Just a quick one-shot that follows "I Will, But…" and "It's Just Another New Year's Eve". Derek Morgan has been hit hard by love for the first time in his life but his woman was with another man. Now that she is finally free, how can he show her that he is for real?

Candy prompt: Peanut M&M's

Song prompt: "Time Will Reveal" by DeBarge

Time Will Reveal

He had been in love with her for so long that he could never put his finger on when it had begun. Maybe it was when he couldn't remember her name and he called her 'baby girl' and she responded. Then it could have been when she chastised him for taking the stupid risks that put his life in jeopardy.

Then again, when he thought long and hard about it, what was there about her not to love? She loved her team which she considered her family and she would go to the ends of the earth to protect them from all dangers. When confronted by Erin Strauss to find a way to destroy Hotch after Foyet had nearly destroyed his life, Pen had refused to roll over on her boss.

And that was the moment he fell head over heels in love with the crazy, goofy, lovable computer goddess. Real, honest love had finally come into his life at the moment he was least expecting it.

Unfortunately, he had waited too long and now she belonged to another man. Of course, when he thought about it, he comforted himself with the fact that he had never really given her a reason to think that he was interested in her.

Yes, they flirted and sometimes crossed the fine grey line of sexual harassment, but what the hell, they were adults and not hurting anyone. How they talked to each other was no one's business…except for the times they forgot where they were and then things tended to get…sticky. But they always managed to escape unscathed.

But their verbal bantering had lit a tiny fire deep down inside and slowly it made its way up from his belly to his heart. Like a fool, he tried to ignore it. Besides, she was seeing Kevin, so he had no choice but to go on with his life. He chased Jordan Todd until she shot him down. And then came Tamara Barnes. One mistake worse than the other. Mistakes he would never be able to live down.

He had no reason to live them down while the lady of his heart was with another man.

But then came the day that the FBI rumor mill started whirling with news that that Pen and Kevin had broken up. He had held his breath in hopes that it was true. Though nothing could be confirmed his heart beat frantically at the thought that his baby girl might be free.

As time went on, the rumors began to die down without any confirmation or denial from either party involved and he went back into his little shell. But he kept a little hope in his heart. Just a tiny bit - although he knew that deep down inside there was probably no chance they could ever get together. They were too good of friends to ever cross that line physically.

Until the day he heard that Kevin Lynch was transferring to the FBI headquarters in Chicago. So, the rumours had been true. Now was his chance to move in and start his wooing. But she was not making it easy for him. Especially when she was gone for the two weeks after Christmas.

He had tried to call her but there was no answer. He had gone by her place, but she didn't appear to be at home. He was worried for her well being but he didn't know how to get to her. He couldn't say he loved her because they had said it so many times it was trite. But he had to find a way to let her know he was for real.

Only after the New Year did he find out that Kevin had officially broken up with Pen over the holidays. It had caused his blood to boil on high. The urge to hurt the computer geek who dared to break his baby girl's heart was more powerful than he had ever experienced. Long hours at the gym had helped to calm down the rage he felt but it didn't help him figure out a way to get to her.

Until that day they had a horrible case just outside of DC.

While the team hurried to put the pieces together, Pen had stayed behind in her lair and tried to connect the dots. Crime scene and autopsy photos had come across her plasma screen in waves. But she hadn't complained. Not once. Even when the worst of the worst flashed up, she had kept her cool, and in the end, she had found that missing piece that helped them catch the UNSUB.

There was no way he could find the words to thank her, so he did the next best thing: he bought her a rose. It was nothing special. There was a vendor outside the gate of the Hoover Building and he decided to stop and get a single rose.

But as he walked down the hallway to the bullpen, he passed by a vending machine. The little yellow bag had caught his eye. Digging out the loose change from his pocket, he bought the little treat. And when the coast was clear, he waited for her to leave long enough to place the rose and M&M's on her desk.

Back in his office, he waited for her reaction, but none came. At least nothing verbally. When he ducked in to say hi, he noticed the rose in a container and the empty wrapper in the trash can. But better than that, there had been a smile on her face. He had succeeded.

So, he kept it up.

After each case, he left a rose and peanut M&M's on Pen's desk. Sometimes, if the case was really difficult, two roses and a big bag of M&M's were substituted. It was the least he could do to make her feel good.

But he wondered if he had ruined his chances by keeping him actions under wraps.

Leaning back in his chair, his feet propped on his desk, he thought back to their conversation earlier in the week.

The case had been bad and there was nothing he could do to banish those images from his mind. Were people born evil or were they created? After what he and the team had seen, even the hardened Dave Rossi had a difficult time arguing the essence of evil.

As the team trudged in to file their reports, he had made sure that Pen had her gift. Crime was hell, but it didn't have to affect the woman of his heart.

Hitting the send key on his laptop, he had put his head down on the desk and tried to find that happy place. Maybe he would go out clubbing later. Or maybe he could take Clooney for a walk. Exercise was a great way to relieve stress. He just hoped Clooney was ready for a walk all the way up to Canada.

A knock on the door caused him to raise his head.

"Are you busy?" Pen's soft voice asked.

Lifting his head, he looked at her. "No. Come on in," he offered. She took the seat across from him while he tried to straighten himself up. "How can I help you?" he asked.

"I guess you heard that Kevin and I broke up." It wasn't a question and she didn't expect an answer.

"How have you been?"

"I've been better, but I've been worse…and I definitely have the scar to prove it," she joked weakly. "It's weird how it takes a gunshot to the heart to discover how strong that little muscle is."

"Yeah," he had agreed. "So, you're still grieving?"

"Funny you should ask that. No. I'm officially over Kevin Lynch. It seems I have a secret admirer," she supplied at his questioning look.

"Oh really? Does Emily know that Rossi has been sending you gifts?"

Her eyes snapped with mischief. "I love Agent Hard Ass to death and if it was under different circumstances, I would be honored to have the legendary FBI Lothario chasing after me. But he does live with a woman who wears combat boots and wouldn't hesitate to stomp me down."

"True."

"Besides, I love the both of them too much."

"So, if it isn't Rossi, who is it?"

Pen leaned forward. "I was hoping you might be able to tell me."

Cool as a cucumber, and steeled for the moment, he had held her gaze without so much as a blink or a twitch. "Honestly, Pen, why would I know that?"

"Well…you know everything about me, and I would like to think that you would keep tabs on me if someone decided to…I don't know, pursue me for…something serious. I know that I would do the same for you."

"I know you would."

"But you don't know who it might be?" she asked seriously, her eyes searched his.

"Some secrets are not meant to be told. Like everything, all good things will be revealed in time."

"Perhaps." She stood up.

"Maybe he's afraid to tell you how he feels because he's not sure of how you feel," Morgan replied.

Walking to the door, she stopped and turned around. "So, you are saying that before all good things can be revealed, he might need a little push in the right direction?"

He nodded. "Exactly."

Her eyebrows rose over the rim of her glasses. "Okay." Then she stepped out of his office and closed the door.

Now he sat in the dimly lit office and wondered if he had made a mistake in not coming clean with her. Rolling his eyes upward, he sighed heavily. He had really screwed up this time. She had to know that he had lied to her. And if there was one thing she couldn't stand, it was being lied to and used.

Shaking his head, he wondered if there was a way he could move his bank account overseas under an assumed name so she couldn't find it. He could live with his credit in the toilet, but he was going to still need money to survive. Maybe there was time to come clean. Maybe once he explained, she would understand.

Closing the laptop, he got ready to go home. Grabbing the pens, he opened the middle drawer and then paused.

One rose, a card, and a bag of peanut M&M's sat in the middle of the drawer.

Picking them up, he set them on the desk top. For a long time he stared at them and wondered what it meant.

Slowly he opened the envelope and withdrew the card. In familiar scribble he made out the words:

So my wonderful life-size chocolate bar thought he could pull a fast one on the goddess who knows everything. You do realize that forgiveness is earned and not freely given, right? My place in one hour. Bring the rose and the M&M's. And yourself, of course.

Stuffing the card in the drawer, Morgan picked up the rose and candies and then turned off the desk lamp. Grabbing his jacket, he pulled it on. He had been found out and she didn't hate him. That didn't mean that she wasn't going to make him pay, but God he knew the best part of a relationship was the give and take.

And he was ready to do both.