Chapter 11- Epilogue
AN: Thank you so much for the reviews! This was such a fun story to write. I love the characters, and I hope it shows in my writing. See you next story! Love, Kricket
After spending the weekend together, Penelope and Derek walked into the BAU, hand in hand, beaming brightly. There was so much love radiating between the two, it was visible to the naked eye. There was no hiding it from anyone within a fifty foot radius.
Prentiss, holding her coffee cup, was the first person from the team to see them. "Thank God," she said, grinning. "Now I don't have to deal with Morgan's pissy mood anymore."
"Pissy?" Derek remarked, trying to frown, but failing miserably. He was too happy for that. "I wasn't in a pissy mood."
"Bull," Emily snorted. "You were unbearable and nearly impossible to be around."
"I was concerned he was going to kill Reid," Hotch said, as he walked by, reading a clipboard. He stopped, then looked up. "Congratulations, by the way." Then he continued on, business as usual.
"Well, I'm glad this drama is over," Rossi commented, entering the area. "For awhile it was like the Twilight Zone here. Surly, moony Morgan... Kitten and Reid... that's odd happenings."
Derek thought about arguing again about his behavior, but wisely kept his mouth shut.
"Where is our boy genius, anyway?" Penelope asked.
JJ entered the room, a big smile on her face. "He called and said he was going to be late. He was taking a friend to work today."
"Ooooh!" Prentiss and Garcia chimed in, identical grins on their faces.
A moment later, Reid walked it. He had dark circles under his eyes and was a touch disheveled, which was very surprising with the usually fastidious Reid.
When everyone turned and stared at him, he looked confused, then looked behind himself. "What?"
Morgan smiled at him. "Late night, killer?"
"Late night with a book?" Rossi asked sarcastically.
Reid didn't quite catch the tone, and began to stammer, "Well, I... umm.."
"He's kidding," Emily said, saving Reid from himself.
"Oh! Oh, yes," Reid replied. "Well, I suppose..."
"Yeah, we better hit it." Derek paused by Reid for a second. "You might wanna wipe that lipstick off your upper lip before you head to your desk."
Reid wiped his mouth, blushing furiously.
Pen slugged him in the arm. "That was mean!"
Derek laughed, putting his arm around Penelope's waist, his eyes twinkling happily. "Serves him right, messing in my affairs..."
Pen smiled. She'd told Derek all about the plan she and Reid had over the weekend, and he begrudgingly forgave both herself and Reid, and even admitted it was a good push in the right direction. Later, he sent Reid a text apologizing for being an ass to him. The resident genius sent one back, saying All's well that ends well.
So, although Derek's words were sharp, the emotion behind them wasn't. She snuggled into his side a bit more.
Reid, who figured out the lipstick trick a second too late, watched the two of them walk away and began to smile again. It was true: some things he was definitely naive about. However...Garcia and Morgan, himself and Crystal... happily ever after.
He was indeed a master magician.
Putting his hands in his pockets, he whistled a happy tune on the way to his desk.