"Do you think we'll have enough time?" Penelope asked as she shook out her skirt. "I didn't realize it had gotten so late."
"We'll have plenty of time, my peacock. It's only 3:30."
"But it closes at five!"
Erin kissed Penelope's cheek gently. "I know. But everything will be fine. Now, while I get us tickets, you check our coats." Penelope nodded and they entered the building. She breathed deeply, the stillness of the place calming her nerves. She did as Erin asked and turned their coats over to the young man who was behind the desk. He smiled at her widely, and Penelope couldn't help but return the gesture.
Erin came up to them and threaded her arm through Penelope's, nodding at the young man as they turned to enter the collection. There were a number of other people in the galleries still, so they started at the first room, waiting to look at the pictures on the wall. Penelope noticed that as the time passed, fewer and fewer people were in the room they went to. At one point, she thought she heard JJ's voice and she looked around the room they were currently in, though she didn't see her.
"What is it?" Erin asked, touching her arm gently.
"Nothing, I just thought I heard a familiar voice." She took hold of Erin's hand and they moved on to the next room. It was almost empty, just a security guard and a young man looking at the painting above the fireplace. Penelope glanced at her watch and saw the minute hand tick past the quarter hour mark. "Erin, we have to get going."
"Shh, my peacock. We're okay, I promise." Erin led her into the next room and stepped in front of a painting of a man and a woman. Penelope bent forward to read the nameplate of the pastel creation.
"The Progress of Love: Love Letters," she softly said. "Erin, this could be us," she said as she turned to her lover. Erin was holding out her hand, a ring box resting on top of it. "Erin?"
"I love you, and I do not ever want you out of my life. I would love nothing more than to make you my wife, Penelope Garcia. Will you marry me?"
Penelope felt her breath catch as she looked into Erin's eyes. "You want to marry me?"
"Yes."
Penelope smiled and promptly burst into tears. "Oh my god, Erin, yes!" She threw her arms around Erin, holding her close as she cried, forgetting about the ring her lover had held out. She kissed Erin deeply, heedless of the people who might be watching them.
"Penny, may I put the ring on your finger now?" Erin asked gently.
"Oh, yeah, the ring, of course." Penelope stepped back from Erin and held out her hand. Erin opened the velvet box and Penelope gasped at the ring. "Oh, Erin, it's so lovely. Thank you," she said as she watched Erin slip on the princess cut amethyst. Penelope adjusted the ring slightly, trying to catch the light in the gem.
"Are you ready for dinner and dancing?"
"Where?"
"Here, of course, with all our friends and family." Erin turned her around and Penelope felt her face crumple as she saw everyone she loved there. Paul was the first one to hug her, smiling like he had gotten the happiest news in the world.
"Welcome to the family," Karen said as she took her turn hugging Penelope. "I was so afraid we were going to give something away yesterday. And then you didn't even notice us here with you as you walked through the room."
"Then I did hear JJ's voice." Penelope looked over Karen's shoulder and saw JJ step forward. "Jayje!" She opened her arms and the other woman stepped into them, hugging her back. "When are you due?"
"How'd you know? I'm not due until July."
"Women in our condition usually know this sort of thing. The twins are due in August." She looked around at the others gathered, taking stock of who'd come. Morgan and Emily were standing next to Cass, while Reid was talking with Gideon and Will. Henry was playing a game with Jack and a little girl Penelope didn't recognize. And then she saw Jordan and Elle. She turned back to Erin. "How?"
"I have my ways, Penelope. Ah, there you are, Mike. I was hoping you could make it." She embraced the security guard and shook hands with this wife.
"I didn't want to miss this. Hello, Penelope," he said, hugging her.
"Well, now that we're all here, I believe that supper is waiting for us," Erin said. Everyone followed the young man that Penelope had seen earlier in the collection, keeping an eye on them. They were led into an elegant dining room where a string quartet was softly playing.
Penelope saw there were name cards on every plate, with Erin and her at the head. Morgan was on her right, while Aaron was on Erin's left. Throughout the four course meal, she talked animatedly with Morgan and those closest to her. After dessert, the same young man led them to the Garden Court. "The collection is yours to explore, ladies and gentlemen. If you have any questions, I or one of my colleagues will be more than happy to answer." He turned to Penelope and Erin. "Congratulations again, it was my pleasure to organize this for you, Ms. Strauss."
"Thank you for helping me, Philip. I couldn't have done this without you." She shook his hand and he blended into the crowd, slowly disappearing as Penelope focused on Erin.
"I love you, my sweet dove. Thank you for bringing all of us together like this. I know this must not have been easy for you."
"When you have time on your side, you can accomplish anything. Now, let's go mingle with our guests." Erin kissed her cheek gently and pushed her out into the group.
Penelope approached Elle first, seeing her hold onto the hand of the little girl from earlier. Elle hugged her close for a moment, then stepped back. "Penelope, I'd like you to meet my daughter, Victoria." Penelope shook the girl's hand, smiling at her.
"When did you start a family?" Penelope asked as she looked back up at Elle.
"Shortly after I left the FBI, actually. I disappeared, hoping Hotch wouldn't have you look for me. I went back to Washington and started over. I met Ben three months later, and then there was Victoria. He would have come, but this is his Christmas to be on call." She looked over at Erin, who was talking to Gideon. "And how did you ever end up with her?"
"God, fate, who know why I decided to watch the sky a year ago instead of where I was going. All I do know is I have my other half." Penelope looked around the room. "If you'll excuse me," she said, moving over to where Jordan was.
"Erin does not let up when she wants something, does she?" Jordan asked after they'd hugged.
"No, she doesn't. But then again, neither do I. I'm so glad you came, though. How's counter-terrorism?"
"Busy as usual, though Erin cut through some strings to get me here. I was supposed to be in Lebanon this week."
"Make sure, if you go, to send me pictures if you can. Lebanon has always sounded so intriguing, but it's not like I can visit anytime soon. I don't want to risk anything with the babies."
"When are you due?" Jordan asked, touching her shoulder.
"The middle of August. Oh, that also means I'm going to be big as a house during the heat of summer. We should have thought about that before we decided to continue." Jordan laughed softly and shook her head. "Don't be a stranger, Jordan. You know where my office is." She hugged her once more and then moved on to her other guests.
"So, you're making it official, Baby Girl. I must say, I was surprised by Erin's request. She really is something."
"You can't have her, Sugar. I saw her first and I won't let her go. If you hadn't been so blinded to her…"
"I know. Besides, you two are a perfect fit. So, you're due in August."
"How'd you know?"
"That peridot pendant round your neck. Merry Christmas, Baby Girl." He hugged her close, kissing her forehead. "I left your gift at home, I'm afraid. I was a but busy before we left and there it sits on my counter."
"Your being here is gift enough for me. When we get married, will you give me away? I don't have any family, so I'd like my best friend to do the honors."
He nodded and pulled her close again. "Anything for you, Penelope."
"So, let me see the ring," Emily said as she came up to them. Penelope held out her hand and Emily looked down at the amethyst, smiling as she rubbed her finger over the gem. "I knew she was planning something, but not anything like this. You guys had better have an epic wedding to top this."
"I'm sure we'll come up with something, Ems. This is still a little surreal, though. I mean, I'm pregnant and now engaged. Where can we even get married?"
"Washington D.C. Gay marriage is legal there." Reid and Gideon joined their little group. He hugged Penelope and smiled down at her. "Merry Christmas Penny."
"Merry Christmas Spencer, Gideon. To think that fortune has smiled so on me that I have all of you here tonight to celebrate my happiness." She sighed happily as the strings began to play once more. She looked for Erin, wanting to dance with her beloved, but couldn't find her until Reid pointed towards the quartet. Only now, it was a quintet, with Erin next to the other cellist. The song was slow and majestic and Penelope felt herself drawn forward to be closer to Erin. The song ended and she burst into applause, smiling widely.
Erin set her instrument down and walked over to meet Penelope. "I know I said I was going to give you a private recital, but I'm going to consider this a dress rehearsal of sorts," she whispered as she wrapped her arms around Penelope's waist, swaying to the music that was still being played.
"You looked incredibly sexy up there, my dove." Penelope kissed her cheek, and then laid her head on Erin's shoulder, closing her eyes to feel the music. Once more the world had come down to just Erin, and the love they shared. When she looked up again, some time later, most of their guests were gone, save Morgan and Reid, who were talking quietly. "When do you think they'll get together?" she asked lowly, turning Erin to see the couple.
"Who knows? But if they're happy, well, I won't say anything if you don't."
"Sounds like a plan. I wish this night would last forever, and yet I know it shouldn't. There's magic in the air."
"There's magic in you, my peacock." Erin pulled her close once more. "I know it's not exotic, but Jason's offered us his cabin for our honeymoon. I was thinking early October, when the leaves are just turning colors, and there's a crispness in the air."
"And we can go to a farmer's market and get fresh apple cider to drink in front of the fireplace after the twins have gone to sleep. You can weave me another story during our time there. It will be so perfect."