This story was born of the suggestion of my dear reader Reid-It-And-Weep-katelynp2012. Thank-you for the most excellent suggestion! It is a stand-alone, and part of the "Saved By Love" AU. It will make more sense if you have read at least a little of the original story. I gift this to maxandkiz, the one whose writing first inspired me to try it. Now it is YOUR turn to write a chapter woman!

"Daddy, what is Christmas? All of the others in my class keep talking about how it is almost Christmas, and they are so excited. I asked the professor, and she recommended that I speak with you about it. When I asked Jack, he seemed shocked that I did not know, then also said I should ask you." The small boy spoke earnestly, with a quizzical expression in his hazel eyes, as he pushed a lock of his longish golden brown hair behind one ear and adjusted his round wire spectacles.

"Well, Spencer, come sit here on the couch with me, and we'll talk about it," responded Aaron, managing to keep his tone even and calm, despite the pang to his heart upon realizing that his newly adopted son had been deprived of yet another joy of childhood. Surely, before he had been taken when he was three his parents had celebrated Christmas with him? No-with his amazing memory the boy would surely remember if they had. He decided to ask anyway. "Did your Mom ever say anything to you about Christmas, you know, before…"

"Yes. She said Christmas was an over-commercialized farce and we were not going to participate in it. But she never said WHAT it was." Spencer replied, settling on the couch next to Aaron, snuggling into his side.

"I'm afraid it isn't a quick and easy answer Buddy, but I'll do my best. You know who God is, right?" after seeing the child nod in the affirmative, Hotch continued his story. "Ok, so you know God made everything, even people, and that is why we thank Him for things, and call Him Heavenly Father?" Another nod. "So, God loved the people he made, and gave them a beautiful Garden to live in…"

"But then Eve broke the one rule God made to not eat the fruit of the tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, and got Adam to eat it also. Then God was mad and they had to leave the garden. I know, I read the bible before talking to you so that I would understand what you were telling me." Spencer interrupted.

"You read the entire bible?! Some of it can be hard to understand. What did you think about it?" queried the shocked father.

"The 'Old Testament' seems to primarily consist of history and genealogy of certain families. There were some stories that seem a bit improbable, and I hoped that we could discuss those at a later date. As to the 'New Testament', the first four 'gospels' seem to basically talk about the same events surrounding the life of Jesus, and the rest was about the people who followed the teachings of Jesus. Except for the last part-Revelations was quite frightening and disturbing. I find it obvious that much was intended to be symbolical." The child responded, "I did not like that part at all."

"Yes, I agree-it is very disturbing. The important part, though, is about the life of Jesus. He was Jesus Christ. Christmas is the celebration of His birth in Bethlehem when Joseph took Mary with him to register in the census. And-"explained Hotch, before he was interrupted.

"But, the book said that Mary was pregnant, but she and Joseph were engaged to be married. This is improbable, because Jewish law at the time was very strict about sexual relations outside of marriage. And it also stated that she was a virgin. Sexual reproduction requires sexual intercourse. She would not have been a virgin anymore…" the boy blurted out, looking confused, and somewhat distraught.

"Why does that upset you so much sweetheart?" the concerned father asked, as Spencer looked to be near tears.

"Because I am no longer a virgin, but Aunt Penelope said that it does not count because I didn't want to. Does that mean that Mary" the child choked out.

"Oh no, no honey! Nothing like that. You see, God chose her to carry His Son Jesus because she was a good person, and pure of spirit. He put Jesus inside of her womb without her needing to do anything. God knew that Joseph was a good man and that he would understand that God had chosen her and that he would love and protect her and the child." Aaron explained.

"So, are you saying that Joseph adopted Jesus, like you adopted me?" Spencer queried.

"Yes, in a way, that is true. He raised Jesus like his own son, and until Jesus knew that it was time to go and teach people he worked as a carpenter, just like Joseph was.

"So, what does this have to do with something that is over-commercialized, and makes children excited and happy? I still do not understand Daddy." the boy sighed in frustration.

"Yes, your Mom was correct in saying that the Christmas holiday has become very commercial, but it has not always been like that. The original concept of the holiday was to celebrate that God sent his Son to live amongst us and teach us how to live. We give gifts to each other to symbolize the gifts the three wise men from the East brought to give Jesus. Unfortunately, over the years, the gift giving has become the primary focus of Christmas, rather than the joy of celebrating the birth of Jesus." the father carefully explained. "That's why children are excited about the holiday-because they get presents, and there is usually candy and cookies and special foods served."

"Cookies?" the boy queried eagerly.