A/N: Ok so I'm taking advantage of the Muse and the free time. Hope you enjoy!!!!!!
When they got into the car, Penelope turned to Derek and said "Are you really not going to tell me what you have planned?"
"Do you trust me?" Derek asked.
"You know I do Angel I'm just curious." She said.
"Ok, first we're going to go have breakfast. There's this local joint I used to go all the time when I was working the beat here in Chicago. It's not a fancy place but their food is amazing. Then… it's a surprise." He said smiling.
Penelope looked at him and smirked. "You're enjoying this aren't you?" She asked.
"You have no idea baby girl!" He said laughing.
When they reached Joe's Penelope couldn't help but notice just how many cops were there. And as they walked into the place everyone seemed to know who Derek Morgan was. They all greeted him with handshakes and hugs. They all had questions about what he had been up to and what it was like to work for the FBI. 30 Minutes had passed before they were finally seated and had ordered. Derek had introduced her to everyone along the way proceeded to fill her in on how he had met them and give her a little background on each of them. Even the owner of the café had come out to greet him when he learned he was there and had made it a point to tell the waitress that the meal was on the house. Looking from the outside in, it was almost as if the prodigal son had returned. It gave her a warm feeling to know that so many people seemed to know Derek but more importantly that so many people seemed to really like him.
When they were done with breakfast and the formal goodbye's Derek proceeded with his tour of the city. He took her by his elementary school and then his junior high school. He stopped at each one and pointed out the playgrounds he would play on and his usual hang out spots. It wasn't until they reached the High school that he got out of the car to give her a tour. The school was closed but the grounds were open and the crew that maintained those ground were working. He seemed to know them too as they all waved at him and yelled out "it's good to see you!"
One of the crew members walked up to Derek and shook his hand. "Son it's great to see you!" John was an elderly man with a slight bald spot in the center of what looked like cotton. He was slender man and quite tall. "When did you get back in town?" He asked
"We got in last night. John I'd like you to meet someone very special to me. Penelope Garcia." Derek said.
John extended his hand to Penelope and rambled on the usual nice to meet you.
"Nice to meet you too John." Penelope said with a smile.
"John do you think it would be possible for me to show Penelope the Hall?" Derek asked.
"Of course son for you anything is possible." John said as he started to walk towards the school's main entrance. "Our boy here was quite a celebrity back in the days."
"Was he now? Big man on campus huh?" Penelope said.
"That he was. There wasn't scout that hadn't visited our school just to see him play." John added.
"He's exaggerating trust me." Derek said slightly embarrassed.
When they walked into the school there were glass enclosures on both sides of the hall. They displayed pictures and trophies alongside plaques and certificates. Penelope walked towards the glass and was amazed at what she saw. The majority of what was in the enclosures were all belonging in some way to Derek. They either had Derek's name on them or team pictures with Derek in them. The plaques were all awards for county wide, statewide and nationwide awards. All either for Derek as MVP or the school team under his leadership.
"Wow this is all you?" Penelope asked amazed by the display.
"There are records that still haven't been broken to this day." John added.
Just then Penelope caught a glimpse of a picture taken in Derek's senior year in his football uniform. She couldn't help but think to herself that he was just as gorgeous back then. "There's no denying that smile baby." She said.
"That smile made him very popular with the girls back then." John said.
"It still does." Penelope said smiling. "Only now the affect is stronger." She said as she continued to walk down the hall and look at the rest of the display.
John looked over at Derek and leaned in to whisper "she you're number 1 these days?"
"I'm working on it man. I'm hoping she will be." Derek said.
"Wow she's got you working it huh? Must be keeper." John added.
"You have no idea." Derek said and smiled. "Hey Baby come on, there's more I want show you. And with that Derek turned to John and thanked him for opening up the school.
"No problem son, it's great seeing you. And ummm good luck." John said.
Derek and Penelope got back into the car and drove for several hours making the occasional pit stop when they were able to walk around or go inside a building that held a special meaning to Derek. She got to see where he played football pre youth center days and where he would hang out with his friends. She even got to see where he gave his first kiss. He drove her past the precinct he used to work at and by the academy he trained at. By the end of the tour she was well versed in his hangouts. At every stop they made he'd introduce her to somebody and she'd get a little history on Derek Morgan from their point of view. At one point she was convinced there was nobody in the city that didn't know Derek. "It must be nice to be so well regarded." She said.
"Back then everyone watched out for everyone's kids. It was the thing to do. Most of the folks really knew my Mom and especially my Dad. He was a cop on these streets so his friendships trickled down to us." Derek said. "You hungry?" He asked.
Penelope nodded. "Just a little."
"Ok let's pick up some food and I'll take you somewhere special where we can eat it." He said.
They drove for almost an hour after picking up lunch until they reached Lake Shore Park. Penelope was so excited. This is beautiful!
"We'll have a picnic lunch here and enjoy the view for a bit before we head to the next surprise." Derek said.
They sat on the grass and ate lunch as they chatted away about all the things she had learned on her tour. "I knew you were a quarter back in high school, I just didn't realize you were such a star." She said.
"I wasn't really. I played for a really good team. They all had so much talent." He said playing down his part.
"That's not the story the hall tells." Penelope teased.
"It wouldn't have mattered how good I was if the team wasn't better. It's never about one person. We all play together." Derek said.
"Kind of like the BAU?" She asked subtly.
Derek chuckled. He had caught on to her reference and simply nodded.
"Speaking of which, there's something I've been meaning to say. I'm really sorry Derek." She said.
"What do you have to be sorry about?" He asked puzzled.
"I shouldn't have gotten mad at you. It wasn't really you I was mad at in the first place; I just took it out on you." She said.
"Baby, there's nothing for you to apologize for. Hotch was right I should never have gone solo and I shouldn't have kept you on the line during that ordeal." Derek explained.
"No Baby he wasn't right. You didn't really have a choice and honestly had you guys had all the time in the world it would have been you that he'd send to try and disarm it. The point is I couldn't separate my feelings from my responsibilities and I'm sorry." Penelope went on.
Derek caught on to the last line she said and was about to question her on her on her feelings when Penelope's cell rang. She looked at the display and signed. "I have to take this, I'm sorry, it's Kevin." She said.
Derek's heart sank. He finally had the opportunity to start up a conversation with Penelope about feelings and Kevin had to call. "Where are you going with this Derek? You need to back off if there's so much as a chance that her relationship with Kevin is still a possibility." He thought to himself. He was a bit surprised that Penelope took the call but didn't walk away for some privacy.
"No Kevin I'm not in town. I'm in Chicago." She said.
"With Derek?" Kevin asked.
"Yes with Derek. What do you need?" She asked sounding a bit annoyed.
"We need to talk about things Pen. I miss you I want us to work." He pleaded.
"Kevin, we agreed to take a break. I need time." Penelope said.
"How much time? Don't you miss me?" He asked.
"Kevin this isn't helping. I need my space." Penelope said.
Derek motioned to get up. He wanted to give her some privacy but Penelope placed a hand on his arm and shook her head.
"You getting the space you need with HIM?" Kevin asked with sarcasm in his voice.
"You know what Kevin I can't do this with you anymore. Every time we talk you always fall back on the same thing. I can't deal with your insecurities or your jealousy I just won't do it." Penelope answered back, her tone very serious.
"And every time we have a problem you run to HIM. How can you and I have a relationship when he's always in the middle? It takes 2 people for have a relationship Pen not 3." He said angrily.
"Kevin I'm going to hang up now I will be home in a week and when I'm ready to discuss this with you I will call you." Penelope said firmly.
"You're spending a whole week with him? No Penelope if you want this to work between us you need to come home now and you need keep him out of our private lives. You have to work with him I understand that but that's it. You are not to have anything to do with him on your own time." Kevin said sternly.
"Kevin listen to me. I'm going to hang up now. I will be home in a week. I will NOT call you anymore and I do not want you calling me. I don't take to ultimatums and I won't have anyone telling me what I can and cannot do with my time. We're done. "Penelope said.
"You're making a huge mistake." Kevin growled.
"No I'm correcting one." Penelope said and hung up.
Derek looked at her but stayed silent. Penelope took a deep breath and looked over at Derek. "Baby I'm sorry I didn't mean for it to get that bad." She said.
"No need to apologize baby. Are you ok?" He asked placing his hand on hers.
"Strangely enough I'm more than ok. This is just something that needed to happen." She said.
"Are you sure about this?" He asked hoping the answer she gave was what he wanted to hear.
"I've never been more sure of anything. He's not going to change and quite honestly I wouldn't care if he did. He's not the man for me. I know that now." She said.
Deep down inside Derek was jumping up and down. This is what he needed to hear. He needed to be sure that there would be no ties that he would be breaking up if he were to be honest about his feelings. Their first day was almost coming to an end and he was starting to feel better about the outlook.
"Do you want to go home?" He asked.
"No baby I'm fine really. Where next?" She asked but before he could answer she said "I know, I know, it's a surprise!" And she giggled.