Cookies - Hotch/Reid (prompt from anon – ‘Vanilla’)

“These are great, Jack! So delicious,” Spencer praised the young boy who was grinning proudly over his batch of cookies.

“Thank you!” Jack practically yelled as he ran from the kitchen to share his creations with the rest of the family.

Reid waited until Jack was completely gone to spit the remains of the cookie into a napkin, “I don’t get why you are making me praise him for this, shouldn’t he know his mistake?”

Aaron smiled, “I don’t think telling my son that he can’t bake is something I want to do, especially when he prepared those for Santa.”

“I think he dropped the entire bottle of vanilla extract into the dough….bottle included. Are cookies supposed to be that crunchy?”

“They can be, depends on the cookie.”

“I’m sure there is a statistic about vanilla extract overdose. I might die…”

Hotch chuckled, “Okay, now you’re just being dramatic.

“Next time, maybe I’ll help him. You clearly aren’t the best baker either.”

“You won’t hear any arguments from me…baking has never been my forte.”

“Clearly,” Spencer jabbed playfully as they exited the kitchen to rejoin the festivities.

Family - Rossi + Seaver, Gen.

Ashley didn’t celebrate the holidays. It wasn’t because she didn’t like the holidays but because she never really had anyone to share them with. Friends would be away with their families. She wouldn’t complain or make it known. She wouldn’t lie if they asked her about her plans, but she never told them the whole truth for fear of pity invites. She would say that she was having a low-key holiday. She would never say she was alone. She was thankful for the friends she had, her own family that she built herself – but she never wanted to make them feel awkward or responsible.

On Christmas Eve, when David Rossi showed up at her apartment, she didn’t feel pity she usually feared. Instead she felt a kinship. He never asked her about her father or how she was. He didn’t ask what her plans for the holidays were. He just knew that he wanted to spend the holiday with family, one that he was also lucky enough to build. She accepted his silent offer, and the Christmas ham he brought to her home. Ashley Seaver had a family on Christmas and she would every year after.

Snow - Morgan/Reid

Spencer Reid hated being cold. He always brought a blanket on the jet, a jacket when it might be slightly nippy in the town they’re in, and he even didn’t like ice cream all that much. The one thing he could tolerate, however, was snow. Growing up in Nevada, he never had experience with the white wonder, but for as long as he’s been in DC he has adored the snow. And Derek loved that he loved snow.

Spencer would go to the park and just admire the majesty of the world covered in a blanket of fresh white. He would build snow structures that Clooney would inevitably knock down. He’d rig snow pranks to surprise Derek in the mornings. He was fascinated by the snow, amazed at its calming properties. Spencer would stay out in the snow until his fingers were far past numb and his nose was red. And Derek would be inside waiting with a blanket and a warm drink.

Names - Morgan/Prentiss (prompt from Whatstartsinchaos-endsinchaos – ‘It’s a Girl’)

“Herschel,” Emily declared, looking up from her newly unwrapped present.

Derek stared at his wife, “Herschel?”

“I think it’s a wonderful name. It means ‘deer’ – we could call him ‘Prongs’,” Emily smiled and put her hand on her five-month pregnant stomach.

“’Prongs?’ Like from Harry Potter?” Derek made a mental note to murder Garcia for getting Emily the baby names book for Christmas.

“Yes. Is it really that shocking that I’d want a nerdy nickname for my kid? I know I’m not wildly nerdy in public…but I’m open to it when it comes to my baby.”

“Isn’t ‘Herschel’ Hebrew?”

“Yes, why would that be a problem?”

“Not a problem…just a little different. Em, we have plenty of time to choose a name. Maybe we should keep our options open.”

“No. I really like ‘Herschel,’ it will definitely be a contender.”

Derek sighed, resigning to let her have this for now. He reached for another present, “Alright, my turn.”

Emily set her book aside and watched Derek open his present. He ripped the wrapping paper off to reveal a simple cardboard box, which he also opened with ease. He froze, staring at the contents.

“Baby, what is it?” Emily grinned, already knowing the answer.

“Please tell me I won’t have to name my baby girl ‘Herschel’,” Derek said as he held up the pink onesie that stated, ‘Daddy’s Girl’ in purple letters.

Emily leaned forward, cupping his face in her hands, “No, we’ll save that for next time.”

“Next time?” He asked, kissing her soundly on the lips.

“Doesn’t sound bad, does it?”

“Not at all.”

Tree - Morgan/Prentiss (prompt from anon – ‘First Christmas as a couple’)

“This is kind of nice…” Emily said from her position on the couch; she had her legs curled under her and a warm mug of coffee in her hands.

A grunt came from the direction of the large fir tree in her living room, “Nice for you, I guess. Didn’t you have a fake tree last year?”

“Yes, but last year I was single. This year I have a big, strong boyfriend to put my real tree up,” Emily smiled, still enjoying the use of the word ‘boyfriend’.

They had been serious their entire relationship, the trust they already had from the job helped, but they didn’t label themselves until right before Thanksgiving. Now Emily reveled in the word. She quite enjoyed it. Of course, she didn’t do it in public – she only really brought those walls down in private, only with him.

Derek stood up with a groan and observed his handy work, “Now that’s a tree!”

“Alright, now you come get comfortable and I’ll put the lights on it,” she beckoned.

He sauntered over to the couch, falling firmly next to her – not allowing her to get up until he stole one kiss.

“Why can’t I help decorate?”

She smiled, “I never said you couldn’t help decorate, it’s just easier to put the lights up first and then the ornaments. We don’t need to make an unnecessary mess.”

“I feel like there is more to it than that,” he prodded.

“I may also have a mild OCD reaction to my tree lights. But you can’t blame me; I saw your tree last year!”

Derek got to his feet and walked up behind her, grabbed her hips and spoke in her ear, “And what exactly was wrong with my tree last year?”

Emily melted into his embrace, “Nothing, except it was totally lopsided. Half of the tree was more lit than the other. Just because the back of the tree faces the wall doesn’t mean it needs to be half-assed.”

He placed a kiss on the side of her neck and returned to the sofa, “Alright, alright…but I get to do the star.”

“Yes, you keep thinking that,” she sent a smile over her shoulder and dodged the pillow he threw at her.

 Wager - Emily/JJ  (prompt from Ilovezivadavid – ‘Candy cane, hot and bothered’)

Emily knew she should remain focused on her conversation with Morgan. She knew she shouldn’t get lured by the blonde’s trap. She knew that JJ was just pressing her buttons, and damn did she know what to press. Emily’s pride and stubbornness once again put her in a tough situation, and now she had to suffer her time. She’d prevail, she always did…but at what cost? How much frustration?

Emily bit back a groan as she watched JJ slowly push the candy cane passed her pink lips. To anyone else on the jet, she looked innocent; JJ was only reading her book and enjoying the holiday confection. Emily, however, was in hell. She crossed her legs and slouched lower in her seat, taking a deep breath she tried once more to focus on her partner rather than her lover.

The brunette glared as she watched JJ smirk softly around the treat, clearly enjoying the attention. She was clear across the jet, but she could feel Emily’s gaze. JJ took a quick glance around before sending Emily a very suggestive look, slowly taking in the candy cane once more.

Emily let out a small whimper before snapping her eyes wide open in alarm; Morgan had definitely heard that.

She gave him a sheepish look only to get a grin in response.

“How’s that bet going for you? You said you could go until Christmas without having her, right?” He chuckled.

“I hate you, shut up.”

Emily shifted in her seat again. JJ blew a kiss. Christmas couldn’t come soon enough.