I still own nothing!


In Penelope's lair, she is tinkering with her babies, since the team has been back they have had a lot of down time—3 days and no case. She figured it would be the perfect time to run a system clean on the computers and dare she even think it…. relax.

Her cellphone rings and she's surprised to see it's her personal cell. Jacques normally calls her in the morning on the way to work but this is new.

"Bon Jour!"

"Jacques?"

"This is he."

"To what do I owe this moment of reaching out an touching someone?"

"I'm at you favorite café, trying to have a latte. Have a latte with me?"

They did this every morning—on her way to work, he would go to the café where they met and call her. At the same time, she would be at Katie's grabbing her latte – it was a sweet routine they got into when the team was on a case.

"Alrighty, but isn't it late for you to have a latte?" She wondered.

He laughed, "I don't think so."

"Let me call you back when I'm outside," she said.

As she stepped out of the building, she rang him.

"How is the show going?"

He discussed his paintings and how the gallery assistant and his manager were arguing over placement. They talked about that until she was across the street from Katie's café.

"I miss you so much, he said, "I didn't think it was possible to, but I do."

She smiled and played with the tips of her hair. "I don't miss you at all," she said teasingly, "we talk every day—my heart hasn't had the chance to grow fonder"

"When you lie you always look for split ends, why is that?"

She put down her hair and said, "I do not."

"May I please have a latte? Thanks," she said to barista.

"Will you stay with me when you come to New York? I have an apartment in Brooklyn; it is like my workspace and loft. Maybe you can take a few days off and we could both be tourist."

She debated in her head what she should do. She didn't want to become too attached to him. As of now, she spoke to him more than she ever spoke to Kevin—but it had to be the allure of him not being here. If he were here, it would be different.

"The answer isn't in your cup it's in your heart Penelope," he said

How did he know she was looking in—"Where are you?" She said looking around.

He laughed, "behind you."

She turned around and saw him waving outside. His hair was a curly mass of jet-black waves that barely touched his collar. His olive - honey skin looked darker than she remembered and his green hazel eyes still pierced her soul as they did on the first day they met. He was about 6'2'' and muscular… not in The Rock kinda way but in a Derek Morgan kinda way. Weird she thought. He wore blue jeans with a sea green cotton shirt; navy blazer; and silk hunter green scarf double wrapped around his neck. He looked amazing. She couldn't believe he was here in DC. In Katie's waving at her. Once that reality set in, she went over and gave him a kiss.

"What are you doing here?"

"I had to cross the pond and supervise the instillation of the art. I'm taking this weekend off—because I wanted to see you and pow. I'm here."

"Pow," she said grinning ear to ear.

They sat outside as if they were in Paris and talked in a mix of English and French between kisses.

Her phone went off and it was a message from Hotch conference room in 15.

"I have to head back," she said sadly

They walk back oblivious to the world around them. When she approaches the front door of the BAU, she asks, "So how long are you here for?"

"A few days, till Sunday."

"Where are you staying?"

"My friend is letting me say in his flat - downtown DC - Maybe I can make you dinner tonight and tomorrow, take you to a concert or the parc—maybe you could be my tour guide" he said smiling at her not hiding his eagerness to be around her.

"That would be wonderful—"

"Garcia," JJ called from behind them.

JJ walks over and she introduces her to Jacques.

"Are you heading up? She asked, "I am pretty sure Hotch is cutting us loose for the day giving us an early start to our weekend. We're probably going to Pete's. Would you like to come," she asked Jacques.

"It like a pub they serve beer and an array of American bar food," Penelope tried to explain

"I like beer, I'll wait for you here, yes?"

"Ok," she said and gave him a quick peck then headed inside.

"He is freakin hot Garcia, he could be the garbage man for all I care?" JJ gushed, "How, why and what is he doing here and are you taking the rest of the week off?"

They giggled like schoolgirls until they reached the conference room.

As predicted Hotch released them and they were heading out to Pete's; when she arrived outside Jacques was nowhere in sight.

"I'll be a few minutes," she said scanning the benches outside of their building.

"Whatcha waiting for baby girl?"

"My friend from—"

"Mademoiselle Garcia" Jacques called

"Oh there he is."

"Who is that?" Derek asked as she walked toward him

"That is Penelope's Parisian Lover" JJ whispered in his ear.

"What's he doing here?"

"I think it has something to do with Penelope," Rossi said with a chuckle.

As they settled into their seats at the bar Penelope introduced them to her chocolatier.

"He also paints and has a show in NYC in like 3 weeks," she added.

"What kind of paintings?" Reid asked.

"I create collages, abstract sculptures, and oil based paintings... my mood determines my medium," Jacques responded as if he is always asked that question.

"Wait, are you Jacques Gardot?"

"Oui," Jacques responded, as his cheek became a crimson color.

Penelope looked at him with a question in her eyes.

"Your famous. His work has been exhibited around the world since the early 90's. You started the post-new wave movement in France. I think I read in the New York Times that your next show is at the Whitney. They are anticipating lines like the Alexander McQueen exhibit."

"Votre une encyclopédie?"

"Pretty close," Blake said amused.

Reid looked perplex and she told him he asked are you an encyclopedia.

"Your little show in NYC is at the Whitney? You're that popular? She asked kinda miffed.

"Just the flavor of the month," he said trying to brush it off.

"More like flavor of the decade," Reid said.

She smiled, "so you don't just make chocolate… I'm intrigued," she said with dancing eyes.

"I do have a chocolate shop," he explained to the table, "It's was my parents shop and now we manage it – my brother mainly - but we make chocolate."

"I guess I should've googled you," she said laughing.

"Another round?" Derek asked

The table nodded and as he got up, he squeezed her hand, and said, "Baby girl you want another one?"

"Sure"

When he returned, he said to Penelope "here you go sweetheart," and gave her shoulder a squeeze. Derek sits facing Penelope blocking Jacques view of her and putting him out of their conversation. Reid bombards Jacques with questions and he answers while watching Penelope engrossed in her conversation with Derek.

"Sweetheart, we already painted your room a lilac purple we have to do something neutral in the kitchen."

"My room—the guest room."

"Come on, we all know whose room that is darling," he said as he brushed her bangs out of her face.

"You wanted my interior design expertise and I'm giving it to you, handsome. It is up to you to decide what you want to do with that information."

"How can I ever repay you princess," he said taking her hand between his.

"I think – I can come-up with a few ideas," she said smiling

He groaned, "no foot rubs," he laughed and she punched him.

"Are you and him dating too?" Jacques asked and a wave of silence overcame the table. All you could hear was JJ munching on pretzels.

"Pssf, no. We are friends," she said removing her hand from Derek's hands. This wasn't going to happen again—their non-romantic friendship can't scare off anymore potential suitors or she would be a 75-year-old spinster.

"Good, I was starting to feel comme un homme insensé avec son coeur sur sa manche (like a foolish man with his heart on his sleeve).

"Never," she said getting up to stand next to him, "Want to the dance? I can show you my Texas two step."

"That was sweet," Blake said to herself

"What did he say?" JJ asked Blake

"I was starting to feel like a foolish man with his heart on his sleeve," they both swoon.

"I don't like that guy?"

"Why?" Reid asked

"He lied to Garcia—"

"No he just omitted the world known part but he said he is an artist and chocolatier." Rossi clarified.

"I like him," JJ said, "He makes her happy."

"Come on guys don't let the vouz et vouz stuff block your logic—" Derek started to say as they returned to the table.

Penelope and Jacques returned to the table and they began to say their goodbyes

"We're going to get an early dinner."

"You are welcome to come," Jacques said, "We are going to..."

"Camus, Penelope said, that new middle eastern restaurant"

As they table said no, Derek asked, "What time should I pick you up tomorrow morning? I was thinking we could grab breakfast on the way to the beach." He said brushing her bang out of her face.

"9-ish I think," she replied

"Demain (tomorrow?)?" Jacques asked

"I'm helping Derek with his beach house," she explained.

"Oh, I thought maybe we could go to the Botanical Garden tomorrow," He said glaring slightly at Derek, "I should have called, I guess."

"Yes, you should've," Derek, said annoyed.

Penelope glared at Derek and said, "Derek is restoring a bungalow on the beach and I'm helping him with the kitchen. I'll be back on Sunday, we can get together then."

"I could help, I'm quite handy—my brother and I renovated the shop a few years ago."

"We don't need any help," Derek said as his face tightens and he turned to address Jacques.

"I thought 6 hands would be better than 4—maybe we could be done by Saturday night," he said not backing down.

Penelope looked between the two of them perplexed by this behavior, "if your not too busy, Jacques- I don't see why not."

"Great," Jacques smiled at Derek "you can pick us up from my flat," he said holding Penelope's hand.

"Fine," Derek said then he kissed Penelope's cheek, "See you later baby girl."

"What was that about" Blake asked as they walked out the door.

"I like him—he is ballsy – I can't believe he asked if you guys were a thing," JJ said.

"According to Garcia you've wondered about it." Derek quipped back.

"But I would never ask at a full table—I mean you are acting all..."

"Don't JJ, I just don't like that guy. He's all entitled and pompous."

"He's French," Rossi said and "he knows what he wants."

"What's that?" Reid

"Our kitten."

"I don't know who just shows up outta the blue like that."

"A man in love," JJ said twisting the knife on purpose, "They had the most amazing time in Paris and you know Garcia she is a hopeless romantic. Since college, she had this fantasy about finding a French chocolatier and having babies on the countries side. Only she could go to France and find one—I mean, find the hottest one and have him follow her to the states."

"Frenchie better not hurt her"

"Oh, he won't," Blake said, "based on his behavior, I think he is just in love."

"Does anyone need a refill," Derek said heading to the bar before anyone could answer.

"I think Derek just realized what we all knew – including frenchie," Hotch said smiling

"What?" Reid asked cluelessly

"That he's in love with Penelope Garcia."

"I need some popcorn because this is going to be good," Rossi said chuckling

"Do you think he will do something about it this time?" JJ asked

"Lynch wasn't a formidable opponent but Jacques, he has that je ne sais quoi," Hotch said laughing at his own joke

"He also has something else… her heart," JJ says "I shouldn't say this but Derek is the reason she went to Paris. She told him how she felt and he was all… I'm not into you. Y'know Penelope believes everything happens for a reason. She went to Paris to decompress and she fell in love—Derek has no intention of giving her what she wants… he may love her but he isn't in love with her—and she want that - Je nais quoi."

"I would love to be a fly on the wall at that bungalow tomorrow," Blake said

"We should loan Jacques one of our Kevlar vest, Reid said, "for his own protection."

The table irrupted with laughter.