Penelope had been so grateful that the case they were handling was close to Quantico, which meant that everyone was close at hand, if she didn't feel better as the morning wore on. Somehow, she managed to get through the first two hours of the case and then the unsettled feeling in her stomach faded away. With a renewed sense of energy, she managed to get everyone the information they needed and soon enough, it was lunchtime, and she pushed away from her desk, wanting to actually get something to eat.
"Hey, did you want a lunch partner?"
She looked up to see JJ in her doorway, a cheeky smile on her lips. Penelope nodded, watching JJ come closer to her, a small white paper bag in her hand. "What's that?"
"It's something that we want you to take before we eat. We're all going to be down in the commissary, Strauss and Blake already have claimed a table for us, and I'm going down to join them. Okay?"
Penelope frowned as she plucked the bag out of JJ's hand and stood up, grabbing her purse from her desk as she followed her friend out of her office. "That's not at all mysterious," she said as they started down the stairs, and JJ shrugged a little before smiling at her over her shoulder. Even Anderson was giving her a decidedly odd look, which made her feel even more off kilter, and her frown deepened a little as they stepped out into the hall. "Here, take my purse. I need to see what's in this bag."
JJ gave her an expectant look, and she let out a deep breath as she opened the bag and looked in to see two pregnancy tests. Quick tears prickled her eyes as she looked back up at JJ, trying to find the right words over such a mean prank. "Don't think it a bad thing. Blake suggested you take them because of your illness this morning, and your mood swings recently. We're not playing a joke on you, I promise."
She nodded slowly as she drew in a deep breath. "You promise that this is a good thing?"
"We all think so, yes. Now, go, take them, and meet us down in the commissary as soon as you know the results."
Penlope nodded before turning from JJ's side and heading over to the restrooms. Thankfully, it appeared that her earlier mess had been cleaned up, and she let out a soft sigh as she closed herself in the familiar stall before pulling out the two boxes and reading the instructions on them. Once she understood how to take them, she took a seat and tried to will herself to pee so that she could tell her friends that this had been a mere pipe dream of theirs. Finally, her body responded to her urges, and she quickly took the pregnancy tests before cleaning up after herself.
Knowing that she couldn't hide out in the stall forever, she took a deep breath and flushed the toilet before carrying the pregnancy tests with her to the sink, washing her hands and thoroughly drying them while she waited to get her results. Finally, she had her answers, and a shocked smile spread across her lips as she hurriedly dropped the tests back into the paper bag. Excitement thrummed through her body as she made her way down to the commissary to find her friends, only to find that everyone seemed to want to go slow in front of her. It took every fiber in her soul to be nice and polite as she zigzagged her way through the crowd, finally making her way down to the commissary and looking for their table.
Erin raised her hand, beckoning her over to their table, and as she got closer, she saw that Jessica had joined them for lunch as well. It was great that they were all together, and she blinked back happy tears as she took her seat, seeing that there was already food in front of her spot. "I hope that I remembered what you like to eat. If not, I can save it for later, and get you something else," Erin said as she leaned over and bumped shoulders with her.
"This looks great, Erin. Thank you." Penelope looked around the table and smiled at her friends in turn. "So, why are we all meeting for lunch? Is there something that I missed?" she asked innocently as she placed the paper bag in her purse.
JJ let out a exasperated huff, and she looked over at her friend, giving her a wide eyed look. "You have to know the outcome of those tests by now. Spill!"
"I thought that we might enjoy a nice, leisurely lunch, Jayje. After all, it's so rare that we can all get together like this in the middle of the day."
Blake let out a soft snort as she shook her head. "You're bound and determined to draw this out for us, after everything you did to ensure our pregnancies, aren't you?" she asked, a teasing lilt in her voice. Penelope nodded, trying to ignore the slight sting of Erin's hand smacking against her thigh.
"Fine, I suppose that I do owe you an answer, so that we can confirm if we're five for five. Though I think that Alex has a good inclination of what my answer will be. Somehow, turning my focus onto yoga and my friends shifted something inside me, and I can't deny what the tests told me. I'm pregnant, too!"
JJ let out a happy little squeal before she hugged her tightly, and that was when Penelope did burst into happy tears. Her friends surrounded her with quick embraces before taking their seats once more. "I guess there really is something in the water around here," Jessica teased, and Penelope nodded as she swiped at her eyes, trying to clear away the tears. "I can only imagine how everyone is going to react when they find out the news about us all. Do, do you think that, since we're all due around the same time, and have the same friend group for the most part, that we could have a joint shower? I need something lowkey, because of Daddy, but would understand if that isn't something that you all would like."
"I was going to suggest the same thing," JJ piped up, giving Jessica a little grin. "What with the job and Henry, it will be difficult enough to find time to get a guest list together, let alone plan a whole party! Between the five of us, we should be able to plan something epic. Do you think Dave would mind us holding it at your place, Erin?"
The older woman shook her head as she licked her lips. "His family and mine are too much to host at our home. Though his church has a large meeting hall that would most likely host everyone that we would invite. Let me ask him about when we can rent it out. And don't worry, he'll pay for the venue, and for the catering."
"And I know the perfect couple who can help us organize everything. He lost a bet to me, so he definitely owes me. Just shoot me your guest lists, with addresses, and I can have him get started on invitations and all that. I cannot believe that I will be blessed to have a baby around the same time as my friends. I love you all!" Penelope let out a watery gasp as she took hold of JJ's and Erin's hands, squeezing them tightly as she looked around the table at everyone in turn. Now, all she had left to do was tell Derek about their wonderful news.