Author's Note: This is my submission for the Christmas Gift Fic Exchange and it is written especially for LoveforPenandDerek! It's a multi-chapter fic that will be fully posted before Christmas Day. I hope you enjoy it! - Angie

Prologue

"There he goes," Reid remarked dryly as Derek Morgan made his way through the bullpen and towards Penelope's office.

"Just a-walkin' straight to her office," agreed JJ.

"He never says hi to us anymore," Prentiss chimed in.

"Let alone brings us coffee." Reid sighed peevishly. "And…we've worked with him for years. She's only been here for six months."

Prentiss tilted her head to the side thoughtfully. "When do you think they're gonna realize that they're crazy in love?"

"Why do you think they can't see it already?" JJ mused instead of answering.

"I have absolutely no idea," Prentiss said in bewilderment.

Reid sighed. "They're a reconciliation waiting to happen."

They all jumped and turned around at the sound of someone clearing their throat.

"Do you really have nothing better to do this morning than to speculate about your coworkers?" Hotch asked disapprovingly.

"I'm not punched in yet," Reid piped up.

At Hotch's stern glare, the three of them scattered hastily.

"You haven't been home in years," Preston said accusingly from the other end of the phone.

Penelope winced at her brother's allegation. He was right; she hadn't been home in years. There were memories around every single corner in Chicago, and she was constantly being assaulted with them. Staying away was a defense mechanism really. "Preston, I promise I'll come home this year," she told him.

"That's what you said last year," he grumbled.

"Something came up last year," Penelope muttered.

"Sure it did," he said caustically.

"Preston," Penelope said through gritted teeth. "I said I'll come home this year." She gave Derek a small wave as he walked into her office. Her jaw dropped at the welcome sight of coffee. Thank you, she mouthed, practically springing up out of her chair to take it from him.

He grinned as he nodded, leaning back against her desk and listening to her side of the conversation.

"When?" Preston persisted.

"When what?" she asked distractedly as she took a long swallow. It had the perfect amount of cream and sugar in it; she had to force herself not to sigh with pleasure. Derek Morgan knew her so well.

"When are you coming home?"

Penelope sat back down, pulled her calendar up on the computer screen and studied it. "My first day off is December 21st, but I'd like at least one day to sleep in."

"Fine," Preston agreed. "So you'll fly in on the 22nd?"

"I'll check around for flights," Penelope conceded.

"No need," Preston said. She heard a click on the other end of the phone. "Done."

"Done?" Penelope asked panicked. "What do you mean done?"

"I just ordered your ticket on line," he informed her. "You should be getting an email confirmation shortly."

Penelope's fingers flew over the keyboard and her inbox appeared on the screen. Sure enough, there was a confirmation email from Delta Airlines. "You little shit," she breathed.

"It actually works out perfectly because you'll be landing in the afternoon, and Helena and I will have just flown in that morning from visiting her folks in Maine. See you then, PJ."

He hung up the phone and she slammed down her own receiver in a huff. He was so sneaky!

"What's going on?" Derek asked, clearly amused.

"Preston booked me a flight home," she muttered.

"Hey, that's great!" Derek said, his eyes lighting up. "You can stop by and visit my mom. I know she'd love to see you again."

"Maybe," Penelope said evasively. "How was your Thanksgiving?"

"My Thanksgiving? It was great. But my black Friday…" Derek groaned. "My mother had me up at three a.m., Penelope. Three a.m."

Penelope giggled at his tone of voice.

"And then she had me carrying all of these bags through the mall like I was her…maid or something," he said with disgust.

"Butler," Penelope corrected.

"Whatever," Derek growled. "I'm never going home for Thanksgiving again."

"Right," Penelope said doubtfully. Derek wouldn't be away from his mother during the holidays for the world. He absolutely adored her, and it had always been one of Penelope's favorite things about him.

"Well, from now on my flight leaves that night!" he said adamantly.

Penelope laughed as she turned around to click out of her email screen. "Why are you 'scrooging' so hard?" she asked. "This is usually your favorite time of the year."

"I don't know," he said, clearly troubled. "I'm just not feeling it this year."

"BAU team! Conference room," they heard Hotch say loudly from the bullpen.

Penelope sighed as she spun her chair around and then stood. "This conversation isn't over," she informed Derek.

He didn't say anything, just straightened and then fell into step beside her as they walked out of her office together. An agent from another department nodded at them in greeting. "Morgan."

"Hi," they said in unison.

Penelope laughed. "Wow. Things would probably be a whole lot easier if I took my maiden name back," she commented.

Derek didn't say anything. They'd been divorced for fifteen years now, but as far as he was concerned, she could have his last name forever if she wanted it. He'd just prefer that he was part of the deal.