A Perfect Kind of Christmas
Chapter 10

A/N - Thank you so much for all your support throughout this fic, your thoughts really mean so much to me. I have another Morcia fic read and waiting which will be uploaded very soon so keep an eye out but until then thank you again!

There was a certain magic that filled the air on December 25th, every year it builds and builds for weeks as it draws closer and closer and then it enters the heart of every person and fills their day with joy and love.

This magic was felt as Penelope Garcia blinked open her eyes on Christmas morning 2013, initially she smiled at the clarity and realism of the dream she had had the night before. The confession of love, the kissing and even the sex was the most realistic she had ever dreamt before, it made it all the harder to get up and face the reality of her relationship with Derek Morgan.

Her vision still blurry she went to roll over to get her glasses but something was blocking her way, "ow!"

Penelope sat up right and squinted to her side and saw the blurry outline of what looked like the bare torso of Derek Morgan lying beside her. She frowned in confusion as lazily he handed her glasses over, "well that's one hell of a wake up call, do you plan on making that a daily thing?" he smiled rubbing his chest where she had hit him.

As her world became clear she saw that her dream was unfolding around her and suddenly realised that she hadn't been dreaming at all, "last night actually happened?" she asked quietly.

Morgan grinned and wrapped his arm around her shoulder, "uh huh and I wouldn't change a moment of it" he placed his index finger under her chin and tilted it upwards, "Merry Christmas Baby Girl" he sang before kissing her softly on the lips.

Garcia's head was still reeling and to add to her confusion it was Christmas Day. Although there were many practicalities she wished to discuss with Morgan, now was not the time, all she wanted was to enjoy every second of this Christmas.

"Merry Christmas to you to sugar" she grinned returning the kiss.

He gently stroked a strand of blonde hair out of her face and sighed, "I reckon I must've been really really good this year because Santa gave me exactly what I asked for"

Penelope bit her lip and shrugged, "or you could have just bribed him, that's what I did" she added with a smile.

Morgan raised his eyebrows, "is that so?"

"You didn't think those cookies were for your benefit did you? One year, when I was twelve, I made cookies on Christmas Eve, this was the year I had doubts about Santa's existence, it was a sad time in my childhood. Anyway, I had asked for these brand new pink sparkly shoes with a little heel because obviously I was entering my teenage years and I wanted to feel grown up, my Mom had so no over and over again saying I was too young for them so I wasn't expecting them at all but still I wrote a note to Santa next to the cookies for the shoes. Christmas morning there was a special box right under the tree which had my shoes in them and I learnt then that Santa could be bribed"

He laughed and shook his head, "only you Penelope Garcia could bribe Santa Claus, because he knows that if he upsets you then you are the only person in the world who could track him down"

She beamed up at him, "you've got that right"

Morgan glanced at his watched and realised that the morning was dragging on, "shall we go downstairs and see what else Santa has brought before we start cooking dinner?"

Garcia frowned once more, "Derek I wasn't expecting any presents" she explained worriedly as she had only got him the stocking that she had knitted him the previous evening because they had decided years ago not to exchange gifts.

"Santa always brings presents to everyone on the nice list and you are the nicest person in the world so you will get a present" Morgan explained pulling on a clean pair of black jeans and the Christmas jumper she had forced him to get when they went Christmas shopping with a large, jolly cartoon Santa face on the front. Penelope quickly followed suit taking slightly longer to get dressed but soon after changing into her most special Christmas jumper as it was her Mom's and was hand-knitted by her Grandma she skipped downstairs.

Penelope glanced under the tree and saw that it was bare, she walked into the kitchen and saw Morgan had his red apron on and was already well on his way to prepare a rather large turkey.

She giggled and folded her arms across her chest, "Morgan baby, I'm a vegetarian surely you don't need such a big bird all to yourself!"

He turned around, "you know how much I eat" he grinned wiping his hands on his apron and glanced at his watch again, "right we will do presents very soon just stay in the kitchen please and if you could start prepping some of the vegetables that would be great" he said hastily dashing out of the door.

"But Derek-" she began but he had already left, Garcia knew he was up to something but she couldn't put her finger on what it was yet, little did he know of the plan she had of her own.

Whilst she washed, peeled and chopped what seemed like endless amounts of potatoes and carrots Garcia watched the time tick by until it was almost twelve o'clock with only the cheery playlist of Christmas songs in the background to distract her. When she used to have Christmas with Kevin although it was nice she had to admit that they always ate rather early because they didn't have anything else to do. Penelope shook away the boring Christmas' that she had endured with the man that was not right for her and had to keep reminding herself that this year it was being spent with the one she loved and the one who loved her.

When Morgan returned he had a large grin on his face, "sorry about that beautiful" he sang wrapping his arms around her waist, "it's time for your present now" and from behind his back he pulled out the exquisitely wrapped gift that Penelope had assumed was for Savannah.

"Oh!" she exclaimed carefully pulling the red ribbon off and lifting the lid off the box, inside was a smaller deep purple velvet box, she held it in her hands and opened it slowly. She gave a small gasp as it sitting within the soft lilac bedding sat an oval, silver locket with tiny flowers over the front, turning it over she saw that the words 'A Perfect Kind of Christmas' were inscribed on the back. Penelope assumed that it was referring to the Christmas that they were having at the moment but once she opened the locket there was her favourite black and white photo of her and her Mom on the beach in California when she was only young. Tears ran down her face as she realised that Morgan had done this for her after hearing the story of her perfect kind of Christmas with her mother when she was five years old.

"I know how much you miss your parents, especially your Mom and after the story you told me about your first Christmas I wanted to give you something that meant you could physically keep her with you all the time. You're also lucky I have a friend who does engraving at short notice" he added with a smile.

"It is absolutely beautiful Derek, thank you" she cried softly throwing her arms around his neck.

"It's alright" he said running his fingers down her back, "here, let me put it on you" he brushed her hair to one side as he hooked the locket around the back of her neck, she turned to face him, it was the perfect length, "stunning" he smiled, "that's not all your present though, close your eyes"

Morgan placed his hands over her eyes and began to lead her out of the kitchen, "no Derek this isn't funny, the locket was already too much, please no more"

"You'll thank me for this, I have got exactly what you wanted" he said as they came to a stop, "ok, Penelope Garcia, this is your Christmas"

Penelope gasped as Morgan removed his hands and revealed that his dining room was filled with people, sitting around his table was J.J., Will, Henry, Mrs Jareau, Hotch, Jack and Rossi, "oh my goodness what you are you guys doing here?" she exclaimed rushing over to hug her best friend.

"When Morgan told us that you were going to be alone on Christmas then the only thing to do was to come and join you! I can't believe you didn't tell us Garcia, we're your family" J.J. cried.

She shrugged, "thank you all so much, it means more than I can say" she said genuinely taking Morgan's hand.

Rossi raised his eyebrows at Hotch knowingly, "Reid couldn't leave his Mom in Las Vegas and Blake is in Boston with James otherwise they would have been here too"

"Shouldn't you be hosting your family Rossi?" Penelope asked.

He tell his hands up, "when I learnt how many of them wanted to come I had to call the whole thing off, it was a bad idea to begin with"

Everyone soon filtered off into the kitchen to lend a hand with the dinner, by mid-afternoon the turkey was cooked to perfection as were the vegetables. Once the table was laid and everyone was sat comfortably around it Morgan stood up and raised his glass, "I would like to say a few words to thank everyone for coming today and for helping with all this delicious food, to Penelope for being the best Christmas present I could ever ask for and to the family and friends who couldn't be here with us today"

All other glasses were raised when there was a knock at the door, Morgan frowned and placed his glass on the table and went to answer the door. His mouth fell open in complete shock as he pulled the door open, "Merry Christmas Baby!" there in the doorway stood his Momma, two sisters and a tall man who he could only guess was Sarah's new boyfriend Lawrence.

"Momma! What are you doing here?" he cried pulling her into a tight embrace.

She sighed, "you didn't think I was going to spend Christmas without my boy, did you? Anyway Penelope invited us" she explained taking her coat off, "oh it is freezing outside, we were lucky to get a flight with the storm yesterday! Mm I smell turkey, this is Lawrence by the way Derek, Sarah's boyfriend" Morgan gave him a courteous nod after greeting both of his sisters with large hugs.

Morgan followed them into the dining room and whilst they were greeting the rest of the table he crouched down beside Garcia's chair, "you did this?" he whispered.

"I know you Derek Morgan and I know how excited you get to go home to see your family so as I was the one keeping you here I thought it was only right that I invite them for Christmas, and besides it finally gives me a chance to meet Momma Morgan" she smiled.

He grinned at her and stood up, "Mom" he called, "come here, I want you to meet the love of my life, Penelope Garcia"

Garcia's cheeks went a violent shade of red which matched the Christmas table cloth as the BAU team cheered loudly, it was obviously that they had been waiting for this day for a long time. Fran Morgan beamed as she walked across the room, "Penelope dear you don't know how long I've waited to meet you and for him to finally see what I've always known, that you have always been the only one for him" she smiled hugging her tightly.

Fran then preceded on taking the chair on the other side of Garcia at the table as more chairs were brought in for the Morgan. It was finally time to eat, complete with various coloured Christmas cracker paper hats on everyone's heads. As Fran chatted rapidly into her ear Penelope looked around the table, it was the Christmas she had always wanted since her parents died, to have a large Christmas with the people she loved.

She turned to Morgan and squeezed his hand under the table, "thank you, for everything" she whispered.

He looked at the scene too and kissed her hand softly, "and here's to many more like this"