Author's Note: Special thanks to mummacass, DebbieOz, Flames101, MaddieNicole, deeda, MarkandLexiefan, IwouldrockJoshuaJacksonsWorl d (my sister, folks, who just wrote her first story here), happysunshine01, SSAmolloy7, Guest, ReadingRed, beaglelover719, and Guest for the reviews. The response to the last chapter was overwhelming and I thank you all! I hope you enjoy the ending!

I apologize a million times for the delay in this final chapter. My holidays got busier than I had anticipated. Please forgive me!

DECEMBER 24TH:

Christmas Eve found Hotch once again pacing in his living room. He and JJ had made plans for her to come to his house about four, but as the clock flipped to 4:37, he hadn't seen nor heard from her. With sickening fear grabbing hold in his stomach, he began to think that she wasn't coming, that he had pushed her too far last night with the kiss.

She had seemed find at Rossi's party after the kiss, though the more he thought about it, the more he realized that she had gone through great care to not be alone with him until the end of the night when they finalized their plans. She hadn't seemed upset, but he wasn't always the most astute person when it came to the female mind. His marriage to Haley had proven that. Of course, very few men were, he reasoned in a voice that sounded suspiciously like Rossi.

Hotch took a deep breath. The smells of turkey filled his senses. He had cooked the meal just as he had promised. For the bits that he tasted, it was fairly decent. Not surprising, really; his mother had foisted cooking lessons upon him and Sean when they were younger. He supposed that was where Sean's love of cooking had originated. Hotch balked at the finer points of the kitchen, but he could pull together a respectable meal when the occasion called for it.

Sighing, he began to make his way back to the kitchen to check on the food. He hoped it would bring a distraction that he desperately needed. He paused in the hallway when the doorbell rang. With hope in his step, he practically hopped to the door. He opened it, expecting to find JJ there, but was met instead with a small, wrapped box and a blue envelope.

"Really?" Hotch muttered, frustrated. He picked up the box and brought it inside. Hotch opened the envelope, which read, "Froehliche Weihnachten." Even he could tell that was German. Hotch unwrapped the small box and pulled out a silver frame with the word "Family" written across the bottom. As he studied the picture, his heart began to pound wildly. The picture had clearly been taken at Garcia's annual Halloween bash. He was standing next to JJ, laughing at something she had said. Henry was in his arms, pulling on Hotch's ear while Jack hung off of JJ's waist, his face in open adoration as he watched JJ.

A tiny giggle from the living room tore Hotch away from the picture. Cautiously, he moved towards the sound. Hotch froze in the doorway when he spotted JJ, Henry, and Jack standing in front of the Christmas tree.

"Merry Christmas!" they shouted together.

"What- how- I-" Hotch stuttered, his face red and his eyes wide. His brain was trying to wrap around the idea that Jack was standing in the living room along with JJ and Henry. "Jack?"

Jack broke away from the other two and jumped into his father's arms. He kissed and hugged Hotch. "Hi, Daddy! Did we surprise you?"

Hotch nodded slowly. "You certainly did." He found JJ's eyes. "How did you-"

"Rossi," JJ answered. She gathered Henry into her arms and stepped over to him. "He chartered a plane and we picked Jack up this morning. As much fun as he was having with his cousins, he really wanted to spend the holidays with his dad."

"So, then, you-"

"-were responsible for the gifts this week?" JJ finished. She nodded and he caught sight of nervousness in her eyes. "I was. I knew how depressed you were about spending the holidays alone so I wanted to cheer you up."

Hotch glanced around the room. "You did all of this by yourself?"

JJ shook her head, slowly, a sly smile spreading across her face. "Almost. Reid had to drop off a gift or two, but the idea was all mine."

"But why?" he asked, his voice riddled with confusion.

"You really don't know?" JJ shifted Henry onto her hip. She cupped Hotch's cheek before moving to the back of his neck. She brought his face down to hers, placing a chaste kiss on his lips. She turned her face, laying her cheek against his. She whispered, "Because I love you."

Hotch pulled back, surprised. He searched her eyes for the truth. Hotch tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. "I love you, too."

JJ opened her mouth, but was interrupted by Henry announcing, "I love you, too, Hotch. Jackie, I love you."

"I love you, too, Henry," Jack replied, patiently. He patted Henry's head, then turned to JJ. "I love you, too, JJ. Does this mean we get to be a family now?"

"It means that we get to spend a lot more time together," JJ explained, "and that your dad and I will be spending time alone together."

Jack sighed as though the two adults were acting stupid. "Okay, but Uncle Dave has the wedding set up for June so we should probably be a family by then."

Hotch and JJ gaped at each then back at Jack. "He what?"

Jack shrugged. "That's what he said."

"Why don't you take Henry into the bathroom and get washed up? Dinner's almost ready," Hotch told Jack, placing him on the ground. He waited until the two boys had run out of the room to pull JJ flush against his body. "I can't believe you did all of this. I can't believe you love me."

"I can't believe we're getting married in June," JJ chuckled. She grew serious as she looped her arms around his neck. "I know this is crazy. I'm just divorced; you're just out of a relationship. We each have a kid to consider, but this, this being in your arms with our two boys down the hall, getting ready to eat a family dinner, just feels so right."

"It really does," Hotch agreed. He smiled as he heard the two boys giggling from the bathroom. He couldn't imagine a more perfect holiday. "Merry Christmas, JJ."

"Merry Christmas, Hotch."

END