-Chapter 9 -

"Did Penelope really leave?" Derek said when he noticed that she and Luke weren't around anymore.

"Yeah, they said they needed to go to the grocery store before going home"

"Since when does that mean leaving at 7pm?"

"Since you kept saying rude things about Luke I believe" JJ replied. She noticed the glare from Derek, "What?, I'm just saying I don't think she appreciated that and I'll be honest, I don't understand it"

"She's letting herself get manipulated into a giant mistake. I'm just worried about what's going to happen when she gets her heart broken"

"Uh, I don't think she's getting manipulated into anything Derek" Prentiss now joined the discussion, "Getting married was definitely her idea"

"No way, she freaked out when Kevin talked about getting married"

"That was Kevin, this is different"

"How? I mean she'd actually been dating Kevin for a while versus Alvez who she barely knew, seems like it's even more surprising"

"No, I think the issue was that she wasn't really there with Kevin, he was a nice enough guy but not the right one"

Rossi couldn't help but chime in, "I can't believe I am defending the kid, because I thought he was such an idiot when I first heard about it, but I think those two are so well suited for each other that it just might work, no matter how crazy it got started"

"But you guys don't know her like I do"

"Actually Derek, I think I do" JJ said, "I mean I know you guys were best friends, but you've been gone almost 2 years, sure you keep in touch but you aren't here everyday, going to brunch, the late nights working together, I have always been pretty close with her and in the past few years I think I know her at least as well as you do"

He just scoffed

"And it's not a competition, I'm not trying to say "No I'm her best friend, not you" but I don't think you can assert that you know her better than all of us, anymore"

"What makes you so sure that Penelope wouldn't be the one to get married, it has to be more than just the Kevin thing?" Spencer asked, he had a great deal of respect for Derek and figured he must have something else.

"How could I not have known this was coming? How could she get married without talking to me about?"

"Well, none of us knew this was coming, I mean I think everyone but Spence saw them dating coming, like a mile away, and we were speculating whether they already were and just keeping it secret or maybe they would soon, but I don't think any of us saw them getting married coming" JJ replied, the others agreeing with her statement.

"And she's a grown woman, she doesn't have to ask your approval Derek, before she gets married" Prentiss reminded him. "Did you ask her before you proposed to Savannah?"

"Well, not officially, but she knew I'd been thinking about maybe proposing sometime"

"I think what's really bothering you is that you felt left out of it, which I get, but I think you need to let it go"

"I'm working on it" he said grudgingly. Thankfully the others dropped the subject and were able to enjoy a nice rest of their evening with Derek.

When Penelope and Luke got home, after putting away the groceries, Luke went and sat on the couch. Penelope assumed probably to watch his baseball again but she had other ideas. She smirked at him as she came over and sat straddling him on his lab, she started kissing him and eagerly reciprocated, she pulled his shirt over his head and he unzipped her dress but it was not really one to pull over your head, so instead he just worked his hands under her dress to touch her all over. She could already feel his erection, so she moved her hips, grinding against him, causing him to moan. She got off him for a second, to remove her dress, bra and panties, while he quickly removed his pants, boxers and she got back into his lap, while Luke put his hands on her hips to help guide her onto his cock. She moaned loudly he entered her, and he looked at her concern, "So good" she moaned to clarify as she started moving, her hips faster and faster. He moved his mouth and hands to her breasts, massaging them, biting her nipple gently, "oh my god, yes". He started to rub her clitoris, but it was kind of hard as she was moving up and down. After a little while she moved his hand back up to her breast, and started rubbing her clit herself.

"That's so f-ing hot" he whispered

"Oh, God Luke, I'm so close" she said moaning in between each word

"Me too baby, come for me"

He took one breast in each hand, pinching her nipples hard at the same time he trust up as much as he could, and she screamed "Luke, Oh Fuck", her walls clenched strongly around him, causing him to lose control and after a couple more thrusts he came too, groaning into her chest as he came. He helped her get off of him, and soon they were cuddling on the couch, naked, watching baseball, "that was so amazing" he whispered into her ear and pleased when her whole body shivered in response, "I know".

The next day, Penelope and Luke arrived at Rossi's, Penelope brought mac 'n cheese and garlic bread for the kiddos, and Luke got busy helping Rossi move some stuff around outside since it was a nicer day than they'd thought it would be.

When Derek, Savannah and Hank arrived, Penelope was excited to see them, or Hank and Savannah, and was enjoying talking to them, hearing Hank's baby-talk.

"I can't really understand anything he's saying but it's all so cute!"

She noticed that even Derek seemed more relaxed and happier to see her, so she hoped he'd gotten over whatever it was or the team talked some sense into him. She got busy helping get the kids situated with something to do when JJ and her boys arrived.

When she went outside however, she instantly could feel the tension between Luke and Derek, ugh why does it have to be like this? It's like a weird rivalry or something, which might make sense if we weren't both married.

Luke said something kind of rude towards Derek and Penelope shot him a 'I thought you were more mature than that' type of look.

"Sorry, he's just annoying the hell out of me"

She moved closer to him and spoke softly towards him, more than a whisper but so that nobody else around could hear, "You can be the better man and just let it slide, I know you can. After all, if this is any sort of contest, you already won. I'm with you, you know that right?"

"Yeah, you're right. I'll try to be better" he said as he planted a quick peck of a kiss on her lips before she left to go back inside.

Over the course of the evening Penelope noticed that Luke was doing a lot better with regards to his attitude around Derek, particularly as we all ate dinner, but Derek, not so much. She even saw Savannah give her a couple "I'm sorry my husband's an idiot" looks. She was helping clean up, when she saw Derek standing alone and thought maybe now would be a good time to talk to him.

"Hey you"

"There's my babygirl" he said flashing that beautiful smile of his. He is still one very gorgeous man

"You know, that phrase might not be as appropriate now, that I'm married. And you're married too"

"Geez, is Alvez already controlling what people can say to you?"

"No, Luke hasn't even said a thing about it. And he doesn't try to control anything. What is your problem with him, with us? This isn't like you Derek"

"I can't accept that you two are married, it's just too strange. I feel like I don't even know who you are anymore"

"I'm sorry you feel that way. I haven't changed that much. I mean other than maybe wanting to use more appropriate nicknames, but that would be true even if I was dating him or anybody else"

"It wasn't when you were dating Kevin"

"Well, honestly, it didn't feel right then either, I just didn't have the guts to say anything to you about it. So I guess I've either grown up a little since then or being with Luke gives me more confidence. And not that I don't love flirting with you and our relationship but I'd like to maybe dial it back a bit on the nicknames like babygirl"

"Are you really happy with him?"

"Yes! Why is that so hard for you to believe? I'm so happy I have to pinch myself regularly because it doesn't seem like it could be real"

"Well, I'll admit it hurts a little bit not to be the #1 guy in your life, but I guess I can't fault you for that, since I have Savannah"

"Exactly"

"So I'm sorry for being a jerk, will you forgive me Penelope?"

"Yes, you are forgiven" She said giving him a big hug, happy to have that settled.

Penelope went into the kitchen to get back to what she had been doing before, and was talking to JJ and Rossi while cleaning things up and putting food away. All of a sudden they hear a commotion outside and Prentiss, who's standing by the doors leading to outside going exclaims "oh my god!", so naturally they all ran over there. By the time Penelope could see anything, Will and Matt were pulling them apart but it was clear that Derek and Luke had been fighting.

"Oh my God" was Penelope's reaction too, as she turned to Prentiss hoping for more "what happened?"

"I didn't see what lead up to it, but they swung a couple of punches at each other and then were on the ground fighting. Matt and Will had to separate them"

"Jesus, what is wrong with them" I muttered as I went outside to deal with this.

"What the hell happened?" I said looking first at Luke and then at Derek.

"He punched me" Derek said

"You started it" was Luke's reply

Penelope looked at the others hoping someone would explain more of what happened but everyone was quiet, "Derek started it" Matt said after a while when nobody else seemed to be able or willing to say anything

"What is wrong with you two? What on earth are you fighting each other for?"

"I honestly don't know, I mean I'm assuming it has something to do with you, but why you don't you ask Derek"

"If you don't know then why did you fight?"

"Some dude like Derek throws a punch at you, you have to defend yourself"

"I guess I can understand that" She turned to Derek, "Care to explain what that was all about? Why did you punch my husband?"

"Because he said if I didn't accept the fact he was in your life now that I wasn't going to have much of a friendship left with you"

"And you punched him over that? He's right"

"He shouldn't be making threats and controlling who your friends are"

"That wasn't a threat, and he isn't controlling who my friends are, he knows that's how I feel. What happened? I thought earlier you apologized for being a jerk and we were moving past all that?"

"Yeah, well, I guess I'm not there yet"

"Well, then I suggest that you stay away from both myself and Luke until you get there"

Derek didn't reply but he kind of nodded and headed inside to find Savannah she assumed as she went over to Luke, "Did he hurt you?"

"He landed a punch here" he pointed towards the corner of his jaw "because I was so surprised, I mean I didn't expect that at all, but it's not that bad, I'll be fine"

"You didn't realize that telling him he wasn't going to have much of a friendship with me was going to piss him off?" She wasn't sure if she was serious or teasing with that question.

"Maybe I should have but I didn't really think about it"

"It's OK, he shouldn't have punched you regardless"

Penelope broke eye contact with Luke and took a step back, noticing again that there were others in the backyard, she saw Prentiss looking at her with an expression she was having trouble placing, is that a motherly look? That doesn't make sense.

"I have to say Penelope I'm impressed, in all the years I'd known you two I've never seen you stand up to Morgan like that" Prentiss observed as she was glad this didn't occur at the office or she'd have to write it up.

"Yeah, well he never punched someone I loved either"

Luke smiled and put his arm around her again, "That's my girl"

Penelope laughed and shook her head at the ridiculousness of it all, but thought to herself yet again that she liked the version of Penelope that she was when she was with Luke and that was definitely worth some ridiculous moments.