Mama Matchmaker

Morgan and Garcia

Part One

June 2010

Derek knew it was a bad idea to let his mother talk him into inviting Penelope out to dinner with them. He just didn't know how bad of an idea it was until they were actually at the Italian restaurant and his mother was absolutely glowing the whole time, fawning over Penelope, and giving them looks that said "When's the wedding?"

He wanted to crawl under the table. He never thought himself a coward but this was embarrassing. At his age he should be able to fix his love life without his Mommy coming half way across the country to do it for him.

Derek took a big drink of his water and simultaneously glanced at his watch, for about the thirtieth time that hour.

Just then his mother choose that moment to lean over the table, where she sat across from him and Penelope, and say "I was so thrilled to hear that you dumped that boyfriend of yours finally. You deserve so much better than settling for second best like that."

Derek coughed, choked on his water and grabbed a napkin to dab at his mouth. He made crazy noises before he swallowed and could speak again.

Penelope patted his back and murmured "Are you okay, baby?" which only made his mother give them both a knowing look that seemed to crow "Victory is mine! I'll have those grandbabies in no time!"

Once Derek was able to speak he choked out a strained "Ma," as a warning to please ease up already with all her not so subtle hints that Penelope was the best woman on the planet (thank you, he already knew that) and just perfect for him (he knew that too) and that she should marry him like tomorrow (that would be nice but he didn't want his Ma to ask her instead of him). His face felt so hot. He always did blush easily when it came to Penelope and even if his skin color didn't change much it was still obvious anyway. Just the look on his face screamed what he was feeling.

Derek announced "Change of subject," before Penelope had to say anything about Lynch.

Because really what was she supposed to say? The only thing his Ma knew about Lynch was that he wasn't Derek. It was pretty damn obvious that Fran had never been on Team Lynch. She rooted for the home team always and even when he told his Ma that Penelope was a friend and would always be a friend, because that's what they decided years ago, his Ma totally blew off his words. He might as well have not said them at all.

Fran Morgan insisted that actions spoke louder than words. And all Derek's actions yelled he was infatuated with Penelope from the day they met. When he called home her name came up. When he came home to visit Penelope's picture was on his phone and her ring tone rang several times a day. Fran would go to sleep, in her little apartment, to the sound of her son gabbing on the phone with Garcia and wake up to find him in the kitchen whistling a happy tune. All day long it was Garcia said this and Garcia did that when Derek told stories about his job. And lots of blushing when he remembered things he could never tell his Mom.

So, yeah, he had been a little sprung back then. But over the years his feelings changed. They deepened from that crazy, fun, innocent crush to friendship type of love and then to the most amazing, life changing love of his life. And he felt his feelings could change even more in years to come. Deepen even more.

But first he had to have a talk with Penelope. A talk that scared Derek to have because he didn't want to find out she might not feel the same.

It had only been six weeks since her and Lynch called it quits. They seemed happy one day and it was over the next. Derek half expected them to kiss and make up like they had so many times in the past when they had little spats but the weeks were rapidly flying by and Lynch was still an ex who Penelope didn't want to so much as hear his name in casual conversation.

"Ma, why don't you tell Penelope about your trip to San Francisco to see Aunt Gerty. Did you know Penelope grew up in California?"

"Is that right, dear? I hope you don't plan to move back out there ever. I would hate to have Derek live so far from me. Virginia is bad enough."

Yep, he needed to just crawl under the table now and admit defeat. He couldn't even look at Penelope by this time. Derek let out a long sigh and shook his head.

"No, ma'am, I don't plan to move back. So no worries there."

"That's wonderful to hear. Of course its beautiful out there but my baby boy really does belong back in Chicago with his family. If I can't have that though I'm glad he's here with you, someone who truly cares for him and wants to see him get all the happiness he deserves, just like his sisters and me are always telling him. I think he needs a knock upside the head to get him to see he does deserve a beautiful wife and a house full of gorgeous babies. Sometimes, Penelope, its up to us women to make our men see things when they are acting hard headed. Don't you agree?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Do you have any plans for tomorrow?"

"Ma, she has a life. Will you leave her be, please? Really, Ma. You're bothering her and she's too polite to say it."

Penelope hissed out "Derek," and they shared a look. He sighed again and went back to eating his pasta. It would have been better if he just had stayed home tonight and let Penelope and his mother go out to dinner and decide if Penelope could ever fall for Derek or not.

Then they could text him the answer.

Penelope then said to Fran "Ma'am-"

"Dear, you don't have to call me ma'am. You're making me feel really old."

"I'm sorry, ma'am...I mean...Mrs. Morgan."

"Call me Fran. We're practically family!"

Derek gave Penelope a look that said: I'm so sorry for this! I'll make it up to you, baby girl.

Fran went on "I'd love it if you join Derek and I tomorrow when we go sightseeing. That is if you don't have something better to do."

"There's nothing that could be better than spending time with Derek and you."

"That's exactly what I was thinking," Fran said, shooting her son a knowing look. "And I also insist, if its not being too pushy, which I'm a Mom and I get to give orders, that you come back to the house tonight for some dessert. I made peach cobbler. Its Derek's favorite, but I'm sure you know that."

"Actually Derek told me he likes vanilla ice cream with strawberries on top. Something about that flavor combination he just can't resist," Penelope teased as she flirted with Derek. "Isn't that what you told me, handsome? I went and bought all that strawberry scented body wash just cause you said you liked it."

He gave her a smoldering look. "Hush, do not egg her on."

"Oh, sug, I don't need your Mom to give me a push."

"You're just encouraging her," Derek warned Penelope. "She'll never let it go if there is even the smallest hope. So, baby girl, you better think twice before you open those gorgeous lips again."

They shared a flirty look, lost in their own world, until Fran interrupted and said "I just can't believe that you two have never been on even one date. I know I'm the Mom here and you don't want to tell me all your secrets but its just impossible to think you've ignored this wonderful connection you share for so many years."

And there went the mood. Derek was back to wanting to bang his head against the table again.