Penelope stood to the side of the dance floor watching everyone and sighed slightly. They all looked so happy and so content, just the way they should look.
"Hey Mama," she heard him say. She must be off her game tonight she hadn't even realized Derek had walked up beside her.
"Hey Handsome," she replied back.
"Now why would you be standing over here instead of out on the dance floor with everyone else?"
"Oh, I just needed to catch my breath for a sec…"
"The truth, Baby Girl. I know you and you could dance all night long. Besides I see the look on your face, that pretty little mind of yours is thinking about something."
"Have I told you before that I hate profilers? Fine, if you must know, I was standing here watching my happy family and wishing I could just freeze time. This is one of those near perfect moments when we are all together and everyone is happy and healthy.
I think about yesterday and watching Will get shot and JJ having to fight for Henry and I can't get the images out of my mind. Those moments seem to last and go on forever, while moments like tonight come and go in a flash.
So if I could just push the pause button and keep everyone here like this we could be happy forever."
"I get what you're saying Sweetheart, this is one of those perfect evenings. We could freeze things, make everyone stay here in this nice safe bubble. We would never have to face another painful or scary day again. No more people getting shot, no one leaving the team, no more sick child molesters or serial killers. But if we do that we won't experience anymore good moments either. There may just be one or two even better than this one out there still waiting to be lived."
Penelope stood watching everyone, digesting everything he had just said.
"When did you get to be so smart?" she asked him.
"Well, it appears the kid is starting to rub off on me after all this time."
They both laughed at that and stood side by side watching their loved ones around them and treasuring this time for as long as they could.
"Penelope."
She turned at her real name and looked at him. "Yes, Derek?"
Now that he had her full attention he bent down to kiss her. She knew what was coming had experienced this numerous times in the past. She lowered her head a little and closed her eyes waiting for the kiss on the top of her head, or cheek or nose. However, this time he surprised her by lifting her chin with his finger and ever so tenderly brushing her lips with his own. Her eyes flew open and she looked straight into his.
"To future moments Baby Girl."