A/N: So yesterday and today I was very sick and had started thinking its time to wrap this up. Then I thought naw, I'm going to stretch my work count to at least 200k and add in some stuff I had thought of in my cough syrup haze. This story has taken a life of its own in some respects, which I love. But I promise we are still very much on the plot line and even at over 200K, there are still side stories and potential sequels to expect from this.
I am not CBS, I don't own anything other that Tabby.
She froze immediately as the icy crystals impacted and spread across her face before she snapped her gaze in the offending direction. Aaron, with a grin from ear to ear. She knew that grin. They might not have been together for very long and she was no profiler but it spoke 'we are so getting it on soon'. That little shit remembered this is how one of her sex dreams about him started! "You are dead Boss Man!" she yelled, throwing her own poorly made glob of snow at her fiancé.
He was actually giddy, he hadn't been giddy since high school. "What kind of poor excuse of a snowball is that?" he taunted, launching another but having mercy on her and hitting Morgan (who was on looking with strange fascination) right in the chest.
He had to duck behind the overly large barbeque to escape the powerfully launched grenade of a snow ball aimed at his head in retaliation. Morgan was game and Hotch was only thankful when he heard Reid's crackly voice quietly at his side. "I got you Hotch." He whispered while he expertly rolled several dozen frozen snow balls between them.
Hotch drew his eyebrows together but with humor. "How did you get good at this growing up in Vegas?"
Reid chuckled. "Believe it or not, there are some things you can learn from books. Watch out!" Right then Penelope and Morgan had launched several snowballs over the barbeque, half hitting the two men. It was quite a sight for Emily, Rossi and JJ all watching from inside the sliding doors. They didn't want part of this fight, but man did they enjoy it.
"Give it up Hotch. Baby Girl and I got you outnumbered!" Morgan loved this. He was missing his girl but having Baby Girl and all the family was really nice. And having a snowball fight with Mr. I-used-to-be-incredibly-uptight-until-Penelope-stole-my-heart was just a huge blessing, even if the descending darkness outside was going to make it cut short soon. "Baby Girl." He whispered. "I have a plan." He silently motioned to her where to crawl while he took out to run around the house and get them from behind.
Behind the barbeque Reid was also working his method of attack, silently drawing a diagram of the house, the obstacles of the backyard and instructing Hotch where to run off to. "Take half the load." He gestured with urgency, aware of what Morgan's next move would be.
Hotch looked at the youngest profiler with mirth before running off to his assigned spot. Of course he wouldn't have been able to do this had Reid not snagged a shopping bag with his long arms to pack the snowballs into, he did have to climb a tree after all. After a short scuttle and some scratches he was sure his fiancé would kiss better tonight, he finally got to his assigned spot, hanging precariously over the path on the other side of the house. He could see Reid also in a tree, giving him some hand signals to be quiet. His wife-in-waiting was sneaking up on the barbeque and Morgan was sneaking up behind where they were supposed to be. Goodness, he was thankful Reid was secretly on his team and he was impressed Spencer had left one of his shoes behind the potted plants sticking out just enough to look like someone was still there. This was an evil genius plan to be sure.
Penelope loved this little hunt the snowball fight turned into. She was about to tackle her love machine and she was going to enjoy it, so was Derek who she could see was just about to set into position.
Hotch and Reid exchanged evil glances as they watched Derek's smug expression change to confusion when the two best friends used a good deal of their snowballs on empty space. Confusion, and then two seconds later dozens of snowballs set down on them from the trees.
"Ah!" Derek ducked, throwing his hands over his head. "He got us baby girl!"
She fell back over herself laughing unsure if Hotch beating them was funnier than the white snowman it turned Morgan into. "Alright my lover, we surrender!" she managed between busting her gut at the sides in her laughter.
Reid and Hotch both jumped down from the trees and gave little bows which amused and infuriated Derek. "You teamed against me pretty boy?" he pouted as if he was hurt, but really he was just maneuvering them all to orient Hotch and Reid in front of a snow bank forming. He wasn't done yet.
Reid smiled and looked to Hotch who was also gaining his breath from laughing so hard. "Morgan, Reid… Oh man Reid, you need to join military intelligence or something. You read him too easily!"
Penelope was all smiles but still tried at indignation, one hand proper on her hip. She could see what Derek was up to. "Hey, using a super genius profiler is against the Geneva conventions. Or at least it should be!" she taunted before she and Derek both shared a quick look of conspiracy and jumped on them.
Soon Derek had Reid laughing and surrendering and entirely frozen from the snow whereas Aaron and Penelope went for a good roll in the gathering sums of flakes of the back yard. Kisses, pushes, rolls and small amounts of snow shoved into one another's faces ended with them making out under a large oak and facing the cat calls of all the adults now on the deck watching with unreserved gaiety.
"Alright you two. If you're going to be doing anything on my property of that sort, do it inside where your son might not look out the window!" Rossi urged, delighted these two still have the energy in them despite all their family problems right now. Hotch might lose his job, Penelope lost her team, they both might lose their son yet they have one another. No way will the job ever get between that relationship.
"There's massage oils and scented candles in your bedroom." Emily promised in a sing-song voice. "I keep a good assortment here for Dave and I." She finished with a wink. Sure, she wasn't entirely thrilled that everyone found out as they did but it was all worth being able to make that offer and see Garcia shoot up and tug Hotch along into the house with everyone else following.
"Watch Jack." Penelope commanded as she pulled Hotch into their assigned guest room, much to the amusement and urging of everyone.
This had been one of her more favorite dreams and for a good reason, it was the first one she had where she and Aaron were a couple and she could see he remembered that when he picked her up bridal style and carried her to the bathroom, setting her unto the edge of the tub. He knelt in front of her setting to work on pulling off her boots and soaking socks as she removed her coat and his. "Run the water warm sweetheart. We need the heat." Yes, he remembered that line explicitly, mainly for the action that came next, Penelope knotting her hands into the hair of his neck and dragging his face to hers. It was wet, needy and loving all at the same time. It entirely took his breath away how every time she kisses him it almost feels new. And if she kept up the little nips at his ears he wasn't going to be able to warm her pink frostbit skin before taking her right there on the bathroom floor. "Water." He ordered, getting up and finding the bubble bath he was sure was also stocked. Rossi had told him before that this downstairs bedroom was theirs for a good reason, their love making wouldn't be overheard and Emily had made it her personal mission to give them a couple's retreat since she felt so bad for all the stress they are both under. He's going to have a lot of thank you gifts to buy.
"Hotch?" Penelope purred, knowing full well it would get a rise of him.
He turned around, bubble bath in hand and an eyebrow raised. "Hotch?" he asked incredulously. "You realize you will be a Hotchner soon enough too."
She nodded, standing and shedding her soaked through sweater . "I'm never going to find a nickname for you sexier than that. Hotch." She moaned seductively as she snapped off her bra and stocked towards him and pouted her lip. "I think I need a little help."
This is exactly where his hands had reached into his pants when reading this dream fantasy. God she was sexy like this, asking no begging for his attentions as if he was the only man who could help her with this particular problem. He immediately dropped to his knees and took one breast in hand, peppering kisses over the other before taking her hard peak into his mouth. Both groaned in satisfaction.
"You are always so good at everything sir." She cooed even through her moan of satisfaction as his tongue flicked over her other nipple. "But sir, I still have another, more urgent, problem I need help with."
He gulped, unbelievably turned on by the boss thing. Knowing she wanted him all this time, knowing he wasn't alone in wanting her bent over his desk… it just made him reach that full stiffness he is so used to when around her. "I have problems of my own Garcia." He tried to say sternly and dismissively before turning coy. "But perhaps we could help one another?"
She nodded as she dipped her finger into the water. She had adjusted the temperature purposely to make sure they stuck to this part of the dream. "Ouch. I made the water very hot. I'm sure you could distract me until it cools?"
His smile grew almost feral. She wanted this, she was keeping to her role. "So long as it's something just as hot." He pulled his shirt off over his head and stalked towards her on the hunt once more, she scurrying towards the bed and giving him just the chance to catch her before she hit it. He turned her around, fumbling with the button of her pants and quickly pulling them off along with her panties. She was entirely naked when she knelt in front of him, similarly discarding the rest of his clothes. She went to take him in her mouth but he stopped her progress, bending and picking her up from under her arm pits and all but throwing her onto the bed. "Together." He commanded as he settled into the center of the bed on his back.
She rose her eyebrows in lust. She had never done this particular act before and despite her nervousness she was so, so ready to try. Her dream had no kissing at this point, just petting and licking and sexiness so she stuck to it since his achingly hard member was taunting her with its tempting taste. She decided that she was getting a good sample of it right this second and bent her lips to lick him up and down on the underside before locking her lips around the head.
His hips reflectively jerked into her mouth. Her sudden descent onto him gave no chance to protest his not getting a taste of his own yet. He just wanted her, wanted to taste anything and everything she could give him. But god she was driving him wild! "Garcia!" he demanded in his most Agent Hotchner tone. "Get yourself up here."
She shook her head no with him still inside her, humming her dissent on the issue which only caused him to get even more aroused. If she didn't stop this he was going to come without her and he didn't want that. "Garcia, now. That's an order" It took everything he had to keep that stern boss-man tone to his voice.
She dragged her teeth lightly up his shaft in a tease before raising herself off just quick enough to speak. "Just call me insubordinate." And she went back down on him, her throat pulsing around him as her nose hit his public bones.
He started thrashing around. He's never been deep throated before. Hell, Haley never even gave head on any times other than his birthday and he didn't even try with the other women he was with. Penelope, such a vixen. But this was his show, he was the boss man and he knew what he had to do.
He launched himself into a sitting position which startled and turned her on because she knew he was taking that control she so admired. She couldn't help her yelp of shock when he grabbed her by the waist and rotated her body, pulling her atop him and settling her legs on either side of his face. Instantly she went back to her work on him as she felt his tongue reach up for her.
Both, entirely new to this, were thinking the same thing. 'Giving it is amazing, getting it is amazing but both at the same time is mind blowing.'
The new angle of her working on him sent a whole new set of sensations running through his body but it was that damned sweet honeysuckle taste of her that he couldn't get enough of. He used his tongue and lips and fingers discovering every little part of her anatomy. He found when his tongue licked the underside of her nub it made her moan in such a way her mouth vibrated around him. And when he used one hand to fondle her breasts and the other to move deep inside her, her whole body would buckle.
She was just about there and going to flood over his face but she really couldn't care less as she felt him building to his end as well. It only made her more determined, more insistent and creative in her tongue and twists. He had never let her finish him off this way and she so wanted to taste that saltiness of him. It wasn't long until he filled her mouth with that delectably sweet and salty substance of life in several spurts. It seemed like he came forever and she was matching that. Her own orgasm lasted through it and finished just after.
She collapsed on top of him for just a moment before summoning all the last of her strength to roll off and cuddle against his chest. She couldn't even breathe yet.
"I—" Aaron's head wasn't working. "That—"
She pulled his face down to hers for the sloppiest kiss they ever shared, each tasting themselves on the other. It was terribly erotic and intoxicating, their scents and essences combining in their passionate kiss. "Jesus Hotch. I could do that every day."
He chuckled, remembering this as one of his favorite parts of the dream. "You know, Garcia. I've made no secret that I want you on my desk any time you're game. But I'll have to add under it as well." He turned to her, a glint in his eyes.
She hit him playfully and rolled half on top of him kissing his nose before kissing his lips sweetly. "I don't know about you, but that will stay me for a few hours. What do you say we get that bath?"
He nodded and helped her off the bed, her legs still a little like Jell-O. He slipped into the tub first, followed by her and his most favorite part of this fantasy came to fruition. She leaned against him and asked in a subdued tone. "So, Hotch. How long do you think you'll keep me on board?"
He soaped up her arms and whispered into her ear. "Forever."
-Criminal Minds—
"He's really into this isn't he?" JJ smirked to Emily as they reclined on the plush leather sofa and watched as Rossi tamed the large fireplace that was now a hearth. He even had a pothook installed years ago when he built the cabin just for moments like this and had a good bed of coals all set for the Dutch oven.
Emily smirked watching her man. He was hers and she was damn well making that known from now on. When she had ever gone to see his last book signing and women younger than Reid were throwing themselves at him she almost reached for her service weapon. Almost was the key word since he gently rebuffed every advance. He didn't even know she was there, hiding in the book stacks of the store. "He's got a great butt doesn't he?" she mused, watching as he bent down and placed his carefully crafted dessert into the Dutch oven.
JJ snorted and looked to see Spencer talking Derek's ear off about how snow is formed before she skillfully hid her agreement. "Gotta say for a man over fifty, just damn." She snickered at Emily's suddenly far gone ogling of the SSA. "So how long has it been going on?"
Emily took a good long minute to think that over as her eyes scanned over Dave's strong back and arms, remembering just how she had fell for him. "Well, Paris really."
JJ nodded. "I know we never talked about it but I am sorry if my telling him put you in danger. I just couldn't not say anything."
Emily pat JJ's free hand, the one not holding an especially spiked hot cider. "I can't thank you enough for doing it. I was so lonely and he was exactly who I needed to see. I hadn't really let myself feel it all before that, you know?"
JJ thought she understood. It was much like her and Reid. Dating him was a bad idea back at the redskins game and so she put an end to it. But everyone since, especially Will had been in an attempt to forget him but it never worked. "When did you fall in love with him?"
This is where Emily gulped. "I guess, I guess the first time he and I consoled Hotch in his office with a good bottle of scotch. He was so much more, I don't know… Rossi? He's even more caring when he lets you in. It's just a matter of getting past that barrier."
"Like how suddenly we are all not only invited and welcomed here but commanded to come. He never let anyone here before." She was entirely surprised when Reid got off the phone with him and told her they would be there this weekend. She was excited too, Henry had been asking for Rossi and Emily all week. He really loved them.
"I guess he's opened up a lot. Me too. You know, he and I are so similar. We both have fought love for a long time. Me because I'm scared and him because he's been hurt. But together, I dunno. I just love the damn enraging man. Do you know he put me on an eating schedule? And if I don't adhere I am pretty sure he will shove the food down my throat."
JJ giggled sardonically. "Yeah, it's so frustrating when the men that love you actually do what you need and not what you want. I could have killed Spence for making me wait until it was right to have sex again."
Emily snorted. "Well, that's one department in which Lothario and I over there never had a problem."
"Ah, two of my loveliest ladies." Rossi turned around, hiding the smugness he suddenly felt after having overheard their conversation. "Would you care to help a man prepare his side dishes?"
They smiled and got up with him, heading to the kitchen that was black except for a few battery lanterns set up. Penelope walked in just behind them, having not noticed the power outage during her love session with the beau. "What's the main dish my liege?"
All three turned with a smirk. "I think you already had your main dish Pumpkin. But I have chili on the fire and cornbread already made up and you fine ladies will be helping with the sides." He pulled out tomatoes and onions, spices and herbs, cheese to grate and bread to slice for dinner tonight. He also pulled out some chocolate for Emily to melt for the dessert sauce and juice for the boys and left JJ and Emily to do the rest of the prep work while he walked Penelope into the living room. "Now, I do believe you said something about a fort?" he whispered to her.
She nodded and he continued, turning to the boys playing with Tonka trucks on the stairs. "Hey Jack and Henry. We need your help!"
Jack looked up from his playing and stood to attention. "What can I do sir?"
Penelope had to cover her laugh, he was so cute. Like a little soldier. "What did you do to my son while I was in the bath?" she asked in a low voice.
He whispered back with a shrug. "He found out I was in the marines, he wants to be prepared." He walked closer to Jack with his arms behind his back as he has witnessed in so many commanding officers when they are about to give orders. "Now, we have a problem with dinner. Nowhere is fun enough to eat it! So, private Henry and corporal Jack, you and I will be helping our dear Penelope build a fort. We have to do it quick. We only have two hours before dinner!"
Aaron, Spencer and Derek watched this was pure amusement. You wouldn't know it right off the bat but Rossi was great with kids. He understood when they wanted to play and when they needed attention, affection or discipline. They all volunteered to help as well and by the end of the hour a fifteen blanket fort was built in the middle of Rossi's two story great room with lots of comfortable pillows to sit and lounge on inside.
Jack tugged on Rossi's sleeve as the man stirred the pot of chili, judging it to need more time on the hearth. "What can we do now?"
Rossi thought that over and decided to settle into some story telling with the other men as JJ and Emily started preparing some of the food they could for the morning. Derek went to grab more firewood from the enclosed shed because of the new weather report he heard on the emergency radio. Virginia is in a state of emergency and the snow won't be letting up. Fourteen inches will fall by early morning, but perhaps double of that total over the next two days.
While Derek was out grabbing wood Penelope decided to check in on Tabby because of the new snow news. "Hey girl." She wasn't sure when she started feeling a bond with the woman. Was it when she let her cry or when she told her to not worry about Strauss? Or was it her orgasm scones? She couldn't be sure but it was just the feeling she had when meeting Emily and JJ, a fast friendship and instant trust.
"Hey." Her voice was shaky and she admonished herself for not calming sufficiently before answering.
"What's wrong?" She could feel her concern creep up on her just as she could see Dave settling next to her on the sofa at hearing it.
"It's nothing really." She wasn't convincing and she knew it so when Penelope demanded an answer she relented. "My sister and sister's girlfriend had to leave. They are in the coast guard and once the governor called the state of emergency they had to react. So I'm here alone."
"Oh sweetie. Are you going to be alright? Do you have food? Heat?" she noticed Dave's face raise in concern too. She knew he was reading her, he had his profiler face on.
Tabby bit her lip before reluctantly responding. "I have plenty of food. The heat is electric but I have heavy clothes. I'm just terrified of snow."
Penelope's stomach dropped. The woman had no heat source and the weatherman said it was likely to get into the negative digits tonight. Warm clothes would do nothing. She didn't know what to do but Rossi held his hand over the phone so he could ask her something. "Who is that Pumpkin?"
"It's my friend Tabby from work. She's terrified of snow, alone and has no heat. Should I tell her to go to the disaster shelter at the high school?"
Dave took a second to think that over. "Is this Tabby, Tabby? The cookies on the third floor Tabby?"
She nodded, glad he knew her. She had tried to ask Derek more about her but he changed subjects each time. She should have thought to ask him and her fiancé for details. Why she hadn't thought on that… well, her drama and sexy time. Both are very distracting.
He was actually glad to see Pumpkin was making friends in high places. Tabby was someone you don't mess with. She was notoriously harsh on higher ups just because treating them that way is part of her many experiments as well as simply a tool to build a stronger bureau. She's responsible for many of the new structures, policies and recruiting procedures the bureau has in place. And she accomplished it all at such a young age. But of course, she was cut throat when she needed to be and then it was no mercy personally and professionally. He remembered when one of her rare boyfriends, a local running for congress, had kissed another woman drunk at a party. She leaked a story to his opponent and the press about several of his sketchy bed habits, leaving herself out of the story of course, and got him fired from his current job of the time by engaging in phone sex while she knew the line was tapped on his end. Sure, it was low and vindictive but it was a little creative and he had to give her that. "Tell her to come over. Or, no. I will pick her up in this weather."
She looked at him dumbfounded. "I wasn't—I mean I wasn't hinting or anything. I don't want you put out."
Before he could respond Derek interrupted having overheard as he lowered a large load of wood to the floor. "Put him out how?"
Dave pat her hand reassuringly. "Come on you two, let's go grab Tabby from the office and have her join our weekend gettaway."
Penelope was stunned, so much she didn't even think to gauge Morgan's reaction to that statement and instead turned to the phone. "Be ready in half an hour. We're picking you up and bringing you to David Rossi's cabin estate."
Tabby's eyes bulged, for several reasons. The most pertinent being. "No, I can't go out in this! It's, you don't understand…"
"Trust me? Ok?" There was no way she was letting the girl stay where she will freeze to death when she could have her right there and nice and warm in what is more of vacation than anything else.
Reluctantly, Tabby agreed and only because her feet were so cold she couldn't feel them. She knew that this snowed in weekend, spent at Rossi's cabin, with a group of fraternizing subordinates would spell either great success or ultimate disaster. But, it was a golden opportunity to play a hunch and for that alone she was excited.
-Criminal Minds-
Penelope almost asked a hundred questions on the drive there from either of the two men who seemed to know more about Tabby than she did. But she couldn't get herself to focus on anything other than her fear of death on these iceslicked roads. If it weren't for Rossi explaining all the safety features he added onto his truck for the storm and Morgan rubbing her shoulders to keep her sane she might have squeezed holes into the leather of Rossi's passenger seat.
Finally, after what should have been a fifteen minute drive but took thirty, they arrived outside of Tabby's building. Morgan hopped out and helped Garcia climb over a snow bank while Rossi lifted the lid to the back of the trust, sure Tabby would be brining a good lot of items that Penelope had instructed of her.
They were all buzzed up and made their way to the second floor condo where Tabby let them in. Penelope was the only one surprised by her surroundings. Both men had pegged the super neat, ultra sleek and unlived in feel of the condo from Tabby. They both knew for a fact that she buried herself in her work, always have a hard time having meaningful relationships with others despite her personalbiltiy. That's part of why this instant rapport with Penelope was startling, but perhaps it would translate to the other ladies of the team as well.
"Hey there girlie. You got everything?" For the first time, Pen pulled her new friend into a hug.
Tabby accepted it instantly, relieved she was finally here. Every time she looked out her large picture window her heart began to race. She knew a fear of the snow is irrational but god help her she couldn't seem to get past it. She worked her way to not freaking with flurries. She even was able to deal with the inch storm they had a couple months ago. But this? This is why she went to Stanford and not a northeast school. "Yeah. Three nights of clothes, extra blankets, my perishable food and" she held up a bag. "Some dog food I had laying around. I wasn't sure if you had enough for both of yours at the cabin."
Penelope wondered how Tabby knew Derek brought his dog too, she had forgotten to mention that. All she said was there are pets, dog/cat and she hoped she wasn't allergic. Tabby loved pets though she didn't have any. "Well, that's sweet." She suddenly got an idea, a nice meddling idea. "Here, give Dave and I the bags, you and Morgan take one each and let him be your scratching post on the way down. I know you are terrified but he will keep you safe. He's always done it for me."
Derek shot her a confused look, wondering what his baby girl was up to but offered his arm politely to Tabby nonetheless. God, she was beautiful and always smelled so damn good. Like cookies, scones, whatever the hell she was baking. She can't cook worth a damn but she can bake her ass off. "Let's go. We have a plow and everything."
Admittedly, she was impressed at that and how well Dave handled the driving back to the house. They did stop at a gas station where she forced herself to hop out and be helpful with filling the spare cans Dave wanted for the generator. Just in case they really needed the electricity for something they could get a couple hours for the full house. She only managed this because there wasn't snow underfoot at the gas pump, she couldn't even attempt to go into the store with Derek and Penelope to pay and grab some more essentials like milk, toilet paper and chocolate bars.
She rested on Derek's offered shoulder in the back seat and let herself try to relax and close the world out. "Thanks. I hope this isn't weird for you."
"Girl, why would this be weird? I'm worried though, you never told me the fear of snow was this bad." He didn't have much more time to talk about it though since Pen and Dave were climbing back in the truck. "Dave man, let's step on it and get her back. I am starving."
"Me too." All three agreed in unison.
Once they got back to the cabin Rossi pulled into the two car garage, thankful he decided on this when he built the place. He didn't want to subject Tabby to something more frightening. They walked through the back which led to the kitchen and Derek took her perishables to the back porch while Rossi and Penelope led Tabby into the house.
"Mommy! Guess what? Daddy and Uncle Spence said Henry and I can sleep in the fort so your friend can take our room." Jack was extra excited. Its like camping without all the wet stuff or bugs.
Penelope bent to Jack and gave him a kiss. "Was that your idea?" As far as she knew Tabby would be on the very comfortable sofa in Rossi's den.
Jack nodded proudly. "She needs a bed and Uncle Spencer said he knows how to make the coolest sleeping bags for us!"
Tabby watched the mother and son interact and it just seemed so natural. Jack was obviously as caring as Penelope and at such a young age. He was also brighter than his years and simply adorable and she found herself aching for kids of her own, afraid she'll never get them. "What a great kid." She commented to Penelope as they climbed the back stairs to her assigned room.
Penelope agreed as they started to unload her stuff in the room. She asked her if she could help her unpack to make it go faster. Everyone was waiting to have dinner. Tabby agreed and it took just a couple minutes before they walked down the main stairs. Tabby was blown away by the fort.
"This is so cool!" she jumped and ran into the fort surprising everyone and electrifying Henry who reacted to her presence just like Derek, a big grin on his face. It was adorable.
"Hey Tabby." Aaron greeted as Penelope crawled to her seat in the circle next to him. "Do you know the rest of the team?"
She shook her head. "I recognize you all from your personnel files though."
Hotch smiled, that's something Penelope would say. He introduced each person there, surprised she had never met JJ. Jack gave her a friendly wave, Henry took the opportunity to hug her. She was extra cool in his book just because she slid into the fort like she was sliding into home plate. Also, he heard that she brought them all board games and that made her his new favorite person on its own.
Rossi and Emily poked their heads in with ten bowls of chili on trays and everyone set to eating. It was a fun dinner. Everyone chatting about the storm and postulating on how bad it will really get or simply talking the upcoming baseball season or pretty much anything other than work.
"You look more relaxed." Derek observed as the two cleared some of the plates into the kitchen and started on the dishes. She had volunteered once she heard that the water heater was one of the systems that Rossi kept on the hybrid solar/gasoline generator. Just the hotwater system, one outlet and a flood light in the back yard were on the emergency system and that meant they could last there for quite a good while, maybe even a week with hot water. It was actually important to use it so the pipes didn't freeze.
"I am. I can't believe she actually had you guys come get me." She tried to stifle a yip of surprise when she felt his wrap his strong arms around her and pull himself flush to her back. "Not when they could see!" she admonished even though she was losing herself in his embrace.
He snickered. "I looked out first. But I still don't understand why I can't say anything. Everyone is fraternizing here."
She sighed and turned to him. "One, there is a large 'power gap' between us. It doesn't mean anything in our relationship but it is all about perceptions."
He stood back and folded his arms in front of him. "Am I ever going to get to be open about you? Or will we be hiding our grandkids?"
He heard started thudding a mile a minute. He saw a future with her? She never hoped that could happen, really she didn't. Her relationships had been rocky at best so this little comment left her speechless for a minute. "Sweetie. Its not, how can I explain this?" She darted a glance to the livingroom to notice Penelope staring at them so she turned back to the dishes and talked over her shoulder. "You asked for my help and this is how it has to be until I figure out my full game plan. It might piss you off but I am invested in this now. I want them all successful."
He dropped his protective stance and turned to drying the dishes along side her. "I'm glad you like them. They all like you. That's probably a bigger test than my mother."
She snickered. "I really almost had a heart attack meeting that woman. And your sisters!"
He chuckled in return. "They all love you." He decided this was as good a moment as any to have his previously planned conversation for this weekend with her. "They are pushing to take me ring shopping."
She stopped dead in her tracks when the plate she was washing slipped into the sink. Was he serious? He was always serious when he used that tone he just had. "Uh."
He put a hand quickly on her arm to steady her. He knew this wasn't what she expected. Hell he didn't expect it either. He didn't expect her at all.
One late night at the BAU turned into an early morning of pacing all the unlocked floors he could find just to get some sense of self again. That turned into him walking on the third floor at five in the morning when Tabby was carrying in her usual cookies and some croissants. He tried to avoid her notice because technically he shouldn't have even been in the building but the smell of that delicious food made his belly grumble and gave him away.
She turned to see the built hunk of a man and smirked that he was there and obviously wanting a treat. "Tell me you like chocolate, because both my selections are heavily laden with it."
He smiled at her, glad she wasn't chewing him out. Still he approached cautiously as she set the platter on the reception desk in front of the office labeled Tabby, Ph.D. She took a seat at the desk, put her purse down and tucked under and motioned for him to pull up a seat as well. "Tell me," she pulled out a napkin from under the platter and handed it to him. "just please tell me you know how to make coffee in these new machines." She hated the darn things!
He had expected a more inquiring question than that but he shot her one of his charming-the-pants-(hopefully-literally)-off-you smiles before asking her how she takes it.
"Black's the only way to go." She responded nonchalantly but both knew she meant more.
He nearly burned himself making the stupid coffee because the new machines did indeed stink and he kept thinking about her. Derek Morgan wasn't used to being smitten, usually he was the one women fawned over. But she was just a natural beauty. Curves but trim, dark hair and incredibly pale skin (maybe even paler than pretty boy) and green eyes. Hardly any makeup, her lips really were naturally that perfect pink. And, she was charming in her own right. Nice, caring, garish in her innuendo. He liked that, a lot.
"Black just as you like it." He announced as he placed her coffee down in front of her. "Thank you for sharing by the way." He motioned to the croissant he was about to try. Once he bit in, it was love. You get to a man through his stomach, his mother always said it and it's true. He told her as much.
She laughed, embarrassed. "Stick with my baked goods and I'll have you wrapped around my finger. Just don't ever try one of my grilled cheeses." She warned in a serious tone. "I once set my kitchen on fire making one."
He bit back his laughter at that. "Well, then maybe I only like you a little bit."
She dropped her jaw and hit his arm playfully before he took the opportunity and plunged his tongue to hers in a wet and passionate kiss that ended inside her office two hours later. In fact, he hadn't realized they were even in there until both had come and they could hear voices of people outside grabbing cookies and pastries.
"Oh shit." He exclaimed as he buttoned his shirt. "Is your boss going to find out about us being in here?"
She shook her head. "Sweetie, what's your name?"
He stopped dead in his tracks. He was falling for her, made hot and passionate love to her twice already and had no idea what her first name was, not to mention her last. "Uh, Derek Morgan."
She knew exactly what thoughts were going through his head. "I'm Tabby."
"Oh, so this is your office then." His eyebrows nearly hit the ceiling. She was important to warrant a corner office on the third floor. "Tabby what?"
"Just Tabby. And no, not like Cher. I hate that reference." She winked at his blush at the situation. She got it, she never did that before though she was sure he had. But, never at work. "Go on, I am sure the BAU needs their agent."
He furrowed his brow. "How do you know I am BAU?"
She licked her lips and tackled his mouth again in a searing kiss that made him simply not care anymore. Later that week when he returned from a case he came by her office and asked her on a real date. That was three months ago. It's been exclusive and intense since.
"I'll make a deal with you." He ventured after his little flash back. "I'll keep this all on the DL for as long as necessary but you sneak into my room while we are snowed in. Just to sleep, you are far too loud to be incognito about anything more."
She blushed, that was true. She's a screamer. But she was also just really flattered he wanted her in his arms more than anything else, so of course she agreed. Like the other three couples in the well-appointed 'cabin', they settled under the covers of their beds, small fires still producing enough heat for their room and fell asleep wondering what fun this family will be tomorrow.