"Hello? Yes, this is she. . ."

"Ms. Garcia, my name is Jennifer Hurtado. I am Maggie Hoffmans Attorney. Maggie Hoffman came to me to have her will drawn up. In the unfortunate event of her passing, she has named you the executor of her will. I regret to inform you that Mrs. Hoffman passed this morning."

"Maggie. . . Oh my god." Penelope sunk to the floor with the phone still in her hand as the tears streamed down her face.

"Are you able to come to San Diego to look over some paperwork?"

"Yes. When should I fly in?" Penelope took a few deep breaths to try and get her bearings.

"Our office can be ready for you as early as tomorrow morning."

After doing some quick calculations in her head, Penelope told the woman on the phone that she would be there. After getting directions and a phone number for the office, Penelope climbed in the shower, turned on the water full blast and let the tears fall.

Derek hadn't planned on going over to Penelope's apartment on this rare Saturday morning off but as it happened, he was climbing the stairs up to her apartment with coffee and croissants in his hand, he hear d faint sobs coming from her apartment. Quickening his pace he paused at the door and listened closely as he fished his keys out of his pocket. Selecting the right key and silently inserting it into the lock, he called her name quietly as he turned the knob and pushed the door open. Hearing the shower going, he headed toward the bathroom.

Penelope had run out of tears to cry. Maggie and Penelope had been best friends since they sat next to each other in the 4th grade. First boy crushes, sneaking out, graduating high school. They had even gone to the same college. 6 years ago, Penelope was the maid of honor for Maggie and Maggie had sworn that she would return the favor when it was Penelope's turn to walk down the aisle. Now, she would never get the chance. For two of Maggie's children, Penelope was one of her birthing coaches and she was godmother to all 5 children. They were more like sisters instead of best friends. Penelope reached over and turned off the water. She climbed out of the shower and wrapped her towel tightly around her body.

"Penelope?" Derek called out again.

"Derek? What are you doing here?" Penelope asked as she opened the door of the bathroom and stepped into the hallway.

"I just stopped by to bring you coffee and a croissant. I didn't know what your plans were for the day, I thought we could spend it together." Derek came down the hallway and saw the pain reflecting in Penelope's eyes. "Awww. Baby girl, what's wrong?"

"Derek. It's awful. Maggie, and" she broke down in tears again. He enveloped her in his arms and rocked her where they stood. After Penelope had exhausted herself again, Derek tucked her in bed and sat next to her.

After Penelope managed to explain everything to him, Derek looked at her sternly and asked, "Baby, I'm coming with you. You know that right?" He wiped away a few stray tears that had worked their way down to her chin.

"Derek. I can do this myself. I'm sure you have something to take care of. It's our first weekend off in 2 months."

"Baby, I came here to see if I could spend the day with you. Get some sleep. I'll call the airlines and see if I can get us a flight out to San Diego today. Then we can go to the lawyer first thing tomorrow morning and we can see where we stand."

"Derek Morgan, I love you. You know that?"

"Love you too Princess. Get some sleep." He kissed her temple and shut the lamp. Effectively cutting off communication and Penelope drifted off into sleep.

An hour later after securing them both flights to San Diego, calling Hotch and telling him they would both need the next week off and getting the other man's promise that the paperwork would be filed, Derek went to check on Penelope. He found her sitting up in bed making a list.

"Hey Baby. What are you doing?"

"Making a list of things I have to talk to the lawyer about. Did you know Maggie has, had 5 kids?"

"No I didn't. How old are they?"

"Noah is 5, Lilly is 3, Grace and Ethan are 14 months and Olivia is only 3 weeks old. God, Derek. They are so little. Who's going to take care of them?"

"I don't know baby. We can call the lawyer now, she probably has the answers you are looking for. It's only 11 am in California and we don't have to leave for the airport for another hour or so."

"Will you get me her number from the kitchen?"

Derek nodded and left the room to get the phone number. When Derek came back in, Penelope smiled her thanks and dialed the number. Waiting for it to ring, she said to Derek, "If you want to go watch tv or something, go ahead hot stuff."

"Okay mama. Promise me you will call for me if you need me."

"I promise hot stuff. Now go." She playfully swatted at him as Ms. Hurtado answered her phone.

"Jennifer Hurtado."

"Hello, Ms. Hurtado. This is Penelope Garcia. You called me this morning about my friend Maggie Hoffman?"

"Of course, what can I help you with Ms. Garcia?"

"Well, I've already booked a flight that lands in San Diego later today. I was just coming up with some questions and I was wondering if you could answer them for me."

"I will do my best. However if they pertain to the will, I can't open that without you being present and they will have to wait for our meeting."

"Where are Maggie's children? I know she didn't have any family. Did Thomas?"

"Maggie's children are currently being taken care of at their house by a family friend. As far as I know, Thomas also didn't have any family. Maggie and Thomas listed a guardian for all of their children in their will."

"I will be in San Diego by 3:30 is there any way we can have our meeting this afternoon?"

"Of course Ms. Garcia, that will not be a problem. I can send a car to the airport that can bring you to your hotel first to freshen up and then it can bring you to the office for 4:30 for our meeting."

"That sounds perfect. Ms. Hurtado. Thank you for all of your help. I will see you later today."

"Have a safe flight. See you soon."

"Thank you. Good bye." Penelope hung up the phone and went to go find Derek. "I pushed up the meeting to this afternoon at 4:30. Are you sure you want to come Hot stuff?"

"What did I tell you woman? You aren't getting rid of me. So can you please get that idea through that hard head of yours and just go get your gorgeous butt packed?" Derek came to a stop right in front of her and Penelope looked up at him. He saw pain reflected back at him and he just wanted it to go away even if only for a second. So he kissed her softly on the lips. Just a little comforting kiss between friends. What he wasn't counting on was the spark that was lit between them. Or how Penelope would kiss him back.

Penelope couldn't explain what had come over her, one minute her and Derek are flirting as usual and then suddenly their hands are all over each other and they are clinging to each other as if they are essential to each other as air.

Derek came to his senses first. "Baby Girl." "Penelope." "We have to stop."

"No. No stopping. It feels so good."

Her words almost spurred him to keep going but they really had to get to the airport. "Baby Girl, we can continue at the airport. We don't want to miss our flight."

"Flight." "Oooh. God. Maggie." "I'm such a horrible friend. How can I even think about how much I want you in my bed when Maggie is d..dead?" She broke out in tears again and Derek enveloped her in his arms and gently rocked her for a minute or so. "Baby girl, why don't you sit here and just calm down a little. I will go pack you an overnight bag and we can leave for the airport okay." She nodded and he was almost out of earshot when she called out to him again.

"Morgan?"

"Yeah, Baby."

"What happened between us? Did you feel it too? Or was it just me being emotional?"

"Oh baby. It happened and it will happen again. Mark my words we are nowhere near being finished yet. But for now, I'm going to help you take care of this and then we can work on an us. Okay?"

"Okay. I love you Derek Morgan."

"And I love you Penelope Garcia."

After successfully arriving at the airport, checking their luggage, boarding their plane and their plane taking off, Penelope and Derek decided it was a good time to talk a little about what happened in her apartment.

"I'm sorry I jumped you like that Derek. You are just being a good friend and I let my emotions take control." Penelope looked at Derek and she smiled. "At least you know you are hot, right?" she joked a little.

"I was beginning to think my charms didn't work on you." He smirked at her. "I'm glad they work on you. You are the only woman I ever wanted them to work on anyway."

"Yeah right. That's why all the women I've ever seen you with are my exact opposites."

"Well, if I have to have a substitute, it better look like an exact opposite of what I want."

"Really?"

"Really." Derek was quiet for a minute letting the knowledge that he had wanted her for years sink in. "Look baby girl, I know you are dealing with a lot right now. I'm not going anywhere. I've waited 6 years for my chance, no way am I going to get impatient now."

"I'm just shocked. I always thought you didn't see me like that. I always thought Derek Morgan liked tall, skinny, dark haired women."

"Baby Girl, Derek Morgan only wants the Penelope Garcia brand of women and there is only one of them in the entire world."

"Derek. I know that I'm not in any emotional state to deal with the ramifications of this conversation right now but I don't want to wait. I think we waited 6 years to be together and Maggie was just torn from her life and her children are left without their mother. I don't want to waste another minute. I love you Derek Morgan. I really love you."

"That's good mama. Cuz, woman, you've had my heart since day one." He lightly kissed her on the lips.

"That's all you got?" Penelope teased him.

"We are on an airplane Princess. I'll show you some real magic when we get to our hotel room." He pulled her close and kissed her again before raising the arm rest between them and pulling her into his side. As she snuggled close, he kissed her hair and settled his head back to rest his eyes for a bit.

Derek had scored them two of the last seats on a nonstop flight into San Diego so when they felt the plane begin to descend they knew they were closing in on their destination.

"I'm scared." Penelope whispered to Derek.

"It will be okay baby. You and I can tackle anything together. And I will be there, right next to you, every step of the way." Derek looped their fingers together and brought her hand to his lips and he kissed her knuckles. "You don't doubt us right?"

"Wouldn't dream of it, hot stuff, I don't think there exists something that can tear us apart. I love you."

"I love you too baby girl. Let's get this stuff sorted and then we can relax together in the big hotel bed."

"Just relaxing? Is that really all you have in mind?"

"Mind out of the gutter Garcia" He chuckled. "We can consider other activities once we are done with the lawyer."

"Thanks for coming hot stuff."

"I offered. Now stop thanking me before I spank you."

"Promise?" she asked with smirk.

"Is there anything that you won't relate to sex" he wondered aloud while pulling her close to kiss her again as the plane made contact with the runway.

They found their luggage and their driver was waiting for them at the gate with a sign that read "Garcia". Derek had booked them a hotel room with a big comfy king sized bed and after quickly changing their clothes and freshening up, they headed back down to the lobby to meet with the lawyer.

Jennifer Hurtado was a nervous wreck. She currently had 5 children under the age of 6 in her conference room. The family friend who was watching the Hoffman children had been called away on a family medical emergency and her staff was handling their own cases and meetings all day. Out of desperation, she had asked her secretary to watch over the children so she could conduct her own meeting with Penelope Garcia, the legal guardian of the children. She had wheeled in an old tv from the break room and wired an old computer to play a tv show for the two older children and the younger 3 thankfully had bottles to drink in the bag that was packed by the latest babysitter but poor Megan was on her own until Jennifer can successfully convince Ms. Garcia to take the 5 home with her today. The sooner the better, honestly, who is equipped to deal with 5 children of that age?

Penelope and Derek took seats that were offered to them and each shook the hand of Jennifer Hurtado.

"Let's get right to it, shall we? I'm going to audio record this meeting for transcript purposes later. Is that okay with you?"

"It's fine with me." Penelope answered and when Derek nodded his agreement, Jennifer turned the device on and started her meeting.

"Thank you for coming in Penelope Garcia. As I mentioned on the phone earlier today, Maggie Hoffman listed you as the executor of her will. This includes the inheritance of her house on Willis Lane, her three cars, various investments and she has also listed you as the guardian for the children."

"I understand the financial things, I was the closest thing that she had to family but are you sure I'm supposed to be their guardian?"

"That was what Mrs. Hoffman desired, yes."

"I don't think you understand. I can't cook, I kill every plant I try to keep alive and my fish die the day I bring them home. I'm not meant to be a parent."

"Well, if you don't wish to fulfill the "position" if you will, the kids will be placed in foster care and there is a pretty good chance they will be split up. Not many families have the financial or emotional resources to care for 5 children."

"Can I take a minute here?" Penelope looked at Derek. "I think we need to talk."

"Why don't you take a few minutes to yourself and think things through. I need to check on my secretary."

"Is she ill?" Penelope wondered.

"No. She's actually with Maggie's children downstairs. They were being cared for by a family friend but she got called away on a medical emergency and the first place she thought to bring them was here."

"Can I see them?" Penelope asked.

"Sure." As the three of them made their way to the elevator, Penelope tugged on Derek's hand and pulled him to the side a little while they were waiting for the elevator. "I understand if you need to back away for a little while Derek."

"Do you want me to stay up here while you go visit with the kids? Do you need me to back away for a minute?" He asked as his hands ran up and down her back in a soothing pattern.

"I don't want to do this alone." She admitted in a quiet voice only meant for his ears.

"Then baby, you won't be alone." Derek said and he pulled her face up to look him in the eyes before continuing. "Let's go meet these kids."

Meanwhile, poor Megan hadn't planned on taking care of so many children when she had dressed for work that morning. Her $85 blouse, a present from her boyfriend was currently covered in two large spit up trails, courtesy of the littlest one. Her dress pants had somehow gotten a rip in the seam and she now had a gaping hole on the bottom half of her right leg and one of the twins had torn off their diaper and there was a few foot prints that appeared to suspiciously resemble poop. She was NOT, I repeat, NOT under any circumstances going to investigate that one further! No way. So needless to say, when Megan heard voices approaching the conference room, she threw a joyous Hallelujah! to the heavens above and quickly went into the hallway to meet her saviors.