Disclaimer: I still don't own Criminal Minds but if I did Morgan and Garcia would get their act together!
Epilogue
It had been three days since Penelope had been released from the hospital. It was a sunny, Sunday afternoon and she and Derek, along with the rest of the team and a few people from the counseling center, were standing alongside a fresh grave that sat under a beautiful Maple tree.
The service for Evan had been short and simple. When it was over, Penelope reached down and laid out three yellow daisies, one for each member of the Wallace family. Evan's headstone had yet to be delivered but when it was set would simply read
"Children are likely to live up to what you believe of them."
Penelope had once read the quote and felt that it suited Evan perfectly…he had become no more than the world had believed him to be. She hoped the headstone would serve as a lesson to all of those who saw it.
After the service when there was no one left except Derek and Penelope, he stepped back and gave her a few moments alone. Wiping a final tear from her eye, she rejoined Derek as they headed towards his truck.
"You ok, Baby Girl?" he asked as he helped her into the passenger seat.
"Yeah, I think so. It's all so sad but at least I have a little bit of closure and I know that Evan is finally at peace and with his parents again. We both know what it's like to lose a parent, don't we Derek? We were just lucky that there were others in our life who cared and were willing to step in. I'm not sure I would have turned out any different from Evan if my circumstances had been the same," she mused.
"Me either, Sweetheart," Derek agreed as he slid behind the steering wheel and started the truck.
Letting the engine idle, Derek turned and looked her straight in her beautiful brown eyes, "You do know, Penelope, that no matter what happens, I'll always be here for you…you're never alone," he said tenderly. "I know that for the last several months, things have been hard and we've both let things slide between us but I want you to know that I never stopped caring about or loving my Baby Girl. I just wish it hadn't taken something like this to bring me back to my senses. I promise, I'll never let things get so distant between us again. I need you in my life. I love you, as my best friend, as a woman and as my soulmate."
Penelope's heart was breaking and rejoicing at the same time as she listened to Derek's words and saw the honesty shining in his eyes. She knew exactly how he felt, she had been feeling the same way for a long time. "I'm sorry too, Derek, and I've missed you. I just didn't know how to go back after the things I said about Tamara. It was none of my business, you're old enough to make your own decisions. I just didn't want to see you hurt. Your happiness means more to me than anything because I love you too."
Leaning over, Derek placed a gentle but passionate kiss on her lips. "Then I say we start over but this time I'm going to do things right! Penelope Garcia, will you go out on a date with me tomorrow night? And I mean a real date with dinner and dancing or whatever you want, just the two of us?" he asked with one of his killer smiles.
"Oh, Derek, YES!!!" She practically shouted as she leapt across the seat and hugged him tightly around the neck.
"Damn, Woman!" he laughed, "If I had known I would get a reaction like this, I would have asked you out years ago!"
"And well you should have, Derek Morgan!" she teased back. "Just one thing you should know, Mister, I don't kiss on the first date!"
"Well it's a good thing we're not on that date yet, then," he said as he pulled her close and gave her the kiss he had been longing to give since the day they first met.
The End!!!!!
Or is it just the beginning? I've been thinking about trying to write a fluff piece so maybe I'll write a story about their first date or two. What do you think????? Either way, thanks for reading and reviewing!
