After Profiler Profiled:
Derek Morgan was relieved to be home. Chicago visits were normally great. He loved seeing his momma and sisters. Getting arrested though kind of put a damper on the trip. He knew the thing that would cheer him up, or rather the person, would be waiting for him. He had decided to go into the BAU to see his baby girl. After everything that happened, she would fill his day with sunshine and rainbows just like always. He wasn't sure how he had ever survived in this world without her. The thought of her not being in his life was crazy to him. She was his solace for everything.
He always found Penelope to be beautiful, but when she was focused on her work, there was a whole other attraction that took she was concentrating, she'd get a little crinkle in her forehead, and when she figured something out, there was a light in her eyes that would appear. He loved watching her work.
"Is that my favorite sex god?" Her sultry voice asked. He wasn't sure how long he'd been standing there, he'd gotten lost in her beauty.
"Hi silly girl." He grinned. He crossed the office and stood behind her chair. He leaned over and kissed the top of her head. "I missed you."
"I missed you too, hot stuff." She smiled. She turned her chair to face him. "If chocolate thunder had been a jail bird, I'd have had to do some major hacking to join him. You know how I get when we don't talk dirty enough.
Derek chuckled. This is exactly the cheering up he needed. Penelope didn't even have to try, she just always made him feel better. Being around her was like having a weight lifted from his chest, he could just breathe.
"Thank you." He said, cupping her chin.
"What for, baby?" She asked.
"For not treating me any different." He replied. "And for being the best person I know.` What do you say to a good old fashioned board game night? I'll pick up that vegan pad Thai you love, and you can come over when you finish up here?"
"I'd love to." She replied with a smile. "I've got about an hour, hour and a half left here, and then I'll head to your place."
He kissed her hand and headed to get their food. Derek had other motives for inviting Penelope over. It was time that he told her the truth. Hiding behind friendship wasn't enough for him anymore. He had to take a chance and try to get the girl.
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Penelope arrived to Derek's after finishing the research she'd been doing for another unit. She was looking forward to a night with her hot stuff. It had been a hard week, and having to dig into his personal life was not something she'd enjoyed doing. They'd proved he was innocent, though, and now he was home safe.
Derek was just setting up the table with their dinner when she walked in. The smell of her favorite Chinese food made her stomach growl. She hadn't eaten since lunch and it was nearly 7:00 now. She was grateful that her best friend had gotten them food.
"Hey baby girl, finish everything up okay?" Derek asked, pulling her chair out for her. She sat down,
"Yes, after an Uber frustrating time trying to get through some sealed records." She replied. She smiled at him. "I'm just glad the day is over and I get to hang out with my favorite agent."
He grinned at her. They ate their dinner and chatted. He told her his momma sent her love. Penelope had only met Fran once when she'd been in D.C. for Derek' birthday, but the pair shared an instant bond. When Derek's mother called when Penelope was around, she always insisted to talk to Derek'a Baby Girl too.
Once dinner was done, Derek pulled down some games he had. Most of them had been gifts from Penelope. Derek hadn't played many board games as a kid, he was more into sports. Penelope insisted on teaching him how to play all her favorite games. One game Derek did play, however, was Monopoly. It quickly became a favorite pastime for the pair, and after particularly bad cases, they'd pull it out and spend hours collecting hotels and passing go.
"You've got to be kidding me!" Derek exclaimed as he landed on another of Penelope's properties. He forked over the money. "You're kicking my ass. How do you do it every time?"
"Pure luck, lovekins." She smiled.
It was her turn so she rolled the dice and moved her pawn. She was always the top hot and he always played the battleship. He was distracted as she took her turn, not even noticing that she bought another hotel.
"Derek?" She asked, pulling him back to the present. "What's up, hot stuff?"
"Just thinking." He said. Then he smiled. "You know, this week sucked. It was awful to be back in that place and have to relive the things that happened to me. The only thing that I knew would cheer me up after those shitty few days was spending time with you."
"Aw, D that's so sweet." She smiled. "You cheer me up too."
"I...I want to ask you something." Derek said. He took a deep, nervous breath. "Have you ever thought about us? I mean like us as more than friends?"
"I have." She admitted. "I just never thought it was a possibility. I mean, I know we're buds and I know you love me, but I'm not like the girls you normally date."
"No, that you aren't." He chuckled. "Baby, you're so much more important to me than any girl I've ever dated. To me, you're perfect. I love every single thing about you, and it scares me. I never thought I'd be the kind of guy who fell for a girl and got completely lost in love, but here I am. Penelope, I fell in love with you the first time I saw you, and I don't think I'll ever fall out of it."
"Derek…" She breathed, growing emotional.
Derek got up from his seat acrossing from her. They'd been sitting around his coffee table on the floor to play the game, but Monopoly was forgotten now. He sat next to her and took her hands in his.
"If you'll have me, I want a chance to show you how much I love you and how dedicated I am to you." He said.
"Yes." She grinned, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Of course." He kissed her hand lovingly. "But, I want to take it slow, see what this feels like. I want it to happen naturally."
"Whatever you want, baby." He agreed.
"But, you know, it would be okay to maybe seal this with a kiss." She suggested.
Derek smiled, and leaned in to kiss her. In that moment everything that happened to him seemed to disappear. All the pain, heartache, brokenness, it dulled. It felt like nothing in his life had even mattered until this moment.
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The following weeks were filled with movies, game nights, cuddles, and lots of kisses. Derek was surprised at how much he was enjoying taking things slow. Sex had always been the main part of his relationships, and while he was definitely looking forward to that with Penelope, there was no rush. They had all the time in the world.
Everyone had definitely picked up on the subtle changes between the two of them. Not much had changed, they thought, but apparently they were even more flirty. Prentiss, who hadn't even been with them long, was the first to ask.
"So, how long have you two been together?" She asked during a night out. Everyone except Gideon was together for a rare night out.
"It's confusing, but 'baby girl' and 'chocolate thunder' are just friends." JJ explained.
"No, haven't you noticed, they're definitely seeing each other." Emily replied.
"It wouldn't be that weird, around 22% of married couples met at their place of work." Reid told them.
"You know, we could just answer for you." Derek replied, rolling his eyes. The others turned their attention to him. "We're testing the waters. After we got back from Chicago, I finally told her how I felt."
"Nothing is official yet." Penelope explained. "We want to make sure this is going to work out before we risk our friendship, but so far, things have been really great."
"Well, congrats you guys." Hotch said with a rare smile.
"Another round on us!" Haley announced.
It was a relief that their team knew. The BAU was like their family. Even though they all had their own lives, they still leaned on each other. Penelope lost her parents when she was young, and didn't have much of a relationship with her brothers. The team was her only family. Support from them meant the world to her.
After a few more drinks, Derek was able to convince his favorite girl to join him on the dance floor. Penelope hated dancing, but she'd had a few Fuzzy Navels, and Derek looked irresistible out there. She had to be a part of it. She was actually surprised by how much fun she had out on the floor. But, she should have been too shocked, after all, any time she spent wrapped in Derek's arms was destined to be great.
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Things carried on just fine until Natalie Sherman came around. Natalie was an intern working on another unit, but she made it her mission to visit the BAU everyday. Penelope knew it wasn't for school purposes either, furthering her education was the last thing on Natalies mind. She always ended up right at Derek's side. She had brought him coffee from the shop down the street a few times. Penelope tried not to get jealous, but it wasn't like Derek was turning the girl away either. He was sweet to her, like he was with most women. Penelope was starting to feel insecure about the whole thing.
"So, Derek, any plans for tonight?" Penelope heard Natalie asking him. It was funny, that was exactly what Penelope had been coming to ask Derek.
"Uh, nah not really." He told her. "We just got back from a long case. I'm looking forward to just relaxing."
"Need some company?" She asked, a knowing smile on her face.
"Not tonight." Derek told her.
Penelope felt sick. Derek hadn't told the girl no, he just said not tonight. Why didn't he say he wasn't available? Sure, Derek and Penelope still hadn't made things official, but it's not like they weren't on that path. She hadn't even looked or thought about another guy since her and Derek had started dating, but had he been thinking of other women? Did he want to see other women? Penelope knew one thing; she wasn't going to share him. If Derek didn't want to be exclusive, she'd let him go.
With a hurting heart, Penelope turned and went back to her office. She had some work to do, but she wasn't sure how well she would be able to focus on it. The thought of Derek and that intern was still pressing on her. She wished she had never let herself get involved in this. She knew it would be a risk, but Derek had seemed so sure this was what he wanted. They weren't even together, and already she was left heartbroken. The more she thought about, the more she realized, this has been a horrible idea.
"Hey, princess." She heard Derek enter her office. He leaned against the wall and crossed his arms. "I just finished up my paperwork, and I am ready to call it a night. How does cuddling up on the couch with some popcorn and a movie sound?"
"Derek, I can't." She said. She turned her chair to face him. "I uh, think we should call things off."
"What? Baby what is this about?" He asked, a wrinkle forming on his forehead.
"Look, hot stuff, it's been fun and all, but this was never going to be serious. I mean, really, look at me. I am nothing like the girls you typically date, and as much as we want to pretend otherwise, it's never going to work." She said, her eyes growing watery. "There will always be some wannabe supermodel, or office intern waiting for you."
"Is that what this is about? Nicole?" He asked.
"Natalie." Penelope corrected.
"Whatever. That doesn't matter." Derek replied. He moved closer to her. "Baby, I don't want anyone but you. How many times do I have to say that?"
"I saw you with her earlier, and I heard you tell her you were busy tonight." Penelope said. "Just tonight."
"Penelope, I have no interest in going out with that intern. I just let her down easy." Derek sighed. "I'll go tell her I'm not available if that's what you want"
"No" Penelope shook her head. "You should go out with her. Because you're not going out with me anymore. It's over."
"Baby-" Derek tired to take her hand, but Penelope pulled it away. "You're way overreacting."
"Maybe about Natalie, but what about next time? Derek, you are all wrapped up in this moment. I am safe and comforting for you, but you'll never be satisfied with me."
"You know what, if you think that little of me, maybe you're right." Derek stood and walked to the door. He turned one last time. "But you're wrong. I never would have gotten sick of you or wanted something different. I only ever wanted you. You're just too afraid to let yourself be happy, and now it's cost you the person who would have walked to the ends of the earth for you. Goodbye, Garcia."
She waited until he was gone before she burst into tears. He was right. Her self sabotage won again. And because of it, she lost the best thing to ever happen to her.
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Derek was avoiding her. He refused to speak to her in person. He rarely answered the phone when she called on cases, and when he did, there was no flirting. It had been ten days since they had called things off, and she missed him. Her pillow was starting to lose the scent of his cologne. His leftovers in her fridge had gone bad. He had returned the box of her stuff from his house and had left it outside her office. It was almost like they had never been a thing at all. If she didn't know any better, she would have thought she'd made the whole thing up inside her head.
The team was away on a very hard case. It was a case involving children, and she was worried about Derek. She wanted to know how he was doing, but he hadn't answered any of her calls. She had asked Prentiss, but Emily had said that Derek was keeping his emotions in check. Penelope was trying to find information on their suspect, but so far she kept leading to deadened. She felt like she was failing. And as if that wasn't bad enough, her phone was ringing again.
"Yeah, I'm no closer than before, my raven haired beauty, thanks for checking in." She snapped into the speaker. "I know, I know, how hard can it be to find an address, well the answer is very hard when there is literally nothing!"
"Hey, hey hardhead, calm down." Derek's voice shocked her. "Breathe."
She tried to get her breath to even out, but now she was anxious for a different reason. He was talking to her like normal. She finally was able to breathe properly, and told Derek she was good.
"Okay, now listen, we think this guy is staying on his late aunt's property. Her name is Jessamine Eric." Derek explained. "Does that help?"
"Uber much!" Penelope replied, a small smile forming on her face. She typed some things into her computer. Less than two minutes later, she was sending the coordinates to the team. "Got it! Sent! Bam! Done!"
"I knew we could count on you, P." Derek said. "I gotta go, see you when we get back."
Penelope smiled. She felt lighter than she had in days. Derek was talking to her again. She was hopeful that this meant they could mend things. She needed to apologize to him. Tell him how wrong she had been about the whole thing.
JJ texted Penelope that the team was getting drinks when they got back. The flight was only an hour and a half, so they would be home decently early. They wanted to celebrate catching a nasty unsub. Penelope was excited. It would give her the chance she needed to talk to Derek.
Penelope immediately headed home to get ready. She put on the black dress that she knew was Derek's favorite. She spritzed on the vanilla and lavender perfume that he loved. And she wore her hair half up to frame her face, because she knew he couldn't stop staring at her when she did that. She threw on some red lipstick for good measure and headed to the bar. She was a woman on a mission and nothing was going to get in her way.
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Penelope got to the bar and found JJ and Prentiss right away. They greeted her happily, and thanked her for her help on the case. She felt strange being at the bar, suddenly. The last time she'd been there was when the team found out about her and Derek. Now she was alone. It made her sad, but it didn't stop her from her mission. She needed to find Derek. JJ pointed to him at the bar, and gave Penelope an encouraging smile. She headed over to where her hot stuff was standing.
"Hey." She said. She couldn't think of anything better to say at the moment.
"Oh, hey." He said, a half hearted smile on his face. "Nice work today."
"Thanks." She smiled. "I really thought I was going to let the team down this time."
"Oh come on, you?" Derek replied, this time with a real smile. "You always come through for the team, bab-Penelope."
"Look, uh, Derek I-" She was cut off by someone coming around the other side of Derek.
"Thanks for ordering my drink for me, the line in the ladies room was awful." Natalie said. Penelope's heart sank as Derek handed the intern her glass. "We should find your coworkers, and then get out on the dance floor."
"Sure thing." Derek said. "Penelope, what was it you were saying?"
"N-Nothing." Penelope said, her eyes filling with tears. "It was nothing. Uh, excuse me."
She made a beeline for the door. She pushed through the crowd of people on the dance floor. She needed to get out of there. She could feel the sobs attempting to escape from her throat, but she kept pushing them down. There was no way she could let herself break down in the middle of this bar. The thought of Derek and that intern actually dating was nauseating. It was all her fault. She was the one who pushed him right into her arms.
Penelope got outside, and leaned against the brick wall of the building. It was cold outside, and she hadn't brought a jacket, but she didn't care. She could no longer stop the sobs from coming. She slid down to the ground and let herself cry. Her heart was breaking, and she wondered how it would ever feel whole again. It wouldn't. Not without Derek. She knew that.
"Hey, sh." Strong arms wrapped around her. "Baby girl, calm down, you have to breathe."
Derek gently pulled her arms from her body so he could hold her against him. She sobbed against his chest as he tried to sooth her. He suggested they go to his house to talk since it wasn't too far from the bar. She agreed, wanting to be anywhere but there. Derek knew she wasn't in any state to drive, so he led her to his SUV.
The drive to his place was pretty quiet, aside from a few sniffles from the passenger seat. They got to his house a few minutes later and Derek walked Penelope inside. His overgrown puppy, aka Clooney, was excited to see Penelope and ran for her. Derek tried to call him off, but Penelope seemed happy to see the animal too. In a second, she was on the ground in front of the dog, and dhe wrapped her arms around the mutt's neck, and held him tight. She gave him a kiss on the head before standing back up.
"Sorry, Clooney, you'll have to get your cuddles later." Derek said. "I need to talk to Penelope."
Derek and Penelope shared a knowing look. He gestured toward the kitchen. They headed to the table, and Derek grabbed a few glasses. He poured them some wine, thinking it might help to calm her. She was still shaky and he was worried she would start crying again. Derek hated to see her hurting. When she cried, he felt her pain in his soul.
"So, you and Natalie." She said, taking a big gulp of the wine in front of her.
"It was just drinks." Derek stated. "You're the one who told me I should go out with her."
"How long did it take you to jump into bed with that intern?" She asked him in a cold voice that sounded foreign in her voice. "Did you even wait a day? Or did you move on as soon as possible?"
"Now you listen here, Penelope Garcia. I didn't move on. I took her out for a drink, but I have not moved on." Derek said firmly. "I don't know if I ever will, but I don't think what I do with my life is your business anymore."
"Forget this. I want to go home!" Penelope cried, tears escaping once again. "Take me home, Derek!"
"No. Not until we talk." He said. He sighed, knowing he had upset her again. "I'm sorry for snapping at you. I just don't understand why you're so upset. You wanted to end things between us."
"I didn't mean it." She whispered. "I was just….My insecurities got the best of me, Derek. I never feel like I'm good enough for you. I keep waiting for you to realize I'm not what you want and I-"
"You thought you'd save yourself the heartbreak." Derek finished. "Baby, I know this is hard for you to understand, but I meant it. You are the only one I want. I'm gonna be honest, I was so pissed that you ended things. I hate that you don't believe how much I love you. I felt like there was nothing more I could do to make you see it. I brought Natalie tonight because I knew you'd be there. I guess I wanted you to see me with someone else. I shouldn't have done that, and I wouldn't have if I had known you'd be this hurt over it."
"I went tonight with every intention of winning you back." Penelope admitted, squeezing the glass in her hand "And then...I saw you with her and realized how badly I screwed up. I lost the best thing that's ever happened to me."
Derek couldn't take it anymore. He moved closer, and pulled her up against him. He kissed the top of her head, and just held her for a moment. The truth was, he had screwed up too.
"You haven't lost me, sweetheart. I should have listened that day in your office, and tried to help you see things better instead of storming out." Derek told her. "I love you, P. So much. I want to be with you for the rest of my life. And this time, I want to make things official. We tested the water long enough for me to know that you are the only person for me."
"Really?" She asked, looking up with her tear stained face. "I haven't ruined everything?"
"Not by a long shot, baby girl. What do you say, will you take me back officially?" He asked.
Penelope nodded her head quickly. He leaned in and kissed her. It felt like finally coming home after a long separation. It had only been ten days, but it felt like so much longer.
"I missed you." He said, his forehead resting against hers.
"I missed you too." She said. "Oh, and by the way, Derek Morgan. I love you too."
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Derek was the happiest he had ever been. He finally had the girl of his dreams. Six months ago, they finally made things official. A month ago, she moved in with him. And now, she was spending Christmas in Chicago with him and his family. She had met his mother before, but it was the first time she had met his sisters. Their plans to fly out for Thanksgiving had been ruined by a long case. But now, the team had a whole week off, and Derek's sisters had welcomed Penelope with open arms. It was perfect. Almost.
"Derek, everything okay?" Frank Morgan asked, stepping outside to join him.
He couldn't sleep. It was after 1:00, but he was wide awake. His brain wasn't allowing him to fall into a slumber. So, he decided to come admire the beautiful snow that was covering the city.
"It's all good, ma." He assured her. She stepped over to him in just her slippers and PJs. "Go back to sleep, it's freezing outside."
"You're out here all alone in the freezing cold, and you want me to believe everything is fine?" She asked, raising an eyebrow. Derek sighed, there was no use trying to fool his mother.
"It's Penelope." He told her. "I want to ask her to marry me."
"And that's keeping you from sleeping? What's wrong?"
"I'm worried she'll say no." Derek admitted. "It seems right to me, in fact it seems like a long time coming, but what if she's not ready yet?"
"Oh honey, I see the way Penelope looks at you. She loves you so much." Fran said with a smile. "She'll say yes."
"I know P loves me, ma. I just, when we first got together we had some obstacle to overcome. We've done so, and these past six months have been nothing short of a dream come true. I just worry that she doesn't feel ready for that commitment."
"Listen, son, I believe completely that Penelope is going to say yes, but if she doesn't, you give her some more time. Let her know that you'll wait for her." Fran said. "I think you're nervous, which is normal, but Derek, you and Penelope are perfect for each other. You were a couple that was years in the making, trust in that."
"Thanks, mom." Derek smiled. "So, you want to help me plan this proposal?"
After talking with his mom, Derek had the perfect proposal planned out. His head was also much more clear than before. He headed back inside, and crawled next to his girlfriend. He hope that in a few days, he'd be able to call her his fiancé. It made him smile as he snuggled up to her. She rolled over when he put an arm around her. She asked him if he was alright in her half awake state. He told her he was fine, and a moment later, she was back to sleep. He held her and imagined her in a while dress before falling asleep himself.
They were busy the next few days. He showed her all the sights in Chicago. The Aquarium had been her favorite. Plus, his mom and sisters had a bunch of things planned. They took Penelope shopping while Derek met up with some old friends. At least that's what they told her. He was out picking out an engagement ring. As son as he got home, he showed his mom sisters, who approved right away.
Finally, it was Christmas Eve. Derek had told Penelope that he was taking her for a nice romantic night in the city. She was excited. Penelope loved Christmas time, finding the magic in it even as an adult. The night started out with a stroll in the park. There were some flurries in the air, making it a beautiful winter evening. They held hands and chatted before arriving at part two of the date. A horse drawn carriage ride. She almost cried when she saw it. It was an enchanting night, and Penelope was so happy.
Finally, they arrived at the restaurant he'd wanted to take her to. It was an upscale Italian place that normally took weeks to score a reservation. Luckily for him, his mother was close with one of the managers, who pulled some strings. They were seated, and Derek ordered them a bottle of champagne.
"You hate champagne." Penelope pointed out.
"A beautiful night with a beautiful girl calls for champagne." Derek replied.
They ordered some pasta, and enjoyed each other's company. Derek was growing nervous as they finished dinner. The waiter came back, and Derek asked him for the dessert special. The waiter smiled at the couple and promised to back quickly. While they waited, Derek felt his jacket pocket to make sure the ring box was still securely there about fifty times. Finally the waiter returned. He handed Penelope the plate, and then left.
"This looks amazing." She smiled.
"What's that?" Derek asked her, pointing to the chocolate sauce surrounding the cake.
"Oh, it says, Will You Marry Me...oh my god! Derek we got someone else's dessert!" She exclaimed, getting ready to flag down the waiter.
"Baby, it's not the wrong dessert." He smiled, pulling out the ring box and opening it. "It's meant for you, P."
"Oh, oh...you...you're asking me to marry you." She said, tears welling up in her eyes. "Oh my god! Yes! Yes of course!"
Derek grinned, and pulled her over to kiss him. A bunch of people began to cheer in excitement for them. Derek slipped the ring from the box and onto her finger. It was a rose gold band in the shape of a rose. The diamond was pink instead of traditional, but it screamed Penelope. She looked down at it, and he could tell he had done well picking it out.
"We're getting married!" She exclaimed.
"We are, baby girl." He said. "I'm so happy."
"Oh, Derek, me too."
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They got married a year later on Christmas. It was a beautiful ceremony with everyone they loved, including their son who was a surprise to both of them. Penelope had found out she was expecting Ben a month after they got engaged. They had been speechless when they found out, but they were so happy. He was born on the Fourth of July, and Derek had barely made it in time for his birth. They named him Benjamin Hank Morgan. He was a great baby, and he loved attention. He looked just like his father, and stole the hearts of anyone who met him.
The Morgans were a very happy family. They travelled as much as possible, and had lots of fun together. Derek taught Ben how to ride a bike, and Penelope taught him how to bake her favorite cookies. The three of them didn't think life could get any better. Penelope was told after Ben was born that they wouldn't be able to have more children. She was sad because she had wanted at least one more, but she was grateful for what she had.
So, when Ben was seven and she found out she was pregnant again, she almost didn't believe the doctor. He assured her that it was true. The baby was a miracle, but she was definitely pregnant. Derek had been ecstatic, but watched over his wife carefully her whole pregnancy.
Isla Victoria Morgan was born three weeks early, but was healthy and perfect. She was everything they could have wished for and more. Derek cried the first time he held his daughter, knowing that she was a true gift.
Their life had given them the best blessings. And no matter what they were never sort of adventures. Like when Penelope brought home a dog from the shelter that she just could leave behind. Or when Ben broke his arm teaching his little sister how to climb trees. Or when Isla almost got kicked out of school for beating up a bully, and her father was so proud. Whatever life threw their way, as long as they were together, they knew they'd get through it.
A/N Sorry I left this story for so long!