A/N: Thanks so much to everyone for your reviews, favourites and alerts ... you guys are wonderful! Sorry this chapter took so long, but sometimes RL gets in the way.
Some SPOILERS for Exit Wounds and The Internet is Forever. I tried a slightly different format for the next couple of chapters. On many TV series, when a couple finally gets together, there's often an episode where they flash back to earlier moments in their history. I wanted to imitate that idea for this story, telling the story of the two weeks in flashbacks.
Disclaimer: I own nothing of Criminal Minds. I'm just playing a little :)
On the BAU jet heading to Idaho, Morgan had just finished reviewing with Prentiss the paucity of information available on the abduction sites. He could hear Rossi, Reid and JJ discussing the abduction victims, but there was nothing else he and Prentiss could do until they actually arrived in Boise. As that was still almost two and a half hours away, Morgan popped his headphones in and leaned his head back against the seat.
Inevitably, his thoughts drifted back to two weeks ago, when his life had changed. Once more, he was standing outside a small tavern in the chilled afternoon air of Franklin, Alaska.
Flashback
Derek felt that he could not possibly get enough of kissing Penelope. It was as though the moment his heart finally figured out that the only lips he should ever have been kissing were hers, said heart had also decided that being permanently attached to them was no bad idea, in case his idiot head decided to get in the way again.
Whatever the reason, neither of them could seem to stop. Each time they made an effort to stop, either he or Penelope would drift forward again, and their lips would meet eagerly once more.
While there was passion shifting restlessly beneath the surface, eager to be let loose, their kisses weren't really passionate ones. Instead, they were loving, full of the entrancing power of the incredible feelings flowing through them both.
Derek didn't feel that words were even necessary. He knew without a doubt that Penelope loved him with her whole heart. It was more than just her kisses. It was in the way that she held him to her. For she was no longer just being held in his arms. She was just as much holding him. One of her hands was behind his neck, actually cradling his head. It never moved but to stroke softly when he bent his head to hers. The other hand was wrapped about his waist, having crept under his heavy jacket, and was tracing smooth circles against the warmth of his back. It was oddly comforting – and humbling when he recognized how much his Baby Girl gave of herself in everything she did, and that this was no different. He counted himself so very fortunate that she was willing to share so much of herself with him.
Oh, how he loved this woman in his arms! He had never been in love with anyone before, yet now he recognized that he had been in love with her for years. At that moment, he silently promised himself that he would do everything he possibly could to be worthy of her love.
Cradling her close, he was bending to capture her lips again, watching her warm brown eyes close in anticipation, when a slight movement flickered in the corner of his eye. Not wanting to startle her, he touched his lips to hers, but instead of deepening the kiss, he spoke against her mouth.
"Don't look now, sweetheart, but I think we have an audience."
Naturally, Penelope's immediate reaction was to lean away from him … and look. Instantly, she blushed a furious red that Derek was amused to realize almost matched her hair.
JJ and Emily were staring unabashedly at them, wearing identical smirks. Reid was trying not to stare and wearing a blush that probably rivaled hers and Hotch was just walking away from the group. They knew he had to have seen. Only Rossi was not in view.
Suddenly, Penelope grinned widely up at Derek and said mischievously, "Well, at least we don't have to worry about how to tell the team!"
Derek's shout of surprised laughter started Penelope giggling. Then he kissed the top of her head and said, eyes twinkling at her, "Shall we go and face the music then, Goddess?"
Without waiting for an answer, he gently disentangled himself from her embrace, and taking her hand in his, they walked towards their waiting friends.
As they closed the distance, they noted that Hotch was back with Rossi in tow. The senior agents both wore conspiratorial grins, and Derek knew that Rossi had been told.
Derek was acutely aware of Penelope's warm fingers wrapped tightly in his own. His thumb stroked a rhythm against her hand that he meant to be soothing, but suddenly, she squeezed his hand to make him stop. He looked down at her in surprise for an instant, but when she met his gaze, he saw the heat in hers and grinned exultantly. Penelope shook her head as he raised their joined hands to his lips to bestow a tender kiss to the spot.
Arriving at the group, Derek asked casually, "Ready to go, guys?"
Rossi raised one eyebrow and said pointedly, "Shouldn't we be asking you that?"
Then, before anyone else could comment, he continued, "Tell me Morgan, what are you doing? Working on wife number one?"
With a wicked smirk, he turned to walk away. Amid the general laughter his comment had caused, the rest of the team headed to the various vehicles to begin the long trip back to Quantico.
Derek walked with Penelope to the side of the tavern to complete the packing up of the satellite equipment. They worked silently and swiftly. There was no need for words between them. He knew she felt the same eagerness to be away from this place, as beautiful as it was.
"You alright there, Baby Girl?" Derek murmured softly to her, as he opened the car door for her.
"Just fine, handsome, just fine." She smiled up at him happily.
End Flashback
