Giving up Loving on

Ch. 14 Christmas

Author's Note: Thank you for all the reviews. Sorry it has taken so long to get this out. It was Derby time here. I had to prepare and then my allergies got the best of me. I wanted to get this out though. Only one more chapter after this one. Thank you again and enjoy.

Cindy

(Derek's point of view)

It's Christmas Eve. Penelope and I have been a couple for a little over eight months now. We've had our ups and downs. We had our first fight about a month into our relationship.

During the fight we got really mad. I had done something risky. In the process I saved a life. Penelope yelled she loved me that day. I knew I was as responsible for her happiness and she is for mine. I made sure from that day on I thought of her first.

Back to today. My Mom, one of my sisters, my brother-in-law, nephew, and niece were able to come see us. Just a month ago Penelope and I moved into a house I had flipped for us. I had let Penelope decorate except for my Man cave den and no purple in our bedroom.

Tonight we are having my family and our team and their families over for dinner. Penelope and I are cooking. We still attend cooking classes. Our teacher helped us plan the menu and go over recipes.

My family arrived early as usual. Mom looked upset. I knew she wasn't use to not cooking dinner. I wanted her to relax. I just wanted her to enjoy for once.

JJ, Reid, and Henry arrived next. I tried to be cool. Though I noticed Reid and JJ holding hands. I couldn't help it. I finally asked if she and Reid were dating. She said yes. Then I said what about Rossi. I knew JJ and Rossi had also been spending a lot of time together. It turned out Rossi has a girlfriend.

Alex and her husband arrived. Rossi and his girlfriend Tanya arrived after that. Then the door bell rang again. I was shocked to see Sam and Savannah there. Penelope had seen them in the store and invited them to stop by. They had become a couple shortly after Penelope and me when they saw each other at a club.

"Hot Stuff can you get the door again." Penelope said.

"Okay." I responded.

"Hello hope its okay Jack and I brought a special guest with us. Hotch said, I was surprised since Hotch hadn't dated since he and Beth broke up.

"Merry Christmas." A familiar voice said.

"Emily." I gasped in shock.

"Hey Derek." Emily said hugging me.

Everyone greeted Emily. She told us she was home for the holidays and hoping to be home even longer. Jack, Henry, my nephew, and niece all ran around. Our friends talked as I served the appetizers. A short time later we had dinner. Sam and Savannah had to leave after dinner.

It was time for gifts. We were doing gifts with the team. My nephew and niece would also each get one gift to open. It was a family tradition. We let the kids open their gifts first.

My nephew and niece got night clothes from us. We got them each a little toy also. We got Henry a Star Wars Lego set. He loved it. We got Jack a junior agent set. He loved it too.

We went in a circle until everyone had opened gifts. Each of the team has bought gifts for my family as well. I was glad we hadn't mailed Emily's gifts yet.

After everyone was finished opening their gifts I said I had one more. I went into the Den closet. I got the huge box and carried it into our Living Room. I handed it to Penelope. I knew she was confused since we agreed to open presents tomorrow.

"Is this a desk top computer?" Penelope asked me.

"Looks like a big TV Aunt Penny." Henry said.

"Just open it please Baby Girl." I said.

"Fine but if it is a TV I am selling it." Penelope said as I smiled.

Penelope started to unwrap the huge box with help from the kids. She looked at the box. There was nothing wrote on it. I got up and used my knife to open the box for her.

Penelope pulled out another box this one was a little smaller. She opened the box and then another. Then yet another box. This kept going until she got to a small box. As she pulled the top off and gasped.

I dropped to one knee. She pulled out the ring box. She slowly opened it. Her mouth dropped as she looked at it then at me.

"Penelope I love you. You're my Baby Girl and my angel. Will you please do me the honor of being my wife? Will you marry me?" I asked as I took the ring out of the box.

"It's beautiful." Penelope whispered while looking at the purple tinted diamond.

"Penelope?" I questioned nervously.

"Hot stuff I would be honored to marry you and make you officially mine." She said smiling.

"Is that a yes?" I asked.

"That's heck yes." She answered as I slipped the ring onto her ring.

As we kissed our families cheered. Everyone then gave us hugs and hand shakes. The women started wedding talk. I suggested the men come into my Den. They happily did. Reid said he'd rather watch sports then be apart of wedding talk.

After everyone left Penelope and I got ready. We went to Candle light service at church. Penelope showed her church family her ring. Everyone was very happy for us. I held Penelope's hand. I couldn't stop smiling.

When I woke up Christmas morning I was afraid last night was a dream. Penelope was still sleeping. I grabbed her hand. I saw the ring. I knew my dream came true.

I made breakfast. Penelope and I had a quiet morning. My family came over. My Mom wanted to cook. After last night Penelope said we should let her. We were exhausted so I agreed.

I though this would be my best Christmas ever. Then I realized the best is yet to come. I hoped that by next Christmas Penelope would be my wife. I knew that would be the best gift yet.