Chapter 25

As much as Hotch liked Dave's suggestion, he just couldn't quite picture Pen at this point in her pregnancy picnicking on the ground after a long walk. Besides, he wanted a grown up romantic evening to present his proposal, and they both enjoyed spending their days with Jack. In fact, Jack barely let her out of his sight.

On his way home he went by to check on a certain restaurant that he hadn't been at in years. He remembered that it had a fabulous view with a small lounge attached in which the entertainment was provided by a piano instead of a fancy sound system. He only needed to make sure that it hadn't changed hands and that nothing had changed.

After stopping in he was pleased to find out that the restaurant had changed hands but that the menu had improved, and the lounge entertainment was still a lone singer playing the piano and that she took requests. They were pretty much booked up for that night but he was able to make a reservation for the next night (Sundays weren't their busiest night of the week). He would have preferred not having to go to work the morning after their night out but he'd take what he could get.

When he got home he couldn't help but laugh. The music was blaring with "The Twist" and Jack was standing on the couch and holding Penny's hands while the two 'twisted' like crazy. He came up behind her and putting his hands on her stomach slowed her movements. "Easy Sweetheart, you're going to give our little girl whiplash with all that," he laughed.

"Oh exercise is good for her," she lowered her voice as she turned in his arms, "and aren't you glad about that!" She didn't ask that last part, she stated it.

He started to turn a darker shade and turned to Jack who was still standing on the sofa. "Have you been having fun buddy?" he asked loudly above the loud music. Then turning to Penny, "Since we can't move until next weekend now you'd better lower that volume Love."

Penny grabbed the remote and lowered the volume to extremely low, knowing that their dance session had ended.

"We had fun Daddy, Miss Penny said she gave us both silly pills."

"Well I don't think either of you ever need silly pills," he replied pulling each of them into an arm and slipping his arms far enough around them to tickle their sides. He was rewarded with giggles from both of them.

After they had all settled down Hotch inquired, "So did you have anything planned for this evening?"

"Well we prepared some food, it's in the refrigerator, why?" she looked questioningly at Jack who shrugged and looked at his dad. Then Penelope looked that way too.

"Well, on the way home I just happened to find a theatre that is still playing 'How to Train Your Dragon'." Hotch answered. "And… it happens to be right next to a restaurant that Uncle Dave says is good."

"Cool! Do they make sgabetti and meatballs?" Jack asked.

Penelope giggled but she wasn't about to touch that one. She simply remarked with, "Well if I'm lucky they serve meatballs with a bit of spaghetti."

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As they walked away from the movie, Jack was between his father and Miss Penny holding each of their hands and swinging occasionally.

"Jack, I'd like you to spend tomorrow night with your Aunt Jessica. It's time I took Miss Penny out on a date. Would that be ok with you?"

"Sure Dad, I love staying over with Aunt Jess. But I dunno if you should take Aunt Penny dancing at all, I kinda wore her out today."

Hotch laughed, "Ok Buddy, I'll keep that in mind." He winked at Garcia. "That ok with you Pen? And before you say anything, they have thick cut prime rib, a 16 oz ribeye, and filet mignon on the menu as well as roasted chicken and an assortment of baked fresh fish."

"A date huh?" Penelope beamed, "like I'd say no." A petrified look crossed her face then, "I don't have anything nice though. Not since she started making herself known." She was looking down.

"Oh and we know how you hate to shop." Hotch rolled his eyes.

"I …" she had begun excitedly but then stopped and looked at Hotch, "I want to ask JJ to go shopping with me. Do you think it would be ok, do you think she's ready? Maybe help heal things up between us?"

"I'm sure she'd love to go. You might think about asking Emily too, she's got less than a week left, Strauss has already given me a list of perspective replacements."

"OK." Her smile radiated.

Jack was not unaware that his dad was planning something special, he looked up at Hotch and winked, and Hotch quickly winked back before Penelope saw.

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"Come on you guys, help me out here, I want to be dazzling. I mean as much as that is possible in my current state."

"Well what sort of things does he compliment you on PG?" Emily asked.

"Oh wouldn't you like to know my sweet?" Garcia wiggled her eyebrows.

Emily tilted her head to the side as if to say 'Really?'

"Ok, ok. He loves it when I wear my light pink shimmery lipstick. He says that the soft look matches my soft-heartedness." But while she was speaking JJ and Emily were looking at each other and laughing at the prior comment.

"Ok, so he likes you in pink. I saw something over in that corner over there," JJ said.

Ten minutes later Penelope was stepping out of the dressing room in the loveliest maternity dress she could imagine. Sure, it lacked her usual bright splash, but it also made her feel like a princess. It was sleeveless so she'd have to wear a cardigan but she had one of those that would match this perfectly. The dress had a square neckline that was trimmed in wide pink satin. The rest of the material was a thin poly with identical pale pink but pleated. It gathered just under her full breasts and had a longer front hem so that with her full tummy the hem swirled perfectly with the back at knee length.

"Well?" she asked nervously of her friends.

"Oh Pen, if he weren't already in love with you… You in that dress would definitely steel his heart."

Garcia then looked at Emily.

"Definitely. I mean, you took my breath away. You're gonna knock his socks off I'm sure." Emily hadn't been joking. After seeing a glum Garcia for about a year, and now see her pregnant and ecstatically happy, and twirling in the beautiful pink dress, it had taken her breath away. Emily finally felt a peace about leaving that she hadn't known until then.

"Shoes!" JJ announced.

"Oh you're right," Penelope said. "Not that I don't have shoes that would match, but they have two and a half inch heels, I can't wear them."

A block down the street they were able to find a shop that had white ballet type slippers with pearl and rhinestone accents and they were purchased. "Ok my sweets, thank you so much for helping me. But I need to get home now and do something with my hair before tonight. Wish me luck."

Emily looked at JJ in shock and JJ looked back at Emily with determination.

JJ piped up first. "Oh I think NOT! We are coming with you! We are going to be there while you fix your hair and get ready for this knock out date. Sorry Garcie, but you are NOT ditching us at this point in the game. Besides, I picked you up remember? You can't go anywhere without me."

Penelope almost blurted out that she intended to take a cab but then thought better of it. Her friends wanted to be there for her and she would let them. This was the re-bonding time that they all needed. And besides, after month of not confiding or sharing anything with her friends, she needed this as well.

Sorry I know its been a while, but I took an unplanned trip (in the rain). Wow and car top carrier leaked, reached my destination with ruined clothes lol. I've been having a crazy, busy time. I didn't even take time to proof this before posting it to you. Hope you all enjoy it, still just a build up to the big proposal scene with I only hope I can do justice to.

Let me know what you think :-)