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Spencer wasn't really planning on going to the BAU Christmas party, but, well, Penelope had threatened to practically drag him over hers, so here he is.
(Derek's comment about missing him hadn't hurt any, either, if he's honest.)
He loves Christmas - it's his favorite after Halloween, and he laughs at the fact that two of his favorite festivals actually stem from old Pagan rites - so naturally he's grabbed one of his many, many Christmas sweaters from the back of his wardrobe.
He can hear the music already when he approaches the door, but somehow even though it's turned almost all the way up, Penelope is at the door by the second rap of his knuckles.
“Boy Wonder! You came!!” He's quickly wrapped up in a hug that he happily returns, before showing her the bottle of wine he picked up on his way. “Oh this is gonna go great in the punch bowl!” She grabs his hand and pulls him into the living room, without even giving him a chance to drop his bag in the hallway. “Look who made it!”
A small cheer goes up across the room - he can tell that Emily and JJ have already imbibed a little, just from the way JJ is sitting in her lap without a single care in the world, her blonde hair brushing against Emily's shoulder as she runs her thumb across the back of her hand - and Hotch and Rossi raise their drinks in acknowledgement before Derek walks up to him.
He's wearing a deep red shirt that brings out the flecks of bronze in his eyes, and Spencer's mouth goes dry.
This was a bad idea.
Then Derek throws an arm over his shoulder. “Hey, pretty boy, glad you could make it.”
He coughs. “Uh, yeah. Me too.” Derek's shirt is open almost dangerously low, and he can practically see the edge of his chest tattoo.
His heart stutters for a moment.
“What can I get you to drink?”
“Uh, just a Coke.”
“A Coke? Not spiked?”
“Nah, I'm good.” He doesn't drink much anyway anymore, and alcohol plus the way Derek looks tonight… that could make for a dangerous combination.
“Whatever you say, man.” Derek walks over to the kitchen island and grabs him a red solo cup - he didn't even know they still made those anymore, and a couple of late college experiences float to the surface of his mind, all of them bad ideas of Ethan's - and then brings him one over. “Here you go - one virgin Coke.”
Derek's warm fingers brush against his, and it's like a current runs through him. “Th-thanks.”
He finds a spot on the couch, intending to sit and watch until Penelope comes over and asks him about the latest series of Doctor Who, but instead Derek sits next to him, flinging an arm along the back of the cushion. “You good, man? You seem a little…distracted.”
“Yeah, I'm fine. You know me, just not good with crowds.”
“Crowd? It's only the team here, and Emily's got her tongue too far down JJ’s throat to count.”
“Hey!”
“You know he's not wrong, honey.”
“Jayje, c’mon, you're supposed to be on my team!”
Spencer snorts, and it makes Derek smile in that way that makes Spencer feel like he's being bathed in sunlight. “There we go.”
Then Penelope reappears, her hands behind her back. “I've got a surprise!!”
When she reveals what she's hiding, his stomach leaps into his chest.
Because Penelope is holding mistletoe.
Everyone groans.
“Seriously, baby girl? You know you only need to ask.” He winks, and she laughs.
“Oh I know, my darling, but it's all just a bit of fun.”
She walks around the room, first hovering over Emily and JJ, who happily comply with the tradition, and then over herself, Rossi, and Hotch, who kiss her on the cheek and make her blush.
Then, she hovers it over Spencer and Derek, and Derek responds by pulling him in and kissing him on the head.
It's nice, even if it's not what he really wants.
*
As the night draws to an end, Spencer having enjoyed himself far more than he thought it would - turns out he's actually not terrible at Dance Dance Revolution - he leaves at the same time as Derek, who offers him a ride home, Penelope put to bed after a few too many cups of punch.
On the way to the car, Derek looking up to the sky and Spencer watching where he's putting his feet on the icy sidewalk, Derek laughs. “Well, would you look at that.”
Spencer follows his gaze up, and they're under a tree, covered in balls of mistletoe.
“You know, viscum album, the European mistletoe, is only very rarely found in the United States. It's an introduced species.”
“Well it must be our lucky day.”
Derek's suddenly standing in front of him, hands pressing against the lapels of his coat and toying with the ends of his scarf.
When Spencer meets his eyes, there's nothing in them except for hope and sheer, unbridled want.
So Spencer leans in, closing his eyes and pressing his lips to Derek's and hoping desperately that he's not missed an important social cue.
Thankfully, Derek's arms move from his chest to wrap around his waist and pull him tighter, enough that Spencer can feel the warmth radiating off of Derek even through four layers of fabric, and he makes a noise he refuses to call a whimper as Derek slides his tongue against his lips.
When Derek pulls back, he smirks at the expression of Spencer's face, whatever it may be. “Whatcha thinking, pretty boy?”
“I'm thinking that I might like this Christmas tradition. And that I’d really like to do that again very, very soon.”
“Your wish is my command, baby.” Derek leans in again, and Spencer is all too happy to comply.
He thinks Christmas might have just become his favorite holiday, after all.