Part 3
Emily had the keys to Aaron's apartment, so opened the door and ushered her friend inside.
"He's probably in the bedroom," Emily said quietly, as their species hearing was very acute. "You go and I'll fix you something to eat, since I'm sure you're both starving. The bedroom's that way," Emily added pointing to the lab and Penelope nodded.
Penelope had no trouble finding it for the apartment wasn't that large and when she saw Aaron laying on the bed sleeping deeply his face lined, something within her broke. It was clear that Aaron had lost even more weight than she had and that he hadn't likely left the bed, except perhaps to use the bathroom in sometime, as it was clear the sheets were a mess and probably hadn't been changed in days.
Aaron woke suddenly as if sensing her. "Who's there?" Aaron demanded in a weak voice. "Show yourself."
"It's me," Penelope called softly, as stepped into view.
"Penelope?" Aaron asked blinking, as if he couldn't believe what his eyes were seeing.
"Yes, it's me," Penelope said, as she sat on the edge of the bed.
"You're real? Not a hallucination?" Aaron asked, as if he didn't dare believe that she was actually there beside him.
"Oh, you poor, sweetie," Penelope said her heart going out to him. She sat at the side of her big strong Alpha who was in such bad condition, which she knew was her fault. If only she hadn't been so stubborn... But she had, because she hadn't really believed that Aaron's feelings could possibly match her own and that he was just playing with her and would dump her when he was done with her. She had been so sure that someone like Aaron could never truly be interested in her, because she wasn't traditionally beautiful like so many other women, but of course, that was only part of it. The rest of it was because she had basically been taken advantage of when she was still young and a little naïve.
25 was an adult that was true, but that didn't mean that some young people weren't still a little innocent, idealistic and naïve at that age. She had become a much better judge of character since that incident, but she had been so sure that no one would ever accept the baggage she came with that she hadn't really even bothered to find mister right. She had been an idiot just like Emily had indicated and had used an old law that didn't really mean anything in the modern world as an excuse not to get close to any male other than as a friend. She had subconsciously known that they didn't live in small villages anymore, where rumors spread like the wind and everybody knew everyone else's business. No, the world had mostly advanced beyond that, though they were plenty of small towns still dotted around the world that didn't have more than a few thousand people and some only had a few hundred.
"I'm here," Penelope assured him, as she run a finger up and down his cheek.
Aaron reacted to the touch as if he had been electrified, but he opened his eyes and stared at the vision of loveliness that was sitting at his side.
"I'm so sorry that I put you through so much pain," Penelope apologized sincerely. "I'm here and I'm not going anywhere until you throw me out."
Aaron simply stared at this woman that he had wanted to mate with beyond all reason for a moment and then gestured weakly for Penelope to join him fully on the bed.
Penelope did so without a qualm and even took off her shirt, so that there was no material, separating her and Aaron, as he wasn't wearing more than a pair of boxers.
Aaron revelled in the warmth of the woman curled into his side and managed to lean up enough to kiss her gently.
Penelope accepted the kiss and returned it with equal passion and it was then that Aaron believed the woman he knew deep in his soul was supposed to be his mate was actually there beside him and not some form of hallucination.
"What changed your mind, gorgeous?" Aaron asked softly.
"Emily pointed out that I was being stubborn for no reason, that I was killing both of us with that stubbornness," Penelope said. "I have a reason, but it can wait until you're feeling better."
At the moment all Aaron cared about was that Penelope was at his side and knew the rest could be dealt with later once they both recovered from being separated. He knew that he and Penelope were going to have to have a talk, but again that could wait a day or two, as they needed to recover from their ordeal a little first.
The two of them simply lay there on his king sized bed and Aaron for his part enjoyed the feeling of Penelope's bare breast pressed into his chest.
Emily appeared in the doorway just then carrying a tray with two plates and observed the scene before her thinking that Aaron and Penny looked adorable just laying curled together. They were also starting to look a little better, as just the contact of bare skin was enough to accomplish that much, though it would take time and a lot of good meals before they were completely recovered. It would be several months at least before they regained the weight they had lost.
"I brought lunch, I thought you might be hungry," Emily called softly, making sure that Aaron at least heard before bringing the tray into the bedroom, because Alphas tended to be very protective of their mates and that's exactly what her friend was, even if she didn't quite realize it yet. There was no way, that the animal portions of Aaron and Penny would have reacted so badly to being separated, even if that forced separation had been, because her friend had believed Aaron would never want her due to her past and also her looks. This was of course, very silly, but Emily knew that people could often be silly, even the really intelligent ones. No, her two friends were destined to be together.
Aaron blinked in surprise at that, as he suddenly realized he was starving, something that he hadn't been ever seen Penny had refused all his offers of a date at least. He had been intending to ask her to mate with him from the beginning, once he had realized his feelings for the beautiful omega.
"Sounds good," Aaron said his voice hoarse. "I'm starving."
"I'm not surprised, as you both have been through quite an ordeal," Emily snorted in amusement.
"Which is my fault I know," Penelope said.
"Not entirely," Emily disagreed before Aaron could say a word. "There are many things that Aaron could have done, but he felt like you should have freedom of choice. He could have come to your apartment for example and demanded to see him and you would have no choice but to obey. If that had happened he would've shaken some sense into you a lot sooner."
Penelope nodded, because it was true.
"But that's in the past and there's no point of rehashing it," Emily added. "I'll leave you now, but if you need anything just call and I'll be back to check on you tomorrow."
"Thanks for everything," Aaron said and Emily nodded smiling.
"You're my friends, so I was happy to help," Emily said after she had placed the tray between the two of them so they could enjoy their lunch.
"Could you check on the kitten, buy food and things I'm not sure when I'll be back," Penelope requested.
"Of course," Emily agreed. "We wouldn't want anything to happen to such a cutie, though you really do need to come up with a name for her."
"I'll think about it," Penelope promised.
Emily left then and both Penelope and Aaron heard the front door open then close.
"I'm so glad you're here," Aaron told Penelope tenderly. "I feel so much better, just because you're here where you belong."
"Yes, I do too," Penelope said.
Penelope felt guilty for the way she had kept rejecting all of Aaron's thoughtful gifts and she knew she was going to have to find someway to make it up to him.
She said nothing though and soon she drifted off to sleep and Aaron followed her only minutes later.
~~~Aaron and Penelope~~~
Penelope awoke suddenly and wondered why she was in such an unfamiliar position her head laying on someone's chest then she remembered. She was in Aaron Hotchner's apartment, laying in his bed and her best friend had brought her here.
She had been an ass and she knew it, just as she knew she was going to have a lot of explaining to do, but right now, she needed to use the restroom in the worst way.
Penelope tried her best to uncurl herself from Aaron without disturbing him, but he opened his eyes immediately.
"I just need to use the restroom," Penelope quietly explained and Aaron nodded slowly, removing his arm where it was flung over her side so she was free to move.
Penelope immediately rose and headed for the bathroom.
Aaron tried not to listen as Penelope used the toilet and then washed her hands, because it wasn't really appropriate considering that they weren't mated, but it was very hard, because their species hearing was very acute.
Finally, only a few minutes later, Penelope came back and laid once more on the bed.
"We need to talk," Aaron said seriously and Penelope nodded.
"Yes, we do," Penelope agreed.
"I'm sure you've guessed from what occurred that the Alpha and Omega in us recognized each other. They recognized that there couldn't possibly be a better match out there for either of us, which is why we got so ill, lost our appetites and lost weight the last couple of weeks. I suppose that humans would like to call us soulmates, even if our kind don't usually use such terms."
"I realize that now and also that I was an idiot," Penelope admitted.
"My question is why?" Aaron asked softly. "Emily assured me that you knew I was interested in you and yet you never responded to any one of my gifts."
Penelope sighed and climbed back on the bed then said, "I suppose I had better explain." Penelope was silent for sometime as she gathered her thoughts. "For years, I've been teased, or someone's made an offhanded comment that wasn't even directed at me, but someone like me that I took to heart. Ever since I was a little girl I've seen myself as plain, if not outright ugly, because children can be cruel, as you know and although none of those comments was ever directed at me you still hear things about the less popular kids get bullied, so I basically, made myself as much of a non-entity as I could to avoid that. I gave those bullies no reason to pay attention to me.
"I saw how the boys reacted to the really pretty girls, but how they ignored me and while part of me was grateful I still resented the fact that all those girls got to go out on dates with handsome boys. The only date I had in high school was for the high school dance my senior year and he was a geek I took pity on. He was a nice enough boy, but still, I yearned for someone like all the popular girls were dating. Finally, when I was 25, I was dating this handsome Alpha and I thought I had finally hit the jackpot. I was still a little naïve and innocent even at that age and while I knew there was evil in the world and not everything was always fair, no matter how you wanted it to be, I just never applied it to myself."
Aaron didn't interrupt, but he could guess very well where where this was going.
"The alpha invited me up to his apartment for a few minutes and like a innocent, trusting fool I went," Penelope continued just wanting to finish her story.
"I can guess very well where this is going," Aaron said finally when Penelope paused.
"I'm sure you can," Penelope agreed somberly. "In any case, he started to get to rough and demanding and I tried to leave. I protested, but he paid no attention and tied my wrists to the bedposts, as apparently he was into bondage. He didn't even ask me if I wanted to play along. Having sex was one thing, but it must be consensual and this definitely wasn't. I might have actually gone along with the bondage idea once we had gotten to know each other better, as I don't mind a little adventure, but he didn't wait at all."
"The kind of sex you're talking about requires absolute trust from both participants and also both of their agreements," Aaron said his voice an angry growl. "If he wanted to try bondage he should have waited for your permission first."
"Don't think I don't agree," Penelope said feeling better now that her secret was out in the open. "I probably would've given it once we had dated for a little while longer. In any case, that's what made me reject your offer. This is the secret I've been carrying around with me for eight years and while I still dated frequently, I never dated anyone that I knew could possibly touch my heart, that I could get close to, as I just 'knew' as soon as you learned my secret I would be rejected. I knew, I couldn't take that, so I let what happened define my life for a long time. I used an old obscure law to convince myself that I would never be accepted by an alpha, as anything but a friend. I suppose I was so hurt by what happened that I just wasn't willing to take the risk."
"Anybody would be hurt by what happened," Aaron said, sounding more calm than he actually felt. "I think I know what law you are referring too, though it doesn't really have any relevance in today's society where morals are looser and while people still love to gossip and start rumors, most of our race don't live in small villages or towns anymore where everyone knows everyone else's business."
"I knew that, but so many people don't know how to handle a woman that's been violated like that and I just knew that I would be looked at like a loose woman, a whore that had encouraged the alpha to do that to me. I knew anyone I truly started to fall in love with I would have to tell my secret to, because I would feel guilty if I did not. Also, whoever the Alpha was might've found out in some other way and they would have been rightfully, furious at me for not revealing it, perhaps, feeling like they mated with me under false pretenses. Sex freely consented to is one thing, but in a lot of peoples eyes, particularly alphas, an omega that happens to is spoiled for all time, as many would feel she's not suitable as a mate or just don't want to deal with the emotional baggage, even if they don't believe that."
"Yes, I see why you kept rejecting me now and I won't say you're mistaken about most peoples reactions," Aaron said, as he pulled Penelope closer to him, offering her comfort, as he knew telling her story had been emotionally draining. "I don't blame you for your fear of rejection, especially if you've allowed yourself to open your heart and fall in love. Most people can only take rejection so many times before they give up on love entirely perhaps, turn bitter or even commit suicide. Just promise me from now on that if there are any major problems that you'll discuss them with me, as I don't think I could take being rejected again."
"I never really dreamed that you were truly interested in me, although Emily assured me that you were a nice guy and were. I just figured that we would date for awhile before you dumped me for someone else and I wasn't about to put myself through that rejection, as I knew that you were someone that I could truly fall in love with. I wasn't about to allow myself to fall in love with someone that I just knew was going to dump me at some point."
"That's a rather gloomy attitude to have," Aaron said.
"Maybe so," Penelope shrugged.
"I can understand that attitude however, particularly after what happened, when you were 25," Aaron said.
"I'm surprised that you aren't tossing me our of your apartment," Penelope said.
"Not everyone is the same," Aaron told Penelope firmly, taking her into his arms. "Even if we didn't share this connection, I would never reject you for something that wasn't your fault. I know very well how a lot of people would view what happened Alphas or humans, but the ones that do that tend to be shallow and narrowminded and I don't consider myself so."
"So does that mean we are dating?" Penelope asked tentatively.
"We can 'court' for awhile if you like, but I what I really want is to mate with you. I think the last couple of weeks apart have more than proved that we were meant to be together, but if you want to go on a few dates before you give me your decision then I can live with that, but please don't reject me out of hand, because we saw what happened when you did."
"The Omega in me fought my other half and tried to get me to change my mind, which led to not eating, losing weight and insomnia," Penelope said.
"So did the Alpha in me, because there are many things I could have done, but I figured if I did we would never get together or at the least I would never get a chance for you to come to me willingly," Aaron said, stroking a hand through his mate's soft blond hair.
"I wouldn't have, if not for Emily," Penelope admitted. "I would've kept denying my feelings, because I would have been sure, that there was no way you could feel the same."
"Well, thank God, for Emily Prentiss then and her genuine caring nature," Aaron said fervently. "I suggest from now on that we never bring this subject up again. It's in the past. We can start fresh, as if we just met for the first time and go out on a date after the two of us have fully recovered."
"If you really meant your offer about mating with me I'll be ecstatic to accept," Penelope said suddenly.
"You mean it?" Aaron asked, as he hugged Penelope closer to him. He hardly dared to believe that the woman he had instantly fallen in love with was agreeing to be his. If they mated they would technically be married and start living together as husband and wife without the bother of a wedding ceremony. He would be ecstatic to have some children by her, though he would have to wait until she went into heat again. He knew she had already been through a heat recently, so she would be fertile again in just two and a half more months. He had smelled quite easily that she was about to go into her heat on the night they met and he had estimated just two or three more days before she did at the time. Still, that gave them plenty of time to get to know each other better without the complication of a pregnancy and children, but hopefully, in a couple of months...
"I do," Penelope said. "I realized that when Emily said you were ill, had stopped eating and had lost weight just like I had, I realized then that I loved you. It gave my heart an almighty jolt when she said you were thinking about committing suicide and I knew then that I just could not allow you to do that and I knew how to correct the situation."
"Yes, I was contemplating that, but not anymore, as I have you now, but before the alpha in me had almost given up and normally, we have a strong will to live, but when the omega we love rejects us it often leads to it depending on the depth of feeling," Aaron said.
"It's because you realized or at least the alpha in you realized, that we were meant to be, a very rare event," Penelope said.
"Well, it's over with now, if you really mean what you said about being my mate I have a present for you, something I thought that you would love if only I could get you to go out on a few dates with me," Aaron said.
"I'll always be sorry that I didn't take you up on your first offer," Penelope said.
Aaron said nothing simply kissed the top of her head tenderly. "You're mine exclusively now, as you agreed to mate with me."
"Yes, I agree on my own free will to be yours exclusively. I swear too bear your children, to never cheat on you, to discuss any problems no matter how minor, so that they don't grow larger. To obey you in all things and all ways, so long as you treat me as your equal and partner and not as an object or slave and do not abuse me," Penelope said repeating the age-old answer that had been said millions of times by countless omegas throughout the world, down though the centuries, even if the wording differed.
"And I swear to protect you, to treat you as an equal and partner and not as an object or a slave, to do right by you and to treat you as precious treasure that you are. I promise we will make decisions together instead of me making ones alone, to discuss any problems or concerns with you so that they don't build up due to stress to where I simply explode or become distant due to keeping any problems all bottled up. I promise to listen to your concerns and not brush them off as unimportant," Aaron said solemnly, giving the age-old response, to Penelope's words.
Penelope simply glowed with happiness and so did Aaron.
"There that's done it and we are now bound together although it won't be official until I do this," Aaron said in a satisfied, smug tone tapping a gentle finger over Penelope's mating gland. "However, I think that's going to have to wait until we regain some of our strength, because you know what biting into your mating gland leads to and neither one of us is up to that right now, not after our ordeal."
Penelope blushed for it was tradition, that after an alpha claimed an Omega by biting into the gland on the side of their neck that they had sex afterwards and that sex usually lasted several days, kind of a mini honeymoon.
"I'm definitely looking forward to that, but you're right we're in no shape to make love right now, but I would say in a week or so we will be," Penelope said still blushing.
"That sounds about right," Aaron agreed smirking, as he was already imagining all he wanted to do to Penelope when they were both back to full health. "I can hardly wait."
"Neither can I," Penelope said smiling happily.
"Now, I'm going to go use the restroom then I'm going to get the gift I picked out for you, that I had intended on giving you once we had officially gotten together," Aaron said.
"I'll start fixing us a late dinner," Penelope offered.
"I think we'll order Chinese as that's easier with the way we feel, like we were recovering from a long illness and technically we are, as we haven't been eating and the body needs fuel," Aaron corrected. "You can cook for me when we are both feeling better."
"Alright, I'm hardly likely to object to Chinese," Penelope gave in without argument, because truthfully, she didn't really feel like cooking as her body still felt incredibly tired and weak. A lot of good meals for the next few days would set that to rights, Penelope knew.
Penelope scooted over to her side of the bed so Aaron could get up to use the restroom and he immediately did so. When Aaron came back, he opened the top drawer of the dresser and rummaged around before he came up with a wrapped box.
"Here you go, beautiful," Aaron said offering the gift wrapped box to her once he had climbed back into bed.
"Thank you," Penelope said blushing at the compliment knowing that the box contained either a bracelet or necklace due to the oblong shape of the box. She knew the rules: You didn't accept jewelry unless you were allowing the alpha to at least court you and that was only if it was cheap, usually costume jewelry, but for the more expensive pieces that was a lifetime commitment, basically, you were agreeing to be mated to that particular Alpha and the only way that that commitment could be broken was if either were stupid enough to cheat or the alpha started to be abusive. Something she had no fear of happening to her.
Penelope ripped off the pretty wrapping paper and immediately opened the box to see it was a bracelet. The bracelet was platinum one of the most expensive metals out there, and made out of interlinking hearts each with a beautiful diamond winking at her.
"It's spectacular," Penelope said enthusiastically, fingering the small interlinking hearts. "I love it."
"With this bracelet, I claim you as my mate for all time. I'll never allow you to think that I don't love you with all my heart," Aaron soberly intoned his face solemn, but his eyes twinkling happily. "I want you to always wear this so that other alphas know you are taken."
"They'll know anyway once you bite into my mating gland and I'll also smell a little like you," Penelope pointed out.
"Yes, we've already made a commitment to each other, just as it has been done throughout the centuries, but giving an Omega a nice piece of jewelry is also part of our customs and just means that the alpha claims them even farther," Aaron said.
"Well, I'm not going argue, because you're right it is part of our customs," Penelope smiled, as she scooted over until she was again between Aaron's legs and then leaned her back against his naked chest. Of course, she too was now naked, except for her underwear. Penelope knew better than to mention how much it cost, as she well knew, that Aaron wouldn't have bought her such an expensive piece of jewelry if he couldn't afford it. Emily had said that he owned several theaters, so he was likely fairly wealthy.
"Well, let's order that Chinese, as that meal Emily brought us wore off a long time ago," Aaron said feeling more cheerful then he had in a couple weeks. "We slept quite a long time about four hours, so it is now past time for dinner."
"I'll order if you'll just tell me what you want," Penelope offered and Aaron told her.
"We're going to be eating a lot more than normal for the next few days at least and it'll be at least a month or two before we regain all the weight we lost," Aaron said.
"Which I know is my fault if only I hadn't been so stubborn..." Penelope began.
"It doesn't matter anymore, as we belong to each other now," Aaron shushed her gently. "You had a very legit reason for rejecting my offer and as far as I am concerned it's forgiven and forgotten."
Penelope nodded relaxing and Aaron offered her his cell phone, which had been laying on his bedside table and Penelope was grateful, because her phone was in her purse that was laying on the bar in the living area.
"The number for the Chinese place should be in my contact list as I order a lot of take out," said Aaron.
"So do I when I don't feel like cooking," Penelope agreed, feeling happier than she had ever since she had been forcibly violated so long ago.
Penelope ordered the Chinese and then just cuddled into Aaron's chest feeling happy and content and the Omega in her was certainly feeling much better then she had for the last two weeks and was definitely much happier with the part of her that had been so stubborn in the first place.
~~~Aaron and Penelope~~~