This story is told alternating from present day to the past. It will be a bit challenging to write it this way but I hope you will be able to follow. Also I probably will be only updating once or twice a week :(
Past—About 1 year after the wedding date (7 years before present day)
"No" Penelope says as she buries her head in the cover.
"Come on, honey, you have to get up."
"You are pure evil," she said "you kept me up all night and now I can't sleep in."
"Technically, baby girl, you kept me up all night – and we have to go work. If you keep stalling there will be no latte and croissants for you."
"Look, I'm up, dressed, drinking coffee" he says as he puts the mug close to her nose.
"Arrgh," she groaned "fine. I'm up but I'm not happy." She said getting out of bed heading to the bathroom in all of her naked glory.
He sipped his coffee as he watched her make her way to the bathroom. "I can help you – you know, wash your hair, scrub your back."
"If I can't sleep - you can't get any." She sassed.
He smiled as she closed the door. He was the happiest man in the world. He and Penelope married a year ago in Chicago, all of their friends and family were present for their intimate rooftop ceremony. It seemed like yesterday she walked into Pete's and changed his life for the better.
She makes life exciting – she can make anything an adventure from a trip to the grocery store, to a vegetarian dish, or a bike ride in the park. She had that "je ne sais quoi" – and he loved when she spoke French. She took up running when they were dating – or how she tells it – during their hiatus, and now she was slightly fanatical about it – but he thinks it has more to do with the sweaty sex they have after. He was glad that she didn't lose her curves becoming a runner because he found her voluptuous body intoxicating. She liked her body a bit more fit, because she has more options in the vintage shops – but he loved her body either way. He just loved her he thought.
Clooney ran over to him and he asked his friend if he was hungry. He headed downstairs to feed him and load the supplies into the car. When he was done loading the supplies and tools into the car she came downstairs ready to go. She was wearing a pair of faded jeans and a pink sweatshirt. The shirt was cut like the woman from Flash Dance—y'know off the shoulder—Penelope had this way of making everything sexy.
"Alright, task master, I am ready," she said as she put on her sunglasses and grabbed her wallet.
When they arrived to their future home, she helped Derek unload the new supplies and bring it into their brownstone. The walls were up and floors were in—today was molding and window day. He really wanted to bang this part out, since after this was done they could move in; so, he invited the team over to help. Being as meticulous as he was, Derek insisted that they set-up everyone's work station before they arrived. She loved seeing him this excited about a project. She left the BAU, about a year or two ago, after she fulfilled her jail sentence. It wasn't as bad as it sounds and she often felt that her time at the BAU gave her street cred in the academic community. She was like the Charlie Epps of the BAU, she created programs and supervised a few technology projects for them as a consultant – while being a computer science and robotics professor. Derek's work was too dark for her and she was happy when that chapter in her life was over—she was extremely grateful that she was able to retain the good from that experience. Specifically she was able keep Reid, JJ, Will, Hotch, Beth, Jack, Rossi, Henry, and Emily in her life.
"Sir," she said as she entered the kitchen, "the living room, den, and foyer workstations have been set up."
"Sir," he said questioning. "Get over her Garcia," he said with a playful forcefulness.
"Yes, sir," she said as she pretended to walk like a marine.
"I'm sensing a bit of sass from you Garcia and you know I don't like sass" he said as he pinned her to the wall.
"I'm sorry sir, are you going to punish me." She said daring him to.
"You leave me no choice," he said as he kisses her firmly and passionately.
"Please get a room," JJ says entering the room "we have a child with us." She said feigning disgust.
"Hey Henry!" Penelope cheers, as she dips under Derek's arm to greet them.
"Aunty P!"
She gives him a huge hug.
"You're getting bigger and bigger every day!" She exclaimed.
"And so is your mama," she added.
"Hey, your supposed to be nice to pregnant ladies" JJ said as she rubbed her belly
"Sorry," she chuckled "that was baby envy"
"Well, I know you and Derek know how to make one.. so" she trailed off.
"TMI, JJ—TMI" Will said in his thick Nawlins accent.
"Timing is everything," Penelope said.
How many times had he heard that as her reason for waiting Derek thought slightly annoyed. "So are you ready Will? Thank you for lending me your husband, JJ," he said giving JJ his signature mile.
As they left the room, JJ mouthed sorry to Penelope.
She shook her head and said "Between him and Fran, you would think that is my sole purpose in life."
"You do want them right?" she asked.
"Of 'course, but not like today. I mean, I haven't even started my new job yet—and that commute is going to blow, Anywhoo, what are you guys up today?"
"Museum Birthday Party"
As they continued chatting Reid, Hotch, Rossi, and Emily came in. As she set everyone up at their stations—Derek swung by.
"Everyone is all set-up, sir" she teased but he wasn't in a playful mood.
"Great" he said nonchalantly.
"Hey, can I steal you for a second" she asked Derek.
He nodded and she dragged him into the pantry in the kitchen.
"You aren't annoyed by that JJ comment aren't you?"
"No," he said like a 5 year old.
"I promised to give you a tribe of Morgans she teased and I will – just not today."
"Or tomorrow," he added.
"Derek," she said tilting her head as if that would bring him back to reality
"We have a house to restore, baby girl, and we can't do it from the pantry."
"Hey, I love you handsome," she said making sure she made eye contact because she knew how touchy this topic was for them.
"And I love you honey" he said as he gave her a quick peck. —"But we have to get to work."
She went to work at Reid and Emily's station in the living room. They had the pleasure of putting in the moldings. Since Penelope was a consultant for the FBI she had monthly meetings with Strauss about projects and tried to problem solve miscellaneous glitches. Every time she had her meeting she tried to have lunch with Reid and Emily – if they weren't on a case.
Sometimes it was hard to catch up with the BAU team because - when Derek was home, she always wanted to spend time with him, which sometimes meant not seeing them as much as she should. Beth and Will she saw frequently, because time always permitted it. Penelope and Beth became running buddies, they run together every Sunday morning, and then hit up the farmer's market. Beth was quirky and fun—she could see how Hotch and Beth balanced each other out. Sometimes the BAU, ladies joined them on their run which was pretty awesome. —when the stars aligned. Penelope never was into exercise before, but running helped her free her mind and think—and she felt like it was her sole responsibility to keep Clooney healthy.
When the finished the moldings, she invited Reid and Emily to head out back. They grabbed a seat at the picnic table, the only piece of furniture in the house. As the rest of the helpers finished up, Penelope took out the plastic cups and the chilled champagne.
Derek looked amazingly sexy – wearing an old pair of jeans, grey t-shirt- with his tattoos glistening from sweat and a splash of sawdust. He also wore a new University of Pennsylvania hat that she gave him when she accepted the visiting professorship. She popped and poured the champagne and he passed it out.
"We would like to thank you all for coming out today and helping us put the final touches on our house-" she grabs Derek's hand and he said "over the years it has been a beautiful thing to see my colleagues become my family." Penelope continues or adds on, "and each day, when we come home, we will remember that you helped us build our home—which will be one of our first memories in this house." Derek interrupts "well not to get too sappy" he said kissing her on her forehead —"Thank you for helping us build our home—you are the best family anyone could ever choose."
Derek raised his cup and then everyone followed suit; they toasted to the new home, couple, friendship, and love.
Penelope waited for Derek in the living room as he quadruple checked the house to make sure everything was turned off and all the windows were shut. As the last rays of sun beamed into their living room, Derek came behind her and held her waist. He whispered in her ear—"A penny for your thoughts."
"Sometimes can't believe this is our life," she said.
"What do you mean?"
"This house, you, me—it seems surreal sometimes like a world with purple skies and flying elephants."
"You know your crazy right," he said as she turned around to face him.
"I mean think about it, angelfish. Soon the house will be filled with memories, kids, dogs, pictures, furniture, - a life. Everything we make will reside here - in a house we restored with our friends and family – it's like we're about to paint a masterpiece."
The love in her eyes and the vision she was painting caught him off guard and made his heart surge with love. How did he ever get so lucky he wondered as "I love you Mrs. Penelope Morgan," fell from his lips.
"Make love to me husband" she giggled as she returned his kiss.
That night they christened the living room, kitchen, den, and staircase.