"Well, today is the day we find out how many of the eggs took," Penelope said, rubbing her stomach softly as she smiled at Dave and Erin.
"Well, at most it will be two, Kitten. Though, truth be told, I hope only one took. I don't know how well I'd handle twins running around at my age."
Erin smiled indulgently at her partner. "Honey, we have more than enough energy to go chasing after twins. And if we need a break, we have a great back up." She looked at Penelope, winking at her. "I want him or her to know from the moment they're born how much they were wanted and how they were lovingly carried by one of my dearest friends."
Penelope felt herself tear up as she nodded, moving forward to wrap Erin in a tight hug. "I love you so much, you two!" Erin rubbed her back lightly and then pushed her back to look into her eyes. "Let's get going before we're late."
They stepped out into the bullpen and she pulled on her jacket, fastening it tightly around herself as she went down the stairs. Derek smiled at her as she passed by Reid's desk and she grinned back. Even Alex seemed to give her an encouraging look and she was grateful that the woman had finally gotten over her silly grudge against Erin, hesitantly making inroads with her so that they could work in peace. "I hope everything goes well," Derek said as they paused by the door.
Penelope nodded, letting Erin wrap an arm around her waist. "I have this feeling that it will be exactly the right outcome no matter what happens, Boo." He grinned widely and they exited the room, heading to the elevator. "I can't believe it's this cool in May. The weather sure has been weird this spring."
"I know. Oh, Iris misses you, you know. Allie was talking about how she was asking for you the other day."
"I just saw her two weeks ago. I guess Allie and I will have to get together for lunch again soon." Penelope wrapped her arms around her, covering Erin's arm with her own. "I didn't realize how much I've missed having a family until you made me part of yours, Erin."
The woman closed her fingers about her wrist, squeezing slightly as she smiled at her. "You fit in perfectly with us, dear." She could hear that Erin was close to tears and she nodded, resting her head on her shoulder.
"You two are so mushy lately," Dave said, shaking his head at them.
"It's the hormones, honey. It happened to me with every pregnancy. I guess it's just a sympathetic reaction this time, just like the sympathetic morning sickness."
She met Dave's eye and he nodded slightly, confirming what Erin had just said. "You know, that's not really possible, since I'm not living with you guys. That won't happen until the seventh month, like we agreed on."
"I don't need to be with you to feel what you're going through, Penny." The hand tightened on her wrist and Penelope knew that the same possibility had just flashed through her head. "Besides, I'd know."
"Would you?" she murmured lowly, so that only Erin could hear and the woman nodded. Penelope frowned a little at her, and she shrugged. "All right, I'm thinking that we need to go out for Chinese food after this appointment. The baby is craving some beef and broccoli."
"Ooh, that does sound delicious!" She and Dave both looked askance at Erin, and she blushed a little. "What? I am seriously hungry for Chinese food at the moment."
"Whatever you say, Erin." Penelope stepped closer to her friend as they got out of the elevator. They both chose t sit in the back seat on the way to the doctor's office, chatting lowly about how her pregnancy would go. When Dave dropped them off at the door, she and Erin linked hands, going inside and signing in.
The moment she sat down, Penelope began to tap her foot anxiously, thinking about all the things that could have gone wrong since the implantation. What if the eggs hadn't taken, even though she did have a positive pregnancy test? What if only one egg took?
"Penelope Garcia and Erin Strauss?" a nurse called out and they stood, going over to her. "Did you want Dave to come back with you, too?"
"What do you think, Penny?"
"No, not this time, just in case…"
Erin grasped her hand tightly. "I understand. Well, let's get this started, then."
The woman nodded and led them back to an exam room, handing Penelope a gown to change into. "Dr. Burns will be in shortly."
They both nodded and once the woman was gone, Penelope quickly stripped down and pulled on the gown, letting Erin tie the ribbons. "So, after we get me ultrasound, I want you to humor me and have one done yourself. Okay?"
Erin sighed. "Fine, I suppose. It's just going to come back negative, you know."
"Sure, my dear, sure. How much do you want to bet on that?"
"Bet on what?" Dr. Burns asked as she bustled in the door.
"I think Erin got pregnant shortly after you knocked me up with her and Dave's eggs. She thinks everything she's experiencing is just a sympathetic response to my pregnancy symptoms. I want you to prove one of us right."
"That will be easy enough to do, after we get you all squared away. Here, let's get your vitals taken care of." The doctor quickly made a note of her weight and blood pressure before helping guide her legs into stirrups. "And now to see how many of the eggs took. Are you hoping for one or both, Erin?"
"Both, honestly. In a perfect world, I hope that Penelope has one of each, a boy and a girl. But whatever God gives us, I'll be content with."
Penelope smiled through her tears as she reached out for Erin's hand. "And I hope I can deliver that for you." They all laughed and then the gentle whooshing sound of the machine filled the room.
"Well, here's the first baby," Dr. Burns said softly, pointing out the heartbeat of it. "Now, let's see if I can find the second heartbeat." She moved the wand around Penelope's stomach, and then began to smile widely. "Ah, there they are. It looks like both eggs took. Congratulations!"
She met eyes with Erin, tears falling down her cheeks. "Well, the first half of your wish has come true. Now we just have to wait a few more weeks before Dr. Burns can tell us what they are. And then there's the little matter of you getting your ultrasound."
"I was hoping you'd forgotten," she murmured as Penelope scooted off the small bed, patting it for her. She shook her head and helped Erin up as Dr. Burns got out the gel. Erin clasped her hand as the woman spread it over her stomach, biting her lip nervously. "I know I'm not pregnant, Penelope. This is an exercise in futility."
"Then just humor me, okay?"
She nodded and Dr. Burns began to run the wand over the expanse of Erin's stomach. Both women jumped as the monitor picked up the thrum of a heartbeat resting there. "That, that's a heartbeat."
"Yes, it is. I suppose that further congratulations are in order. From the size of the fetus, you appear to be about a week behind Penelope in development. It does make sense, though, since we had you on Clomid to stimulate your ovulation for the eggs we implanted in Penelope."
"And there is only one there, right?" Erin asked fearfully, clutching Penelope's hand tightly.
"Yes. Now, when we get closer to the due dates of you two, we might discuss inducing you, Erin, so that they will all be born on the same day. If that's what you wish."
Erin smiled, running her free hand down to her stomach to rub gently. "No, when they come, they come. There's nothing orthodox about this situation, so why should we try to force that on the births?"
Dr. Burns nodded and handed them towels so that they could clean up. "All right, just set up your next appointments with the receptionist. I'll see you both, soon."
Penelope nodded, looking towards Erin to see her focus on her stomach, rubbing the gel off in slow circles. "Erin?"
"I'm pregnant again. We're having pseudo-triplets." She raised her head to meet her eye. "After I woke up from my sleep, I never pictured anything like this happening." Sighing, she finished wiping the gel off. "Let's go tell David."
Penelope nodded and they walked out to the reception desk, setting up their dual appointments. Then they approached Dave, Erin's arm slung around her waist. "Well, what's the good news?" he asked as he stood, handing Erin her purse.
"Well, we are going to have more than one little one running around our house in a few months' time." Erin grinned at him, covering her stomach with her hand as she did so.
"Cara, are you trying…no, that is not possible. You're pregnant, too?"
She nodded and he wrapped her in a tight hug. "Careful, honey, I still need to be able to breathe. And so does the baby."
"Marry me," he blurted out suddenly, his eyes never leaving hers. "Today. I don't want to live another moment without the permanence of marriage. Penelope can be our witness, and it doesn't take that long to do it."
Erin burst into tears as she nodded. "Yes. Always and forever yes!" Then she wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him there in the office, heedless of who was watching them. Penelope pulled out her cellphone and snapped a few pictures of them, quickly updating Facebook with them, captioning the first one 'She said YES!'.
"Here, Kitten, you drive us to the closest courthouse." Dave tossed her his keys as they began to walk out the door. He was totally wrapped up in his lover and she smiled at the picture they presented. The deep, dreamless, sleep was finally over, and life was moving forward just as it should. Nothing could possibly make her happier.