Derek Morgan was scared of heights! It was not something he told...well...anyone. It would affect his tough guy persona to have a fear, so he kept it to himself.

With said fear, he couldn't believe he actually had just agreed to a hot air balloon ride with Penelope. The biggest problem was it was Penelope. He couldn't say no to her, never could. She was his one weakness, he he was Superman, she was kryptonite.

Now he was stuck trying to figure out how he was going to do this without making a fool of himself or getting himself and her, killed.

He got stuck in a tree when he was a kid, couldn't get down without his dad having to climb up a ladder and bring him down, he had been scared of heights ever since, and now he agreed to go high up in the air and ride in a hot air balloon.

It took him years to be able to ride on the jet without knocking himself out first, this was going to be one hell of a trip.

"Ready to go, handsome." She asked walking into his office.

"Just a few more minutes." he said, pretending to write trying to buy some time.

Realizing he could only do that for so long he closed the file he was working on and followed her out.

They gathered on the bank and listened to the operator, he told them what they were and were not to do, butterflies were gathering in the pit of his stomach, he wanted to turn on his heels and run, but he couldn't, he didn't want to be a coward.

He faked a smile and flashed it towards her. She took his hand, giddy with excitement and walked into the basket while the operator flashed it up. Before too long they were moving in the air. Derek kept his eyes focused on Penelope, he didn't dare look away or he was certain he would start freaking out.

"Wow, Derek, look at the view." She smiled.

"Yup." He said not taking his eyes off her.

"Silly, you didn't even look."

"Did," he said.

She got close to him. "Are you ok, handsome?" she asked.

"Sure," he breathed.

"Derek, I don't have to be a profiler to know something is wrong. Now Spill!"

"Can't."

"Derek!"

"Scared., he managed to get out.

"Are you scared of heights?" she asked.

He nodded.

"Oh, Derek, you could have said no to coming with me."

"Couldn't."

She approached him and hugged him to comfort him, she placed her head in the crook of his neck, smelling his scent, she had a surge of electricity throughout her whole body. She tipped her head and grazed his lips. They were kissing with passion, the operator looked over and smiled and continued on with his job.

They continued kissing until the balloon landed once again.

Derek was never so happy to be on solid ground, but he would never regret the balloon ride because he got to spend it with Penelope and in spite of his fears, he had overcome 2 things that he had been scared of in the same day.