Chapter 10

AN: I am going to be posting the next story a bit later. Sorry for the break in the action! Thanks so much for the reviews; you have no idea how much they brighten my day and make me feel so much better...This chapter is dedicated to my fanfiction friends for caring and to my best friend of the past 28 years, Darla, who can make me laugh and smile, even when I am fretting over pushing forty. I love you all very much...

One year later...

"Do you have your costume on?" Penelope called up the flight of stairs to the bedroom she shared with Derek. They'd been living together for nearly a year, and she learned that he took about as much time in the bathroom getting ready as she did—if not more, for certain occasions.

"Yeah," he answered, exiting the bedroom and heading down the stairs. Sir Derek the Brave was quite the most handsome knight Lady Penelope had ever seen. He lacked the shining armor, but he was still her noir Prince Charming, and always would be.

He stepped up to her and gave her a kiss on the lips, and then opened the door for her to head to the car where Reid and Prentiss were waiting.

Robin Hood was leaning against the car, whispering sweet nothings to the new and improved Maid Marian. The other Marian—who's real name was Bridget O'Leary—had been more than happy to give that name up so that she could join the side of the Sheriff of Nottingham. That made perfect sense for Prentiss to take the name; it only seemed right that the true lady love of Robin Hood could cheer him on.

"Get a room, you two," Penelope teased as Reid brushed a kiss on Prentiss's lips.

"Oh, puh-leese," Emily quipped back, winking at Garcia with a beaming smile. Both relationships were blossoming and growing at an incredibly quick pace, judging by the rings on the hands of both of the ladies.

"If we are going to make the match in time, we need to leave post haste," Reid commented, opening the door for Prentiss.

Derek cracked a smile. "Post haste? Getting into the medieval groove already, huh, Pretty Boy?"

Before Reid climbed in, he answered, "Quiet, knave, and get in the car."

"Knave?" Derek grumbled, giving Penelope a wounded look as she climbed in.

"Just get in, dear," she pacified with a sweet smile.

After they were buckled in, they all started out towards the long distance to the faire, ready to meet the rest of the BAU family that was probably already waiting there. Last year, they had all determined it was such a wonderful time, they'd decided to make it a yearly event.

"Hit the gas, kid; I'm hungry," Derek commented. He usually drove and was kind of antsy when someone else did.

"I'm going the speed limit," Reid answered. "Gas mileage is highly improved when recommended speed limits are followed. In fact, studies have shown-"

"Hit the gas, dear," Emily interrupted, smiling the same sweet smile Penelope'd had. However, Prentiss added a squeeze to Reid's thigh and added in a low tone, "I'm hungry, too..."

For whatever she was hungry for, Reid quickly raised the speed they were traversing.

"I want a popover," Penelope said, and then added, "Ooh! And Quiche. I want that quiche they had at that one booth."

"I want legs," Derek commented, leering at Penelope. "Turkey and yours, momma."

"That's a given, lover," she answered, giving him a kiss.

"Now who needs that room?" Prentiss archly commented, glancing at the couple in the backseat of the car, and bringing them full circle again...as would happen over and over again for most of the rest of the long drive out to the Renaissance Faire...a Faire they would always remember.