I don't own Criminal Minds

This is for the-vampire-acts writing contest 2010 with the holiday theme.

Just to say, no matter what the producers do on the show, I will keep JJ and Prentiss in my stories.

Enjoy

The winter winds blow and the silent snow falls onto the sidewalk. Spencer Reid was walking down the ice-covered concrete. He zips his coat up a bit more to shield himself from the bitter cold. He shivers and adjusts his purple scarf. It was mid-morning and despite the cold and snow, work needed to be done at the office.

He looked up and saw the snow fall down like rain.

Like blood…

Spencer sighed and walked into the BAU building. He smiled when he felt the warm air hit his face. Got to love the invention of heating systems. He walked up to the office and noticed that Rossi and Hotch were in the bullpen, discussing about something that he couldn't hear. As he sat down at his desk he caught some of the words.

"…Jack and I are going to visit Jessica and some of my relatives for the holidays…"

"Wonderful…I'm going to huge family reunion for this year. We'll have more food than an army…"

They laughed but didn't seem to notice Spencer yet.

Spencer gave a sad sigh…it was Christmas…again.

Spencer used to like the holidays but after…well that day, Spencer stopped celebrating it. He knows that it has been years since that day but he couldn't help the sorrow and sadness he felt during the winter season. The cold was a great comparison to his heart during the winter months.

He began to work on a report when Hotch and Rossi saw him and walked over to his desk.

"Good morning Reid" said Rossi, he seemed to be in quite a good mood.

"Morning Rossi" Spencer said politely as usual.

Please don't ask about Christmas.

"What are you doing for the Christmas vacation?"

Dammit

"Oh uh…well…I'm going to go to visit my mom for a few days then come home to relax for the remainder…"

"Sounds nice" said Hotch, but he didn't sound…convinced for some reason. As if he knew Spencer was lying.

In all honesty, Spencer's mom Diana hated Christmas as much as he did. For the same reasons. They visit on Thanksgiving but never Christmas. To them they just avoid it and wait for the end of New Years day.

Rossi smiled and patted his back, "It will be nice to see your mom."

Spencer nodded quickly and got back to work.

#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#

After a while, the others came into the office and began working as well. Since it was the last day of work before vacation, they had to get all of the paperwork completed. Which would take all day considering the mass piles of papers they had. Spencer was working quickly and quietly as they laughed and talked about Christmas.

Finally Morgan turned to Spencer.

Here it comes…

"You got plans for Christmas Reid" asked Morgan.

"…I'm going to visit my mom, that's about it."

Morgan's eyebrows rose, "That's nice but don't you have other family members you want to visit. Aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents?"

Spencer looked up from his work and sighed, "I have to use the bathroom, excuse me."

Spencer went out the office doors and down the hall. Morgan watched him go, "What was that all about" he wondered.

Spencer splashed some water on his faced and patted it dry with a paper towel.

Yes he had a…unique family. They used to be close at one point…before what happened one Christmas that it. Since then the family has been at a standstill. There was so much that his team didn't know about his family. He wondered if it was worth trying to tell them what happened. But he really didn't want to in the least. He was already weird in their eyes…why make it worse.

Spencer stepped out of the restroom and walked back into the office. He noticed that his teammates were staring at him.

Now they will want an explanation.

They watched him sit down and continue to work. "Reid" said Prentiss gently. Spencer sighed and looked up at her.

"Are you ok?"

Spencer nodded, "Yes, I just want to get this work done."

Of course they wouldn't buy it but Spencer didn't say another word. Morgan decided that if Reid wouldn't talk, he would get Garcia to help him.

#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$$#$#$#

In Garcia's office, Morgan and her looked up Spencer's relatives. When they say the list they were in shock.

"Wow, Reid has quite an extensive family, let's see here…oh my."

"What is it baby-girl?"

"Reid's family is super rich; they own an estate that would rival any Bill Gates. The manor is in Germany, were most of Spencer's family lives anyway. As of right now, only Reid and his parents live in the United States. At least alive relatives do, he had an uncle move to the U.S. a while back."

Morgan was puzzled, why would Spencer not want to visit his family in Germany. Did something happen or was he just not close to them?

Morgan and Garcia went out of the room and into the bullpen.

"Reid…why don't you visit your family in Germany" asked Garcia when walked up to Spencer's desk. Spencer head shot up and his eyes were wide.

"How did you…"

"Reid we can easily look up your family with a click of a mouse" said Garcia with a smile. Spencer looked back down at his papers.

"My family…isn't that close…"

"Why not?"

Spencer turned and saw Hotch and Rossi standing behind him.

Great…boxed in with no escape….

"Look I rather not talk about it…."

"Reid you should hang out with your relatives. You and your mom would have fun in Germany. Why pass that up" said JJ.

"Guys please…I rather not…"

"Come on man, live a little. You'll be with great family and have food, games and laughs…."

Images from that day flooded Spencer mind again, he couldn't go through this again.

"I SAID DROP IT" Spencer shouted.

The others stepped back in shock. Spencer took a deep breath and sighed, "Please…just leave me alone…"

They silently went back to work but still kept thinking about Spencer's outburst.

PLEASE REVIEW