A/n: All right, last chapter before we start the new year in this story, so lets get to it right away!
A/n2: This chapter has been rewritten.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
''It looks like Dave went all out for Christmas and New Year's'' Tara said, as the pair walked up the driveway of the house, the brunette looking at all the Christmas decoration that was still in place. She had been to Rossi's place before, but she had never seen it quite like this, so it was a pretty impressive sight to see.
''Oh...you don't even know, Sweetheart'' Penelope said with a chuckle, ''This is only just the outside'' the blonde told her, knowing her fiance hadn't experienced one of Rossi's Christmas or New Year's eve parties before, so this would be fun, ''Rossi doesn't joke around when it comes to hosting a party''.
''I know he doesn't'' Tara replied, having figured that out a while back already, ''I already noticed that at that dinner last year'' she said.
''Chocolate Angel, that was nothing compared to this'' Penelope told her, ''He literally doesn't hold back, trust me''.
''Why doesn't that surprise me from him'' the brunette laughed.
''Yeah, I know right'' Penelope laughed too.
''Tara, Penelope'' a voice interrupted them from behind, making the couple stop mid-step and turn around to the person belonging to that voice.
''Daniel, Jake'' Tara's lips turned up into a beaming smile, having missed them, ''What are you guys doing here?'' she asked.
''That's a warm greeting'' Daniel chuckled, as he pulled the woman into a hug.
''Sorry'' Tara said, pulling away, ''I just didn't expect you here. That's all'' she told him, before turning to Jake and hugging him too.
''Yeah, you never told us you were invited to Rossi's party, too'' Penelope said, giving the pair greeting hugs too.
''I guess we forgot to tell'' Daniel replied, as he pulled away from the blonde, ''Busy life'' he told them.
''We can understand that'' Tara said, the past couple of months not having been too easy on them either, although their small vacation having been a breath of fresh air between the bustle of the BAU life.
''We know'' Daniel replied softly, knowing their jobs, and having heard the stories.
''But it's really good to see you two again'' Jake said, ''It's been too long'' he told them.
''Yes, it's been way too long'' Penelope agreed.
''Yes, definitely way too long'' Jake smiled.
''Guys, you're overreacting a little there, it's only been a month and a half'' Tara told them, an amused look covering her face. Leave it to her fiance and Jake to overreact over something like that. Especially because they've probably been on the phone, calling each other, almost everyday. Which Tara actually really liked. She loves that Penelope has become such close friends with the guys, it just confirms even more how well the blonde fits into her life.
''We know, but that's still a month and a half too long'' Jake stated matter of fact.
''I actually agree'' Daniel said, ''Also...I miss seeing you two in my bar'' he told them.
''We know, Sweetie'' Penelope said with a sigh, because she wished they could go out a lot more too, ''But work gets in the way, way too much'' the blonde told Daniel.
''A lot of bad ones, húh?'' Jake said sympathetically, knowing that their job was a tough one, which made him understand why they couldn't always be out and about.
''Something like that'' Tara replied with a nod of her head, ''Unsubs definitely do not take a break'' the brunette exhaled.
''That sucks'' Daniel said.
''Yeah, that really sucks'' Tara said, as she took a step closer to Penelope, while putting her hands deeper into her coat pockets, trying to gain as much warmth as she could, as she felt the cold slowly seep through her coat.
''Baby, are you cold?'' Penelope questioned, after noticing the brunette getting closer to her and digging her hands deeper into her coat.
''Just a bit'' Tara told her with a shrug, though a shiver showed that she was much colder than she let on.
''Come on, lets get inside'' Penelope said, as she threaded an arm through Tara's.
''Thank you'' Tara replied with a grateful smile.
''Of course'' the blonde smiled softly back, ''Besides, Dave and the others are probably waiting for us by now'' Penelope told the brunette, as she pulled Tara with her to walk further. Daniel and Jack following closely behind them.
''Yeah, probably'' Tara agreed with a nod, as they walked up the steps of the stairs to the frontdoor. The only sound that could be heard the clicking of their heels until the frontdoor opened before they could even knock, or even take the last step up the stairs.
''Ladies. Gentlemen.'' Dave greeted them with a big smile, inviting them immediately in.
''Were you waiting at the door?'' Tara asked amused, as she let go of her fiance, before walking inside and greeting the man with a hug.
''Maybe...maybe not'' Dave shrugged, as he hugged the tall brunette back.
''Trust me, he was waiting by the door'' Hayden told them, teasing the older man.
''We already got that feeling'' Penelope giggled, as she greeted the other woman.
''We brought you a small gift by the way'' Tara said, holding up a bottle of brownish liquid.
''Oh, Dear...you didn't have to do that'' Hayden said, though accepting the bottle of scotch, she knew would probably be empty by the end of the night.
''We couldn't come empty handed, could we?'' Penelope said, as she shrugged off her coat.
''You could've'' Rossi stated, ''But I know you two, so you don't'' he smiled, ''So, thank you'' he told them softly.
''Of course'' Tara waved the thank you away, it not being necessary.
''It looks like we coincidentally thought the same, because we too brought you some alcohol'' Jake chuckled, as he too held up a bottle containing scotch.
''Well...you can never have too much scotch'' Rossi said, as he took the bottle from the guy, ''Thank you, gentlemen'' he told them with a kind smile.
''No problem'' Daniel smiled back.
''It's going to be a fun night, I see'' Hayden laughed, referring to the two bottles of alcohol, and the half dozen of bottles already standing ready to be served in their kitchen.
''As it's supposed to be!'' Jake stated with a grin, as he took off his jacket, while looking around him for a place to hang it.
''Come here'' Hayden set, gesturing to the jacket.
''Thank you'' Jake said thankful, as he handed over his jacket to Hayden.
''All right, lets move this to the livingroom'' Rossi said, after everyone got rid of their coats and jackets.
The two couples followed the pair as they were led through the hallway and into the livingroom, where they were met with soft music, delicious smelling food, and chatter from their family and friends.
''I now understand what you mean'' Tara whispered to her fiance, as she now saw first-handed what a David Rossi party really looked like.
''Anything to drink, ladies?'' a waiter interrupted them, before Penelope could even say anything back.
''Yes, thank you'' Penelope smiled up to the guy, ''A white wine, please'' she said.
''A red one for me, thank you'' Tara told the guy.
''A red and a white one coming right up'' he told them with a polite smile, before walking away.
''Rossi definitely doesn't hold back, does he?'' Tara said, taking in everything and everyone, noticing that they were actually the last ones to arrive.
''Told you'' Penelope smiled, before pulling the brunette with her to mingle themselves with the rest.
A couple of hours went by, and the night was going great. Upstairs the youngest kids were sleeping, while downstairs the alcohol was flowing, food was eaten, people were dancing and talking, kids were playing, and time was slowly ticking away, coming closer and closer to midnight. All in all, everyone was enjoying themselves a lot.
''Are any of you doing any New Year's resolutions, or something?'' Savannah questioned the group of people she had been sitting with for the past half hour.
''Not really'' Shawn, Joy's husband, shook his head, ''Though I'm secretly hoping for another baby, but that's not really a New Year's resolution, is it?'' he told them, as he looked over to his wife standing across the room talking to her parents, and Jake and Daniel.
''It's not, but it's still a great thing to want in the new year'' Penelope smiled softly to him, secretly having had thoughts about having kids herself lately too.
''It is great, but a handful. Trust me'' Will chuckled, before taking a sip from his beer.
''Yes, trust us. I love both our boys, but they're definitely double the trouble'' JJ agreed with her husband.
''But trouble you love, right?'' Shawn said with a smile, loving his own son unconditionally, no matter what.
''More than anything'' JJ said, a loving smile curling the corners of her lips.
''So, does Joy want another child, too? Or is it just you?'' Hotch asked.
''I don't know'' Shawn replied with a shrug, ''I'm not really sure what Joy actually wants. We haven't really talked about having more kids for a while now'' he told them, ''I think, she thinks, that Kai is enough for now''.
''Talk to her, that is all I can tell you'' JJ told him.
''I know'' Shawn nodded, already planning on doing that some time soon.
''I'm actually looking forward to a second kid, too'' Derek spoke up.
''Derek!'' Savannah called out beside him, ''Hank is only one''.
''So...'' Derek shrugged, ''I want to give him a little brother or sister''.
''I want that too, but not now'' Savannah told him, ''Lets give it another year, or two'' she said.
''All right, we can wait'' Derek told her, ''But, so you know, I want a second one at least''.
''At least?'' Savannah's eyes widened, ''How many kids are you thinking about, Derek''.
''Three, or four, maybe even more'' Derek replied.
''Wow...okay'' Savannah breathed out, this information being new to her, ''We'll talk about this later, because right now I need another drink'' she said, before asking one of the waiters to bring her another glass of white wine.
''That looks like it's going well'' Tara said with an amused chuckle, before taking a sip from her wine.
''Talking about doing well, do you two have any New Year's resolutions?'' Will asked the engaged couple.
''Nope'' Penelope shook her head, ''The only thing I'm going to do next year is marry my gorgeous fiance'' she told them, as she lovingly smiled up to the brunette.
''I second that'' Tara said.
''Talking about the wedding, when can I expect to be a bridesmaid?'' JJ teased.
''You can expect to be that within the next five or six months'' Tara told her, loving all the excitement around their wedding.
''Yes'' Penelope smiled, ''We're trying for a spring or summer wedding'' the blonde said, ''We don't have an actual date yet, but we're definitely trying for that''.
''We'll wait for the invitation, than'' JJ smiled.
''Hopefully we'll be able to make and send those within the next month'' Tara told the blonde, assuring them all that it won't be long until they know when the wedding would be.
''Hey, that reminds me, did you guys hear anything back from the park yet?'' Derek asked, having heard bits and pieces about the wedding planning from Penelope, but nothing concrete. Nothing that told him if anything was already set.
''No, we haven't'' Tara shook her head, ''But they told us that it could take up to two months before we get any confirmations, so there's still about a month and a half left'' she told him.
''Park?'' Savannah questioned, looking at the couple.
''Yes, the local park'' Penelope told them all, ''It's got this beautiful open area with the gazebo, and everything...'' she said.
''You mean the one on the south side? The one that's looking out over the lake?'' JJ asked.
''Yes, that's the one'' Penelope replied with a nod.
''It's really beautiful there'' Savannah said, having spend quite some time at the park lately because of Hank, and knowing exactly which spot the couple was talking about.
''Yes, it is, especially around the spring and summer, which is the reason why we want to do it there'' Penelope told her.
''I can definitely see the appeal to that'' JJ smiled softly, being happy for her friends.
''A venue is great and all, but is there any word on who's going to be the maid or man of honor for you two?'' Emily asked, coming up behind the couple with Mark.
''I'm still thinking about it'' Tara said, though already knowing who she was going to pick to be her maid or man of honor, only wanting to wait until the right time to ask the person.
''I'm still free'' Emily told her, ''So in doubt, choose Prentiss'' she said, a joking undertone in her voice, as she sat down across from them, next to Hotch.
''That sounds like a phrase for a company, or presidential election, or something...'' Tara laughed.
''Who knows what the future holds'' Emily winked.
''They do say that the future is female'' Savannah said.
''Feminism all the way!'' Penelope chanted.
''I cheer and drink to that'' Emily held up her drink.
''Here, here'' JJ cheered, holding up her drink too.
''Well, Guys, it looks like we're not needed anymore'' Mark chuckled.
''Well...that's not completely true'' Emily said, ''There are some things we need you for, like sex'' she told her boyfriend teasingly.
''Wow, Prentiss, really?'' Derek shook his head, though laughing.
''Maybe you need them for that, but I'm fine where I am'' Tara said smug, her sex life having been the best she can remember, so she definitely didn't need a guy.
''Ditto'' Penelope said.
''That good, huh?'' Emily said.
''Oh...they've got it more than just good'' Derek smirked, ''Believe me'' he said, ''I remember last week, when I fou-''.
''Derek!'' Penelope cut him off, a horrified look on her face, as a blush crept into her cheeks.
''Just saying'' he shrugged, though his smirk didn't waver one bit, ''Those pink pan-'' but again he got cut off.
''Oeh, I love this song'' Tara said, talking much louder than needed, so she could talk over the guy, ''Lets dance'' she told the blonde, before pulling her up with her from the couch, whisking her away from the conversation before anyone could say, do, or question anything further, embarrassing them even more.
''Morgan what did you find? What was pink?'' the couple could hear Emily ask, as they walked away from them, making the pair roll their eyes. Leave it to Prentiss to want to hear all the juicy parts.
''Thank you'' Penelope told her fiance grateful, when they were out of earshot, as she followed the brunette to the make shift dance floor Rossi had made in the middle of the livingroom.
''Of course'' Tara smiled softly at the relieved look on Penelope's face, ''I really didn't want to hear Morgan embarrass you and us even more''.
''I know, right'' Penelope sighed, ''That man really does not know when to shut up sometimes''.
''No, he definitely doesn't'' Tara chuckled, ''But you have to keep in mind that you made him your man of honor'' she told the blonde, ''So you can expect stories like that at our wedding''.
''O my God'' Penelope's eyes widened, ''I never even thought about that''.
''It's going to be a really fun wedding reception, isn't it?'' Tara let out a chuckle, as she pulled the blonde closer to her, and started swaying them to the soft sounds coming through the stereo speakers, ''By the way, what was Derek actually talking about?'' the brunette asked, not remembering hearing anything from her fiance about Morgan having found something pink that belonged to them.
''God...'' Penelope exhaled, ''You remember last week, after we came back from Christmas shopping?''.
''Yeah, of course, how can I forget'' Tara said, a small smirk on her lips.
''Get your mind out of the gutter, Miss. Lewis'' the blonde joked.
''What can I say? You made me remember'' Tara shrugged.
''Like you can actually forget'' Penelope told her knowingly.
''Never'' Tara grinned.
''Exactly'' the blonde smiled, ''But yeah, after that night, the next morning Morgan came around early, and as I was making coffee in the kitchen he suddenly bend down next to me and picked something up from the floor'' Penelope told the brunette, before leaning closer to her fiance and whispering, ''That something being my pink panties from the night before''.
''Seriously?'' Tara said.
''Yeah'' Penelope nodded.
''Well, if you think about it, it's actually not that embarrassing'' Tara told her fiance, ''All he got out of that, is that he knows that we've had sex somewhere else than the bedroom'' she said, ''It's not like he actually caught us in the act, or something''.
''Tara!'' Penelope called out a little louder than she intended, gaining a couple of turning heads, which turned back around soon after when they saw that there was nothing to be seen, ''I'm a private person when it comes to that, so that was embarrassing for me''.
''All right, all right'' the brunette said, ''I understand. I wouldn't have been happy about one of our friend's finding my underwear somewhere, and making fun of it, either''.
''Exactly'' Penelope said, ''And you know how much I love my privacy when it comes to that''.
''I know'' Tara said softly, ''I like my privacy, too''.
''I know'' Penelope nodded, knowing that, ''But, yeah, that's what he was talking about''.
''Well, give it a couple of weeks, and he'll probably has forgotten all about it'' Tara said.
''Yeah, right'' Penelope snorted, ''That guy will never forget something like that. Trust me'' she told her fiance, ''He'll keep on teasing us with it for the rest of our lives''.
''Than we just need to be nonchalant about it'' Tara told her.
''Yeah, I guess that'll eventually work'' the blonde agreed.
''All right, enough about that'' Tara told her fiance, as she twirled them around, making the blonde smile again, ''I rather talk about this song'' the brunette said, ''I just love it''.
''I know you do'' Penelope's smile turned sweet, as she pulled the other woman a bit closer, holding her a little bit tighter, as they slowly danced to one of their favorite songs, ''I actually think we should make it our song for our first dance as wife and wife'' the blonde said.
''Really?'' Tara's lips turned up into a smile.
''Yes, really'' Penelope nodded, loving the happiness that shone in the brunette's eyes.
''I really like the sound of that'' Tara said.
''The sound of what? The song part, or the wife and wife part?'' Penelope questioned teasingly.
''The song part'' Tara replied, which made the blonde's heart drop for a second, ''Because the wife and wife part I don't just like, I love it'' she told Penelope, looking into her eyes, showing the other woman how much she means those words.
''That's good to know'' Penelope smiled, as her heart swelled double its size because of the brunette's words, and the look in her eyes, ''So this is our song, húh?'' the blonde said.
''Yes, it definitely is'' Tara smiled softly.
''Good'' the blonde's lips melted into a loving smile.
''All right, everyone! It's almost time.'' Rossi interrupted everyone's moments and conversations, as Hayden turned the music down, and put the television on, which showed that there were only fifteen minutes left before midnight, ''Lets go outside'' Rossi told everyone as he shrugged on his jacket, so he could go set up the fireworks with the help of Hotch and his son in law.
Everyone followed his lead, and after all the kids were woken up, and everyone was dressed warmly enough, they all gathered in the backyard, where they waited the last couple of minutes before the New Year started. And the wait didn't last long, because before they knew it the sound of the ball dropping on the television, and fireworks going off around them could be heard.
''Happy New Year, Tara'' Penelope smiled softly up to the brunette, as everyone around them were exchanging Happy New Year's.
''Happy New Year, Penelope'' Tara replied, before leaning down and pulling the blonde into a kiss, enjoying the first few moments of the new year with the love of her life.
A/n: So this chapter got a bit longer than I thought it would be. I was aiming for a short finishing of the year kind of chapter, just some small happy new year thingy, but instead created this, which is good too! So I hope you liked it, and I'll see you guys next chapter!
Love, Ciao.