Luke Alvez is a lot of things, Penelope notes of her tutor, dare she say it, friend. He's gentle and kind, no matter how many times she messes up her verbs. She finds herself hanging out with the man more, strictly for tutoring. Like now in the library, during lunch, or after school, sometimes before. He keeps saying it would be easier to study at one of their houses, being neighbors and all but that's a line she's not ready to cross yet.
Luke notices Derek's movement towards their table before she does. He's fully aware of Morgan's best friend status with Penelope, but it doesn't stop him from groaning internally.
"Penelope, I need a favor."
"Anything for you chocolate thunder."
"Dinner, tonight my house, we're telling ma tonight" Derek completely ignores Luke presence, Luke isn't sure if it's on purpose or not either way he pretends not to ignore the conversation.
"and I'm needed because."
"mom likes you." Penelope rolls her eyes at him.
"No", she doesn't think she can handle watching the man she fantasied getting married to since she was six tell his mother he got his girlfriend pregnant.
"Baby girl" she's determined no to cave, but then he ups the charm factor and she is utterly helpless.
"Ok, but Luke is coming to."
"I am?" all pretenses of not paying attention are thrown out the window as he utters his words in shock
Luke wasn't expecting it, not really and apparently neither was Derek by the look on his face.
Morgan shrugs, eyeing Penelope's tutor, "Everyone will know soon enough."
Penelope lets out an anxious breath as Morgan swaggers out the room, only to turn red upon seeing Luke's face.
"I panicked."
"So what time should I pick you up." She rolls her eyes at the man.
"This is not a date Luke Alvez!" she says a little too loudly for a library.
"Sure it isn't chica."
Emily never understood why sex education was always taught by uninterested gym teachers. She bitterly thinks that if she'd had better sexual education she wouldn't be in this mess.
Entering the restroom she looks at herself in the mirror. Her hair dark hair needing a term, before she can continue to contemplate the unevenness of her bangs she hers the undeniable sound of puking. When Savannah walks out she freezes. She'd been avoiding Derek, and by extension her ever since their run in at planned parenthood.
"I don't know why they call it morning sickness when it happens all day." Savannah awkwardly states
"Yea when my mom was pregnant with Penelope and Spencer she basically lived in the bathroom."
Savannah doesn't know how to respond she knows from Derek that the Rossis' mom had died. The conversation feels even more wrong considering Savannah is pregnant and well Emily's not, at least not anymore.
Emily doesn't seem to be having the same internal issues as Savannah.
"I'll see you later Emily."
Emily smiles politely but makes it a goal to never speak to Savannah again.
For the first time in a while SSA David Rossi finds himself home on a Friday night. The kids were all heading towards the door as he came in.
"Where is everyone going?"
"Out" Emily says not bothering to stop on her way out the door.
"I made lasagna."
"Sorry I have dinner plans." Rossi's raises his at his eyebrow youngest daughter; Matthew mouths Derek, from behind Penelope
"Drama club, rehearsal" David lets go of Penelope's dinner plans to address Aaron
"Since when are you apart of the drama club?"
"He joined because of Hayley." Penelope says, singing Hayley's name causing her brother to blush
"Don't you have a date with that kid Luke?" Aaron snaps at Penelope.
"I thought you were going to dinner at Derek's?" Rossi asks confused.
"I am, Luke's my plus one."
"Whose Luke?"
"Alvez, his family moved in like three months ago." At her father's blank expression she rolls her eyes. Penelope goes to leave but stops suddenly, "You'd know if you paid more attention to us, you know your kids."
"Kitten"
"I've got to go." Rossi goes to follow her but Aaron stops him, instead heading out behind his sister.
"Where are JJ and Spencer?" David asks Matthew, the only kid who seemed remotely interested in talking to him.
"Will's house, library."
Matthew Rossi doesn't know a lot about his birth parents other than the fact his dad was Caucasian and his mom was Korean. He'd even started learning Korean at the local community college, to feel close to his heritage. His dad and mom, before her untimely death wouldn't tell him much about their death, all he knew was that the case was brutal. His parents were the last victim that led to the killer being caught. Unfortunately it was too late for his parents and all Rossi and his team found was him.
David watches Matthew poke at his lasagna, glancing up every few seconds. Rossi wouldn't be a prolifer if he didn't notice his son's fidgeting.
"Matthew, you know you can tell me anything." David wasn't prepared for his response.
"Why'd you adopt me?"
"What? You know why."
"I mean did I not have any relatives." Ah Rossi thinks, that's what this was about, he was having an identity crisis.
Rossi motions with his hand for Matt to follow him. Matthew finds himself in his father's office, a place he had rarely been in. David rummages around until he finds a folder with the FBI symbol on it. He passes it to Matthew.
"I hope you find the answers you're looking for."
Penelope is in hell. Why'd she ever agree with this, she'd never know. On one side of her sits an awkward looking Luke, who doesn't even know what he is doing in a house with people he barely knew. On the other side of her is one of Derek's sisters Sarah, Desire was out with friends. Across from her was Savannah and Derek, Mama Morgan at the end of the table.
"Penelope dear you hardly come over anymore."
"I've been busy Fran." Avoiding your son because I have a giant crush on him but he's with Savannah who's having his child, she thinks. Her face goes pink at the thought, something she hopes no one had noticed.
"You ok chica?"
"I'm fine it's hot in here, are you hot? She rushes out; Luke smirks before answering her with a lopsided grin.
"Well I've been told I am quite handsome"
"That's not what I meant." Her face grows redder.
"You guys are so cute, how long have you been dating" Sarah asks.
"We're not dating!" they say simultaneously.
"Derek actually has some news for you." Penelope says before catching herself, Derek glares at her, Penelope mouths sorry.
"Its fine Derek, they were going to have to find out eventually." Savannah says.
Everyone but Penelope looks at the couple wondering what was happening.
"Mom, Savannah is expecting." His words are received with silence. "My child"
"We're having a baby." Savannah adds in.
Penelope glances around at the awkward atmosphere.
"Well I'm going to go home; it was nice seeing you Fran." She says rushing to get out.
"I'll drive you home." Luke says.
"Mom" Derek says pleadingly
"We'll talk later, when I finish having a heart attack."
Rossi hears giggling which he assumes belongs to JJ. Emily doesn't giggle and Penelope had sent him a text earlier saying she'd be back later. He goes back to typing his book when he hears a boy's voice. Grabbing his gun he heads towards the noise.
"Freeze"
"Dad!" JJ yells from her position on top of Will on the couch.
"Jennifer?"
"Dad?" Will questions, "You said he wasn't home"
"He usually isn't" mumbles JJ
"You must be Will." David states ,ignoring his daughter's comment.
"Mr. Rossi…"
"I'm going to do you a favor and pretend I didn't just see my daughter on top of you."
"Dad!"
"Don't dad me Jennifer."
"but if I see you touching her in any way again I will shoot you."
"yes sir."
"Now how about some lasagna?"
"You knew, didn't you?" Luke states, once they are settled in his car, Penelope just shrugs.
"It wasn't my secret to tell."
"Derek's lucky to have a friend like you." Penelope's eyes start to water, it soon turns into tears.
"I'm sorry?" Luke doesn't know why he's apologizing but it seemed like the right thing to say.
"It's not you. It's just I" she doesn't finish her sentence instead just starts crying again.
"Hey whatever it is its, ok." He'd never been the best at confronting crying women.
Wiping her tears away she looks at Luke again, "You know I liked him, like more than friends, and I was stupid to believe he would ever like someone like me."
"Someone like you?" Luke's really not seeing the problem with her but Penelope starts waving her hands widely around her body and he suddenly understands.
"Girls like me don't get guys like him."
"Well that's their lost, one day you'll find someone ten times better than Morgan."
"Yea."
"Yea" he says going to touch her hair but pulls his hand back at the last minute.
"I don't want to go home yet, let's go somewhere."
"Any place in particular?"
"No just take me anywhere." Luke knows in that moment he'd follow her to the ends of the earth.
A/N: Sorry this as taken so long, managing a chronic illness can be hard, and general chemistry two has been kicking my behind.