Baby Girl

Morgan and Garcia

Chapter Ten

March 2002

You have to say it all, Penelope berated herself. She knew she hadn't told Derek enough and she had to finish what she started.

Hiding in a bathroom at a restaurant wasn't the answer. So she washed her hands, fixed her make up, primped her hair and headed back to the table.

Derek looked much like she left him. Brow furrowed, slack jawed, mouth slightly open and lost in thought.

She slid into her seat. "So, yeah, I'm a Mommy now. I know that's big news to take it. A part of me is absolutely burning with desire for you right now but I know that wouldn't be smart to act on. I'm so sorry that I had to hit you with this like this but the team all know, of course, and it wouldn't be good for you to hear from anyone else but me."

"So you said you had a girl?"

"Yep."

"What's her name?"

"Jasmine."

"Hmmm. Got a picture?"

"Yes, in my wallet. She's a real cutie."

When she didn't reach for her purse he asked "Can I see it?"

"Sure. In a moment. First I want to say that I know you did not expect to hear this today-"

"She's mine, isn't she?"

A long pause and a whispered "Yes, Derek, she's yours." Penelope took out her wallet and showed him five different pictures that showed Jaz from birth to her current age.

Derek stared at them in silent awe. "How old is she now?"

"Eleven months. She was born April 26th, 2001." After a painful pause Penelope added "Derek, I don't expect anything from you. But I won't speak for her because what child would not want a father? I don't need you to like me again and want to be with me. What I need is a father for my daughter. Not money. Just for you to spend time with her. She needs you more than I ever did. And I'm so sorry...I swear on my life I am sorry...that I could not find a way to get a message to you when you were undercover but your bosses blew me off and when I got so desperate I hacked in to find if you were dead or alive I got arrested two days later. If I could have told you before she was born I would have. I had so much guilt that you missed the birth and so many hormones attacking me that I went a little nutty for a few months. Postpartum sucks! But getting arrested kind jolted me back to reality and then joining the BAU gave me a new family and people to help me cope. It was good to not be alone anymore. I love all those crime fighters for taking me in and making me one of their own. Reid is her god father. He's very good with her. They spend a lot of time together and I'm grateful he has stepped in like he has."

"So your friend Reid is playing Daddy to my daughter? Am I hearing you, right?"

"Please don't be mad at me! I did all I could to contact you! Besides this is not about you. Its about Jaz. And that's all. Just about her. Do you even want to be a father? I know this is a shock but it was a shock for me to realize I was pregnant and to go through it all alone. It was a shock when I got arrested and she was placed in foster care for a weekend. It was a shock when I had to move here and start over. I have been to hell and back again. I won't apologize for letting Reid help me. I've let our boss Hotch and his wife help me. I've let JJ help me. I'll take help wherever I can get it. I showed up here last year with a six month old and a culture shock to go from bad ass rebel hacker to FBI tech support. But I adjusted...I'm sorry to lay this all on you tonight but this is the reality of our situation and I need you to process this and get back to me when you know if you want to be a part of her life or not." Penelope grabbed her purse and ran out.

XXXXXXXX

Derek could barely wrap his mind around the fact he was a father. Penelope's words floated over him but it was hard to absorb them. He was absolutely stunned to know his daughter lived the first eleven months of her life without being held by him. Without him in anyway. His baby didn't know she had a Daddy, beyond Penelope possibly telling her so.

He had to fix that. This is not how he expected his dinner with Penelope to go tonight- he wanted to end up rolling around in bed together and whispering that he had missed her as he made love to her- but this was the reality he was stuck inside of now.

It was a tough and painful place to be. He felt like a deadbeat Dad and someone Penelope must have hated for many moments of the last nearly two years. Hated for taking that undercover assignment and leaving her alone. He should have had been by her side every minute- as a friend or a lover but either way he belonged next to her while she carried and raised their baby.

He had let her down up to this point. Let his ambition come first. But no more. He was damn jealous that Reid got to be the father Derek should have been and the friend to Penelope too. It was time for Derek to find out how he could fit into his baby girl and his daughter's life.

Derek raced out of the restaurant and found Penelope in the parking lot, hurrying to her car. "Hey! Wait up! Baby girl!"

She didn't stop so he had to run at full force and get in front of her, right before she made it to her car.

"Penelope, pump your brakes!"

"I need to get home to my daughter."

"Okay. I get that. And I get that I just let you down with my reaction but give me five minutes to take this in. I need to catch up. I didn't expect this. I thought about you so much when I was under but I didn't think I left you pregnant with our child."

"Do you want a DNA test? Is that what you're driving at?"

"Did I ever say anything like that, hard head? All I want to do is tell you thank you for doing all you had to do alone and thank you for being strong and brave and not hating me too much for leaving you in the lurch like that. And thank you for offering me a second chance at friendship earlier tonight. I want that very much for us. Our daughter should have parents that get along and don't have drama. You're right. All that matters is our child. Can I please see my girl tonight?"

Tearfully Penelope answered "Yes, you can come back to my place and see her right now, Derek."

He pulled Penelope into a hug. "Thank you so much for caring for her alone when I couldn't be there to help you. I will never leave you in that position again."

Penelope just clung to Derek and soaked in all the comfort she needed. He was thrilled to have her in his arms again.

XXXXXXXXX

Penelope got to her place before Derek. She went in and sent Cathy, the sitter, home. Twenty minutes later Derek showed up. He had stopped and bought a small stuffed animal- a giraffe- for Jasmine.

When he walked in he looked all around the house. "You've made a great home here, Penelope."

"Thank you. Jasmine is in her room. She's not asleep yet though." Penelope pointed at the lap top. It had a picture of a crib. Derek could see his child laying inside of it.

"Where's her room?"

"Follow me."

He was anxious to get there. It was all starting to sink in. He had a kid! He had a daughter! Sure he wanted to wait till he was older to become a father but life gave him this. He met Penelope and he wanted her more than he had ever wanted any woman. He pursued her and begged her to keep believing in him. And together their lust and love made a child.

Derek had wanted to wait to settle down but now that he knew he was a father he couldn't be more excited. The timing had been terrible, with the whole living in separate cities thing and his working undercover, but somehow God had found a way to bring Penelope back to Derek's life. He had lost hope he would see her again but now she was here and giving him a beautiful gift.

Before they went into the bedroom Derek touched Penelope's arm. "Thank you for having her."

"Remember that I didn't have any family before she came along. I would never have chosen to not have her. No matter what happens Jasmine will forever be family for me. Family that no one can ever take from me. I love our daughter with all my heart."

"You're very strong, baby girl. I'm so amazed by you."

"I'm amazed you could be undercover so long and come out of it unchanged. That takes real strength of character."

He sighed. "Girl, I'm changed. Maybe it don't show but it got to me. It didn't break me though."

"I'm happy to hear that. Still I'm here for you if you want to talk."

"Thank you. Now can I see her?"

"Go on in, Hot Stuff. Meet your daughter."

Derek walked into the nursery, which was done in a purple princess motif, and his breath hitched at the site of a little girl who had pulled herself up inside the crib. She had lots of golden brown curly hair, a light honey skin tone, and huge brown eyes.

Penelope said "She can't walk yet. I keep worrying I'll miss her first steps but hopefully my nanny cam will record it even if I can't be here to see them live."

Derek cooed at Jasmine. "Hey there, guess who I am? Derek Morgan...your daddy."

The baby just smiled, not having a clue that the man who gave her a giraffe was the man who would be around from now on and become the most important man in her life for many years to come.

Derek picked her up and she didn't cry. He was amazed by that. Holding her felt so good. Penelope came near and Derek wrapped an arm around her waist, so they were all cuddled together.

Later that night Penelope took out their daughter's birth certificate and Derek signed it. He was able to read the baby's full name: Jasmine Morgan Garcia.