A/N: Hi everyone! Here's my latest creation, I hope you like it!
Penelope Garcia felt awful. Absolutely, positively, truthfully, awful. She could feel the weight of rejecting Kevin's proposal on her shoulders, and she was definitely down in the dumps. She hated to hurt him, but she wasn't ready for marriage yet. She stayed busy with her job and barely found enough time for herself, much less a husband.
She hadn't heard from Kevin in days, and was determined to talk with him. She needed to explain her reasoning behind this, and assure him she wasn't completely against marriage. Who knew what the future could bring? Perhaps in a few years' time, she would be ready to tie the knot with Kevin. Right now however, she was content with their simple relationship. Why add complexities to it?
After quickly getting ready, Pen drove over to Kevin's apartment. He'd turned his phone off since the rejection, and Pen knew she needed to talk with him desperately. She hadn't a clue where they stood in their relationship anymore. If she waited any longer, the situation would only turn more awkward and hurtful. She knew she didn't want that.
Taking a deep breath, she knocked on his door. She'd been here a thousand times, but the circumstances were different. Sometimes she'd bake him cookies and bring them over. Other times, he would call and invite her to his place for dinner. She would gladly accept, and they'd spend hours talking code and other computer functions. It was their common ground.
But this time was different as Kevin opened the door. He didn't say a word; he simply stepped aside for Pen to come in. He'd been expecting and dreading this conversation as much as she had, and they needed to get it over with.
"Hi," Pen said.
"Hey," he replied.
"I was hoping you'd come over afterward, but you didn't," she said. "I tried calling you, but your phone is shut off. I wasn't sure where I stood with you so I came over to see."
"I think you know the answer to your question better than I do."
"Kev, I never meant to hurt you by saying no. I'm just not ready for that next big step. We can barely keep up our weekly date nights, and I think marriage would only create more problems for us. It isn't that I don't love you or want to be with you anymore, I do. But this isn't the right time for me. I'm sorry."
He hung his head. "I'm sorry too. I don't mean to be taking this so hard, but I expected you to say yes. I'd always imagined that moment a happy one, and I was shocked it took a different turn."
Pen stayed silent because she didn't know what to say. She was afraid she'd only hurt him more if she replied. Finally, Kevin spoke:
"Over the last few days, I've been doing some thinking. I know you don't want to hear this, but I think you need to. I think it's your real reason for saying no."
Pen started to speak but Kevin stopped her. "Hear me out Penelope. I've learned a thing or two about you in the last three years. I know you sleep in on the weekends like a teenager, and you refuse to wake up until noon. I've learned your natural hair color is dark brown, but you dye your hair to feel closer to your mother. She was a natural blonde."
Pen simply stared, wondering where he was going with this. She'd told him no because she wasn't ready, hadn't she? Was there another reason? Or was Kevin just lecturing her?
"But something I've begun to notice about you in the last months," Kevin continued. "Is that you're in love with Derek Morgan. Don't try to deny it because it's true. I've seen the way you look at him, and the way he looks at you. Heck, you say his name in your sleep all the time."
"Kevin you're wrong," Pen interrupted. "Derek is my best friend! We've always been close, but what you're saying…"
"Pen," Kevin said. "If Derek asked you to marry him tomorrow, you'd be in the church ready to go by nine o'clock. Somehow, you've been hiding your true feelings from yourself, but you need to embrace them. You might not think Derek loves you back, but trust me, he does."
"How would you know?" Pen whispered, realization dawning on her.
"Because when I told him I wanted to marry you, he almost looked sick. I overheard him telling Reid later he'd lost his chance. It doesn't take a genius to know he was referring to you."
Forgetting what role Kevin was playing in her life Pen asked: "What do I do? He'd never want that kind of relationship with me. How do I know you're not making this up?"
"Because I love you Penny," Kevin said, taking her hands in his. "I want you to be happy, and I know that can't happen with me. You belong with Derek."
Pen smiled at him. "Thanks Kevin. You're the genuine article, you know that?"
He returned the smile. "I'll come by and get my things later. Good luck with Derek."
"Good luck to you too," Pen said. "Someday, you're going to find the right girl for you Kev. And she's going to be super lucky."
With that said, Pen quickly said goodbye and made a beeline to Derek's place. She had to tell him the truth before she chickened out altogether.
A/N: I hope you enjoyed the chapter! Review me! : )
