A/N: Hey all! Sorry for the delay; had a jam-packed day yesterday, and didn't want to post this without looking over it one more time. I hope you all had a Merry Christmas!

And I hope you all enjoy this chapter. I've decided to split this one into two. So, the third and final chapter will hopefully be up later today (and will contain the M-rated portion).

Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds.

Chapter 2:

JJ followed Hotch down the hall quietly, each one carrying their respective sons. The boys had insisted that they be allowed to stay up all night so they could say hi to Santa. And, of course they'd given their consent, knowing they'd be out like lights sooner, rather than later. That's exactly what happened; within an hour of their request both boys were practically falling asleep sitting up. It was adorable how hard they'd fought it, but in the end they were no match for the land of dreams.

Reaching Henry's bedroom, JJ placed her son in his bed, carefully, so as not to jolt him back to wakefulness. Next came Jack; she tucked both of them in and gave each of them a goodnight kiss before stepping back to smile down at the two little angels.

They'd had a good time tonight. With her baked gingerbread men, they'd had copious amounts of hot chocolate while they watched the kids' favorite Christmas movie, Elf. They followed the movie with a round of Monopoly Junior. And finally, they closed the night with storytelling.

Spending Christmas with the Hotchner's was simply perfection, she noted.

JJ exited the room after Hotch, slowly shutting the door behind her. He was waiting for her in the hall with a smile on his face that she knew he saved just for her.

"They just couldn't wait for Santa, huh?" he commented.

"I think it was all that sugar that did them in," she replied easily. "They put up a good fight, though."

Hotch wrapped an arm around her shoulders, guiding them back to the living room. Sometimes she found it so strange how perfectly natural moments like this felt with him. He'd been just her boss for years; somewhere along the way they'd also become friends. JJ didn't know the exact moment when her feelings for him had evolved from ones of respect and friendship, to ones of passion and longing. All she knew was that she was sure glad he returned them, because she had no idea what she'd do without him by her side. When he touched her or even just looked at her in that tender way of his, she just knew that they were put on this Earth for one another.

"Yeah, that isn't happening again, at least, not until next Halloween."

"At least we managed to get them to brush their teeth before they were completely out of it. We're still good parents, see."

"The best," he agreed.

They shared a happy chuckle before Hotch fell into the chair, pulling her down with him. She let out a yelp and then more giggles as she settled into his lap comfortably.

"Have I ever told you what a genius you are?" he told her.

She smiled. "I think you have me confused with someone else," she said bashfully.

Hotch slid his arm around her body, his hand making contact with the bare flesh of her hip, where her shirt had hiked up a bit. She was startled by how quickly his simple touch lit her on fire. And when his fingers began to rub circles into her skin, it was all she could do to concentrate on the words coming out of his mouth.

"You are, you know. This is just what the boys needed, a family Christmas. Thank you, JJ, you've made Jack's year. Not to mention mine…"

Her eyes wide and bright, she asked, "You think of us as a family?"

It was Hotch's turn to look bashful. He looked her right in the eye, though, when he said, "I do, JJ. I'd like us to be an official family one day… JJ, I love you."

Her mouth dropped right open. Wow, was all she could think. Wow…

Never in her wildest dreams did she ever dare to imagine something this wonderful happening to her.

"JJ?"

It was just so unexpected, but she knew exactly what to say, as if she'd been waiting for this moment forever.

"I love you, too!" she blurted out quickly. It wasn't said with as much grace as she would have liked, but she knew the message was well received when he kissed her.

Hotch pulled her around in his lap so she was straddling his body; it made for better reach for the kiss, amongst other things. Just like earlier, in the kitchen, she could feel how much he wanted her. And, God, did she want him, too.

His kisses moved down to her neck; he nuzzled there, delicately, making her ache with want at his gentleness.

"You're wrong, you know…" she whispered into the air. "… We are… we are a family, already…"

He pulled back to look her in the eyes, searching; she could see how happy her declaration made him. And, just then, all she ever wanted out of life was to make him happy forever and always.

He kissed her again and again, moving his lips against hers in a demanding rhythm. Somehow, he got his arms beneath her, lifting her straight into the air without ever releasing her from his kiss. Her legs wrapped themselves instinctively around his hard body. And then they were moving.

It was a moment later that she realized they were in her bedroom, in the midst of a very heated make-out session that seemed to have no end in sight.

She wasn't sure which one of them it was who still had the head to put a halt on their current activities, but when they finally did pull apart it was to the sight of them both shirtless, looking thoroughly kissed with swollen lips and shiny eyes.

They shared a knowing look, followed by a quick laugh. JJ flopped backwards onto the bed, sighing happily. "I think we got a bit carried away…"

Hotch appeared above her, propped up on an elbow. "Trust me, JJ. I want to get more than a bit carried away with you…"

She reached out a hand and ran it down the length of his bare torso, enjoying the feel of him beneath the tips of her fingers. This was the furthest they'd ever gotten.

He took hold of her wandering hand, bringing it palm up to his lips. She shivered at the kiss. "But, I'd like our first time together to be special, just the two of us, so we can take our time together…"

She noted the mischievous glint in his eye, letting her know every little thing he'd be taking his time in doing. She had to take a deep, calming breath, then. "You're right…" she managed to say, through semi-gritted teeth. It's going to be hard, she thought, mentally grinning at her own pun.

He gave back her hand and she watched him roll off the bed with mixed feelings. Hotch began to put his shirt back on, covering up that lovely chest of his. "And… now, I think it's time for me to hit the guest room."

She must have pouted because the next thing she knew he was leaning across her once again, putting his lips to hers in a sensual caress. "Come on, JJ, you know there's no way I can stay in here with you. Not without clothes flying here and there."

"All right, all right… Just promise me we'll find some alone time together soon!"

"Very soon," he reassured. Grinning from ear to ear, he added, "Love you."

"Love you, too," she breathed out, on cloud nine. She watched him, sadly, leave the room. Flopping back onto the bed, she wondered how she was ever going to calm herself down.

Hotch, JJ, Jack and Henry all stood on the front porch waiting for their knock to be answered. It didn't take long for the red door to open wide for them. The newly proclaimed family was greeted with a big smile and a loud 'Merry Christmas' from Hotch's former employee and now good friend.

"Come in, come in," Emily announced. They fell into the front foyer together; the boys' coats flew off quickly. "Here, I'll take your coats."

Hotch smiled at the brunette, shedding his own coat.

"Boys, boys, say hi to…" JJ called after Jack and Henry as they ran off. "…your aunt Emily…" She trailed off, watching them disappear into the back of the house. "…before you run off."

Emily laughed good-naturedly.

JJ looked to the former profiler, smiling sheepishly. "Sorry. I swear we raised them to have better manners than that."

"Except," Hotch took over, "they're hopped up on sugar from the pancake breakfast we had earlier…" He paused to share a wry look with JJ. "We really are bad parents, aren't we?"

She laughed. "A little sugar on Christmas never hurt any—" A loud crash from somewhere in inside the Rossi household made her wince. JJ gave Emily a quick hug in greeting, murmuring, "Sorry in advance," and then rushed off after the boys, leaving him alone with Emily.

"So," he began as he helped Emily hang all their coats in the front closet. "Where's your worse half?"

She smiled. "Dave had a few errands to run before dinnertime. You guys are actually the first ones here."

He nodded, handing her the presents they'd brought. "For the girls, and you and Dave, of course."

"Thank you. Between us, you guys, and the team, the girls must be the most spoiled kids on the block," she joked.

"I'm sure they're tied with Henry and Jack."

They moved into the open living room and kitchen combination. He could now smell the turkey cooking away in the oven. The whole team had been invited to Rossi and Emily's home to share in Christmas dinner.

He looked around the room, his gaze first glancing over Jack and Henry looking over the girls' presents, and then zeroing in on JJ.

She had an armful of identical, dark-haired toddlers. The two year olds were giggling happily at whatever JJ was telling them. The smile on JJ's face couldn't have been brighter. He could imagine what it would be like to have a girl of their own someday. After last night, the idea was now in the realm of possibility. JJ loved him…

"You really do love her, don't you?" Emily broke into his thoughts.

He tore his gaze away from his girlfriend to look at his friend. She was watching him with a considering look on her face, as if searching to make sure that he did. "I do, I really do."

She put a hand on his shoulder. "Then don't let her get away. Ok?"

As if he'd ever let that happen. "Trust me, I won't."

It wasn't long after their arrival that the rest of the team trickled in. Morgan and Reid, Alex with her husband, James, and finally Kevin. The only ones missing were Garcia and Rossi. That should have tipped Hotch off that something was up for sure. But, he was enjoying his time a little too much—someone had spiked the eggnog—to really notice that the resident meddlers were missing, together.

The table all set, the turkey out of the oven, they were all ready to sit down to the table when both Rossi and Garcia stumbled into the room, together. Only then did Hotch start to wonder where they'd been and what they'd been doing together. It couldn't be good.

"Hello everyone, hello my lovelies, I come bearing gifts for all!" Garcia greeted boisterously. That got the four children out of their spots around the kid's table and running to surround a very happy looking Aunt Penelope.

Hotch walked over to Dave, giving him a suspicious look.

"Well, a Merry Christmas to you, too," Dave said, mock-chidingly. "What's with the look?"

"You and Garcia just got here?" Hotch questioned.

"Way to put two and two together, Aaron," his best friend joked. "Just in case you've hit the spiked eggnog one too many times, I'm Dave, and that's Garcia over there…"

"Funny," Hotch replied, dryly. "I meant you two just got here, together? What were you up to?"

Dave returned his distrustful look with one Hotch knew too well. It was his 'that's for me to know and you to find out later, embarrassedly and/or very painfully,' look. But he just answered, "I don't know what Garcia was doing, but I was grabbing some presents I'd forgotten I'd hidden at the BAU for the girls."

He held up a handful of tissue-papered gift bags to Hotch. He didn't believe him for a second. Still, he let it go, hoping he was telling the truth in the spirit of Christmas and all…

Hotch glanced back at his friend, seeing the mischievous look in his eyes. When he looked across the room, he saw Garcia watching him with the very same look.

Oh man, we're so in trouble…

That's it for this chapter. Next one should be up by the end of today.

Thanks to everyone who reviewed the last chapter: BAUMember; canny-bairn; bea; mummacass; and Jekkah (I hope you're liking.).