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After two weeks of practically back to back cases, the team decided that it was time for a family dinner. When Penelope left they had decided to make family dinners something they did as often as they could, their way of staying together when they were apart.
“So, Penelope,” Rossi said. “It’s been so long since we’ve actually gotten to talk to you. What’s going on in your life? How’s work? Are you seeing anyone?”
“Work is great,” she replied. And then, before she could talk herself out of it, she said, “And yes, I actually have been seeing someone for a few months now.”
Luke, who was sitting right next to her, choked on his drink. Fortunately, he wasn’t the only one, so it didn’t look suspicious.
“For months? ” JJ repeated. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Sorry, JJ,” Reid said. “You kept Will a secret for how long?”
“Point taken.”
“So what’s his name?” Tara asked.
“No.”
“No? That’s an interesting name,” Emily joked.
“Shut up. I mean, no, I’m not telling you his name. I don’t want you guys to track him down to the ends of the earth before we’ve decided if we want you guys to meet him.” Plus, she wanted to drive Luke crazy, but she couldn’t very well tell them that, now could she?
“Quite understandable,” Rossi told her. She knew he would understand, considering he had kept Krystall a secret from them almost until he proposed.
“Well can you at least tell us about him?” Matt asked. “No name, no identifying information, just general stuff? You can’t say, oh yeah I’m dating someone and then give us nothing! ”
She considered this for a moment. “Alright, sure. Let me just think over what I’m going to say so I don’t accidentally give some identifying information to you pesky profilers.”
Luke had no idea how he was going to survive what was to come.
“Well, I mean first of all, he’s gorgeous, like, absolutely the most beautiful man I’ve ever met in my entire life.”
“Don’t let Morgan hear you say that,” Luke quipped in an attempt to seem neutral.
“Oh please, he knows where he stands.”
There was a hidden message in there just for him, and he had to fight back his smile.
“Anyways,” she continued. “He’s really good with animals, he loves Sergio, they’re cuddle buddies.”
“I like this new man of yours already,” Emily said, taking a sip of her wine.
Well that’s a relief, Luke thought.
“And he’s so kind. Just… the sweetest, very romantic. He took me to a restaurant that had slow dancing for our first date.”
Luke had to take a sip of his drink to hide his smile of pride.
A soft smile spread on Penelope’s face. “He’s just… so completely great.”
“Oh my god,” JJ said. “You’re in love with him.”
“What?” Penelope squeaked. “In love? Why would you say that?”
Luke couldn’t help himself. “That, Penelope, is called a non-denial denial.”
If looks could kill, he’d be dead. “Watch yourself, Newbie.”
“Can you even call me that anymore? We haven’t worked together in months.” I mean and we’ve been dating since then and you’ve just kind of admitted you’re in love with me, but I’m not going to say that right now.
“JJ’s right, though,” Reid said. “When you were talking about him your pupils dilated and you got this smile on your face. You’re in love with him.”
Penelope’s blush was fierce. That was absolutely not how she planned on telling Luke she loved him for the first time. “Fine, yes, I’m in love with him, next question?”
“Have you told him yet?” JJ asked.
“No. I mean, it’s still kind of new, and I don’t know if he feels the same way… I don’t want to scare him off, you know?”
That broke Luke’s heart a bit, both the fact that she thought he’d leave her for telling him she loved him and that she had no idea how completely in love with her he was.
“Have you kissed him?” Emily asked in an attempt to make the topic lighter again.
“Yes.”
“Was it good?”
“The best.”
Luke had to take multiple deep breaths to keep himself from turning around and making out with her in front of the entire team.
Tara got a cheeky grin on her face. “Have you slept with him yet?”
Luke wanted to die, but fortunately, Rossi came to the rescue. “Ah ah ah, that is a conversation for girls’ night, not my dinner table.”
Tara cackled, and Luke and Penelope were doing their absolute best to not look at each other.
“Well,” Emily said. “Anyone else have a secret relationship they want to tell us about?”
Well, two can play at this game. “Yeah, actually.”
Everyone stared at Luke. “Wait, seriously?”
“Yeah. I’ve been seeing her for a few months now, and I haven’t said anything because no one in this group can keep their mouths shut, goddamn.
"If you're talking about me, Luke Alvez, that's very rude," Penelope told him.
Actually, you're the one person I'm not talking about. "No, no, I'm not talking about everyone. I didn't want them to try to profile or weasel it out of me because once I start talking about her, I can't stop and I know I'd let it slip."
"Well then tell us about her," Reid said. "Since you can't stop."
"Gladly. She's the most amazing and kind-hearted person I have ever met in my entire life. She is Jesus Christ you are miles and miles out of my league, how the fuck did I end up with you, gorgeous, inside and out. She loves Roxy, and I think Roxy likes her more than me. When she smiles she gets this sparkle in her eyes that doesn't go away for hours and it's my favorite thing in the world. And she's funny, always making me laugh, and like, ridiculously smart."
"What the hell is she doing with you, then?" Tara teased.
"I have no idea, but I'm never letting her go. I am so fucking in love with her it's not even funny. Like, completely gone."
Out of the corner of his eye he could see Penelope trying not to react. "And she loves you?" It was like an echo of one of their first conversations. He was talking about Roxy, she thought he was talking about his girlfriend. This time, however, there was a double meaning. The rest of the team heard and she loves you? A teasing question, typical of their usual banter. He heard and she loves you. A declaration. A promise.
"Yeah, she does."
"Tell her to call me when she comes to her senses."
He laughed. "Yeah, I will. You'd love her, I think. She's always giving me crap. Sometimes I think she's only dating me for Roxy and my culinary skills."
Matt scoffed at that. "What culinary skills?"
"I make a mean lasagna."
"It's true, he does," Penelope agreed. "Vegetarian, too."
Everyone, including Luke, turned to stare at her with wide eyes. While their expressions were varying levels of shock, his was sheer amusement. Had they really just done that whole song and dance for her to go and say that?
She looked back at them, blinking in confusion. "What?"
JJ smiled a bit, trying to hold in her laughter. "When did he make you vegetarian lasagna?"
Penelope's eyes went wide as she realized what she said, and wider still at the (correct) implications. "Oh. Um. I." She turned to Luke. "I can't explain my way out of this, can I?"
He smiled affectionately at her and took her hand in this. "No, Love, I don't think you can."
She blushed at the nickname and turned back towards the group. "So, his name is Luke…"