Penelope had been surprised when Erin had shown up at the BAU one Friday, five months after they had moved in together. Kate had already left the BAU by this point, wanting to focus on her family, and JJ was off on maternity leave, leaving them shorthanded, so she hadn't anticipated being surprised and whisked away for a whirlwind holiday. But that was precisely what happened when Erin handed over tickets for a plane ride to Boston.

"No train?" she teased as she took them from Erin's hands.

"No, I want as much time with you as possible, and I only have you until Monday morning. Aaron would have my head if I kept you any longer than that." Leaning in, she kissed Penelope softly before tugging her to her feet. "I have your bag packed already, and sent Alex a list of all the toiletries we'd need this weekend, so that we don't have to worry about checking luggage and waiting for that. Now come along, we're cutting it fine as it is."

Giggling, Penelope grabbed her purse and shoved the tickets inside it, allowing Erin to pull her out into the hall and down the stairs. She waved to Hotch as they stepped onto the elevator, and he actually grinned at her in return, which told her that perhaps things weren't so simple as a whirlwind holiday. "Erin?"

"What?"

"Nothing, I just, I love you." Erin nodded as she tightened her grip on Penelope's hand. There was something comforting about that hold, even though it was so possessive, and she found herself floating through the airport and onto their plane, squealing a little when she saw that Erin had splurged and bought first class seats for them. The ninety minute flight seemed so short, and then they were getting into Alex's car and being driven to the house.

"Did you bring pictures of Michael?" Alex asked as they pulled into the garage. Penelope nodded and handed over her phone, just then realizing that she didn't have her laptop or tablet. "Don't worry, you can use my computer if you get too bored."

"Thank you!" she sang out as she grabbed her bag and followed Erin into the house, traipsing up to the guest room. On the back of the closet door were two garment bags, and she gave Erin a questioning look.

"You can't peek, not until tonight." Nodding, she flopped back onto the bed. Erin joined her, cuddling up close as they stared at the ceiling. "The only time I'm truly good with surprises is when I can deliver them. Even if you think that you know what's going to happen, indulge me and act surprised?"

"All right," she replied, turning her head so that she could look at her lover. "Even if we stayed in tonight, I would be ecstatic, because it's time spent with you." Erin nodded as she pressed her lips to Penelope's, a tiny sigh escaping her lips as they relaxed together. Alex brought them a light lunch shortly after they arrived, joining them on the bed as they talked about how life had gone for them lately. It was so good to catch up with her, though her eyes kept darting to the garment bags, wanting to know what they contained.

"If you want to go take a shower, I'll leave your garment bag in the bathroom. Everything is in there that you'll need."

She nodded as they got up, Erin picking up the outside bag and following her into the bathroom, placing the garment bag on the hook before kissing Penelope's cheek and slipping out of the room. She looked around to see that all her usual cosmetics were arranged on the counter. Grinning, she stripped off her clothes and stepped into the shower, quickly washing the grime of the flight away. Wrapping a towel around her body, she went over to the door and unzipped the bag, revealing a beautiful, colorful, fancy dress. Based on the colors of the dress, Penelope quickly created a look, and then dressed, smoothing the soft fabric down her body before stepping out of the bathroom and into Erin's arms. She was dressed in an all-black ensemble, her hair in an elegant updo, and she felt her heart skip a beat as she looked at her. "Fuck."

"I could say the same about you, darling," she replied as she handed Penelope her purse before taking hold of her hand and leading her down the stairs. Alex was at the bottom, and Penelope smiled to see that she was taking pictures of them. And then, it clicked in her head what that evening might bring, and it became an effort to blink back happy tears.

Still, she didn't want to ruin Erin's surprise, so she slipped into the passenger seat of Alex's car, and turned her body so that she could watch Erin drive. Even though the top was up, so as not to disturb their hairdos, Penelope felt like the wind was slipping through her body, singing a song to her. "Where are we heading to?"

"You'll see." Erin gave her cryptic smile before returning her focus to the road. Penelope chuckled a little as she rolled her eyes and settled back in the seat, sighing with pleasure as the drive went on. Soon, they were pulling into the parking lot of a swanky seafood restaurant, and Erin pulled up to the front, allowing the car to be valet parked as she took hold of Penelope's hand and led her inside. "I hope you enjoy this place," she murmured as they were led to their table by the host.

"It's beautiful," she murmured as she sat, letting the host push her chair closer to the table before accepting the menu from his hands. Erin did the same, and they quickly looked over the choices available to them. It wasn't hard to make a choice, and she set her menu on her plate before resting her face in her hands and gazing lovingly at Erin. She had her readers on, and that made her all the sexier, and Penelope pursed her lips to try and keep the little groan escaping from her lungs. Still, Erin heard her, and gave an almost wicked smile as she pulled the frames down to rest low on her nose and gaze at her over the frames. "Erin Strauss!"

"Yes?" she purred, and Penelope shifted in her seat, ready to retort when their server came up to the table, a smirk on her lips, as if she had been watching the whole back and forth.

"Good evening, ladies. Have you decided what you'd like?" They both nodded, and rattled off their order, giving the server a small nod as she confirmed what they wanted before melting back into the background. Or at least that's what it seemed to Penelope as she turned her focus onto her partner, wanting to stare at her beautiful face all the longer. She hardly acknowledged when the server dropped off their waters, instead reaching across the table to still Erin's hand when she went to remove her readers.

"Leave them on?"

"They bother me if I leave them on for too long. How about I put them back on when we get home tonight?"

"Yes," she hissed out, squeezing Erin's hand tightly as she took a few deep breaths, trying to calm herself down so that they could make it through the meal. Somehow, they managed to make it through their meal without any more untoward incidents, though she did find it difficult to keep her focus on the conversation, since she kept anticipating when Erin might ask a very small question that already had a yes waiting for her.

"I brought the dessert menu for you to look at," the server said as she set that in the centre of the table before clearing away the plates. Penelope looked to Erin, and her partner smiled as she pushed the menu towards her.

"You choose, Penny. Tonight is all for you, after all." She sucked in a low breath as she nodded, picking up the menu and giving it a long look.

"They have a delicious sounding chocolate dessert." Erin nodded, and Penelope set the menu aside for when the server returned. After placing the dessert order, Erin reached across the table to take hold of Penelope's hand, looking into her eyes. "Erin?"

"I know that we live together already, that we share everything, but if anything were to ever happen to me, I want there to be the assurance that you're taken care of, that you're receiving all you're entitled to. Because my love for you is ephemeral, and won't last after my death. And maybe it's because I've almost died already that I can feel this so keenly, but I love you too much to let you down. You've offered me a place to rest and heal after returning from the dead. You've given me something that won't ever go away in this life, and that's our heart's home. Please, darling, will you marry me?"

"Yes," she breathed out, blinking back tears. The quick answer seemed to take Erin aback, and she cocked her head to one side as she smiled dumbly at Penelope. "You love me, and want to take care of me. I knew that my forever would be with you, and if you want that to include a wedding and a marriage, then okay."

"You didn't even let me get the ring out," she said, and Penelope laughed at the almost disgusted sound in her voice. Rolling her eyes a little, Erin rummaged around in her purse for the ring box, and Penelope rested her chin in her hand as she indulgently watched her. "What are you looking at?"

"How beautiful you are when you're flustered and frustrated. I don't know what I did to deserve having you in my life, but knowing that you want this to be a forever thing makes my heart sing." Erin stilled her movements to look at her, a dreamy smile on her lips. Pulling her hand out of the purse, she held out a black velvet box, and Penelope picked it up to look inside, feeling her breath stolen away by what was there.

"I know you're fascinated by the British royal family, but everyone and their mother seems to have a copy of Diana's ring, so I went with something a little more less known, and tried to have a copy of the Duchess of Cornwall's ring made for you. The middle diamond is my grandmother's engagement stone."

Those were the words that caused the dam on her tears to break, and she blinked her eyes rapidly as the tears coursed down her cheeks. "Oh, my god, Erin, this is too perfect," she whispered as she handed the box back to her partner. "Please, would you?"

Holding out her hand, she expectantly waited for Erin to slide the ring home. Once the heavy weight was on her hand, she looked up into Erin's eyes, seeing that she was crying as well. "I love you so much, Penelope Garcia." She nodded as the server dropped off their dessert along with a bottle of non-alcoholic champagne.

"Did you know that I would say yes?" Erin nodded. "Well, I'm glad that you know me so well. I just wish that I had thought of this first. I just assumed that you would be content to be my girlfriend for the rest of our lives." Picking up her glass of champagne, she clinked it with Erin's before bringing it to her lips and sipping at the bubbly drink. "I love you, and I cannot wait to start the next phase of our life together." Erin nodded and picked up her fork, flaking off a piece of dessert and eating it slowly, never taking her eyes off Penelope. And somehow, Penelope knew that she would never be able to keep her eyes off as well, since they had found something that would never go away.