"Are you certain I'm not intruding?" Alex asked as Erin opened the door for her Christmas morning.

"No, the kids are with Alan, so it's just going to be me and David, since Spencer wasn't able to convince Diana to fly out to be with us this year. Maybe by next Christmas, she'll feel comfortable enough to fly out here and meet everyone else important in our lives."

Erin pulled Alex into a tight hug, even though she knew the woman wasn't entirely comfortable with physical touch. "That would be really nice. Now, are we eating soon? Or watching a movie?"

Erin let go of Alex and led her into the living room where Daivd had set up their appetizers. "David is actually working on the finishing touches of our meal, so I thought that we could watch something to put us in a festive mood and nosh on these appetizers that I actually helped with and by the time he comes to get us, we'll be all smiles."

Alex nodded as she held up a shopping tote. "And where can I put the gifts?"

"You didn't have to get us anything," she protested as she gestured towards the tree. "But we may have gotten a few things for you, too. I know, you'll say that we didn't need to do it, but I wanted to do something nice for you. Since you won't have James here and all. Did you bring your go bag?"

"I left it in the car, since I won't need it until later." Alex put two beautifully wrapped presents beneath the tree before coming back over to the sofa and perching on the edge of it as she fixed herself a small plate of appetizers. Erin followed suit before windmilling her bad arm. "How's it feeling?"

"Better, but I'm still not up to full strength yet. My doctor said that it could take up to six months to be where I was. But at least it healed well." Alex nodded as they nestled together. "I'm going to head down to the gun range after the holidays, so that I can start to build strength up once more."

Alex let out a laugh as she shook her head. "You didn't break your dominate arm!"

"I know, but shooting will help get my muscles back into shape. You could always train with me?"

"I suppose that I could use a few brush up hours on the range. Care to make it interesting?" Erin tilted her head a little before nodding. "Excellent. Loser has to buy coffee for the winner for a month."

"You're on!" she exclaimed as she nudged Alex with her good elbow. "Now, we have about ninety minutes before the meal. What would you like to watch?"

"Could we be boring and listen to Christmas music while we talk?"

"That sounds like a much better use of our time. I think there's a music channel on the television, give me a moment." Erin picked up the remote and flipped through the channels until she found the Christmas music. Setting the remote aside, she leaned back against the sofa and turned her head so that she was looking at Alex. "So. He calls me by my real name."

"Irina?" She nodded. "I had noticed that. I thought it was an in joke between the two of you, but it's really your name? How did that never come up when we were in the Academy together?"

"Because I had already buried that part of my life. You were so open about Ethan, and his troubles, and how much work you were doing to make certain that you didn't fail in either job you were tasked with. I poured all my hopes and sorrows into you and making certain that you were able to do the best. If you weren't with James, I think I could have fallen in love with you."

She didn't know why that particular truth was spilling from her lips, but a part of her was glad that it was out there. Glancing up at Alex, she saw the wry smile on her lips and relaxed a little. "I think I could have fallen in love with you, too. Though that would have made Amerithrax a bit more interesting."

Erin let out a soft giggle as she nodded. "We could have lorded it over John, though." Alex laughed as she nodded a little. "But oh, I wish that things could have been different back then. And I am so glad that we're able to fix things between us now." She laid her head back down on Alex's shoulder as a soft silence fell over the room. "I'm sorry, I killed the mood."

"No, you didn't, Irinia." Alex reached up and chucked her chin lightly. "We always had natural lulls in our conversations. So, what did you get the kids for Christmas this year?"

"Too much. We both spoiled all four of them, because I was blessed with another Christmas with everyone. You'll have to let me know if you find your gift too extravagant. I may have gone a little overboard."

Alex tightened her arm around Erin's shoulders as she nodded. "I guess I should have anticipated that. Mine might pale in comparison."

Erin let out a soft sigh as she nestled closer to Alex. "The fact that you're here, that you're allowing me this closeness, is gift enough." Another sigh escaped her lips as she felt Alex press her lips to the top of her head.

"Hey, that's my partner!"

They both looked up at David, and Erin gave him a little smirk when he winked at her. "I thought you were going to be busy for another hour, darling," she said as he prepared an appetizer plate and sank down into the plush chair next to the sofa.

"I had a feeling that there were some shenanigans happening in here. Remember, I can always smell sex."

"Dave!" Alex said, though Erin could hear the levity in her voice. "It was a kiss from a friend. Do you really want salacious? On Christmas Day?"

"Like that would really happen. You're married, and we're as good as."

"James affords me a little leeway, since we're so often separated."

Erin pulled away a little to look into Alex's face. "Really?"

Alex gave her a tiny wink before nodding. "Oh, yes. Now, since your husband wants a show, do you mind?" She shook her head, trusting Alex to keep things appropriate for them all. "Softly, softly," Alex murmured before covering Erin's lips with hers. It was a delicate kiss, thoroughly lovely, and for a moment, Erin could see their alternate lives, where they were partners. And while she didn't mean to, tears sprang to her eyes as Alex pulled away. "Tears?"

"Don't ask, I don't know." Clearing her throat, Erin peeked over at David, seeing that his expression mirrored how she felt, and she shrugged a little before burrowing into Alex's side once more. "One of you, please, talk about something that will make me smile before I start to sob. I'm just feeling a little emotional right now."

Alex dropped her cheek on top of Erin's head, and her smile wobbled at the affection she was receiving. "So, Hotch might be limping when we get back to the bullpen. It seems that Beth decided she wanted to spend the holidays in the Poconos, and our dear leader is not quite as light on his feet as he'd like to appear."

"What happened?"

"He sprained his ankle skiing."

Erin tried to swallow her giggle, but that only seemed to make things worse, and a full blown chortle burst forth as she turned her face into Alex's shoulder to dampen her reaction. "Please tell me he was on a difficult trail."

That was David's cue to laugh. "That would be nice to say, yes. This goes no further than this room, as I have been sworn to secrecy. He was on the bunny trail, trying to teach Jackers how to ski. Instead, he ended up showing him what not to do."

"And now he has a good story to tell when Jack gets his first girlfriend." Erin looked at her partner and gave him a smile, grateful for the way that he had turned the mood around. "Now, how much longer until we eat? I am famished!"

David's shoulder shook with laughter as he shook his head. "We have all these appetisers!"

"And I don't want to fill up on those and not be able to eat your delicious meal. So, how much longer again?"

He looked at his watch before winking at her. "Fifty five minutes. Any ideas on how to fill the time?"

"I, for one, want stories of your life together, before we all knew each other. If that wouldn't be too painful?"

Erin shook her head as she steadily met David's gaze. "No, I think I'd like to share some of those happy memories with you. But only you. David?"

"I agree. I think that we can trust you not to talk out of turn." Alex nodded, and Erin let out a quiet breath as she waited for her partner to speak, knowing that he would have the best stories to tell Alex that afternoon.