Thanks for all of the follows and REVIEWS (keep them coming - I3 them)
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FBI Cafeteria
Reid and Penelope enter the cafeteria. It's crazy packed because it's raining out. They spot a group about to exit and they seize the table.
"I made you two thanksgiving turkey sandwiches and one turkey and swiss for me"
"Thanksgiving sandwich?" Reid asks looking at the sandwich suspiciously.
"It has turkey, cranberry sauce, cheddar, kale, tomato, and mayo…my brothers love this sandwich."
She pulls out a bright blue folder – "Ok, Operation Baby Shower" she announces very executively.
"Sorry, I'm late" Emily says as she joins them. "I was lost in paperwork—I am going to grab something quick—maybe not look at the line"
As Penelope looks at the caf line, she sees Derek and Gina and her heart drops. Reid turns to see what she is looking at Derek.
"Maybe he is taking my advice."
"Hmm?" she says.
"I told Derek that a woman can sense a change in you. Well my mom said women can sense a change in you, and when you are serious - they hover. Derek and Gina met on a case like 4 years ago. He flirted with her, but she denied him at every turn, because he was a player. Now, I think there is a shift and he wants more. Did you know his longest relationship was 6 weeks?"
Reid continues to yammer about Derek and realizes that something he said has changed her mood. At that moment, he realizes that she likes Derek – like in a romantic way. They're always super flirty, but he thought that was just their thing. Now, it seemed like the subtext was deeper.
"Garcia are you and Der—"
"Pst, no Spencer I'm sooo not his type." She answered before he could finish his sentence.
"Actually you are, see he -"
"Back to JJ's baby shower, Pretty Boy"
"I'm thinking since we know it is a boy, we should play around with the nursery rhyme that's what little boys are made of."
She opened up her folder and showed him the ideas. Emily joins in and they discuss and come up with a plan and list of tasks.
"Will and JJ are going to love this. Maybe I should make mint juleps -since his is a proper boy from Nawlins."
Derek spots them in the cafeteria and comes over.
"Whatcha plotting over her?"
"We are planning a surprise baby shower for JJ?" Reid answers
"Do you need any help?" he asked
"Maybe you could come over with Reid and help hang the decorations."
Penelope's phone rings- it is team B – she leaves the table to take the call.
While she was on the phone with SSA Fields, Reid asked Derek about Gina.
"No, she actually wanted tips for tactile training. She was up for a spot on Samuel's team."
"Tactile training- sounds kinky" Emily joked.
"Nah, she is not the kinda girl who is into Derek Morgan." He replied
"What girl isn't into Derek Morgan?" they (Emily and Reid) both ask simultaneously and incredulously.
Derek looks at Penelope and began to describe her.
"The kinda girl who is way to smart to think she can change my ways, she knows I'm not ready too get serious.
"Maybe you're a lot more ready than you realize." Reid says.
Garcia returns to the table "Duty calls, my furry friends"
"Thanks for the sandwich Garcia, it was delicious."
Derek puts his arm around her shoulders and says, "You made Pretty Boy a sandwich? You never cook for me."
"You gotta earn it" she replied as she poked him in the ribs.
The Rest of the week was kind of crazy the team. They went to Arizona to solve a case. A family was killing parents and abducting the daughters.. for their son. She swore she couldn't make this stuff up if she tried.
Penelope's Home
Today is Baby Shower Day. She has already made the baseball inspired cupcakes in vanilla and chocolate, crudité, salad, mint julep, and light appetizers. She pre-ordered the main dishes but wanted to make a few items so it to feels homey. The tables and chairs were delivered as well as the balloons. The boys should be here soon she thought to hang the decorations—but since she was already ahead of schedule, she figured that she should start.
Outside of her apartment, Reid was ringing her bell, when Derek shows up.
Reid, "I've been ringing the bell for 10 minutes and I even called her—do you know where she is."
"She is probably can't hear the bell - I'll let you in."
"You have a key?" he asked surprised with the typical Reid lilt at the end?
"Yeah, I'm her back up" he answered too quickly.
They entered her apartment and it was bright and colorful. It surprised Reid that it wasn't as cluttered as her desk – it was bright but spacious.
"She is probably in the garden."
The walked out to the garden and see her standing on a ladder putting up the Chinese lanterns.
"Penelope Garcia," Derek chastised.
"Hey doves"
"You should not be up there, hard-heard. I told you to wait till I get here."
"I thought I would get a jump on it- No big deal" she said as she climbed the ladder. "Thank you so much for coming over."
"I don't mean to put you to work right away but - Can you put up the lanterns, the Christmas lights, and streamers? If you are hungry there are snacks, food, and drinks in the kitchen - I'm going to change and I'll be back to help."
As they hang the decorations, Reid asks, "So what is going on with you and Garcia?"
"Not you too—we're friends."
"You know I am the last one to notice these type of things and if I'm noticing it must be obvious."
"Noticing what Reid?"
"You love her…"
"I can't believe you're giving me relationship advice. Am I that much off of my game?"
"Yes, and it's because of her… and I think it is pretty awesome!" Reid says proudly.
Derek blushed and smiled—he couldn't hide it anymore. "Don't say anything, man!?"
"I knew it."
"Shh, I said keep it to yourself - I do dig her. I dig her a lot, but she is holding something back or hiding something but not in a malicious way… at least I don't think so. I'm mean, Reid, she is obviously heartbroken over someone and that isn't me." He spoke so fast; it was as if he was on a Shonda Rhimes show.
"Uhm, it doesn't take a profiler to notice she hasn't been that way for a few months."
"She doesn't want anyone to know and I respect that – so you have to keep you mouth shut, Pretty Boy"
"Hey, I'm not Prentiss! Your secret is safe with me." Reid says then locks his mouth with an imaginary key.
When she came back down the lanterns and lights were up, the tablecloths were out, and the gift table was set. The boys were sitting in the garden drinking beers.
"Wow, I can't believe you guys are done."
"Hey Garcia, where's your bathroom?" Reid asked.
"Right off of the living room."
As soon as they were alone, they were all over each other. The wind blew a plate on the ground and she jumped. She thought it was Reid.
"Derek treat this like the BAU no funny business." She said sternly.
"What do you mean?"
"No hanky panky, this is the office, ok."
"Seal it with a kiss" he teased.
The party went off without a hitch. Everything was perfect and JJ was surprised – she even cried! This was a non-traditional shower, since anyone who knows JJ should know -she is not a girlie-girlie. She did give a heart-warming, thank you. This BAU team really is a family and Penelope felt the full force of that today.
A little bit before sunset folks started to head out.
She was sitting in her yard, looking up at the lights drinking a glass of wine. Today went perfectly she thought. She didn't think it was possible to love her team, but in this moment, she loved everyone- she hoped it wasn't the wine talking—what if she had Stockholm syndrome? That thought made her laugh… Stockholm.
"There you are—what are you giggling about?" Derek said, as he made his way into the yard.
"Do you want me to help you clean up?" he asked.
"No, sit with me for a while"
"Isn't the yard beautiful – the lights make me feel like we are in a magical place in the sky."
"How much did you have to drink?"
"Ha Ha" she said sarcastically.
"I didn't think I could be happy in DC but I am – I really am. I didn't have this in Venice"
She kissed passionately and said, "I didn't have a Derek Morgan in Venice"
"Derek" she said looking up at the lights and the lanterns—"please don't break my heart."
He kissed her and said "never."
"But, I do have to be honest – I told Reid – I told Reid about us."
"Ok"
"Ok? You were so adamant about that rule and now it is ok."
"Yeah, I told JJ" she said and then mouthed "oopppsss".
"Should we tell Hotch?" She wondered out loud and then answered her own question "we work with the best profilers in the country they must know. How were we even keeping it a secret?"
They both started to laugh at the insanity of hiding the truth from profilers. Love makes you do crazy things he thought.