Chapter 4

Morgan woke up in the morning from yet another dream involving Penelope and her lovely form… it was so difficult being the good guy sometimes. He longed to make the dreams into reality, but he knew he had to treat her better than he'd ever treated a woman before, because she was special. Since he was damn good to even the most casual date, he had to really bring it for her.

Speaking of which, they had a lunch date that he had to shop for.

He rolled out of bed, showered, and was ready to walk out the door in fifteen minutes. A quick trip to a specialty shop for some gourmet sandwich stuff (and some breakfast) and he was set for the day. He also grabbed a rose and card to invite her on the picnic… since he hadn't told her yet.

"Hey." A voice said behind him in line.

He turned and saw a pretty woman. She rang a bell in his memory.

"Hi."

"I remember you." she said, narrowing her dark blue eyes. "That seafood place. I gave you my number… which you didn't use."

"I'm seeing someone." he told her.

"Right… who now?"

"Same woman. Her name is Penelope." he said. It felt good just to say his babygirl's name, made him smile. The woman wasn't impressed.

"How much longer are you going to play with her?"

He was surprised at that. "Pen's not a game. She's honestly the best woman I think I've ever dated. I don't plan on ending it at all if I can help it."

"Come on, sweetie." she purred, her voice like velvet. She opened her eyes wide and tossed him a pitying look. "A man like you with a woman like her? It won't work."

"I know right?" he growled. "I don't know how she puts up with me. She deserves better, no doubt about it." He turned away from the woman in disgust and checked out the groceries, the headed out without looking back. That woman was getting on his nerves. She seemed as crazy as any perp.

-Later, at the Picnic-

"I love this." Garcia sighed, watching him.

"I'm glad." he said sincerely.

"It's nice to have the man make the sandwich."

"Don't get used to it." he said, winking.

"And here I thought I was a goddess."

"You can be the domestic goddess once this picnic is over."

"Sexism. It's alive and well." she laughed, leaning over and kissing him on the cheek. He looked her in the eyes, and remembered the first time that electric spark had jumped between them.

"What?" she asked.

"Just you." He leaned in to kiss her on the lips. She tasted like the strawberries they'd been eating, and when the kiss was over she popped one into his mouth.

"It was so sweet of you to arrange this." she said.

"It was nothing. Just stopped by the store to pick up the basket and food, no big deal."

"Honey, I'm not stupid, you went to that specialty store. It's on the label for the banana peppers." she told him.

"You miss nothing." he groaned.

"Speaking of which." She slipped her hand into the basket and pulled out a pink piece of note paper, and read it. "It's that girl's number from the seafood restaurant." she said. Luckily for him, she could tell his surprise was real, and softened.

"I ran into her at the store. She got weird about me not using her other number, but I told her I was with you. She must have slipped that in the basket when I wasn't looking, I swear, I wouldn't give her a second glance."

Garcia looked pained. On one hand, she trusted this man with her life, but on the other, the woman - Lyla- was very pretty, and she could see why he'd like her. The battle was plainly on her face. Morgan didn't want to psychoanalyze her (that had been a dating condition they set. No background checks or profiling) but as a normal guy who wasn't in BAU mode, he was at a loss for words.

"Honestly, she kind of freaks me out. Makes me uneasy. You know how sometimes we talk to people, and even with no evidence you get that feeling, and you just know they're the perp? It's like that." he said, attempting to explain in further detail.

"That's it." Garcia said, picking up the uneaten sandwich and wrapping it up.

"What? You aren't going to go look her up, are you?"

"Not now. Just hush and help me get this packed up."

"Babygirl, tell me what's going on! Please?" he asked. He started putting the sandwich stuff away.

"Look, maybe it's too soon.. oh, baby, it is too soon. I know you aren't going to be ok with it, but I need to know…"

"Know what?"

She seemed a little scared, but mostly determined.

"Please, Derek! Just relax for a moment, we'll be fine." She stood, basket in hand. "Let's go to the car."

"Back to work so soon?"

"It's time for your surprise."