Merry, Merry, Merry Christmas

Penelope Garcia shoved off of her desk and twirled around in her executive office chair. The room that served as her home away from home was decorated with lights and tinsel in an attempt to brighten the dark and windowless cube. She stopped spinning and focused on her friend Emily Prentiss who was currently doodling on a piece of scrap paper.

"I wish JJ were here," Garcia cried.

Emily looked up and smiled sadly. "Me too! But at least she has Henry and Will, while you and I are manless and alone except for each other."

"We need to do something about that," Garcia announced. "Do you have anyone in particular in mind that you would like to be with?"

"Well there is that new agent in the sex crimes unit," Emily said wistfully.

"Nobody a little closer to home," Garcia teased.

"I know what you are thinking but he has never shown any interest in me as anything other than his friend and co-worker." Emily sighed. "Besides, he's my boss!"

"What about Super Sexy Agent Rossi?" Garcia asked.

"Oh please," Emily replied as she rolled her eyes. "If he was interested I'm certain he would have done something about it by now. Everyone knows the man is not shy."

"As far as I can tell he's never shown any interest in anyone here since his return," Garcia mused. "It makes me wonder if all the rumors were actually true."

"There has to be some truth to the rumors," Emily said. "I mean look at him the man is freaking gorgeous and he knows it. I've seen him flirt with a few women in the field but I don't think he has even followed up on those temptations."

"Maybe he has his eye on someone," Garcia pondered. "Maybe he's harboring a secret crush on you."

Emily laughed loudly. "Maybe he has a secret crush on you!"

"No need to be nasty," Garcia countered. "You know my heart is taken."

"By the man who flirts and then dates other women!"

"Maybe he needs a little motivation. I have just the thing." Garcia reached over and opened the bottom drawer of her desk. She pulled out a red Santa hat and slipped it on her head.

"How is that going to help?" Emily asked.

Garcia reached up and flipped the top of the hat over her head so that the end that was a fluff ball was on her forehead, only there wasn't a fluff ball instead there was a piece of fake mistletoe. "Ta-da! Instant kiss maker! Wear this baby and get a kiss from anyone you want."

"Are you kidding me?" Emily asked her eyes wide taking in the sight. "That is the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen. Give it to me."

Garcia removed the hat and handed it to Emily and watched in glee as her normally staid friend plunked the hat on her head.

"Do you think this will really work?" Emily asked conspiratorially. She adjusted the hat to sit at an angle on her head.

"There's only one way to find out," Garcia challenged. "Go get him and while you're at it steal a few kisses from the rest of them too."

Emily sits for a moment pondering the situation. "Alright, I'll do it but you have to do it too," she stated firmly. "No cheating, we both have to get a kiss from all four of the guys."

Garcia's eyes widened in fear. "You want me to get a kiss from Rossi and Hotch?" she squeaked. "Derek I can do no problem, as well as the boy wonder but Rossi and Hotch!"

Emily nodded her head and held out her hand. "Deal?"

Garcia looked at the proffered appendage for a moment before reaching out to grasp it. "Deal," She gulped.

Emily got up and purposely walked out of the room. Garcia pulled herself up to her desk and quickly brought up the cameras to the bullpen. She couldn't see into the boss's offices but she could watch the action in the bullpen. She watched as Emily approached Derek and Spencer saw them laugh a little before relenting and giving Emily a quick kiss.

"Good boy Derek," Garcia muttered. Emily then made her way up the ramp to the offices. Garcia switched to another camera angle that would show the office doors but she wouldn't be able to see inside. Emily was in Hotch's office for several minutes before she finally emerged with a smile on her lips. "That must have gone well."

The dark haired beauty then entered David Rossi's office and Garcia held her breath. A few seconds later, Emily ducked out of Dave's office and hurriedly made her way back towards Garcia's lair.

"Well," Garcia prompted as Emily stepped through the door.

"Mission accomplished," Emily replied hastily as she tugged the hat off and tossed it on the desk. "Your turn."

"How was it? Were there fireworks?" Garcia pressed.

"It was good," Emily relied vaguely. "No fireworks or confessions of love."

"I'm sorry," Garcia replied sympathetically.

"It's ok," Emily said quietly. "It's better that I don't get involved in an office romance anyway."

"Still…"

Emily cut her off. "Really, I'm ok with it. Now put the damn hat on and get out there. I think Derek and Spencer were getting ready to leave."

"Not before I get a kiss from my chocolate gumdrop," Garcia announced as she stuffed the hat on her head and rushed out of the office. She hurried into the bullpen and saw that Derek and Spencer were at the elevator.

"Don't you dare leave," she yelled across the room. Both men turned to look at her.

"Hurry up, BabyGirl," Derek teased with a grin.

She shuffled hastily across the bullpen and stopped in front of them slightly out of breath. "You are not leaving until I get a Christmas kiss from you."

"Absolutely," Derek stated as he leaned over and pressed his mouth to hers. Garcia closed her eyes and leaned into the kiss. It lasted a few seconds and was over as quickly as it started. She blinked and waited for the fireworks, however, they never arrived. Disappointed, she turned to Spencer.

She pasted a smile on her face. "Come on Junior G-man."

"I… well… I don't," he stammered.

"It's ok, it's just a friend kiss," she said gently.

"Ok," he conceded. He leaned over and pressed a slightly wet, slightly off-center kiss on her lips.

She smiled. "Merry Christmas, babies!"

"Merry Christmas," they stated in unison as their elevator arrived.

"You leaving soon, BabyGirl?" Derek asked.

"Yeah."

"You want me to wait for you?" he asked.

"No," she replied quickly. "Emily and I are heading out together."

"Ok," he nodded as he stepped into the elevator. "Be careful."

"I will. Goodnight."

She watched as the elevator closed cutting off her sight of the two men then gently wiped her mouth. She loved both of them but they were definitely lousy kissers. She had hoped this would spark something between her and Derek but realized that they weren't at that point in their relationship yet.

With a small sigh, she turned and looked at Hotch's door. His light was still on so she knew he hadn't left yet. She ascended the ramp and gently tapped on the door then stepped inside.

He looked at her and sighed. "Not you too!"

She grinned at him. "Don't be a Grinch."

"Yes dear. Come here." He stood up and stepped around his desk meeting her halfway. He gave her a quick kiss and a hug. "Thank you Garcia, you are a bright spot in my life."

"You're welcome," she replied a slight flush adorning her cheeks.

She apprehensively walked over to David's office. "Did Emily really kiss David Rossi?" she wondered to herself. Maybe she could pretend. No! Emily was a profiler she could see through a lie. Darn it! She wouldn't admit it to anyone but there was something about the older profiler that made her hesitate.

David Rossi was a good man, she could see that through the things he said and did and the stories she had heard from JJ and promised never to repeat to anyone. Like the time he paid for a funeral for a girl he barely knew. Or the time he sent the little girl a check for her first communion. Not to mention all the times he has stepped up for the team, herself included. When she paused to think about him, she realized that maybe she had a little crush on the man. That didn't make approaching him any easier but it did give her a new perspective.

She was going to have to approach the bull by the horns and just go for it. She tapped on Dave's door and waited for permission to enter. She twisted the knob and opened the door.

"I was wondering if you were going to hover out there all night," Dave stated without looking up from the file he was working on.

"How did you know I was out there," she asked knowing that the door and the blinds were closed.

"I could smell your perfume," he replied.

"It's that strong," she said horrified as she took a step backwards.

"No," Dave replied with a laugh and finally looking up at her. "It's that memorable."

"In a good way I hope," she probed.

"Definitely," he replied as he stood up and walked around the desk to lean on the front side. "I see you now have the hat."

Garcia reached up and adjusted the furry bonnet flipping the mistletoe onto her forehead.

"How many kisses have you stolen with that thing?" he inquired.

"Not nearly enough," she teased. "I'm still searching for the perfect Christmas kiss."

His right eyebrow rose. "There's a perfect Christmas kiss," he asked amused.

"Uh-huh. It's the kiss that tells you, you found the right Santa – baby!"

"And you're still searching?"

"And you're stalling," she glared at him. "Come on Rossi, shut up and kiss me!"

Dave grinned slyly not moving from the desk. "You want a kiss? You come over here," he replied in a whisper.

Garcia felt a shiver crawl up her spine, her mouth went dry and suddenly there was a rabble of butterflies in her stomach. Dragging her cement laden feet she moved closer to where Dave was perched on the edge of the desk. The room was lit by the small lamp sitting on the corner of the desk and she suddenly realized how romantic it looked in there.

She stopped a foot away from him. Dave reached out and gently grabbed her left arm pulling her closer until she was standing between his legs. He rubbed his hand softly down her arm simultaneously soothing her and driving her mad. She never realized how gentle his touch could be. He put his left hand on her shoulder his finger tips caressing the side of her neck.

"You're looking for the perfect Christmas kiss," he repeated softly.

She nodded in ascent.

"I don't know if it will be perfect but I will definitely give you a kiss to remember."

He gently tugged her closer until she was slightly off balance. She placed her hands on his chest to steady herself and felt her knees go weak. Dave leaned in and brushed his lips against hers. She shuddered at the contrast between his soft lips and the slight bristliness of his whiskers.

A second pass and he deftly grabbed her lower lip with both of his. He nipped at her mouth before smoothly running his tongue over her lips. Garcia couldn't stop the moan that rumbled from the depths of her soul. Her hands slid of their own accord up to his shoulders and around his neck as he slid his tongue inside her mouth. A shiver ran through her body as he explored and teased. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer. She was warmed by the heat from his body and completely lost in the soul-sucking fervor of his kiss.

After what seemed like forever Dave removed his mouth from hers. She sucked in a lungful of air and gazed at him hopefully. "Do that again," she pleaded.

Dave chuckled. "Little girl, if I do that again we're going to break the non-fraternization policy right here on my floor."

"That would be a bad thing," she stated rather than asked.

"Only if we got caught," he pointed out. "Hotch is next door and I have a feeling Emily is still around here somewhere too."

"Emily?" she repeated guiltily. "Oh yeah, she's in my office waiting for me."

Dave released her and gently moved her away from himself. "Then she would definitely come looking for you."

"You're right," Garcia acknowledged sadly already missing his warmth. "I better go. Merry Christmas Agent Awesome."

"Merry Christmas kitten," he said softly.

She walked out of his office and back to her own, quietly she slipped inside.

"It's about time," Emily quipped. "I was about to send out a search party!"

Garcia smiled and moved towards her desk as Emily whistled at her. "That is some beard burn you got there, who's that from? Morgan?" Emily teased.

Garcia reached up and touched her face it was warm and felt a little scuffed up. She looked at Emily and blinked. "Emily! You're not going to believe this; I just got a mouthful of David Rossi's tongue!"

"Rossi!" Emily repeated. "Seriously?"

Garcia nodded. "Oh My …. It was amazing! Abso-freakin amazing!"

"He kissed you," Emily stated firmly. "On the mouth? With his tongue?"

"Uh-huh," Garcia breathed.

"Bastard! He gave me a peck on the cheek," she huffed. "Said something about the fraternization policy and whoosh just a peck on the cheek!"

Garcia giggled as she attempted to control herself. "I'm sorry."

Emily frowned as she looked at her friend. "You are completely giddy!"

"I am," Garcia agreed. "I got kissed by David Rossi!" And she giggled again.

Emily smiled. "Be careful girl. Don't go getting your heart broke."

"It was just a kiss," Garcia reminded her. She spun around twice on her chair before rattling off again to her friend. "I know he has a bad reputation but I just can't help myself. Oh gosh, Emily! I'm seeing fireworks and everything. I thought I was going to see them with Derek but that was a rather big disappointment and oh my gosh I can't stop thinking about that kiss!"

"Me either," Emily replied blandly.

"I'm so sorry," Garcia apologized again. "I don't mean to upset you."

"I'm not upset," she sighed. "He better do you right."

"Em! It was a kiss, it's not like he proposed," Garcia admonished.

"Damn straight! He better buy you flowers and dinner before that comes along," Emily warned.

Garcia laughed. "Seriously, I don't think he's that interested. He said something about giving me a kiss to remember there were no professions of love for me either."

"Still, I think he likes you."

"Now you're just teasing me," Garcia pouted.

"A little," Emily admitted. "But, hey, would it be a bad thing if you were the one he liked? Maybe Derek would finally get a clue and make a move. Then you could have two hunky agents chasing after you."

"Ugh! Like I said, the kiss with Derek was a little disappointing. I don't know if it was from a lack of interest or what but… I'm not sure I want a repeat of that performance."

Emily snorted. "And after the kiss from Rossi why would you want less."

Garcia nodded. "Now that I've had that kind of experience I could never settle for anything less."

The phone rang interrupting their conversation. Garcia reached over and punched the button answering the call through the speaker. "Penelope Garcia's den of unrequited love, how may I make you happy?"

There was a moment of silence before David stated thoughtfully, "I don't know how to answer that."

Emily and Garcia looked at each in shock then both tried not to laugh. "Well… you could start by telling me why you called," Garcia suggested.

"Are you going home soon?" David asked. "I was thinking about getting something to eat and thought that maybe you could join me, if you're free."

Garcia looked at Emily again. "What should I do?" she whispered.

"Say yes!" Emily whispered back.

"Penelope? Are you still there?" David asked.

"I'm here," she answered. She hesitated still staring at Emily who was waving her hands and mouthing the word "GO!" at her. "I'd love to go with you."

"Ok," he replied softly. "I'll meet you in the bullpen in a few minutes."

"Ok," she whispered as she hung up the phone.

"I told you," Emily gloated. "The big Italian hunk of burnin love has got a thing for you!"

TBC?