Disclaimer again I'll tell you I don't own Criminal Minds but I can nick characters from you for a little while!

Penelope smoothed down her dressed, checked that the blusher on her cheeks was even, her mascara perfect, her lips the right tint of red, her curls in firm place. She slid a heel on, straightened the strap out and then sorted the other one, looking in the mirror she felt good, comfortable, if not lacking a bit of confident.

She found the dating website to be easy, if not a little careless, the fact she was going out with total strangers but she had to start somewhere. For her to find the better fish in her sea she had to get back out there, not dwell on Kevin Lynch, she didn't need to waste time on the past, she had to get passed it.

So she checked her phone for the last time and threw it into the bottom of her purse on silent, made sure she had everything she needed and as she clasped her purse shut the buzzer went off. Answering the door, the man at the door looked as good as his pictures.

With a broad smile and a slight straightening up of his body he pushed a bunch of flowers towards her slightly. 'Your profile doesn't lie.' He commented somewhat impressed and Penelope felt her cheeks flush with heat.

'What's to lie about?' She quipped back and he laughed slightly. 'Penelope.' She said politely, feeling like a formal introduction was necessary.

'Eric.' He said as he put his hand out for her to shake. 'Sorry.' He said nervously as he realised the flowers were still in his hands. 'For you.'

'They're beautiful thank you.' She responded with a slight smile and took them off him. 'I'll just put them in some water and we can go if you want.'

'Yeah that's fine.' He said and he looked at her more intently.

'Come in for the moment while I sort these.' Penelope told him and turned away from the door; she went into the kitchen and felt him enter the room beyond the door.

'Colourful place.'

'Thanks, it's always good to keep some colour alive.'

'Definitely is I've gotta agree.' He told her as he looked around, from figurines to photo's, from past memories to the recent present. He turned just as Penelope stood ready. 'Ready to go?'

'Sure am.' They both smiled at one another and then he went to the door, she followed grabbing her purse as she went and then pulled the door shut ready to be locked before they left. Wordlessly they went to his car and then headed out to the restaurant, getting there conversation stayed light, just keeping it to general chit chat as the journey went but as they sat down Penelope could tell she was in for a grilling and as she swallowed the lump in her throat she readied herself with answers and questions to throw back.

'I have to say that most dates don't start from inside my apartment.' She told him almost bashfully and he smiled at her, leaving his body language open he leant in.

'I like it when it's different.' He told her back and he watched her nerves leave slightly. 'So Penelope, what do you do for a living? Tell me it's more interesting that computer programming.'

She laughed again. 'Erm, I'm a technical analyst.'

'Oh.' He replied shocked.

'And I do a bit of computer programming.'

'Oh.' He repeated, this time it sounded more excited mixed with surprise. 'Well aren't you a Jill of all trades.' Penelope smirked at his twist on the saying, then the waiter come over. 'You okay with Sancerre?'

'I would love Sancerre.' She said, she felt herself fall for this man a bit more. When the waiter was gone she looked at him. 'I'm guessing you're a computer programmer.''

'Through and through.' He said as he sat down, arms not making a barrier. 'I wouldn't have you down as a computer whiz.'

'Trust me, you wouldn't have me down as a lot of things that you might think.' Her cheeks heated again as she finished that, shocked at how comfortable she was with this man already. It was then that conservation settle and grew into a gentle ease. All through ordering it was easy and free flowing and Penelope was truly enjoying herself.

'Penelope?' Came a voice and Penelope stiffened some, she turned around and looked to see Derek standing there, dinner suit on, dressed to impressed. 'I didn't know you'd be here.' He said somewhat loosely, all casual.

Penelope grinned and bared it, she was more than annoyed, she knew he'd looked at her screen because she wanted him to, she'd set the plan and now it had come back to bite her on the arse. She coughed, cleared her throat and smiled a little more harder as Tamara came to his side. 'I didn't know I had to give you my whereabouts Derek.'

'Whatever happened to Kevin?' He asked her as he crossed his arms over his chest.

'We do not need to have this conservation here.' Penelope defended her relationship status. 'I'll speak to you tomorrow Derek, hope you have a good meal.'

'Why don't we double date?' Tamara offered up sweetly. 'I mean you're here, we're here.'

'I like that idea.' Derek agreed with her and he could tell Penelope was not in the least impressed.

Penelope looked at Eric her mouth opened slightly with annoyance and fleeting disbelief. 'I guess it wouldn't hurt.' Eric responded quickly and then soon Derek and Tamara went to get a waiter to sort the table out. 'It seems rude to not invite them.'

'You know you said you liked doing differently?' She asked him and he nodded silently. 'Well you're about to get that difference.' Penelope watched as a table was joined onto hers and Eric's and then she watched with a blow as Derek took the seat next to her. Conversation between Penelope and Eric completely dried up then. When their food arrived Penelope couldn't help but stab it harshly as she forked up some salad.

'What's up baby girl? Your appetite doesn't seem to be what it used to be?'

'Well something's don't seem to stay as they used to, do they Derek?'

'Obviously not, especially when secrets are kept between people, you lose insight.'

'Yeah well you'd know.' She told him and took a gulp of her wine. 'Wouldn't you two rather have a date, you know, alone?'

'Why? Double dating can be fun you just gotta have the right company.' That was it for Penelope; she excused herself and headed for the front doors, not knowing that Derek was straight behind her. Taking up a pace she walked out her frustration, she was going to go back in cool and collected, screw Derek Morgan.

'Hey baby girl, why the excursion away from the date?'

'Because I have an egotistic, alpha male, crashing my date.'

'I'm just here to look out for you.'

'Look out for me?' Penelope snorted in disbelief. '8 months Derek, mean anything to you?' Derek's face contorted with sheer confusion. 'Last time we truly spoke properly. So why now the sudden interest?'

'I'm just worried.'

'Worried? Where was your worry for me when I broke up with my boyfriend? Well, of course, it was elsewhere because you looked right through me each and every time you looked at me.' Derek could see the hurt in Penelope's eyes. 'Where the hell was the worry when Haley died? I was there to offer you the worry but you shunned me, didn't even acknowledge me.'

'Penelope...'

'Don't Derek, I moved on, you moved on, and it wasn't together. We've shared enough moments where our friendship would've blossomed but we missed them Derek so the way I see you at the moment is merely someone that is crashing my date.'

'He's a complete stranger.'

'What and Tamara wasn't?' She bit back and she saw she'd hit a nerve. 'She was a victim's sister on a case, a complete stranger but you took it upon yourself to help her. That was your choice Derek, likewise, mine is to date and a man sure as hell isn't going to go and land in my lap'

'You need to just be wearier; we know where your dates go.' Derek spat out and he knew then he'd stepped the line. 'I'm sorry, I didn't mean that.'

'Oh no? Course not.' She said and the tears spilt. 'You know what Derek? The day we argued before my date shot me, I told you, that you suck well repeat those words to yourself! I can't believe you'd ever go that far as to use that against me. I made a mistake and I have to live with it for the rest of my life and believe me that hurt's more than anything. It kills me a little sometimes to think about it but what am I gonna do, die lonely? I need to get back out there so don't you dare take that away from me.' She finished calmly and then went back into restaurant without Derek.

A/N: I wanted some angst to kick!! Hope you liked!!

Let me know guys!!