Disclaimer: I own nothing

Labor Day – three months later

"Mommy! Daddy! Can we play now?" Their children asked in unison.

"Ok, but not too messy—the other kids will come in a few," she said. They ran past them to the kiddie table and began to color.

"I think we really out did ourselves this time," Derek said. Their garden was transformed into a tropical paradise, with fake palm trees, dancing paper flamingos, hibiscus flower lanterns and leis crisscrossing from one side of the yard to another.

"We did," she beamed back at him. "I have to go finish making the veggie kabobs, and the non alcoholic punch, did you finish the burgers? Wait I have to finish the potato and macaroni salad." As the list grew longer she started to head back to the kitchen when Derek caught her hand. She walked back to him.

"Slow down, baby girl, every thing is just perfect."

"But we should finish up," she said looking into his eyes—you know Reid and Em will be here first and—" he put his pointer finger over her lips and said "I love you."

"I love you too," she replied. He moved her bangs out of her face and kissed her. It was a slow kiss, like a lazy Sunday morning kiss that winds up being a precursor to sex kiss. He ran his fingers through her hair as she wrapped her arms around him.

Within two steps, she was pressed against the doorway and he continued to kiss her neck with his stubble tickling her. "Derek, we have to" he returned to her lips. As his tongue explored her mouth, she heard Izzy scream stop daddy, she can't breathe.

The broke apart and Derek gave Penelope a quick peck on the lips. He squatted down to his daughter and said "baby girl, mommy is fine. See, she can breathe, Izzy – I was just giving her a kiss the way mothers and fathers kiss."

Penelope joined them, "It's ok sweetie. Mommy is fine."

"You're mine," Izzy said as she flung herself into Penelope's arms.

"You're mine right?" she asked her peering up with huge puppy dog eyes.

"Yes, but I am. I'm also Chris's and your dad's - we all belong and take care of each other, darlin"

She buried her head into her mom's shoulder and Penelope mouthed to Derek we're fine. She took her to the kitchen and finished working on the food while her possessive daughter ate pudding.

"Play, mommy," Izzy said as she tried to get out of the high chair. Penelope wiped off her face, and brought her to the yard with her brother.

She walks over to Derek, "I wonder where she get's that possessive streak from. It's not a Garcia trait."

"Hush," he said laughing "I feel sorry for her boyfriends." He grabbed her by her waist and said "Your mine"

"See it's a Morgan trait."

As their friends and family arrived for the Morgan's Annual Labor Day BBQ, the smell of grilled meat and children's laughter filled the air.

She was kinda surprised to see Reid and Emily together, it seemed like she finally took her advice and brought him home to her bat cave. They were a perfect match she thought—she balanced out his neurotic tendencies and he loved her in a way she never realized she deserved. Penelope smiled as she watched them together. She hoped at their wedding day, they gave her credit.

Penelope brought a new pitcher of sangria to the table and asked Reid and Emily if they wanted to see Dark Knight Rises next weekend before they take it out of the theatres.

"I wasn't that impressed with the last one," Reid said

"But it's Tim Nolan, he's like a cinematic genius," Penelope said defending her favorite director.

"The last one was slow and long and I prefer Faverau's Iron Man to the Dark Knight."

"What?"

Derek walked over and said to Reid, "Please don't get her started just say yes and go"

"We'll go," Will interjected, "as long as we go dancing after, JJ has the dancing bug."

Beth, "we have to get in on this Hotch—it seems like we're planning and epic date night," she said with a smile.

"Now if only I could get a date," Rossi said

"I'll be your plus one, if you need one," Erin said.

The table became silent and everyone looked around like holy shit did she just ask him out in front of the entire team.

"Deal, Erin," he said as Penelope's phone rang.

She saw it was a number she didn't recognize, she sent it to voicemail. Within two minutes, the phone rang again and it was the same number. "I'll be right back," she said as she walked towards the house.

"Hello?"

"Hey, how are you?"

"Good you?"

"Not so good," Stella said in a super raspy voice

"You sound horrible. What's wrong, Plato?"

"My father died 4 days ago and my mother is in the hospital."

"Ohmigod, I am so sorry."

"What hospital are you at?" she asked as she hoped on her IPad.

"We're at Berne University Hospital."

She knew his father had cancer but when he died a light went out in his mother and she started having heart failure. He explained that his sister was there but he was shouldering most of the emotional responsibility.

"Are you eating," she asked, "I mean I know you—you're like me. You have to eat something Plato and you have to get rest," she said as she looked for nearby restaurants in Switzerland.

"Your mom will pull through," she said.

"Thank you so much Penelope that means a lot."

She ordered food for 5 people to be delivered to the hospital, from a nearby restaurant that had great reviews from the local grubhub.

"I actually wanted to tell you that I wouldn't be back for the start of the semester. I have to call the department chair but I wanted to tell you first. I'm not sure when actually."

"Don't worry about the class, I can figure it out. Focus on your family, sweetie."

"Thank you for listening."

"No problem, call me whenever you need to. And please Stella – eat something your mom needs you to be strong and alert."

As she hung up the phone she thought of the day her parents died, looking for her and it made her cry a bit.

"Who was that?" Derek asked. He knew the answer; he'd been standing there since she asked him if he was eating.

"It was Stella, his father died," she said as she wiped way her tears. His mom is in the hospital and he wont make it back for the start of the semester."

"Are you ok?"

She shook her head, "It just made me think of my parents and-" she trailed off as she wiped her tears again.

"I'm fine. I just need a moment," she said as she sat on the steps. Memories of her life with her parents flew before her eyes. Derek sat next to her and held her hand. They sat in silence. "You didn't kill them sweetheart a drunk driver did, you have to remember that—it's not your fault," he said as he rubbed her head that rested on his shoulder.

If I only came home on time, she thought, my kids would know their grandparents. "I'm fine," she said as she wiped away her last tear, "My party girl hat is back on," she said smiling.

"You want to see the Dark Knight Rises right?" she asked standing up.

"With bells on" he said holding her hand.

They went out and enjoyed their friends and family.