"Hi Mrs M, welcome back." Penelope greeted Derek's mother as she opened the door to Derek's apartment. She was meant to go with him to the airport but seeing as he had been on a case all week, and had not had the time to get the guest room ready, she offered to do it. Fran drew Penelope into an affectionate embrace, certainly not a stranger to Derek's best friend.

"I keep telling you to call me Fran."

"Anyone can call you Fran, only I can call you Mrs M." was Penelope's only reply. Derek chuckled, it was a familiar banter between his mother and Penelope.

"I suppose you have me there. How are you dear?"

"I'm well thank you. We've been busy at work as always, but what else is new. How are Des and Sarah? I thought they were flying in with you?"

"That was the plan, but the twins got sick and Des has a huge exam she's studying for, so here I am."

"Well at least Derek will get to monopolize you. He's been really looking forward to having you here."

"Baby you cooked?" he realized walking into his kitchen,

"Yeah, nothing major, just soup and chicken salad. I thought your Mom might want to take it easy for her first couple of hours." Fran Morgan smiled at Penelope gratefully,

"Bless you. I was hoping to have a few hours to settle in." Derek placed both hands on Penelope's shoulders as he stood behind her,

"Thanks Baby Girl. Hey Mom, why don't I take your bags into the guest room and you can settle in. P, you okay out here?"

"I was just going to go and leave you guys to it," she answered picking up her keys,

"Nonsense, you're having lunch with us." Fran replied adamantly. Derek grinned as Penelope put her keys back on the counter and grabbed the remote,

"Well then, I guess I'm staying for lunch."

While Fran unpacked and settled in Derek joined Penelope on his couch as she channel surfed,

"Baby, you're making me dizzy." He muttered,

"Then close your eyes," she retorted proceeding to change the channels in search for something worthy of her attention. Before Derek could grab the remote from her she leaned away from him placing the remote in her hand furthest away from him.

"Penelope!"

"Derek!" she answered defiantly.

"Now kids, don't make me have to put you in separate corners." Fran said amused as she came out of the room. Penelope looked at Derek and poked her tongue out at him as Fran sat beside her. Derek only shook his head in amazement that they managed to digress to school children without fail.

"Now Penelope, Derek tells me that there's a young man vying for your attention?" Penelope's mouth dropped open,

"Did he now? Did he also happen to tell you that he's now seeing Miss Thang from the bar, all 5"2 of her who worships the ground in which he walks on." Fran raised an eyebrow at her son who failed to mention that little piece of information. Derek looked at Penelope with a look that said she was going to be in trouble, which she answered with defiant stare. He started it, she was merely giving it back.

"Now who is this young lady Derek, and am I going to meet her?"

"Her name is Candy Mom, and she's just a girl."

"Candy?" his mother repeated doing her outmost to shed the judgment in her reaction, failing miserably,

"See, this is why I don't tell you guys these things." Derek protested.

"I'm sorry Baby, I didn't mean to sound like I'm amused,"

"But you are," Penelope completed her unspoken sentence. Fran looked up at Penelope and tried to hide her grin. Morgan looked from his mother and his friend and shook his head in disbelief.

"This is why you two are not allowed to live in the same city," he stated,

"I'm sorry Derek, I'll play nice." Penelope apologize giving his hand a light pat.

"Kevin Lynch is a tech analyst at work, he's fascinated by my brain that's all. He's not used to a girl out smarting him at the tech stuff. So it's more I leave him dumbfounded by my intelligence than anything else." Penelope explained,

"Ugh it's more than that Princess, he literally drools when you're within his sphere."

"Whatever!" Penelope replied laughing nudging him with her shoulder.

"Do you not like him Penelope?" Fran asked,

"I like him just fine, I just don't feel enough to want to date him. He's a nice enough guy, don't get me wrong, but I just don't feel that way, and to date him would be leading him on and that just seems wrong. Some of us don't date as a sport." She teased grinning at Derek,

"Ouch Baby that hurt!" he said feigning hurt.

"You'll live Deuce!" Fran laughed catching the pop culture.

"Mom!" Derek said astonished that his Mother caught the reference. Penelope leaned towards him and whispered,

"Dude, your Mother has seen Deuce Bigalow. How freaked out are you right now?"

"Enough to consider if adoption is an option."