This part was written by my buddy topetine over at LJ. We hope ya'll like how things are going! Also things will be AU as far as storyline, so just a heads up! Enjoy and leave reviews if it pleases and sparkles.

Derek Morgan couldn't help but enjoy his little vacation, even if it was for a not so great reason. Desiree's car accident was certainly nothing to be pleased about, but being able to sleep in certainly was a plus, however, waking up alone was a significant minus. He rolled over in the too small bed that had been his since childhood. He looked around, frowning up at the football posters, the Northwestern banner tacked up. He thought about the bikini models taped up to the inside of his closet door and laughed. Oh, how things had changed, though, he certainly wasn't complaining too much.

He rolled out of bed and checked his cell, finding no new messages, a small frown gracing his lips. Probably a busy morning for Spencer, he thought before pulling on a sweatshirt and heading downstairs, beckoned by the smell of breakfast. This was certainly nothing to frown at either.

"Morning, sweetie." He heard as the last stair creaked when he hit it, smiling to himself at his Mother's alertness.

"Morning, Mama," He said, entering the kitchen, seeing Des sitting at the small kitchen table with her leg in its pink cast propped up on the extra chair.

"Morning, gimpy," he teased as she wadded up a napkin and tossed it at him. He caught it easily and deposited it in the trash, giving his Mother a kiss. "What's for breakfast, Mama?"

"Banana nut pancakes," she told him, kissing his cheek. "Sit, sit. Coffee's ready."

He poured himself a mug of steaming lifeblood and sat down at the table as commanded. "How are you feeling?" He asked his sister sincerely as she shrugged.

"I'm good. Still a bit sore." She smiled and picked at her pancakes. "Thanks for coming, Derek."

"Des, you know I'm here if you need me. I would not leave my baby sister to hobble around." He beamed a smile at her as she finished her breakfast.

"Well, I have a date with trashy daytime TV." She sighed and smiled, getting up slowly, balancing herself on her crutches, heading to the living room.

His mother handed him a stack of pancakes and sat down beside him, nursing her cup of tea, her motherly gaze on him. "Thank you for coming, baby. It was going to be rough between Sarah and I getting Des' stuff down from her room upstairs."

"It's no problem, Mama." He told her, digging into his breakfast.

"So...how have you been, baby?" She asked as he tensed slightly.

"Fine." He said quickly, knowing he sounded suspicious as he focused himself on using his fork to cut the pancakes into tiny bites.

"Derek..." She said, using the Mom voice that was probing for more.

He tensed enough to not squirm and shrugged. He waged a mental war, weighing pros and cons of coming clean. While his feelings for Spencer were as clear as day, what to tell his mother was a whole other issue.

"Derek, are you in trouble? You worry me being so far away. I don't know what's going on when you don't tell me." She said, reaching over and touching his hand comfortingly.

"Mama..." He said, sighing gently, looking up to see her concerned expression and all he could think about was what she said before the mess with Buford came undone, you owe me some grand babies! "It's nothing, Mama, really." He forced a smile and went back to his breakfast.

Mrs. Morgan sighed and dropped the subject, knowing that she was going to get nowhere as long as Derek stayed so closed up.

"Well, how is Clooney doing at least? Is he still chewing up your shoes when you leave him for the weekend?"

Derek laughed quietly after a moment, finishing the last of his pancakes. "You make it sound like I abandon him when I'm out of town. That dog is spoiled rotten! The neighbor kid walks him before school, after school and before bed, and plays with him. Poor dogs with owners in business, retail and all that get less attention." He smirked as his mother nodded, finishing her tea.

"I'll take that as a yes?"

"Oh, yeah." He'd neglected to mention the poor puppy's reluctant adjustment to having Spencer around so much, but did slip out with: "Reid was so pissed one night when Clooney chewed up a pair of his favorite Chucks..." He laughed softly, not thinking as Mrs. Morgan's brows raised neatly and all she said was, "Oh?" The kind of "oh" that was a veritably loaded question, practically exploding with curiosity.

"Y-yeah." He smiled and brushed it off, hiding behind his mug.

"Does Dr. Reid spend the night often?" She asked, sounding like it were a valid, conversational question.

"Mama, it's not like that--God," he sighed and got up. "No, he's not over that often, we were just working on some consults and it got late, so I made up the guest room."

"Well, I was going to say Clooney was just excited about having someone else's shoes to nibble on."

"Yeah..." He took the dishes from the table to the sink and smiled at his mother. "Hey, go keep Des company, I got the dishes."

"If you insist." She smiled and took her leave, giving his shoulder an affectionate squeeze.

Once he was alone, Derek's mind snapped back to Spencer again, immediately, wondering how he was feeling. He dried his hands on a dish towel and checked his phone, making sure there were no messages still. To his dismay, his Inbox remained empty.

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