One Year later……
Derek sat back on the couch and watched the chaos around him. His mother was busy making sure the turkey looked just right while his sisters took care of the side dishes and his baby girl prepared dessert. It surprised him a bit just how quickly his family had taken to Penelope and vice versa. His sister Sarah especially surprised him as she had always been very critical of anyone he dated and yet she seemed the closest to his baby girl. He couldn't help but smile to himself as he watched them all work around each other. All of his favorite women were together under one roof, life was perfect. Well almost perfect, but he was hoping that after tonight it would all be complete.
Derek's life had pretty much been a roller coaster for the past year. Penelope had handed him a list of doctors a year ago that she had scrutinized, researched, investigated and finally approved of for him to go see. She refused to accompany him to any of them claiming that he needed to feel comfortable with his choice and that it was important that nobody else had any knowledge of them. Her reasoning made sense "if nobody knows who you're going to and they don't know them personally, you're going to be more comfortable with them and in the long will open up more." She had told him and she was right.
He had finally settled on Dr. Elizabeth Cummings and his sessions with her had proven to be very fruitful. They touched various areas of his life and he felt comfortable enough with her to dig deep inside himself for answers and understanding. After nearly a year his nightmares had subsided. He no longer felt anger towards his father, a feeling he didn't even realize existed until a short time ago. He realized his dream was never about Carl, but instead about feeling abandoned by a father he loved dearly and missed. A father he firmly believes would have protected him and didn't, not because he didn't want to, but because circumstances took him away. The memories of a 10 year old are buried deep in our subconscious and we never realize just how much they affect us. Ten year old Derek perceived his father's death as abandonment, but 35 year old Derek now realizes his father didn't leave him because he wanted to, but instead was taken away tragically. It was this realization that finally changed how he felt. He was no longer angry at his father but instead grieved his loss. After 25 years he was finally able to say goodbye to the man he loved and turn the page to a chapter in his life that had ultimately made him who he was today.
He was still working on his trust issues but that was something the doctor had told him would take time and effort and more importantly some blind faith. Although he was still a firm believer that trust wasn't just given away but earned, he was more willing to allow others to try and earn it. He noticed small changes in how he went about things now but more importantly, those around him noticed them as well.
The biggest change for him came in the form of his relationship with Penelope. He no longer lived with the fear that he might lose her. She had been there for some of his darkest moments and with every turn, she was always there. He opened up to her in ways he never imagined he would and she reciprocated. They grew closer over the past year; something he didn't think was possible considering just how close they'd always been. He had wanted to tell her he loved her so many times during the past year, but he was reluctant to get into a relationship until he had dealt with all of his issues. Relationships were hard enough, relationships at the BAU was damned near impossible. He didn't want to start something and bring any extra baggage with him. And then of course there was that tiny little thing that held him back; he didn't really know how she felt about him.
The dinner table had been set. Penelope had decorated the table with a huge cornucopia centerpiece filled with tiny rolls of bread. She had placed a candle at either side that sat inside tiny pumpkins and the placemats were leaf shaped mats in autumn colors she had made. Off to the side was the carving table and Derek was busy carving the turkey as they brought out the food and placed it on the table. They waited for Derek to finish carving before they all sat down. Fran sat at one end of the table and Derek settled at the other. Desi and Sarah both sat together and Penelope sat opposite them closest to Derek.
"Penelope, we have a tradition at the Morgan household for Thanksgiving. Instead of saying a prayer of thanks, where we go around the table and each person says what they're grateful for. I hope that's ok?" Fran said.
"That's a beautiful idea, of course it's ok." Penelope said and smiled.
Fran was the first to begin followed by Desi and then Sarah. When it was Derek's turn he looked around the table and stopped when his eyes met Penelope's. "Hold that thought everyone, what I have to say depends on a few things." He said and quickly dashed out of the dining room and towards his room.
They all looked at each other unsure of what was going on until he reappeared with a big box in his hand. He walked towards Penelope and handed it to her. She grabbed it and looked up at him, confusion written all over her face. "What's this?" She asked.
"You'll have to open it and find out." He said. He flashed her a smile but everyone could tell he was nervous.
Penelope looked at the box in her hand. It was a big white box with a pink ribbon around it. She slowly released the bow and lifted the lid. She gasped when she realized what was inside. Her eyes began to fill with tears and all she could manage to say was his name.
Derek smiled. "Do you like it baby girl?" He asked already knowing the answer by the look on her face.
"What is it?" Sarah asked excitedly.
Penelope lifted a beautiful frame from the box. The border of the frame was white lacquer with tiny crystals embedded on the edge. It held together two pieces of glass that encased a wrinkled piece of paper with writing on it. Off to the side of that paper was a bubble created to hold in place an angel pin.
"I can't believe you did this." Penelope said still in awe.
"No baby, I can't believe I didn't realize it sooner." He said.
"Ok, you two care to fill us in? What is that?" Desi asked.
"A few years ago I had noticed a pin that Penelope was wearing, it had caught my attention because it wasn't like the normal stuff she usually wears and I commented on it. She told me it had been her mother's pin and it had belonged to mother's mother before that. It was the last thing she had gotten from her Mom before she passed away. While I was in the hospital she put that pin on my pillow along with a piece of paper that was folded up and I've kept that with me ever since." He explained
"May I see it?" Fran asked as she reached for the frame that Penelope held out to her. Fran began to smile as she read the writing.
"What does it say Mom, read it aloud." Sarah said.
Each night I thank them all
A prayer or two I say
I ask for your protection
And send the Angels on their way
You cannot see or feel them
But they aren't very far
They watch you and protect you
No matter where you are
They watch you when you're sleeping
Ensuring the sweetest of dreams
They watch you when you're playing
Unconditionally it seems
I only ask of you
This teeny tiny thing
Blind faith is a must
To keep your Angel and her Wings
Her protection is solely yours
She's dedicated you see
She gives this unconditionally
She does this just for me
So when you're feeling needy
Alone, in a mood, or scared
Just turn to your Guardian Angel
With you, she'll always be shared
"Where did you find that, it's beautiful." Sarah said.
Penelope looked towards Derek and responded to Sarah "I wrote it when Derek was in the hospital."
Derek knelt down in front of Penelope and grabbed her hands in his and brought them to his lips for a gentle kiss. "Baby, I've been wanting to say this to you for a long time but I've held back because the time just wasn't right. I needed to get some things right inside of me before I offered any part of myself to you." He said
They all sat in silence and disbelief as Derek opened up his heart. They all knew it was long overdue but had started to believe that this moment would never come. Nobody was more surprised than Penelope. She had rehearsed this scene in her head over and over never once believing that it might really happen. None of them was prepared for what would happen next…..
"Baby, I know there's a natural progression to this and an order of how things go, but I believe you and I have passed that threshold. We've never dated but we haven't spent one day apart from each other in well over a year unless I was away with the team. We have gone to every social event together and have come home together. We lived together for most of the year and for the months we haven't, I can't count the times I've wanted to ask you to stay. Baby, I'm in love with you and have been for the longest time. You asked me once to look into your eyes and see myself as you saw me, tonight I'm asking that you look into mine and see how deep my love is for you, to feel how engrained you are in my heart and in my soul." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a tiny velvet box, he opened it before her and all that could be heard was gasps.
Penelope took in a deep breath. She raised her hands and covered her mouth. Tears began to spill from her eyes. In the box was the most beautiful diamond ring she'd ever seen.
"Baby, will you marry me? Will you give me the one thing I want more than anything in this world." He asked.
"Yes." She said and then repeated it over and over as she nodded her head. Derek placed the ring on her finger and quickly jumped up and grabbed her, raising her to her feet and quickly wrapping his arms around her. Fran and her daughters surrounded them to congratulate them and the commotion of the house got Clooney barking.
They finally got back to their dinner and spent most of it making plans for a wedding. When the evening ended and Fran and the girls retired to their rooms Derek walked up to Penelope and stood behind her. He wrapped his arms around her and nuzzled her neck. She was standing there holding the frame he had given her and smiling.
"I say we put it on the mantle, this way she can watch over both of us." He said.
Penelope nodded and put the frame down, she turned around to face him and wrapped her arms around his neck. "I love you." She said.
He looked deep into her eyes and pulled her close to him and said "I love you too" and then leaned into her and kissed his bride to be.
