"Then by the power vested in me by the state of Virginia, I now pronounce you married." Judge Reilly smiled gently at them and nodded. "You may now kiss the bride, if you wish."
Erin took the hint and leaned forward, kissing Penelope tenderly as their friends applauded in the background. After they'd signed the marriage certificate, Judge Reilly disappeared from the room, and they were enveloped in hugs all around. "So, you finally took the marriage plunge, Baby Girl. I thought this day would never come."
"When you find the right one, you just know, Der. Even if it did take eight years to get me to this point, we are going to be together until the end of time."
"But when did you come up with your last name?"
"During the car ride here. We're both a bit Norwegian, so Olsen seemed perfect. After all, we are leaving both our old lives behind and forging something new here. That doesn't mean that we're going to be forgetting everything that brought us to this point." Erin smiled at Dave and rested her head on Penelope's shoulder. "The Olsen family. It sounds lovely, doesn't it?"
"Of course it does, Mrs. Olsen." Penelope kissed her sweetly and they looked out at all their friends. "Have you heard from Easter yet, Jayje?"
"His plane landed about thirty minutes ago. I texted him directions to your home and told him to meet us there."
"Sounds like a plan. We can finish up the rest of the Chinese, since, as usual, we got way too much." Penelope slid her hand down Erin's arm to clasp her hand and began to lead them out. By the time they reached the car, Morgan had caught up with them and held out his hand expectantly. "Yes?"
"Did you think you were going to drive yourself home? I don't think so. Newlyweds deserve a chauffeur and that is going to be me. My lovely ladies are just going to sit in the backseat and canoodle until we reach home."
"Erin, what do you think?"
"I think I kind of love your best friend, Penny."
"Funny, I was just about to say the same thing." They both hugged him tightly before getting in the back. He started the Mercedes and changed the radio to smooth jazz before taking off, the others following behind in a caravan.
"We're supposed to be canoodling, my love," she whispered in Penelope's ear and enjoyed the shiver she felt run through her wife's body.
"Oh, yes, canoodling." Turning towards Erin, she kissed her lips softly, letting the buss linger on for a few moments. "The one thing I like about this suit is that the buttons just come open so easily." She flicked the first few out of their buttonholes, gently separating the fabric to bare her upper chest. "Do you mind if we give him a bit of a show?"
"As long as it doesn't land us in jail, Penny-love, I am fine with a little show." Penelope grinned at her and then winked at Morgan in the rearview mirror. Then she slowly kissed a path of fire down Erin's neck until she was placing soft, light, kisses along the lace of Erin's bra.
"I will never get enough of you, I will never get tired of you. I love you, Erin Olsen, and you are mine," she murmured before marking the skin of her breast with her teeth.
"You are mine as well, Penelope Olsen. Until we dance with the angels," she panted out, digging her hands into the seat of the car, feeling how close she was to an orgasm. "I'm close." Without saying a word, Morgan turned up the music, drowning out any noises they might make and Penelope slipped her hand up her skirt, pushing aside her panties to thumb her clit roughly until she came, moaning her wife's name.
She met Morgan's eye in the rearview mirror and he smiled gently at them. Nodding at him, she watched him turn down the music so they could talk once more. "We're almost home, ladies. Thank you for trusting me."
"You're one of our closest friends, Der. Of course we trust you." Penelope sat back up and buttoned Erin back up again. "Besides, it's not like you saw anything."
He chuckled, a sound that lightened Erin's heart a little. "You are amazing as usual, Baby Girl." Pulling into their drive, he opened the garage door and drove in, parking. As he did so, Clyde Easter got out of a black BMW and came up to them, carrying an ornate urn. His eyes were so sad, and Erin felt tears well up in her throat once more.
"Hello, Mr. Easter," she said lowly, holding out her hand to him.
"Chief Strauss. I'm sorry that we have to meet again under such circumstances." He shook her hand strongly before pulling back to hold onto the urn with both hands once more. "Agent Jareau did tell me about the felicitous event that just took place. Congratulations."
She nodded and motioned for him to follow them inside. For the second time in twenty four hours, she opened the door of their home to grieving friends. "Welcome to our home," she said. "Would you care for anything to drink? We were planning on finishing up the takeout we had ordered earlier and there is more than enough for you as well."
His smile was easy, but sad, as he nodded. "That would be nice, the food on the plane wasn't the best. " He set the urn down on the counter and it was all she could do to not stare at it as she began to pull out clean plates and glasses.
"Penelope, would you get out the food and begin to heat it up while I get the table set up?" Her wife nodded and opened the fridge, pulling out the various containers that housed the leftovers.
"Is there anything that I can do?" Morgan asked, trying to avoid looking at the urn as well.
"Fill the glasses with ice." He nodded as the doorbell rang.
"I'll get that, Chief Strauss," Easter said, heading for the door. She sighed as she set the table, not ready for this meal. It didn't take long for the food to heat up and they all took a seat around the table. The extra person tightened things a bit, but none of them seemed bothered by that, instead relishing the close contact that it gave.
When they were finished, everyone helped clean up and then avoided looking at the elephant in the room. "This has to stop," Aaron said finally, picking up the urn. "She was our friend, our sister, and we are mourning her loss. We need to keep talking about it, though, so that we can move on. The grief wants to stagnate us, to keep us in the past, but that's not what Emily would want. She would want us to keep living our lives. Erin and Penelope have done that by getting married today. And now we are entrusted with the job of spreading Emily's ashes to the wind. Ambassador Prentiss has asked that we do so today, to not keep Emily in the dark. While she cannot return from her post in Turkey, she will be here in spirit."
Erin was never more grateful for the way Aaron had with words. He knew exactly what to say to calm everyone's hearts, and while she thought that was most likely a byproduct of his early lawyer days, it was still a comfort. "And where are we going to go?"
"Emily always loved the water. I remember that from the places she lived, she was always near a water source." Reid looked away from them all to stare at the floor, tears rolling down his cheeks.
"Then let's head to the park over by the Potomac. It's really lovely this time of year," JJ said, her arm around Will's waist. "I'm sure the children would love to be there, too."
"Then why don't we head over and pick them up on the way to the park," Erin suggested looking around at them. "We'll take only a few cars, to get there more quickly. And you are more than welcome to come back here again tonight. Our home is open to you."
The relief was palpable as the others took in her words. Slowly, they nodded and then began to file out to the cars. Reid and Morgan climbed in the back of JJ and Will's van with Easter while she and Penelope joined Jessica and Aaron in their van with Dave. The other van followed them over to the Hotchner home and Penelope curled into her as Aaron drove. "I love you, Erin."
"I love you, too."
"Thank you." Penelope kissed her cheek. "I know I've said it a lot in the last two days, but I just can't stop."
"I know how you feel, Penelope. It is the same way in my heart." She turned her head and kissed Penelope properly. They pulled into the drive and Jack came out, holding on to his little sister's hand.
"Miss Jennifer called a few minutes ago, Daddy," Viki said as she clambered into the van. "She said that we were going to the park!"
"We are, precious."
"Is this about Emily's death?" Jack asked bluntly, and Penelope flinched at hearing it described so clinically. Erin tightened her grip around her waist and she nodded.
"Yes, Jack. We're spreading her ashes."
Aaron checked the rearview mirror and then took off again, this time for the park. "Erin, how are things back there?"
"We're doing all right, Aaron." She smiled at his tender concern and nuzzled closer to Penelope. "We are, right?" she whispered in her ear.
"Yes."
The rest of the ride was silent and Erin was grateful for that. She needed the time to think about what was going to happen and how they were going to move forward from this moment. And right on cue, as if her lover could read her mind, Penelope reached up and cupped her face, running her thumb along her cheek bone.
"We're here," Dave said softly to them, breaking the intimate spell woven around them. He helped them out and they gathered around the river. Penelope slung an arm around her waist and pulled her close. Erin could feel every breath that came and left her body, could hear the sniffles begin. Erin copied her wife, holding her tightly as Aaron took the urn from Easter's hands.
"I don't want to say goodbye."
"Oh, my precious heart, you have to. She is not here any longer, she has melted into the ether," Erin whispered in her ear, running her thumb up and down her side.
"I know. Help me to say goodbye?"
"Yes." Aaron lifted the cover off the urn and handed it to Jessica. As they watched, huddled together close, he reached his hand in and lifted out a handful of ashes, scattering them to the wind. When he had finished, he handed the urn to Easter, who followed suit. One by one, they all released a little bit of Emily to the wind and then it was Penelope's turn.
She took out the final handful and held her fist close to her chest as she let her head come to rest on Erin's shoulder. "I love you, Emily Prentiss, and I always will." Taking a deep breath, she tossed the ashes away from her body and Erin watched them scatter and fade away. Aaron handed the urn back to Easter and they all trooped back to the vans.
The ride home was just as silent as the ride to the park, but it was a little less sad. Erin found herself cuddled up between Dave and Penelope, both of them wrapping arms around her body and holding her close. When they parked, she handed Jack the key to the house so that he could let the others in.
"You have to wake up now, Penelope. We're home." She gently shook her wife's shoulder and watched her eyes flutter open. Erin leaned down and kissed her lips, feeling Penelope smile a little. "You've always been by my side, ever since I joined your group. Now is my time to be by your side. You're my best friend, my soul mate, and the love of my life, and I will do anything for you."
"Just as I will do anything for you. We'll stand together, I promise." Penelope once more kissed her and they went into the house, ready to face the future without one of their friends.