The vibrating from the phone he had set on his desk pulled him from the mental torture he had been in since earlier that morning. He lifted the phone and was thrilled and also terrified at the name that flashed on the screen. He took a deep breath and then read the message.

*Can you step out into the corridor so I can speak with you privately, please?*

He lifted his confused eyes to look out through the glass walls and door that encased their workspace, and he saw a bit of Garcia's outline just to the left of the furthest wall. He quickly stood from his desk and made his way out of the bullpen. He found her pacing about and speaking lowly to herself. He could tell that she was agitated and nervous, which just heightened his worries.

"Penelope," Alvez called out to her informally as he moved to stand before her just as she stopped in her steps and turned to face him.

"Hey," Garcia squeaked out. "I hope I didn't interrupt anything."

"No, we're just doing paperwork, no new cases. You know that," He replied. "Did you need to tell me something?" 'Like you're dumping me to be with Morgan,' He spoke inside of his head.

"Yes," She nodded her head as she cast her eyes to the floor for a second and then focused back onto him. "I wanted you to know that I'm leaving for the day. Prentiss said it was fine since there are no new cases, but if anything comes up, I will be right back in," This news filled him with concern.

"Are you okay? If you're sick, I can probably knock off early too and take you home," He offered as he reached out and rubbed his hand down her arm.

"Awww, that's so sweet, and I will definitely remember to cash in on that offer later," She teased around a smile which also pulled a sweet smile from his lips as well. "No, I'm fine but … Uh … I was going to meet up with Morgan," She finally got it out and then paused to gauge his reaction. She had been quite nervous about how he might feel. She noticed how he had not been too happy to discover that Morgan was in town and had made plans to stay at her place. "I told you that he's here because he needs my help with something. So, I wanted to talk to him before he headed to his hotel. Which I've already booked for him," She added on and could actually see the tension in Alvez's shoulders loosen.

"That's good to know," Alvez said as he nodded his head a bit. "I'm not gonna lie the thought that he was planning to crash at your place just didn't sit well with me at all."

"Yeah, I got that impression," She graced him with a gentle smile as she reached out and placed her hand on his arm. "But you know you don't ever have to be jealous of Derek Morgan. He and I have never had 'that' type of a relationship. It's always been a strictly platonic friendship."

"That's what everyone keeps telling me. But honestly, I get the impression that Morgan flirts with you because he likes the way you stroke his ego. And honestly, I don't think he would have any problem with following through on those innuendos if the opportunity arose," Alvez spoke his truth and hoped he would not upset her, but he had to get this off of his chest.

"Okay, you don't know what you're talking about, Newbie," She spat back at him and it was the first time in a very long time that he could feel any sincerity in her hostile words towards him.

"Oh, I think I've got it right."

"I think you should just stop now, Luke," Garcia spoke soft but stern as she held up a hand to silence him. "I just wanted to be a respectful girlfriend and let you know about my plans with Morgan. Also, to assure you that you don't have any reason to be jealous. But I will not tolerate you badmouthing Morgan or my relationship with him. Because you know nothing about it, about what he and I have gone through together, and how much our friendship means."

"Maybe not, but I am a good observer and a damn good profiler," Alvez threw back at her not backing down an inch. "Why didn't you ever tell Morgan that you were in love with him?" He asked and she flinched a little in surprise to hear him speak out what she was sure she had hidden so well. He gave her a moment, but when she voiced no denial, he went on. "Just from hearing some of the stories about you two I figured it out, so I'm sure Morgan knew it too. It bothers me that he knows and he still flirts with you like some player, and it terrifies me that you let him do it and you reciprocate it," He continued and she had to swallow down the lump that had formed in her throat at his words, which left her feeling so exposed. "Mami, you are so gorgeous and so sexy, and absolutely amazing," She couldn't help but smile a little bit at his praises even though she was also angered by how he perceived Morgan, which she felt was unfounded and wrong. "You're fucking fire and you refuse to see it. But I see it and I appreciate it, I appreciate you. I know how lucky I am to have you in my life, to have your love. And I will not stand by and let Derek Morgan play those kinds of games with you anymore. You're 'my' woman now, so you need to let him know that the flirting thing you two do has to stop," He added and allowed his voice to soften as he went on. "I don't want to come across as some jealous jerk, but the flirting feels disrespectful to me, now that we're together. And I won't tolerate it from either of you."

"I won't … wouldn't do that," Garcia hurriedly agreed. "And I will tell Morgan to be respectful too, and he will be because you're wrong about him. He's never been a player with me or tried to get me into bed. It has always been just a friendly banter between us. It was never anything serious and we 'both' always knew that."

"I think it became serious when you fell in love with him, Penelope," Alvez replied.

"I'm not in love with him any-" She cut her confession short, took a breath, and started again. "I'm in love with you, Luke Alvez, no one else," He smiled at her declaration. So pleased at hearing it he refused to call her out on her near slip of the tongue.

"Good, because I am crazy in love with you, Penelope Garcia, no one else," He spoke this as he stepped closer, swooped in, kissed her lips, then stepped back again. She shot wide-eyes around them to make sure they hadn't been seen.

"Luke-," She started to chastise him but he beat her to it.

"Sorry, I know, I know, no fraternizing on the clock," He repeated words she'd say to him daily whenever he'd sneak down to her office during the day to grab a secret kiss. He'd say the word sorry but the fact that he continued doing it showed just how sorry he wasn't about it. He stepped backward, back to the door of the bullpen as he still smiled down at her and she smiled back. "You go on and have your 'date' with Morgan and help him with whatever he needs help with. I'll finish my work, go grab the kids from daycare, and I'll see you at home later," She rolled her eyes slightly at his teasing about her and Morgan having a 'date', but still smiled and nodded her head happily that he was being so understanding.

Sometime later

"C'mon, babygirl, say something," Morgan spoke from his spot beside her on her couch.

"I don't know what to say, Derek," She finally said as she sat beside him with a dumbfounded look on her face from what he had told her. "I can't believe you cheated on Savannah."

"I didn't cheat," He replied defensively. "I never had sex with-"

"Sex!?" Garcia cut off his words. "Why are you guys so stupid when it comes to women and how we think?" She tossed out and he frowned up a bit in surprise at her cold words. He was also taken aback by the anger he could see in her eyes. "Derek, when you took that other woman's number and called her, you cheated. The two months you two just 'talked'," She made quotation marks with her fingers. "That was cheating and it's 'all' just as bad as having sex with her. Don't you get that? And I swear to God if you say, 'then I should've just had sex with her' I will punch you in the nose," He quickly clamped his mouth shut and swallowed back those exact words. After a pause, he spoke again.

"Okay, I guess, I didn't think of it like that."

"Obviously," She replied rolling her eyes at him. "What I don't understand is why. Why would you even want to cheat on Savannah? She's so beautiful, kind, sweet, and smart. And did I mention how beautiful she is, like drop-dead gorgeous?"

"Yes, she's all of those things, but you know looks ain't everything," Morgan sighed out and he stunned her a bit with his sudden epiphany.

"Since when?" She countered. "For as long as I've known you, Derek Morgan, 'looks' have been the major factor for asking a woman out."

"Well, I guess I've become less shallow in my old age," He said this in a teasing manner as he smiled, rolled his neck at her, and flicked the tip of her nose. Garcia giggled at him despite her disapproval of his behavior.

"I just don't understand, I thought you were so happy having a domestic life; a devoted wife and that beautiful baby boy."

"I thought I was too and, Hank, my little man … he is the best thing that has ever happened to me, without a doubt," He offered with a smile and Garcia smiled as well. "As for Savannah, it's complicated. I do love her, really I do, but…" He paused too afraid to speak the thought out loud because then that would make it real and there would be no going back.

"But what?" Garcia coaxed as she reached her hand across the space between them on the couch and grasped his hand in hers. "You know you can tell me anything."

"Yeah," He smiled kindly at her as he gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "I know I can, and I wish I could be that way with my own wife. But we don't really talk, or if we do it tends to turn into some kind of disagreement, which snowballs into an argument. Hell, the only time we can seem to get along is when we're in bed making love, which is great but it's not enough, you know?" Garcia simply nodded her understanding. Again, Morgan took a deep sigh, closed his eyes for a moment before opening them again and speaking. "I'm not in love with Savannah and I don't think I ever was," He finally confessed.

"Oh, Derek," Garcia gasped out sympathetically. "I'm so sorry."

"Yeah, me too," He replied as he let his eyes drop to the hardwood floor. "The crazy thing is, Savannah, used to tell me that she didn't think I was in love with her even before we got married, but I would angrily deny it. I'd swear that I was, and at the time I thought I was. But in hindsight, I think it had more to do with her being pregnant with Hank and me feeling like I had to be a man, step up, and take care of my responsibility."

"I get that, but you could have still taken care of your responsibility to your son without getting married to Savannah," Garcia stated with a gentle smile.

"Yeah, well, you know what they say about hindsight," He said and she nodded with a kind smile.

"I know you came to me looking for help and a way to fix this, but Morgan, I don't think I can help you. Also, you kind of seem like you already know what you need to do about it."

"I know and I do," He replied solemnly. "I guess I just needed to clear my head and find peace and solace. So, I came here to see you because I knew I'd get it here," He spoke this with a smile as she reached up and brushed his right thumb across her left cheek. "I've missed you," He confessed as he gazed at her.

"Well, I've been right here, you could have visited me sooner, you know?"

"Sorry, I know I haven't been around more, but … Well, that was one of the disagreements Savannah and I would have often."

"What? Why?' Garcia questioned as she frowned up in confusion at his words.

"Savannah would always accuse me of wanting to run to you with all of my problems, instead of coming to her. She was jealous of you and of our relationship," He admitted and Garcia sat stunned.

"You're kidding right?" She asked and he simply shook his head no. "I just don't get it. Why do our partners always think there's something more to our relationship than there really is? Earlier today, even Luke…" She quickly cut her words short not wishing to divulge a private conversation she had, had with Luke to Morgan.

"Luke, what?" Morgan asked as he scowled at her in concern.

"He doesn't want us flirting anymore, which I completely understand and 'we' must respect, so…"

"So, so, what?" Morgan countered with a chuckle. "He expects us to change our relationship, how we are with one another just to appease his ego?"

"C'mon, Derek, don't be an ass about it," She replied defensively. "He just doesn't want 'any' man flirting with his girlfriend. It would be disrespectful, and I get it because I wouldn't want him doing that with some other woman either. So, please try to stop, at least whenever Luke's around … for me, please."

"I'll 'try', but damn we've been this way for nearly 17 years. It's gonna be hard stopping cold turkey, particularly when I don't want to. I never stopped for any of my romantic relationships, not even with Savannah. She knew what our relationship means to me."

"Yeah, and look where your relationship with her is now," Garcia tossed back at him and instantly regretted it when he frowned at her words. "I'm sorry that was uncalled for."

"Yeah, but it's not exactly wrong either," Morgan conceded.

"I tried to tell Luke that our friendship has always been platonic and there had never been anything remotely romantic between us, but he's still jealous."

"Yeah, well, that's because he knows he's hit the lottery having you, and that if another man thinks he has an opportunity to have you he'd probably try. I'm not excluded from that, Babygirl," Morgan stated casually, and his words completely shocked Garcia.

"What? Morgan, you have never been interested in me romantically or sexually," She replied and he frowned up at her words.

"Wrong, I've just always respected and valued you and our friendship too much to try anything," He stated. "That doesn't mean I never wanted to or thought about it," Garcia sat stupefied by what he had confessed to her.

"Why didn't you ever tell me?" She questioned as a pang of sadness and slight anger filled her.

"Because I didn't want to make things awkward between us," He shrugged. "We worked together and I cherished our friendship too much to chance fucking it up. Let's face it, my track record in the romantic relationship dept has never been the best, and mostly due to something I did. I just felt that I couldn't risk that with you … But-" He paused as he thought better of what he was going to say.

"But what?" She coaxed as she really wanted to hear his thoughts.

"I've sometimes wondered, especially, a lot lately with what's going on with Savannah … Sometimes I think why can't she be like my Babygirl? Or Garcia would have never done that or said something like that to me, she would have been more understanding and loving. I actually did that with a lot of my past girlfriends, compare them to you in some way. Now, I think maybe I subconsciously sabotaged all of those relationships because those women were not who I really wanted to be with. Who I should've been with," He reached out and grasped her hand and stared directly into her shocked eyes as he said this.

"No," Garcia pushed out as she yanked her hand from his grasp and quickly stood from the couch they had been seated on. Morgan looked at her in surprise and concern as he also stood. "You know what, I don't want to hear this. I don't want to know this and I am sorry I asked."

"Babygirl," Morgan called out to her as he stepped towards her, which made her take several steps back as she held up her hand.

"No, Derek, I really don't want to hear it. Let's just forget it okay? Please."

"Look, I'm sorry, Penelope," He spoke softly and used her first name to show her he was being sincere. "I didn't mean to upset you, I just…" He sighed and rubbed his right hand over his shaved head, and took a few seconds before he spoke again. "With all that has happened in the last few months, with Savannah, it's truly made me recognize and appreciate more the one successful relationship I've ever had with a woman. And it's my relationship with you."

"Oh, I see. So, now that your marriage is on the rocks you think you can come to me for what was the word … 'Solace'?" She placed emphasis on the last word. "Is that code for sex?"

"Say, what? C'mon Babygirl, you know I would never disrespect you like that," Morgan replied, his voice raised a little in his anger at her accusation.

"Clearly I don't know you as well as I thought I did because you're sitting here telling me that you've had thoughts about a romantic, sexual relationship with me, but was too chicken shit to ever tell me or even try," Her words held venom and her eyes held tears, and Morgan could see he had hurt her. "Did you know that I was in love with you?" She asked as she no longer cared to keep the secret. She figured if he could share his she would share hers. The way he dropped his eyes to the floor and bowed his head slightly told her he did know. Still, she waited for his reply because she needed to hear the words.

"Yeah, I suspected," Morgan finally spoke.

"I see, and is this some 'player's game', Morgan?" She probed as she glared at him, while his brows furrowed in anger at her words.

"What?"

"I mean, you say you knew I was in love with you, you say you have romantic, sexual thoughts about me, but you never ever showed me any indication of that … well, not until now when your wife has left you. So, is this some ploy to get me to fall into bed with you because you're lonely? Is that why you really came here?"

"You can't be serious," He huffed out.

"Look at my face, Derek," She said and then paused a few seconds for him to do so. "I'm dead fucking serious," She nearly hissed out through her anger.

"No, that's not why I came," Morgan denied. "I came to you because I knew I'd find some semblance of peace from all the fears, worries, and doubts that have been filling my head lately. And I knew you would talk me down from the ledge I've been contemplating jumping from," He replied and a chink in Garcia's armor dented at his words, as she had to fight with herself to not pull him into her arms to placate him. "I also came because I knew you would help me figure out what to do about my marriage."

"So, what was the point in telling me all of that 'other' stuff? And why now?" She hugged herself. She spoke more softly this time as her anger dissipated, though her hurt remained.

"I don't know," He sighed out. "I guess in the moment it just felt like I should."

"I wish you hadn't because now things are gonna feel really weird between us … it already feels weird," She stated as she shot him a quick glance and then averted her eyes as tears spilled from them.

"I'm sorry, Sweetness," Morgan spoke and his regret at causing her discomfort was evident in his voice. He took a step to her with the intent of embracing her, but she stepped back and held up her hands as she shook her head.

"No, I think you should probably leave," Garcia said and Morgan's eyes enlarged with pure fear. "Not forever, just for now," She quickly added on having read the look on his face. He sighed in relief as he bowed his head a bit.

"I hate leaving things like this between us," He offered. "I'm sorry I said anything about my feelings for you. I should've just kept my big mouth shut," He inwardly cursed himself.

"The problem isn't what you said, Derek, it's the timing of it. You're a married man and I'm with Luke now," She replied and at that moment her front door opened and a leased Rosie and Lou rushed in with Luke Alvez close behind them. Garcia quickly wiped at her eyes and plastered on a smile, but a scowl on Alvez's face as he looked from her to Morgan and then back to her told her he knew she was distressed.

"Hey, what's going on?" Alvez questioned as he closed the door behind him and stepped further into the living room. Both Rosie and Lou sat quietly at his feet as they both locked their attention onto Morgan.

"Uhm, they don't bite do they?" Morgan asked nervously as he kept his eyes on the dogs.

"Only, if I instruct them to," Alvez answered truthfully. "But it's not their bite you should be worried about right now," He added, and Morgan glared up at the other man in the room, who shot him a dangerous, hard glare in return.

"Luke," Garcia called out to him gently and captured his attention. "Why don't you put Rosie and Lou in the bedroom, so Morgan can leave."

"No, I don't think I'm gonna do that until one of you tells me what happened that has you crying and visibly upset," Alvez countered. "Morgan, why don't you start?" He said this as he took a couple of steps closer to where Morgan stood. Garcia swiftly stepped around Morgan and over to Alvez.

"Luke, I'm fine," She lied even though she knew he would know it. "Please put the dogs in the bedroom so Morgan can leave, and then we can enjoy the rest of our night," She pleaded as she placed her left hand against his chest as a way to calm him, for she could see he was wound up and ready to strike.

"All right, but I'm not letting it go until you tell me why you have tears in your eyes," Alvez said as he spoke lowly and directly to Garcia, and she nodded in reply. Then he moved towards the bedroom, as Morgan moved to the front door.

"Babygirl, I'll call you tomorrow," Morgan tossed out and she sent him a curt nod, though she wasn't sure she would actually take his call.

"Nope," Alvez spoke out as he stopped dead in his tracks. "Her name is not 'Babygirl', 'Sweetness', 'Goddess', or any other pet names you've thought up for her. And I am gonna have to insist that you not call her those names in my presence, or you and I are gonna have a real problem, Morgan," A silence filled the room as Morgan frowned over to where Alvez stood, while Garcia's panic-filled eyes glanced back and forth between the two men. "But you can feel free to call her 'Penelope', 'Garcia', or 'Future Mrs. Luke Alvez'. I'm cool with any of 'those' names," This got a sharp intake of breath from Garcia and she now gazed in awe at Luke, while Morgan dropped his eyes to the floor. Morgan then looked back up at Alvez, nodded his understanding, and then walked out. Alvez continued to stare at the closed door as he felt the weight of Garcia's eyes on him. "You know, I've been making big plans for a Halloween proposal," He spoke out again as he released the two leases and lifted his hands to unclamp the gold thin chain around his neck. "I'm sorry I ruined that for you," He continued as he held up the diamond ring to her. Garcia's mouth fell open as she stared hypnotized by the diamond. New tears sprang from her eyes. They stood in silence for a couple of minutes, as if they were both waiting for something from the other. Finally, Alvez spoke again. "Is it too soon? Of course, it's too soon. I thought it might be too soon," He began to ramble off. "And it's okay, I completely understand if you're not ready for such a big step in our relationship. I mean, just because I'm 1000% sure I want to marry you and spend the rest of my life with you, that doesn't have to mean you're sure or ready for that, right?" At hearing this Garcia sobbed a little as she clamped her left hand over her mouth and her right hand over her chest. "I'm sorry, please don't cry," His heart broke not just from the devastation he felt from what he perceived as her rejection of his proposal. But he also hated that he was making her cry.

"Luke!" Garcia sniffed back tears as she yelled at him a little, and gained his full attention. "You haven't asked me if I want to marry you. You're supposed to ask me first," She stated and his eyes widened a bit in his excitement that he may have interpreted her silence and tears incorrectly. He took the few steps to her and instantly dropped to one knee, and she bit back a huge smile. A smile then crossed his own lips at seeing her excitement.

"Penelope Grace Garcia, will you marry me?" He finally asked as he held out the ring to her. She then lifted her left hand to him as she nodded enthusiastically. He waited a second before speaking again. "You have to say yes or no," He said in a teasing manner.

"Yes! Yes, I will marry you, Luke Alvez!" She exclaimed and he finally slid the ring onto her finger. With a proud and happy smile on his face, he grasped her wrist and pulled her down to the floor. He then gently laid her back against the hardwood floor, settle his body over hers, and kissed her breathless.

More to come...