DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHING (Just O.C.)

A/n: Thanks a lot for your reviews! I'm glad you like where the story is going. And of course it's going to have an end, do not worry about that. As always, I am open to any suggestion, idea, constructive criticism, etc. Kisses & Hugs!

Penelope swallowed. No, she did not think so. She really never thought that way. Her heart squeezed. Apparently, he was tired of secrets and lies.

"Well, the truth is that I was a bitch, the idea of having a baby had been around my mind for years, exactly since the night my parents died, I was alone in the world." Her voice trembled with emotion. Now that she had started her confession, nothing could stop it.

"I saw those coffins and I felt that my life no longer made sense. I was left with nothing. No longer had parents, I was a fucking orphan.My brothers hated me, they blamed me for their death. And they were right "

"You had Josh"

Penelope shook her head weakly.

"He wasn't talking to me for years. Josh didn't want my legal problems damaging his reputation as a federal agent."

A long uncomfortable silence filled the room. Penelope wanted to continue telling her story, but the closer the time came to talking about their relationship, the more it cost her.

"You could have had me" his voice sounded sure, without a hint of doubt "I could have taken care of you and the girls. I would have married you, Penelope. I could have given you a family but you preferred to play with me."

Penelope sighed heavily. No, she could not cry again. She had to be strong and explain to him the whole truth.

"Derek, I saw you that night. You were flirting around with any woman who walked to you"

"Being a womanizer is reason to snatch my girls?"

"Of course not!" she replied quickly "But I thought you were different, I never thought you wanted to be a dad. You were immature, partying, womanizing. You were the anti-husband.

"How did you know so much about me? You were obsessed with me?"

Penelope rolled her eyes up. Of course, he still had an ego as big as his biceps. Those muscular biceps. She shook her head. Focus Penelope.

"You were my brother's best friend, knew you pretty well"

"So you decided to use me as a donor of semen and then leave me as garbage. I think the immature here it were you."

He was silent for a few seconds. Time that Penelope used to think if she should explain her feelings. Overall, I had nothing to lose.

"Maybe. But the move went wrong. You were the first person that made me smile after seven years. In those two months I discovered a loving, funny and sincere man. Underneath all your impudence there was a soul that was more than I deserved."She swallowed hard. That was not as easy as it seemed "You were like a gift that my parents sent me from heaven"

"Why did you go?"

"I was afraid to tell you the truth" she got up from the bed and began to wander around the room "I didn't want to pretend that my pregnancy had not been sought. I didn't want to lie to you anymore, you didn't deserve it."

Penelope could almost hear his frustration through her Iphone.

"And since I didn't deserve any more lies, you decided to hide my babies"

"No, Derek. But I wanted to be a mom. It was my decision. It did not seem fair to have to condition your life for something you do not decide. That's all"

Derek sighed deeply and Penelope was silent. She watched the dark sky through the window, without taking off the Iphone from her right ear.

Perhaps, at that very moment, Derek would be contemplating that bright moon. While they shared those minutes of silence. A silence that shouted peace, serenity and rest. A silence that Derek broke.

"Penelope, I think you should come to Washington. Or maybe I should go to Atlanta"

Her heart jumped and flew from her chest to her throat. She wanted to talk, answer to his proposal. But her tongue was paralyzed. Almost like the rest of her body.

The idea of having him around still ruffled her skin. She really felt stupid, but nevertheless, she could not avoid that feeling.

"Penelope, I love my daughters and want to enjoy them all the time from now on"

Her heart froze for a few seconds. He could be the sexiest man on the face of the Earth, but that did not mean that she was going to give up her daughters. Oh, of course not. Those tiny beings they were her whole life.

"You're not going to take my girls away, Derek Morgan," she answered confidently, even with a small hint of rage. "I'm not going to let anyone separate me from them for anything in the world"

He let out a weak laugh filled with sadness. She heard his broken voice and then felt a twinge in the depths of her soul

"What kind of despicable being do you think I am, Penelope? I would never be able to separate my girls from their mother. I'm not like you. "

Now he was hurt. Very hurt. His disappointment could be felt even thousands of kilometers away. Penelope sighed deeply.

"I'm sorry, maybe I misunderstood you"

"What I wanted to say is that maybe you should come to Virginia to talk with me. We have to talk about it personally, not by phone"

Penelope was petrified, open-mouthed and on the verge of a nervous breakdown. No, she was not ready to be face to face with Derek Morgan. No no. It was still early to face her ghosts.

"Penelope, are you there?"

"Yes, yes, I'm here" she answered stammering, while a few drops of cold sweat slid down her forehead "Tomorrow afternoon we'll be there"