[a/n: once i get on a roll, it's hard to stop, so i popped out this chapter. Mmm, fresh chapter... kinda like freshly baked dinner rolls with real butter.. anyway, hope you all enjoy reading it as much as i enjoyed writing it. it's one of my better ones if i only say so myself. much love. peace.]

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN CRIMINAL MINDS OR ANY COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL HERE IN.. the towel made me do it, i swear...

Penelope waited until she heard the door to the washroom click shut before she began to undo any of her outfit. Undressing herself turned into a rather difficult and frustrating task. Everything she was wearing seemed to want to stay fused to her skin. The tights were the worst, and it was difficult to get them off normally, but what with the wine and their seeming stubbornness and having to hop around on one foot to remove them.. well, all bets were off. She'd almost peeled herself free of the dreadful things when she made a disastrous calculation. She wobbled when she should have remained still and that fateful action cost her the battle with gravity. She slipped on the wood floors and landed flat on her back with a loud thud, jarring a few knick knacks on the end tables near by. The panty hose went flying and hit her living room lamp shade.

"Oww..", she wheezed, unable to move for a few moments.

Her worst fears were suddenly realized as she heard Derek burst out of her bathroom in a panic.

"Baby girl, are you all right?", he asked, striding quickly towards the sound of the crash.

Penelope's eyes went wide as she suddenly realized Derek was about to inadvertently see her in only a night shirt and her underwear. "Derek Morgan, don't you dare come into this room!", she bellowed.

She heard him stop immediately and silently thanked god for his obedience reflex when it came to her.

"What happened?", he asked, his worry evident in his tone.

"Wine, gravity and a deadly pair of tights", she joked wryly, easing herself gingerly into an upright position. "I'm fine, but I haven't yet achieved full modesty, so if you would be so kind as to avert your lovely eyes from my general direction for a few ticks I would be eternally grateful."

"Sure thing, princess", she heard Derek reply sweetly, making her heart go slightly gooey.

"My hero", she giggled, hoisting herself from the floor and reaching for the pyjamas bottoms she had slung over the back of her purple couch.

Just as she was tugging the last bit of the waistband over her hips, she received a shocking blow to the back of her head. She stumbled forward slightly and then whipped around to face her attacker. There stood Derek Morgan, grinning from ear to ear, with a mischievous glint in his eyes and a zebra stripped pillow in his hands.

"Oh, you are so dead..", Penelope giggled madly, grabbing the spare pillow she had lent Derek from it's spot on the couch, and swinging for his head.

Derek ducked just in time to avoid her counter strike, and when he bobbed back upright there was no doubt in either of their minds; The chase was on!

They battled across the living room and through the kitchen. They quickly realized that Penelope's kitchen was no place for a proper throw down when Penelope almost sent her teapot hurtling across her counter top and into her living room with one particularly wild swing. Derek had then wisely retreated to the bedroom area as Penelope followed on his heels, landing cheap blows because his back was turned and she was determined to win at all costs.

"Admit it!", Penelope cackled happily, as Derek found his footing once more and waded back into the feathery fray. "I'm wearing you down!"

"Not a chance, sweet pea", Derek argued, dodging two of her most recent strikes. "You oughtta know.. I can go all night." He wiggled his eyebrows at her suggestively and she totally lost her mind laughing.

That was all the distraction he needed.

He abandoned his fuzzy weapon in favor of a new tactic. He grabbed her around the middle and tossed her back onto her bed, tickling her with devilishly clever fingers.

"No!", she shrieked, unable to assuage the madness. "I swear, you'll never take me alive!"

"Then you must die!", Derek bellowed in a fake dramatic maniacal villain voice, not giving her any quarter. "Mua ha ha hahaha ha!"

"Ah! Please!", she squealed when she could endure no longer. "Mercy! Mercy! I beg you, have mercy!"

"You must promise to be my slave forever!", Derek demanded in his villain voice, pausing to let her answer.

"Never!", Penelope gasped in mock-outrage.

"Then you are dooooomed!", he wailed, renewing his efforts three fold.

"Ah! No! I give, I give, I giiiiive! I surrender wholly and completely to you!"

Derek ceased his advance immediately. "Meh, it's a start", he shrugged, flopping down beside her on the queen sized bed and panting slightly as a result of his previous actions.

"Jerk", she chided breathlessly with a smirk, punching him lightly in the arm.

They sat in amiable silence for a while, staring giddily at the ceiling, and trying to catch their breath.

"I'm really glad you're staying", Penelope admitted after awhile, smiling fondly at Derek from where she lay.

"Me too, baby girl", Derek rumbled, staring fondly right back.

The phone ringing brought Penelope crashing back to the present. "Mistress of the mysterious etherweb", she chirped automatically. "How can I weave my web to help you?"

"Pen, it's me", Derek sighed in a tone of great relief, but also sadness. "Just callin' to let you know we're comin' home."

"You got him?", she squeaked happily.

"No", Derek sighed again, "He took care of that for us."

Now she understood. "Oh Derek.."

"I'll be alright, momma", Derek assured her. "Just have a hug warmed up for me when I get back, okay?"

"Yeah, sure, you got it", Penelope nodded, her concern for her boy evident in her tone. "Be safe."

"Will do, sweet cheeks", Derek affirmed, ending the call and hauling himself towards the rest of the team, who were heading out to the jet already. He couldn't wait to wash his hands of this mess.

[a/n: there is more to this pillow fight then just her side... more to come, but hopefully after i get some shut-eye. night!]