AN: Here we go...Next chapter!...As always, thanks so much for the reviews, everyone...They keep me typing and reassure me that you're liking the story!

Chapter 12

"I'm starving."

Penelope giggled as the words vibrated under her cheek while she lay against Derek's chest. He should be; they'd spent all of last night and most of the morning in the cozy makeshift bed together, making wild and hot love. When they finally made it to the bed, that is! They'd barely made it two steps from the stairs before Penelope noticed a huge jacuzzi the size of an Olympic pool and decided they needed to take a dip. Knowing her as well as he did, Derek had anticipated that also—her shampoo, her conditioner, her bubble bath had been waiting for her in that room.

She smiled as she thought back. After the tub, she had been surprised. There were lots of pillows, along with sleeping bags and blankets, flameless candles all around, and soft, jazzy music coming from Derek's iPod dock, which had been plugged in the corner of the room. It was positively perfect.

She smiled and stretched, thinking about how lucky she was for having such a romantic hubby, creating the perfect love nest. As she stretched, her tummy let out a loud rumble of hunger.

Holding her belly, she said, "I guess I am, too!"

He kissed the top of her head. "Should we order a pizza?"

"Mmm," she said with a sleepy smile while he levered himself over her on his strong forearms. "Pepperoni?"

"Sounds tasty," he replied and then began kissing her neck. "Not as tasty as you, but tasty."

She began to giggle as he started lowering himself while he was kissing her neck, but then she started thinking.

She must've tensed because Derek lifted his head. "What's wrong?"

Sighing, she said, "D...this is our first overnight away from Joey. We probably should call Reid and Lisa and see how they're doing."

"Under control, my little momma worrywart," he assured her. "I gave Reid and Lisa both our cell numbers and told them to call if there were any problems."

"I know," she said, beginning to relax, but before he could kiss her again, she interjected, "But this is a really long time to be away."

"I told Reid to expect us to be gone no less than twenty-four hours," he explained with a grin.

"Derek!" she exclaimed, trying to sit up. "Joey's only eleven months, and I usually nurse him to bed, and—"

"Hush," he cajoled, lying back down and pulling her back into his arms, settling her squirming body against his. "Baby, we need this. It's good for us. I need to feel this close to you, just you, with no other little people I love with all my heart between us."

She snuggled back against him, realizing he was correct.

"Now the important question..." he said, his voice trailing off.

She sat up on her elbows and looked at him with curiosity.

He grinned at her. "Pepperoni and mushroom, or just pepperoni?"

Moving to a kneeling position beside him on the sleeping bag bed on the floor, she crawled over him just slightly, letting the tips of her breasts touch his chest. "Anything is fine...as long as I can have some chocolate for dessert."

Half an hour later, they finally gave into their hunger for food and their need to use the restroom. Penelope had gone first and was returning to the room when he rose to his feet, holding his phone.

"Here, sweetness," he said, tossing her the phone. She made a good catch with both hands. "Can you call Angelo's? I'm going downstairs for my pants after I piss so I can pay for this food."

"Any beer downstairs?" she asked. She was a girly-drink drinker, but after so many years with Derek, she'd learned to like beer with pizza and tacos.

Derek gave her a look of exasperation. "Pee first, beer talk second."

She giggled. "If you're going downstairs, you should put your boxers on while you're at it. Poor pizza delivery man might have a heart attack."

He paused in the doorway in all his naked glory. Really, he was quite glorious. No strange little male floppy parts—everything on Derek was substantial, tight, and perfectly formed. She was nearly drooling when she met his eyes.

He was arrogantly grinning at her."What if it's a pizza woman? We might get a deal!"

She tossed a pillow at his head, but he left the doorway before it made contact.

Still smiling, she shook her head as she pressed the screen on his phone. Her Hot Stuff was a busy boy! Eight new text messages. Thirty-six emails. No new calls. Checking the screen, she saw that one was from Reid:

Everything is in order here at the Morgan abode. Hope you both enjoy your celebration of romance. SR

She colored pink reading that. It didn't matter that she'd been married to Morgan for nearly eight years; it still embarrassed her that her "little brother" Reid knew what they were up to. It didn't matter that he was together with a woman of his own and probably doing the same thing some weekends.

Her nose wrinkled at that thought. Reid was dang cute, but... Ew.

She was about to shut messages down to use the phone when she noticed one of the text messages was from Scarlett.

It was titled Last night

Penelope frowned. Derek was working late Thursday night, but he'd said it was with the entire team. Maybe something bad had happened that he had to deal with and he should know about it. She knew she should wait for him, but she didn't. She pressed the link and started reading.

I really enjoyed the Kung Pao last night. Thanks for treating. Monday night, I want sushi. LOL I have a surprise for you. You're going to 3 it. Cu l8r, handsome. Xoxo Scarlett

Penelope felt her stomach twist in a knot, and a dreadful chill ran up her spine. What in the hell was that all about?

She didn't have much time to think; she could hear Derek's feet ascending the stairs. She scrambled to her feet and headed to the bathroom before Derek made it back to the bedroom. She shut and locked the door—something no mom of three little ones ever gets to do—and immediately began to text Emily.

Emily, did you have overtime Thursday?

Before Prentiss could answer, Penelope added:

No lying, Em. I will call Hotch.

"Baby Girl? Where are you?" Derek called out.

She didn't answer. All the while she waited for Emily to answer, her mind was racing, coming up with all sorts of scenarios, and none of them looked good for her relationship.

After what felt like eons, Emily texted back: No. But Morgan could've been working on something else.

What? Penelope fired back.

From outside the bathroom door, Derek asked, "Honey, you in there?"

"Yes," she croaked.

"Sweetheart, are you all right?" Derek asked.

A special case. PG, I have to go.

Penelope was really upset. Not because she thought Derek was having an affair. He wouldn't. She seriously didn't think Derek would cheat on her. She knew more than anything that Derek loved her as much as she loved him. However, she didn't know what Scarlett was doing, and she didn't trust her.

Whatever reason Hotch had them working together was an important one. She couldn't exactly call Hotch and say, "Don't put Derek on assignment with Scarlett. She's a floozy who wants to steal my man." Sadly, Hotch would probably stand up for her—and would probably reassign said strumpet Scarlett—but she didn't want to do that to the team over what, deep down, she knew was nothing.

Derek knocked again, so she said, "I'm fine!"

She thought back to the fun times she used to have doing research with D before they were together. Oh, how she would flirt with him, and he'd flirt back. It was the start of her learning they'd be perfect together. He'd been so hot, so sexy and funny and everything a girl could want and...

She growled. Scarlett probably thought the same thing. She probably had grapes and champagne waiting for them as she tried to lure Penelope's hubby away. An unwanted frizzle of worry hit her. After all, even saints could be tempted.

She flushed with the thought. Derek wouldn't cheat—she would bet her life on it—but this still sucked.

One thing did irritate her... Why didn't Derek tell her it was just Scarlett and him working in the first place? She grimaced as she thought of the answer: probably because he thought she'd react just like she was doing now. Still, he'd lied to her, and he'd never really lied to her before.

Frustrated, Penelope immediately programmed the phone to get rid of the last few texts she'd sent, and on impulse, she deleted the one from Scarlett, too. Penelope didn't know what case D was working on with Scarlett, but she'd be damned if that witch would get her fracking sushi!

"Baby Girl, I'm-"

She flushed the toilet to interrupt him and then stepped out of the bathroom. "Hold your horses, mister. I had to go potty."

He chuckled. "You just went before I did."

She rolled her eyes. "Three kids. Zero bladder."

"That's true." He moved to pull her into his embrace, but she side-stepped away from him. He gave her a concerned look. "Sweetpea, are you sure you're okay?"

"I'm fine," she repeated coolly, sitting on the bed on the floor with as much grace and dignity a naked person could have.

"Okay..." He sat next to her, still grinning, although he looked worried, and talked lightly. "When's the pizza coming?"

All the secrets, the receipts, the names, all the lone nights with Scarlett, everything was eating at her. So much so, she really didn't feel like having pizza or spending a romantic afternoon with her husband.

At the moment, she didn't even want to see his face.

"You know, Derek," Pen said, moving away from him and rising to her feet, "I really miss the kids and need to go home."

His face fell, and every trace of a grin left him. "Penelope—"

She started for the stairs before he could rise. "I'm going to get my clothes, and we can have lunch at home. Maybe even Reid and Lisa will eat with us."

As she rushed out the door, she heard, "Penelope Morgan, come back here!"

As tears jumped to her eyes, she pretended not to hear him, locating her clothing instead.