"So, why are we going to London again?"
"Strauss wants us to start an interagency diplomacy group, Sugar, and you know I cannot refuse the woman these days. She did give me an opportunity to keep in contact with Emily, and that makes me happy."
"I must admit, ever since she and Rossi started a relationship, she has mellowed. She even listens to me, even when I rant, which is odd indeed." He smiled and kissed her cheek. "This is going to be a new adventure for both of us."
"And I'll get to stalk the royals. I mean, I know William is married to Princess Shinylocks now, but there's always another royal waiting to find the woman of their dreams."
Morgan laughed and she hit him on the chest. "Ow! Why do you even need to stalk the royals, anyway? You need a real man to handle all your awesome."
"And I suppose you think you fit that bill?" He just shrugged as she shook her head. "Whatever. Three weeks in London is going to be the perfect working vacation, and it's all Erin's idea!"
"You know, we have been listening in on your conversation this entire time, Penelope, seeing as how we're driving you to the airport." She looked up to see the woman in question smiling at her and she smiled back. "I still have time to rethink this decision."
"You wouldn't do that to me, Ma'am! I've wanted to go to London since I was a young girl!" Her voice took on a slight whine and Erin shook her head.
"No, I wouldn't, I was just teasing. Besides, I have the feeling that Davie would withhold certain…liberties that I've come to enjoy these last few months, and I couldn't have that." They pulled to a stop outside the airport and idled. "Now, call us the moment you land, and let us know you're settled in."
"Yes, Mother," Penelope said jokingly as she climbed out of the back seat. Erin smiled at her and tapped her cheek. Penelope played along and air-kissed it as Derek loaded up their luggage on a cart to bring inside. "I promise us kids will behave."
The woman laughed and then waved as Dave drove off, leaving them alone. "I am never going to get used to how close you two have become so quickly after Em left. You've been a good influence on her."
They went inside and checked in, sending their luggage off before getting into the line for security. It didn't take too long to get through the line, and then they were finding their gate. Penelope ensconced herself in a chair, pulling out her laptop. "Derek, would you get me a coffee?"
"Sure thing, Baby Girl." He left and she sighed. What he didn't know is that she had asked for this detail, it was originally supposed to be JJ in her spot. But she had yet to get over Kevin and when she found out about it, she couldn't pass up the opportunity. A few tears threatened to spill down her cheeks and she took a deep breath, trying to stem their flow. This was going to be a happy trip, no matter what happened.
Derek returned ten minutes later, two cups in hand. "They couldn't make your favorite drink, so I got you hot chocolate instead."
"The only hot chocolate I need in my life is you, honey. But I suppose I can drink this." She smiled up at him and he smiled widely at her as he sat.
"I'm glad, since it cost an arm."
"That's an airport for you. You're just spoiled from the jet and getting everything for free." He nodded and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. They had gotten there rather early, but then, Erin was always early to everything, so why should it be any different today? "Can we ride the London Eye together?"
"Of course." He pulled out his iPod and tucked the earbuds into his ears. She snuggled into him, listening to the thumps of the beat that escaped out occasionally. She emailed Jayje, telling her they were at the airport and waiting for their flight. Then she updated her blog before shutting down the machine and pulling out her knitting. She was starting her Christmas presents and had decided to begin Erin's on this trip.
Quickly, she worked the pearl white thread into the pattern she was using, making quick progress on the scarf. She planned on making a matching hat and pair of mittens. She'd already finished JJ's set, making hers a soft turquoise color, and knew that these would take less time, now that she had the patterns down in her head.
An hour later, she heard their flight begin the preboarding announcement. Looking at their tickets, she noticed, for the first time, that Erin had snagged them first class seats. "I am going to have to thank Rossi for mellowing her," she murmured as she shook Derek gently. "Hey, babe, we're boarding now. First class gets to go first!"
"So, you finally noticed that. Come on, let's get in line." He helped her to pick up their carry-on bags and they went up to the podium, getting their boarding passes scanned. Penelope was pleased to find that they were in the third row, as she wanted to be a little ways away from the cockpit. "Sit, sit, I'll take care of our bags," Derek said as he tugged the large bag out of her hands. All she could do was smile up at him as she buckled her belt, settling back into leather clad luxury.
"Come on, Sugar. She got us first class seats. You have to like her now."
"I've liked her for a while, Baby Girl. She does grow on you as time passes." He settled in next to her and she pulled out her knitting once more, handing him the large ball of yarn. "What, am I just your holder now?"
"No, you're my best friend who wants to make me happy. Holding the yarn will make me happy, and it's not like you have anything better to do." He stuck his tongue out at her and she smirked back. "Stick that back in, no one wants to see it."
He laughed and dug the fingers of one hand in the ball as he fished out his iPod once more. He set it on his lap and then watched the others board. Penelope hummed lowly as she let her fingers fly through the stitches. By the time the plane took off, she was three quarters of the way finished with Erin's scarf and Morgan was zoning out, listening to his music. It didn't take her long to complete the scarf and she cast off the stitches quickly before folding it carefully and placing it in a large Ziploc bag to keep it clean.
"What's next?" Derek asked, pulling out his earbuds and stowing the iPod in his shirt pocket. "I ran the battery down already; guess I didn't charge it long enough."
"I told you, plug it in overnight. This is what you get." She leaned over to butt shoulders with him, grinning at his annoyed look. "Anyway, I'm working on the hat next. Then the hard part, the mittens. Jayje's are kinda deformed looking; one actually looks like the lower peninsula of Michigan. If these turn out better, I might go back and make her a new pair. You'd think, with how long I've been knitting, that I could pull off a decent pair of mittens."
"Don't beat yourself up, sweetheart. It's the thought that counts." He reached up to rub her shoulder lightly and then they settled back in their seats. Penelope yawned a little and Morgan put up the arm rest, patting his shoulder. She took the invitation and scooted over as far as the seatbelt would let her, cuddling into him. The hat worked up even faster, being a simple knit and purl pattern. "You're really quick, Penny."
"That's 'cause this is rather easy. Wait until I get to the mittens. If you listen really carefully, you might hear me curse under my breath. A lot." He laughed lowly and settled his arm around her shoulders. She relished the warm weight of it there and burrowed closer. Time seemed to slow down for her, and then next thing she knew was being shaken gently by him.
"Baby Girl, we're getting ready to land." Looking over at him, she saw he was holding onto the hat, the knitting needles stuck into the ball of yarn. "I rescued it before you let it fall to the floor." She took the project from his hands and stuck it back in her bag.
"How long was I asleep?"
"A couple hours."
"Really?"
"All right, no. You fell asleep about ten minutes after my iPod died. Five hours of beauty sleep to make you all the more gorgeous."
"Except that we're landing at ten in the evening, London time. I should have told you not to let me sleep!" She knew she was being irrationally upset, but he just smiled at her, rubbing her shoulder.
"Penelope, that's what sleeping pills are for. We're going to be fine, no jetlag. Remember, Prentiss told us how to work through that. We go to sleep as soon as we get to the hotel, you take a sleeping pill, I'll set the alarm, and in the morning, we eat breakfast, since we'll be starving. That will reset our internal clocks." She nodded, a tiny smile creeping over her lips as he bent and kissed her forehead. "I'll always take care of my princess."
"I know, I should just trust you. But Kevin…"
"But Kevin nothing. He was an ass. Why didn't you let me beat him up?" She shrugged. "You are adorable." She nodded and he laughed, bending down and quickly kissing her.
"We are beginning our descent into London now. Please return your seats into the upright position," one of the flight attendants said and they sprung apart. She turned to look out the window, seeing the twinkling lights of the city welcoming them. Derek's hand closed around her shoulder and she tried not to shiver. He was her best friend, and she so could not be developing feelings for him. It wasn't fair.
"We're almost there, Baby Girl." Even his voice sounded different to her ears now, in that moment after her feelings had changed, and she nodded, settling back into the seat. "Three weeks with my best friends. This will be amazing."