Chapter 1

AN: Dedicated to Crystalga, who sent me a PM request about Vegas and a wedding. That got me thinking about this story, which isn't along the same road at all, but still.... Thank you for making me think!

It was funny how two words could entirely change the foundation of life. Penelope Garcia knew that was true. She had been running along just fine; dating her computer geek boyfriend, hanging with her best friend during all the other moments of her life, working miracles daily with her babies for her team. She had no issues; all was good. Until those two words.

"I'm engaged."

Her best friend, Derek Morgan, was going to marry Tamara Snooty-Ass-Major-Clingy Barnes, and from the contented smile on his face, he was damned happy about it. She should be happy for him, she told herself. He deserved to be married to someone who seemed to need Derek as much as Tamara did.

Need. No one had ever needed Derek like Tamara did. She really needed him; twenty-four-seven, three-sixty-five. She was demanding of his time; Penelope barely saw him outside of work. Derek seemed to like a needy woman; he'd been with Tamara for six months. That was a near record for Morgan.

At first, she was so shocked, she could barely speak. She tried to smile, but she couldn't. She figured she looked like a fish out of water, her mouth flapping open and shut. She finally forced herself to snap out of it.

When she could form words, all she could say was, "Why?"

"I knew this wouldn't be easy to say," he said, sighing. "It's time. I'm going to be forty in two more months, I need to settle down. Prioritize my life, start a family, move out of bachelorhood." He shot her a grin. "Give my mom those grandbabies she's been asking for."

Spoken from his heart, she didn't doubt it was what he really wanted. It made sense; everyone needed to grow up some time in their lives.

In all honesty, she wanted that, too. At least, she thought she did. Kevin had asked her, but she could never make her self say yes. She'd tried, numerous times in fact, but it didn't feel right. Something in her gut rebelled against marrying Kevin Lynch.

"But..but you've only known Tamara six months," she said, starting to frown.

For some reason, she started to get really angry. This was ridiculous; nobody got married after just six months. What the hell was his damn rush now? He wasn't that old. Since when did Derek think he was decrepit?

She was grousing internally. This defied all logic. He had nothing in common with Tamara, absolutely nothing. She knew; he told her Tamara's likes and dislikes. Tamara liked the high society life of her country club. She liked yachting and wine tasting. That was not Derek. He liked beer, pizza, and football, like every other red blooded, blue-collared American. He didn't have to tell her his favorite things either; she already knew.

None of what he liked matched Tamara Barnes. She ate pizza with a knife and fork, for Pete's sake!

He shrugged. "She asked me; I said yes."

Pen's jaw dropped, and her eyes grew to round saucers in her head. "She asked you?"

He grinned, shooting her his perfect white teeth. "Yeah. She asked. It'll work. She's alright."

He sounded so peaceful, so at ease with his decision, it completely deflated the anger she was feeling. She felt like an awful friend, because more than anything, she wanted to try to talk him out of it. She thought it was because she really thought this was a bad idea. There was truth in that; Derek and Tamara seemed completely incompatible, and it was very rushed.

A nagging part of her thought something completely different. Something was begging her to tell the truth to herself. It stood out above any other reason, and made her heart ache.

Because for an entire minute after he said he was engaged, her heart wanted to say, Are you nuts? You can't do that! You're supposed to marry me.

She cringed. She'd always had picket fence fantasies about Derek, but she'd never really thought about it in a serious frame of mind. That didn't stop her from dreaming about him. Who wouldn't dream of marrying a gorgeous hunk like him?

She kicked herself. That was way more superficial than Derek deserved. He was so much more than just a hunk. He was good, kind, heroic, smart, funny. He was a caring protector; he made her feel whole when she was broken.

He was her best friend. She missed him, and they were just talking about him getting married. Tamara already limited the amount of time he had her; would she be worse when they were married? She couldn't… she..

"I'd like you to be in the wedding," he said, breaking her out of her thinking pattern. It was probably a good thing; the thoughts were overwhelming her.

She made a very sour face. She could not stand up with that woman. She could barely stomach being in the same room; standing up with her would mean supporting her, and she wouldn't do that.

She came up with a plausable excuse. "I don't want to be Tamara's bridesmaid. I've had enough of those ugly dresses to last a lifetime."

"Baby Girl, not that. I know it's unconventional, but I need this." Derek reached over and held her hand. "I want you to be the best woman."

It was amazing, the amount of warmth that radiated off his hand when he touched her. His hand made her tingle; it was uncanny. It happened every time he touched her, like he was powered by the sun.

"You're my best friend, and I'm closer to you than anyone in the world," he smiled softly. "I love you; I want you there."

She looked into the warm brown eyes of her best friend, thought about his request and what that said about how he felt about her. She knew, no matter how she felt inside, she had no choice on how she was going to respond.

"I'd be honored, Hot Stuff."