X-mas fic
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Aaron looked around, he was back in his bedroom. His eyes flew to the clock, it glowed 9:15 in the morning light.
Aaron cursed inwardly, and stumbled to his feet. He hoped he wasn´t too late. He ran to the front door.
A couple was walking down the hallway with a child, of maybe five, between them. Running to catch up with them, he realized how ridiculous he must look in his sleep ware. But right now that didn´t matter.
“Excuse me,” he said as calmly as he could. The couple turned around eyeing him suspiciously.
“Yes,” the man said and took a step forward, putting his family behind him. Aaron couldn´t really blame him.
“Can you tell me what day it is?”
The man looked at the woman over his shoulder and they exchanged glances. The child peeked from behind his father´s feet and grinned. “It´s Christmas Day.”
Aaron smiled and breathed air of relief. “Thank you,” he said and started running back to his house, “And merry Christmas,” he called over his shoulder.
“Merry Christmas!” The boy called back. Aaron chuckled as he rushed inside his apartment. He stopped in the living room and looked around. The space was dead and empty. He needed a tree, lights and ornaments and other decorations…. and he suddenly realized that all stores were closed.
Okay, prioritize, he thought to himself as he rubbed his upper lib in thought. There was a box with Christmas-decorations in his storage but since he had no tree, that and other decoration could wait until tomorrow. Then he could have Jack help him give the apartment some Christmas-spirit. His next problem was gifts for everyone.
He studied his apartment and his eyes fell on his bookcase and then to his CD rack. He had more things then he needed. He would just have to… improvise.
Soon there was a small pile of things on the kitchen table. There were few CD´s that would be divided between Prentiss and JJ, a new tie he´d never worn for Rossi (because surely the man should learn to wear one), a book about firearms for Will and rummaging through his closet he´d found an unopened car that he´d been bought for Jack but forgotten on the top shelf, perfect for Henry. He eyed the leather-gloves he´d bought a few days earlier, he still had the box. The gloves ended in the pile as a present for Morgan.
In his bedroom, he drew a big breath before opening a box he kept in his closet. From the box he picked up Haley´s jewel box. He found the locked she had gotten from her mother, this would be Jessie´s gift.
Now he only had Reid, Garcia and his son left. What to give a computer-geek? The answer struck him and he made his way to his office with a grin. Soon he had one certificate to one Penelope Garcia to shop at a local computer-store.
After some thought, he realized he had the perfect gift for Reid. He rolled the idea around in his head for a moment before deciding to go ahead with it. In his bedroom he opened his safe and drew out a rectangular box. Opening it, he smiled at the bittersweet memories as he looked at content. He slammed the box shut.
Aaron came up empty when it came to his son. He had no idea what Jack wanted for Christmas and he felt guilty for not knowing. As he pondered ideas, he showered and got dressed. He decided forfeit the suit and dressed in jeans, red polo-shirt and his green fleece sweater.
It was already 1 pm, when he was ready and he would have to hurry, if he wasn´t going to be late. Putting all the presents in a bag, he made his way to the car and drove toward Jessie´s house.
Walking briskly up the driveway, he knocked on the door. Jessie opened the door in her PJ´s and a rope.
“Aaron,” she said with a surprise.
“Merry Christmas,” he said and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek before hugging her.
“Merry Christmas,” she stammered after the first shock had passed, and wrapped her arms around him.
“Daddy!” Jack yelled as he came running from the living room, dressed in his PJs.
Aaron crouched down and grabbed his son in his arms. His eyes fell closed as all the love he had for his son rushed through him. “Merry Christmas, buddy,” Aaron whispered into the blond hair.
“Merry Christmas, daddy,” Jack said and then struggled until Aaron set him free. “Come, see my train, daddy.” Jack pulled his hand and Aaron laughed as he was pulled into the house.
The train, as it turned out, had been a present from him. He should have known Jessie would take care of that and Aaron locked his eyes with Jessie when the truth came out. He walked over to his ex-sister-in-law and pulled her into a hug. “Thank you,” he whispered, “I couldn´t do this without you.”
“I´m happy to,” Jessie said against his shoulder, “I love Jack.”
Aaron moved away and smiled. “I know you do.” He pulled the locket from his pocket and put it in her open palm. Her breath caught when she recognized it.
“Aaron,” she breathed.
“Merry Christmas,” he said with a smile.
“Thank you,” she said and starred at the precious locket.
“Daddy, are you coming to play with the train?” Jack asked as he tucked at his father´s hand.
Aaron bent down and picked him up. “What do you say about getting dressed and go to a Christmas-party?”
“Is Santa going to be there?” Jack asked excited.
“Umm, no, but we can put a Santa hat on Morgan. Will that do?”
Jack thought for a moment before nodding and wiggled to be put down only to run to his bedroom to put on some clothes.
Aaron looked at Jessica. “You´re more than welcome to join us,” he told her softly, “and could you do me favor?”
“What is it?”
“I have some gifts that need to be wrapped,” he said and gestured the bag he´d left by the door and smiled sheepishly.
Jessie looked behind her at the kitchen counter that was full of food and then down at herself. “I don´t know where to start,” she said with a disbelieving chuckle.
“How about, I help Jack get dressed and then put away the food?”
“Alright, I´m going to shower and get dressed then I´ll wrap in the presents for you,” She smiled and started toward her bedroom. As she past him she turned around and set her hand on his forearm. “It´s good to see you smile, again,” she whispered and then kept on going.
They got to work and two hours later they were on their way to JJ´s house.
“Hotch?” JJ said with surprise when she opened the front door.
Aaron smiled at her and dragged her into a one armed embrace. “Merry Christmas,” he told her as he let go. “I hope we´re not too late.”
“No, no, come on in. We´re just starting to eat,” she said and gestured everyone inside. Jessie and JJ exchanged a quiet greeting and Jessie apologized for the intrusion.
“Don´t worry about it,” JJ brushed it off, “Christmas is the time to spend with family and you are Jack´s Aunt.”
Aaron used the opportunity when everyone was staring at him in bewilderment to introducing Jessie and Jack. Garcia remembered her manners first.
“Of course,” she chipped and jumped from the table, “So nice to see you again,” she hugged Jessie a la Garcia and everyone came to life after that. They welcomed Jessie and Jack, Dave smirked at Aaron who smiled back.
The seating was rustled around and everyone got a seat at the table. It was loud, everyone asking to be passed a bowl of this or that, complimenting the food, cuddling Jack who beamed at all the attention and asking questions.
When the ice-cream was served, Aaron looked at Reid. The man was smiling and laughing, seeming fully content having a conversation with Henry who babbled back. Aaron breathed.
After everyone was done eating, Aaron retrieved the bag of gifts and with Jack´s help handed them out. It caused the people to start talking again, everyone wanting to talk to and thank Jack for the presents.
While Jack was the center of the attention, Aaron looked around for Reid. He was standing a bit away from the crowd and watching the loud gift exchange with a small smile on his face and his hands in his pockets.
“Hey,” Aaron said as he approached him.
“Umm, hello,” Reid replied and smiled.
Hotch held out the last gift. “Merry Christmas,” he said with a smile.
Reid eyed the box but then looked over shoulder, toward the bag he had put in one of the shelves away from small hands. “I have a gift for you too,” he claimed and walked away to retrieve it.
They faced one another and smiled, exchanging the gifts with a quiet ‘Merry Christmas’. Hotch knew instantly it was a book, by the shape and the weight. He watched as Reid turned his present around a few times inspecting it before looking up and locking their eyes together.
Hotch raised his eyebrow in a silent question and Reid gave a tiny nod. At the same time they ripped open their packages. He had been right. It was a book, A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Hotch gave a small chuckle at the irony. As he inspected the book, he noticed the engraved golden imprint on the red cloth of the book. He carefully opened to the first page and drew in a sharp breath as he read.
“Spence, this is fourth addition,” he said carefully, wondering if he was holding a very expensive item in his hand.
“The first addition was published on December 17th 1843 and by May 1844 there were seven additions sold out. I know a little antique store that specializes in books,” Reid answered. Aaron made a mental note to get the book valuated, none the less.
Spencer opened the small box and Aaron couldn´t help but smile at the surprise look as Spencer stared at the silver cufflinks.
“Hotch,” Spencer stammered, “I can´t take these.”
Aaron took one small step closer to the young man. “Yes, you can and I want you to have them.”
“But they are at least twenty years old, they probable belonged to you father and if that is the case, they rightfully belong to Jack,” Reid argued and stared at him earnest.
“I have something much more valuable to give to Jack when he´s older. I want you to have these.”
“But…”
“Spencer. My dad…” Aaron said quietly and looked down at the book, “… was a good man. He supported a family while going through law-school at night. It took some time but he became a successful lawyer because he never stopped believing he could do it. He bought those cufflinks for the first paycheck he got as a lawyer.” Aaron looked at Spencer to see if he was fallowing him and noticed he had Spencer´s full attention. Smiling, Aaron continued: “If you feel strongly about Jack having the cufflinks, you can give them to him when he´s old enough to understand the meaning. Right now, I want you to have them.”
Reid studied the cufflinks, his eyes peering in thought.
“Spencer,” Hotch said and touched the man´s shoulder.
“Hmm,” Reid said and looked up.
“No, inter-team profiling,” Aaron said dryly.
“Sorry!” Spencer said shyly and Aaron smiled and petted the man´s shoulder before walking away.
“Umm, thank you,” Spencer called after him.
Aaron joined the party at the table and few seconds later Spencer was standing next to him. Raising his glass, Aaron looked around at the people he considered his family and his heart warmed. “Merry Christmas,” he quietly called over the table and everyone echoed his greeting as they clung their glasses together.
“And as Tiny Tim* would say: “’And God bless us, every one,’” Spencer said as he clung his glass with Aaron´s.
-The End.
* Tiny Tim is a character in A Christmas Carol
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