A/N: Thank you very much for all of your reviews. I am so surprised at the wonderful reaction you all have had to this story. I'm trying to update it often but work is now starting to pick up again and life is getting hectic. Thank you so much for your patience and thanks for sticking to it!!! I hope you enjoy this chapter.
Penelope and Derek were so busy kissing they hadn't noticed that the yacht had docked. It wasn't until Captain Luke coughed and got their attention that they even knew he was there.
Penelope jumped and stepped away from Derek. "Captain Luke, excuse us we didn't realize you were there." She said embarrassed that he had walked in on them.
"Call me Luke and it's ok, it's always nice to see two people in love. Did you both enjoy yourselves?" He said and smiled.
Derek and Penelope looked each other and smiled and as if planned answered in unison "Very much!" It was Derek that initiated their goodbye as he extended his hand towards Captain Luke and pulled him into a hug. "I don't know how to thank you my man you pulled through for me in a big way." Derek said.
"No thanks required, let's just say my family owes you this and more."
"Let's say we call it even. Give my love to your Mom and tell your baby brother to give me a call, I'd love to talk to him and catch up." Derek said.
Captain Luke turned to Penelope and leaned in to kiss her cheek. As he pulled away he smiled at her and said "I know you and I don't know each other but I know one thing for sure, you must be a very special lady because I never thought I'd see this man fall hook, line and sinker."
"And THERE goes any advantage I might have had." Derek said jokingly.
"Aww hot stuff, that advantage was just a figment of your imagination. Remember that the Oracle of all things living and non living is always a step ahead of you." She said and grinned.
"And I'm going to make sure it stays that way, after all I love the view." He said and winked at her.
They all laughed and said their good byes as Derek and Penelope walked towards the Limo that was once again waiting for them. Once inside Derek wrapped his hand around Penelope's lifting it to his lips, he placed a kiss on the back of her hand.
"Derek I've had an amazing day. Thank you." Penelope said.
"Baby when I put this all together, I wanted something that you and I could look back on and talk about years down the road as if it had happened yesterday. I realize though that years from now what I'm going to remember vividly and with detail is the moment you told me you loved me because to me, that over shadows everything." Derek said.
They both looked into each other's eyes and didn't say a word for the rest of ride. For the first time in their lives, there were no walls, no reservations and no doubts. When the limo stopped and the driver once again opened the door for them, Derek stepped out and once again helped Penelope out of the car. Derek thanked the driver and guided Penelope towards their car. Once inside he grabbed her hand once again before starting their drive home.
"Derek we're going to have to talk to Hotch and let him know. We need to make sure this is ok." She said.
"I'm sure Hotch isn't going to have a problem but yes, I'll talk to him tomorrow. We need to tell my family too. Are you ready for that?" He said.
"Derek, just yesterday your sister asked me if we were dating and I told her that you and I were just friends. She's going to think that I was lying to her." Penelope said worried.
"I'll talk to Des. She'll understand. I guess I should have given her a heads up, but I wasn't sure how you felt or where this would lead." Derek said.
"You do realize that once we tell them, we can't sleep together." She said. "I wouldn't want them thinking something was going on."
"Baby I'm sure they wouldn't think that but I understand and love that you feel that way. I can sleep on the couch. I can still hear you and I'll be there if you need me." He said.
Penelope smiled. "Thank you"
They had arrived at his mother's house and had parked the car down the block. As they walked towards the house Derek quickly grabbed Penelope and puller her close to him. "I want to taste those lips before we walk back into reality. " He said as he kissed her.
Just then, Des who had been anxious for their arrival had looked out the window. Fran heard a squeal and she quickly ran out to the living room. "What happened?' Fran asked.
"I told you! I knew it! They've been hiding it. Look at them. THAT is not how best friends act." Des said to her mother.
Fran smiled as she saw what her daughter had seen. "Leave it alone Desiree, your brother will tell you in his own time. Just be happy that you're seeing what you see." Fran said.
"How can you be so calm about it? Doesn't it bother you that he's not sharing this part of his life with you?" Des asked.
"Baby, Derek and I have talked and once he talks to you, you will understand. You need to be patient honey, trust your relationship with your brother and trust him." Fran said.
"Like I have a choice." Des said and walked towards her room.
Fran rolled her eyes. "What am I going to do with that child?" She said to herself as she took another peek out the window and smiled.
Derek and Penelope walked into the house and found Fran sitting on the couch reading a magazine. "Welcome home." She said as they closed the door. "How did your day go?"
"We had a great time." Derek said as he smiled and looked at Penelope.
"Amazing." Penelope said as she looked at Derek.
Fran smiled. They both had that glow that was undeniable. "Did you two eat?" She asked.
"Yes we did. Thank you." Penelope said. "If you'll excuse me, I need to use the little girl's room." This was all new to her and she wasn't sure if Derek wanted some one on one time to tell his mother or not but she figured this way she'd give him the space if needed it.
When Penelope left the room, Fran looked up at her son and said "so?"
Derek smiled and she knew the things had gone well. Not that she needed the confirmation after seeing what she saw, but it was nice to see his smile of confirmation.
"Ma I'm really happy." He said with a smile so big that it lit up the room.
"And I'm happy for you baby. You need to talk to Des though I think she's feeling a little left out." Fran said.
Derek understood. Des was extremely high maintenance when it came to her relationship with her brother and he knew he'd have a lot of explaining to do. "I'll go talk to her now." He said as he headed towards her room.
"Derek?" Fran called out.
"Yea Ma?" He said.
"I'll expect full details from the both of you tomorrow morning." She said smiling.
Derek nodded. "We'll tell you everything tomorrow Ma, I promise." He said and knocked on Desiree's door. When he heard her yell out to come in he looked back at his mother and said "wish me luck."
"Good luck! You'll need it." Fran said and laughed.
Desiree was already in bed when Derek walked in. As she looked up at him he saw that she had been crying and he realized he'd be apologizing for a long time. "Hey kiddo what do you say we have one of our famous chats." He said as he sat on her bed.
Before Des could say anything Derek had picked up a picture frame that was on Des' nightstand. It was picture of the three of them taken the day Derek had been accepted by the BAU. "I love this picture." He said.
"Yea me too. I miss those times." She said as she took the picture and traced the outline of the frame.
"Des I know your upset with me and I'm sorry if you think I've been distant." He said. "It's not what you think though."
"What is it then Derek? I see the changes in you and I sense you're not telling me things. I feel like we're drifting." She said holding back the tears.
"Sweetheart you are still and always will be one of the most important people in my life. You will always be one of my priorities. I've just been dealing with some inner demons lately. Look I know that you and I have always discussed things so before you go getting mad at me, let me explain my reasons and hopefully you'll understand. It's really important to me that you know the whole story." He said and went on to explain all about Penelope getting shot, his realization of his feelings and his battle with those feelings. He told her about NY and how things came to light and finally about his plans and his insecurity about those plans. She listened to him and when he done she hugged him.
"I would have helped you know." She said. "I like Penelope and I like who you are when you're around her."
Derek smiled. As tough as Desiree could be he always knew she'd be in his corner. "I know you would have helped me kiddo but I really needed to do this one on my own. " He said.
Desiree looked at the picture once again and then back at Derek. "So did you screw it up?" She said smiling.
"What do you think?" He said.
"Well if that smile is any indication I guess you didn't." She said and then wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him tight.
