Chapter 4

AN:I feel like a broken record, but this is so true...thank you for the reviews, alerts and favorites you all do for me. It is a huge honor to know that you take the time to tell me you like this. I am forever grateful!

Penelope came out of the bathroom, completely dressed and ready to go. Derek wasn't anywhere near dressed. He wasn't used to sleeping so well; he felt kind of groggy and discombobulated. He knew it would wear off, but it was rather embarrassing that he was moving in slow motion. In fact, he was still standing there in his black boxers, holding his pants.

"Hmmm," she said, a sexy little smile curving her lips. "That's an interesting outfit for this evening. I am going to have to fight the other girls off with a stick."

"Very funny."

"Hot Stuff?"

He could tell from her tone he shouldn't say it, but he did anyway. "What?"

"Your legs go in the holes," she said. As he looked up and glared at her, she added, "In case you were wondering."

He pulled his pants on and started fastening them, then grabbed his shirt and his little travel bag. "Going in the bathroom, be out soon."

"Oh, take your time," she smirked. "I know how you need to look pretty, so-"

He let out a groan as he shut the bathroom door.

Penelope exhaled a relieved whoosh of air. She sat back on the edge of the bed, taking a deep breath, letting her thoughts go back to this morning.

What the hell was I thinking? she thought. She had to fight a forehead slap. She'd kissed him. He wasn't her boyfriend, he wasn't anything in that capacity. Yet once it happened, it felt like the exact right thing to do.

Afterward, he'd looked at her like she'd grown two heads. She felt like she did, too.

But it felt so good...

She threw her clothes in her suitcase in disgust. This was stupid thinking. She knew she didn't want him. Just because he'd been sweet and needed her last night did not mean he was like that normally. He was a domineering control freak, who had the audacity to call her a hard head. He was the pot calling the kettle black. He was really not her type either.

She needed to be needed, it was in her nature. A man that relied on her. She knew Derek really felt he didn't need anyone. She wasn't changing, and she sure as hell wasn't going to get him to change his mind.

He stepped out of the bathroom, dressed and ready to fly. "Alright. Let's get some food and go do this thing."

There were a few things Penelope noticed right away about the wedding of Marshall Bates. The first was the assembly area was beautiful, decorated very extensively and expensively, too. There was nothing missing. Second, she noticed the groomsmen in the wedding party were absolutely stunning. Probably not quite Derek good looking, but pretty damn close. That was saying a whole lot.

The bridesmaids were pretty too, but she didn't notice them as much. She sniggered to herself, she didn't wonder why.

Derek sat next to her and watched the wedding rather attentively. She was surprised by that. She decided to comment on it. "You seem to be really into this."

He looked at her. "I love weddings."

"Really?" That was more than surprising to her.

He flashed his perfect white teeth. "As long as it isn't my own wedding."

Now that sounded more like Derek. Pen was interrupted by the start of the wedding march. Derek rose and reached a hand down to help her. She stood, and watched as the bride walked in. The bride, Angela, looked so in love, it made Penelope's chest ache. For the first time in forever, she felt incomplete. That love...She wondered if she would ever feel love like that.

She stood there and blinked for a moment. She hadn't realized how badly she'd wanted that until this moment. Maybe it was because she was finally done with Kevin. She'd never seriously thought about marriage when Kevin was around. It just wasn't a feasible thought; he'd lead her to thinking of anything but marriage. But now, surrounded by the wonder and magic of the wedding, she knew she was feeling…envy. She didn't like feeling that way. She drew a shaky breath.

Almost immediately, she felt Derek put his hands on her waist, and tug her closer to him. "You okay, Baby Girl?" His voice was a low rumble that caused goose bumps to rise on her arms.

"I'm fine," she said, rubbing her hands on her arms. Shaking off the feeling, she stepped away from Derek, sat back down, and watched the rest of the nuptials.

The ceremony was over before they knew it. Derek stood and wrapped an arm around Penelope. "Come on; I get to introduce you in the receiving line."

They waited in the line of well wishers. There were a lot of guests; Penelope was guessing about five hundred people. Most of the people were obviously family of the bride and groom, but there were a lot of other folks there, too. Everyone seemed to be right around Derek's age, as far as she could tell.

Once they reached Marshall and Angela, Penelope was struck again by the amount of love the groom had for his bride. It was an honor to be there, to see the wedding of two people so obviously in love. Penelope felt tears of emotion sting her eyes.

"Marsh," Derek said, shaking the groom's hand, then doing a one armed hug. "Congrats, man."

"Morgan!" Marshall exclaimed, hugging Derek back with both arms. The man was so happy, he was nearly exploding with joy. "Glad you could make it. I was sad when you said you couldn't be in the wedding."

"I'm sorry about that," Derek responded. "I get called away an awful lot and I would hate to stand you up, leaving you high and dry."

Marshall looked over at Penelope, then beamed at Derek. "Ah! Finally, you've decided to take yourself off the market. You're the oldest in the crew, it's about damn time!"

"Sorry yet again, Marsh," Derek answered with a smirk. "Just because you have the shackle now doesn't mean we all need to. This is Penelope. She's my best friend and colleague from the FBI."

"Oh," Marshall said, sounding disappointed for a moment. Shaking it off, he smiled almost apologetically,"Oh! Sorry! Pleased to meet you."

"Beautiful wedding," she replied, shaking his hand.

"Thanks," he said, wrapping his arm around the waist of his rather introverted wife. It was obvious Marshall was very outgoing, and Angela very shy. However, she glowed happily next to him.

This arrangement was similar to what Pen wanted. She was an alpha female, she needed the opposite of her. A beta male, gentle and shy. Looking at Marshall and his wife, she was certain now. It seemed to really work with them.

"Come on, let's go," Derek said, whispering near her ear again, before putting his arm around her waist and leading her out.