AN: Thank you for all of the support with this story. I try and rotate my updates. Rest assured, I would never leave you hanging, for a really long time. It might be a week or two between single story updates but they will happen. Even some of my older stories; I am working on updates. That being said, please be patient with me. Some of my professors are jerks and I might be slow to update.

Penelope walked out of the mess hall two plates in hand. She took a deep breath, as she made her way over to Derek, who was staring at her like something she had never seen before. It was a cross between an animal hunting its prey, and a lover trying to apologize for a wrongdoing.

"Here," she said, as she shoved the plate of food in his hands, "Em said I should come and talk with you…"

Derek thankful, Emily had held true to her word, took the outreached food. "Thanks. Can we go talk?"

Penelope shrugged her shoulders, "I guess,"

They silently walked to a clearing that wasn't far from the mess hall but far enough away they could be alone. Once they were in the clearing, they both sat down and stared at each other for a moment.

"I'm sorry," they both said at the exact same time,

"Wait, why are you sorry?" Derek asked cocking his head to the side.

Penelope pushed her potato salad around with her fork, not looking up at him, "I shouldn't have acted so coldly towards you. We never talked about what we were after the kiss, and it was foolish of me to think you wanted to be my boyfriend," she could feel the tears well in her eyes, "When I saw you go off with Cassandra and then when she was all over you… I don't know… I guess it hurt. I've never had a boyfri-"

"What?" Derek asked, interrupting her.

Penelope looked up at him confused as to why he stopped her, "I was hurt, so I decided it would be better if I was cold t-"

"No, I understand that, but you said you've never had a boyfriend before?" He asked completely amazed.

Penelope looked away even more embarrassed now than she was before she started this conversation. "I should have never assumed you would be my first boyfri-"

He cut her off by capturing her lips with his. After he registered her words something changed inside of him, a possessiveness he hadn't known before took over him. He not only wanted to be her first boyfriend he wanted to be her first everything.

She put his hands on his chest pushing him away, "What are you doing?" she snapped.

"I want to be your first boyfriend, Baby Girl." Derek said catching his breath; he had to fight his own body from launching at her again to kiss her more.

"No, this isn't right! I won't play second fiddle to Cassandra," Penelope announced, rather proud of herself for not letting the kiss affect her.

"There is no Cassandra, Pen." He grabbed her hand, "When she pulled me back behind the tent I told her I wanted nothing to do with her. You are who I want. There's something about you that…" he trailed off looking away. He wasn't good with real emotions, normally he would just screw someone and that would be the end of it, there was no real feeling involved, "… something is pulling me towards you and I like that feeling. I feel at home with you."

She looked at him trying to gauge his sincerity.

"I can't believe you've never had a boyfriend," he said again, more as a statement than a question.

"Well, look at me…"

He grabbed the bottom of her chin forcing her to look into his eyes, "I am."

They stayed there for a few moments staring into each other's eyes as the feeling of rightness floated around them.

Penelope, however, was the one that broke the trance first. "I'm not sure what to say here…" she said shyly, as she finally took a bite of her food.

He had to chuckle at her avoidance, "I want to be your boyfriend, Penelope. I want there to be no mistake about my intentions anymore. I want you, Pen. Only you."

"I don't like a boy having control over my feelings," she stated, "I sucks knowing you have control over how I feel."

"But you're not understanding, Sweetness. You have that same control over me."

They sat in silence, while they picked at their food for a while until Derek spoke, "Was I your first kiss?"

"God no," she laughed, she might not have had a boyfriend but she had kissed boys here and there. But a real kiss like Derek had given her, well that was something she really didn't want to talk about.

"I wasn't?" he asked, his brows frowning at the knowledge.

"No. I've done pecks here and there. My first real kiss was by Jimmy Andrews. We were at a party playing truth or dare and his dare was to take me into the closet and kiss me," she said embarrassed.

Derek was instantly overcome with jealousy, "did he try and do anything else?" he demanded.

"No… can we stop talking about this, please?" she could feel her cheeks redden at the thought of her first real kiss with Jimmy Andrews. When he was dared to kiss her she was actually excited about it. He was good looking and on the basketball team.

Derek stared at her as he saw the pain flash through her eyes, "What happened?"

"Turns out I was the butt of a joke. You know, have the popular hot guy, kiss the undesirable geek."

"Pen-"

"No, it's alright. I got over it pretty fast. It made me stronger, so it was no big deal." She tried brushing it off, but in reality, it still hurt. Jimmy Andrews and his teammates were the reason she hated jocks.

Derek wanted to fly to California, find this Jimmy Andrews and beat the shit out of him. His heart went out to his Baby Girl; no one should be treated like that. "He hurt you, Pen. He helped shape your idea of men."

"Derek, it's really fine." She insisted, it was a couple of years ago; she's had plenty of time to get over it.

"No, it's not. He hurt you and if I ever see-"

"You will do nothing. I don't need someone to protect me, Derek. I can do that on my own," she said a little annoyed.

"Tough, as your boyfriend, that's exactly what I'm gonna do," he said matter-of -factly.

"Oh yeah? And how long are you gonna do that for?" she asked joking at his statement.

"Everyday for the rest of my life,"

Penelope stayed quiet after his declaration. Was she ready for this? Ready to be in a real relationship with someone else wanting to protect her and be there for her?

"We haven't established that you're my boyfriend."

He leaned over to kiss her again. The kiss started slow as he moved his lips with hers. When he felt her slip her tongue out to seek entrance to his mouth, he knew he had her.

He pulled away with a smile on his face, "for someone who hasn't kissed a lot of boys, you sure know what you're doing."

She gave him a bright smile, "I watch a lot of romantic movies,"

He leaned over to kiss her again. "Be my girlfriend?"

"Nu-hu, Hot Stuff," Penelope smiled at him, "I don't think you an-"

He cut her off with his lips again. As he continued to kiss her, he could feel her smile against his lips. Of course she was gonna be feisty about this.

"Why do you have to be such a hard head?" he asked, as he laughed. He couldn't help but feel pride as he looked down at her swollen kiss bruised lips.

"That's what my papi says about me."

"Seems like your father is a smart man." He picked up a piece of his potato salad with his fork putting it to her mouth. She hesitated for a moment, but than took the offering. When she was done chewing she looked at him cockeyed.

"Are we really going to be that couple that feeds each other?" she joked.

"This way is more intimate," he smirked, but saw her stiffen, "Penelope, I will never force you into something you aren't ready for."

She smiled at him knowing he was telling the truth. He had already told her that when they were in his bunk, "I know."

"You ready to head back?" he asked standing up, taking her hand to pull her up as well.

"Sure, Hot Stuff." She jumped up and was brought instantly into his arms.

"I won't hurt you again, I lo…" he stopped himself; he couldn't love her, right? No way, yeah he felt a strong attraction towards her and he never wanted to be without her but was that love? He had never told a girl before he loved them, "… like you a lot."

She pulled out of his embrace reaching for his hand, "I like you, a lot, too."

He smiled as they walked back to the mess hall hand in hand. Nothing felt more right to him at this moment.

"There you are!" Emily exclaimed. "They are about to announce us as the winners!" She looked at their hands and smiled at her friend, knowing they would talk about it soon, but right now they needed to get inside. Emily had an award to win.

Derek let go of her hand as Emily ran up to them pulling Penelope out of his grasp. Damn! She really did take this hunt seriously. He couldn't help but laugh at her. He watched as Emily dragged his girlfriend into the mess hall, him slowly trailing behind.

"So that's why you don't want me anymore? You want her?" Derek heard the all too familiar voice from behind him. He turned to see Cassandra lathering herself in calamine lotion.

"What?" he asked, glaring at her.

"You heard me. You gave up me, who you know will satisfy every inch of you for … her? The fat girl."

"Excuse me, what did you call her?" he snapped.

"You've lowered your standers, Derek. I never thought you'd be a chubby chaser?" She growled at him.

He walked up to her forcefully, "Let me tell you something, Cassandra, You might think you are what every man wants but trust me, you're not. You're a know-it-all brat, who will open their legs for anyone. Didn't you just get back from fucking Andy?" he laughed, "and you think I would still want anything to do with you?" he turned leaving her standing there in shock. There was no way in hell he was going to let Cassandra get in between what him and Penelope have.

He walked into the mess hall and spotted Theo, Emily, and Penelope sitting in the front, waiting for Consular Rick to give out the awards. He walked over to them stepping right in front of Penelope pulling her out of her seat only to sit down and pull her into his lap.

"There is a seat right there," Penelope said, as she pointed to the seat next to Emily.

"Yeah, but I like this one better," he whispered as he kissed her shoulder as discreetly as he could.

"And the winner of the scavenger hunt is Team Towodi, lead by Emily Prentiss!" Rick announced with excitement.

Penelope along with Emily jumped up and ran over to collect their first place ribbon. Derek sat back, with a smile on his face. He couldn't help but stare at Penelope as she bounced around excided with Emily as they held up the ribbon. Yep, he couldn't deny it. He was in love.

AN: He's in love :) how sweet, right? Is there anything you all want to see in this story? Thank you for all of the support. You all are the BEST!