You don't usually keep your personal phone on you when you're in the BAU but you find yourself doing just that the next few months, smiling each time it alerts you to an incoming call or text message. The calls are usually from Lex who asks you in rushed tones when the next time you were going to stop by for ice cream. This is only to hear Luke a few seconds later scolding his daughter for one using his phone and for two bothering Penelope when she was at work. You listen to the two of them bicker for a few seconds before he comes on the line to apologize, telling you that he will text you later, before abruptly ending the call, cutting short the "but, daddy" you were sure was happening in his home. You chuckle, putting the phone back in your pocket before walking out of your office to make yourself a cup of tea.
"And what has my Baby Girl smiling like that today?" Derek asks, sliding up beside you and snatching your empty cup out of your hands. You shrug, reaching out to take your mug back, and pour the hot water into the empty space.
"Just the most adorable six-year-old girl I've ever met," you tell him, turning to him with a wide smile. "She calls me almost every day when she gets home from school." You continue, pulling your phone out of your pocket to look at the picture that just arrived. You smile when you see both of their faces turning the phone to show Derek.
"Cute kid, who's the guy?" he asks as he prepares himself a cup of coffee.
"That's Luke," you say moving the tea bag in order to distribute the flavor. "Her father." you continue in explanation.
"And her mother?" he asks, bringing the cup to his lips and taking a sip. You will never understand how he does that, does the coffee not burn his entire beautiful mouth. You continue to blow on the liquid in your cup, moving the steam away from your face.
"Not in the picture," he moves when you do, following you to your office as you pull your phone out of your pocket again, answering a text message. "To answer your next question, we met about six months ago in the pet store, I ran into him knocked everything all over the floor, Lex asked me for ice cream. I went to their house, we ate ice cream and I helped him unpack her bedroom. Yes, it was stupid. Yes, I did a check. No, I did not want to tell you about him in case..." you trail off when you notice Derek laughing at you. "What?" you ask him slamming your mug onto your desk.
"You've got it bad for the dad." He says, taking another sip of his coffee. You glare at him, his perfect lines leaned up against your desk, and you wave your arms at him shooing him off of your furniture.
"What do you know?" you ask him, pushing him closer to the door.
"I know you." He says, turning around to place a kiss on your forehead. "And I know you like the guy." He finished before leaving. You yell into the hall after him, growling when he doesn't turn around.
"Stupid profilers." you mutter before turning back to your office, closing the door behind you and walking back to your desk. When you've settled into your seat again and have pulled up the latest case file that needed your attention you hear your phone ringing.
"Garcia," you answer, fingers flying across the keys as you wait for the other person on the line to speak.
"So..." he begins and you smile when his voice reaches your ears. "Lex wants to know if you will join us at the park."
"Sure," you respond as you continue to work on the case in front of you, entering the steps you took in order to help the team catch the UnSub that week. "I've got a few cases to finish typing up and then I can meet you." When you disconnect the call he sends you a text with the name of the park and you find yourself typing faster in order to finish the reports, wanting nothing more than to be at the park with Lex and her very cute father. Once you're finished you reboot your computer, installing the necessary updates and wave to the others on your way out of the door. You take a few moments to stop at home so that you can change into a pair of pants and more comfortable shoes.
"Penelope?" You turn your attention to the small girl that you're currently guiding towards the swings. You give her a small smile when you notice that she's a bit nervous and you find yourself wondering what is giving the otherwise fearless child such pause. "Do you think it would be okay if I called you Penny?" she asks, rushing out the question so quickly you almost didn't catch it. You laugh as you lift Lex into the seat of the swing, and nod.
"Only my very best friends call me Penny," you say, watching her face fall as she grips the chain of the swing. "And you, Lex, you're one of my very best friends." Your heart does a small flip in your chest when she looks at you with her wide grin, her eyes filled with excitement. You take your position behind her, giving her a gentle push in order to get the swing moving. "Don't forget to bend your legs, Lex," you call out to her as you turn to watch Luke who is playing with Roxy across the park. You find that you are undeniably attracted to the man as you watch the way his arm flexes as he releases the ball, and you wonder if it would be acceptable for you to move on, even though your relationship with Kevin ended a few short months ago.
After a few minutes Luke and Roxy run over to the pair of you, he's about to say something when your phone rings. You pull it out of your pocket and groan at the alert you received from your boss, informing you of the case that is waiting. When you look up Lex is standing before you, clutching onto Roxy's collar with a sad look on her face.
"I have to go," you say to her, your heart breaking into small pieces as she looks down at her shoes, and you realize that they are untied, you crouch down and take the laces into your hands as you continue talking. "But I promise I'll see you again soon, Lex." She doesn't acknowledge you after a few moments so you turn to Luke, giving him a sad smile before you tuck your phone back into your pocket in exchange for your keys. "I'll call you," you say to him, before you head off for your car, leaving the small family behind.