AUTHORS NOTE: Thanks for all of the reviews last chapter! I really appreciate it!
Chapter 11:
9:24am DAY FOUR:
Penelope slowly opened her eyes and sat up in her bed. Pulling her hair into a quick bun and stretching her back until she heard the successful pop, Penelope scanned the room. Olivia's playpen was empty, no children were present and the spot next to her was still tucked in. It took a few seconds and then she remembered the fight with Derek the night before and tears filled her eyes again. She shook her head and sucked a deep breath in.
You are a strong woman, Penelope Garcia. Get up out of this bed and go find Derek. Make it right with him and then have awesome make up sex.
With a renewed sense of purpose and hope for the future, a revitalized Penelope Garcia began to get ready for the day.
9:51am DAY FOUR:
"Mommy!" Lilly yelled across the breakfast area. Penelope smiled at the sight of her excited three year old racing across the room for a hug. She swept the little girl into her arms and kissed her head.
"Hey, Lilly-Bear! I missed you last night."
"Daddy says we had to let you get some rest."
"When did he say that?"
"Last night when he put our stuff in Aunt Emmly's room."
"Well then where did Aunt Emily sleep?"
"Daddy says a growed up room and a kid room. They had a door that Daddy made us promise to keep open. Oh and Daddy keep Livia in the room with him. He says she's too little, she's a baby."
"Where is everybody else?" Pen asked as she finally put Lilly down and the two began to walk back to where Dave was sitting with Henry.
"Daddy is in a RV talkin to Grandma Fran, Aunt Emmly is sitting with Livia in the other RV, Aunt JJ and Aunt April is getting di-reck-tions." Lilly recited and struggled with the last word.
"Directions." Pen corrected quietly and then said with much more enthusiasm, "Can you sit with Uncle Dave and Henry and eat your breakfast so mommy can go see if anyone needs some help?"
"Yes, mommy. Cuz, I a big girl." Lilly said proudly as she climbed into the chair next to Henry's.
Penelope mouthed her "thanks" to Dave and went outside in search of everybody else.
10:02am DAY FOUR:
"Hey Spence?" April called out from the hotel room's bathroom. Spencer grabbed her toothbrush out of the bag on the bed and lightly knocked on the door. April's foamy face appeared as she opened the door wider. He handed her the toothbrush before she could ask for it and she beamed at him. "How did you know?"
"You typically forget your toothbrush in the bag when gathering all of your other bathroom items." He stated matter of factly and he smiled when she scowled at him. "Also, because I love you April Matthews and I think it's adorable when you forget your toothbrush in the bag."
April leaned in and stood on her tiptoes to press a quick kiss to his lips. "I love you too Spencer Reid." She whispered and laughed when he tried to kiss her again. "Let me rinse my cleanser off and we can pick up where we left off." She promised. Spencer's hands didn't leave her waist as the couple made their way back into the bathroom and then back to the bed to make good use of the hotel room a little while longer.
10:25am DAY FOUR:
"Mom, are you sure?" Derek asked for the fourth time.
"Derek Morgan, I should get back to Chicago so I can set everything up for good. By leaving now and getting a head start on things, I should be able to settle in with you in Virginia by early next week." Fran reasoned as the three of them finished packing her bags.
"Fran, I understand why you feel you should go back but isn't there another option? Maybe Des or Sarah could pack up some things for you?" Penelope asked as she looked hopefully at her mother in law.
Fran smiled at the couple. "You guys will be fine. Work together and communicate." She advised and her suspicions were confirmed when both Penelope and Derek began to look guilty. "You two are best friends, build on that and keep doing what has been working for years. Marriage is friendship at its core. Communicate. It is perfectly okay to be upset or to disagree with the other person, its normal." She said as she grabbed the last bag off the bed and moved towards the taxi waiting nearby. "Derek, you can't just stop talking to your wife. Things don't get solved that way and you guys will never work through anything if you can't voice your opinion. And Penelope, I know my son and deep within yourself, you know who Derek is too. Let go of that last little bit of fear you have inside and fully embrace this, what you dreamed about for years is here and if you can take that last leap of faith, I promise Derek will catch you." Fran counseled her two children and pulled them in for a group hug when both of them were a little stunned that she knew about their recent issues. "I'm a mom, I know." Fran whispered to both of them, kissed both their cheeks and then climbed in her taxi headed for the airport. Derek and Pen stood there both a little stunned and vulnerable that their innermost issues with the other person were just spoken about and now had to be dealt with.
"Baby Girl" Derek began just as Penelope turned to him and said, "Handsome."
"Go ahead." Penelope encouraged as she settled her face tightly against his chest and sighed when he wrapped his arms around her back and hugged her tightly.
"I promise to talk to you instead of running off. That will never happen again. I was just so hurt that you actually thought I would leave you and the kids. I was looking at it completely from my view and I'm so sorry baby girl."
"I'm so sorry Derek! I didn't want us to fight last night-actually, I never want us to fight. I hate fighting. I was trying to make everything easier and instead I only messed everything up. I'm so sorry Derek and I completely understand if you need to take some time and think about what you want from this relationship. I'm-"Derek interrupted her rant.
"Hey, motor mouth. Slow your roll, woman. I should have brought up my past. All of those years you watched me date other people, I was wrong and hurtful. It wasn't fair to you or them. I was trying to find a replacement for you and I should have known better. There is only one Penelope Garcia and somehow, I've convinced her to be my wife. Baby Girl, I want this. I want to wake up at 4am with Olivia and I want to take the kids to the zoo, baseball practice, sleepovers, science projects, I want it all baby. And I want to do it all with you." Derek vowed quietly to Penelope and he reached down to lift her chin when he felt his shirt get wet. "Don't cry princess." He begged as he pulled her face to his and locked his gaze with hers. "This whole situation is completely new to us. We will find our balance and everything will eventually settle."
"Promise?" She whispered.
"I promise Penelope." Derek held his baby girl tight in his arms and made a promise to himself right then and there that he would never let this woman go.
12:32pm DAY FOUR:
"But, Uncle Dabe! I'm hungry now." Lilly protested loudly.
Dave crouched in front of the impatient 3 year old. "We are stopping for lunch in 5 minutes. Did you find your bag?"
"No, I looked everywhere too." Lilly said sadly.
"Well, when we stop, I will help you look for it. Your Dora bag has to be somewhere." Dave reasoned and Lilly seemed to agree with his logic because she suddenly wrapped her arms around his neck and planted a large kiss on his cheek.
"Thanks Uncle Dabe. My mommy, my first mommy, gabe me that bag and I don't wanna lose it." Lilly whispered quietly. Dave just hugged the little girl back and pressed a kiss on the top of her head. Penelope had spotted the signs of a meltdown from Lilly and was about to intervene when Dave settled down the little girl all by himself. Penelope smiled and turned her attention back to April who was driving.
"According to the GPS, we have 1.2 miles before the exit and the family restaurant is 0.2 miles to the right of the exit." Penelope recited. April nodded and kept her attention on the road.
"So, what's new with you and boy genius?" Pen questioned, using her favorite nickname for Spencer.
"Well, back in San Diego, he asked me to buy a house with him." April said quickly and prepared herself for the onslaught of noise and questions that was to be expected when one dealt with a person as spectacular as Penelope Garcia-Morgan.
"OH MY GOD! My little cupcake is growing up! Did you find a house yet? Where did he ask you? How did it happen?" Penelope rapidly asked.
April smiled at her friend. "He asked me at Maggie's house in the garage when we were moving boxes. He made an appointment with a realtor in Quantico and we haven't found a house yet. We actually haven't even really looked at any yet. Emily left a real estate magazine out for Spencer to read so he could help you sell Maggie's house and he thought I had left it out for him. He thought I was trying to send him a hint but once he realized he had made a mistake, we had a conversation and we're going to look for a house once we get back home." April finished.
"I'm so happy for you!" Pen gushed. "Derek found a house for us to move into maybe he knows of one for you guys in the neighborhood. Wouldn't that be perfect?"
"That would be amazing!" April enthusiastically responded as she guided the RV into the parking lot of the restaurant. Aaron pulled the second RV in behind them and the group eagerly streamed out of the RVs and into the restaurant.
9:00pm DAY FOUR:
"Are you sure we should let Henry sleep in the other RV?" Dave worriedly asked his wife as he looked for fresh clothes to sleep in.
"It's fine, Dave. Henry wanted to sleep with Lilly, Noah and Jack. Pen and Derek are taking turns sleeping in that RV too. I'm sure everything will be fine." JJ reasoned with her husband as she slipped into the bed and watched him pull on his boxers. "Babe, I love that you are worried about Henry but I really need you to talk to your daughters. They've been kicking me all day and they only settle when they hear your voice."
Dave quickly climbed in next to his wife and pulled her into the cradle of his arms. His warm, strong hands overlapped hers on her bump and he hummed all three of his girls to sleep in a matter of minutes. He kissed Jen on the head and pushed her hair out of her eyes. She grumbled a little in her sleep and Dave chuckled before leaning his head back and falling asleep as the constant motion of the RV moving down the highway lulled him into unconsciousness.
12:15am DAY FIVE:
"Em, are you sure you don't need anything before I go lie down?" Aaron questioned her as he watched her drive the first RV with complete attention.
"Can you just get me that coffee? It's in my bag and I forgot to grab it before we left."
"Is it one of those Starbucks ones? The glass bottle?"
"Yup. It's in my carry on bag. The brown one."
Aaron nodded and once he found it, he headed back towards the front cabin. He bent his head, kissed her quickly on the cheek and mumbled, "Love you."
"I love you too." Emily said with a smile. "Go get some sleep, Mr. Hotchner. I will be waking you up for your turn soon enough."
"Ughh. Don't remind me." Aaron mumbled and shuffled down the aisle before falling onto the couch behind where Emily was driving. April and Spencer were already sleeping on the bed that unfolded from the dinette. The back bedroom was being used by Dave and JJ and Emily smiled at the sounds of her family sleeping around her as she drove at a steady speed down the darkened highway.
12:16am DAY FIVE:
Penelope Garcia-Morgan was wide awake as she drove her RV behind Emily's. Her cell phone lit up and vibrated from the cup holder. She went to reach for it before remembering that her hand was grasped firmly in Derek's. When they had started their 10 hour journey to Branson, Missouri, Derek had insisted he would sit up front with Penelope. After settling the kids in the four beds of the RV, he had steadfastly refused to fall asleep. Pen and Derek had spent the first 3 hours of the drive talking. They talked about schools for the kids, house plans, what furniture to keep from each apartment and the pair had playfully argued about when the house would be completely finished. (Derek was optimistic and thought by the end of the week, Pen was realistic and thought by the end of three weeks.) Penelope had given up trying to convince Derek to go find a place to lie down and had simply planned to wait him out. Sure enough, after a lot of talking, Derek's eyes began to get droopy and he slouched into his seat. Soon enough, a faint snore was coming from her chocolate god of thunder and Penelope's heart beat a little faster at the sound. He's really all mine. He loves me just as much as I love him. We're going to be okay. Penelope's phone lit up again and she was pulled from her thoughts. She gently unraveled her fingers from Derek's and he grumbled a little in sleep before settling again. Pen quickly put in her Bluetooth and answered the call.
"Hello."
"Hi Pen. How's everybody in your van?" Emily's voice asked.
"Sleeping, has everyone in your van also given in to the pull of dreamland?"
"Yup. Aaron fought it for a while but I told him he didn't have a choice. I know how he is in the morning if he hasn't had enough sleep. Jack is going to want to play with him at the hotel and my son deserves a happy father not a sleep deprived one."
"So the paperwork finally went through?"
"How did you-never mind. Yeah, it was finalized while we were all in San Diego actually, the same day your adoptions of the kids went through. Aaron and I didn't want to overshadow anybody."
"Emily, buttercup, I'm so happy for you! Jack loves you so much; it's absolutely perfect that you are his mom on paper now too!"
"Thanks Pen. Speaking of kids, how are you and Derek doing with the added pressures of parenthood?"
"I used to think Derek and I were perfect for each other and nothing could mess with that. Then we get kids and suddenly, everything is a mess. We are fighting and not talking to each other. I'm afraid Em." Penelope quietly confessed to her friend.
"When Aaron and I started seriously dating, Jack kept trying to play us against one another. Like; Aaron would say he couldn't have a snack before dinner and he would come find me and ask me for a snack when I had no idea that Aaron said no or that dinner was almost finished. Aaron got mad at me for undermining his parenting and I got mad because he was accusing me of something I never intended to do. This opened up the door for even bigger issues and a couple of times; I really thought it was the end of our relationship. And as much as I loved Aaron in that moment, I loved Jack a little bit more. Parenting is really hard, Pen. It makes you act irrationally and doing with someone you love makes it very complicated. The most important thing is that you love Derek and he loves you. And together; you both love those kids even more than you love each other. It isn't a bad thing, its normal PG. Things will settle, I promise. And, of course if Derek is a jerk, I will just kick his ass for you."
Penelope's mix of tears and laughter filled the line for a few minutes as the pair of RVs made their way into the state of Missouri.
8:15am DAY FIVE:
"Daddy, where Momma?" Ethan asked with a quivering lip.
"What's wrong little man?" Derek asked as he picked up the upset little boy.
"I jus wan momma." Ethan repeated.
"But Ethan, mommy had a very long night and-" Derek began to explain but his eyes caught movement towards the back of the RV.
"Ethan, baby. What's wrong?" asked Pen as she finished pulling her hair up into a clip and she walked out of the bedroom to see what was the matter.
"Mommy!" Ethan yelled and wiggled out of Derek's arms and Pen caught him as he leapt through the air.
"Sweetheart. What is wrong?" Pen asked again as she made soothing noises and attempted to calm the little boy.
"I had a dweam and you was taken to heaven like my first mommy and I no have anymore mommies." Ethan explained as he wiped the tears off his face.
"Oh, buddy." Pen said as she rocked him a little more. She wiped his nose and the tears off his cheeks before sitting him down on the couch and kneeling in front of him. "Ethan William Hoffman Garcia-Morgan, I promise you that I'm not going anywhere buddy. I'm going to be extra careful so I can stay with you for a very long time and I can watch you grow up to be a big strong boy. Okay?" She asked and when Ethan nodded, she continued. "Did daddy tell you about the hotel?"
"No."
"Okay, well, I can tell you but it's a secret. Are you sure you won't tell anybody?"
"I promise mommy."
"Alright, buddy, our hotel has a water park inside it! With slides and pools and toys. It's going to be so much fun!" Pen whispered.
"Really?" he whispered back.
"Really." Pen reaffirmed.
"Okay mommy. I promise, I won't tell anybody!" Ethan held out his hand for a fist bump and when Penelope looked at him like she wasn't sure what to do, he explained. "Daddy says it's how friends say deal." Penelope smiled and brought her fisted hand gently to her son's. He scooted off the seat and went back to the table where the other kids were coloring.
"What was wrong?" Derek whispered to her as they sat next to each other on the couch.
"Bad dream." Pen whispered back as she settled her head on Derek's shoulder and he ran his fingers through her hair.
"You know, I never got to say how much I love your new hair."
"We kind of got side tracked, huh?" Pen looked up into his eyes. "I talked to Em last night and I guess it's normal for couples to argue like this but I hate it D. I just want to feel like us again."
"We will baby girl. I promise, we'll get ourselves there. We're going to communicate and deal with things as they come. There is no breaking up of this" Derek gestured with his left hand between his heart and hers. "As long as both of us are completely committed to making it work, we will be good."
"We are good, hot stuff." Penelope leaned up and kissed him gently before running her hand down his chest and turning over so she was almost in his lap. "How about we make good use of the bedroom while the kids are occupied?" She whispered.
"Spence is driving." He calmly reminded her as she kissed him again and bit at his bottom lip. "Penelope." Derek warned, "You're playing with fire here."
"Maybe you should arrest me." She said as she ran a suggestive up his thigh.
Derek closed his eyes in an attempt to cool his inner temperature and to bring himself under control again. "Baby girl, not on the RV with Spence and the kids."
Pen retreated immediately and sat rigidly next to him. "If you don't want it just say so, Derek." She whispered harshly to him, clearly feeling rejected.
"Woman. If I wanted you anymore, we would be going at it right here, right now in front of everybody." Derek assured her and pulled her reluctant form against his chest again. "You would never forgive yourself if one of the kids or Spence heard us and you know it, Hard Head."
"You're right. I just don't want to wait." She whispered back after a minute of thought.
"Me either baby but we are close to the hotel and I already talked Spence and April into keeping the kids for us tonight, so after dinner, we are good to go."
"You know I love you, right?" She asked as she leaned up to kiss him.
"I love you too Princess." He whispered back against her mouth.
