Involved

Chapter Two

October 2009

There was only one way Derek wanted to spend Halloween- cuddling up with a special woman watching movies. Unfortunately he hadn't gotten to spend the holiday that way in four years.

The first two years that he knew Penelope that is exactly how they spent the day. But the next year they had a case that kept them busy and then she met Kevin Lynch.

This year Derek had made sure to ask her well in advance- basically a few days after she broke up with Lynch- to spend the evening at his place watching flicks.

Unfortunately Reid had already convinced her to go to a haunted house with him. He loved the holiday and Garcia loved seeing her boy genius happy.

Derek agreed to tag along if Garcia would watch movies with him afterward. That's how he ended up screaming like a scared little girl in the middle of the spook house when one of the costumed characters grabbed him.

He burst outside, taking in deep breaths, and said "Damn, that's just not right!"

His friends came out, with the rest of the crowd, and were laughing. Emily and Dave had decided to come along to round out the group. JJ and Will were taking Henry treat-or-treating. Hotch was back at the office still.

Emily teased him "You do know that was just a high schooler dressed as Dracula, right? And not the real thing."

Reid said "Actually, there is no real thing, as far as Dracula is concerned. He is no more than a character from a 1897 novel. Though Brum Stoker was not the first to use the myth of vampirism to fuel his fiction his tale did ignite the imaginations of people during that time and turn local folklore into a world wide fascination." Looking at Morgan, Reid said "But its all pretend. You won't actually have any blood sucked out of you no matter how many 'vampires' you are attacked by."

Morgan pushed at his shoulder. "You can have this holiday. This is the last time you talk me into this."

"Technically," Reid started "it was Garcia that convinced you by offering you some quid pro quo, as I understand it."

Dave raised an eyebrow, upon hearing this, and Emily cried "Gross! I don't want to know what that means."

Penelope touched Derek's arm. "You okay, baby?"

"Yeah, but I'll be better if we can get out of here and get started on you keeping your promise to be my Halloween honey."

Emily cried "Ewww!" and made a face at Reid, to which he just stared back at her blankly.

Dave asked "Drinks?"

Derek rolled his eyes but Penelope answered "Sure. Lead the way."

Derek wasn't looking forward to a bar packed with people in costumes who were all wasted but he found himself smiling anyway as Penelope took his hand and pulled him toward the parking lot. He couldn't complain too much because he knew he was damn lucky to be spending this evening hanging around his baby girl.

That was enough. No matter where they were or what they were doing.

XXXXXXXXXX

The bar was standing room only. The group headed right back outside. Dave said "Maybe we better find one that isn't so popular tonight."

Derek said "They'll all be full. How about just heading back to my place? Garcia and I were going to watch movies anyway later. I guess I can let you all crash our private party. But its bring your own booze. And that means you, Prentiss."

She made a face at him and cried "Hey! I like my wine. Is that a crime now?"

Dave asked Derek "You sure?" with a raise of his eyebrows.

Derek turned to Penelope. "Should we let them intrude on our snuggling and cuddling during scary movies time?"

"They are family, Hot Stuff."

Derek told Dave "The Oracle has spoken. See you all at my place in twenty."

He took Penelope's hand and led her back to his truck. She told him "That was sweet of you, Angel Fish."

"Just keep in mind, mama, that I'm gonna need a rain check on a night with just the two of us and the scariest movie you can handle."

In her sexiest voice she told him "You are racking up the rain checks, my love."

He grinned and opened the truck door for her. "Don't think I won't collect either."

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

Derek stood in the doorway of his kitchen, arms crossed over his chest, with a lazy smile on his lips as he watched Penelope popping popcorn on the stove. It felt good to have her in his home and to feel like she was right where she wanted to be.

It had only been a couple of weeks since her break up with Lynch. Derek didn't know when he would bring up his feelings for her. He didn't want to let any other man move in on her or let Lynch get back with her again.

Yet he wanted to give her space and time.

Plus his usual fears about if he could love her just the way she needed and deserved were holding him back. The one thing he wasn't wondering anymore was if she cared about him. The night that Lynch dumped her Penelope had told Derek that she had yelled at her boyfriend "Derek will always come first!"

Those words cost her that relationship. That had to make them true.

Derek told himself that she could fall in love with him, if he offered her his heart. He just hoped he wasn't fooling himself to keep himself in this happy bubble of hope- like he had for a month after she was shot when he believed him and her were about to became a couple.

He hoped history was not repeating itself. But it didn't feel like it. It felt right to be spending more time together these days.

When he remembered back to how he almost started sleeping with a victim's sister- which could have seriously jeopardized his career if anyone found out- he was relieved that it never went past one, brief kiss. That path would have been like walking into quick sand.

Instead he was on this path now. The one that had his baby girl right by his side.

"Careful, Garcia, I think you're daydreaming and about to set my kitchen on fire."

She chuckled. "Hush! I am not. This popcorn is perfectly and expertly popped by your Goddess. Now get to work on buttering and salting, handsome, and don't go easy on it. The rest of us aren't gym rats like you. We don't mind calories and, Lord knows, that our boy genius could use some."

Derek grinned and did as she asked. The doorbell rang. Penelope said "I'll get it, handsome."

He couldn't stop grinning as she left. He thought about what it would be like if they were living together and playing out these kind of domestic scenes everyday. There was a time that would have freaked him out and sent him running for the door. Not now though.

Now he craved the chance to spend everyday with his baby girl as her man. He just prayed he would get that chance this time, and not lose it again because he didn't act in time.

XXXXXXXXXX

"I can give you a ride home," Derek said, when everyone was getting ready to leave over five hours later.

Penelope said "Em offered and its on her way. You don't have to be my gallant knight and see the fair princess to her door."

"You're my princess though," he pouted "and, you know, I don't ever mind doing whatever I can to keep you safe and happy."

Penelope gave him a small smile.

Emily rolled her eyes. "I swear when you're around Garcia, Morgan, I almost forget you're a playa player."

Derek told her "Don't hate the player. Hate the game."

She said "And then you say something like that and I remember." She headed out the door. "Night, men!"

Reid nodded at Derek and motioned for the door. "Do you think I better walk her out?"

"That would be the gentlemanly thing to do, kid."

Rossi said "Even though she could kick all our asses."

"Right," Reid said, as he hurried out. He looked back. "Thank you for the invitation. Though the cinematic adaption of-"

Derek cut him off "Prentiss, remember?"

"Right!" Reid hurried off, looking like he was deep in thought of comparing the movie they watched to the book version of it.

Derek shook his head and chuckled.

Rossi patted his shoulder. "Night. Give me a call if any vampires creep in here tonight and you need to be rescued."

Derek threw him a fake scowl. "That's not funny, man."

After they were alone Penelope slipped on her coat. Derek hurried to help her. She said "Tonight was fun, handsome." She turned and looked at him. "I know what you're doing though."

He stiffened. "What's that?"

"You're trying to spend as much time with me as you can to take my mind off breaking up with Kevin. Its really sweet and I do appreciate it. I'm not falling to pieces though. Like I said when it first happened, I'm relieved."

"Okay. That's good to hear."

"I'm okay, baby."

"Good."

"You're still going to spend ever spare second you can around me cheering me up anyway, aren't you?"

He grinned. "You know it, doll face. Now get home and get your beauty rest. I like my girl looking her best when she comes into work and offers me a good morning, Hot Stuff."

Penelope smiled. "You're truly the best and I love you."

He kissed her forehead. "Mmmmm. I will never get sick of hearing that, woman."