Derek picked up a stray teddy bear on the way to the computer. He'd just gotten the girls down and the place was finally back to something resembling normal. His mother had left earlier that day—Thank God. He loved her to pieces, and after a few days Millie and Chessie had adjusted to her being there, but at first, they'd been monsters. If it had been anyone other than his mother, he would have been mortified at their behavior. But as Penelope had pointed out, she'd raised him. Nothing was likely to surprise her. He tossed the teddy bear in the general vicinity of the toy box and then sat down at the monitor. He moved the mouse back and forth until the screen lit up then opened up his Facebook page. The first thing that caught his eye was Penelope's status:

Some shit is just unbelievable.

He laughed as he clicked the chat button. She was still on, so he opened a new window so he could message her:

Hey, you.

Hey.

What's with the status?

Nothing.

Penelope.

LOL Don't Penelope me.

What's goin' on?

I saw Max tonight.

And?

He's engaged.

Ouch. That was quick.

Ya think?

Six pack and my place?

Six pack? I'm thinking a case.

Whatever. But bring a go bag. You know you won't be driving home.

LOL…OK. Reid is on, too. Should we invite him?

Hell, no. Do you want to be profiled?

It's gonna happen either way. Don't you profile me?

I'm pleading the fifth.

I'm wise to your ways, Derek Morgan. Oh…and I am not getting light beer.

LOL That's OK. I'll spend an extra hour on the treadmill tomorrow to compensate.

Good idea, chubs.

Hey, hey, hey. You love this physique and you know it.

I'm taking your cue and pleading the fifth on that one.

Whatever…just get your ass over here.

He grinned as he hit the button to close the chat session and stood up with a stretch. So Max was already engaged. What a prick. It had been just over a month since they'd broken up. His poor Penelope must be heartbroken. He stumbled, grabbing one of the dining room chairs to steady himself. This time there was no teddy bear to blame it on—his thoughts had caught him off guard. His Penelope? Where in the hell had that come from. She was definitely not his. She'd probably kill him if she knew the thought had even invaded his brain.

___

"What's in the bag?" Derek asked as he took the case of beer from Penelope half an hour later. He'd met her at the door, avoiding knocks and doorbells at all costs. One never knew what would wake the girls.

"Ice cream and frosting," she said, following him into the kitchen.

He scrunched up his nose. "You put frosting on ice cream?" he asked in disgust?

"No," she said. "I eat it out of the tub with a spoon."

"Why in the hell would you do that?" he asked.

"It's therapeutic," she explained. "Before reality sets in and you realize how many calories are in it, there are about thirty seconds of bliss."

"Is it worth it?" he asked, pulling two frosty mugs out of his freezer.

"Aren't you prepared," she said approvingly. "And yes, it's worth it. I have a choice, Derek. I could wallow with frosting, or without. I choose the frosting," she said, popping the top off and unsealing it. She stuck a finger in the container, then closed her eyes and licked it off her finger with an appreciative moan. When she opened her eyes, Derek was standing back against the counter with a grin. "What?" she asked.

"You know what I think?" he asked.

"No," she said.

"I think you should sleep with me to get back at him."

Disbelieving laughter bubbled up her throat.

"Hear me out," he said in a teasing tone. "It's a lot less calories…we'd even burn some. And a hundred bucks says I could make you moan like that." He leaned forward, his face an inch from hers. "More than once."

Penelope rolled her eyes. "What are you doing next Friday night?" she asked.

He shrugged. "I don't plan that far ahead," he reminded her. "There's no point with the girls." He leaned back to his former position against the counter. "Why?" he asked curiously.

She opened two cans of beer, using a hand to pour each one into the mugs he'd supplied. "Because I'm going to watch the girls while you go out and try to get laid," she said dryly.

Derek threw his head back in laughter. "Thanks for the offer, but I don't think so."

"You don't want to get laid?"

"Oh, I always want to get laid," he informed her. "But I can't do the one night stand thing anymore."

She lifted an eyebrow at him. "Why not?"

"I have daughters now," he reminded her. "I have to show some respect to women."

"I wasn't insinuating that you bring her back here," she told him, handing him a mug.

He followed her into the living room, grabbing the can of frosting off the counter and a spoon from the drawer on the way.

They sat down on the couch; he sat at one end, she sat at the other. They were sitting so they were facing.

"I have a question for you," Derek said.

"Shoot," she said, taking a swallow of beer.

"Did Max break up with you because of me?" he asked.

"Where…would you get an idea like that?" she asked evasively.

He tilted his head to the side. "So he did," Derek reasoned. Her elusiveness gave her away.

"Derek, it was so much more complicated than that," she told him. But the truth was—it wasn't. Max hadn't been able to handle her friendship with Derek or her closeness with the girls End of story. And end of their relationship.

"Yeah?" Derek asked doubtfully.

Penelope nodded fiercely. "Max breaking up with me had to do with jealousy issues more than anything." She laughed throatily. "Which is crazy. You and I have an amazing friendship—and it was foolish for him to think it would ever be anything more."

Derek didn't say anything—he just sat there pondering. So, OK. They were good friends. And he probably would never date Penelope for the exact reason he gave his mother—if things fell apart, his girls would be devastated. But for some reason he couldn't understand, it really made him angry that she would sit here and tell him that it was crazy to think of them ever being together.

___

"But you know what really burns my ass?" Morgan asked later that night. He might be buzzing a little bit, he thought. Because his head was spinning. Thank God tomorrow was Presidents day and he didn't have to work.

"What?" Penelope asked.

"That I never saw it coming," he said.

"Derek, how could you have seen that coming?"

He scoffed. "Look around this house," he said with a sweep of his arm.

"It's gorgeous," Penelope said in confusion.

He nodded. "Right. For a man. But look at the color. It's all browns and beiges. Besides the girls room, there's nothing to indicate a woman even lives here. She decorated this place, Penelope, like she knew she wasn't going to be spending her life here. Like she knew she was going to be leaving."

"Derek—"

"And I understand that she thought I worked a lot—even though she knew that before she married me. But if she thought that I was gone so much, why would she have left the girls behind?"

"OK, newsflash, Morgan! It doesn't matter how much you worked, it wasn't an excuse for her to leave her children!" Penelope said angrily.

"You might be right," he said doubtfully.

"I am right," Penelope told him.

Derek sighed. He'd had enough talk about Heather for one night. So he changed the subject. "Dude, we totally shouldn't be drinking with my kids in the house," he said.

Penelope giggled. "Dude, you just said totally."

His head was leaning against the back of the sofa and he turned to look at her. "I might be buzzing a little bit," he admitted.

"Yes, well, I am full-on drunk, I think," she said, her eyelids fluttering closed.

Derek stood up and patted her knee. "Up," he said.

She groaned. "Can't you just get me a pillow and a blanket?" she asked, stretching out on the couch.

"No," he said. "You're gonna sleep in my bed tonight."

"I am so not sleeping with you," she said.

He laughed. "I'll take the couch," he said. "The girls are gonna be up at the crack of dawn, and you're still gonna be drunk."

"But I can't make it up the stairs," she said in a whine.

He grabbed both her hands and gave a solid tug so she sprang to her feet. She swayed towards him and he wrapped his arms around her to steady her. Her face was so close and when he looked down, his eyes fell to her lips. They looked so inviting that Derek had to grab her upper arms and push her away to fight off the temptation.

What in the hell was going on?