When Two Become One
Chapter Three
A/N - Thank you again for your continued support, please keep reviewing, favouriting, following etc etc...
Saturday 5.58pm - Still 6 days to go...
It was the warmth and cosiness of Garcia's apartment that caused her friends to collapse onto the couch, tired after their day of shopping. The room was soon filled with the appetising smell of Chinese food causing their stomachs to grumble furiously as they opened the cartons that they had purchased on their way back. Penelope, after hanging up the dresses safely in the wardrobe trudged back through into the living room, sinking into the furniture beside her friends.
"Garcia?" Emily sang sweetly "is that invitation of your bar still open?"
Penelope raised her eyebrows at her friend before standing up once more "why of course my love, Jayje you want some too?"
J.J. smiled "I shouldn't but one glass won't hurt!"
Within minutes there was a buzzing that came from door, indicating someone wanted to be let into the apartment.
"Em you're closest, get the door it'll be Hotch and the boys" Garcia called from the kitchen. As she brought through a bottle of red wine and three glasses for them to have whilst eating their Chinese, Emily reluctantly got up off the couch and pressed the button to let them come up to the apartment and opened the door slightly.
"Mommy!" the three year old's voice cried from the doorway as he spotted his mother in front of the television
"Hey baby" J.J. smiled pulling her son into her arms "did you have fun today?" he nodded excitedly in response "are you going to show me how smart you look in your new suit?" he nodded again "ok I'll help you and Jack get ready to show Auntie Penelope how great you're going to look at her wedding" she said holding his hand before taking the suits from Hotch and escorting the boys to the bedroom.
"We didn't know if you'd eaten so we bought you some food and the boys kids meals just in case" Penelope informed Hotch handing him a well-needed glass of wine.
"Great" he said sitting down beside Emily "we haven't eaten for hours, I'd forgotten how much effort went into finding a suit for your wedding"
Emily smiled "how's Reid taking his role as best man?"
"He's...coping" Hotch replied with a small smile "he'll be fine, I think Dave is helping him"
"You won't be saying that when you end up at a Star Trek convention on Wednesday night!" Penelope cried coming out of the kitchen giving Hotch his food.
"Thanks, I'm trying not to think about that!"
"Tada!" came a small voice from the bedroom ten minutes later, a huge grin spread across Penelope's face as the two boys came out in their little suits, they were adorable. She knelt down and held both their hands.
"I don't think I could find better page boys if I searched the whole world, you two look so smart" they grinned in response and she pulled them into a close embrace "now go and get changed quickly and then you can choose a movie for us to watch while we eat!" They both gave a quick cheer before hurrying back towards J.J. to get dressed.
Just after eight o'clock Toy Story 3's end credits started scrolling and everyone but the little boys were fast asleep. Emily had opted to sit on the floor with the boys as there was not enough room on the sofa and was now curled up slightly by her friends' feet. J.J. had her head rested on her hand, leaning on the arm of the soft furnished coach whilst Garcia was using her shoulder as a pillow and light snores came from Hotch as he had his arms folded with his head resting lazily on his chest.
Jack quietly stood up and gently shook his father, "Dad, Toy Story's finished"
"Mmhm" Hotch mumbled rubbing his eyes and remembering where he was.
"Mommy" Henry said tapping his mother's shoulder, mimicking his older friend's actions.
J.J. opened her eyes slowly "yes baby?" she replied sleepily.
"It's finished" he said pointing to the screen.
"Ok baby, we're going home now. Garcie?" she nudged her friend from beside her.
"Yes, I'm awake!" she cried sitting up and straightening her glasses which had fallen slightly down her face whilst she was asleep.
"We're going to go now" she said picking up Henry "I'll speak to you tomorrow, thanks for today" giving her a hug and a peck on the cheek.
Penelope stood up to bid farewell to her friends "anytime, love you Jayje. Bye little man" kissing Henry's forehead and he waved his little hand as they left.
"We'd better be going too, it's almost your bedtime buddy" Hotch smiled at Jack
"Of course" said Garcia walking towards the door
"Will she alright?" he said motioning towards Emily who was still fast asleep on the floor
Penelope smiled "she looks so peaceful and in such a deep sleep I'd hate to wake her, I'll just let her stay over" she paused and took a deep breath before continuing to speak, "er Hotch I've been wanting to ask you, I hope you don't think this is too forward, but I couldn't think of anyone better, cause you've been amazing to me for the last six years, when I was shot, when I wanted to become the liaison, even when I've been my most inappropriate you've always stuck by me" she babbled as she tended to do when she was nervous. "So what I wanted to ask was, will you walk me down the aisle?"
Hotch stared at her for a moment "would you not prefer it to be a family member? One of your brothers?"
Penelope gave a weak smile "I've barely spoken to any of my family in years, I don't even know if any of them will come to the wedding. With my brothers being older and not having anything in common with me we were never really close, and after my parents were killed, I know they blamed me, they said they didn't but I could tell. But I don't care, the team has been my family for the last eight years and it's been the best time of my life"
He put his hand on her shoulder "I'd be honoured to walk you down the aisle Penelope" she beamed at him before turning to Jack who'd been waiting patiently.
"Now, you're going to have to teach your Daddy how to walk down the aisle properly, can you do that?" he nodded at her and gave her a hug, "now go home and get some sleep my handsome page boy, it's your job to look after little Henry and now your Dad too, it's a big responsibility and you'll need all your strength"
"Night Penelope" he said taking his Dad's hand as he opened the door.
"Goodnight Angel" she replied.
"I'll see you on Monday" called Hotch as they began to walk down the hall.
"Goodnight sir" she said out of habit. Penelope closed the door feeling happy and relieved that Hotch had agreed to play a further part in her wedding. She scanned the room and noticed all the empty takeaway cartons and used wine glasses but decided she would clean them in the morning, a sudden wave of exhaustion hit her after remembering her sleep had been cut short. Her eyes finally fell on Emily curled up on the soft carpet in front of the television which was now showing the title menu of the DVD. Garcia quickly retrieved a spare blanket from her room and placed it over her gently and then switched the television off before kissing her friend's head softly. It was only as she turned the lights off that she noticed her vision had become blurry because she was crying, this would be the last time Emily Prentiss would fall asleep on her living room floor, each minute she spent with her was precious as there was only one week left before she left them and moved halfway around the world. Penelope held her chest, it was the same tight pain she has felt back at the hospital when J.J. had told them she had died, this time they had a second chance with her, a chance to say goodbye properly, make more memories and she was not going to waste it.
