Note- This fic takes place during season three after episode eleven, which was titled Birthright.

Mistakes Were Made

Morgan and Garcia

December 25, 2007

Into his cell, as he drove along the expressway, Derek Morgan said "Baby girl, I'm coming back to town early and I wanna see you."

"How early?"

"I'm on the road right now. Just crossed the state line for Virginia."

"On the road? I thought you flew home?"

"I couldn't get a flight out last night so I decided to drive instead of wait."

"What was the rush?"

"Woman, don't interrogate me," he teased.

"I told you to go visit your family and enjoy yourself. If you came back over me-"

"Hush!" After a moment he asked "So are you home? Can I come over, Garcia? I got a Christmas present for you. Its chocolate."

"Ha ha," she said in a totally unamused tone." You frustrate me to no end, Morgan! I hope your Mom isn't mad at me over this."

"Would you hush that motor mouth for five seconds, woman? No one is mad at you. In fact my family is mad at me for being stupid enough to listen to you when you said I should go home for my Ma's birthday and the holidays. They just don't get how you bat those eyes at me and can talk your boy into anything."

"Baby," she said softly, her voice kinda whining in a way that said: You shouldn't have come back!

"I'll be at your place soon. And I don't wanna hear no more about this subject, you got me?"

"You-"

He made an objecting sound "Uh, uh, uh, not another syllable, hard head." Then his voice changed to a sweeter one "Be there soon." Click.

He got a text telling him that she was at JJ's house celebrating the holiday with JJ"s family who came into town. JJ wanted to host everyone for the first time instead of her parents doing it because they were older now and didn't need to be put through all that work.

Going over to JJ's house, when it was packed with her family, wasn't exactly what Derek had in mind when he rented a car and started the long drive home the night before but waiting till later to see Penelope was out of the realm of possibilities, considering how he was feeling at that moment. So he drove himself straight to JJ's house, knocked on the door (feeling as sweaty and anxious as a school boy) and when JJ opened it he apologized for interrupting. JJ gave him a look mixed with sympathy (for being a lovesick idiot) and happiness (because he was lovesick over her friend) and then told him he could find Penelope in the family room.

With quick steps he rushed in there to find her chatting up JJ's family. She stood up when she saw him walk in. Ignoring the crowd around them Derek pulled her close, pressing her head against his chest, and stroking her hair "I'm sorry, baby girl. I never should have left."

(Come up to meet you.

Tell you I'm sorry.

You don't know how lovely you are.

I had to find you.

Tell you I need you.

Tell you I set you apart.) (The Scientist by Coldplay)

Looking up at him Penelope murmured "Its fine. Really. I've been fine-"

"No, mama, it ain't fine! I should have stayed with you and that's all there is to that. Every second I was it Chicago felt wrong. I needed to be here with you."

"I'm recovered, Morgan. You know that. I promise you I feel so much better now, okay?" She eased away from him and smiled at JJ's family. "He's so overprotective sometimes."

They all started to talk at once, saying hello to Derek and telling Penelope how lucky she was to have a boyfriend who would race over here to see her.

She answered "Oh, he's not my boyfriend. This gorgeous Adonis is only my friend and personal hero. But, you're right, I am pretty lucky to have him."

Derek gave her a tender look before asking JJ "Is there somewhere we could-"

JJ answered "Use my bedroom."

"Thanks."

Derek took Penelope's hand and led her there, ignoring her confused expression. When they were alone he cupped her face and just stared at her longingly for a moment before whispering, his tone choked with emotion, "I shouldn't have left you."

He moved back and looked as if he was trying to get his emotions under control.

"Handsome, what's up with you today?"

(Tell me your secrets.

Ask me your questions.

Oh, lets go back to the start!

Running in circles,

coming up tails.

Heads

on a science apart)

"I lied," Derek told her.

Her eyes filled with more confusion.

Letting out a shaky breath he went on "Your Christmas present isn't chocolate....well, it could be," he grinned a little "if you say yes, silly girl."

Reaching into the pocket of his jacket he pulled out a small velvet box and flipped it open for her to see a diamond ring nestled there.

Penelope gasped.

"I love you, you know that, right?" he asked her, speaking very fast, his voice thick with emotions. "Baby girl, its feels wrong to go away from you now. When I had to leave your apartment to go to the store while I was staying with you, I swear to you, girl, I could barely think straight because I didn't wanna leave you alone. That first case I went on I couldn't rush back fast enough. When you told me to move back to my place I wanted to argue with you but I didn't wanna invade your-"

Her finger pressed against his lips. "Derek, baby, shhhhh." Her eyes held his and in her eyes he saw that she was amazed he was saying these things, offering her this ring, but also that she was unsure.

"I think that when I was shot it affected you more than anyone realizes. Everyone worries about me getting over it but no one thinks to ask how you're getting over it. I understand how you might think..."

His heart was already racing so much he could hear it in his ears. Now his chest rattled with tears that made his face hot and no amount of blinking would push back. His lips quivered when he said "Penelope....please, don't you dare tell me I don't know what I'm saying to you right now. I know, mama. I know where I need to be."

Her eyes fell to the ring. "Its so beautiful, handsome, but I can't accept it. I'm so sorry."

(Nobody said it would be easy.

Its such a shame for us to part.

Nobody said it would be easy.

Nobody said it would be so hard.

Or take us back to the start)

A shudder went through his body at her words. After a long silent moment he closed the ring box and put it in his pocket. "I shouldn't have left, baby girl."

"You need to stop saying that," she told him in her most gentle tone. "Its not true. That has nothing to do with-"

"Yeah it does!" he yelled at her, torn up inside. Breathing hard he went on "If I would have not listened to you and stayed here I could have showed you that the only place I wanna be is where ever you are, baby girl. The time I wasted I could have used to make you feel my...." His words faltered off.

Stepping closer to her again he cupped her face with one hand and whispered "Oh, baby girl," before his lips descended on hers in a sweet, soft kiss.

(Tell me you love me.

Come back and haunt me.

Oh what a rush to the start.

Running in circles.

Chasing our tails.

Come back as we are)

When they broke apart she had a slightly dazed look on her face. Reaching up she wiped some tears from his face and then hugged him tight for a long minute.

After a minute she said, in a quiet and resigned voice, "Its is a beautiful ring, Derek. I'll never forget that you thought, even for a moment, you might want to spend the rest of your life with me. That will always be something I carry in my heart...thank you, baby."

"I just didn't ask you right. I haven't done a thing right, where you're concerned, in a long ass time. But if you'd give me a chance I could-"

"Please stop!"

(Nobody said it would be easy.

Its such a shame

for us to part)

"I'm sorry, baby girl," he said, in a numb voice. Walking away from her, turning his back on her, he ran his hands over his head. "Damn it! I have screwed up everything for us."

Tears streamed down her face. "No, baby, no you haven't. Everything happens for a reason. You and I just aren't the reason."

Looking at her, with anguish etched into his features, his pain raw for her to see, "Do you really believe that?"

After this day she knew he would close down and they would never be this close again. Her heart broke for that. For what they would lose just because they tried for too much.

"This is guilt," she whispered, hoarsely. "You think you have to take care of me now but you don't. You never wanted this for us before."

"Don't you know why I want this so bad now, girl? Don't you get it, Garcia? It took thinking there was a chance I could lose you forever....that a bullet would take you away from me....for me to put my garbage and bullshit aside and admit I love you. There are so many reasons I couldn't say it before but that's all about me. Not you, baby girl! Its all on me. This place we're at now is on me and I'm sorry for my mistakes. I guess....I guess I get it if you can't get past what's happened."

(Nobody said it would be easy.

Nobody said it would be so hard.

I'm going back to the start.

Ohh,

Ahhh,

Ohhh.)

Feeling weak she sat on the edge of the bed. Letting in and out ragged breaths she tried to process what he said.

Derek told her "I should get out of here. I'm sorry, sweetheart. I don't know what else to say. I'm sorry."

He was at the door when she asked "Can I see my ring one more time?"

Wiping his eyes first he then walked over, crouched before her, took it out and opened it. With his voice breaking he told her "It's a princess cut for my princess."

"Its uber fabulous, baby. Utter perfection. Flawless. Just like your body."

He chuckled, though it was filled with sadness, before he stood up. "I knew it was too soon but...its hard to explain....when you figure out the person you wanna spend the rest of your life with you want the rest of your life to start right that second. I couldn't get home fast enough. The thing is....I knew I should have never left, Garcia. I knew it when I got on that plane. I knew that when I got home it wouldn't be the same.....one thing I got right."

"I can't take that ring, Derek." She looked up and into his eyes. "But.....hang onto it, okay?"

"If you don't feel the same I don't want you trying to fall for me. I will be all right, Garcia. Don't worry about me, girl. I just let my wild crush on you get out of control, I guess."

Standing up she moved close to him and lightly gripped his shirt. "I have a wild crush on you, too, handsome." She leaned her forehead against his chest. He stroked her hair. "I would love to say yes, know that, but if I did I would spend every second wondering if you know what you're doing.....so I gotta say no.....but if you do really know what you're doing....don't give up on me."

He lifted her chin with his finger. "You won't get rid of me that easy." Then he gave her another kiss, which led to short, tender kisses and more hugging.

Penelope whispered "Even though I'm the Oracle of All Knowing I hope that this time I'm wrong and you're right. That you know how you feel and what you want....I won't blame you if this is guilt...but if its not....."

"Its not, trust me on that."

She gave him a teary smile. "Kiss your princess, Sir Derek. You have a lot of convincing and making up to do."

With the most tender grin on his lips he kissed her as if she was his greatest treasure on earth and Penelope Garcia started to let her heart forgive and heal......as she took another baby step toward becoming Mrs. Morgan.

THE END

Based on Hear You Me. The song is by Jimmy Eat World. Mvid by SamlovesRuby.