Once Upon A Straight Tequila Night

Chapter 69 - Love Begins To Blossom

Penelope's POV

The cookout is in full swing and everyone is happy, I look towards the opening that leads down to the pond and notice that Spencer and Desiree have their arms around each other's waist as the rejoin the party they make their way over to where I am sitting on the patio feeding Belle her bottle Spencer sits down and pulls Desiree on to his lap and wraps his arms around her waist and then he looks around the backyard for Derek and I say to him "Oh lover boy don't worry about him he is fine with the two of you being together" Desi then says "see Spence I told you not to worry about my brother he maybe act like a bully but he is just a big softy who loves seeing his family happy."

I am sitting here on the patio and I look over towards Hotch and notice that he and Emily are sitting with their feet in the pool and Emily has her head resting on Hotch's shoulder while he has his head resting on top of her head and his arm wrapped around her shoulder, Derek comes up on to the patio and I say "since when has the Bossman and Emily become so close" he smiles and says "they have been getting closer and closer since Emily came back to the BAU and to be quite honest with you baby girl I think it just what he needs" I nod and say "ever since Haley passed away he never wanted to join in on our fun night going out to the bar to celebrate the good cases, but now he has come out of his shell and it is great to see."

Emily gets up and walks into the house only to have Hotch follow shortly after her, I get up and take Belle in so that I can change her and get her down for a nap and as I walk in the back door and into the kitchen I am shocked at what I see, I have walked in on an intimate moment between Hotch and Emily making out Emily is sitting on the island counter and Hotch is standing between her legs and his hands well lets just say I don't want to know where they are, I clear my throat and the pair jump apart and Emily jumps off the counter top and looks down at the ground her cheeks blushing to a bright red Hotch's cheeks also blush but no where near as bad as Emily's I can't help but smile as I say "well is about time you two got your acts together, I am so happy for you."

Emily lifts her head and smile and says "I have always had feelings for Aaron but I never thought that I would get a chance and I took off to London but all I could think about was Aaron so when he called me and asked if I wanted to come back to the BAU I jumped at the opportunity and I was on the next available flight out of London and Aaron was waiting at the airport for me to land, as he drove us back to his house he told me that he missed me and he also said that he loved me, so we have been dating under the radar of everyone for the past year and a bit but I think we should tell everyone that we are together" I watch as the couple interact with each other Hotch takes left Emily's hand in his and brings it to his lips and kisses it gently and that is when I notice the big rock on her ring finger and I say "Emily is there something that you are not telling" as I hold up my own left hand and point at my engagement and wedding rings.

Hotch smiles and says "yes Penelope there is something that we are not telling you but you will have to wait until everyone else finds out shortly" I pout and say "ok have it your way but can you give me a few minutes so that I can get the twins down for their nap, Hotch could you please go and ask Derek to bring Alex in for me so that he can be changed as well Hotch nods and leaves the kitchen and I say to Emily "Em you are my best friend and I didn't even know that you were seeing anyone and all the times that we have had pool parties and barbecues you have never gone near Hotch and now I learn that you have been together for over a year, Ohhhh I so want to hear the details later missy" Emily laughs and say "deal, now go and change little miss Belle so that we can get this announcement made" Emily then turns and walks out the door just as Derek enters, Derek and I make our way upstairs and get the twins changed and into their crib for their nap.

I pick up the baby monitor as Derek and I leave the nursery and make our way back to the party, we walk out the back door and watch everyone around us I notice that Rossi has Fran sitting in his lap while watching the triplets playing with Aaron, Jack and Henry in the sandbox, Will and JJ are sitting cuddled up on the swing seat, Spencer and Desiree are sitting with their feet in the pool and Hotch and Emily are sitting at the table on the patio talking when Hotch stands up and says "I have an announcement to make."

Hotch's POV

Now that Penelope and Derek are back I stand and say "I have an announcement to make" I watch as everyone gets up from where they are and make their way over to the patio, once everyone is gathered around the patio do I offer my hand for Emily to take she places her hand in mine and I pull her close to me and I continue "now I know that many of you are wondering what I have to say but please be patient I will tell you all in good time, you are all probably wondering why I have Emily in my arms and that reason is because Emily and I have been dating for over a year now, we started dating when she came back from London, but that is not all I have asked Emily to become my wife she said yes and we are also expecting our first child together in the next 6 months."

Everyone erupts in a cheer before I can continue on and the I say "now I know that a lot of you are trying to work out how we kept it a secret so long but when we were working we never acted any differently toward each other and even when we were at a barbecue or something outside of work we never acted differently and that was because we wanted to make sure that we were completely sure about our relationship and we probably wouldn't have said anything today but we got caught" I watch as my fiancee turns a shade of pink as her cheeks blush but i pull her closer and kiss her lips gently but passionately.

Jack comes up and says "Daddy" I let go of Emily and bend down to his level and he whispers in my ear "now that everybody know can me Emmy, Mommy" I smile and whisper back in his ear "yes buddy you can call Emmy, Mommy now" he jumped up and down all excited and move to Emily and said "Mommy I Love You" I stood up again and when Jack said that I immediately saw tears well up in Emily's eyes as she picked him and said "I Love You Too Jack."

Derek's POV

Well now that was a curve ball I was not expecting that I mean I figure out that Hotch was seeing Prentiss but I had no idea that they were together that long or that they were engaged or that they were expecting a baby, but I am glad to see both him and Jack happy, Emily will make a great Mom to Jack and their unborn baby she is also perfect for Hotch as I have never seen him this happy for a long time and that even goes back to when he was with Haley, I turn my focus to the rest of the people in our backyard and each and every person has a loved one wrapped in their arms and looking extremely happy and that is all anyone could ever want.

I know that with Penelope wrapped in my arms lovingly I can vouch for how everyone else feels and there is nothing better than the love of family and it is now clear that love has blossomed for everyone of our family members.