Title: New Traditions can be Born
Author: Trista Groulx aka dustytiger
Rating: M for adult fun kids
Disclaimer: I still don't own Criminal Minds it belongs to it's creator, network, writers, actors, and actresses how bring the show to life daily. I am still a poor barista and unmotivated sales consultant.
Summary: Morgan and Garcia are spending their first Christmas as a couple it's time for them to start some traditions, and continue some old one, after all that's what the season is about.
Notes: Well this is the last part, it's pretty much all family fuzzies thank you so much for the kind reviews it means a lot to me. Hopefully my work life will slow down in the new year and I'll have more time for writing.
Garcia woke up the next morning when she heard the doorbell ringing. She went to go curl back up in the bed when she realised it was Christmas morning and Morgan's mother was supposed to be visiting that morning. She looked around the room and found the pajamas she had tried to change into the night before but Morgan had thrown from her grasp. She then pulled a bathrobe around herself and ventured into the living room. She smiled when she realised that Morgan was also in his pajamas.
She went to greet her one day mother in law but only then remembering that they had bumped into the tree the night before when she saw Fran Morgan holding a broken angel ornament and laughing. Garcia knew that that, as well as a number of the other ornaments on the tree had been given to Morgan by his mother. She had not expected her to find something funny about finding one of the ornaments she had cherished enough to give to her son broken.
"Oh, um, hi Missus Morgan," Garcia said. "I guess we bumped into the tree or something. I'm so sorry that broke. I know that's one of the ones from your house."
"Call me Fran or Momma Penelope," she assured the younger woman, hugging her. "It's okay. I can tell you it's not the first time this angel's been broken."
"Still we should be more careful." She sighed, glad for the hug.
"Baby you know we're always careful," he laughed. "A little bit of glue and that's fixed good as new, no big deal."
Morgan took the ornament from his mother's hand and noticed there was dried glue on the wings, it had clearly been broken before. He placed the angel on the table deciding it could be fixed another time, he was too happy to have his mother home for Christmas morning, and knew he had other things he would need to get one before his sisters arrived later in the day.
"I think it's a bigger deal than you realise Derek," his mother told him. "Every time this angel's been broken before we've had a new family member to celebrate with the next Christmas."
Morgan wasn't sure what to say he stared at his mother stunned. He also wondered why his mother had given him the ornament out of the blue knowing it's history. He knew his mother had always liked Garcia but he didn't think they were ready for that yet. He loved his mother dearly but he never pictured her as the kind of woman who longer for grandchildren to bounce on her knee; she certainly didn't tease her children about it as he had known some other mothers to do. He knew he wanted children with Garcia at some point in their lives but first he wanted their relationship to be in a good place; and they were still in the phase where they found it hard to keep their hands off each other.
"I'm not sure that we're ready for that yet," Garcia stammered.
"I think you're more ready than you know, Penelope," Fran assured her. "I know some mothers want their sons to be married first, but that's clearly already in the works."
"Yes, but…"
"I don't expect you to want to be pregnant in a wedding dress, and maybe it will be different for you both, but I hope you two have talked about the possibility of having children."
"We have and of course we want adorable mocha babies, but we've only been dating a few months. I don't wanna sound like Reid but there are statistics about how much stress a child can put on a relationship as well how often new relationships end because of surprise like that."
"I was never one much for believing in statistics, especially in my own family they're too unique to follow the grain. The fact that my son has settled enough to be living here with you and has given you that ring is enough for me to know you're both ready for whatever happens next. It's more than I thought he might do until he met you. If it happens I suppose it wouldn't be ideal but I know everyone would be thrilled and would do the right thing. At least if you have a child I know I'll always be able to see my grandbaby."
"Even if Derek lost his clue I'd let you see the baby – not that there is one."
Fran laughed. "I know you would Penelope. You're great that way, but I know my son when he gets something he really wants he won't let it go. And you are something he has wanted for a long time and couldn't have, which will make him all the more determined to keep you in his life."
Garcia's cheeks turned red, and Morgan kissed her cheek. "Momma's right, Baby Girl you're stuck with me, and that right there." He touched her ring. "Proves it, if this tradition turns out to be true I'll be right there with you through everything, and I'd be thrilled."
She ran her fingers along his cheek. "Okay, I believe you, and as much as I totally want babies I kind of hope it will happen later than next Christmas. Right now things are too good between us to change it just yet."
He pulled her close. "I like how things are too but I want you to know if they change I'm good with that." He kissed her softly.
"When are your sisters supposed to arrive?" Garcia asked needing to change the subject.
"They said they'd be here by lunch, so I thought we'd all have some breakfast," he told her going into the kitchen, leaving the two women alone.
They both sat on the couch, next to each other. Garcia had never had any trouble talking to Morgan's mother before. She had visited with the family before, she had even spent a few Christmases with them in the time she'd known Morgan; but this was different. Being Morgan's fiancée changed everything and all of a sudden she felt like the woman might act differently around her. She had known many friends who had a strained relationship with their mothers-in-law. She didn't want that kind of relationship with hers, since she didn't have her own family anymore but a part of her still worried.
"Have you set a date?" Fran asked.
"He asked me last night," Garcia replied, playing with the ring, and staring at the floor.
"Sweetheart, what's wrong?"
"It's going to sound silly Miss- Fr-," she stammered.
"Try me."
"I told Derek already, but I just don't know if I'll ever be ready because my mom's not gonna be there to help."
Fran took her hand. "I know it's hard for you not to have her here if I can do anything to help you know you just have to ask. Just because you're now engaged to my son doesn't change how I feel about you. Now I am justified of looking at you like another daughter."
"Tell me," she whispered, tears falling down her cheeks. "Tell me I'm not a horrible daughter if I let someone else help me."
She hugged her gently. "Your mother would never think that, all she'd want is for you to be happy. Whenever and whatever you ready for I'll do what I can help. That doesn't mean you won't miss your mother every step of the way, and I completely understand that as will anyone else who loves you Penelope."
"Thank you, it might be a while though. Right now I'm so happy we're engaged and I don't want to send my stomach doing backflips by starting to plan anything more. This is good knowing that Derek really does want me to be the only woman in his life."
"That's all right. I know my son the second he put that ring on your finger you were as good as married everything else is just to show you off."
"He told me that last night, about being pretty much married. That was kind of amazing." Garcia's cheeks began to redden again. "My guy is so silly sometimes there's no reason to show me off."
"Oh, honey that's where you're wrong," she laughed. "That man has talked about you like you make the sun rise for as long as he's known you. He backed off because he thought you were happy with that Lynch guy but he still felt the same way. When you're ready he'll want everyone to know he finally got his baby girl and dreams do come true."
"I do believe in dreams coming true I guess that's why a part of me always wanted to get married at Cinderella's castle."
"He'd make that happen for you, if that's what you wanted, whenever you're ready."
"I know he would make whatever I wanted happen for me even if it was something totally out in left field. As much as I know that I know no one can make my mom be there anywhere but in my heart and I just don't know if I'll ever be ready to plan a wedding without her. Does that make me a horrible person?"
"No, it doesn't. That's how you feel and you have for a long time that's not going to change overnight because you got your prince. I only hope that one day you'll want to have your special day because you deserve your fairy tale ending; but if you don't no one in this family will love you any less."
Garcia hugged her. "Thank you."
"I hope my two special ladies have been working up an appetite," Morgan said coming into the room, then seeing the tear track on Garcia's cheeks. "Baby girl, what's wrong?"
"I was just talking to your mom about what I told you yesterday when you gave me my ring."
He took her hand. "I'm sorry sweetness, look if it's too hard I still have the chain I got you."
"I am not taking this ring off Mister."
"Penelope I wish I could make this hurt less for you."
Morgan's mother got up and went into the kitchen quietly, leaving the couple alone for the time they needed. Her heart was going out to the woman her son was so fully in love with. She knew that he wanted to marry Garcia in front of all of his friends but also knew he might not get that chance; neither of them blamed the tech for her feelings only wanting to help somehow but not having the ability to do so completely.
"I know you do Derek and that's why I love you and agreed to marry you," she told him. "I just feel like I'm being unfair to you, and now your family. Your mom is being so supportive and amazing."
He wiped her tears with his fingers. "Silly girl, as much as we love and support you, we can't change what you're feeling about this. If it hurts you too much I can't ask you to go through with planning a whole big thing for me."
"Isn't that selfish of me?"
"Only if you didn't have the best damn reason to not want to do this Penelope," he assured you. "I could never think of you as selfish with what you've had to deal with since you lost your parents. You are allowed to feel how you feel with me, no hiding anymore."
She began to sob. "I miss them so much, every day. I love that you are giving me another family but that doesn't make me forget the one that I had."
"I understand," he assured her. "I know this time of year is probably the hardest on you."
She nodded. "As much as I love all things Christmas it can be pretty rough, but I'm glad I have you by my side."
"And I'm going to be right here every time you need me from now on, even if it means an all-night phone call when we've got a case."
She wiped her tears then kissed him softly. "Thank you. I love you."
"I love you too. Ready to eat?" he asked.
"I am what did you make?"
"A Christmas tradition in my family."
"Ooo Morgan breakfast casserole, I thought only your mom made that."
"She let me in on the secret when she found out we were living together," he explained as they went into the kitchen.
"You'll be the next to learn it, Penelope," Missus Morgan assured Garcia. "By next Christmas you'll be able to make it if you want."
"Really?" Garcia asked.
"Although I already consider you to be part of the family I want you to be dating my son for a year before I share my recipes with you."
"Are you gonna teach my girl how to make your famous chilli Momma?" Morgan asked.
"Damn right I will, while you're out of town Derek. The chilli recipe is for Morgan women only, if the way to a man's heart is truly through his stomach that chilli will keep him coming back for the rest of your lives."
"What if I'm never officially a Morgan?" Garcia asked.
"Penelope you became a Morgan the second that ring went on your finger."
"That's so kind I'm glad I get to be a part of this family."
"I am too and so will the rest of the family when they arrive. Now let's see how my son did with the casserole shall we?"
They sat down and Morgan brought them each a plate with a good serving of the casserole and toast on the side. He then brought his own plate over and joined them; all of them agreeing that it was almost as good as his mother's. The three of them spent the rest of the morning chatting while they waited for Morgan's sisters to arrive. Just after noon the doorbell rang and Morgan went to answer it. He smiled when he saw his sisters. He let them inside and they each gave him a hug.
"Where's our future sister?" Desiree asked.
"What makes you think she's going to be your sister?" Morgan asked.
Sarah laughed. "Well Little Brother there's the fact that you are living with this woman."
"Not to mention we've actually met her Big Brother," added Desiree.
"And of course there's the fact that the baby angel's wings are broken, and unless you suddenly turned into to an ass any woman carrying your baby automatically becomes one of our sisters because she'll have our little niece or nephew for us to spoil."
"All right fine," Morgan agreed. "I also asked her to marry me last night if you must know."
The two women practically ran into the kitchen wanting to see the ring. The two women started to squeal excitedly when they saw the ring, and without even saying any hellos the sisters and Garcia shared a three-way hug. Morgan came into the room after them and couldn't help but grin when he saw the smiles on his family's faces. They were truly happy about the engagement, and he hoped his sisters would not ask too many questions about an upcoming wedding and upset his fiancée again.
Morgan poured each of his sisters a cup of coffee, making each cup the way they liked it. He also made Garcia and his mother new cups of tea. They then all went back into the living room, each taking a spot near the tree to open their gifts. Fran sat down in front of the tree wanting to give out the presents and no one argued with her. Morgan and Garcia were curled up together on a recliner while his sisters sat on the couch.
"Now how many of those presents are for Penelope?" asked Sarah looking at the pile of gifts in front of the tree.
"I'm just happy with my ring," Garcia cooed taking Morgan's hand.
"It is beautiful, our brother sure has good taste," Desiree said.
"You're the one who said it was bad luck to open Christmas gifts before Santa came silly girl, so of course you've got stuff under here," he told her kissing her softly.
"Okay enough of that you two," said Fran. "Now what to start with?
She began to look at the various gifts under the tree and found one for her son from Garcia. Morgan took it and ripped open the gift wrap excitedly. He was surprised when he opened the box and found a smaller box inside it, but soon his face lit up. He couldn't believe she had actually gotten him a gold watch.
"Baby Girl, this is too much," he told her.
"Mm, no," she countered. "I think it's just right. My mom bought my dad a watch for their first Christmas together I figured it was about time we mixed some Garcia traditions into the holidays."
He leaned in close to her and kissed her tenderly and for longer than she thought he would in front of his family. She pulled away from him and ran her fingers along his cheek, forgetting for a moment that they weren't alone.
"I love you," she whispered.
"I love you too," he told her.
As his sisters had predicted a disproportionate number of the gifts under the tree were for Garcia. Most of them were thoughtful gifts, and to the surprise of his family none of the gifts were too personal. The whole family enjoyed their Christmas together, knowing it would be the first of many to come and that the family would only grow as time went on.
The End
Notes: Once again thank you for all the kind words, and faves, and alerts on this. Happy holidays I hope you enjoyed it as much I did writing it heart and hugz.