Disclaimer:

I don't own Criminal Minds. If I did, Notch and Garcia would be together.

At last, here it is, the epilogue to this story. Dinner at Dave's. Enjoy, and review if you feel so inclined.

Chapter Seven

Two day later, Penelope was ready to face the rest of the team by having dinner at Dave's. Just the way they all used to do. Though she knew she had some PTSD to deal with, and she shied at a loud noise, felt frightened if she wasn't near Aaron at all times, still, she knew that she had to start taking the first steps back into her life. She would start some therapy the next week, but she wanted to get this team meeting over and done. Those who had not known about the relationship between her and Aaron had been blowing up her phone with texts and voice mails, asking how, what, when, where and why.

"We might as well just get it over with," she told Aaron. "They won't leave us alone until we tell them the story."

"Only if you're ready." He pulled her close to his side. "I will not put you through that if you need more time."

"I know. And I love you for that. But they are my friends, my team, my family. The sooner we just do it, the better."

"Okay. I'll let Rossi know he can go ahead and schedule that dinner."

Now, they were all gathered in Rossi's home. He had forbidden anyone to press Garcia for answers until they'd eaten dinner and had some wine. Finally, Prentiss turned to where Aaron and Penelope sat side by side, her hand clasped in his.

"All right you tow," Prentiss said, "start from the beginning. When did you two get together?"

"and why keep it from us?" JJ asked. "We're your family, Penelope."

Aaron and Penelope exchanged a glance.

"It really began during that time Penelope was in protective custody," Aaron said. "I spent the most time with her of anyone. It just grew from there. I've always had a special kind of feeling for Penelope, different from how I felt toward the other women on the team. That feeling began to turn into love during that period."

Penelope smiled at him.

"Yes, he kept me afloat during those horrible days, helped me deal with it all, listened when I rambled on and on, and held and comforted me when I cried with the frustration and longing to go home. One night, I was going to make an omelet for dinner, and spur of the moment invited him to join me. And that's where it all started."

"Over omelets?" Tara smiled at them. "It's so you, Garcia."

"Actually, I'd been falling for him for a long long time, I think," Penelope said. "You remember that Route 66 thing, when the father kidnapped his daughter?"

"Yes, and Hotch had collapsed due to internal bleeding or something from the old wounds from Foyet," JJ said.

"Yes, well, as you know, I stayed by Aaron's side in the hospital when you all went off to handle the case. I think that brought our friendship to a whole new level. I know I loved him after that."

"I'll never forget waking up and seeing her sitting there," Aaron picked up the story. "I think I started loving her then too."

Turning to Aaron, Penelope lightly punched his shoulder.

"You made me wait long enough though!"

"Well, I still had to deal with Beth. She was too good a person to dump. And I was still your boss. Things were too complicated. I tried to put it out of my mind and go on as normal."

"Is this why you pushed us so hard to find Scratch?" summons asked.

"Well of course," Penelope said. "Not just because I was petrified for Aaron and wanted him back. But I was worried about Jack too. We needed to find scratch, so both of them could come home and start living their lives again. It's no kind of life, living in hiding that way."

"And when we did get back," Aaron said, "Penelope was the first one, after Dave, to get in touch. She let me know that now I was not her boss, it was time to stop holding back. The rest, as they say, is history. Except to say, I've never been happier, and Jack adores her."

Prentiss looked down. She'd been watching everyone as they heard the story. Part of her, had wondered how a strong dynamic, and handsome man like Hotch could have fallen for Garcia. After all, she, Emily Prentiss, was so much more like him. Yet, she admitted to herself, she didn't really care for him that way. Two alpha types would probably spend all their time fighting. She felt a sense of let-down though, as she'd watched her team hang on every word. In some ways, they still looked to Hotch, cared about his opinion, counted on his leadership, more than they ever had for her. Loyalty of that sort was hard to develop. She wished he'd never walked back into the picture.

"Why did you let Rossi and Reid know but not tell us?" JJ asked.

Penelope shrugged.

"Dave and I have been friends for years," Aaron said. "You all know that. He's my best friend, like a brother almost. Of course, I was going to tell him. And Reid, well, he figured it out."

Penelope laughed, smiling over at Spencer.

"You all know that spencer and I have that sibling thing going on, and the two geniuses on the team thing. I couldn't keep him out of the loop."

"Well, we all know now," Rossi said. "And I think we can stop pestering Aaron and Penelope for now."

When it came to the emotional well-being of the people on the team, Rossi spoke with an authority nobody cared to debate. After an awkward pause, Alvez changed the subject, and the conversation moved on.

"Can we go home now, dad?" Jack asked. "I need to finish some homework."

Aaron stood up. Reaching out his hand, he helped Penelope to her feet.

"sure, buddy," he said. "You must really be bored if you want to get home so you can do homework."

Jack looked away, a smile curving his lips.

"I'm pretty tired too anyway," Penelope said. "I'm ready to go home."

They made their way around the room, shaking hands, exchanging hugs, promising to see each other soon.

"Now that we all know," Prentiss said, as she shook hands with Hotch, "Don't be a stranger. You're welcome to visit any time."

"thanks, Emily. But you know, now that I'm used to it, I'm happy being away from the BAU. But we'll keep in touch. After all, Penelope still is part of the team."

At home again, the small family had a quiet evening. Aaron helped Jack with his math homework, while Penelope took a hot bath. She would be starting a self-defense class soon, and Aaron would be teaching her to shoot. She would never be the defenseless one again. She would never be taken off guard again. If it meant leaving the FBI eventually, to keep herself and her man and soon-to-be stepson safe, she would do that too.

Later, as Aaron and Penelope lay together, she snuggled up to him and sighed.

"Remember all those years ago, when you told me either come to work for you or go to jail?"

Chuckling, he stroked her hair.

"Yes, and you called me suit, and gave me your resume on pink paper."

"Homemade pink stationery that is."

"Yes, I remember." He said.

"I think I kinda started to love you even then."

"Really?"

"Yes. Well, you were so commanding and demanding, so intense, with that trademark glare of yours. You were just hot, plain and simple."

He burst out laughing and hugged her tight against his body.

"I meant it when I told them I always had a special feeling for you."

"What kind of special feeling?" she asked.

"I worried about you so much. Anytime I had to ask you to step outside your comfort zone on a case, I knew how it troubled you, and I wanted to make it better. It wasn't that I didn't care about the feelings of the rest of the team. Every one of us had cases that affected us more than others, and I tried to reach out and help where I could. But you were different. Once, I told you I never wanted you to change. I meant that then with all my heart. And I mean it even more now, Penelope. You brought joy and light into my life, and a kind of happiness to Jack that he doesn't remember ever having. I can only hope I, we, have given something back to you."

"You goof. Of course you have. Would I be lying here with you, if you hadn't?"

"Of course not." Aaron rubbed her back softly. "I just don't ever want you to feel that you haven't completely changed my life, in every way. I love you, Penelope. Thank you for loving me and my son so much."

"I love you too."

They kissed. She laid her head on his chest, and he wrapped his arms protectively around her. They drifted to sleep, each feeling happy and secure together.

Down the hall, Jack slept peacefully. He had spent years wanting his dad to find happiness again, wanting someone to come into their lives and make them whole. At last, Penelope had come along, and Jack had seen the joy shine in his dad's eyes again. He could barely remember his mom, though his dad and Penelope did what they could to keep her memory fresh for him. He'd come to love Penelope like a mother now, and when the time came that his dad and Penelope got married, Jack would be thrilled.

Silence filled the house. Only a clock ticking in the living room, an occasional car passing on the street, or the sound of the refrigerator, broke the stillness, as Aaron, Penelope and Jack slept in peace, confident in the strength of the bond of love between them all.

The End

Thanks for joining me on this journey. I don't write often, as I'm working on my original novels, as well as having a busy job. But put me on author alert, as there are still a few stories in my head for this pairing.