a couple oversized reading chairs as well as a lamp to cast soft light.

Tucked into a corner in front of a few empty shelves were some boxes with JJ's name on them. If Kari had to guess they held an assortment of the various memorabilia that she'd seen hanging JJ's apartment before the move, waiting to find their rightful place intermingled with what she assumed to be mostly Spencer's books.

The other side of the room held a dartboard on one of the walls, a sectional couch and two comfortable chairs sat on either side of a pedestal table holding a chess set.

"Thanks," JJ said with a smile in her sister-in-law's direction as she sat the baby monitor down on the coffee table in front of the sectional couch and made her way over to the dartboard. She opened up the cabinet and pulled out the darts and some chalk to keep score on the board. "So, 301 to start and Cricket later?" she asked as she handed one set of darts to Chris, keeping the other set for herself.

Chris nodded and accepted the darts from JJ. "Sure"

"K, you guys go first." JJ said as she went over to where Spence was stretched out on the sectional and curled up next to him to wait their turn.

Kari giggled as she watched JJ watching Spencer take his turn out of the corner of her eye.

"What's so funny?" Chris whispered not wanting to distract Spencer since they'd opted to change things up and play boys against girls part way through, meaning Spencer was now his teammate instead of his rival.

"Are you sure you want to know?" Kari teased as she turned to face her husband.

"Do I want to know what has my wife so amused?" Chris asked playfully with an arched brow, "Why yes, yes I think I do."

Kari grinned mischievously, "I think JJ is really enjoying watching Spencer shoot darts."

"What?" he asked in puzzlement and then glanced over to find his sister's line of sight fixed on Spencer's butt as he danced awkwardly back and forth on his legs trying to find the best stance to throw his darts. Chris quickly averted his eyes back to his wife. "Why? Why do you always point these things out to me?"

"Your reactions amuse me." Kari teased her husband. "I was thinking though that maybe we should take the girls and your parents out to do something for a while tomorrow so that JJ and Spencer can have some time alone tomorrow. It has to be a little overwhelming to have all of us here on top of adjusting to Henry."

Chris nodded. "That's a good idea."

"Your turn Chris," Spence said as he walked back towards the couch after pulling out his darts and marking down his score.

"Good morning… hey where are you all going?" JJ asked as she walked into the living room in a baggy pair of sweat pants and one of Spence's t-shirts with Henry in her arms and followed by Spencer.

"We thought maybe you, Spencer, and Henry could use a family day… so we are going to go explore the area and find some fun things to do today." Kari explained as she helped the girls bundle up.

"You guys don't have to…" JJ trailed off as she was interrupted by her Mom.

"Shush, the holidays and having a new baby are each stressful enough on their own and you're dealing with them both at the same time Jennifer. Don't worry about cooking dinner, we'll find takeout or something and bring it back." Sandy said as she kissed JJ on the temple and then reached out, running her fingers lightly over Henry's forehead.

JJ silently watched, not knowing what to think, as she watched her family tromp out the door for their day of adventures.

"Come on," Spence said resting his hand in the middle of her back. "I'll make breakfast for us while you feed Henry."

JJ nodded as she followed along behind Spence to the kitchen.

JJ curled into Spence's side, her fingers lightly stroking over Henry's face as the baby boy lay stretched out across Daddy's chest. "I still can't believe he's here." JJ whispered, tipping her head back to look up at Spence.

Spence yawned. "Me neither. To be honest sometimes I wake up and think this is all just a dream."

"Speaking of dreams, somebody looks like they are ready for a nap." JJ smiled softly as she watched Henry's eyes getting heavy as she continued to stroke his face. He blinked repeatedly, each time taking longer to open his eyes, until they didn't open again. She couldn't help but smile when she saw that Daddy was asleep as well when she picked Henry up off his chest.

JJ smiled as she exited the bathroom wrapped in a towel and fresh from the shower to find that Spence was still asleep. She went to sit on the edge of the bed and ran her fingers through his hair as she leaned over and lightly kissed him.

"Mmmm hey," Spence mumbled, his voice heavy with sleep, "Henry still asleep?"

"Mmhmm, I put him in his crib so he could get used to it. He's going to be too big for his bassinet soon." JJ murmured softly, enjoying watching Spence wake up.

Spence nodded and blinked as he continued to wake up, his head lolling contentedly to side on his pillow as he luxuriated in the feel of JJ running her fingers through his hair. He blinked again as he realized that JJ was sitting beside him in only a towel while she played with his hair. He blinked again to make sure it wasn't just his eyes playing tricks on him. 'Nope, still just a towel' he thought. Then he rolled to his side and slid his hand up her leg under the towel.

JJ giggled and swatted his hand away. "Spence that tickles." She laughed.

"Does it now?" Spence spoke softly, his hand inching back up JJ's thigh under the towel as his other arm wrapped around her and he rolled back onto his back, pulling her down on the bed on top of him. He yanked gently at the towel and tossed it off to the side of their bed.

"Spence!" JJ shrieked at the loss of the towel.

"What?" Spence asked, tipping his head in question as his fingertips lightly caressed the length of her back along the curve of her spine, across her ribs, traced her shoulder blades, and repeated the maddening circuit. "You act like I've never seen you before."

"Well in a way you haven't…" JJ paused and bit her lip, "I mean at least not my post baby body… the way it looks now."

"Oh" Spence mouthed finally understanding. His beautiful JJ was insecure about her postpartum body… well he would just have to do something about that. He rolled to his side so that JJ was under him. "JJ, you're beautiful… I don't expect your body to look the same as it did before… we had a baby!" he exclaimed, his eyes lighting up at the wonder of it all. "Here, he was right here." He said as he leaned over her, his hand resting on her belly. "You were beautiful before… you're beautiful now… you will always be beautiful to me JJ because I love you. I love you for who you are JJ… what you mean to me…I love you." he said staring into her eyes as he leaned down to kiss her.

"Spence" JJ sighed just before his lips met hers, her hand coming up to the back of his head where her fingers twined in the hair at the nape of his neck. She curled her tongue around his as their kiss grew heated.

He traced his tongue along the roof of her mouth, pouring how much he loved her, how much he would always love her into the kiss. Finally he pulled out of this kiss, tugging gently at her lower lip and then allowing his lips to linger just above hers as they each gasped to catch their breath after the long passionate kiss.

JJ swallowed thickly at the look in Spence's eyes.

"JJ, beautiful, beautiful JJ." He whispered as he kissed her cheek and then along her jawline. He placed soft, tender, open mouthed kisses along the column of her neck. "You are so beautiful JJ, inside and out." He murmured into her ear, his nose teasing the inside shell of her ear, just like his fingers were teasing the skin along her ribs.

"Spence, baby… I love you too." JJ moaned as her fingers clutched at his t-shirt, pushing it up as she slipped her fingers under the hem, dragging it up until he rose up and pulled it off over his head, tossing it off to the side. "Mmmmm," She purred as he lowered back down at the feel of flesh on flesh. "You feel so good."

She wrapped her arms around him, tracing his back and nibbling at his shoulder as he continued to kiss her neck, her shoulder…

He leaned back to meet her eyes as he pulled her away from his shoulder. "Just wait… I'm going to make you feel really, really good."

"Spence… we can't… I haven't had my final checkup yet." She replied.

"I know… just trust me." Spence answered, reaching out and gently brushing a stray hair out of her face.

JJ searched his eyes, attempting to figure out what he had in mind… and then she realized it didn't matter. She trusted him. "Always," she said, her hand rising to cup his cheek.

Spence grinned and leaned in to kiss her. This time as their kissed deepened his hand rose to cup her breast. He moaned into their kiss as he felt the weight of it in his hand, his thumb running over the nipple in clockwise and then counter clockwise circles.

"Spence," JJ panted, gripping the back of his head as their kiss ended.

"Ssshhh," Spence mumbled into her jawline as he nuzzled her neck. Knowing how sensitive her breasts were with nursing, he moved his hand down along her belly, softly trailing his fingers to her hip and then down along her thigh, his fingers lightly teasing on the way down and then lightly scratching with his fingernails as he drew his fingers back up her leg and her side.

"Off," she mumbled into his lips as she shoved down the waistband of his flannel pajama pants.

He lifted his hips and wiggled to help her push his pajama pants down and then managed to kick his legs free.

JJ sighed at feeling Spence's naked flesh pressed against her own from head to toe as her legs tangled with his. Her fingers pressed into the muscles of his thighs, massaging the tone muscle as they traced a path up his body. She paused momentarily squeezing and groping her boyfriend's very fine backside as she pressed against him. Then her hands moved up his back, tracing every curve and ridge as she clutched at his back, writhing against him as their make-out session continued.

She clutched at his back, her fingers pressing into his muscles there with one hand, while her other hand tangled in his hair and tugged, drawing his lips to hers. Then she sagged back against the pillows, completely and utterly exhausted. "Wow," she managed to croak as Spence pulled her into his side and then rolled so that she rested against his chest.

"See I told you," Spence murmured into her hair, "beautiful and sexy… and I love you."

"I love you too." JJ whispered back, blinking back emotional tears.