Chapter 10

The team stays at the police station until the representative from child services arrives. Dave hugs Sarah goodbye, making certain she has his business card tucked away someplace safe. Over the years, he has rescued a lot of kids, but none have touched him like Sarah.

The plane ride home was uneventful. Dave naps most of the way, even though each member of the team checks on him periodically. Upon returning to the BAU, he goes to his office and finds Penelope stretched out on his couch. He crosses the room, bends over, and gently kisses her cheek.

"Hey sweetheart," he coos. "Wakey, wakey time!"

She smiles sleepily and stretches as she opens her eyes. "Hi. You're home."

"Yes, we are home."

She sits up and pats the seat next to her. Dave settles in the seat, the warmth of her body on the couch evident through his trousers. She snuggles against his side.

"How are you?" she asks sleepily.

He puts his arm around her and pulls her closer. "I'm better now," he murmurs as he kisses her hair.

"I missed you."

"Mmm, same."

He holds her tightly as they sit in silence for several minutes.

"You ready to get married tomorrow," he asks.

She opens her eyes and looks up at him. "I am. Are you?"

"I am. Are you sure you don't want to find a church?"

"I'm sure. I don't need a big fancy wedding. I need you and our friends and a preacher," she says firmly.

"Will a priest be okay?" he asks.

"A priest?"

"Father Jimmy has already said he would do it for us," he tells her.

"And who is Father Jimmy?"

"A childhood friend of mine."

"And he's a priest?" she says in disbelief.

Dave chuckles. "Yes, he is."

"Perfect. Can we go home now? I'd like to sleep in a bed."

He grunts in agreement. "I'm on medical leave for a bit, perfect timing."

"Yeah, we need to talk about that."

They arrive at Dave's place after stops at Penelope's apartment for clothes, and the kennel to pick up Mudgie.

"You know, tradition says that we shouldn't be seeing each other at this point until the wedding," Dave points out.

Penelope kicks off her shoes in the hallway and drops her bag on the nearby table before turning to him. "Well, it's a good thing we're not traditionalists."

He smiles and kisses her. "We are making our own traditions."

"Speaking of traditions," she says as she reaches for his left hand. She inspects the bandage on his arm. "Let's not make this one, okay?"

He sighs. "I promise. In all the years you have known me, how often have I been hurt?"

"Hmm," she hums. "A few times, if I recall."

"But not as many as the others on the team."

"David," she growls. "Even a few times is too many. If we're going to have children together, I need you around to help me out."

He slides his arms around her and pulls her close. "I agree. I'll do better at staying out of trouble."

"Promise?"

"I promise," he nods. He leans down and they kiss for several seconds.

She pulls back, still holding on to him, and smirks. "Speaking of children…"

"Yes?"

"Tell me about Sarah."

He sighs. "There's not much to tell."

"You two seemed to hit it off quickly," she says.

"Yeah…" he pauses. "There was something about her that… I don't know how to explain it."

"She has no family?"

"None that they were able to find while we were still there," he says sadly.

"Maybe we should go visit," she suggests.

"You want me to go back to California?"

She beams at him. "Maybe we could bring her back here."

"You want to get married and adopt a child?"

"Well, we did say we were making our own traditions."

Saturday afternoon the rains decide to make an appearance forcing the wedding inside. Not that anyone was complaining or in need of more space as they were inside Dave's mansion.

Father Jimmy presides over the event, taking moments throughout the ceremony to pick on Dave and ask Penelope if she was certain that she wants to marry a miscreant such as Dave. Penelope giggles and assures him that yes, she really does want to marry Dave. Through laughter, they finally make it to the end.

"Do you David Stephen Rossi take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife? Do you promise to love and cherish her through sickness and in health, forsaking all others until death do you part?" Father Jimmy asks.

"I do," Dave replies. His eyes never leave Penelope's.

"And do you Penelope Garcia take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband? Do you promise to love and cherish him through sickness and in health, forsaking all others until death do you part?" Father Jimmy continues.

Her eyes glimmer as she looks up at Dave. "I do."

They exchange rings before Father Jimmy says, "Should anyone present know of any reason that this couple should not be joined in holy matrimony, speak now or forever hold your peace."

Dave gives the crowd the stink-eye. No one says a word.

After a moment, Father Jimmy continues. "Looks like it's going to happen," he jokes. They finish the ceremony, Dave and Penelope are announced as husband and wife and they kiss as their guests cheer.

As everyone finishes their meals during the reception, Hotch turns to Dave and says, "Are you sure about this?"

"It's a little late to change my mind," Dave snickers.

"Not the wedding," Hotch grumbles. "Adoption can take a while you know."

"I know." Dave nods as he scans the room. His eyes land on Penelope as she laughs with a group of people he's not familiar with. "It just seems like the right thing to do. We're going to petition to become her foster parents and hope that she can come back here with us."

"And if the court says no?"

Dave frowns at him. "I don't understand the meaning of the word."

Hotch laughs loudly drawing attention to them. "Don't I know it."

End Chapter 10