Chapter Four:
Penelope wasn't sure if she should tell Luke about her date with Derek. It wasn't like her and Luke were together or anything, but still. If roles were reversed, Penelope knew she would want to know. So, she decided to tell him.
She was still unsure how to feel about her and Derek's date. On one hand, she had wanted this for as long as she knew him. But on the other hand, the timing was awful, and she was still certain this was a bad idea. She couldn't her heart, though, for skipping a beat at the thought of a real date with Derek. Plus, she'd only agreed to one date, she might as well enjoy it.
Luke met Penelope at the elevators when the work day was over. He was cooking her dinner at her place. Penelope had mentioned that her step father had made her enchiladas all the time, and since he'd passed, she'd never had anything nearly as good. Luke had his grandmother's recipe, and insisted on making them for her. She was looking forward to it.
"So, you want to follow me to my place?" Luke asked. "It's not too far."
"Sure." She agreed with a smile as she got into the elevator. It was just the two of them, and it only felt fair to give him a chance to back out. "Uh, Luke? I need to tell you something."
"Everything okay?" He asked with concern. She sighed.
"Derek asked me on a date." She blurted.
"Okay...uhm, that's great, right?" Luke asked. She could tell he was trying to mask his disappointment.
"I don't know." She admitted. "I like hanging out with you, Luke. But, if I don't go on this date…"
"You'll always wonder." Luke filled in the blanks. "I get it. Uhm, we can cancel tonight, if you want."
"No!" she insisted. "Luke, I do like you. Can I just...see what happens?"
"I like you too, Penelope." Luke smiled. "And if you need to explore this, then do it. That's what dating is all about, isn't it? Finding the person that's right for you? Well, I hope Derek is prepared. I'm not going to just step aside and let him win the girl. Unless she wants me to, of course."
"Thank you." Penelope smiled.
Penelope and Luke had a great time that night. His grandmother's enchiladas were amazing, maybe not as good as her fathers, but she had to give praise where it was due. After dinner, they watched a movie. Well, watched was a pretty loose term. Mostly, they chatted. He told her about his aunt Maria who raised him after his parents died. And he told her about his brother who lived in Michigan with his wife and kids. Penelope told him about her own brothers, the ones in California who essentially disowned her.
Penelope also got to meet the very light of Luke's life. As it turned out, he had a German Shepherd named Roxie, and the dog quickly fell in love with Penelope and vice versa. She joked that she would be coming over everyday just to see her new fur friend. Joking aside though, Luke was a really good listener. She found it was easy to talk to him about herself. He didn't judge her, and he seemed genuinely interested in getting to know her. She was glad she had chosen to keep their date, and not cancel just because of Derek.
"Would it be too much to ask when we can do this again?" Luke asked when he walked her out to her car that night.
"Not at all." She smiled.
"I'm almost certain we'll have a case this weekend." Luke said. "Not to jinx it or anything, but it's been too quiet the last couple of days."
"Well, if that's true, we can celebrate your return." She stated. "Luke, I had a great time tonight."
"I did too." He smiled at her. "Thank you for letting me make you dinner."
"No, thank you. I know the whole thing with Derek is weird, and awkward." She sighed. "And I really appreciate how amazing you're being with it. Any other guy would have probably said 'no thanks' and hightailed it out of there."
"I'm not most guys." Luke stated. She smiled.
"I know." She said. "I should probably go. I have dinner with Derek tomorrow, and I need to go in early to help out another team. I'll see you at work?"
"See you then." Luke said. He leaned in and placed a kiss on her cheek. "Sleep well, Penelope."
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As promised, Derek was ready for their date the next night. He picked her up from her apartment at exactly 7:00. She was surprised to see him standing there in a suit. She was wearing a red dress with 1950s accents, and was starting to feel underdressed. But, like the gentleman he is, Derek immediately complimented her.
"Baby, you look beautiful." He smiled widely. She blushed, unable to help herself. "Uh, these are for you. I know it's cliche, but you deserve the best."
He handed her a bouquet of red roses. Penelope had to admit, she was flattered. Derek was keeping with his word, and so far, was wooing her. She put the roses in some water before she and Derek headed out to dinner. He was taking her to dinner with a show. He knew that Penelope loved the theater and was excited when a new restaurant opened that had live entertainment.
"Prepare to have the best date of your life." Derek said, opening the car door for her as they arrived at the restaurant.
Penelope looked at the outside of the building and was immediately intrigued. It was called My Fair Ladies. She thought that it seemed like an odd name for dinner theater, but decided it was probably inspired by the show. But, when they walked in, Penelope noticed how little women were in the room.
"Uh, Derek?" She whispered. "Are you sure this is a dinner theater?"
"Of course." He replied confidently.
She was still doubtful as the waiter came and got them. He led them to a seat, right in the front, and took their drink orders. Penelope could feel a lot of eyes on her as she ordered a glass of wine. Derek got a scotch on the rocks, and the waiter promised to be back for the rest of their orders soon.
"I'm glad you agreed to come out with me tonight." Derek told her. "I know things have been weird lately, and I really am sorry for that. I want to make it up to you, and prove that I'm right for you."
"I won't lie and say I'm optimistic, but we've been friends for a long time." Penelope replied. "And I do think we owe it to ourselves to at least try."
The waiter returned with their drinks, and took their dinner orders. He explained that their food would come out after the start of the show, and informed them that it would be starting soon. He then told them not to touch any of the performers, and Penelope knew then that this was not what Derek thought it was.
"Derek, honey I-"
But before she could finish telling him, the curtain rose. A group of women dressed in very little leather came out onstage, carrying whips. Penelope could see the embarrassment in Derek's face when he realized that they weren't here to see a play. He had taken Penelope to a strip club.
"Oh no." He said quietly. She pushed down the laughter in her throat. "P, I swear I didn't know-"
"It's okay." She chuckled. "Uhm, maybe we should just get the bill?"
"Read my mind." Derek stated.
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Derek felt like an idiot when the waiter brought them the bill. When he went to pay, he realized his wallet wasn't in his pocket. Penelope fronted the bill, and didn't seem to be phased by it, but he felt like a real asshole. He was quiet as he got into the car. He was trying to figure out how he could salvage the date, and convince her for a second one.
"We could go back to your place, curl up on the couch, watch a movie?" She suggested as he drove.
"I wanted tonight to be special." Derek replied, staring at the road in front of him.
"Derek, sweetie, you don't have to try so hard." She told him softly. She took his hand that wasn't on the wheel. "We already know each other, so let's just let this happen naturally. We can order takeout, and put on a Rom Com that I know you secretly love."
"Only if you're okay with it." He said. She nodded, and insisted that was perfect with her. "Alright then, thanks, baby girl."
He felt lighter when they arrived at his place. The pressure to make the night perfect seemed much less intense, and he decided to just enjoy their time together. One day he'd probably look back on this and laugh. Not anytime soon, but maybe someday. As long as she still wanted to see him after tonight, he'd consider it a win.
They pulled into his driveway. On the walk up to the house, Derek took her hand. He was pleased when she didn't pull away, and took it as a good sign. Derek's dog, Clooney, was excited to see Penelope after so long. Clooney was what nearly anyone would describe as a mutt. Derek was certain he had some lab in him, maybe some rottweiler, but mostly he was a big derp. He loved attention, especially from the ladies, and Penelope was the dog's favorite lady.
"Aw, Clooney I missed you too!" Penelope gshed as the dog leapt into her arms.
"Wine?" Derek ask her. She nodded with a smile.
Derek poured them both a glass and watch as she cuddled his furry friend. He set up the couch with lots of pillows and blankets while Penelope popped some popcorn. She knew her way around his kitchen almost as well as she did her own. She grabbed some popcorn seasoning and brought the bowl out to the living room. She settled in next to Derek.
"Your drink, my lady." He smiled. He went to hand her the glass, but Clooney chose that exact moment to join them. The red wine went into the air and then landed right on Penelope's lap. "Shit! Baby, I'm so sorry!"
"It's okay." Penelope said, trying not to let the wine drip onto the sofa.
Derek leapt up and grabbed her a towel from the kitchen. While she dried her lap off, Derek grabbed her some sweats and a shirt to wear. He couldn't believe that had just happened. This was not going the way he'd hoped. He didn't want her to take it as a sign that this date had been a bad idea.
Penelope changed into the sweatpants that she recognized as her own. She'd left some clothes here back when they spent basically every free night together. The shirt was his, though. It was an old Chicago Bulls shirt that was worn out and smelled just like his cologne. When she came back to the living room, she saw Derek looking rather defeated on the couch. Her heart swelled. She didn't want him to feel bad, and she knew how hard he was trying.
"You know, pumpkin', if you wanted me to undress you didn't have to knock my wine over to do it." She teased, plopping back down next to him. He looked at her with a tentative grin. "Really, these are so much more comfy than that dress anyway."
"I have it soaking in the sink." Derek told her. "I really am sorry."
"It wasn't my favorite anyway." She replied. She snuggled up next to him. "So, what are we watching?"
"The Sound of Music." Derek stated. "I promised you theater, and I'm not giving up. Dinner is ordered and should be here soon."
The pair happily watched one of their favorite classics. They enjoyed their Chinese takeout when it arrived, and it seemed just like old times. Penelope was a little surprised at how easy it was to slip right back into old habits. Sitting on his sofa, cuddled up against him, Penelope realized she was glad she had agreed to this. For the first time, she let herself think about the possibility of what life as Derek's girlfriend could be like.
Her favorite part was coming up. The gazebo scene. Not the one with the two teenagers singing 'Sixteen going on Seventeen', but the other one. The one where Captain and Maria sing to each other, hopelessly in love. It always made her teary, and she couldn't help but sing along too it.
"So somewhere in my youth or childhood, I must have done something good." She sang. Derek smiled down at her. Penelope had a beautiful voice, and he loved hearing her sing.
"I must have done something good to have you in my life, baby girl." He told her. She smiled up at him.
Derek leaned down, and took her lips in his. He was pleasantly surprised when she kissed him back without hesitation. He laid her back on the couch as they continued to explore each other. Derek was scrunching her shirt up to her chest when suddenly, both of their phones rang. That couldn't be a coincidence, and Derek cursed the universe.
"Morgan." He breathed into his phone as she answered hers as well.
"Garcia." She said into her own speaker.
They had a case.
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The case was in Florida, and the team would need to go right away. Derek was annoyed that their date got cut short, especially when it had just started getting good. He wasn't even sure if he'd wooed her enough for another date. For all he knew, he'd lost his one chance. Derek had dropped Penelope off so she could change and get her car, and they met back at the BAU. He'd stopped and gotten them both a coffee. It was late when they got the call, and they were both going to be exhausted from not sleeping.
"For you, sweetness." Derek said, handing her the styrofoam to-go cup. She smiled at him. "Thought you might need it."
"Thanks, hot stuff." She smiled.
The rest of the team filed into the conference room. Hotch presented the case to the team, and explained that they were needed as soon as possible. He told them they'd be leaving in twenty minutes, which didn't give them much time to prepare. While the team was enroute, Penelope would be looking up information about the victims.
"Good luck, be safe." Penelope told Derek. "We have a date to finish, afterall."
"We do?" He asked hopefully. She nodded. "You won't regret it."
He leaned in to kiss her, but heard someone clear her throat behind them. Luke. He tried to push down his jealousy when he saw the other agent waiting to talk to Penelope. He sighed, and instead, kissed her forehead.
"See you soon, baby girl." He said. Leaving her to talk to Luke.
When Derek was out of the room, Luke took the chance to walk up to Peneleope. He had wanted to ask how her date with Derek went, but didn't want to waste his few moments with her talking about Derek. Instead he kissed her cheek.
"Be safe." Penelope told him, just as she had Derek. "And catch that unsub."
"Will do." Luke smiled at her. "Still down for dinner when I get back?"
"Of course." She smiled at him.
Penelope wasn't sure what to do. She couldn't deny that she liked spending time with Luke. He was fun, and he understood her. She really believed they could become something more, but there was Derek too. Derek was something else entirely. She wasn't sure she'd ever have what she had with him with anyone else. She needed to figure things out, and she was glad she'd have a few days of space to think. Once they got back, she'd figure out what she wanted, but for now, she had to focus on the case. Even though her lips were still tingling from the kisses she'd shared with Derek not too long ago.
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Luke and Derek were out in the field together the next morning. They'd gone to the newest crime scene together, and had spent the day talking to witnesses. It was going to be a rough case. There were already seven victims, and most of them had been dead for a few months. There was no telling how many more bodies would show up.
"So, you and Penelope had a date." Luke commented as the pair headed back to the station together.
"We did." Derek confirmed. "And we're going to have another one."
"I'm also going to see her again." Luke said.
There was an awkward silence. Derek liked Luke as a coworker, and he even thought perhaps they could be friends. But if this guy thought he could come in and sweep Penelope off her feet and live happily ever after with her, he was seriously mistaken.
"Alvez, I like you. You're cool." Derek said. "But let's be honest, Penelope and I belong together."
"Morgan, I like you too. And if that's true I'll step aside." Alvez said. Derek smiled until the other agent continued. "But as long as Penelope wants me to. I'm going to fight for her. Because you might have history, but you've had years to win her heart, and it hasn't happened yet. So, I'm not giving up on her."
"I see." Derek gripped the steering wheel. "I love her."
"I know you do." Luke said. "I think everyone can see that. But, just because you love her, doesn't mean you're the right one for her."
"And you think you are?"
"Maybe.'" Luke said honestly. "I want her to be happy."
"So do I." Derek said. He looked at Luke. "That's all I want. So, if she picks you, if you are the person who makes her happy, I'll let her go. But, like you said, as long as she wants me to, I'm going to fight for her."
"That sounds fair." Luke agreed.
Derek really did want her happy. He wasn't doing this to make things harder for her. He hoped that she knew that. He thought back to how it felt when they kissed earlier. It had felt like everything was falling into place. He wondered if she'd felt it too. One thing he knew for sure was that he couldn't wait for their next date.