The Talk –

The team looked on as Garcia made those few steps to bring her face to face with Morgan. She looked so terrified. JJ and Emily fought the urge to run and hug her. All they could do was give her encouraging smiles when she looked their way. They could only imagine what this was doing to her on the inside. Hotch and Rossi felt like they were watching Garcia head off to be slaughtered. They knew that this was by far the hardest thing she had ever had to do. She was their ray of sunshine after tough cases but today she looked like a frightened little girl who just wanted to run and hide. Reid loved Garcia like a big sister that is why seeing her look so deflated was killing him. Each team member knew what Morgan's rejection would do to her. They each prayed silently that it did not come to that.

Normally she would not be so willing to discuss her feelings in front of an audience but today she had no choice. She knew this was it and she was at a complete loss as to where she should begin. For the first time since they arrived Garcia took a real hard look at Morgan. His stance and posture were taunt and rigid. He folded his arms across his chest closing himself off from her. She finally got the courage to look him directly in the eyes. He had dark circles under each eye. He looked tired. She saw anger in his eyes and something else. Something that she had caused. Hurt. She recognized it immediately because that is how she felt when she realized he was telling the truth and she had not believed him. She was trying to figure out how to begin when she heard Hotch's voice in her head telling her to be honest. Garcia always believed that everything happened for a reason. She wasn't quite sure what the reasoning was behind this public display of her raw emotions.

Morgan could not believe this. She was actually going to try and explain herself in front of not only the team but his mom and sisters also. He had thought that when he told her to talk in front of everyone she would surely say no. Morgan took in all of her appearance as she made her way over to him. She looked like she was carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders. As much as he wished it didn't, that made him sad. He knew he was the cause. She was here willing to talk with an audience. Maybe she did love him – Stop – He mentally kicked himself. That was not the case. He had already decided to move on without her. All he had to do was listen and she would leave. That was the deal. He put his walls back up and prepared to listen to what Garcia had to say.

Fran, Sarah and Desiree couldn't remember if they had ever seen Derek so mad. They knew that normally he would never hit a woman but at that moment they couldn't be so sure. His team had him locked in. They knew he didn't like feeling trapped. Why would the team do this? There was only one conclusion they could come to. This team must really love not only Derek but Penelope as well. As much as they understood Derek's anger they knew it was just masking the hurt he felt. They knew this talk was going to be hard so they said silent prayers for a favorable ending.

Garcia stared into Morgan's eyes for what seemed like forever. She had seen him upset before but never directed at her. She thought to herself – Here goes nothing.

"Derek, I – I owe you an apology."

"That was original. Are you done?"

"N-No." She tried to hide the hurt at his sarcasm but it didn't work. Everyone saw her flinch at his words.

"I promised that I would never stop talking to you but I did and for that I am sorry."

Morgan was stunned for a brief moment. He remembered the conversation in which he called her his God Given Solace. Boy had he been wrong.

"Okay you've said it. I listened. Now you leave. Okay?"

He turned to walk away and instinctively she reached out and grabbed his arm. He instantly shrugged her hand off. Tears began to form in her eyes. He looked so repulsed by her touch. She tried as hard as she could to hold the tears back. She turned away from him. That was it. She was getting mad now. She had nothing more to loose. She began to walk away but then turned back to face a retreating Morgan. She had enough. It was time to get this over with so she could summon what was left of her dignity and leave.

"Stop Morgan." She yelled.

He was shocked. She had never yelled at him before.

Through clenched teeth she said, "You agreed to listen and I am not done talking." She didn't give him a chance to respond. She just kept talking. "I know I was stupid for not believing you but you are being a complete ass now by not listening to me."

"What?" Morgan yelled as he made his way over to Garcia. He couldn't believe she was talking to him this way.

Hotch and Rossi took a step towards them, as they did not know what Derek was going to do. Garcia put up a hand to stop them. "No boss men. Derek is pissed but I know he would never put his hands on me." Morgan glanced at Hotch and Rossi in shock but affirmed what Garcia said.

"Pen –"

"Shut up Derek. I'm not finish. I know how you feel. Angry, hurt, confused and the list goes on. I felt – feel the same way. When you told me how you felt, my first instinct was to believe you but life has taught me that I can't afford to do that."

Derek was about to interrupt but she kept going.

"Somewhere in my heart I knew you loved me but in my head I knew it would never be the love I wanted. I had all but convinced myself of that and then her you come telling me that I was wrong. You did love / were in love with me. Derek, guys like you don't go for girls like me. You are a Chocolate God and I am just a Vanilla Nerd. I could never see that working. I look nothing like any of the women you date."

"Pen, I never said you did look like any of those women. Those women filled a physical need Pen. That was all. You know I never took any to them to my home. I barely remembered their names the next morning."

"Exactly Derek. How was I to know that I wouldn't be one of those nameless women in the morning? I couldn't handle that."

Morgan was beginning to understand now. His shoulders fell as he began to relax and really listen to what Penelope was saying. The walls were coming down. His tone was softer now.

"You should know because I would never do anything like that to you. You should know ME Pen."

Garcia glanced down. He was talking to her not yelling. Things may be looking up.

"I do – I did Derek that's why I couldn't believe you at first. You don't let people in easily. I couldn't see why you would decide to let me in. What was so special about me? He was right. I am only good as a friend with benefits. ."

"Wait – What – He who? Come on Pen. Tell me."

"Kevin. When we broke up he said that all I was and will ever be good for is a friend with benefits. Don't give me that look. I didn't tell you because you would have tried to fix him and his thinking and I couldn't have that. Anyway it seems that Kevin and everybody in this room knew how I felt about you except for me." Garcia reached out and took Morgan's hand and brought him with her to the couch. This time he didn't flinch at her touch.

"Now that is better. You are a little less intimidating sitting down." Derek stared to comment but thought better. She relaxed a little as she continued to explain.

"Derek I have run into more than my share of Kevin Lynch's in my lifetime. They have shaped the way I see men. None of them ever made me feel the way you do. That is what scared me. I am never happier than when I am just hanging out with you. Just hearing your voice makes my heart skip a beat. When you said you wanted to take our relationship beyond friendship I just saw my world crashing around me. If things didn't work in a relationship, I could not handle loosing my best friend. It was easier for me to get mad and believe that you were just toying with me. After all that is what every other man in my life had done. The more you tried to convince me that I was wrong, the angrier I got. Happily ever afters don't exist for women that look like me and men that look like you. Derek you deserve or so I thought some model looking woman on your side and not me. I have seen the way people look at us when we are out. I didn't want you to have to endure that for me. Now I know that it was stupid of me to think and feel that way but I couldn't help it. Speaking of stupid. I was beyond stupid when I told you that we should not friends. I thought that if we weren't friends anymore my feelings would go away. WRONG. It was torture not seeing you, not talking to you, not being able to call you or have you come over when I couldn't sleep. The last couple of weeks I was mad but not completely at you. I was madder at me for pushing away the only person that I want. You admitting your feelings for me were forcing me to deal with my feelings for you and I was too scared to do that. Just recently I have found that I am more scared of not having you in my life. I miss you. I miss my best friend. I am so sorry for not talking to you sooner. I just didn't know what to say or how to say it. I guess you leaving and my talking to a good friend of ours," Garcia turns and winks at Hotch. "Helped me to realize what everyone else knew all along. I love you. I am in love with you. I can't remember a time when I wasn't."

Derek sat there speechless. He didn't know what to say. She had poured her heart out to him, with an audience. He now understood why she acted the way she did. He did not like her actions nor did he agree with some of her logic but he understood. He was staring at her trying to process all she had said but he just couldn't forgive her so easily he thought.

Everyone in the room was speechless. They were happy for Garcia as she had finally told Morgan how and why she felt the way she did. Now they were all waiting to hear his reaction to what she said.

"Penelope I heard everything you said and I understand now but I don't know. As much as I hate to admit it, my heart wants to forgive but my head just can't forget the last couple of weeks. Who is to say that these feelings of uncertainty you have won't resurface? I can't handle another couple of weeks like we just had. You were / are my best friend. How do I know you won't stop talking to me again? I listened now I guess I just need time to process . . ."

Derek was so busy talking that he didn't notice Penelope getting closer to him until her lips met his. It felt as if they both were just hit by a lightening bolt. At first he was going to pull away but she reached up and put her hand on the back of his head to hold him there. Penelope put all of the want, desire, fear and love she could into that kiss. She gave all she could. She teased his bottom lip with her tongue trying to coax his mouth open. Derek was shocked. She was kissing him. A very good kiss. This was not what he had expected She was shy and reserved. She was not the kind of person to initiate a kiss like this. He felt in this kiss all the raw emotion that she was trying to convey during their conversation. Derek wanted to deepen the kiss but remembering their audience, he felt it best if he didn't. He reached up and removed her hand from his head thus ending the kiss. Penelope reluctantly pulled back avoiding looking him in the eyes. Derek knew he had to say or do something or the damage that would be done to Penelope by his apparent rejection would be irreversible. He leaned in and lifted her chin so that she was looking into his eyes. He saw the same love he had for her reflected in her eyes.

"Penelope I get it. I love you too. I am in love with you too. I don't think I could stop loving you if I tried. You are going to have to give me some time to let my head catch up to my heart. Okay?"

"Okay."

With that he placed a light kiss on her forehead and enveloped her in a huge hug. In that moment all of the tension seemed to leave the room

Fran was the first to speak. "Now that we have that out of the way, who wants dinner?"

Derek and Penelope pulled away from each other and looked around at their team – their family. In unison they both said 'Thank You' and they received a chorused 'Your Welcome' from everyone in the room.

Everyone in that room knew that things were not completely resolved but at least they were now working on it.

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Okay. I am thinking about ending it here. My muse has left and I feel like this is a good place to stop. As always, your reviews are greatly appreciated.

Thank You so much for taking the time to read and encourage me with my first Morgan / Garcia fiction. I truly appreciate it. Who knows, maybe my muse will return and I can write another one.

Thanks again! !