Book Club

Planning

Derek tips the waiter and pulls out of the parking lot with a smile. 5 minutes later he arrives home with the French toast and Elizabeth's blessing. Emily runs out, "Is that Maryann's?" Derek nods and hugs her carefully balancing the french toast in his left hand. Emily adds, "That's my favorite diner." Derek smiles at her running inside with her real breakfast.

Derek watches her use her fork as a knife to cut the French toast. Emily catches his eyes staring and smiling at her. With a mouthful of food, she asks, "Whut?"

"I just..." Derek takes a big breath and smiles even bigger, "I just love you so much."

"I love you, too," Emily stands up and hugs him. He squeezes her tightly and lovingly.

Halfway through eating her French toast, they both get text messages, it's Penelope. Penelope's text reads, "Hey, lovebirds. There is an abduction in Rhode Island. We need you here stat! See you soon."

Derek's head falls back and he groans. Emily scrambles to eat the rest of her French toast. Derek mentions, "Hop in my car, you can finish it in the cat. You don't need to scramble to finish." Emily takes her box and a disposable fork to the car. Derek plays his 'HYPE ME UP DAWG' playlist. Emily turns the volume down. Derek and Emily carpool together to work. Getting out of the car Emily throws the now empty container and fork in the outside garbage.

This case happened to be shorter than average. It only took 4 days to get the kid back and arrest the unsub. On the way back Derek moseys on over to Emily and JJ. He gives JJ a look. She gets up and lets Derek sit. The motion catches Emily's eye. She turns her head from the window to her beau. Derek begins, "Tomorrow, you, me, dinner. It's been about a month and I'm a sweet talker, I bet I can move my reservation. Game on?"

"Game on," Emily nods her head. The plane lands and everyone exits the jet. Derek takes Emily back to his house where she takes her car to head back to her own house.

The next morning all of the team sleeps into at least 8 am. First, Penelope goes to her local coffee shop. Aaron wakes up to drop off Jack at school. JJ wakes up next to take Henry to school. After JJ, comes Derek who calls Penelope. Penelope answers, "Howdy-do cowboy?"

"Hey, Baby Girl. Can you come-" Derek is cut off by Penelope.

Penelope speaks, "On it." She hangs up and runs to her car with her coffee in her hand. No less than 5 minutes later she pulls up to Derek's place and runs inside. "Derek! Derek! Derek! The queen has arrived!"

Derek bows and kisses her on the hand, "Did you get what I texted you?"

"They had em at The Groovy Bean, my coffee shop," Penelope shows him the bags full of roses.

Derek pauses, "The Groovy Bean?"

"Mhmm," Penelope nods. Derek shrugs it off, takes the bags, and takes all the roses out. He puts them on the counter. He then sits down and tries to meticulously take each petal off of the stem. Penelope watches for a little bit until she can't take it anymore, "What in the world are you doing?"

Before he can answer the doorbell rings and he can see through the glass door that it is the mailman leaving a package. Penelope skips over to the door and takes the package from the mailman. She reads the label, "Chicago! I love mail, can I open it?"

"Go right ahead," Derek continues to pick the petals off the stems.

She opens the box with her handy dandy compact pocket knife used specifically for opening mail- did she mention she loves mail. She sees the small velvet box and her jaw drops to the floor. Derek laughs, "Better pick your jaw up or you'll catch flies."

"You- You- You are going to... You are going to..." Penelope can't put a sentence together, but squeals in excitement. Finally, she is able to say, "You are going to propose! That's why you needed the petals. OMG! I can't wait to see her face. She is going to be so happy. I-"

Derek stops picking petals, "Penny. Baby. It's just going to be us, you can see her at the office tomorrow."

"But- but- but," Penelope starts to whimper.

"No buts," Derek continues picking petals.

Penelope rolls her eyes and opens the box to spite him. Her jaw drops again. Derek smirks at her undermining benevolence. "This is- This is beautiful."

"It was my Grandmother's. When I was little she told me to use it when I truly loved someone. She described it as your heart fluttering and your body heating up every time you even think of the person," Derek continues, "I felt that as soon as she walked into the round table."

"Awww that's so sweet!" Penelope shuts the box and runs over to Derek and hugs him.

After a minute of silent hugging, Derek pushes away, "Can you help with these?"

"Absotootly, I can," Penelope pulls over a chair and starts plucking petals off of the stems.