A/N: YOu have no idea how much it made me smile to see that people actually got what I was going for. That Morgan and Lynch are basically very different in their approach and 'boyfriend-quality'. Thank you soooooo much...

By Wednesday Penelope had decided to go for a newly opened Italian restaurant just around the corner from where she lived. It had been forever since she last had real, freshly prepared Italian. The frozen pizzas in the supermarket didn't count and neither did the take out Kevin always ordered. She decided since her boyfriend was all over Italian every time they ordered in that this might be a good compromise.

Meeting him in front of the restaurant he looked anything but pleased. When he had told her that he would meet her in front, rather than pick her up when he had to drive directly by her place in order to get from his place to this restaurant, Penelope had to admit that she was slightly disappointed. But in the end she had decided that she wouldn't let this spoil the night.

She had spent a good two hours dressing up and getting ready, but seeing Kevin Lynch standing now in front of her dressed in some ripped jeans and a dirty shirt she started wondering why she put so much effort in. It didn't seem like he had put so much as the slightest thought into what he was wearing tonight.

"You are late," was all he remarked when she came closer to him.

No 'hello, baby' or 'you look good' or anything like that at all. In fact he actually looked like he really didn't want to be here tonight.

He entered the restaurant before her, storming in as if he was about to starve to death and then waited impatiently in front of the maitre d' making Penelope wonder what gave her the idea that 'date night' would be such a good idea in the first place.

They were seated and only a moment later Kevin went on about the food, seeming to not be able to find anything on the menu that he would actually accept. There was too much of everything in it. Like nothing could really satisfy tonight. And for a moment Penelope wondered whether he did this on purpose.

It was a wonderful restaurant, with an open outside seating area, under the sky, with a cool breeze of fresh air giving it a wonderful atmosphere. There was a violinist playing in the corner and the candles on the table with the torches on the borders of the sitting area gave the only source of light.

After what seemed like arguing with himself for quite a while Kevin decided on going with a pizza- his usual. It made Penelope wonder what it would take to break this habit. Here they were, sitting in this really gorgeous place, within the perfect setting for a great date and her boyfriend was ordering a meatballs pizza – which they actually didn't serve but he simply created. Penelope found herself surprised that he didn't order a beer to go with that. Only a second after that thought occurred, she heard him order one. Maybe the challenge was just too much to get done.

When Penelope and Kevin started dating it was all great, not perfect, not amazing, more like average, but still great. Now they were at some 'co-existing' level, where Kevin seemed to take things more or less for granted and didn't even seem to bother or try to put an effort in things. Like tonight. People passing them must have thought this was the strangest couple they ever saw, with her slightly polished and dressed up, looking ready for a great date and him, looking like he just rolled out of bed, threw one some random clothes and met her here.

She officially had to admit defeat when Kevin started flirting with their waitress right in front of Penelope's own eyes, trying to get some sort of discount on their meal. It was that point that Penelope decided that although she would have liked for her boyfriend to pick up the check, she would just pay herself and save herself from any further embarrassment.

Maybe he had just a bad day and that was the whole reason he acted so out of line tonight. And maybe she should stop finding excuses for his behavior. It wasn't her job to make excuses for how he was. That was actually his.

XXXXX

The team had still been out on a case, but Morgan was left behind, manning his desk until the doctors assigned him fully back to field work again. Penelope knew he was already counting the minutes. She knew how much he hated to be stuck in the office, doing paperwork and nothing else all day long.

"Hey, pretty momma, we still on for tonight?" she heard him already from afar, walking into her lair and making her smile. After last night's horror date night it was the first real smile she actually had on her lips.

"Nothing could keep me away from it," she turned around in her chair, facing him. "You decided on the restaurant?" she asked expectantly, at which he smiled brilliantly at her for a while.

"Yeah, yeah I did," he answered after a while. "I will get the details to you. How does 8 sound?" Morgan asked and made a few steps closer towards Penelope.

"8 sounds perfect. Just make sure you let me know soon enough where I'm meeting you. So that you won't have to wait too long," she smiled back.

He made the last few steps that kept him away from her. "I have a feeling it would be worth the wait," he replied, bending slowly forward, before pressing his lips against her forehead, before walking back outside. He would be finding his way into hery office a few more times that day, but never longer than just a few moments.

XXX

It was getting on 7, and Penelope still hadn't heard anything from Morgan. He had said that he would send her instructions an hour before they would meet. God knows where he would be taking her.

She was already ready dressed, a little less dressed up than last night, waiting for word from him when all of a sudden there was a knock on her front door. Surprised and not expecting anyone she walked to open, being even more surprised to see Morgan standing there.

"I … um … what are you doing here?" she asked, with a bit of a laugh, looking at him curiously. She wasn't entirely sure what was going on , but nevertheless stepped aside, letting him come inside.

"Well, I'm here to pick you up, gorgeous. By the way, you look amazing," he said passing her slowly.

"But I thought we would meet in front of the restaurant, to which you wanted to send me instructions," she replied, still slightly confused.

"Yeah, well …I lied. I had planned on picking you up all along, but I know you and you love putting up a fight when I offer to pick you up, so… I decided on going the easy route and just be here. That way you can't say no," he grinned at her, and Penelope slowly started to relax. This was definitely an interesting start to their dinner.