A/N: Sadly, I do not own Criminal Minds. If I did, I certainly would not be cutting or changing the cast. #SaveTheCMLadies If you haven't signed yet, please sign the petition to keep AJ Cook and Paget Brewster .
"I can't wait, Hotch. I've decided- I'm asking Garcia to marry me. The Alaska case has really brought us closer."
Hotch stumbled for a second, staring at Morgan. "You know that Strauss will be all over you. She'll break up the team."
"I know. But I'm hoping Rossi will help with that. But it really doesn't matter, Hotch." Morgan swallowed. "I…need her in my life- as more than just my friend. I need to hold her in my arms at night; to watch her carry our baby in her womb and then her arms. I've wasted too much time already. I can't waste any more."
Hotch's gaze dropped, reaching the picture on his desk of Haley cradling Jack as an infant. "I'll do anything I can to help, Morgan. You and Garcia have something special. Jack says it best: Morgan and Penny are like peanut butter and jelly- they just go together."
Morgan laughed. "You've done an amazing job, Hotch."
Hotch coughed, and his voice was hoarse as he answered. "Haley did all the work, Morgan. I took advantage of it, of her. Don't make my mistakes. Don't take Penelope for granted; or let the job become more important to you than she is."
"She's my Baby Girl, Hotch. My…voice of calm and sanity as I do this job. She's a part of me, and of the job. Neither one is right without her."
"In that case, when are you asking?"
"We're going up to Vermont for the weekend. I plan to ask her then."
"I'll try not to call you in. I know cases come up when you are…getting your groove on." Hotch grinned.
"I'd appreciate it." Morgan returned the grin with one of his own and shook the hand Hotch had offered. "Thanks Hotch."
"No problem. And, Morgan?" He added as Morgan had started to leave. "Good luck and congratulations."
Morgan laughed aloud. "With any luck…I won't need luck."
"Hey, princess, are you ready for two days and nights of gorgeous views, pleasant people and all the best maple syrup and Ben and Jerry's you can eat?"
Garcia leaned back in her chair gazing at Morgan. "Hmm…I dunno, ice cream, syrup and people not withstanding, I have gorgeous views right here, handsome."
"Behave, Baby Girl. You wouldn't want to start our weekend with a spanking, would you?"
"All talk… you're all talk." She grinned at Derek's chuckle.
"I'll show you all talk." She squealed as he grabbed her out of her chair, into his arms and kissed her.
Penelope laughed as Derek set her down gently. "Oh, handsome God of mine, I cannot wait. But you know we're just barely going into that private hot tub that our phones are going to be ringing with a new case, right?"
"Bite your tongue, beautiful. No UNSUBs would dare. You know how ticked I'll be if I don't get to see that sexy red bikini that's been hanging in your closet?"
"Oh, gorgeous, don't worry, you'll get to see it…eventually."
Morgan laughed. "C'mon silly girl. Are you ready to go?"
"Give me give minutes, ok, babe? I've got to finish this search. Should be done in a jif."
"Search? What are you looking for? We don't have an active case."
Penelope raised an eyebrow. "Who said it was for an active case?"
"Penelope Garcia, if you're tagging cases again, I swear I really will spank you!"
"Relax, my love. JJ asked me to run a search on a case down in Honolulu. They've send a case file, but there are some missing pieces in the file. I'm just filling in the gaps so that she can have complete info."
"Hmm…Honolulu…is that on the island of Ikindawannakissyou?"
Penelope groaned. "Oh, Derek. Really that was bad…way beneath you."
Derek laughed at his own bad joke. "Five minutes, Red. Then we're off." He left with a quick kiss to her head.
"No! No, that's not allowed! I'll kill him, I will kill him. Derek Morgan is a dead man." Kevin Lynch stared at his computer screen, watching the spy cam footage, his pupils large, inky black and furious.
A/N: So let me know what you think! The more reviews I get, the quicker the next chapter comes!