Roses Are Red

Disclaimer: I own nothing but the ideas.

This is written for the CCOAC challenge. My pairing is Ashley Seaver and Penelope Garcia with roses as my flower.

Just a little epilogue to tie this piece up, sorry for the delay but editting took longer as expected. I would like to thank my beta for making the end work - I hate endings!

. . .

Sitting in the quiet coffee shop window, late spring sunshine poured in and bathed Pen in its warmth. She sipped her frothy coffee as she waited for Ashley to arrive. They had arranged to meet up for brunch at Pen's insistence as she wanted a Richard update.

At Ashley's request, she had looked in the man's background the next day and was suitably happy at Ashley's choice. Getting those formalities out of the way, Pen had helped Ashley arrange a meeting with Richard. Their communications lead to several dates, and today, after several months, Penelope was waiting for the latest update.

Of course Penelope had not had such luck, deciding that shame stopped her from contacting any of those who had left her a rose on that fateful night. That - and being banned from the dating agency, its site and any future events - all led to a lack of dates for Pen. Of course that hadn't stopped her from hacking them when she needed Richard's details for her checks, and possibly altering a few things on a certain person's profile while she was there.

Her thoughts stopped as she watched Ashley arrive, noting the beaming smile on her face. Someone had had a good night, lucky thing.

Ashley got a coffee and a blueberry muffin before she made her way over to where Pen was sitting.

"So, Sweetie," Pen begun, barely giving Ashley chance to sit down. "How's things in the happy land of the loved up?"

The Cheshire cat grin was enough of an answer.

"That good, huh," Pen continued. "Please give me all the gory details as I am in need of my faith restoring in Cupid and his magic arrows."

"Still no luck finding Mr Right?" Ashley commented.

"Who's looking for Mr Right? I am just looking for a Mister. Oh God, that sounds desperate."

"No luck with any of the other dating agencies then?"

"Nope. Apparently I am banned from them all. Those that didn't get a message from Miss Snooty at the Red Rose Dating Agency saw the video on 'You tube' before I got it removed. You can tell Grant I still haven't forgiven him for that."

"Oh, I think he got the message. Are you still spamming him?"

"Who, me? Would I set up something like that? If he is having technical problems then he needs to get it sorted, all sorts of things happen online. No end of irrelevant companies can get hold of your details."

"Garcia!"

Pen looked all innocent, as she batted her long eyelashes. The guy deserved it, and his annoyance was a small price to pay compared to her enforced celibacy.

As the two women chatted, one coffee became two plus something more to eat. Pen was happy for her friend to have found someone who seemed to respect and adore her from her tales of late night suppers for two in his restaurant and even a long weekend away. She may have made a mess of the night, but at least some good came out of it all.

Because if Ashley could find her true love wrapped in happiness, there was still a chance for her. And as long as roses are red, and violets are blue, Cupid would no doubt bring her love, and make it true.