A/N: My apologies for the delay, folks! Without further ado, here is the next chapter, this time from Derek's POV. Please read on and enjoy!


Derek felt a bounce in his step as he walked off the jet. The case had been hard and in a remote area, keeping the team so busy he couldn't call Penelope as often as he would have liked. By the time they'd return to the hotel at night he'd be so tired, he'd crash; too late to phone or send a message as she'd long be asleep by then. Now they were back in Quantico, and he couldn't wait to see her. He'd been doing a lot of thinking the last few days, and finally built up the courage to talk to her and share what was on his mind. He wasn't sure what he would classify their relationship as, but he knew he wanted more. He thought about the conversation he had during the flight back as he got to his truck…

He noticed Prentiss watching him from across the aisle, so he grinned at her, and she motioned for him to sit with her. Everyone else was either wrapped up in their minds or asleep, so he would hopefully get the privacy he needed to ask her some questions about his favourite subject: Penelope.

"You've been giddy since we left, what's gotten into you, Morgan?" asked Prentiss, smirking.

"I've just been thinking." He lowered his voice, and leaned forward across the table. "I kind of felt a shift between Garcia and I, and… I'm excited. It's in the direction I was hoping, and… I think it's a good thing."

"So what's up? Are you two dating?"

"I want to, we haven't really gotten a chance to talk about it… but something's changed."

"Or you've finally opened your eyes and seen what's in front of you for over a decade!"

"Trust me, Princess, I've always seen what's in front of me. But I was never confident enough to-"

"Don't even try to give me that. You, not confident?" she scoffed.

"I'm serious" his smile faded. "With everything that's happened in my life, and my past… I never let things get serious with a woman I was seeing. With Penelope, it's different… She gets me, she sees me for who I am, and she doesn't care that I- that my past is what it is. But despite all that, what if I'm still not enough? What if she realizes that she can do so much better than me?"

"Morgan, you don't have to worry about a thing. You two are perfect for each other, and she's head over heels for you. She feels about you the way you feel about her. For 11 years I've watched you two. All the flirting, and pet names, and seeing how you've grown closer than anyone else on this team. Believe me, you're meant to be. Just don't let that worry get in the way of something special."

He smiled, settling back into his seat. Just then, he heard movement behind him. Looking up, he didn't see anything, but then he heard it:

"Oh, trust me, I'm sure the tenth floor knows things between you have changed direction!" Dave scoffed from his seat behind them.

Derek groaned. "Please just don't say anything to her yet. Promise."

"I promise. Go get your girl!" Dave called back.

"I won't. But promise that you will!" Prentiss smiled.

Now as he headed home, he grinned to himself. Would it be too late to go see her? He suddenly wished Penelope would move in with him, so he could spend all his free time with her. As he drove, he must have grabbed his phone at least four times to check if he had a message from her. He hadn't heard from her in a few days, and he was having trouble sending messages with the poor reception he had. So much had gone one that left little time for him to either call or video chat with her; now that the case was over he'd make sure to make up for that.

He didn't care how it happened, if they got married or not, he just wanted her in his life. Forever.


I appreciate you taking the time to read and comment, it means a lot! Any feedback is appreciated. More to come shortly!

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