"Penny, why is the door to the guest bedroom locked?" Erin asked as Penelope got ready for work the first morning of November.
"You'll just have to wait until the eighth for the answer to that, my dove." She leaned over and kissed Erin's cheek, leaving behind a bright red lip print. "Remember, we're taking care of Jack tonight so the two lovebirds can go out. I think Hotch said he wanted to spend the night, since tomorrow's Saturday."
"Are you sure I can't peek in there?"
"It's one week, Erin. I think you can hold out until then. Please?" Erin nodded and Penelope kissed her once more. "Thank you. I'll see you tonight."
One thing Penelope still had not grown accustomed to was how quiet the drive in was. Even when they didn't talk on the way in, there was still the soft sound of her breathing, the quiet noises she made when she was thinking. Penelope was alone with her thoughts, and that made the short trip seem very long.
She had just sat down in front of her computer when her phone rang. "Speak, mortal."
"Hey Penelope. Have you found a teacher yet?"
"Don't I wish, Karen. I'm still waiting for Rachel Lockington to get back with me, though. I think she said she'd call today, so I'll know by tonight, hopefully. So, where's Hotch taking you this evening?"
"Some French place, I think. So, I don't want to hurt Jack, but he's not the one, Penny. What do I say so I don't hurt either of them?"
"Whatever you do, sooner is always better than later. It's always harder when there's a child in the mix. Be honest with him, but not brutally so. I know you'll find the words inside you." Another call beeped in her ear. "I have to go, hun. Talk to you tonight." She switched over to the other call. "Hello?"
"Is this Penelope Garcia?"
"It is. And you are?"
"This is Rachel Lockington returning your call. You were inquiring about lessons?"
"Yes. My partner has always wanted to play the cello and finally has the time to do so. I'm giving her a cello for her birthday next week and wanted to get the lessons set up for her as well. What are your available times?"
"I have an opening on Thursdays at four o'clock. Would that work with her schedule?"
"That would be perfect. Besides the instrument and the bow, do I need to include anything else with it?"
"Resin for the strings and a good tuner, certainly. A metronome would be nice, but not an absolute necessity for the first few months, as she'll just be learning to play. What type of cello did you get her?"
"Both the instrument and bow came from Fein Stringed Instruments. I purchased a Braga copy."
"Really?" Ms. Lockington asked, sounding a bit shocked.
"I know, it was a bit pricey, but I wanted her to have the best. She's kind of worth it."
"I just hope she likes playing, then. I'll pencil her in for which Thursday, then?"
"The fourteenth. Could you send directions to your place, please?"
"Of course, I'll just need your email and I'll send them over."
Penelope told her what it was and then concluded the conversation, moving on with the rest of her work. She looked at the notes she'd taken during her conversation with Ms. Lockington. While she was running a search for one of her teams on the field, she looked up the other items mentioned by the cellist. She ordered them from a local music shop and had them sent to her office.
When she arrived home that evening, Jack was already there, playing video games with Paul. She set her purse on the end table and went upstairs, checking the guest room door. Everything appeared as she'd left it, and she sighed with relief. She then joined Erin in the kitchen. "Do you need me to do anything?"
"No, dear. How was your day?"
"Mundane. Karen's going to break up with Hotch tonight. I hope Jack takes the new well. He really likes Karen."
Erin handed her a mug of tea. "But it's only been two months, really. And we'll be there to help pull him through it okay. Jack is a very resilient child, given all that he's been through."
Penelope nodded and leaned against the counter. "My first instinct is to protect him from everything bad in this world, every hurt he'll ever feel."
"Spoken like a true mother." She looked at Penelope over the rim of her mug. "I haven't forgotten, by the way. I'd just like to wait for a little bit to begin anything."
"That does sound for the best. I've waited this long, what's a few more months?" Erin nodded absently, not looking up from her mug this time, and Penelope wondered if she was missing something.
After dinner, Paul disappeared upstairs to work on homework while they stayed downstairs watching a movie. When the credits rolled, Penelope looked down at Jack and found him sound asleep, curled up into Erin's side. She looked up at the clock and saw how late it had become. "We should run him up to his room," Penelope whispered, not wanting to disturb him.
"It is getting rather late, isn't it?" Erin replied. "I hope things are going well."
"Me, too." Penelope gently lifted Jack onto her shoulder and brought him up to the room they had set up for him. Erin turned back the covers, then helped her take off his shoes. After tucking him in, they went back downstairs. Erin opened a bottle of wine and poured them each a glass, setting the bottle on the coffee table.
"So, what did you get me for my birthday, my peacock?" she asked coyly, running her fingers up and down Penelope's arm. Penelope shivered under the light touch, feeling her stomach clench as desire washed over her body.
"There's only seven more days until then, but if you need me to, I can distract with all manner of delights." She dipped her finger in the wine and drew it along her neck. Penelope leaned in and licked the wine off, enjoying the heightened pulse she felt beneath her tongue.
Erin purred as Penelope sucked on the pulse point and dug her fingers in Penelope's hair, holding her there. They heard the door to the den open and sprang apart quickly, trying to act normally.
"Hello Mother, Penelope. I'm home."
"Karen, honey, how'd it go tonight?" Erin asked as she patted the seat next to her on the sofa.
Karen flopped down on the sofa and buried her face in her mother's shoulder. "I didn't think it would hurt so much to let him go. I know he's not the one for me, but the sad understanding in his eyes just tore at my heart. What do I tell Jack?" she asked, her voice breaking as she began to cry. Erin wrapped her arm around Karen's shoulders, drawing her close.
"Oh, Karen, you're growing up and realizing that sometimes by wanting to keep others from hurting, we end up hurting ourselves. I'm sure he'll be able to move on. As for Jack, don't treat him any differently. It'll hurt more if you suddenly pull away from him. What you feel for Aaron is not what you feel for Jack, and it's okay to still love the son, even if you're not in love with the father." Penelope felt her lean down and heard the soft sound of lips on flesh. "Go to sleep now, my daughter. Things will be clearer in the morning."
Karen got up and hugged her mother and then Penelope. After she went upstairs, Erin turned to Penelope. "Hotch isn't here. Should we call him in the morning or just wait and see when he comes for Jack?"
"Wait and see. He needs some time to process, which is why he didn't come for Jack. I mean, think of how serious things were between us at two months. Though it seems like we were in it for the long haul from the very beginning." Penelope leaned over and kissed Erin. "Shall we make our way upstairs as well?"
In the morning, they woke up together and while Erin went to make breakfast, Penelope checked in on Jack. He was still sleeping and she smiled at how peaceful he looked. Shutting the door quietly, she then went to look in on Karen. As she opened the door she could hear the soft sound of crying. "Karen?"
"Come in, Penelope," she choked out and Penelope stepped further into the room, closing the door behind her. "Is Mother up yet?"
"She's making breakfast right now. How does your heart feel this morning?"
"Still heavy. I don't know why I'm crying, this was not going to work out in the first place, and in the second, I'm not ready to be a mother. I look at how you and Mother are with Jack and I'm not that good. I wish I was, since the two of you make it look so easy. It's almost like we're ships passing in the night."
"Sugar, I understand that completely. Mine's named Derek Morgan." Penelope sat on the bed and looked at Karen. "Then I found your mother, and suddenly, he didn't matter any longer to my heart of hearts. You have to find your special one just for you."
"Thanks, Penny. Do you know what Mother's making?"
"Something delicious, of course. Do you want to go down and find out?"
"In our pajamas?"
"Of course. It's Saturday, and I'm not planning on going anywhere. Lazy weekends are the best! Oh, and I lined up Ms. Lockington, so all I'm waiting on are a few final things to complete the total package." Arm in arm, they descended and went into the kitchen. Erin was just plating up the food when they entered. "Belgian waffles, yes!"
"Sounded good this morning. There are more warming for Paul and Jack when they get up, but go ahead and eat, who knows when that will be."
Karen pulled out the syrup and set it on the counter, climbing up on one of the stools. They had just about finished eating when Jack joined them. Penelope got up and put two waffles on a plate, then handed it to him. While he was eating, the doorbell rang and Erin got up to answer it. A few moments later, she returned with Hotch in tow. Karen took one look at him, blushed, and got up, leaving the room before he could say anything to her.
"Hey Jack, are you ready to go?"
"I suppose," he replied as he swallowed his last bite. After he'd slipped off the stool, he hugged Penelope and then Erin. "Tell Karen I said goodbye. Am I going to see you next weekend?"
"Remember sweetie? Next Friday is my birthday and Aunt Penelope and I are going out to dinner."
"I can watch him, Mom, if that's okay. We're in the middle of an epic game and all."
Erin looked at Hotch, who nodded. "Then we'll see you next weekend. Bring your appetite, there will be cake." Jack smiled and hugged her once more, then followed his father out. "We are having cake, right?"
"Of course we are. I have it on order from the bakery. Karen's picking it up after her last class on Friday," Penelope replied. She put their dishes in the washer and then made her way upstairs to get dressed for the day. As she stood in front of her closet, she felt hands creep under her nightshirt and cup her breasts. "Hello, Erin," she softly said, then moaned as Erin kissed her neck. She willingly let her lover lead her back to bed.