Chapter One

AN: Hi Everyone! It's time for a new, big ol' story! (Haven't done an epic in a while!)...Lots of friendship, lots of fun, some angst, and tons of love...and romance. Enjoy!

Penelope was having a Murphy's law kind of day. It was turning out so much worse than she'd expected. She was ready to cry, or kick somebody's ass, and that was just not something she'd ever normally do. She was a California girl, flower child, person of a pacifist nature at heart.

But today, she was willing to make an exception.

Not only had she woken up ten minutes late, had a runner in her favorite pair of purple tights, and spilled coffee on her pink ladybug bathroom rug, she had bad news on the home front.

To start the day off, her youngest older brother, Peter, had called and said his engagement had fallen through. He was supposed to have been married in Vegas at the end of the month. She felt terrible for him—he'd been dating Greta for ten years—but she felt sorry for herself, too.

After all, she had a non-refundable airline ticket for next week to Las Vegas—Kevin's ticket, too—and a really expensive, albeit rather lovely, bridesmaid dress that she'd probably never wear.

Giving her sympathies to Peter, she'd called Kevin next and talked with him.

"So, that's what happened," she said, giving the rundown to him about the situation with her brother.

"Well, that's a relief, really," Kevin said. "It is so much easier than having him divorce her down the line."

She smiled at that. "That is positive thinking, for a negative thought, Kevin."

"Thanks, sweeting!"

She heard the pleased tone of his voice and smiled to herself, until he began the next part.

"Thank goodness we don't have to go to Vegas, either. That town is so not like us."

She frowned. "What do you mean, not like us?"

"Well, you know… that town is so spur of the moment, happening, changing. We're comfortable, set in our ways."

She could hear that he was pleased by this...whereas, she felt like a pair of old slippers.

"Plus, the town is teaming with gorgeous showgirls, bikini clad models, and flashy people," he continued. "That's not us. No, sir."

"Reid is from Vegas," she added.

Kevin snorted. "He's a rarity among those people."

She couldn't argue that.

"You wouldn't want me to be a gorgeous showgirl?" she asked, teasing.

"No, you don't have to be gorgeous. I love you just the way you are."

Penelope felt like she'd been punched; she never felt so dumpy and unattractive in her life. She grabbed her mirror out of her purse and took a look, as Kevin continued to prattle on about Las Vegas and the sins of the town.

She looked at her mouth and thought she saw a few lines that weren't there before. Her eyes didn't shine like they used to, and her hair… good God, was that a gray?

"Kevin, I have to go," she murmured, hanging up the phone.

That lead her to where she was now, standing next to Emily in the conference room. She felt frumpy and ugly and old… and she felt miserable, to boot.

"Hey, Garcie," Prentiss said, looked up from the forms she was holding. "What's the matter? You look upset."

"My brother called; the one who is getting married in Vegas?" At Em's nod, she continued, "Well, it's off. They broke up."

"Oh, that's awful," Emily said sympathetically.

"Yeah," Penelope said as she plopped in the chair opposite her. "I have those tickets that are going to go to waste."

"Why not just go with Kevin?"

"He doesn't want to go. He said it isn't our type of city. We're too stable and comfortable to like it there. Like a pair of old shoes." She glanced up at Prentiss, tears in her eyes. "Am I in a rut, Em?"

Em frowned a little and smirked at the same time. "I don't think so. You don't seem like it to me. Only you can really answer that, though."

"Kevin said—"

"Hey, Em, by my estimate, this case is going to take two weeks," Reid interrupted, walking over and reading papers, too. He glanced over at Penelope sheepishly. "Oh, sorry, Garcia. I didn't even notice you there."

That was how she felt at the moment: unnoticeable. Like cellophane.

"That's all right, Boy Genius."

"Prentiss, Hotch wants—well, hello there, momma." Derek shot her his million watt grin, but even that didn't make her feel better.

"Hi, Morgan," she said, standing. She turned to Prentiss. "I'll talk to you later."

Before she left, Penelope heard Morgan say, "What's wrong with P?"

"She's feeling like she's in a rut. Like she needs to change."

"That's too bad; there's nothing wrong with Penelope," Reid replied.

Penelope smiled, pausing outside the conference room door. That's my boy! She thought. She was feeling very good, until she heard the next words...

"No, she could definitely use some change," Derek said. "Some major ones, if you ask me."

Penelope's jaw dropped, and her heart started to ache, as her eyes welled with tears. Even Derek, her number one fan, the one person who really knew her, thought she needed a makeover! Feeling like a horse, she clopped away on her heels as fast as she could, before anyone saw the tears streaming down her face.

"Why would you say that?" Reid asked defensively, frowning viciously at Derek. As much as Derek Morgan was Penelope's bodyguard, Spencer Reid was her champion, too. "I thought you loved Garcia the way she is."

"Down, boy," Derek replied, holding his hands up in defense. "I do. She's fantastic. I'm not talking about her appearance or anything. Hell, no. Not that gorgeous kitten. Oh, yeah, she's...she's..."

Derek began to smile as he thought about Penelope. He loved women, all women, in general. However, to tell the truth, he liked women with just a bit more padding the most. Girly girls who looked like girls. Soft thighs that would cradle him when he was thrusting, an ass he could grab onto...oh, hell, yes, he loved that!

"What does she need to change, then?" Prentiss prodded with a smirk, nearly laughing because Morgan had obviously forgotten what he was going to say, choosing instead to daydream about Garcia. It wasn't a surprise to anyone standing in the room. Everyone noticed it about Morgan and Garcia—the star crossed pair and their fixation with one another.

Everyone but Morgan and Garcia themselves, that is.

"What?" he asked, and then shook his head. "Oh, yeah. I meant Kevin. She needs to change him. He has been nothing but a downer for her these past few months. She doesn't smile and laugh, or go out like she used to. He doesn't appreciate the fine woman he has there."

"Really?" Prentiss asked, openly smirking.

"Yeah. She needs to find herself some man who would worship that Goddess like she deserves."

"Sounds like you're volunteering," Em commented slyly.

Derek's eyes shot up to Prentiss, looking like a deer in the headlights. "I'm just saying—"

Em continued to give him a crooked grin. "Derek... are you blushing?"

"What?" Derek asked, flabbergasted. To his everlasting chagrin, he could feel his cheeks heating.

"Why, Prentiss, you're right! He is!" Reid crowed in delight, reveling in the odd situation as he noticed the blush, too.

Derek wisely turned and left the office.