The agents in the unit breathed a sigh of relief when Garcia walked into the unit. She had been gone only a week but it seemed so much longer. With a bounce in her step she waved to everyone as she passed by them.
When she stopped for her cup of coffee, it was placed into her hand by Morgan with a smile. "Welcome back baby-girl. So, are you joining us for lunch today?"
"I would love to join you all for lunch today, kind sir." She answers batting her eyelashes at him.
"Well I for one am glad things are back to normal." Reid says as he reaches for his cup.
"What ever do you mean Dr. Reid?" She asks with a pout.
"Don't listen to him, he's just jealous because you love me best." Morgan tells her as he places his hand on her lower back escorting her to her office.
Time passed quickly soon it was Thanksgiving the team was away on a case and she was stuck in the office. Her thoughts kept drifting back to that night when they rebuilt their friendship. Talking and holding on to one another, the kisses that they shared. Yes they still had movie night here at the Bureau when things got bad, and they even managed to go out once in a while for dinner just the two of them. But the magic they shared that night was sadly gone. Their friendship repaired, they each put their respective walls back in place.
It was a four days before Christmas it even felt like Christmas with snow on the ground and the Christmas music playing everywhere, it was a great. Carrying a stack of Christmas cards and a plastic covered plate filled with cookies, she walks down to the mail room. After looking to make sure all the cards have stamps on them she hands them to the clerk wishing everyone in the mailroom a very happy holiday. A quick pit stop to her office and she's off to the round table with a bottle of orange juice and her laptop. Sitting with her back to the plasma like she always does.
"Penelope, why the juice. You always drink coffee in the morning?" Reid asks placing his own cup on the table.
"I've been having trouble sleeping. My doctor wants me to change my diet first, before we try anything else."
"Smart, most people go to straight chemicals first."
"I know but I really miss my coffee and my late afternoon tea. Now I have hot milk with cinnamon and a little bit of sugar before I go to bed. Lots of water throughout the day."
"Is it working?" Alex asks
"I think it just helps me relax so I can sleep. So I guess, yes, it's working."
"You got your flight booked Derek?" JJ asks him.
"Yes, thanks to baby girl. I waited too long. My mother is going to be so happy to see me."
"When do you leave?" Rossi asks.
"Tonight at nine, you offering to take me to the airport?"
"No, not really. Give your mother our best, she is one great lady."
Seeing the need to take control of the meeting Hotch clears his throat. "We'll keep this short and to the point. I know most of you have plans to leave the city when you finish today. So clear up any outstanding paperwork. And try to answer as may requests that come in."
The day flew by and was ending before everyone knew it. Hotch and JJ were the first ones to leave then Spencer and Morgan left after deciding to share a cab to the airport. Alex left a short time after that, leaving only Rossi in his office.
As he was closing his door he smiled as he watched Penelope lean on one of the desks in the bullpen as she removed her heels and slipped on a pair of winter boot. Why she wore sky high heel was beyond him. He was just glad that she changed into boots before going out. It had been snowing off and on all day he was glad that he was wearing boots instead of his Italian leather shoes. "How about dinner Kitten?" He asks he when they meet at the elevator.
"Won't that make you late for your plans?"
"Not at all. We are all meeting at my brother's house Christmas eve."
"In that case I would love dinner, I forgot to go shopping, so the cupboard is bare."
"So what would you like?"
"Pasta primavera and spinach salad. How does that sound?"
"A girl after my own heart."
After being seated Rossi suggest a nice glass of wine to go with the pasta she wants.
"No wine, thank you anyway. I can't have any of the good stuff until my sleeping issues are back to normal. I'd like a glass of water please."
"Right water. We haven't talked much since the debacle at the engagement party."
"JJ said it was a riot the way Cassandra stormed out of there. How did you find the Private Investigator from overseas?"
"I called Emily. Wait a minute how did you know about the overseas one?"
"I hacked the files of the one here in the states a week after I got back from my vacation."
"You, are a bad Kitten."
"No, not really think about it this way. If she tries to come back here we will have ammunitions. Your two P.I's barely scratched the surface you know."
"So what changed your mind about looking for dirt on her?"
"She is no longer involved in his life. She's free game now."
"I'll agree with you on that one. What are you doing over the break, Kitten?"
"Nothing much, staying close to home. I'm on call, so I'll be reading, knitting I might even write a few new programs that I've been thinking about."
While they were waiting for their dessert. Rossi broached the question that had been on his mind a lot lately. "So you and Morgan, are things better?"
"I've just decided to be more professional it puts us in a better light with the locals when you guys travel. It keeps Hotch from getting and ulcer and keeps chief Strauss happy. Not that we don't flirt while he is here."
"Are you dating anyone again, its about time you got back into the dating scene Penelope." He advises her.
"Not yet, for the same reason none of the rest of us date, with our hours you can't make plans. Maybe one day I'll meet someone who has a crazy schedule like ours." She answers then tries a small spoon full of the gelato.
He escorted her to her car then kissed her cheek wishing her a very Merry Christmas. Standing there he watched her drive off all the while wishing he could fix this mess. Looking up into the dark sky he sees a falling star, remembering a childhood game he makes a wish.
Two days before Christmas Derek walks into his mother's kitchen inhaling deeply as he watches his her flip a pancake. "Is there any coffee?"
"In the pot, are you hungry?
"Yes please, not to many though I always gain too much weight when I come here."
"Lucky I got you fresh fruit, instead of maple syrup isn't it? I made some strawberry puree for you and the pancakes are whole wheat."
"You're too good for me mom. I love you dearly."
"I love you too, son."
After making himself plate of pancakes and turkey sausage he joins Fran at the table. Sighing with pleasure after he swallows. "You haven't lost your touch mom."
Smiling at her son thinking that he still has the same expression he had when he was little when he eats pancakes. "How's your team?" She asks.
"They're great, no one hurt and everyone is going home or had plans for the break?"
"And Penelope? She sent me a really pretty shawl she said it would go perfectly with that dress I was wearing the last time we saw each other. And it does too."
"She's fine, her doctor put her on a new diet. She's been having trouble sleeping. No coffee, no tea and lots of water. Hot milk with cinnamon and sugar before she goes to bed. Very healthy, not that she didn't eat healthy before."
"I see. Well I need to go do some last minute shopping and you are going to be my muscle son,"
"Grocery store or mall?"
"Mall. Your sister is cooking this year."
"Ok mom, your wish is my command."
A few things turned into a four hour marathon shopping trip. Not that he minded, he adored spending time with his mother. So anytime he spent with her was good as far as he was concerned.
They stop long enough for Fran to get the mail from her box. Once inside her place, and all of the bags on top of the table he began shaking his head at just how much his mother had just purchased
"Derek there is a Christmas card here for you."
"Me? are you sure?"
"It's addressed to you."
He takes the card from his mother and reads the envelope smiling once he recognizes the handwriting. "It's from Baby-girl." he tells his her.
Derek- Merry Christmas. I suppose your wondering why you're getting a Christmas card at your mothers house? I'll explain. Do you remember telling me that the one thing you liked about me the most is that I'm scary smart? Well You're getting this card because you're stuck in Chicago until January second. All the flights are booked solid, there is not one seat available back to Quantico until then. I checked every single airline, it's full to the brim. For that I am grateful because it means you will be cooled down by the time you get back. That night you came to me after what happened with Cassandra. We ate all food then the fruit, cheese and crackers. We talked and laughed so hard it felt great to be that close to you again. When you kissed me it was different, not like the kisses you normally give me. It was, intoxicating, is the only word that fits. I could have said no, looking back I should have said no. But I wanted to be with you. But I think for different reasons, you were looking to forget the anger you felt because of Cassandra and I was looking to love you and to be loved by you. I am glad you came to me, and not to someone else. So now the reason for the card. If you look in between the folds of the card you will find a picture. He stops reading and opens up the card and takes a picture out from between the edge of the inner card. He looks at the grainy picture and frowns slightly. I want you to know that I don't want anything from you at all. Not even your name on his birth certificate. Yes it's a boy, I'm thinking of naming him Bryan, it means strong with a mother that looks and acts like me and because he is bi-racial he is going to need all the strength he can get. All I need to know is, if it will be easier for you if I ask for a transfer to another state. I once told your mother that you had an Achilles heel. I would never hurt you Derek. You protect yourself and your heart to keep from getting hurt, that is your Achilles heel , if no one gets in then you can't be hurt. Let me know what you decide. Always, your Baby-girl
"I'll kill her!"
"Kill her Derek? What's going on?"
"Penelope that's who. Here read this." He says then hands the card and picture to his mother.
He watches his mother read the card, her face changes from a frown to a smile back to a frown. Then a single tear falls on her cheek.
"Your son."
"Yes my son, who will have my name, so will she if I have anything to say about it."
Fran bites her inner cheek to keep from smiling or worse laughing out loud. "What are you going to do? Call the airlines?" she asks all the while thinking he is so much like his father.
"No use, if she said she checked you can be sure she did. She might be scary smart But I'm determined when I want something, nothing is going to stand in my way."
"So what are you going to do?"
"Pack my bag, you pack one too. Then we are going to take a nice long tap because we are going to drive we are leaving at ten tonight. We should get to her apartment around noon. That twelve hours driving and two extra for food and gas breaks."
"I'll call your sister and tell her we aren't coming, then I'll pack the picnic basket sandwiches and slices fruit, coffee or cocoa?"
"You're the best mom, I love you." He tells her dropping a kiss on the top of her head before he goes to his room.
She waits until she hears the bedroom door close before she smiles. "And I love Penelope Garcia, soon to be Morgan." She says into the empty room, smiling at the thought of her son holding a newborn child, his own child.