Chapter Fourteen

They sat on the plane waiting for it to take off. Penelope took Derek's hand and rested her head on his shoulder. Derek brushed a kiss to the top of the head and squeezed her hand. They stayed like this for a while before Penelope let go of his hand and took out a book to read. When the pilot announced they would be landing soon Penelope felt a sense of peace wash over her, as if somehow she knew that this trip with Derek would be their saving grace.

She didn't want to believe they would fall apart when they had a baby on the way. She wanted to believe in their love, their friendship, their history and their future. Penelope stared adoringly at Derek. He leaned over and gave her a sensual and sweet kiss. Then he rested his head against hers. They stayed like that for a long moment, lost in each other.

This trip needed to be used to heal all the pain between them. Penelope couldn't imagine anything else happening. She just couldn't face the possibility they wouldn't work out. Her heart was emptying all its feel and toxic energy and once again filling with faith, love and trust for her handsome prince.

He made mistakes but he always made it right in the end. She needed to believe Derek would do that this time. For her sake, his and the sake of their baby.

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Once they finally got off the plane, they headed back to get their luggage and then headed outside. On the sidewalk, when Penelope was looking around for her old friends, she heard a man ask "Hey is there a hot blonde here who needs a ride?"

Spinning around she saw Callen standing there with a big smile on his face. Penelope grinned and jumped in his arms. "Hello, stud muffin, you are just as cute as ever!"

Watching this Derek felt jealousy sting him because Penelope was glowing over this other guy. Penelope remained in Callen's arms for a minute or two, as they chatted and caught up. Derek let out a muted grunt of displeasure because this guy was not letting go of his girlfriend.

Penelope untangled herself from her old friend and introduced him to Derek.

Callen teased Penelope "So what brings you out this way? Big case catching serial killers who drown their victims in Fruit Loops," he named a popular cereal.

"Not this time," Penelope said, which he knew very well. "This trip is pure pleasure devoted to spending lots of time with my favorite surfer boy."

Callen kissed her cheek. "I'm your only surfer boy."

Derek started to fume. Was Penelope flirting with this guy? He threw Callen a dirty look."

"So, surfer boy, whisk me and my princess away to our hotel, please. I could use to shower and change before dinner. You don't mind meeting up later, do you? We're getting a rental at a location near the hotel so we can drive to the restaurant ourselves and get around while we're here."

"Forget the hotel and the rental. You'll come stay with me and use my car. I'll use my motorcycle. That way we can hang out as much as possible. Its not like you get out this way often."

Penelope looked at Derek. He had been looking forward to alone time in their hotel. She asked "Would that be all right, handsome?"

"Sure, baby girl. Whatever you want works for me." He really wasn't in the position to do anything but make this trip her dream come true, if he wanted to hang onto her. And Derek did want that. More than anything he wanted his future to be with Penelope.

Hearing his answer, she smiled and gave him a kiss. It was short but sweet and made Derek think he had been stupid to be jealous of Callen. Feeling that brief flash of jealousy though, and how sick it made him inside, only served to remind him of what Penelope went through over Tamara getting tangled up in their lives.

He should have never let that woman into their world or ever risked hurting his baby girl. She shouldn't have to feel jealousy or worry if Derek was all hers. She should know she was his one and only.

He would use this trip to make sure she did.

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When they made it to Callen's place Penelope started to fret. "Are you sure you want us to stay here cause we can still go to the hotel? We have a reservation already."

Callen smiled. "Don't say hotel again. You're crashing here."

"I just don't want us to be in your or Sam's way."

Callen teased "Or you don't want us to hear how loud you get at night with your man?"

Penelope blushed. "Where is Sam? I'm going to have him kick your butt for that comment."

"Sam's still at work. And he can't kick my ass."

"With those muscles I bet he could and not even get winded."

"I'm too fast for him. He has brawn but I got speed on my side." Callen laughed.

Derek felt like a third wheel. He just hung back and stayed quiet. Callen took them up to their room and showed them inside.

Callen said "I've got to run back to work for a while but I'll be back in a few hours with some dinner. Make yourself at home you two."

Once he was gone Penelope pulled Derek close and asked "Wanna make the most of our time alone, Hot Stuff?"

"You know I do, mama."

They started kissing and soon they were making love, trying to mend all the pain and heartache that had formed between them back in Virginia.

Later, while Penelope slept, Derek held her in his arms marveling at how right it still felt to make love to her even with all the pain that was between them. Having her in his arms still felt right and good. His love for her was still beautiful in every way but the way he felt about himself was. As the minutes went by he started to silently berate himself for keeping secrets from her.

He could not help but feel dirty, dishonest, uncomfortable, sad, angry and still full of emotions over all that had happened between him and Tamara. He was angry more than anything for all that had happened, he was remorseful, so it hurt him. But he wanted more than anything to sort things out between him and Penelope. He knew they had work to do in their relationship. Even though he had managed to escape from the situation and would never talk to or see Tamara again, if he could avoid it, he will always have to live with knowing he had kissed her.

Tears came to his eyes. Spooning Penelope he hugged her a little tighter. "I love you, baby girl. You're the best thing that ever happened to me," he whispered.

His words woke her up. She looked over her shoulder and noticed the tears in his eyes. Turning she cupped a hand to his cheek and said "Hello there, love of my life! " Then she gently pressed a kiss to his lips.
He kissed the top of her head. "Hello, baby girl. You slept well?" He put a lightness in his voice that he didn't feel. He had spent a good hour just thinking about the mess he made out of his life, but worse than that, out of Penelope's life. His love was supposed to be a good thing for her but his pridefulness had caused him to make mistake after mistake.

"You know, handsome, that I always sleep well in your arms." Noticing the look in his eyes hers filled with concern "You okay, honey?"

He kissed her. "Mmm, perfect. Just thinking about how I wanna take you out for a walk on the beach before your friends get back for dinner?"

"Do you think we have time?"

"If you get your cute butt moving we do."

With a smile she got out of bed, grabbed his hand and pulled him up. "We'll have to share a shower to conserve time and water. You know California is known for its water shortages. We better shower together for the whole trip, for the sake of the enviorment."

He chuckled. She could always make him feel better, even if she didn't know what was bringing him down.

Soon they were walking along the beach, eating gelato that they bought from a vendor, and enjoying watching the sun start to set over the ocean. After a while they sat on the sand. Derek sat with Penelope between those legs, his back still rested Derek's chest.

For a long while they just stayed that way, barely talking, but feeling at peace with each other and the beautiful place they were visiting. Finally Penelope phone rang. Callen wanted to know where they went off to, since the car was still there, and if they were coming back for dinner soon.

When they got back to the house Penelope was wrapped in a tight hug by Sam. Derek watched this and tried to fight off his jealousy. He knew that Penelope was the type of person who attracted love wherever she went because she was so sweet and pure of heart. She lit up at the sight of Sam and they started to chat and catch up.

Penelope looked as happy quite happy as a child on Christmas day about to open these gifts. As long as she was happy Derek was happy too. This trip was helping them to remember what it was supposed to feel like when they were together as a couple. No pain. No fighting. No secrets.

Just joy.