Disclaimer: I own nothing...

A/N:I knew there was a reason I got ahead of myself with chapters, I'm now on go slow mode, so if I hadn't had these, you wouldn't be getting updates ;) Good thing I'm prepared eh?

Enjoy!

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Slipping out of the bed, Derek looked down at Penelope and smiled, he'd never felt this complete but now, now he saw a future, he saw his happiness and he felt made. He wasn't just living for the sake of it; he was well and truly living the good life.

He snuck out of the room and went in search of the nursery, Penelope hadn't taken him there but he saw the lilac paint on her clothes and he guessed straight away what it was from.

Pushing a door open he walked in and saw, as the main light came on, the boxed furniture, the bagged up toys, the folded clothes and the unfinished walls. He started to move the things to an already painted wall and he picked up one of the baby gro's and looked at it.

He laughed a little to stop the tears and he realised that Penelope was going to set out to make him a poignant part in his daughter's life, there was no way she was going to deny him or their child that. There were a few pieces of clothing that declared their daughter a daddy's girl and he couldn't wait to dress her in them and hold her and be the proud family man that had it all.

Knowing he was just too wired to sleep, he sorted the sheet on the floor out and grabbed a new paint roller and a pot of paint and set to work, wordlessly, noiselessly and completely content in finishing what Penelope had started.

He worked hard to get the walls done, not even stopping to check the time, he wanted a surprise for Penelope to wake to and he was going to get it done before the sun rose. The feeling of accomplishment washed through him as he did one last stroke of the brush and stepped back to see if there were any imperfection.

He smiled as he realised that the walls were completely finished, he turned to see another colour and he thought about adding a border. Grabbing another roller and paint pallet he set to work on the dryer walls, determination pouring from him.

Finishing that he looked at the box with the cot in it and then began to pull it out one piece at a time and then found the tools Penelope had in the room ready.

He was taking his stand now and as he held the white varnished wood he realised that this was his stamp on Penelope's life, the devotion he had already to give her, the want he had for this life, he was going to make this official.

And as all the pieces fixed together perfectly and the room began to come alive around him he could feel his excitement growing, he could feel the apprehension of being in control to look after a baby but he could see the best future possible being made.

He crawled back into bed next to Penelope just as the clouds began to lift and the sun began to brighten the sky completely exhausted.

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Penelope stretched and opened her eyes, and she smiled, she had the best sight in the word.

Derek was sleeping soundly next to her.

She laughed tiredly as she saw the light purpling of paint as it sat pronouncedly on his cheek and she just reached up to run her finger over it, to verify that he was there and not some a mirage.

He didn't disappear, he remained a full, complete apparition and then he turned and kissed the palm of her hand and then took it his hands and kissed as he slowly opened his eyes and welcomed in the sight that was in front of him.

"Morning Baby Girl," he told her and Penelope's heard hitched a little in her throat.

Penelope never thought she'd hear that again but here it was, floating around in her head and she'd never heard anything better than it before in her life.

"I'll show you a good morning, Hot Stuff," she purred at him delicately and she watched his expression brighten immediately.

"Oh you already have," he told her as he moved in and kissed her, making her collapse onto her pillows as she gave herself up to him, she allowed Derek to take over and do what he needed and give her what she needed. "So perfect," he said as he pulled away and began to dot kisses down her neck.

Penelope's curiosity got the better of her and she pushed him off, "Derek..." She started and grinned at him, showing him that she wasn't pushing him off for any other reason than that she needed to ask him something, "Care to explain how I put you to bed squeaky clean and you end up waking up with paint on your cheek please."

"Well," he began and smiled coyly, "how about I show you?"

"Lead the way." Penelope said trying to hide her thoughts from him.

Derek stood and waited for her to stand up and walk to him and just took her hand and walked her up the hallway, he then stood in front of the white door and pulled her front him. Slowly he put his hands over her eyes and leant in.

"Close your eyes," he commanded her softly and he looked and saw her eyes had now closed. "Ready, Baby Girl?"

"I was born ready, Stud." She told him confidently.

"Good," he whispered and dropped a hand to push the door open before guiding her in completely. He took his hands down and wrapped his arms around her, holding her close, "open them." He said and watched as her eyes fluttered open too look at the room beyond her. "Surprise."

Penelope's eyes immediately watered at the sight she was given, the room that was taking her forever and a day to prepare was completely finished, the furniture that she'd gotten out multiple times to build and then put away after admitting defeat was now done and put together, the light fixtures up, the border down, the paint perfected, the clothes put away, the toys and teddies sporadically placed, the pictures she had ready all up on the wall.

"You did this?" She asked a little tear choked and just stood there frozen.

"Well my daughter and future wife deserve the best and this is the start of it all." Derek told her and just held her tightly, lavishing the feel of having Penelope filling his sense again. "You like?"

Penelope bit her lip as she loosened his grip herself and turned to face him, she looked up, pride, happiness and absolutely adoration shining up at him, "I love it," she said as a tear fell down her face, "God I love you." She whispered and just put her arms around his neck and put her head to his chest and just held him.

Derek clung on, not wanting to ever let go, "I love you too," Derek breathed out into her hair as he held her tightly, "I've never loved someone like this and I don't ever want to love anyone else, not now that I've gotten you."

Penelope pulled back a little and looked up at him, her eyes still tearing up, her lips still stuck in the smile. "You'll never know how hard it was to decide what to do about our baby." She confronted the dark element that had tortured her for months, "Twice I got the number ready to go to a clinic and I just could never do it."

"I'm glad." Derek told her and he just stole her gaze, keeping his eye contact on hers, "You would've regretted it and you would've caused yourself pain because you know it would've been the wrong move."

"How do you know me so well?" She asked him, hoping he wasn't just profiling her.

He leant in, their noses nearly kissing, "let's say, when you fall in love you come to know that person like the back of your hands and I know you in and out," he smiled then, "just like you know me."

"I profile you, Handsome," she said sweetly and smiled, her eyes glinting with a tease, he knew immediately she was joking with him, "now how about you take me and your daughter downstairs for food, we're hungry."

"I'll take you to the bedroom to get dressed; we're going out for breakfast. I have a fiancée to show off."

Penelope blushed, she'd forgotten about the mighty rock on her finger after becoming too caught up in the moment and his declaration startled her some, her heart beat evident in her throat, "God I don't think this life will ever, ever get old."

"It won't," he said kissing her, "It'll be just us getting old."

"Oh and I look forward to getting old if it's with you," Penelope said and accepted the kiss that Derek was waiting to give her.

All over again the passion exploded and she felt her life begin to spin flawlessly once again.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Rhythm Of Love -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-