Chapter 17

AN: Posting this a little early tonight. Thank you for reading my story. I think you all are the most wonderful reviewers out there. Bright blessings to everyone. Working on my next thing. May take a couple of days. It's my anniversary... hanging with my own personal Morgan! (Story fodder!- hee hee)

It was a day like any other at the BAU. There was a lot going on, but the team simply needed a break. They were just sitting around, discussing things.

Except for Rossi and Reid. They were still debating the issue of "genders and friendship," as Reid put it, and "sexual relations," as Rossi put it. Both men considered themselves correct on the matter; no one was changing either of their minds.

"You know," Rossi said, scowling at the young genius, "I am getting sick and tired of listening to you on this."

"If you'd merely pay attention to the statistics I printed for you, you'd clearly-"

"Oh, that?" Rossi interrupted, grinning evilly. "That bathroom reading material you gave me?"

"Just let it die, Reid," Hotch said, shaking his head with a chuckle. "You're not going to win against Dave. He's an old bull."

"I think Hotch has a point there, Reid." Prentiss was chuckling, too.

The look on Reid's face was priceless. He was peeved, but he also was hiding a laugh. Whatever happened, no matter how they argued, they were all family.

Derek was sitting there quietly, holding his phone. He was texting his Baby Girl. She was in her office, still working diligently. She was in the middle of a file, otherwise she would've been hanging out with them.

It had been another month since they'd declared their feelings for each other, but they hadn't said anything to the team. They wanted some time to themselves to enjoy being in love, without having to worry about comments from the peanut gallery. Derek was damned sick of this stupid argument; he wanted to put an end to it once and for all.

Hey BG. Plz come. I need you.

He waited a minute before the phone buzzed. We can't do that here anyway, HS. U have 2 wait.

He shook his head. Bad girl. Get your ass out here.

"What are you so wrapped up in?" JJ asked, looking over at him.

He smiled up at JJ with a wicked grin. She was the only one who knew about them.

She rolled her eyes. "I should've known."

Moments later, Penelope came out of her office and walked into the bullpen area. Derek was sitting in one of the empty desk chairs. He motioned for her to come over to him.

"What do you need, Hot Stuff?"

"This," he said, pulling her in front of him. He stood up, lifted her to sit on the empty desk, and started kissing the living daylights out of her in front of every person sitting there. This was no little kiss, more NC-17 than PG rated.

It took him a good long time before he finally ended the kiss. Penelope had her arms around his shoulders, and glanced around at the rest of the group.

"I knew it!" Emily said, laughing. "Morgan, you are so full of shit."

"Morgan, refrain from ever doing that again on company time," Hotch said with a growl. "Meeting, boardroom, in five." Then he simply left the room.

JJ just smiled.

Rossi crowed with delight, clapping Reid on the shoulder. "Defeat is a bitter pill, isn't it, kid?"

Reid just looked like someone kicked his puppy.

Morgan shook his head. "You're wrong, Rossi."

Dave was leaving the room. He stopped and looked back at them, raising an eyebrow. "I think it's obvious with that display, I'm right."

"No, men and women can be friends," he said, smiling warmly into Penelope's eyes. "And best friends can become lovers and fiancées. Everyone starts out as friends, but best friends become the best of everything."

"Oh, Sweet Cheeks," Penelope said, leaning up to give him a kiss. The ring on her left hand was glistening under the fluroescent lights of the bullpen. "I love you."

"I love you, too," he said, kissing her one more time. Then he lifted her down from the desk and swatted her butt. "Back to work."

She saluted him. "Aye, aye, captain."

She walked with an exaggerated hip sway back to her office. Derek grinned, shook his head, and left for the meeting.