Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds

A/N: Wowza! That first chapter went down really well! So glad you like! Love hearing what you think! Let's see if I prove most of you right shall we? =)


Derek took that photo home that night, he didn't care if it was classed as stealing, he needed it. In that frame was his wife, his beautiful, compassionate wife and with arms wrapped around her neck a little boy, a perfect clash of his skin and hers. She was kissing the boys cheek as he smiled lively, a front tooth missing. He didn't need anyone telling him that that little boy was all his, he saw the similarities and as the little boy stared up at him from the frame Derek felt his world darken and he broke down.

He couldn't believe he had left her, after 3 years he still couldn't believe he'd been so heartless as to leave her without so much as giving her the option. He'd let a fear drive between their love and in the end he had done no one any good.

Penelope knelt by the bath as her son played happily. She smiled as she watched him, he'd always been a constant reminder of his father, a good man, a noble man but her husband wasn't that man anymore. She didn't even know who he was, it'd been 3 years since she'd held his presence, 3 years can make a person heal but she'd never heal from Derek, he was a permanent imprint on her, one that she'd want and need until the day she died.

'Mommy, why you look so sad?'

'I'm not sad honey, just tired.'

'Then maybe you should go to bed.'

'I will when I have you all squeaky clean.' She said and tickled him, the little boy giggled happily and Penelope felt some worries disperse. Satisfied with her sons cleanliness Penelope pulled him out and wrapped in up in a large towel before carrying him into his room. 'I love you so much kiddo.'

'I wuv you too mommy.' He said happily and kissed her, Penelope smiled more as she set to work preparing her son for bed, once she'd tucked him in and read him a story Penelope kissed his forehead and left, leaving the door slightly ajar. She then set to work running a bath for herself, as it ran she picked up her phone and rang an all too familiar number.

'Hello?'

'Hey Fran, it's me.'

'Penelope!' Fran's voice floated down the line. 'How's it going?'

'Why didn't you tell me I'd be working with your son?'

'I didn't know you would be directly, I just thought you'd be in the same state.'

'Fran...' Penelope said exasperated.

'No Penelope! I've kept out of it for long enough, both of you telling me not to get involved, well I'm done, maybe you two working together will get you marriage back on track.'

'It's been 3 years Fran.'

'Yes and 3 years too long, it's about time you showed him the son he has, that little boy deserves his father as much as you deserve your husband.'

'He left me.' Penelope said painfully. 'I can't ignore that fact.'

'I know you can't but you need to talk to him.' Fran told Penelope truthfully. 'Let him know what he walked out on, let him know everything that happened. How low things were for a while and let him tell you why he left you.'

'You're right.' Penelope replied quietly. 'I hate that I love him so much, even after all these years.'

'Time makes the heart grow fonder.' Fran retorted and smiled, she knew if her son and daughter-in-law were anything like they were all those years back then they'd get back together. 'I want to shred these divorce papers up Penelope.'

Penelope laughed. 'Let's not jump the gun.' Penelope said, a new air to her tones. 'I'll talk to him as soon as I can, promise.'

'You'll regret doing otherwise.' Fran told her positively. 'Give my precious grandbaby a Grammie kiss for me.'

'How about you fly in as soon as and give him one yourself?'

'You've got yourself a deal.'

'Thank you mom.'

'Any day Penelope, I love you.'

'I love you too.' Penelope replied and put the phone down satisfied; she then went and finished running her bath.

Derek remained seated as his fingers traced the faces of his wife and the little boy, his mind blanked out, his focus on those two figures. He had no right to feel neglected, if anything Penelope felt neglected, he'd upped and left her, and now they were together. At work, 5 days, sometimes longer with a case, a week.

He knew one thing to do, he grabbed his phone and called his mom, she was his voice of reason if not his pusher for getting back to Penelope.

'Hello?'

'Hey mom.' Derek's tone came across totally defeated. 'We need to talk.'

'I guessed as much.'

'Why didn't you tell me I had a son?'

Fran sighed; she was caught in the crossfire here. 'Wasn't my place to tell.'

'Wasn't your place? You've known about him for how long now mom?'

'Penelope didn't want you to know, she wanted you to come back on your own accord, not because she was pregnant, or because you had obligations.'

'Mom...'

'No, I'm fed up of this now. Penelope wanted you home because of what you wanted, not because you felt it was right and your duty to do so but because you love her enough to forget whatever you had wrong with you and love her the way she ought to be love.'

'I do love her but I can't do to her what happened to you. You lost dad, I can't let her lose me.'

'She feels she already has Derek.' Fran commented and she heard her son exhaled. 'She loves you so much Derek, she lost everything when you left and then she found out she was 2 months pregnant, and she tried everything to get you back, to find you. Everything failed her and I hadn't heard from you so I couldn't help. Just make this right Derek before you two get any many lost.'

'I suppose you're right but how do I tell my boss?'

'The easiest way possible, you and Penelope both go together and get over that problem together, I'm sure she'd love you to meet your son too. It's all she's ever wanted.'

'What's he called? What did she call him?'

'We call him JD, but it stands for James Derek, he's so completely you baby, he's you through and through.'

'Thanks mom, I know what I need to do now.' Derek responded, he now knew the little boy was his, well and truly his but he felt wrong to assume that he could just claim the boy as his, he hadn't bought him up, Penelope had.

'No problem, Derek just do this right.' Fran near enough begged, she wanted her son and daughter-in-law to be happy again and to bring up her grandbaby properly. 'Just give her space and keep talking to her, the whole truth, not bits and pieces.'

'I will mom.'

'Good, now get some rest, I love you.'

'I love you to mom.' He responded and hung up. He put the photo on his coffee table in front of him and ran his hands over his head. He only now realised how royally he had screwed up.

TBC

Let me know what you think! =)