Disclaimer: I don't own CM

A/N: Okay people are a little up in arms about Carl Buford returning shall we say and throwing ice water on our happy couple but I promise the pay off will be worth it. PS if you don't know what a Bête Noir is just ask

Some how the managed to make it back to her place, it was all a blur. Morgan was now asleep on the sofa with her lap as his pillow and he was at peace for now. Penelope knew that soon he would have to get up, go home, and pack. She was counting the minutes. She had a plan she just had to wait until the time was right to put it into action.

She woke up when she felt his head leave her lap.

"Baby Girl, I am sorry. How long was I out?"

"Three or four hours. It is ok my love, you need your rest. I still have a week left on my vacation."

"I know I wanted to spend it with you."

"There will be other vacations Derek. Ones with no drama, I promise."

"I know baby, I just wanted to spend a few quiet days just you and me before we have to go back to the chaos that is our lives. I need to go take Clooney for a run, then a shower, and the rest of the day is yours until my flight leaves at six."

"I look forward to it my love," she says giving him a kiss before he walks out with Clooney. Making sure, he is gone before she picks up the phone. "Hotch?"

"Yes Garcia?"

"I was wondering…."

"I know what you are wondering and the answer is yes and I am working on it right now."

"Bless you Aaron Hotchner."

"He needs to know he is not alone in this anymore and I can't think of a better way can you?"

"No, listen I have to go, he's back. I will see you later."

"Hey Baby Girl, I'm back did you miss me?"

"No," she said laughing.

"Well Clooney and I can just go home then," he said with a smile.

"Don't you dare you promised me the day, remember."

"Well, while I shower be thinking of what you want to do." He placed a kiss upon her lips before heading to the bathroom. He didn't want her to see how much he was struggling to keep it together and just how scared he was about the events of the next few days. She also called him her hero, her dark knight, and he always told her he was no one's hero, but he didn't want her to know he was only half a man, he didn't want anyone to know just how many nights he had spent crying his eyes out over those years. She and the rest of the team had come to rely on him to be the one in front and it didn't bother him because even though he knew he wasn't he wanted to be their hero. All of them had come to mean so much to him these last few years, he just wished he could tell them, but there was only one he trusted enough to let her in his heart, his Penelope. He was afraid of the day when his worse nightmare would come true and she wouldn't love him anymore.

The cold water splashing on his head made him realize just how long he had been lost in thought. He quickly turned off the shower and exited the bathroom dressed only in jeans.

"Hey Hot Stuff I was just about to send a search party in there after you. You ready for breakfast?"

"Sure am sweetness." He sat down at the kitchen counter and ate the breakfast she had prepare all the while thanking god that he could still see the love in her eyes and praying to god it stayed.

"Derek, I was thinking maybe I could come with you."

"No baby."

"Why not?"

"Because I have to do this alone Pen."

"Derek, you don't have to do this alone. You are not alone you have me."

"I know baby and everyday I am more and more grateful of that fact, but this is hard already and I am afraid if I knew you were there it will be even harder."

"Okay," Pen sighed and put their plates in the sink. While she was washing them, she felt him watching her with an intensity she had only felt one other time. She turned around and looked him in the eyes.

"Derek, I am not going anywhere. I love you and no matter what happens I will always be your best friend."

"Baby, how did you know?"

"I know because I can feel it and I have felt it before, so I know what is going on in that beautiful bald head of yours. He got up and walked towards her pinning her between his body and the sink.

"So Miss Garcia, you think you know what I am thinking?"

"Yep," was all she got a chance to say before he kissed her and then she couldn't think of anything else? "Wow," she said when he finally let her up for air.

"Yeah wow, I think I need another shower.

"Or we could just pick up where we left off last night," she said tracing her way from his chest to his abs.

"Penelope, I thought we talked about this"

"But if we both want it why do we have to wait?"

"Because we both have a lot going on right now and I don't want those things to get in the way, besides I have to leave in like six hours and that is definitely not long enough, so when I get done with Buford in Chicago, I will come back and we will reevaluate the situation."

"Okay, she said pouting.

"Don't do that Pen you know I would like nothing better then to take you to bed and forget about the rest, but I can't, we can't."

"I know she said as she grabbed his hand and drug him out of the kitchen. "Go put a shirt and some shoes on I am taking you shopping."

"Pen, what are you up to now?"

"You will see."

Derek dressed quickly and they drove in silence to the mall.