Chapter Text
"Ladies and other equally fabulous ladies, good morning one and all." Garcia slid the coffee carrier onto the table and dropped her purse next to a seat. Arms crisscrossed the table as they each twisted cups to reveal and divvy up orders.
"Thanks for doing the coffee run Garcia." Tara took a deep sip and leaned into her seat. "I know this is only temporary, but I could get used to your proximity to the source of magic unicorn lattes."
"It is my pleasure. I'm just happy to be here and focusing on something that isn't immediately awful and dire." Penelope grinned and leaned her head momentarily on JJ's shoulder.
She looked to Emily and the already sizeable bundle of folders beside her on the bench seating.
"Is there anything I need to do before I get started? I have already been thinking in algorithms and data sets all weekend, and I swear I almost started texting Luke in code, I was so focused."
"Actually, yes." Emily sighed slightly and reached for one of the folders tucked against the banquet. "I know this is awkward Penelope, but if you are going to be formally consulting with the BAU, I need you to sign off on the 'safe workplace' pledge again. HR heard you were back."
"Ugh, this is so puritanical." Penelope frowned as she took ownership of the file and flipped through a few of the pages. "First of all, Derek and I were clearly just bestest best friends. And with Luke, its almost never even been intentional! And it's like, a little consensual flirting to lighten the mood won't bring down the great and mighty FBI."
JJ grinned at Tara over her coffee as Penelope pulled a pen from her hair and started initialling the pages.
"Why don't they just put us all through finishing school before we start working. This place is run by prudes." The pages flipped over swiftly, before being pushed back to Emily. "Done. And good riddance. Ugh. I bet if we were some old married couple they wouldn't be making that big of a deal."
"Hey, no coming after the old married couples." JJ returned. Garcia scrunched her nose, reaching out to squeeze her friend's hand.
"Like we aren't all in awe of you and Will. But there is totally a double standard since we're 'only dating.' I was telling Luke yesterday that there would definitely be advantages to being married at the FBI. Especially with him always out in the field."
"Oh yeah?" Tara's voice was curious and encouraging. Not baiting. Definitely not that.
Penelope continued onward, fiddling with the beads of her necklace chain and waving vaguely with her free hand. "For hospital visits and medical info, of course, even though I hate that part of this job, although I'm not mad about double coverage on health insurance. Especially eyewear."
"Amen to the double coverage. Especially with two boys." JJ murmured in agreement.
"Exactly! And then maybe if it was officially official, there wouldn't be any nosy HR people coming in here and questioning my perfectly innocent conversational skills. I told Luke it could be a very useful thing."
Emily's gaze connected with Tara's across the table.
"And Alvez agreed?"
"Of course." Penelope nodded with enthusiasm as she lifted the lid from her latte and swirled it briefly.
"To the idea." Emily continued.
"Obviously. I have a history of very good ideas. Even though it took newbie a while to catch on to my inherent wisdom." Garcia confirmed. Emily glanced to JJ and raised an eyebrow slightly before swooping her gaze across Garcia's front.
"Uh. Pen."
"Mhhhm?"
"What...exactly did you say to Luke?"
"Just that getting married would be a good idea. It's not like it would be a big change from now. We'd just get some extra perks. Like cash back on a rewards card." Tara let out a snort of laughter that rippled through the others.
"And he said..."
"Okay?" Penelope repeated, starting to look suspicious at the line of questioning.
"Okay to....." Emily leaned back in her seat, watching Penelope with caution.
"He said okay. To me." Garcia said slowly. She glanced between the three women.
"Anything else that he said? Or did? Anything unusual?" Tara suggested casually, but it was too late and Garcia could recognize an ambush by her besties.
"No! I said it would be helpful to be married, and he said okay, and then he went upstairs for a minute, to get laundry or something. And then when he got back he said something about shopping together, and he gave me his old dog tags, and- and now I am wearing them, I am wearing them now and oh my god I think I got engaged."
Garcia started taking deep breaths, hand tightening around the new chain at her neck.
"Oh my god. Oh my god! I think I proposed to Luke and I think I'm engaged. To Luke Alvez." Looking up at JJ she could see her hesitant shrug badly disguising a wide grin. "Did I get engaged last night?"
"I think you might have." Emily admitted, feeling slightly bad to be enjoying what was either an epiphany or a full breakdown developing in front of her.
"Oh god. What if he knows? What if he knows we're engaged, and I didn't. He would never let me live that down." Penelope murmured fiercely as she gathered her belongings in a rush. "I cannot- I- Okay, I have to go find him and clear this whole....thing up. I love you all. I am so happy to be here."
Penelope pulled each of them into a tight brief squeeze, before striding towards the door with her heels clicking loudly in her wake.
"Supervisory Special Agent Luke Alvez. Very important conversation, now! Right now mister!"