Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds

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Mini key:-

Derek's thoughts: bold and italic.

Penelope's thoughts: italic

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Stop twiddling you thumbs Derek... she'll be here. You know she will. Just chill or your mom will pick up on it

'Right Pen should be here in a couple of minutes... drinks?' Emily said placing her phone back in her pocket.

'Just a beer.' Oh Derek you could use something stronger... all this tension your feeling, you need to relax.

'Same.'

'You know me, you and Pen have the same.' JJ smiled.

'I'll have what I just had thanks.' Emily smiled and stood, they were still awaiting Reid, Rossi and Penelope. Minutes later their bubbly blonde tech entered with their resident genius and Derek didn't realise he was staring and grinning madly until his mom hit his arm.

Crap! Trust your mom to pick up on what you're doing! Your mom of all people... seriously! The sooner you have this talk maybe the sooner you can move on and be oh... normal again!

'Hey guys! Sorry we're late... Reid broke down, didn't you sweetie.'

'Yeah... my fault.' Reid said as he slipped onto a chair by JJ.

'Hey handsome.' Penelope said as she took the chair next to Derek. God he looks fine tonight. 'Hi Fran.' Why does she have annoying smile? Is that worrying? Leave it alone Penelope, do not get caught up in that head of yours... it's not always healthy!

'Hi Penelope, lovely to see you again.'

'And you.' Penelope said with a smile.

'Hey baby girl... how was your day?' She has to wear the clothes that hug her teasingly doesn't she? All the time! Derek don't complain you enjoy it, it makes Penelope Garcia sexy.

'It's been okay... how about yours?' Not really Penelope, you know full well it's been anything but okay.

'It's been good... just catching up with my mom that's all.' Ask her! You never question to ask her! 'Pen what's up?' Good you didn't hold back.

'Nothing handsome.' You do realise you are like a professed liar lately?

Push her. 'Pen?'

'It's nothing okay...' She responded abruptly. Okay harsh Penelope. 'Sorry...I'll be right back I just need to go to the loo.' To chill off for many reasons, your main one being DEREK MORGAN! Penelope stood and headed for the bathroom, JJ followed shortly after. Minutes later they both came back and happily accepted their drinks. Hours passed and the whole team were now together laughing and joking, Fran very much interested in observing her sons behaviour with Penelope.

'Emily let's go dance.' Hotch said putting his hand out.

'Yeah Reid let's go.' JJ said dragging Reid off his stool before he had the single chance to answer yes or no.

'Fran, care to dance?' Rossi asked and Fran accepted, knowing full well what was going on.

'Looks like it leaves us baby girl.' FINALLY!

'Go on handsome... I've seen 6 women check you out already, I don't mind you go ahead.'

'P what's wrong?'

'Nothing... go on dance.'

'No, everyone has someone, so I want you.' You said it! At last you said it, in some sense.

'It's just not been the best day handsome, so get yourself some fine miss thing and enjoy your evening.'

'What if I only want to dance with you?' Which I will not take no for an answer.

She looked at him and gave up. 'Come on but you don't have to.' But Penelope you know you've been waiting to dance with Derek all night!

'No I know I don't but I want to.' He smiled and pulled her to her feet. Of course you want to! You dreamed about dancing with her last night silly!

They joined the others and danced and had fun for much too long and before they knew it they were the remaining pair left out of the team when they walked back they slumped into their chairs laughing and bantering.

'Have fun you two?'

'Em did you really have to ask?' JJ said laughing. 'They always have fun.'

Penelope looked over to the door and sighed and shook her head. 'I will be right back... there's a little matter that will not leave me alone that I need to attend to.' They watched her walk about and saw the one and only Kevin Lynch standing by the entrance, Derek looked ready to bolt. They watched Penelope drag Lynch outside her face burning with anger.

'Penny! I just watched you dance all over him for an hour!'

Clever arse hole! 'So what?'

'How dare you.'

'Excuse me?' Is this guy for real?

'I want you back Penny.'

'No. I told you earlier I don't want to hear it Kevin.'

'But I love you.'

'Yeah really? You show it strangely.' Seriously is this happening? I want to have fun but instead I'm arguing with the one man that should be in Maine.

'I was a jerk but marry me and I'll make you happy.' Wow at least you can admit it this time.

The team looked out of the word as Penelope cut Lynch off with her body language; her arms folded to her chest, her face looking completely worn down and pissed off. They exchanged occasionally glances with one another but kept watching what was unfolding. Derek still looking reading to bolt at any given moment.

Lynch got on one knee and Penelope began to hysterically laugh at him, he continued completely undeterred.

'Penny will you marry me?'

'No.'

'Why not.'

'Because she doesn't love you.' Derek said from behind Lynch.

'Oh trust you to come along... still fuelling her pathetic head.'

'Kevin just leave.'

'No... not until I know what we have here.'

'Hey Pen...' Derek said approaching. 'Kevin what we have here is simple.' Derek pulled Penelope into his arms and kissed her on the lips with so much passion and intimacy that Lynch thought his jaw might soon hit the ground. Penelope's head began to swim. Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Reality check... yes Penelope dear your lips are well and truly connected with those of Derek's

Everyone inside the bar looked at one another and smiled. 'Well that took a lot longer that we thought.'

'Longer?' Fran asked. 'You all saw it too?'

'We've seen it since Penelope was shot.'

'They're both stubborn... so hopefully this is the start of something new.'

'And the other man?'

'Kevin Lynch, Penelope's ex, he broke her heart and ran off and got married.' Fran nodded and looked at the window smiling as Derek looked at Penelope, her face cupped with his hands.

'You bitch.' Kevin spat breaking up the view.

'Kevin just leave... there's nothing here for you now. Never really was.' Okay so you outer tone is set stable but WOW Derek Morgan just kissed you... was it what you expected? No. No? No it was much better.

Kissing Penelope was amazing! Could you get use to that? Of course you could! They watched Lynch walk away. 'You okay?'

'Yeah, his been hanging around all day... so yeah I am now... erm... uh... thank you for that. Great show for him to see.' She replied and headed back in before he had a chance to tell her. Derek Morgan really does put on a convincing show Penelope but don't get ideas until after that talk yeah?

She doesn't believe it... yet. Derek followed Penelope back into the bar and they reclaimed their seats like nothing had happened. The team sat and sighed annoyed, that much intimacy was not a nothing kiss.

'Penelope what did Lynch want?'

'He's not with his wife anymore... so came back to reconcile... he just asked me to marry him and then Derek came out and put on a show and now Kevin's left, which I hope is for good.'

'You two infuriate me endlessly.' Hotch said standing, everyone other than Penelope and Derek nodded. 'Right drinks?'

'Apple Martini for us 3... but me and Emily are taking Rossi and Reid dancing.' Emily answered getting in the normal for the 3 women of the team. When they all left, Fran, Derek and Penelope were left.

Why would we infuriate Hotch? He can't seriously think something is going on can he?

'I'm going to pop to the loo, I'll be right back.' Derek said standing. That kiss was surreal.

Fran watched Derek get out of all ranges of hearing ability before turning to Penelope. 'I hope you know my son wasn't just putting on a show out there Penelope.'

'Excuse me?' Of course he was... it was nothing more than to put a nerd in his place.'

'My son very much loves you Penelope, we've all seen it, just then outside, the way he holds you and looks at you and talks to you.'

'Fran, it's nice you see it but things the way things are it's just not going to work out like that. Derek has the pick of the ladies; I'm not in that category.'

'My son doesn't have a category...'

'I'm just not like the women he usually goes for; the women he can get. I'm the best friend the one that listens to his pain, his guilt, his shame, his happiness. I get the sideline of his life.' But I want the main field of it. 'Just like he has mine.' Penelope smiled sadly, she looked at her watch. 'I'm going to head off home.'

'Penelope don't go please.'

'I'm sorry Fran... todays been a bit too much to take.' Penelope stood as Hotch arrive back. 'Sir let Emily or JJ have my drink, I'm going to go... say bye to others for me please.'

'Everything okay?'

'Perfectly.' Lied to the boss man now!

'You sure you want to go?' Penelope nodded. 'Let me walk you to a cab at least.'

'I'll be fine.'

'That was not an option.'

'Fine... Fran it was lovely seeing you again and I hope to see you when little kinks like the one earlier don't occur.' Life's just one lovely rollercoaster and thanks to that kiss, it's that added some more loop the loops and twisters to the bunch, great because life couldn't just be simple could it?

'I hope so Penelope... take care.'

Penelope smiled and left with Hotch, knowing she was going to get a chat now, a long stern one. When Derek came back he was evidently geared up for something but he lost that momentum when he saw his mom talking to Rossi and a table of drinks but missing members. 'Where's Pen and Hotch?'

'Penelope's gone home; Hotch has just taken her to a cab.'

'Is she okay?'

'Yes.'

'I'll be right back.'Derek said and made his way for the door. I need to find her... that kiss was so real and meant everything it was supposed to. I need her to know that now. I need that chat. But there's Hotch, on his own, no Penelope. Damn it! Seems I won't get that talk again. God Derek you need to learn to just say things and care about the fallout after.