A Christmas Surprise

by pandorabox82

Penelope knows that it's better to ask forgiveness rather than permission, especially around Christmastime. Will she be able to keep both her secrets from Dave, though?

"Penelope, what is this?"

She looked up from her laptop to see Dave holding out a stocking, a questioning look on his face. She shrugged a little and gestured for him to take a seat on the sofa before turning her attention back to the computer. "I figured that even if you don't really celebrate Christmas, I can still celebrate with our pets. That's the first stocking that I have done. Hopefully, the other three will be done in time for the holiday itself, even if it might be until January seventh."

"We're not Orthodox Christians, Kitten. I'm Catholic and you're…you."

Penelope beamed at him as she shrugged once more. "Because I don't adhere to one faith tradition under the Christian umbrella, that means I can pick and choose holidays and dates that I like. When I'm feeling a time crunch for handmade gifts? You can bet your sweet ass that I'll take all the extra time that I can."

Dave chuckled as he tossed the stocking onto the coffee table. "I will take you at your word on that. Though I still don't know how you managed to convince me to put up so many lights on the house and trees outside."

"You love me, and that's reason enough."

She was still waiting on the other shoe to drop, as they currently only had three pets, and he hadn't yet cottoned on to the fact that there was something odd about that number of stockings. Still, it seemed as if he was just going to let that little slip of her tongue pass on by without comment, and Penelope tried to quickly hide her smirk as she hit send on the email to the breeder she was working with for their mutual Christmas present. It was a little more dear than she had expected, but she had fallen in love with the breed when she had been idly looking at pictures on Instagram. "Kitten, you are so lucky that I indulge your maddest little schemes. Which is how we ended up with the menagerie we have now."

"A dog and two cats is not a menagerie, and only the cats are mine. You couldn't ask me to abandon them when they have this huge manse to roam around in, could you?" Penelope turned her face and gave him a small pout, making certain that her eyes were as large as she could possibly make them in order to play on his sympathies. It seemed to work, as he leaned over and kissed her cheek softly, his goatee tickling her skin.

"I suppose that there is some truth to that, Kitten. Well, I suppose that I'll leave you to your knitting while I head out with JJ and Will for supper. You have to get these done, after all!"

She let out a soft gasp before picking up her phone and seeing that it was indeed time to leave for their double date with the other couple. "You could have told me a little sooner that it was so late! Now I don't have time to change or refresh my makeup!"

"You look beautiful, Penelope. Come, let's go."

Giving him a true pout, she allowed him to pull her to her feet before she set the laptop on the coffee table and followed him out to the garage, shrugging into her coat as she went. Dave handed her her purse after she'd gotten into their car, and she smiled a little as she fastened her belt, allowing him to back out onto the street and head over to their friend's house.

It didn't take long to get there, and she began to feel a thrum of happiness as he pulled into the drive. Henry and Michael tumbled out of the house and raced over to their sides, and she had to brace herself when the boys tried to tackle her to the ground in their excitement. "Aunt Penny! Come and see the tree Dad got!" Henry shouted enthusiastically, and she nodded as he began to pull her into the house. JJ gave her a bemused look, and she shook her head as they made their way into the living room. The tree there was truly a sight to behold, and she felt a soft pang of regret at the fact that they wouldn't have something that lovely in the house. Even though she had managed to work on Dave's reticence towards the holiday, and all things festive, she still hadn't been able to get him to agree to putting up a tree to decorate.

"Maybe one day, Kitten," he whispered in her ear as he joined them, slipping his arm around her waist and squeezing gently. "After all, you've managed to get me to decorate the outside of our home with lights."

"I wanted an inflatable Grogu in the yard."

He chuckled and shook his head a little. "That will never happen in our neighbourhood."

"Penelope, cher, if you can get Dave to agree to have any sort of inflatable in his yard, I will make a large donation to the charity of your choice in your name." She looked over at Will and gave him a sharp nod.

"It is so on, Will."

She heard Dave groan lightly, and somehow Penelope knew that the odds of her getting her way on having The Child for Christmas just increased in her favor. Her knew her too well, after all, and once it was made a competition, she stepped up her game. "Can we at least put it in the back yard?"

Penelope shook her head as she pulled away from him so that she could grin up into his face. "Then no one will be able to see it! You have that privacy fence all around our backyard, after all."

JJ and Will laughed, and she watched as the other man reached out and pushed Dave's shoulder lightly. "I think that you might just have to admit defeat with this one, Dave. We both know how persistent Penelope is, after all."

"I am not quite willing to admit defeat. I can be stubborn, too, after all." Leaning in, he kissed Penelope's cheek softly before looking over at Will and JJ. "So, when's supper?"

"In fifteen minutes. The casserole has to finish baking and then cool off a little. Until then, do you want something to drink?"

Penelope nodded enthusiastically, allowing JJ to guide her into the kitchen so that they could get the drinks together. "No alcohol for me, Jayje."

She watched her friend's eyes widen, and she gave her a small nod as she reached out for the apple juice bottle that JJ handed to her. "Shut up."

"I know. I had given up on the possibility myself after I was shot. The doctor said then that it would be a small miracle if I ever got pregnant, and so I never really used protection with Kevin, and when it didn't happen, I assumed that they were right. And even then, it took two years of incredible sex with our Italian Stallion to finally get knocked up. That's part of the Christmas surprise, you know. I just have to finish the last three stockings and then put the mini-stocking inside Cormoran's for Dave to discover on Christmas morning."

"Will he be ready to pick up before the day?"

Penelope nodded as she poured herself a glass of juice. After taking a small sip, she breathed in deeply and gave JJ her best winning smile. "Actually, I need to talk to you about that. How do you feel about a little road trip tomorrow and Sunday? The cattery can't find a reasonably priced flight to put Cormoran on, and not even my skills have gotten us anywhere. So I need to go pick him up in Tennessee. It's an eight hour drive to Maryville and back, and I'd really like a friend along for the ride. Before you say it, yes, I realise how close it is to Christmas, and that you probably have a ton of stuff to get finished, but I just thought I'd ask?"

"That's eight hours where I get to ask you everything about the surprise, so count me in! I'm certain that Will and Dave will enjoy hanging out together, wrapping gifts, while Henry and Michael are underfoot."

Penelope giggled as they poured out drinks for everyone else, carrying them carefully back into the living room and handing them out. "You two were gone an awfully long time, Kitten."

"Oh, we were just talking about our plans for tomorrow and Sunday. I have a special Christmas gift to pick up, and wanted to have some company. And Jayje mentioned that there is a lot of wrapping to do."

Dave and Will groaned in tandem, and she nodded. "You owe us, cher. Big time."

"There will be rewards, trust me, Will," JJ purred, and Penelope giggled as she also nodded at her partner. "Now, let's get the kids into the dining room, and then the men can bring in the food from the kitchen." Penelope nodded as she helped JJ gather round the kids, herding them to the bathroom to wash their hands before getting them settled around the table. Now that her plans were falling into place like snowflakes, she couldn't wait for what the next two weeks would bring.

"I take it that I'm driving for the first few hours?" JJ asked when Penelope showed up at the house with Dave the next morning.

"What gave that away?"

"The fact that your knitting needles are sticking out of the top of your purse?" her friend teased as she hurried down the stairs and over to the car, dropping her go bag into the backseat with Penelope's. "But that's okay, I don't mind driving first. So long as we stop for coffee and breakfast along the way."

"That sounds like an even better plan," Penelope replied before giving Dave a sweet kiss. "I will see you tomorrow night, honey. Stay sane with Will and the boys, and don't encourage any madness!"

He laughed as he shook his head. "You obviously don't know me all that well."

"Au contrare, mon frere, I know you all too well!" She kissed him once more and then went over to the passenger seat of the vehicle and got in, watching JJ say goodbye to Will and the boys before she slipped behind the wheel and backed out of the driveway.

"Do you have everything that you need for Cormoran?"

"That was what I was discussing with the breeder. Since this is a Christmas surprise for Dave, I asked that she bundle in the price for a new carrier and everything else that I would need for a new kitten. Even if he isn't so new. He's the runt of the litter, but she was still able to get him neutered before we pick him up, which is one less worry off my back."

JJ nodded as she turned onto the highway, following the voice of the GPS before she spoke once more. "And how are you dealing with changing the litter boxes until you tell Dave your good news?"

"I'm wearing a mask and gloves while doing so, and making certain that I wash my hands thoroughly after each time. Believe me, I asked my OB how to safely do that. I don't want anything to harm this sweet little bambino before they enter the world."

"That's all I needed to know," JJ replied as she set the cruise control for the trip while Penelope pulled out her knitting and began to get to work once more. "Did you get all that done last night after supper?"

"Yeah. It's an easy pattern, really, I just need to make my fingers fly through these three and then the mini stocking in such a little amount of time. "I know, I should have started these earlier, but I wasn't certain that Cormoran would be ready for Christmas, and I didn't know about Baby Rossi until last week. It really has done my head in a bit."

"That's how I felt when I figured out I was pregnant with Henry. I had no idea how Will would react, how Hotch would react, and if I would still have my job. At least, with Rossi, you have some security?"

Penelope nodded absently as she picked up the second color that she was working with, weaving it with the other colour expertly as the drive continued. Soon enough, they settled into an easy conversation around how Penelope would spend the next thirty-two weeks or so, and how she felt Dave would react. Around the halfway mark, JJ pulled off the highway and stopped at a restaurant that Penelope had pointed out, and she stretched and cracked her back a little before following JJ inside. Thankfully, it wasn't too busy, since they seemed to have arrived just before the lunch rush.

"What are you going to have?" JJ asked after they had placed their drink order, and Penelope shrugged as she scanned the menu, looking for something yummy. "What is it?"

"I'm craving meat."

"Oh. Well. You might need the iron that meat can give you? I know that I had weird cravings when I was pregnant with Henry, so maybe it's like a first child thing? And if you need to eat meat, well, you have to do it for the good of the baby."

"I know, it's just a weird feeling. Thank god I've actually nibbled on chicken and fish over the years, when there have been no good vegetarian options available to me." Finally, she settle on the chicken Caesar salad and some breadsticks before setting the menu aside. She felt her phone vibrate in her pocket as the server came back to her table, and she decided to ignore the notification in favor of placing her order. "One second, I have to see who messaged me."

JJ nodded as she pulled out her own phone to check her notifications. Penelope smiled a little as she looked down at her phone, seeing that Dave had sent her a text. Opening it up, she let out a little giggle to see that it was a series of pictures of the kids and Will making cookies before switching to Will and him wrapping gifts. It was clear which of the men had more experience with that task, though there was something sweet about the effort nonetheless.

"Will usually has someone else wrap any gifts. For all his talents, this is not one of them. Maybe Dave will teach him some tricks."

"I'm more worried what tricks he'll teach the kids while we're gone." She let out a little laugh before rubbing her stomach softly. "I think that he'll be a good dad, though. There's just something about the way he lights up with kids that makes me hopeful for our own child."

"I think the same thing. He's been a good surrogate dad for all of us over the years, after all." Penelope nodded and picked up her soda, taking a sip before replying back to her partner. The rest of the meal was over quickly, and after they had gone to the bathroom, they were back in the car, finding a gas station to fill up at. "I can drive the rest of the way, PG."

"No, I have to do my part. Go in and grab us some water and snacks while I get settled behind the wheel. You're a little longer legged than I am, so I have to adjust the seat."

JJ nodded as she headed into the gas station, and Penelope got in, fiddling with the seat until she had found the perfect setup. Then it was adjusting the mirrors to make certain she could see well, and by the time she was done, JJ had returned with a very full bag. "Don't worry, Penelope, some of this will be for tomorrow, too."

"That's a relief to know," she said as she pulled out of the gas station, listening to the voice direct her where to go. The remaining drive went so smoothly, and a little after four they were pulling into the drive of the cattery. It was a truly gorgeous home, and Penelope laughed to see the number of cats that were lounging in the windows as she and JJ approached the door.

"You must be Penelope," the woman said as she pulled the door open, giving them a soft smile. "And you brought a friend?"

"It's a long drive, and I didn't want my boyfriend to figure out I was adding to the menagerie until we were too far away for him to say no." The woman frowned a little at that statement, and Penelope shook her head quickly. "No, no, he won't be angry about this purchase, it will just take him time to get used to the fact that I've added another cat to our household. I've tried to become a dog person, but that hasn't happened yet, and I'm hoping that Cormoran will be a good compromise for us."

"Is that the name you've settled on for him, then?" the woman asked as she led them inside, and Penelope nodded. "I like that. Where'd you get it?"

"It's the name of the main character in my favorite series of books." She turned to JJ and gave her a small smile. "I should probably introduce you to my friend, though. This is Jennifer Jareau, and I may be trying to convince her that her kiddos need a cat like this, too."

"Penny…"

The woman laughed as she extended her hand to JJ. "Don't worry, she only purchased one kitten from us. I'm Katherine Potter, and it is a pleasure to meet you." JJ shook the woman's outstretched hand before they were led into the living room. "Give me a moment and I'll return with your new baby."

Penelope nodded, tearing up a little at those words. "He won't be the new baby for very long," she whispered as she took a seat on the sofa, her hand starting to stroke the first cat that jumped into her lap. "What?" she asked, seeing the look on JJ's face.

"Is that a cat or a pony?"

The laugh that burst from her lips was not going to be held back, and JJ gave her a look as she shook her head. "I decided to get a Norwegian Forest Cat. They are one of the largest domestic cat breeds in the world, and that is why I said it could be a compromise between me and Dave. If it's big enough to be confused for a dog, he might not feel as left out."

"If you say so." JJ reached out and scratched the cat's head, causing it to arch up into the touch.

"That's Cormoran's father. He was the runt of his litter, too." Penelope felt her eyes widen a little as she realized that maybe she had made a slight miscalculation in her decision. "Now, I did as you asked, and went with one of our largest carriers, even though it will be too large for him right now. I have all his paperwork in a folder that you can take with you, along with a bag of kitten food, a few toys, and his blanket. We've found that having a familiar scent in a new place helps the transition go better. Are you heading right home?"

"No, we'll probably drive for an hour or two before finding a hotel to spend the night. Do you have any recommendations for a place on the way back to Quantico?" JJ asked as another cat jumped into her lap. Again, her hand automatically began to pet it, and Penelope had the feeling that there would soon be a pet added to the Jareau-LaMontagne household.

"There's a quaint little B&B that we have an agreement with. It's about ninety minutes away, but not out of the way for you. I'll give Maya a call and let her know that you're on your way as soon as you leave here."

"Thank you!" Penelope said as she took Cormoran from Katherine's arms, snuggling him close. "You are even more adorable than your pictures showed," she whispered as she stroked his fur and acquainted herself with him. "But with these paws, you're certain to be a huge cat. Maybe Dave will think that you're just another dog, with time."

"Good luck with that, Garcia," JJ muttered as they finagled Cormoran into the cat carrier. Katherine followed behind them with the other supplies that she was providing, and then gave them directions to the B&B before saying goodbye to the kitten. The drive to the inn didn't take long, and then they were getting settled for the night. Cormoran was the perfect kitten the entire night, even though he insisted on sleeping with Penelope in her bed rather than in his carrier. After a hearty breakfast for all three of them, they were back underway, and Penelope felt a ball of happiness grow in the center of her chest the closer they got to home.

"I hope that Dave likes you, even if it is easier to get forgiveness than permission," Penelope whispered as she tied a red velvet ribbon around Cormoran's neck before booping his nose softly. The kitten just mewed in response before yawning largely and flopping back down in his carrier.

"Well, it's too late to take him back now, Garcia."

She turned to look at JJ and gave her a sheepish smile and shrug. "I know. But I think I know my partner well enough to know that he'll be okay with this. Eventually."

JJ just chuckled and shook her head as she pulled into the drive, heading right up to the garage before turning the car off and turning to look at Penelope. "Do you want me to help you bring everything inside?"

"Please?" JJ nodded, and they got out of the car together, JJ pulling the accessories that Katherine had sent along for Cormoran's care out of the back seat before following Penelope into the home. "We're back!" she called out as she made a beeline for the downstairs bathroom, knowing that she would have to set up Cormoran's litterbox there, in order to give him somewhere safe and familiar to make a bed for the next few days. "All right, Cormy, this will be your home until Christmas, and then you can start exploring the house proper and getting to know your siblings."

"Penny…"

She looked up guiltily into her partner's face and shrugged before thrusting Cormoran into Dave's chest. "Merry Christmas?"

"You brought home a fully grown cat for Christmas?"

She shook her head. "No, this is still a kitten. Cormoran is a Norwegian Forest Cat, so he'll be larger than what a normal housecat would be. Think of him as more of a small dog than a cat."

Dave rolled his eyes a little before scratching the kitten between his ears. "Well, I suppose that he is a cute little guy. I should have known that something was up when you were making four stockings to go along with our two. You just can't keep a secret, can you?"

"Not an unimportant one, no. Though I suppose that it's better this is out in the open, so I don't have to worry about telling you not to open the bathroom door until Christmas Day." Dave nodded indulgently, and she grinned, knowing that she had managed to work things out smoothly once more. She just couldn't wait for him to open Cormoran's stocking come Christmas morning and find out the real surprise she had in store for him, a Christmas miracle that she hadn't assumed would ever happen, given their ages and the scar from where she was shot. She just hoped that Dave wouldn't mind cleaning the litterboxes out for the next few months until she could safely take care of the animals in all capacities once more.