Disclaimer: see part 1

A/N: Thank you so much to all of you who reviewed and favourited so far. Does my writing muse good.

How Do We Get From Saying I Love You To I'll See You Around Some Day© - chapter 2

Penelope registered what Derek said as he left her office and it solidified for her that she'd done the right thing two weeks ago. After months of barely more than going through the motions with Kevin she had finally cut him loose. To his credit Kevin had already packed up most of his things and removed them from her apartment long before she arrived at his to collect the few merger items she had there.

She'd planned for tonight. Knowing that tonight was the one guaranteed night of the year that Derek was hers unless a case got in the way, she'd made certain that she was ready for anything. She was single. She was dressed to impress her best friend. And they would be together at McGregor's. Well, as alone as they could be surrounded by his cousin Donovan and various other distant cousins on his mother's side.

Regardless, by the time Derek came to get her at 5:30 she was more than ready to start wooing her best friend. No offence to Tamara but she was encroaching and Penelope was ready to lay permanent claim. They would begin their evening by having a somewhat quiet dinner with his cousin at his pub before the festivities got too out of control to allow for catching up.

Donovan met them at the bar with a pint of Guinness® each. They sat together with his wife Bronwyn in a booth nearest the kitchen where he could watch the front door for trouble, the bar for efficiency and the kitchen for any possible disaster. How the man still managed to appear relaxed and attentive to their conversation was beyond her but he did. Must be a McGregor family trait as it was a skill he shared with Derek.

Donovan had just returned from the kitchen with more of his signature Irish stew with homemade potato bread when he asked a question that stopped both her and Derek mid bite, "So have you two kicked the arm candy from the Christmas party to the curb and finally admitted you belong together?"

Bronwyn, God bless her spoke before either Derek or Penelope could, "Don, don't you think you should let them decide what they want to share with family instead of forcing your opinion on them?"

"Who's forcing them? Woman, you, yourself commented at Christmas that you had no idea how their dates were standing there like third wheels. I just want to know if they got a clue. So have you, cuz?"

Derek cleared his throat and winked at Penelope before he replied, "You'd have to ask my baby girl. I told her just this morning that her wish is my command."

"Hot stuff?"

"Don't hot stuff me, P. Answer the man."

"Donovan, Bronwyn, would you excuse Derek I for a bit please?"

They both nodded and watched as Penelope led him by the hand away from the booth and out of the bar.

TBC…