Author's Note: I'm having way too much fun. Hope you enjoy this chapter!


"I did a thing."

Luke quirks his eyebrows at her words and Penelope quickly lays a finger over his lips and adds in a rush:

"Shush for a sec, k? I am going to need to get something from my purse and then talk for like 5 minutes straight without you interrupting...and then you can say whatever you want, ok? I just want to make sure I explain what I am thinking properly - or at least as best as I can before you say anything. Trust me?"

Luke nods.

Penelope stands up and crosses to where she left her purse when she came in. Carefully takes out the little wooden box which she'd taken from her nightstand and crosses back to the couch. She sits down tucking her feet underneath herself; placing the little wooden box in her lap.

Penelope takes a deep steadying breath and then begins:

"Ok remember the..." she rolls her eyes " ...super great conversation the team had after the bunker case - about how everyone would want to spend the last day on earth if they knew the world was going to end? Don't answer...any questions I ask for the next 5 minutes are rhetorical!

Well Tara said she'd want to be on a beach and you said you'd prefer the mountains...then you showed up with Sergio's new galaxy cat tree...and well that night I found myself watching a - um - nature documentary about the Canadian Rockies and um - found myself combing the web about um Mountain um stuff...

Anyways - while you - um while the team was away fighting crazy snake lady - I um randomly did some more searching and um kinda came across a...um.. and on a totally impulsive crazy and I mean really crazy whim..."

Penelope opens the little box and pulls out a piece of paper that was folded to fit the box.

She carefully unfolds the paper, smooths out the creases, then hands him the paper.

He scans quickly - his eyes getting bigger and bigger as he reads.

Luke can't help himself and voices his main thought: "Wow."

"No talking yet!"

Luke looks back up at her and mimes zipping his lips and throwing away the key.

"Ok so since I did, as my mother would have called it, this dang fool thang I have been going back and forth about whether to cancel payment or actually give it to you so you could use it - I don't know - maybe with a date or Matt or whoever...but ok just give me a second to breathe...don't talk yet!"

Penelope closes her eyes and takes three deep breaths and shakes her hands out ridding herself of tension.

Luke conversely doesn't move; hardly even breathes, just watches her.

Penelope opens her eyes, clasps her hands over the box in her lap, and start back up. carefully forming each word now - pacing herself - the ums evaporate and she is back to sounding confident and calm - if talking at her typical mile a minute rate.

"But based on today and how I am feeling - and how I am sensing you may be feeling ...this is what I want to propose: I think we should use it. Either as laid out there or if a case comes up as soon as we can carve out the time. I think we should take a couple days to explore whatever..." her hands make a motion indicating the space between them "...this is and then I think we should talk it out and make a decision as the intelligent and caring adults we are about what we are going to do or not do about it. And before you get your turn to talk, for my sanity, if you do agree to this crazy plan...I want to have a conversation before we launch into it about ground rules. I want both of us to feel comfy and respected and feel like we have some measure of control over the whole thing and that it will meet each of our expectations."

Penelope holds up one finger indicating that she just has one more thing to say and then she'll hand over the floor to him - so now she rambles in a burst:

"Seriously though this is just a crazy idea that feels kinda sane right now and I can't quite explain why and it may not be sane at all and even more crazy than I think it is - so please please please do not hesitate to tell me - in a moment - if it is a terrible plan or if I'm imagining something that isn't here. Ok? I know I am an I'm um ...an original and um sensitive and stuff - but I am also a big girl - a woman - who can take whatever you or life has to throw at me. And the only thing I know for sure is that you deserve better than I treated you when we first met - so that's the minimum that I promise at this point - no matter what you decide or say. Today was - is - amazing - and always will be Luke Alvez - no matter what happens next."

There is a long pause as Penelope tries to think if there is anything else she needs to say. When she decides that she has said enough for now, she lowers her hand to her lap and says:

"Okay - the floor is now yours. Tell me whatever you want - I won't interrupt - or ask me whatever you want - and I will try to answer the best way I can."

Penelope takes her turn miming zippering her lips closed and throwing away the key and then sits looking expectantly at this man she's spent the day with. Her heart is in her throat.

"Wow. Pen. Just give me a sec. But - just know that...wow. K?"

He smiles at her and takes a deep breath. His heart is definately in his eyes now.

"I think your plan...your proposed approach... is brilliant. Inspired. And so totally Penelope Garcia."

Penelope can't help a smile - she's hoping there is no but about to follow - but stays quiet as promised.

Luke rubs his the back of his neck - shaking his head - as he tries to decide what to say next to this amazing woman sitting on his couch.

"I can't believe you've booked me a..." he looks back at the paper he's holding to make sure he has the right wording "a...Weekend Rocky Mountain Getaway: Return trip airfare for two to Calgary, Alberta, Canada, two round trip airport-to-hotel shuttle tickets, three nights at the Banff Mountain and the Bear Loft Hotel, a Two Day National Park Pass, two tickets for the Sulphur Mountain cable car, and two passes enjoy the Banff Hotsprings...for...for..." he scans the paper again "...next weekend? What type of crazy miracle insane rich woman are you?"

Penelope raises an eyebrow asking silently if she can answer the question. Luke nods.

"I wasn't completely crazy or expensive - it was a really good deal - even after I paid extra so it could be cancelled or re-booked right up to the last minute - since I hate to mention it - but your job is a little bit hell on vacation planning, Newbie."

Luke laughs.

"My mistake. You were totally practical and forward thinking, Chica."

They both laugh.

"Seriously though...Pen...this is...awesome. I can't believe you...you... Just because of a throw away comment I made after a case? I mean I thought Rossi was the star of that conversation. It is pretty incredible. No one has ever...for me...and..." he checks the date on the paper "And you got this before I even mentioned the whole Phil puppy idea. It's nuts and touching and...and...humbling... But I don't know why I would ever expect less from you - ever."

He reaches out then and cups her face - stroking her cheek with his thumb. He looks at her, takes a deep breath, then keeps on quietly:

"Penny... You're not wrong. Um...there does seem to be something..." he makes the same motion she had between them with his other hand "...here between us. And honnestly - while I have some inklings what that something might be - if I am perfectly honnest - I'm not totally sure of all of what I'm feeling - but I think you're right that we need to be - what's a good word - mindful? deliberate? Geez. What is it with me and words these days? It's gotta be hanging out with all of you BAU geniuses... Look - the one thing I do know is...it feels like there is a lot at stake...and it would be wise for us to proceed...as you've laid out...as long as you are still ok with that?"

She nods and smiles hard.

There are tears at the corners of her eyes.

Luke leans forward a bit...

"Hey I know we have to talk about the rules and the plan and everything - and I think that is a very very good idea...but would you mind terribly - Penelope Garcia - if I kiss you now? Just once?"

"I only have one question before I answer..."

"Anything."

"With tongue?"

Luke laughs and leans forward and kisses her...

Yes. With Tongue.

Penelope kisses him back.

Yes. With Tongue.


They do just kiss once - although the final numerical reckoning may depend on how one counts very long deep gasping nipping kisses with tongue.

They pull back from each other naturally both flushed and out of breath. Her hands have tangled in his hair. His hands are on her hips.

They grin at each other again. Then Penelope puts her hands up to her cheeks...

"I'm going to have a sore face tomorrow from all this smiling."

"There are worse things, Chica."

"Don't I know it? Blah. Ok happy simple thoughts. What now? And strangely I mean that in a very prosaic non-freakity-outy kind of way - which is not terribly characteristic of me in this sort of situation."

He leans forward and kisses her forehead, then pulls her in so she's sitting back beside him. Head on his shoulder - his arm around hers holding her firm and warm against him.

He really can't stop touching her today.

Luke takes a breath, leans his cheek against the top of her head, and answers her question:

"Well, Garcia, I think we have a logistical planning session for a trip in our future but I think it's too late at night for that particular conversation."

"Amen."

"So for me the question is - do I drive you home? Or do you sleep here tonight - I mean as long as Sergio would be ok? Cats can be alone occasionally right? - and I drop you home on my way to check on Phil tomorrow? Either way - despite part of me really really really not wanting to say this...and I mean really really really really...no more kisses tonight, I think?"

He didn't think Penelope's smile could get any bigger but, before she answers, it does.

"I agree - about the no-more-kisses thing AND the not-wanting-to-say-that thing."

"And the staying over thing?"

"Well - if I did stay here - what would be the plan? Can we sleep together in your bed? And I mean sleep-sleep - not sleeeep- sleeeep."

"We can. Do you want to?

"I want."

Penelope presses her lips firmly to his cheek - warm but purposely chaste - an echo of the kiss he'd pressed to her forehead and a silent confirmation of this first tentatively made agreement

"That makes two of us, Chica. That makes two of us."


They sit together for a bit longer until Roxy, bored of all this human-ness stands up, shakes herself out and pads over to the back door to be let out.

Luke takes that as his cue to stand up. He feels relaxed. There are still a lot of unanswered questions and he truly has no idea where all this will go or even truly where he wants it to go; but unlike his other experiences with potentially romantic relationships he doesn't feel like he's alone to figure things out. Which, he thinks to himself with surprise, is exactly what should be the case when two people are making a decision to be together or not. In an ideal world - where humans truly respected each other and the potential of relationships - you would think this would be the norm rather than the exception.

He has been in a few relationships - although there's been nothing at all for years except some casual flirtations - even less than that since he joined the BAU; but in retrospect, he doesn't think he's ever been in a relationship that he would regard as serious or having long term potential. Although that, he muses - thinking of one particular highschool girlfriend and another girl he saw off and on through college - is not necessarily how they felt at the time.

He tries to put his finger on what is so different about where he has found himself tonight - besides the fact that Penelope is Penelope - and it hits him - maybe all that profiling training is changing how he thinks about more than just words - in the past, at this stage especially, it seemed that either he was doing the chasing (which was what he had always felt was.expected of him as the man - and sure it was kind of his thing - but it also seemed mildly degrading of both him and his potential partner) or he was being chased (which to his shame always made him feel a little unmanly and also nervous and guilty - especially if it seemed the woman was way more interested than he was - which in turn made the whole being the chaser thing less comfortable).

Sure maybe he has been kinda chasing Pen...but he also understands now how cultural expectations and brain physiology and psychology all would have played a role in his actions and emotional responses - but he knows that even that knowledge does not necessarily promise successful navigation of his day to day relationships - in fact in some ways it makes it harder since it's hard to turn off the analysis of yourself and those around you - plus they all pour so much into their work.

Luke laughs a little sadly to himself as he notes that Rossi's handful of broken marriages is a testament to that.

Drawing his thoughts back to whatever is happening between him and Penelope - it seems if nothing else they are going to at least try to proceed as a team in this and it is deeply reassuring

He also doesn't know why but he is pretty confident that they feel similarly about each other. Obviously they are very different individuals so their feelings and approaches and even preferred outcomes won't be identical - but in this moment it seems possible, at least to Luke and, from what Pen has proposed, to her as well - that they will be able to come up with some sort of compromise that will somehow work for both of them.

After all - being on the BAU together for over a year - means they may not have always gotten along - but they do know bone-deep that if push comes to shove they respect and can trust each other

In fact that is why it goes without saying that they are going to need to discuss potential impacts of them pursuing a romantic relations on their work and the team - and vice versa. He senses neither of them would want to proceed with any romantic relationship at this stage of their lives without doing that thinking at least on their own - so it goes double if they choose to start something or for that matter choose not to.

He looks back at the woman on his couch who has pulled out her phone and is scrolling through something or other.

She looks up catches his eye and smiles.

He smiles back.


"Ok you've got your hairbrush from your purse and I set out a new toothbrush for you and some towels and a face cloth and the good soap... Do you want to borrow some pj's? Or need anything else? There's shampoo and stuff in the shower - although it's the branded for guys kind - so I don't know if you'd like it..."

"No thank you - I'm good in these they are basically pj's and I am just going to take this off..." she snaps her bra strap "...brush out my hair, and wash my face and brush my teeth. Thank you for thinking of the toothbrush. Not every man I know would..."

"Speaking of which...since we are all into honnest communication..." he reaches out and gives her bra strap a little snap the way she just did "...I have got to tell you how attractive that coppery colour and green are on you, Lucky Penny. The outfit you were wearing the night I dropped of the cat tree just about killed me. Seriously woman. You should need a permit for some of your outfits.

"Lucky Penny. I like that,.Cool hand Luke. Alrighty - see you on a mo'!"


As they climb into bed and she snuggles up against him - Roxy in her bed in the corner - he realises they need to talk about one more thing.

"Pen?"

"mmmhmm" she answers sleepily.

"Just - just -"

At his tone, she opens her eyes and twists so that he can see he has her full attention.

"You can still tell me or ask anything. It's ok. I trust you."

"It's just - um - I...I mean my body..."

"Might react to this whole bed sharing thing?"

"Um yeah - if fact I don't think it's a question of might."

"Luke? It's the same for me ok? Honnest. I get it - or at least I think I do...but it's up to us what we choose to do or not do right? And there is nothing shameful about how our bodies apparently have been reacting to each other. Right?"

"Yeah. Yeah. I just...didn't want to embarrass or or upset you or make you think I was..."

"Me neither. It's going to be ok. Just tell me if you're too uncomfortable or can't sleep or something ok? I promise to do the same. You still ok with the plan?"

"Yeah. Yeah. Really ok. Pen - seriously thank you."

"Thank you too Luke. Shall we see if we can sleep? I feel like I am going to be able to...which is a bit unexpected but somehow really really nice...sleep-sleeping with someone new isn't usually like this for me."

"You're amazing Penelope Garcia."

"Right back 'atcha Luke Alvez. Good night, Luke. See you in the morning - or before if you need me."

"Good Night, Penny. See you in the morning, Sunshine."

They spoon their bodies into each other. He gives her temple one last chaste kiss. She presses her own chaste kiss to the arm her head is using as a pillow.

Then Luke, Penelope, and Roxy all drift into sweet deep uninterrupted sleep.


Author's Note:

I hope this made you smile as much as it makes me smile (and Penelope) smile.

Their poor bank accounts though! I am really playing fast and loose with their savings! Oh well! Thank goodness they are employed.

... and for those of you who are here for the smutty fun...yes there will be more soon...I mean they are going away for a weekend together! How can I resist? How can they?

...also sorry for any spelling or grammatical errors - I do edit - but I know am not catching everything and I am not up to doing the whole beta thing right now. so thank you for your patience. I do try to go back and fix things as I post new chapters.

Take care! Thank you for reading!