One month later
"Ladies and gentlemen welcome to LaGuardia airport. Local time is 8:35am, temperature is 55 degrees with today's high of 73 degrees. We hope you enjoy your stay in New York City. Thank you for flying United Airlines."
They got off the plane and headed to claim their luggage from the carousel.
"Okay so my grandmother said she would meet us in the lobby." After gathering their bags, they went to the lobby.
Flor is a bit shorter than Penelope, with black grey shoulder length hair. Luke had mentioned she had just retired. She looked good for her age.
"Hi mis ninos" Flor said happily as both Luke and Penelope approached her. Once they reached each other they all hugged.
"Abuela it's great to see you."
"It is and Penelope it's great to finally meet you in person. You're just as beautiful as Luke said you were."
"He really is very sweet, he treats me…."
"Like a queen because that is what you are, reina de mi Corazon." Even though they been together for a few months Luke still seemed to make her blush.
"I thought him well. Come on let's go to the house."
After a 10 minuet drive they pulled up to a Broadstone house in Brooklyn. It had a small patio in front with a bench swing and a few table chairs, the banisters were filled with potted plants that were blooming flowers.
"You have a beautiful home" Penelope said.
"I have so many memories in this house. I learned to play baseball in the back yard." Luke said. They walked into the house.
"Also, where you got your first black eye" Flor said
"Did you get into a fight?"
"No Pen I didn't, while learning to play baseball with my cousins one of them threw the ball and I wasn't fast enough to catch it and it hit me in the eye."
"Aww you poor baby, which eye was it?"
"My left."
Penelope leaned over to him, place her hand his neck and kissed him just below his left eye. Luke smiled.
"That's exactly what I need back then."
"Well now you got it, better late than never."
Flor lead them to the kitchen table to sit down.
"What did you two had planned for today?"
"We wanted to spend the day with you and hopefully get a cooking lesson" Luke said.
"Marvelous"
"Yay, I'm so excited." Penelope said
"We both are, it's one of the things we enjoy doing together" Luke said
"It's very good to have hobbies that you like doing together, a sign of a good relationship. Your grandfather and I loved to dance. We actually competed in amateur competitions."
"Really, how did that go?" Penelope asked
"For a while it was great but then the pressure was becoming a lot, that took away from the fun. So, we stopped and would go out to dance just for fun."
"Is that how you learned?" Penelope asked Luke
"Yes, at first I couldn't get it but it took practice. Plus, I had great teachers."
"Penelope do you dance?" Flor asked
"Actually, I'm learning and I have the most outstanding teacher!"
Penelope and Luke shared a loving look that was noticed by Flor.
"Ahh… good job mijo." Luke blushed a little bit.
"Well I feel that thru dance you can express love, heat and desire." He said
"True you can express all that and so much more. Maybe all four us could go out one night while you're here."
"That sounds nice Flor. I'm just a little nervous since I'm still a beginner" Penelope said.
"Then we could go somewhere small" Flor said
"Okay, I wouldn't mind that. So, what are we going to cook?"
"How about some Chile rellenos de camaron." Luke said
"I do have shrimp, I would just have to pick up a few things."
"I've never had Chile relleno with shrimp before" Penelope said
"It's awesome!" Luke said
"Plus, it's one of his favorites" Flor mentioned
"Nice, I'll be able to learn so that I can make it for you back home."
"You're so good to me, mi reina."
"Likewise," Penelope said and Flor smiled
"You two look very happy". Luke took Penelope's hand and intertwined their fingers.
"We are abuela" Luke said.
All three of them heard the front door open.
"Bella Flor, I'm home."
"We're back in the kitchen Ricardo." In walked a man just a bit shorter than Luke, dark brown hair with brown eyes.
"Luke mijo I heard you were coming to visit. How are you?"
"Pops, I'm doing great. It's good to see you!"
"Who is this?" Ricardo said with a smile.
"This is my gorgeous girlfriend Penelope."
"It's very nice to meet you! Feel free to call me Rick or Pops. You're the first woman Luke brings home. He must be head over heels for you. Where did you two meet?"
"Well Pops we've worked together for two years and we became more to each other 3 months ago." Luke said
"It could have been sooner if he had said something." Penelope said
"You could have said something too chica" Luke tickled her side and it made her laugh.
"How long are you going to be in town for?" Ricardo asked
"They're here till Sunday amor de mi vida" Flor said
Penelope knew what that meant and she hoped that she would be the love of Luke's life. Honestly he was already starting to become hers.
"What do you have planned to do?" Ricardo asked
"Spending some time with you two and sightseeing" Luke said
"Also, Comicon. It'll be a good time. Flor was telling us that you two did amateur dance competitions."
"Even though we stopped competing we still go out. Do you dance Penelope?" Rick asked
"I'm learning".
"Splendid! We should take you two out one night. There is some great places for latin dancing."
"We think alike. I asked them and they agreed. I have the perfect small intimate place in mind" Flor said.
"Alright, Penelope tell me about yourself" Rick said
"I'm the youngest of four and the only girl. Sadly, I lost my parents when I was a young adult, at the time my brothers were old enough to be on their own and left me behind."
"Why? Family doesn't do that".
"Well Rick they blame me for their deaths. I was out past curfew one night and they went to look for me. They got into a bad car accident and didn't make it" Penelope looked down sadly to her lap. Luke scooted closer to her and pulled her into him.
"Mija, it wasn't your fault. You couldn't have known that would happen." Flor said
"I'm sorry for bringing up a sad memory" Rick said
"It's fine, talking about it helps. I haven't spoken to my brothers in years. I don't think they'll ever talk to me again."
"You never know chica".
"That's true Luke and the team is my family. Always being there for me when I need them".
"Hey! You forgetting someone there?" Luke said as he gave her a it of a teasing look.
"I would never forget the most important man in my life" Penelope then kissed him on the lips.
"Well mija, how about we got to the store and pick up what we'll need to cook." Flor said
"Let's go!"
Flor got up and kissed Ricardo. Before Penelope got out of Luke's embrace she kissed him on the cheek then got up.
"Okay mis corazones, we'll be back in a while" Flor said. Then Penelope and Flor got their purses and headed out.
Only Luke and Ricardo were left in the house.
"Mijo I have some yard work to do, would you be able to help me?"
"Of course."
They both walked out to the back yard. Ricardo handed Luke trimming shears and he picked up a rake.
"Go ahead and start trimming the tree branches and I'll rake up the leaves."
"Sure thing Pops."
"So how is life?" Ricardo asked
"The last few months have been great. I can't believe I wasted so much time at the beginning. We could have been together sooner."
"You two got together at the right time you were supposed to. Everything has it's time. I'm glad that I've gotten to meet Penelope, she must be very important to you if we're meeting her."
"She really is, she's one in a million and I'm not going to let her go."
"And you shouldn't, I can tell she makes you very happy mijo. That's what your parents wanted for you. To find that special woman who makes you feel not only happy but loved unconditionally and that you love just the same."
"I wish they could have met her."
"I know but I can tell you that they would've loved her."
"My plan is to never go a day in my life without her in it." Luke said
"Safe to say you've found the future Mrs. Alvez?"
"Absolutely, I know it'll take a bit of time but I can't wait!"
"I'm very happy for you. I know that your grandmother is excited about the perspective of seeing and holding the next generation of Alvez."
"Well I see that in the future too. Penelope is the love of my life. I hope that I end up having a marriage like you and abuela have. Filled with a lot of love, respect and fun moments."
"I have no doubt you will" Ricardo said.
They continued doing the yard work. After trimming the trees and raking up leaves they begun pulling weeds from the flower and vegetable garden.
"Are you friends happy and supportive of you two?"
"They don't know about us, we're keeping it very down low. Before you ask why here is the reason. Our friends, family/team are profilers and can be nosy. We wanted time for ourselves to be a couple."
"How do you manage working together?"
"We treat each other the same way we did before we started our relationship. She acts like she doesn't like me and we banter back and forward. I head out and do field work with the team and she stays in her office getting us information. Eventually we'll tell them but for now we're just enjoying being us."
"Okay, I'm glad that you brought her home so that we could meet her and know about your relationship." Ricardo said
"I was nervous to do so."
"Why?"
"Not only is it the first time, it's me opening myself up more than I ever have before to a woman. I've even told her bit about my time with the Rangers."
"How did that go?"
"It was a little hard but she could see it was and stopped and told me: I could tell her when I was ready or if I never did she was okay with it. Also, if I had flashbacks I can count on her to hug me until I felt better. She's very understanding and that is one of the many things I love about her."
"It's a great quality to have, one key to having a good relationship. Also remember to never run away from each other if things get difficult. Two are better than one, if one of you falls the other can pick them up. Then if any fears come about then do what Penelope says hug and hold each other."
Just then they hear:
"Ricardo we're home." Flor said
They continued to work on the garden. 5 minutes later Flor and Penelope come out to the patio. Flor carrying a tray of glasses and Penelope holding a pitcher of ice-cold lemonade. Which was all then placed on a table. Ricardo looked at Luke.
"Follow my lead." He picked a rose and then Luke did the same.
They both got up, put the flowers behind their backs and walked up to the table with the lovely women. Ricardo approached Flor and revealed the rose, then Luke got close to Penelope and pulled out a red rose. Penelope smiled, took the rose and smelled the sweet aroma.
"Thank you" Penelope said. Luke noticed from the corner of his eye that his grandfather had done the same with his grandmother. They had taken a seat and Flor was pouring and passing the glasses of lemonade.
"How was the store?" Ricardo asked
"It wasn't that full surprisingly we were able to shop with ease. I'll be showing these two how to make Chile rellenos de camaron."
"With you teaching them mi Corazon it'll be delicious."
All four of them spent the next few hours talking of life experiences, memories and what they would like to do and have in the future.