AN: I'm glad to see you all enjoy Penelope and Nora's friendship. There will be plenty of it to come. If you can't tell I quite enjoy it also. Funny enough it wasn't part of the original idea for this story. I really didn't get the idea till I was working on the chapter they go to lunch and then I realized it had some potential. Everyone needs a Penelope in their life and if you don't have one become someone's Penelope.
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Saturday
Nora spent the next morning playing with her new toys. They were soon scattered throughout different parts of the house, but Rossi wouldn't have it any other way. The real fun of their day, however, did not begin till after lunch.
Nora was playing with her new Barbies at the coffee table in the den while Lion King 2 played in the background. Rossi entered the room looking down at his phone. "Penelope sent me a very detailed list of what we need to get started on your room. First thing on the list is to pick up painting supplies, so put your shoes on and we can head to the hardware store."
Nora hummed, grabbing Simba, before running upstairs to get her shoes. Rossi walked further into the den to turn the tv off and pick up the dolls to put them out of the reach of Mudgie. "Meet me at the door!"
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"So..." Rossi trailed off, once again looked down at the list on his phone. "Supplies or paint first?"
Nora shrugged as Rossi grabbed a shopping cart. "I guess we could start with the supplies. Penelope said we need plastic tarps, painter's tape, paint sticks, paint trays, and an array of paint brushes. Easy enough, right?"
The tarp was easy, the painter's tape was easy, the paint sticks were easy, the paint trays were easy, but the paint brushes were a monster. Penelope had given him so many different types of brushes to get. Rossi didn't even know there were that many types of brushes. They walked up and down the same aisle at least ten times hunting down the last of the brushes Penelope wanted. Looking at her list it seemed they were redecorating his entire mansion instead of just the one room. He had been slightly weary when she had asked for his credit card information. He had a feeling he wasn't going to like his statement at the end of the month, but it was worth it to see Nora happy. Besides he rarely caused any big dips in his money, and if he was being honest his next book would make up for it.
Next on their list was the paint. A list Penelope had carefully crafted, so he only had to read off the paint codes and sizes. Rossi couldn't figure out why they needed so many different colors for one room, but Penelope had threatened him with cyber harm if he didn't follow her list exactly.
Walking up to the mixing counter Rossi felt bad for the kid who greeted them with an overly cheery smile. They were fixing to ruin that kid's day.
"How may I help you today?"
Rossi let out a nervous chuckle as he pulled out his phone. "You might want a pen and paper."
The cheery smile was wiped off the kid's face as he visualbly gulped.
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"I think that's it," Rossi announced as he brought the last of the paint to Nora's room. "Now we just have to move all of your stuff out. I was thinking you could stay in the room down the hall until this room is done. Is that okay?"
Nora nodded mindlessly running her hand down the side of her dresser. "Why don't you start taking your books and toys while I go get some tools to take this bed apart."
Nora nodded, happily setting Simba on the dresser, as she grabbed a handful of books to take down the hall. Rossi headed in the opposite direction to the garage to grab his tool box. He was not looking forward to taking apart the bed. He hadn't been present when it was put together, so he heavily doubted his ability in taking it apart.
By the time Rossi found the tools he needed Nora had made great headway in clearing out her toys and books. "Think you can take your clothes next?"
Nora netted her brow in thought, sizing up her closet with her hands on her hip and nodded. "Oui (Yes)."
Rossi chuckled at the look of determination on her face. "Okay, let me know if you need any help."
Rossi started taking the sheets off the bed while Nora started on the closet. He turned when he heard a clattering noise behind him. Nora wasn't quite tall enough to take her clothes off the rack, so she had resulted in using her batton to knock them down. Once they were on the floor she would gather them up and take them to her temporary room. Rossi shrugged. "If it works it works. Just be careful, please."
Once the sheets and comforter were folded and set on the dresser Rossi moved on to the mattress. He quickly realized that moving the mattress from Nora's room to the planned store room downstairs was not going to happen alone. An extra room down the hall would have to work. Rossi barely got the mattress out the door before he had to lean against the wall to rest. Who knew a mattress could be so heavy and hard to move?
Nora paused on her return trip and looked up at Rossi leaned against the wall. "Aider (Help)?"
Rossi looked down. He'd heard Nora use that word before, but he still wasn't quite sure of its meaning yet. He really needed to have Penelope or Erin make him flash cards or something. "Okay?"
Nora turned to the mattress and used all the force in her little body to try and push it. With no luck she turned back to Rossi. He gave her a small smile as he joined her in pushing the mattress down the hall. Moving the mattress wasn't any easier, but watching the look of satisfaction on Nora's face for helping made the task seem lighter.
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Rossi was sitting on the couch with his feet resting on the coffee table. Moving the furniture out of Nora's room had really took it out of him. Nora was sitting next to him looking through one of the books Reid had given her.
His nap was interrupted by an alert on his phone letting him know someone was at the gate. Peeking at his phone he saw it was Penelope and buzzed her in. He'd have to remember to give her the code later.
Standing with a stretch Rossi made his way to the door to greet Penelope. He was a tad surprised to be greeted by Penelope and company: Morgan, Reid, Will, and Anderson.
Penelope entered the room skipping over pleasenties. "I brought some help. Boss man had something to do, so I brought Anderson in his place."
"Thank you all for coming. I got the room mostly cleared out like you asked. Care to tell me what the plan is?"
Penelope ignored him as Nora ran into the room to greet her. Penelope swooped down to pick her up. "Are you ready for the greatest room makeover ever?"
"Oui (Yes)."
Penelope turned to Rossi. "Derek knows the plan, so he's on lead here while us girls go shopping." She looked down at Nora. "Have everything you need?" Nora held up Simba and Penelope smiled. "Good. You guys have fun."
Rossi shut the door behind her and turned to the four guys. "Where do we start?"
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"I ordered the big furniture already, so we just need to pick that up then we can get the smaller stuff," Penelope said
as they entered the store. She turned and handed Elle a piece of paper and the keys to Morgan's truck. "Take this to the front desk then meet us after the truck is loaded."
"Where are we going first?" JJ asked as she followed behind Penelope pushing Henry's stroller.
"I was thinking sheets first, then some seating options for the reading nook, and lastly decor," Penelope replied. "How does that sound, Nora?"
"Bien (Good.)"
Penelope lead them to the kid's sheets. "On their website they had a Lion King set, but you can pick any you want." Nora held up Simba. "Or we can go with Lion King."
Penelope hunted down two different Lion King sheets and held them out for Nora to pick from. She took her time studying her options before pointing to the one on the left. "Are you sure?"
Nora nodded. Penelope threw the chosen set in the shopping cart before placing the other one back on the shelf. "Now we need to get some seating and stuff for your reading nook."
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"So you have a granddaughter?" Morgan brought up as they were putting the first coat of paint on the wall.
"Yes, not exactly where I saw my life going, but a welcomed path."
"And her parents?" Morgan bravely asked.
"It's kind of a long story that I'm still figuring out. My early years in the BAU are not my proudest," Rossi replied honestly.
Morgan decided to change the subject. "Well, just know if you ever need a babysitter the teams got you covered."
Rossi smiled. "Thank you."
"So what's the plan for this room?" Will asked as he coated his roller in paint.
"Lion King," Morgan replied.
"Nora's kind of obsessed," Rossi added.
"My nephews were really into Toy Story at that age," Anderson said.
"Penelope sent me several reference pictures last night. All I have to say is Nora is one lucky kid," Morgan told looking at Rossi.
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"We're back and we brought food!" Penelope announced as she set the two liters on the counter.
Elle was behind her and set the stack of pizza boxes on the counter while Nora stood on her tippy toes to set the box of garlic bread next to the pizza. JJ brought up the rear carrying Henry. The guys entered the kitchen moments later looking a little less for wear than when they had left. Will wrapped an arm around JJ's shoulder and kissed her cheek while Reid made a grab for a piece of pizza. Penelope swatted his hand away. "First you guys need to get the stuff out of the truck. The pizza will still be here when you get back."
"Yes, your majesty," Morgan joked.
Rossi stayed in the kitchen. "I think they can handle it without me." He started rummaging through the cabinets to get plates and glasses. "Did you have a fun time, Nora?"
"Oui (Yes)," Nora replied as Penelope picked her up. "Ellie a crié à un homme pour l'avoir regardée (Ellie yelled at a man for looking at her-)"
Penelope lightly covered Nora's mouth causing her to burst out in giggles. "What happened at the store stays at the store."
Rossi raised a brow. "Something I should know about?"
All four ladies shook their heads. It would be there little secret. Rossi didn't need to know that Elle cussed out a man for checking out her ass in front of his five year old granddaughter.
"No," Penelope told him. "Did you guys finish painting?"
"We got all you wanted tonight done according to Morgan," Rossi told her.
"Good," Penelope said. She turned to Nora. "What kind of pizza do you want?"
Nora scrunched her face in thought before shrugging. "How about I cut off a little bit of each on for you to try?" Penelope offered.
Nora nodded. "Oui (Yes)."
"Okay," Penelope said setting Nora down on the stool as she got a knife and plate.
"She's really good with her," JJ mused to Rossi so only they could hear.
Rossi nodded. "She defiantly lives up to her fairy godmother status."
"For sure," JJ said. "Our guest room is full of overflow of stuff she's gotten Henry. I can't imagine having a girl."
Rossi sighed with a smile. "Thankfully I have a lot of guest rooms."
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"And that is how Derek almost got his butt kicked," Elle ended with a laugh.
They were all sitting in the den enjoying their pizza. They had quickly dissolved in sharing funny stories of their time with the team much to the delight of Nora.
"Remember that time you almost hit Hotch with your rocket?" Penelope asked Reid.
Reid looked down suddenly very interested in his cheese pizza. "You guys should have warned me."
Penelope, JJ, and Elle just laughed. "You did hit me," Elle reminded him.
"It was for science," Reid replied.
Nora looked to Penelope quizzedly. "La roquette (rocket)?"
Penelope grinned. "Reid's a magician."
Nora's eyes grew wide with excitement as she turned to Reid. "I think you're going to have to show her," Rossi pointed out.
Nora nodded excitedly. "La roquette."
"Well... I don't have my rocket with me, but I do have my magic coin," Reid said as he moved to dig through his pockets. "Though I seemed to have misplaced it. I wonder-" He leaned over and reached behind her ear. Both of their faces lit up as he triumphtly held up a quarter. "Found it! I wonder how it got there?"
Nora's smile grew from ear to ear as she clapped. Rossi stood up and started gathering all the empty plates. "Thank you for all your help, but it's getting late."
JJ and Will were the first up. "Yeah, It's someone's bedtime."
"Thanks for your help," Rossi said again.
Elle stood next. "We need to get going too," She said looking at Reid and Anderson who had both ridden with her.
They both got up to follow Elle; Reid lagging behind. "Bye, Nora."
"You ready to go, Baby Girl?" Morgan asked.
"Almost," Penelope replied before turning to Rossi. "Derek and I'll be back in the morning." She then turned to Nora. "I'll be here bright and early tomorrow so we can go on our picnic, okay?"
Nora nodded before giving her a hug. "Au revoir (bye)."
Penelope returned the hug. "Bye, Bug, see you in the morning."
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AN2: I swear mattresses are so hard to move. They're a lot heavier then they seem and there's no good way to grip them. I honestly think I hate moving them more than furniture.
