Thank you for all the favorites, follows and reviews (annoying tourist, thank you)
Monday arrived way too fast for everyone and all of the team minus Penelope waited in the conference room. They had gotten a text from Penelope about a case and now everyone had made it in but her. Hotch checked his watch again, starting to worry a little. He was about to call Penelope when Strauss joined the meeting. "Sorry, I am late. Penelope wasn't feeling well this morning. She was really trying to find the strength, but I think all of the recent events have caught up with her. I'll be doing the briefing."
The team were all disappointed to find out they were headed to California. Derek tried his best but failed to convince Hotch he should stay behind. "We're all worried, but we will get back here faster if we all go." Derek hated to admit it but he knew Hotch was right.
The entire team checked in with Penelope constantly. She actually had trouble doing her check and answering all of their calls and texts. Overwhelmed, she created a group chat called 'How are you feeling, Penelope' so she could answer them all at once.
The case resolved pretty quickly and they were home a few days later. Unfortunately though, they were gone again quickly. Penelope was so glad that she was staying with Erin, because the team was gone more than they were home lately.
Another Saturday morning upon them, and Erin had prepared breakfast. She went to see what was keeping Penelope when said breakfast sat on the table cold. She found the younger woman in a huge pile of clothes looking frustrated. "Penelope, everything ok? Breakfast is getting cold."
"Yes… No… I can't… Nothing fits…" Penelope waved her hand over the clothes pile.
Erin laughed, "You are over 5 months pregnant. Frankly, I'm surprised it took this long."
"I cannot leave the house ever again. I have nothing to wear." Tears slid down Penelope's face as she spoke.
Erin moved in closer placing her hands on Penelope's shoulders giving a comforting squeeze, "Well, we will have to fix that. Let's salvage what we can of breakfast and then we will go shopping and buy you clothes that fit, so the team doesn't think I'm holding you prisoner here against your will and send out a rescue party. I certainly don't want Derek knocking my front door down."
Penelope laughed. "Ok."
After breakfast, Penelope was trying to find something she could squeeze into to go shopping with Erin when her phone went off. It was a text from JJ asking what she was up to that day, as the team had actually gotten in last night but didn't text her because it was late and they didn't want to disturb her. Now, Emily and JJ wanted to take her to lunch. She looked at the text trying to figure how to answer it. She would love to lunch with them, but she was looking forward to shopping with Erin. She put the phone aside and decided to at least finish getting dressed. After a few very frustrating outfit changes, she managed to piece something together, forgetting all about JJ's text in the process.
She and Erin were just getting ready to go, when her phone rang. She pulled it out sighing a little when she realized it was JJ calling, realizing she had forgotten to text her back. Erin raised an eyebrow when Penelope didn't answer. "I'm sure that was one of your team, and I am even more sure that they are going to worry about you if you don't answer. In fact, I suspect my phone will be ringing shortly."
"I know, it's just Emily and JJ want to go to lunch, and I don't know how to…." Penelope stopped herself not sure what wording she could use that wouldn't hurt the other woman's feelings.
"Tell them that you already had plans with mean old me," Erin said smiling.
"Sort of," Penelope said nervously.
"Call them back and tell them you will be glad to have lunch. We can go shopping tomorrow. They haven't seen you in a while. I understand completely."
"But I was kind of looking forward to going shopping with you," Penelope said her voice lowering significantly on the last two words she spoke.
Erin smiled, "Let's do both."
"Huh?"
"Call them back and invite them with us."
"Really?"
"Why not?"
Penelope could think of many reasons why not, but decided to leave them unsaid. "If you're sure?"
"Call," Erin said trying not to laugh at the bewildered expression on Penelope's face.
Penelope pulled her phone out and dialed.
"Hey, we were starting to worry about you. Thought maybe Strauss was holding you prisoner, making you do her laundry."
"No, nothing like that, I promise."
"Are you up to some lunch, later? Emily and I can pick you up."
"Actually, I sort of already had plans to go shopping, with Erin. I have no clothes that fit at all. It's horrible."
"I remember those nothing fits frustrating days. We can do dinner tonight or lunch tomorrow, if you're tired after shopping."
"Actually, maybe we could all go shopping together. The more the merrier."
"You want Emily and I to go with you and Strauss… Shopping?" JJ repeated.
"And then lunch, please it will be fun."
"Ok, if you say so," JJ said sarcastically.
"Please for me."
"Ok, I will go shopping and to lunch with Strauss, but I'm not sure if we will have fun."
"Thank you."
JJ decided to break the news to Emily about what they were actually doing on the way to meet Penelope and Strauss. "So Em, just a heads up, we are going to help Penelope buy some maternity clothes before lunch. That's why I picked you up early."
"Yes, I got that part."
"Well, someone else is joining us."
"Derek?"
"No."
"Then who?"
"Strauss."
"Come again." Emily's mouth fell open and she glared at JJ.
"Seems Penelope had already made plans with her to shop, and then we invited her to lunch. You know how Penelope has to be nice to everyone all the time."
"I don't have that problem, JJ. So maybe you can let me out at the next bus stop."
"Come on Emily, it won't be that bad. Do it for P."
"You're asking a lot of me here, Jennifer."
"I know. Penelope thinks we will have fun."
"I'll be the judge of that. We may have to stop off for some serious adult beverages after lunch."
"Fair enough."
"There they are." JJ pointed out Strauss and Penelope as they were entering the store.
"Let's go have fun with Strauss buying maternity clothes for Penelope. Now there is a sentence I never thought I would say."
"Let's go." JJ laughed as she pulled Emily towards the store.
"You guys made it." Penelope beamed as she greeted her friends. Emily and JJ both realized that pretending they were enjoying themselves wouldn't be that hard when they noticed how Penelope seemed about the day.
"Look at you," JJ said taking in Penelope's newly visible baby bump then hugging her. "You're finally showing."
"I know and so do my clothes. This is all I could piece together and it looks awful."
"You look fine and besides, we are about to buy this store out," Emily said trying to make Penelope feel better.
"Ma'am," JJ said acknowledging Strauss who had waited patiently to the side while the friends greeted each other.
"Agents Jareau and Prentiss, please call me Erin, especially away from Quantico."
Emily raised an eyebrow at JJ. "Erin," Emily said greeting Strauss. Erin smiled in return.
Penelope, sensing the discomfort among the group, grabbed the closest clothing item and held it up to her, "How about this?"
All three woman laughed heartily, "What?" Penelope looked down to see the most hideous shirt imaginable. "Well, maybe not this one."
"Definitely not that one," Erin said as she took the shirt from Penelope placing it back on the rack. This time, all the women laughed.
The four women spent a few hours shopping. By the time they were done, Penelope had more maternity clothes then she'd probably ever wear, and despite themselves, JJ and Emily actually did enjoy themselves.
"Are you still up to lunch? You look a little tired." Erin asked as the women were placing Penelope's purchases in the trunk of Erin's car.
"I'm a little tired, but I'm very hungry," Penelope answered.
"We can order in if you want PG," said Emily.
"I'll be fine, I'm having such a nice time being out and about with you guys."
"OK, what's for lunch?" Emily asked.
"Italian," Penelope said.
The ladies returned to the cars they arrived in to meet at the restaurant.
"I cannot believe I am on my way to lunch with Strauss, and I think I might be looking forward to it," Emily said.
"Yeah, it is very strange. She seems to really care about Penelope. I'd almost call her motherly."
"I just never think of Strauss as a mother. Can you imagine what it must have been like to be one of Strauss's kids?"
"From what I saw today, it might not have been that bad."
"True."
"So how are you feeling PG?" Emily asked after the waiter had taken their orders.
"I'm doing good. The morning sickness is not as bad, I'm just tired," Penelope answered.
"I remember those days," JJ said.
"Me also. Just wait until the urge to nest starts, then you'll have plenty of energy," Erin said.
"I just hope that by that time rolls around, I'll be back in my own place. No offense, Erin."
"None taken, I understand completely. This is really the time you'd be most comfortable in your own home, but I am enjoying your company. The house has felt so empty since the kids left for college."
"Thank you. I have been enjoying your company also, but it's not home."
"Hopefully the case will be resolved soon, and we can help you prepare a nursery."
"That would be nice. It would also be nice if this baby's father wasn't such a jerk."
"Don't even waste a thought on him. He's not worth it, and he'll be a memory soon," said Emily, "Now, someone order me a drink, because I'm out to lunch with Strauss on a Saturday and I'm actually enjoying myself, so I need to tell people I was drunk on Monday. No offense, Ma'am."
Erin raised an eyebrow at her, giving her a classic Strauss stare, knowing full well Emily was only trying to lighten the mood and make Penelope laugh. It worked and the rest of lunch was filled with lively and humorous banter. Penelope arrived home that night in a great mood and with a new wardrobe.