"Sweetie Pie, you need to relax, all this stress is going to harm you and the baby." Sandra said bringing Penelope a glass of water. Once they got inside she told her to go lay down in the guest room.
The guest room was slowly becoming her home away form home. When she found out she was pregnant, Randall and Sandra made it their business to take care of her; she didn't ask for their help, it just sort of happened. Early in their marriage they found out they were not able to conceive. That was probably the reason they welcomed her with open arms and did whatever they could to help her. When Randall brought her home that night Sandra took care of everything, from making doctor appointments to signing up for new mommy classes.
"I know it's just too much right now. I'm sure my team hates me for the way I left. I hate me for the way I left." She huffed "You should've seen their faces when I walked into the room." she took a sip of the water "What am I gonna do? Tomorrow morning I'll be forced to talk to them." Tears started to from "I don't want them to hate me, I know what I did was wrong but I couldn't be there anymore. I would've had to see Derek and Kevin everyday. Ugh, I just want the world to swallow me up whole."
"Penelope, I know right now it's hard, but you have to calm down. Lets talk about the baby kicking. That must've been an amazing feeling; It makes it real doesn't it?" she said placing her hand on her belly.
"It's so unreal. When it first happened Randall had his hand right where the baby kicked. I thought I was imagining it but then it happened again. I still can't believe something is growing inside of me." She started to rub her belly. "Dave was in my office and this little monkey was moving like crazy. The baby must really like its papa." She said smiling up at Sandra.
"See Pen, aren't you the one that says everything happens for a reason? Well, maybe your old team coming back into your life is a good thing? From what Randall and you have said, it seems like they love you; with the exception of the father."
"You're right." She sighed, "If you don't mind I'm gonna get some sleep. I'm so exhausted after today and tomorrow is gonna be another long one."
"Sure thing, Sweetheart. I'll bring you dinner in a while. " She got up to walk out of the room, "I'm proud of you Penelope, you're going to be an amazing mom."
"I love you both so much, I don't know where I'd be right now without you."
I know honey we love you too. Holler if you need anything" and she walked out of the room to let Penelope rest.
The next morning Penelope made her way into the kitchen. Randall and Sandra were eating breakfast and drinking coffee at the table.
"Just let me smell it please?" She said while standing over Randall's coffee. "I miss it so much, sweet mother Jesus, I miss it."
Sandra laughed. "You know you say that every morning, sweetheart? Here I made some breakfast for you." She said while placing some waffles in front of her.
"And I'll probably continue to say it everyday. I lived on coffee before the pregnancy." Taking a bite "Thanks for the breakfast, you both are too good to me."
Randall took a bite of her waffle "That's what family's for Pen."
"Hey, didn't you just have your own? I'm the one growing a human."
"Yeah, but Sandra's pancakes are the best, I can't help myself"
"You always steal my food!" Penelope said swatting away his hand from her plate.
Sandra laughed at the two "With the way he eats you'd think I never feed the man. I'm off today so I'll meet you at the cafe for lunch; maybe you can invite your old team or I'll pick something up and bring it to the office?"
"Ohh can you bring ice cream too? You know from that little cart down the street? Oh and have them add the snowcaps, oh and chocolate sauce. Wait can I just have that right now?"
"Penelope, you know the doctor said to limit the dairy, it gives you heartburn." Sandra said giving her a stern look.
"I know but this little monkey here demands it." she said with a pout.
"I'll bring you that lemon ice you love." Penelope put her head down. "Fine, lemon ice will have to do."
Randall leaned over to her ear "I'll get you whatever you want baby. Sandra doesn't have to deal with you in the office when the monster comes out. She somehow conveniently always gets away before that happens."
Penelope smiled from ear to ear "I love you."
"Alright P, lets head to the office, its going to be a long day" He grabbed her bag and walked to Sandra. "I love you baby, we'll see you at lunch. I'll have someone call in the order." He kissed her goodbye and made they made their way out the door.
Rossi found Morgan at the bar that night trying to drink away his problems. "You know Son, drinking isn't going to solve anything. I should know; that's how I tried to fix my second marriage."
"Lay off me alright? I'm not in the mood." He spat out signaling the bartender to give him another drink.
"You know Morgan, you really need to look at yourself. She wont let you near the baby if you keep acting like this. You're reckless and have been causing destruction everywhere you go. So she left big deal... we've got her back. It's up to you if you want her to stay. You're the one that has the power here; your actions will determine what roll you'll play in their lives. If it were me, I wouldn't let you near her or the baby with a ten foot pole until you cleaned up your act..." he threw a $50 bill on the bar and got up to leave.
"How can I fix this? How can I make this right? I know I hurt her, but I'm hurting too. She left and didn't leave me a note like she left for you guys. We find her and she's pregnant and with my baby, it too much to handle." He took another drink "I went to call my mom when we got back to the hotel but what do I even tell her? Hey Ma, I got the only woman I have ever loved knocked up told her it was a mistake and that I'd never love her. She'd kill me."
"Morgan that's something you're going to have to deal with, but if you think getting black out drunk is going to help; you need to reevaluate your life choices." He turned to walk out of the bar not even looking back.
"Oh Saturday can we go for a walk around central park and then stop at that baby boutique? We'll know what I'm having by then. Do you think Sandra will be able to come with me on Thursday? I don't really want to go alone." they were walking into the building with their arms intertwined.
"I don't know Sweetheart, she might be able to take an hour or so off if her floor isn't crazy. You know how the ICU gets. I'm sure we can work something out. Maybe we can get Rossi to go with you or someone else from your old team. You know I would be there but this case is such a high priority right now."
"What would I do without you, my knight in shining armor?"
"You'd eat more of your food that's for sure." He said laughing as they walked into the room.
Her face quickly fell once she saw her old team sitting around waiting for them. She removed her arm from Randall's and cleared her throat.
"Make sure Sandra brings the ice cream please" she turned to leave.
"Not so fast, Kitten" Rossi jumped up and pulled her into a hug. "I got you this last night." He handed her a bag. "David Rossi, you know you didn't have to do that."
"Get used to it. You and this child are going to be spoiled. What's the use in having money if you don't spend it?"
She rolled her eyes and opened the bag pulling out a yellow onesie that said If you think I'm cute you should see my Grandpa in red writing. She looked up at him and laughed. "I wouldn't have expected anything less, Thank you" He smiled at her "There's one more thing in there" She removed the paper and pulled out a little box, when she opened it she gasped. It was a beautiful charm bracelet. "I can't accept this, it's too much."
"I got this for you for a couple months before you left. I wanted to give you something you can always have and make your own. I only added two charms, the heart one says Daddy's little girl and the other is the Eiffel Tower. I was planning on buying us tickets for Christmas." She looked at the charms in her hand.
"I don't know what to say? " He pulled her into his arms "Just say you won't leave again. I didn't have a daughter until I met you."
JJ and Emily both whipped tears out of their eyes. "Yeah PG, please don't leave again" Emily said wrapping her arms around her. "I've been lost without my daily dose of PG."
"I'm so sorry to all of you. I know it was selfish to leave, I just had no choice." She addressed the room.
"That's a lie! You never had to leave, Garcia." Morgan spat out.
Randall instantly went on the defense. "I think it was the best thing she's ever done. Leaving made her meet me."
"What? You have some fetish for fucking pregnant women you sick fuck?" Morgan was about to swing when they heard a commotion behind them.
Sandra came running into the room. "Penelope, you forgot to take your medicine. You know the doctor said if you don't take it you'll pass out again."
"Thanks Sandra, It's been a crazy 24 hours. It just slipped my mind. Thank you for bringing them."
"You're welcome, Sweetheart."
Randall walked over to his wife. "Agent Morgan, I would like you to meet my wife Sandra McAlister." Randal smiled at the look on Morgan's face while Emily burst out laughing. "This day keeps getting better and better. Where did you get this guy PG? I need to find me one." Morgan still hadn't said anything he just stood there dumfounded.
Sandra kissed her husband. "I'm sure we'll have time to talk at lunch. I'll be bringing food by around 1." She went to walk out of the door.
"Sandra, Please, please, please!"
She laughed, "Even if I don't; you know he's going to run around to the cart and get you one." She gave Penelope a hug and bent down to her belly, "Be good for Mommy, Aunt Sandy loves you." She rubbed her hand on her belly. "Ahh, was that?" She talked to Penelope's belly again. "I've been waiting for you to do that all night little monkey. You just made my day." she got up and kissed Penelope's cheek. "I'll see you soon. Randall, make sure she takes the pills."
"Sure thing, Sweet Cheeks" he said with a wink as she walked out of the room.
"What do you mean passed out kitten?" Dave said with a worried expression. "Why didn't you tell me yesterday?"
"It's no big deal Papa, the baby and I are fine. I just wasn't drinking enough water and became anemic. Nothing to worry about now."
Hotch cleared his throat. "Penelope, you and I need to have a talk right now." he said it with such command that she nodded and walked out of the room.
Morgan looked at McAlister "Is she really okay? Is the baby okay?" his face no longer held anger only concern.
"Yeah Morgan, she's fine. I was with her in her office when she went to stand up but collapsed. I was able to catch her before she hit the floor."
Reid chimed in "Fainting is a common occurrence during the first trimester. It's nothing really to worry about she needs to take it easy get plenty of fluids and rest."
"Thanks Pretty boy." it was the first time Morgan had even slightly resembled his old self.