Chapter 6

AN:Sorry, loyal and wonderful reviewers and readers. I have been really putzy on updating. Real life has been in the way...My sincere apologies and humble gratitude...Also, I can see your reviews online, but they're not coming to my email. I am not trying to disregard, I promise to catch up when I get them!

Penelope's head was throbbing. She was ready to go on the fourth double date with her best friend and her boyfriend. He had absolutely abysmal taste in choosing women. It was sad—such a perfect, wonderful, gorgeous specimen of a man should be able to find someone decent!

These women he was choosing, the suitable ones, were not very suitable, as far as Pen was concerned. Each one was an abomination to womanhood, and certainly not Derek caliber. No way in hell.

First, there was Air-Headed Alice, the yoga queen with the bizarre aura ability. She hadn't thought there could be worse out there, but she'd been wrong. Derek had come up with two more winners for two more painful Thursdays at Tia's.

Brianna Butler, girl number two, had prominent front teeth. So prominent, she'd whistled when she talked. Derek hadn't seemed to notice, or it hadn't bothered him; he'd laughed at her jokes and was very charming to the woman, like usual. However, Pen was looking out for his best interests and knew that would drive him crazy after a while.

Then, to add on to the problem, Brianna had joked around too much. She'd laughed at the most inappropriate times...

"Penelope, this is Brianna," Derek said, gesturing towards Penelope. "Brianna, my best friend, Penelope."

"Hahaha! Pleased to meet you!"

Penelope gave her an odd look. "Nice to meet you, too."

"This, haha, is a nice restaurant," Brianna said as the server showed up at the table.

"May I take your drink order?" the server said.

"Shhhhure!" Brianna returned with a whistle, and immediately started guffawing. "Oops! Shorry!"

"It wasn't a guffaw," Kevin had said in the car later. "It was a nervous titter of laughter."

"Tittering is quiet," she'd replied, glaring at her boyfriend. "That woman was louder than a foghorn."

He hadn't argued back. Instead, he'd stared solemnly at the road. Kevin didn't enjoy discussing Derek's relationship woes.

Next was Suzannah Forrester. She'd been lovely, petite...and extremely outspoken. A loud and opinionated woman with a loud mouth, she'd had a stance on everything.

"I'd love a glass of pinot noir," Penelope said to their waiter—the same waiter as last time—with a smile.

"Pinot grigio would be better with the fish that you ordered," Suzannah said. "In the coastal regions where that grape is grown, fish and poultry are the traditional dishes served with Grigio, whereas the darker body of noir is meant to be enjoyed with a fuller flavored meat, like steak."

"But I like red."

Suzannah shrugged. "Suit yourself. Just saying."

A little more into the meal, Penelope had realized Suzannah thought she knew everything, and considered herself an expert on everything, too.

"That woman was a wizard, Penelope," Kevin had retorted later in the car. "She was beyond fast witted. Interesting person."

In conversations with her over that dinner, Penelope found out she had the same IQ as Reid, so she really did know quite a lot. However, whereas Reid had quiet dignity, this woman had seemed like a braggart to Penelope.

"I didn't like her," Pen had answered with a shake of her head.

"I didn't think you would," Kevin had countered, continuing to scowl.

So, tonight, she was in the car, driving with her boyfriend to meet her best friend and Tasha Wells. Kevin was not pleased. He was wearing the same turtleneck and sweater he wore every time they went out to this place, and he hadn't even bothered to comb his hair.

"What difference does it make what I look like?" he'd muttered when she asked him about it. "We're never going to see this woman again after tonight anyway."

Kevin was in a terrible mood, and it affected how Penelope felt. Her head ached, her heart was sore, and her spirits were down. She knew Kevin wanted her to just give Morgan the A-OK for one of these women, but she couldn't do it in good conscience.

"Please don't be mad, Kevin," she said softly. "I know Derek would do the same for me."

He snorted and looked at her, nearly swerving off the road. When he'd righted the car, he scoffed, "Derek Morgan wouldn't get involved in your love life like you're doing for him. He's too self-centered."

Penelope wanted to argue with him, but she thought it wasn't worth wasting her breath. The Derek she knew was kind, generous, loving, and thoughtful. When Kevin was in this sort of mood, which was a lot lately, it was best to just back off.

They arrived at the restaurant and saw Derek and his pretty date sitting in the corner where he'd sat every time he did this. She was a brunette this time and looked very demure.

After thirty minutes, Penelope realized Tasha was the polar opposite of Suzannah. She'd barely made a noise, like a little mouse. Derek was again being the consummate gentleman, attempting to make conversation with the woman, but she just wasn't biting.

"So, Tasha," he said, smiling. "You're a legal clerk in criminal justice?"

"Yes."

Silence.

"I'm in the FBI...the behavioral analysis unit," he said with a genuine, trademark Derek Morgan smile. The one that made Pen melt every time.

Tasha nodded.

His smile faded only a little. "Um...both Penelope and I are from the BAU... and Lynch works at the FBI, too."

Penelope inwardly winced. If Derek was bringing up Kevin voluntarily, this was not going well at all...

"I know."

He shot Penelope a look, one that obviously said, Help!

"You must get some interesting cases coming through," Pen said, coming in as a relief pitcher.

"We do."

The woman finally talked, but it took a long time, and a lot of prodding, from Derek.

Penelope, on the other hand, didn't need to be prodded at all. She wanted to talk so badly with Derek. He was lively, engaging, and witty; she wished it was just them on one of their many dinner dates. She had to bite her tongue not to answer the questions he was asking. She even had to stifle a laugh, because she knew he was going to say something clever and flirtatious, just by the look on his face. She knew him that well; she could anticipate delights.

To make matters worse, Kevin was being mulish, stirring his food around with his fork and sighing exaggeratedly every ten minutes or so. He obviously wanted to leave. He was polite enough to Derek and Tasha, but mumbled to her, showing his disdain for the whole situation.

As the date wrapped up, they got ready to say their goodbyes. Derek helped Tasha into her taxi to go home, and then he turned and hugged Penelope.

"Tomorrow?" he asked hopefully.

Penelope cringed. She knew he would want a report on the date. He did that after every one of these dinner excursions, and so far, had only received bad news from her.

This time, unfortunately, wasn't much different.

"Well..." she said, drawling out uncomfortably.

"Never mind, sugar," he said dejectedly. He hung his head just slightly, enough that only she noticed it. "I already know the answer."

"Goodnight, Derek," she said, her heart breaking, standing on her tiptoes and kissing his cheek. "I'm sorry."

"That's okay, P. Ain't your fault," he said softly, cupping her cheek in his hand. "Maybe I'm just not meant to be a daddy yet."

Penelope felt her heart seize in her chest. He was so ready to be a dad! Everything about him screamed that he would make a wonderful father! If only these women—

"Penelope, we need to go," Kevin snapped, his face set in a serious scowl. "Some people need to work at six a.m."

Penelope looked up at him with embarrassment, but Derek simply shook his head and chuckled.

"Goodnight, angel," he murmured, kissing her forehead. He moved the collar on her coat up closer to her chin and winked at her. "Stay warm."

"I will," she whispered, as he turned and walked away.