AN: Here it is. The long-awaited epilogue. I do believe this is the longest chapter that I've ever written for a story. I hope you like this very interesting final chapter. PLZ R&R!
Disclaimer: See first chapter.
Epilogue
Penelope Morgan slowly and awkwardly sat up on the bed as she heard a ringing in the distance. She looked next to her and saw Jamie fast asleep beside her and Clooney snuggled up next to him. She glanced at the clock and saw that it was almost ten. It felt like she got no sleep last night because Jamie kept waking up from the nightmares that he only gets when Derek is out of town on a case. She was too exhausted to carry him across the hall back to his bed once he was asleep again, so she just let him sleep in her bed with her and Clooney.
The ringing started again and she glanced at her phone dancing across the night stand from the vibrations. She slowly picked it up and saw that Derek was trying to Facetime her. She clicked it on and the smiling face of her husband greeted her.
"It is too early on this end," she grumbled.
"It's even earlier on this end," he smiled at her. "How bad was last night?"
"Only a couple nightmares," she sighed as she sat up, leaning against the headboard.
"Good-"
"But only because I let him sleep with me," she moved the phone so Derek could see his son sleeping next to her.
"Well I hope that tonight is better," he told her as she brought the phone back to her. "We're just finishing up at the local precinct out here. We'll be on the jet within a couple hours and we should be home by tonight."
"Great," she smiled. "That means you're all ours for how long?"
"The next couple of months at least," he smiled at her. "It just got approved. They'll only call me in if there's a local case."
"That is great news," she smiled.
"So how's the little one?"
"She's calm now," she ran her hand over her expanded belly. "She was a little worked up last night when her big brother was having a meltdown. So between the two of them, I didn't get much sleep."
"Isn't my mom and sisters there to help you? Or are you being hardheaded again?"
"I'm not an invalid. I can do some things." She snapped.
"I'm not saying that you can't. The doctor said you're supposed to take it easy this last month though. My mom doesn't mind helping you out."
"No I don't," Fran appeared in the doorway. "Hey Baby Boy, are you all working hard out there?"
"Hey Ma," he smiled at her. "Actually we just finished. We should be back by tonight sometime."
"I'll let Des know. She's really missed Reid."
"Stop rolling your eyes," Penelope told him. "They are in love; and married, by the way."
"Do you mind waking the Little Man so I can talk to him before we board?"
"Sure," Penelope started to shake the figure next to her. "Baby, daddy's on the phone and wants to talk to you."
"Daddy?" Jamie sat up and rubbed his eyes.
"Hey buddy," Derek smiled at him as Penelope held the phone in front of him.
"Come home." Jamie stated.
"I am on my way. I will be home tonight just in time to have our bedtime routine."
"I missded you,"
"I miss you too. But I want you to be good for your mommy and Nana Fran and your Auntie Sarah and Desiree ok? Can you do that for me?"
"Otay daddy,"
"I love you and I'll see you tonight."
"Love you daddy," Jamie waved at him as Penelope brought the phone back to her.
"Love you Baby Girl," Derek smiled at her as Fran picked up Jamie and took him downstairs with her.
"Love you too, Hot Stuff." She smiled back.
"I'll be back soon. Please take it easy at least until I get back. Rest as much as you can please."
"I'll try my best," she smiled. "Stay safe."
They ended their video chat and Penelope slowly got up off the bed and went into the bathroom. She took a quick shower and got dressed in one of her maternity outfits before heading downstairs. She eased herself into one of the chairs at the table as she spotted Jamie in his booster seat in the chair next to her as he ate his toast.
"Morning," Desiree and Sarah came into them. "How are you feeling Penelope?"
"Exhausted," she sighed as Fran came out and placed a plate of eggs and toast in front of her. "Aren't you supposed to have a burst of energy the last month? I did with Jamie."
"You haven't been getting very much sleep at night recently though," Fran told her. "And especially waking up with Jamie at least once a night when Derek's out of town."
"Why don't me and Des take Jamie to the park after breakfast?" Sarah suggested.
"That way you can rest and not worry about him getting into things," Des added.
"That sounds wonderful," Penelope smiled. "And he loves feeding the ducks."
"Ducks!" Jamie smiled and they all chuckled.
After breakfast was all cleaned up, Penelope got comfortable on the couch as Sarah and Desiree got Jamie ready for their day out.
"Mommy," Jamie ran into her. "Take bread for ducks?"
"Yes, you can take some bread to feed the ducks." She smiled at him.
"Yay!"
"Come here first," she picked him up. "I want you to be good and listen to Aunt Sarah and Aunt Desiree. And stay where they can see you. I do not want a repeat of last time."
"I was feeding ducks!" Jamie stomped his foot in frustration, much like Tim told her she used to do when she was little.
"But you didn't tell anyone where you were going. We almost had to issue an Amber Alert on you."
"I promise I stay with them, Mama."
"Good boy," she smiled as she let him down and he ran to the kitchen.
"All right, we have extra pull-ups, a juice cup, snacks…" Desiree came down with a small bag for Jamie.
"How long are you planning on staying out?" Penelope asked them.
"However long he wants," Sarah told her.
"Have fun!" Penelope called as they all headed towards the door.
"Bye Mama!" Jamie waved to her as they walked outside.
"Here's some chamomile tea," Fran brought her out a mug. "Now you just try to relax and get some rest."
"I'm not sure she'll let me," Penelope placed her hands on her stomach. "She is a lot more active than I remember Jamie being. She's going to be our soccer star."
"I believe you may be right," Fran felt the intensities of her kicks. "Just try to rest as much as you can."
Penelope lay back down and closed her eyes in an attempt to get some sleep while Fran did some of the housework for her.
They had all managed to move on from the events that kept Penelope and Jamie away from all of them for the first year of Jamie's life. It took Penelope a little longer to get over the events that happened to her; Hotch ordered her to see a therapist weekly before he would agree to let her come back to work. The only reason she agree was so that she could get her life back to normal and be in familiar surroundings alongside all her friends.
Penelope and Derek were married six months after the trial. They flew to Cancun, Mexico for what Derek told her would be their first family vacation. Unbeknownst to her, their friends were waiting for them in the airport terminal and ready to commence the ceremony. They were married on the beach later that same night at dusk with their friends, Derek's mom and sisters, and Penelope's brother Tim and his family surrounding them.
When they decided to leave the decision about having another kid up to fate, they didn't realize that fate would wait until Penelope was settled back into work for more than a year before blessing them again. Jamie was now almost three and very excited to be getting a baby sister soon.
Desiree and Reid were married a year after Derek and Penelope. Derek had finally let up on his protectiveness; for the most part. They had bought a house a few months ago right down the street from them and were talking about starting a family of their own. Dave and Fran got married not that long ago and nestled into the semi-retired married life and volunteered baby-sitting duty whenever someone needed a night off from parenting duties. Sarah was now living in the DC area just like the rest of her family, but had yet to settle down. Though her eye did linger a bit on Paul, who they all still kept in contact with.
Penelope dozed off and on throughout the day as Fran cleaned and tidied up the house. Desiree and Sarah called to say that they were going to keep Jamie out a little longer and Derek called to say that he would be later than he thought. But Penelope continued to sleep through it all.
Penelope sat up abruptly, suddenly awoken from her deep slumber. Fran looked up from where she was perched next to her and turned off the TV that she had been watching with the volume on low so as to not disturb Penelope.
"I think you've gotten plenty of rest today," Fran told her. "Do you feel better?"
"I-" Penelope stopped and winced in pain. "Oh god."
"I know that look," Fran sat next to her as the door opened and Jamie ran in with Sarah and Desiree trailing behind.
"Mama," Jamie ran to her and she tried to smile at him.
"Hey Sweetheart, did you have fun at the park?"
"Uh-huh," he shook his head.
"What's the matter?" Sarah saw the distress on Penelope's face.
"I need you girls to go upstairs and get the bag that Penelope packed for the hospital. I think we're going to be meeting the little one soon."
They rushed up the stairs as Fran reached for her phone just as Penelope's went off. She managed to grab it and clicked it on.
"Hey Sweetness," Derek's voice greeted her. "Good news, we just landed."
"That's good, because I'm pretty sure that I'm in labor."
"You're serious?"
"Yes," she took a deep breath. "We're heading to the hospital now."
"I will meet you there, just stay strong Baby Girl."
"Just try not to miss this one." Penelope told him before the call disconnected.
"Got it," Sarah rushed down the stairs with the hospital bag.
"I packed an overnight bag for Jamie too," Desiree told them. "I sure hope I remembered everything."
"Let's go," Fran led Penelope out as Sarah picked up Jamie and they all made it out to the car.
Derek pushed past Emily and rushed down the steps leading off the jet. He caught up to Hotch and Rossi as they approached one of the SUVs and explained what was going on.
"What the hell, Morgan?" Emily caught up to them. "What was that about?"
"Sorry," he looked back at her. "But Penelope's on the way to the hospital. I have to get to her."
"Everyone climb in!" Hotch announced. "I'll drive. Morgan, you're in no right fit to drive us anywhere."
They all stuffed their luggage in the back and scrambled into the available seats as Hotch screeched out of the landing area.
Penelope was trying to take deep breaths while trying not to scare Jamie, who was strapped into his car seat next to her in the back seat. Fran held her hand and let her squeeze it as much as she wanted to while they tried not to scare Jamie.
"No, no, no," Sarah mumbled from the driver's seat.
"Can you go around?" Desiree asked.
"Not anymore," Sarah told her.
"What's going on?" Penelope asked. "Why are we stopped?"
"There's a bumper-to-bumper traffic jam," Desiree looked back at them. "And we're completely boxed in."
"How far back are we?" Penelope asked.
"I can't tell,"
"Mama,"
"What's the matter, Sweetie?" she glanced over at him struggling to get out of his car seat.
"Sissy come?"
"Soon," she told him. "Just hopefully not on the side of the road."
"Not if I can help it," Fran opened her door. "Sarah, put it in park. Desiree, you're going to have to walk up there and see if there are any rescue workers up there that can help us. I'm going to see if there's anything in the back that can help us."
"We should probably call the team," Penelope said softly. "My water just broke."
"I'll call Dave," Fran took out her phone as Sarah helped her look in the back of the car.
It seemed like a very long while later that Desiree returned to them with a rescue worker in tow.
"I hear we're about to have a baby," he ducked his head in.
"Hopefully not here," Penelope panted.
"Unfortunately, I think that may be the case." He informed them. "There was an accident and until we can get the tow trucks to move the vehicles, no one is going anywhere."
"Are the people in the cars all right?" Penelope asked as she panted through a contraction.
"They're fine, Ma'am. Just a few minor scrapes and bruises." He started to communicate into a walkie-talkie clipped onto his belt. "There is an ambulance enroute to us. About how far apart are the contractions?"
"Five minutes," Fran told him. "We're not sure how far dilated she is."
"We're going to try to get the gurney to us, but it may be difficult."
"I want Derek," Penelope started to cry as she felt another contraction.
"Mommy!" Jamie started crying as well.
"I'm sorry baby. Mommy's sorry. I didn't mean to scare you."
"I got him," Desiree unfastened her nephew from his seat and took him out of the car and Sarah unbuckled the car seat and moved it to give Penelope more room.
"My son-her husband-he's stuck in this traffic too." Fran told the rescue worker.
"If you know what mile marker he's at, we can try to find him."
"Mile marker ten," she told him. "He's in a government vehicle."
The rescue worker spoke into his walkie-talkie as Fran sat next to Penelope and took her hand.
"It may not be the ideal way to have a baby, but it is what it is."
"As long as Derek can get here, then nothing else matters." She squeezed her hand as another contraction started.
Derek tried to see over the back seat where he was sitting as Hotch came to a complete stop. He grumbled in frustration when he saw all the cars.
"Please tell me that we are not stuck in a traffic jam."
"Sorry Morgan," Hotch looked back at him.
"I can't miss this birth." He stated firmly. "I already missed Jamie's."
"I'm going to get you to Penelope," Hotch told him as Dave's cell phone went off.
"It's Fran," he answered it quickly and listened to his wife on the other end. "We are at mile marker ten, why? Ok. I understand. Yes. I will let him know."
"What?" Derek saw his face as he hung up the phone.
"Before I tell you what I'm about to tell you, I need you to promise that you will try to stay calm." Dave looked at him solemnly.
"Why? What's happened?"
"Will you stay calm?"
"I think this is as calm as we can get him right now," JJ told Dave.
"She's right," Emily agreed.
"What did Fran tell you?" Hotch asked.
"The girls didn't quite make it to the hospital," Dave informed everyone.
"What do you mean?" Derek asked.
"They pulled into the middle of this traffic jam without knowing it. When Sarah tried to pull around it, they were boxed in."
"Where are they?" Derek demanded.
"They're about a mile ahead of us with Penelope in active labor."
"Oh my god," JJ gasped. "How far is she dilated?"
"They're not sure about that," Dave told them. "But the contractions are about five minutes apart."
"Reid, what does that mean?" Derek looked over at him.
"I-" he backed away from the look that Morgan was giving him.
"Reid,"
"I'm not sure-"
"Reid, if there was ever a time for your head full of statistics it's now."
"She may be minutes away from delivering," Reid finally told them. "But it depends how far she's dilated and whether or not she's crowning."
"They have someone trying to locate you," Dave told Derek. "So we will get you to your girl for the birth."
"I see a rescue worker coming," Hotch rolled down his window as he approached.
"Is there a Derek Morgan in here?" he asked the group.
"Right here," Derek climbed out of the SUV.
"Let's get you to your wife," they started to zigzag their way through the cars.
Derek recognized their car come into view and sprinted towards the open door. He saw his mom trying to get Penelope to lay across the back seat.
"Go to the other side," Fran told him. "Get behind her and support her weight."
Derek saw Hotch, Rossi, and Reid rushing towards them as he went around to the other side of the car. Reid went and took Jamie from Sarah, who was standing with Desiree away from the car. Desiree kissed his cheek and he smiled at her.
"Daddy!" Jamie reached for Derek as he tried to get out of Reid's grasp.
"I'm happy to see you too buddy," he smiled at him. "But I need to help mommy right now, so you need to stay with your aunties and uncles."
"We got him," Sarah said as her brother opened the car door and slid in behind Penelope.
"How are you doing, Baby Girl?" he kissed her forehead.
"I could be better," she gripped both of his hands as he helped her rest back against him. "We can just never do anything normal huh?"
"Apparently not," he smiled as she screamed out.
"So I guess you've had an interesting day," Reid looked at Desiree.
"To say the least," she smiled at him.
"Where are JJ and Emily?" Sarah asked.
"They decided to go car-to-car and try to collect any items that they think Penelope could use." Rossi told her.
"Good idea,"
Penelope screamed out yet again as another contraction started. Fran shielded her lower body as much as she could from the surrounding cars as she lifted her skirt and removed her underwear.
"The ambulance can't get through," the rescue worker came back to them. "But the EMTs are trying their hardest to get the gurney with their equipment to us."
"Looks like you're going to have to do this all natural, Penelope." Fran told her.
"That's how I did it with Jamie," Penelope panted.
"You did?" Derek looked down at her.
"I couldn't exactly go to a hospital with everything that was happening," she told him. "And they didn't exactly stay stocked up on pain meds for childbirth."
"Well there is some bad news," the rescue worker told them. "I'm not trained for this. So unless we can find someone who can-"
"Reid!" Derek called out to them. "We need you kid. Go over to my mom's side."
Desiree took Jamie from him again and he disappeared from view as JJ and Emily came up with their arms full of supplies.
"What's going on?" Emily asked.
"We think the kid might be delivering the baby," Dave told them.
"Spencer knows how to deliver a baby?" Sarah asked them.
"He said that he memorized a birthing manual when JJ was pregnant with Henry, just in case she went into labor in the field." Desiree told her sister.
"I didn't," JJ assured them. "But he had to deliver a baby in the field once."
"You're kidding right?" Reid looked at his friends. "I can't-you're my friends."
"Exactly," Derek stated. "If we can't have a trained professional, you're the next best thing."
"You did it in the field," Penelope panted. "You were ready to do it for JJ."
"We trust you kid," Derek told him. "You need to be our stand-in."
"All right," Reid knelt down next to Fran. "We need supplies. JJ and Emily were collecting some."
"Girls," Fran called and beckoned JJ and Emily over to them. "We need supplies."
"What do you need, Spence?" JJ asked
"Lots of blankets," he told them. "Drape them so they cover the windows because I can see a lot of people trying to see in here. I also need one under her. And I need latex gloves."
"I have the forensics kit," Emily handed him a couple gloves and he pulled them on. "What else?"
"Lots of water," he looked at Fran as she took the bottles of water. "Are you willing to be my assistant?"
"I'm not going anywhere," she told him as she opened another blanket to prepare to catch the baby.
"Something sharp to cut the umbilical cord like a knife or a pair of scissors; sterilize them with some water. And a shoe string to clamp off the umbilical cord."
They all listened to his orders and Penelope screamed out again as he bent her legs at her knees to check her cervix.
"You're crowning," Reid looked at Derek and Penelope. "I can see the head. She's ready to come out."
"I guess we're ready to get this show on the road," Derek looked down at Penelope. "Are you ready?"
"As I'll ever be," she panted.
"I'm going to explain everything as it's happening," Reid looked at Penelope and she nodded. "Just let me know when you feel another contraction coming."
"Oh, right now." She screamed out.
"Then I want a really big push." Reid ordered and she clutched Derek's hands tightly as she pushed with all her might.
The others were positioned outside the car and tried their best to block the view from the prying eyes of the nearby cars. Desiree had Jamie farther away from the chaos as they listened to Penelope screaming in pain.
"The head is out!" Reid's voice drifted out to them.
"Derek!" Penelope screamed in his ear. "It hurts! Get it out!"
"Just a few more pushes Baby," He told her.
"I can't!"
"Yes you can," he held her up. "Hit me if you think that will help, but you need to get our daughter out."
"You can do it Sweetheart," Fran encouraged her. "She's almost here."
Penelope shot up and pushed with all the strength that she had as she felt something slip out of her.
"She's here!" Reid announced as Penelope collapsed back against Derek and he kept her upright as Reid tried to clear the baby's airways.
All of the surrounding cars erupted into loud applause as they all heard a loud wail. Hotch saw the EMTs trying to get through with the gurney and rushed over to help them maneuver. They reached the car and the EMTs tried to access the condition of both mother and child.
"Everything seems good," one of them told the group. "But we need to get you to the hospital so they can do a full assessment and so you can deliver the afterbirth."
"Can you get us out of here?" Derek asked as Penelope cradled their daughter on her chest.
"Yes,"
"Everyone shield them!" Fran demanded. "I see several people with their camera phones!"
JJ and Emily took the remaining blankets and covered Penelope and the baby as they were transferred from the back of the car to the gurney. Dave helped them as the gurney was maneuvered through the traffic and was loaded into the back of the waiting ambulance.
"You did good kid," Derek looked at Reid. "Thank you."
"Go to the hospital with your family," Reid told him. "We'll meet you there after we get all this."
"Their car is in need of a definite deep clean," Rossi commented as he watched Derek catch up to the ambulance. "Or they need a new car all together."
"I don't think they're very concerned with that right now," Fran told him as the ambulance pulled away from the scene.
"You were amazing," Desiree kissed Reid deeply.
"I did what had to be done," he told her. "They needed my help."
"And you definitely came through for them," JJ smiled at him. "They will forever be grateful to you."
A few hours later, everyone was stationed around the waiting room on the maternity floor as they waited for Derek to come out and give them an update. Tim and his family were flying out to be with his sister when they were informed of the strange circumstances surrounding the birth; they watched it happen live in the airport terminal. One of the onlookers surrounding the car was actually a reporter for a local news station.
"Mother and child are fine," Derek announced as he came out to them. "Penelope just finished feeding her and they are both resting."
"Can we see them?" Tim asked.
"In a little bit," Derek went to where Jamie was sleeping against his mom. "Wake up, buddy. Are you ready to meet your sister?"
"Sissy?" Jamie rubbed his eyes and sat up. "Where Mama?"
"With your new sister. Come on." Derek walked down the hall with him in his arms and slowly pushed open a door. "Here's Mommy."
Jamie sat up and opened his eyes fully as he spotted Penelope sitting on the hospital bed with a small bundle in her arms.
"Mama," Jamie reached for her and Derek placed him on one side of her.
"Hey baby," Penelope smiled at him. "Say hello to your baby sister."
"Hewwo," Jamie peered down at the sleeping form hidden in the blanket.
"What do you think of her?" Derek took his spot on the other side of Penelope.
"Her wittle,"
"Yes she is," Penelope smiled at him. "But so were you once."
"Weally?"
"Really," she kissed his forehead. "In a few months she'll get bigger and will be able to do more."
"And when you guys are older, we know you'll look out for each other." Derek added.
"Right," Fran walked into the room followed by the rest of the group. "Just like you looked out for your sisters."
"I did eventually," he defended himself.
"How are you feeling?" JJ went to give Penelope a hug.
"Tired, sore,"
"I can imagine," she smiled at her.
"You are definitely the strongest person I know after seeing you go through all that," Emily told her.
"I'm so glad you're ok," Tim went to hug his sister.
"We couldn't believe it when we saw it playing live at the airport," Shelley told them. "Don't worry. They didn't really show details."
"Hey Pretty Boy," Derek called and Reid stepped closer to the bed. "We just wanted to say thank you again for what you did for us."
"No thanks necessary," he told them. "I'm just glad that you're both all right."
"Well would you consider being this little ones godfather?" Penelope asked. "It's only fitting since she probably wouldn't be here without you."
"Can we hear her name before I agree?" Reid asked.
"Right," Derek picked up his daughter from his wife's arms. "Everyone, say hello to Jayla Francine Morgan."
"Beautiful name," Sarah smiled. "Can we hold her?"
"Of course," Derek gently placed her in his sister's arms. "So what do you say, Pretty Boy? Will you be her godfather?"
"Of course," he smiled at them as everyone took turns holding the newest member of their group.
A little while later, everyone left for the night with Fran and Dave taking Jamie back to their place. Penelope smiled as Derek placed their daughter in the plastic bed in the room.
"It's going to take awhile for me to be able to move properly again," she sighed.
"I'm just glad I was there this time," Derek smiled at her. "Although delivering her in the middle of a traffic jam is a unique way to come into this world."
"Next time I'm shooting for normal," she told him. "Our next child will be born in some sort of medical facility."
"We can only hope," Derek sighed as he got settled in the chair next to her bed.
Little did they realize that her next delivery (fraternal twins; one boy, one girl) would take place in the middle of a statewide blackout with Penelope delivering on the floor of their favorite restaurant after Penelope's birthday dinner.
AN: So what'd you all think? I've always wanted to write a birth scene like this, and I thought what better characters to write it for than Penelope and Derek? I tried to be as accurate as possible with the medical and birthing parts as I got most of my information from TV shows. I hope you liked this. PLZ R&R!
Jayla means Jaybird. I was looking for a unique name for the baby and I thought that was only fitting for Penelope and Derek's daughter.
Will be trying to work on my next story. I have several in mind so I may be asking your guys' opinions on which one I should write next.
Until next time!