The Father of Your Child Note- I also looked up the fact mentioned below about adopting, although this seemed to apply most severely to foreign adoptions but it also was mentioned by some adoption agency websites. Morgan and Garcia Chapter Eleven October 2010
Penelope was getting very frustrated with the adoption process. They were sitting in the office of the agency who placed Mateo with Penelope.
Penelope was squeezing Derek's hand for dear life because she didn't like what the social worker was saying. Penelope cried "So now you are telling me there is a minium length of marriage rule before a couple can adopt?" She looked at Derek. "I can not take much more of this, baby."
"Shhh, sweetheart, just listen to what she has to say. We will figure this out and we will keep our son."
Penelope let out a cleansing breath. "How long would we have to be married before we can finalize the adoption?"
"Each agency and state and country has its own rules. If you are still interested in continuing with the child we placed with you-"
Penelope cried "Of course we are! Do you think we'd like to trade him back for a different son?"
"All I am saying is to continue the process you began with this agency you must continue to meet our standards, rules and guidelines."
"Which are?" Derek asked
"We like to see a couple married at least two years before we consider them for adoption. And then of course you have to start the process all over again because it would be a new set of circumstances wholly different from what Penelope represented during the two and a half years I've worked with her so far."
Penelope's face was turning red and her breathing was getting shallow. Derek tried to soothe her by rubbing up and down her arm with his free hand.
He asked "Would we be able to keep Matt with us while we wait out the two years?"
"That is not what the birth mother signed up for. In fact she approved Ms. Garcia as a single mother and knows nothing of you, Mr. Morgan, being on the scene. To be honest it would be best and safest so that this adoption does not fall through for Ms. Garcia to adopt as a single parent, as she said in her application, and then for you to file to adopt as a step parent in a few years, should you follow through with your plans to wed."
Penelope said "We very much intend to follow through!"
"Shhhh, honey, its okay. She is only giving us her opinion. That's all." He then asked the social worker "Can Penelope and Matt still live with me before the adoption is finalized?"
"If your home passes a home study and you pass a background check."
"Ma'am, I'm an FBI agent. That won't be an issue."
"I'll schedule a home visit immediately. You won't know when I'm going to show up. That way it keeps everyone more honest."
Derek said "That's fine. We might be gone though because of our work schedules but our sitter with be there with Matt." He turned to Penelope. "Sweetheart, we have to play by the rules. You should go ahead with the single parent adoption and when the law says I can, on the very first day it says I can, I will file to adopt our son too so that under the law I am legally his father, just as much as I will legally be your husband. Hey, we're gonna be okay. We might not want to do it this way but we can handle it. We are a family and that's forever. I'm gonna make you my wife as soon as we can plan the wedding because I've had it with waiting to have us share a last name."
The social worker said "Actually it is against the statues for one spouse to adopt without the other also adopting at the same time so Penelope needs to stay unmarried until the process is finalized."
Penelope exploded "Now you are telling me when I can marry the man that I love? What kind of fricked up system are you running here? I think its time for a complete overhaul because you are ruining people's lives! I have known this man six years and now you come along and tell me when we can get hitched and if we don't listen you will take our son away! This is not right!"
"Penelope, please, calm down, baby girl." He said to the social worker "Will you give us a few moments alone please?"
She left the room.
Derek pulled Penelope into a hug and she sobbed over the tough spot they were in.
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One night Derek decided to ask Penelope a question that had been lingering in his mind for long time. They were sitting on the couch together and watching a medical drama. A woman on there was infertile.
Derek took Penelope's hand and kissed it. "Baby girl, I know this is a touchy subject but I need to know. Did you decide to adopt because you aren't able to have kids?"
"No, it wasn't that at all."
Derek's eyes widened. "It wasn't?"
She caressed his face. "I'm sorry, love bug. I'm sorry you've been worrying about this and thinking we couldn't have kids together down the road."
He gave her a sweet kiss. "Mmm, girl, I'm so relieved. I'd love to see you carrying my baby. And, it should go without saying, if we never can conceive I will still love you just as much as ever."
"We'll have more babies, lover. I started the adoption process because very early on in dating Kevin he told me he never wanted kids. That almost made me break up with him but instead I decided to create my own family without waiting for a guy to come along who wanted to create one with me. And that's just what I set out to do. But I didn't realize that your love for me was so strong, and so, so big that you'd gladly create a family with me. Its good that I was blind to that because otherwise Mateo would not be our son. It all happened for a reason."
"I don't feel half as bad about my stupidity now when it comes to not speaking up sooner."
"My being with Kevin doesn't sting quite as hard now, huh?" She smiled sweetly.
Derek ran his hands down her sides. "Oh, woman, don't get carried away. I didn't say all that now." He started to kiss on her neck, Penelope giggled, and they fell back on the couch, making out.
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Another few weeks went by and Derek's home was approved by the state and adoption agency as a suitable place for Mateo to live. After that Derek finally decided to call his mom and tell her the good news about him being engaged and becoming a father.
He set up his web cam so his mom could see him. "Hey, Mom! Its your baby boy. How you doing?"
"Good. Lonely for grand babies but that is nothing new. How is Virginia treating you? We miss you here in Chicago, where you belong."
Derek chuckled. "Mom, you know my unit is out of Quantico. You've known that for nine years now. When are you gonna let it go that I left Chicago?"
"When you move back to Chicago, preferably before I die, and preferably bringing some grand babies with you."
"Well I got some surprises for you." He grinned at the camera. "That is if you're not too mad at me for living here and letting you down in the grand baby department up to now."
"Derek, I'd love to hear what you're up to. You always keep too many secrets so if you're willing to share- and the reason has caused that big smile on your face- then I am willing to listen."
"Well some of your wishes have came true for me, Mom. I'm engaged to Penelope!"
"Engaged! My baby is engaged! Oh my! That is wonderful news. Since when are you dating Penelope though? Derek, you always said that was just a friendship! Did you pull the wool over my eyes?"
"It changed from a friendship that had a lot of love in it to a love that has a lot of friendship in it. Its right for me, Ma, and good. And there's more..."
"Is there a baby on the way? I will not even complain that you didn't get married first. In this day and age everyone does it backwards or every which way anyway. I just want to see you happy and for you to give me a grand baby with your cute cheeks."
"Mom, there isn't a baby on the way...he's already here! Just a month back Penelope had a baby placed with her that she is adopting and since we're engaged and very much in love that makes him my son too. Would you like a peek at him?"
"Yes, baby boy! You know I do. Let me see that grand baby of mine and you are in so much trouble for waiting a month to tell me."
Penelope came into view of the webcam, holding Mateo, and the were all smiles as they showed him off and told Fran his name. Derek's mother instantly fell in love with her newest grandson.