Penelope knew something was up the minute she stepped into the bullpen. It had been over a week since her suspension was lifted and she was glad to be back at work. It was weird, though, how Reid, JJ, and Rossi stared at her as she made her way up to the tech cave.

Sitting behind her desk, she turned her babies on, never more grateful that it was Wednesday and she would be escaping for a few hours with Erin. The briefing was even more awkward, as everyone kept looking from her to Aaron then back to her.

Once it was over, Reid stopped her from going back to work. "So, Garcia. What does Jack like to eat?"

"Just about anything, really. Why?"

"Oh, Hotch wanted me to take him for the night. He thinks it would be a good experience for me."

"Then take him to Pizza Express. He loves that place." Penelope knew what she was setting her friend up for, but didn't really mind, since this just cemented the weirdness of the day into place. Brushing past him, she went to her office and tried to concentrate on what she had been doing.

It took a long time, or so she felt, for the clock to turn to noon, but finally it did and she made her way to Erin's office. The assistant smiled and sent her right in. "Hi, Penny. Just give me a moment to finish up this file and I'll be ready to head out. Did you have somewhere in mind today?"

"The Golden Dragon? Chinese sounds really good to me today. Do you know why everyone on Aaron's team is acting so weird today?"

Erin signed off on her file and closed it, looking up at her as she slid her reading glasses off. "Yes, I do. And before you ask, I cannot tell you. I've been sworn to secrecy, just like the others."

Penelope pouted, staring at the ground. "I don't like people keeping secrets from me."

Erin threaded her arm through Penelope's, leading her out to the elevators. "Will it make you feel better if I tell you that you're going to be very happy?"

"A little, katydid. How's Jeff doing?" she asked as they stepped into the elevator.

"He's almost healed." Erin blushed faintly and Penelope grinned.

"Ah, so you guys consummated his recovery last night. Ouch!" she exclaimed as Erin pinched her side sharply. "What was that for?"

"What we do in the bedroom, or living room, or study, is private and not to be spoken of at work, all right? We can talk about that at lunch."

Penelope gaped at her a little before giggling. "Of course, Erin. I'll try to remember that in the future." They walked to Erin's car quietly, but once the door was closed, she turned to her. "Okay, spill."

"I didn't realize how much I love and missed physical intimacy until last night. It was like we were teenagers again. I'm going to have to sew the buttons back on my blouse, if I can find all of them. But oh, does my body ache in a most delicious way." She smiled puckishly at Penelope. "I don't think there are words enough to describe how much I love that man of mine."

"I'm with you there, Erin. You know, Kevin asked me to marry him once? I turned him down flat. Even then, I knew he wasn't the One. But if my Boss Man were to ask me? I'd say yes in a heartbeat. Everything happens for a reason, but I often wonder how I got so lucky as to have such a wonderful life. I don't even miss Emily quite so much, now that I have you," she said as they pulled into a parking spot.

"Oh, peach, you shouldn't esteem me so highly. I could still end up hurting you."

"Never deliberately, katydid. And you gave me a nickname." They got out and she went around to Erin's side, holding out her hand. Erin took hold and squeezed gently, smiling at her.

"I did. I've been wracking my brain, trying to come up with one for you. This is the one that seemed to stick." Erin tugged her along into the restaurant and they were soon seated in a secluded booth. "Do you think I'm too old to be having a baby?" she asked once they'd gotten their soup.

"You're pregnant?" Penelope asked incredulously, staring at her stomach.

"No, but Jeff and I were talking last night, between rounds, and we both feel the desire to have another child. He mentioned adopting a baby, since I shouldn't have another child naturally. What do you think?"

"I think you're a wonderful mother and that any child would be lucky to be adopted by you and Jeff. Go for it," Erin's face relaxed into a smile as she sighed.

"Thanks. I think I just needed to hear that from someone else." Their time together passed quickly and too soon Penelope was back behind her desk, watching the clock. This was her one early day and she couldn't wait to be home. Finally, five o'clock rolled around and she shut down her computers and left. The lights were already off in Aaron's office and Reid was missing from his desk as well.

"They left while you were at lunch with Erin," Rossi said, and she looked up at him in surprise. "Hotch had some preparations to do for tonight."

"And you can't tell me what it is, either. First, my katydid clams up, and now you. Isn't there anything you can tell me?"

"Ian Doyle is dead. It looks like one of his former lovers got upset about something he did to her and she killed him early this evening in France." He smiled and looked knowingly at Emily's desk and she nodded in return. "Maybe my prodigal daughter will come home to us soon."

"That would be nice." She leaned over and hugged him quickly. "I'll see you tomorrow." He nodded and she made her way to the elevators. While she was waiting, Erin joined her. "Did you hear the news about Doyle?"

"Yes, I did. It's wonderful that some justice has finally been served. Do you think it will take long for her to return?"

There was a hint of sadness in the question and Penelope turned to look at her friend. "No, she'll be home as soon as she can be. But that won't change anything between the two of us, katydid. I'm your peach and she can just deal with it. Okay?"

Erin smiled a little and nodded. "Thank you. You'd never think that under this tough exterior lies a very tender and insecure heart." Her breath hitched a little and Penelope bumped her hip against Erin's. "Did you see the photos I posted on Facebook last night?"

"Yes. I take it Jeff took them. If I had known he was going to be taking pictures, I would have done something a little different with my hair."

"Oh, you looked fine." The elevator doors opened and they stepped on it with a number of other people. Using the crowd of people as a shield, she held onto Erin's hand until they got down to the parking garage. "Oh, and if you feel the need to call me tonight, for any reason, please call my cell phone. Courtney's been waking up to the phone ringing and we can't figure out why, but she has a really rough time getting back to sleep. And you know how important that is."

"Of course, katydid. If I don't call, I'll see you tomorrow." She let go of Erin's hand and made her way over to her car. Getting in, she found a bouquet of tulips sitting on her passenger seat. Picking them up, she smiled at the profusion of color. The drive home was uneventful, but Penelope found herself strangely happy as she parked next to Aaron.

The elevator seemed to take forever to get up to their floor and she tapped her foot in an impatient rhythm as she waited for it to stop on their floor. "I really cannot wait to find a house," she muttered lowly. The doors opened and she hurriedly made her way down the hall. Unlocking the door, she found herself breathing in the heavenly scent of Italian food. "I'm home, honey," she called out as she shut and locked the door.

"I'm in the kitchen, pumpkin."

She joined him and saw there were salad plates filled already, along with bowls set out for soup and dinner plates. "What's the occasion?"

"Do I need a reason to treat you well, Penelope?"

"When everyone, including Erin, knows something is up, then yes. Did you find a home for us?"

"Maybe. We'll just have to wait and see how the night progresses."

Penelope rolled her eyes and went to pick up the salad plates to bring them over to the table. Aaron just shook his head and stilled her hand. "What?"

"I'm waiting on you tonight. Take a seat." After she'd done so, he lit the candles on the table and then set their salads down. "Did you have a good lunch with Erin today?"

"Yeah. She's looking into adopting. Her and Jeff want another kid. Speaking of that, do you want more children?" She tucked into her salad, watching his face carefully.

"I would like to have two or three more kids. A brother for Jack at the very least. Would that be okay?"

She smiled gently. "That sounds wonderful, actually. I'm going to want to continue to work, though. I don't think I was made to be a homebody."

"That will be fine, pumpkin." They finished their salads and as he got up, Aaron handed her a single rose. Attached to the stem was a slip of paper and as he cleared their places, she read the note aloud.

"I will always love you. You will always love me. We will be happy for eternity." Sighing, she looked up at her lover as he set the bowl of soup in front of her. "Honey, that's so romantic."

"Well, I do have a romantic bone or two in my body." The soup was divine and she found herself groaning in pleasure. "Pumpkin, we still have two courses to go."

Penelope nodded. "I know. This is just so yummy. Did Dave give you the recipe?" He nodded. "I can tell. He always knows the best dishes to make." When that course was finished, Aaron gave her another rose and she read the paper as he cleared the table. "You are my sunshine. You make me happy. Without you, my day would be so boring. Thank you for loving me." Tears blurred her vision and she swallowed thickly, not wanting to break down.

"And for our main course, I made us vegetarian lasagna." He sat down once more and she reached across the table for his hand, holding on tightly. "What is it, Penelope?"

"Nothing. I just love you so much. I hope that we're just as much in love in twenty years as we are right now." She smiled shyly at him and he lifted her hand to his lips, kissing her palm tenderly. "You're going to make me cry, Aaron."

"I'm sorry."

"No, don't apologize. It would be a good cry." She didn't let go of his hand as they ate their main course, and she found herself waiting to read what message he'd written her. Before he released her hand, he pressed the bloom between her fingers and palm, smiling crookedly at her before clearing the plates. "A merry heart like yours is a gift to be treasured. That your merry heart is still in my life amazes me." For the first time, Penelope noticed Aaron had written some of the words in a different color, but before she could go back and look at the other papers, he was setting a piece of red velvet cake down in front of her.

"I remembered that this is your favorite. I got it at the bakery, though. I'm not quite that good a chef yet." She shrugged a little and he laughed lowly. "Would you really eat a burnt piece of cake?"

"If you had made it, yes." She broke off a piece and popped in into her mouth. "This is delicious, though."

"Good. I have one more rose for you, pumpkin." He handed it over to her and she blushed a little as she grasped it.

"To me, you are perfect. That you chose me continues to amaze me daily. Stay with me forever?" As she finished the note, she looked up at Aaron. Suddenly, she knew what he was asking her and she smiled through her tears. "Aaron?"

"I love you, Penelope Garcia." He held out a ring box to her and she took it. "Will you marry me?"

Penelope looked down at the box in her hands and bit her lip. "I love you, too, Aaron."

"What's holding you back?" His voice was so tender, so full of concern, and she felt her heart clench.

Reaching out for his hand, she clasped it tightly. "Every relationship I've ever seen has not ended well. My dad left my mom. Haley left you. Then there are Rossi's three wives. I don't want to lose you."

"And you won't lose me, I promise. We've seen our worst already, and we're still together." His voice was so earnest, and something clicked into place for her as she continued to look at him.

"Yes."

"Yes?"

"I will marry you. I don't know if this is a wise decision, but I can't live without you." Penelope burst into tears and he was at her side in an instant, pulling her close to his chest. "I love you."

"I love you, too. May I put your ring on now?" She pulled back and nodded, holding out her left hand to him. He opened the box and pulled out the ring. Penelope's eyes grew wide as she saw the large princess-cut aquamarine, and she looked up at him, smiling. "You're too unique for a diamond, Penny. Erin pushed me towards this stone."

"It's perfect, Aaron." Once it was firmly on her finger, she leaned forward and kissed him soundly. "I have to call Erin and let her know my answer." She pulled out her cell and quickly called her friend. "Katydid, I said yes!"

"I hoped you would, peach. I know that marriage isn't your cup of tea, but this will be perfect for you. Give Aaron my warmest regards."

"Will do. Love you."

"Love you, too." They hung up and she blew out the candles.

"Leave the dessert plates, Aaron." She leaned in and kissed him passionately. "I feel like celebrating."

"You read my mind, pumpkin." Taking her hand, he tugged her to her feet and brought her to their room. As he kissed her once more, she felt his fingers fumble with the zipper on her dress. As he focused on her clothes, she began to disrobe him. Aaron was finished before she was and she relished the feel of his hands on her breasts.

"Oh, Aaron," she moaned as his fingers thumbed her nipples into hard peaks. It took her forever to skim his boxers off his hips, but once they were gone, she wrapped her legs around him, pulling him down onto the bed with her.

There was none of their usual foreplay that evening as she needed him inside her, hot and hard. They shared a mutual orgasm and she pulled him down on top of her, holding him tightly as their breathing evened out. One of his large hands stroked her hair and she felt tears well up in her eyes. "Pumpkin?"

"It's nothing, Aaron. I guess I just never thought I'd end up in a fairy tale. The handsome knight who rides to the rescue of a maiden whose true beauty is buried deep inside…"

"None of that now. You are truly beautiful, inside and out. Your eyes are kind and honest. Your skin is soft and white and so responsive to my touch. Your breasts are amazingly sensitive, and your curves go on for days. You've never shied away from my scars, physical or mental, instead steadfastly loving me. If that doesn't make you gorgeous, inside and out, I don't know what does."

Penelope sighed and kissed him. "Have I told you that I love you?"

"Yes."

"Well, hear it again. I love you, Aaron Hotchner. You make me lovely." Penelope kissed him softly and arched into his hand as he cupped her breast once more, massaging it lightly. "Aaron, make love to me once more."

"Only once more? I was hoping to make love to you until the end of time."

"We can only do it one at a time, though."

He chuckled softly as he kissed his was down her body. "You do have a point there." He kissed one of her erect nipples. "And here."

"Aaron," she keened out lowly as he began to suckle strongly, his other hand teasing her clit. "Don't stop."

"Never, my love. Never."