Thanks to all who reviewed! I'm following some helpful advice extending my chapters to make them longer. I am doing some reorganization with the story, so it may be a few days before my next update.

Special note: This chapter is dedicated to my 3 male best friends. I would've had no idea how to write this chapter without the lessons I learned from them. LOL

This is definitely a chapter for the PM fans: and I figured after the last chapter I needed to lighten the mood. :)

Thanks for reading.

Still own nothing!

Morgan stood there, too stunned to say a word. He was shocked Penelope had finally kicked Kevin to the curb, but mostly he felt an overwhelming sense of pride. "Well, well, baby girl it's nice to see you finally came to your senses." The comment caught her completely off guard, but left her wondering, "where exactly that had come from, and why had he never mentioned it before?" She was very aware of JJ and Emily's opinions, which was the same old mantra, "he's nice, but you can do better." Derek never seemed to have anything to say about the matter. Clearly he had a very strong opinion, an opinion he opted to never share with her.

JJ bringing Penelope back to the present conversation, suggested they all go to Murray's bar after work. Morgan spoke up first, "I am definitely in if P is wearing that outfit." Emily, clearly amused by his comment, quickly agreed as well. Penelope just smiled and nodded, thinking, "I have a great reason to be celebrating now, don't I?"

As per their daily ritual, everyone stood in the break room having their morning coffee; sharing idol chitchat until it was time to return to their respective posts. All of them had a lot of catching up to do on dated case files. The backlog came from them being in the field so frequently.

The bullpen, that was often in udder chaos, was unnaturally quiet as everyone was engrossed in their own work. Derek decided now would be a perfect time to visit Penelope in her lair.

Once he arrived at her office, he stood there with his shoulder against the door frame, watching her happily work her "magic". He often wondered if she really understood how essential she was to him. It scared him sometimes, after all he had always been such a loner. Always too afraid to depend on anyone, but somehow Penelope knew exactly how to break through all of his carefully constructed walls.

Lost in his own thoughts, he hadn't even realized she was watching him. "What can I do for you hot stuff?" Instantly a devilish grin was born, as he retorted, "what you can't do for me is a much shorter list." Bubbling laughter was her only response, and that was fine by him. The pink flush that appeared across her fair cheek bones was just icing on the cake.

Pulling up a chair next to her, he inquired about how she was doing. Penelope, clearly already over anything to do with her ex, simply shrugged and said, "it was not what I wanted anymore. I am putting it all behind me."

Then she started pondering the question that had been nagging at her all day, "why didn't he tell me he never liked Kevin?" Just as she began to speak her thoughts aloud, JJ appeared in the doorway, "conference room in twenty." Penelope just exhaled a deep breath and figured now might not be the best time anyway, or maybe it was best to just forget the whole thing. After all, today was the first day of her new life.

The team made their way to the conference room, all silently praying they were not catching another case.

After everyone was in their respective seats JJ quickly began, "first off we are just assisting with a case in New York. They are gathering data on a cold case involving a child abduction." David Rossi, Spencer Reid, Hotch, Morgan, and Prentiss were each handed their own file. Hotch assigned a specific task to each of his team members, and instructed them all to reconvene at 2 pm.

Later that afternoon, seated around the conference room table they slowly began to piece together all of the research they had done. Finally after several long hours JJ had a case file containing a very detailed profile of the UNSUB, and his victim. Her only hope was it would help bring resolution to such a terrible tragedy, and award the missing girl's family some relief.

Hotch decided today was a perfect day to let his team leave at 5 pm, with the other millions of white collar workers in Virginia.

On the way out Morgan invited Rossi, Reid, and Hotch to join them at Murray's around 7 that night. Everyone was more than happy to go. With this job an occasional drink was completely necessary.

They said their goodbyes, and headed home to change for a night of good food, good friends, and strong drinks.

Murray's was at capacity, and that's the way they liked it. Luckily Emily and JJ had arrived early to claim one of the coveted, round table booths for the team.

About an hour later the girls were already halfway through their first round of gin and tonics when Morgan, Reid, Dave, and Hotch appeared. JJ asked Morgan, "where is Garcia? She was supposed to be here early." He shook his head, and reached for his phone, only to be sidetracked by Emily's ear piercing catcalls.

Morgan followed everyone's gaze to the bar where a knock-out redhead was standing in a mid-thigh, black leather minidress. The amount of cleveage she was showing was lethal. Clearly evidenced by the numerous men attempting to win her over with an immeasurable amount of booze. The boots he had seen earlier that day, but NOT with that outfit. Derek knew immediately who it was. Her face might not be visible, but those legs, soft wavy red hair, and his own internal reaction could belong to no one, but his baby girl.

Morgan was having a difficult time biting back the growl growing inside of him. There was only one clear thought he had at the moment, and it was forcing its way to the fore front of his brain, "what the fuck is she doing?"

As if on cue, Rossi stood up and gave Morgan a fatherly pat on the shoulder, "let her cut loose, she's getting adjusted to freedom again." Derek just slowly nodded his head in agreement. Inside he knew Dave was right, but that didn't make it any easier. He was by nature a protector, and when it came to Penelope that instinct was quadrupled. Her sweet, vulnerable, trusting nature was one of the many things he loved about her, but in that there was a mixed sense of fear. Knowing those traits were often sought out by unscrupulous people made it all the more difficult not to interfere.

Rossi drug Morgan purposefully to the opposite side of the bar to retrieve beer for them, and a rum and coke for Reid. He knew well enough how Morgan was, and Garcia looked so radiant at that moment he just wanted to keep the peace.

Both men made their way back to the table, and handed everyone their drinks. Just as they sat down Stephanie, the waitress walked up to the table and asked, "are you guys hungry tonight, or will you just be drinking?" Murray's might be a bar, but their pub food was out of this world. Hotch responded, "yes we will definitely be eating", then requested menus for their table.

Morgan was silently brooding over his beer, being uncharacteristically quiet. He knew once this drink was gone, only whiskey would do. The ache he had in his chest was not helping in the least. "What was this about?" He had gotten used to seeing her with Lynch, but this was something totally different.

His eyes scanned the dark room, and found several hopeful female glances, but quickly that hope was vanquished. That was the last thing he was interested in at the moment.

Then his eyes landed on her, AGAIN. Penelope was sitting on a bar stool now, but this time her gorgeous legs were crossed. The way she was sitting made the already short dress ride higher up her thighs. Some pencil skinny guy, dressed like a boy band reject was leaning in whispering, god knows what kind of bullshit into her ear. Her shiny pink lips turned up in a smile, but luckily for him it was only a polite smile. She was not interested in the least. For some reason Derek got a surge of satisfaction at that. "Good, saves me from having to snap his skinny neck later."

A few minutes later a stumbling Garcia joined her team at their table, no doubt disappointing several men who had been hoping for an after party.

Morgan slid over so she could sit down. His relief was immediate, but that did not mean he was thrilled about her drunken state. He glanced back to the bar, giving the skinny asshole his best, arrogant Derek Morgan grin. The, "boy" clearly annoyed by the defeat quickly left the bar.

By all accounts everyone was having a terrific evening. The food was fantastic as always, and the drinks were just what they all needed. Even Morgan had found a way to turn his mood from sour to favorable. Of course by that time P was next to him, and she was without a doubt three sheets to the wind. Her laughter was so contagious that the entire table was in tears. Never had they seen sweet little Garcia so intoxicated.

Reluctantly JJ and Hotch excused themselves from the table. Jack was with a babysitter, and no doubt still awake. While Henry and Will were waiting on JJ for their evening bedtime story.

The rest of the group decided it was time to leave as well. Work was no doubt coming early the next morning. Rossi, Reid, and Emily decided to share a cab, but not before watching the entertaining debacle of Morgan getting a drunken Penelope into his truck.

Finally after a long ensuing battle of Garcia's fierce reluctance to leave Murray's, Morgan won and got her in the truck. Emily and Reid's laughter echoed throughout the parking lot, while Derek's glower only fueled the flame.

The ride back to Penelope's apartment was slowly getting quieter with each passing mile. He could tell her eyes were closing, and she was fighting passing out. Derek kept trying to keep her talking, but it was no use. The alcohol was slowly, but surely shutting down her foggy brain.

By the time he pulled up in front of her apartment she was out cold. Derek walked around to the passenger side, and gently lifted her to her feet. Penelope roused just enough to assist with getting up to her third floor apartment. Once they were at the top of the stairwell, he leaned her against the door and fished the door key from her purse. After helping her inside he gently removed her boots, and laid her on the bed. He made sure the fluffy purple comforter was tucked tightly around her.

Morgan was not typically an emotional man, but tonight had been a roller coaster ride. His thoughts had been all over the place, but right now he felt an odd sense of peace.

Before leaving he set a bottle of water with two asprin on her nightstand, along with a note. It read: "Baby girl, please drink all of the water, and take both pills. I know how stubborn you can be, but they will keep the massive hangover at bay. By the way, you are in BIG trouble when you are feeling better. Love D"

He quietly let himself out, and double checked the locks before making his way back to his truck.

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