Chapter 25

AN: Thanks so much for the reviews!...Here we go, folks...the moment we've been waiting for...Sadly, only the epilogue left on this one after this...

She had a premonition-that weird feeling of deja-vu that sometimes happened- that this would be a moment she would never forget. Penelope's heart began to thunder in her chest, and the fine hairs on her arms were standing up. She wished she had a video camera to tape what was going to happen.

"I need you to know something, and I have to tell it to you now. You don't have to say anything in return," he said quickly, deadly seriously, no trace of a smile on his face.

As she watched him, standing there in her hotel doorway, she couldn't help but have a surge of happiness. The urgent, downright endearing look on his face told Penelope she was correct in her original assumptions.

This man loved her something fierce!

Suddenly, she was filled with a delicious calm, and a warm feeling of love swept over her entire body. She knew immediately that everything was going to be all right. No, better than all right—everything was going to be absolutely perfect.

"Come on in, sweet boy," she murmured with a smile, trying to ease his fears. "We'll talk."

"Penelope, I love you!" he burst out, as if he couldn't stop the words. She had no doubt he'd absolutely needed to say that—it was going to explode from him otherwise. It was such a beautiful reaction—and so adorable—she wanted to squee like a fangirl.

She was a fangirl; the number one fan of their love.

She smiled and answered back honestly, "I know, honey. I love you, too."

"No, P!" he snapped, and then looked crushed for snapping at her. "Not...that...I...I mean, you and I...shit!"

Poor baby, he was fumbling so terribly over his words. It was the weirdest thing for her; she had always known him to be the most suave, the most debonair, the sexiest of players. He could charm women colder than Strauss into eating out of his hand. He'd never had a parking ticket in the six years she'd known him; every meter maid found a way to get rid of that paper when he'd smiled their way. She, on the other hand, had fourteen of them. Parking around Quantico was dreadful.

And now, he couldn't put two words together, like his tongue was tripping over his eye tooth, and he was blind to what he wanted to say.

That, for some reason, made her smile even more. He was so boyishly cute, so tenderly endearing. This obviously meant a lot to him; she obviously meant a lot to him.

"Derek, I know," she repeated, standing closer to him.

He stared at her, and she could sense the intense longing in him, so desperate to say the right words. It was so strong, she could almost feel it.

He raised his hands, but let them drop in frustration. "Penelope, you don't understand—"

"Yes, I do," she said, trying to be reassuring.

He ran a hand over his face in acute frustration. "Baby Girl, you need to listen."

She sighed. For some reason, he really wasn't listening. She could make this a lot easier if he just paid attention, but she didn't want to argue with him.

After all, since he'd just made her the happiest woman in the world; fighting with him wouldn't be too keen!

She took a seat on the bed and patted the spot next to her. "Okay, Hot Stuff. I'm listening."

He hesitated just a moment, like he didn't quite trust himself to be that near her, but then gave up the fight and took the seat anyway.

"Promise me you'll simply let me talk," he said, looking at her from the corner of his eyes.

"Yes, sugar," she said, making a cross over her heart. "Scout's honor."

He closed his eyes, almost like he was in pain, and then blew out all of his air.

"Penelope, I love you."

She nodded. "We've established that."

His look quieted her immediately.

"Penelope," he began, and then turned to face her and took her hands. "Sweetheart, you mean the world to me. You are an extraordinary, beautiful, wonderful, terrific woman, who I have had the great honor of knowing—"

She'd really planned on being quiet, but she couldn't help herself. She simply had to comment. "Remind me to hire you to do my eulogy."

"P, you promised," he complained.

She grinned cheekily. "I'm not a scout; that promise didn't count."

"Baby—"

"Fine, fine," she said. He could really be such a drama king sometimes! She wanted him to say it, let her say it, too, so they could get to the good stuff...lots of kissing!

"Woman, I love you—more than I ever thought I could love someone." He cupped her cheek in his hand, running his thumb lovingly, reverently over her cheekbone. "I want you, I need you, because with you, I'm alive."

He paused, and then said, "Penelope, I want you to be my lover, my girl, for as long as you will have me."

He became blurry as tears misted her eyes. "Derek..."

Sadness drifted over his face, and before she could ascertain why, he lowered his hand and stood. He started pacing like a caged tiger. "Baby, I don't want to hurt you. I would rather cut off my right arm than hurt you. But I thought you needed to know this."

She sniffled. "D..."

"I didn't lie when I said I wanted you forever. I've been a damn fool. I want you, and I want this chance," he said, turning back to face her. "I'm not asking for forever—I would never be that presumptuous—but not because I don't want forever."

He paused to chuckle wryly, and then added, "No. I think I don't want that. Because deep down in my soul, I know forever isn't nearly enough with you."

He took a step closer again and lowered himself to his knees in front of her. "I love you, I want you, and I need you…just please be mine."

"Oh, Derek," she said, launching herself into his arms, kneeling next to him, tears pouring down her face. "I love you, too."

He held her in a hug that was far more intimate than any embrace they had ever had before. "Then you are really mine," he whispered.

"Silly boy, I have always been yours," she responded, laughing though her tears.

"Thank God," he said gruffly, kissing her temple, the top of her head, anywhere he could reach.

"I tried to tell you," she said.

He leaned back, looked at her, and arched a brow. "When?"

"Just now."

His eyes narrowed a bit. "When you were telling me you knew...you really did know, didn't you?"

She nodded. "Mmm hmm."

His brow arched even higher. "So I went through that big ol' speech, and I didn't have to."

"Well," she said, looping her arms around his neck, "I wouldn't say you didn't have to. I liked hearing how I'm worshiped, Hot Stuff. Does a goddess good, you know..."

"That," he murmured, cupping her bottom and dragging her forward, in a prelude to a kiss, "makes it all worthwhile..."