Derek's injuries meant he was out of commission for about six weeks. With James on holidays the Morgan Men camped out in New York for a couple of weeks with Pen, while Fran went home to Chicago to visit with Desiree, Sarah and her family. Mac and Stella watched as Penelope, Derek and James became more of a family unit than they already were.

Derek stood by the door of the FBI projects room watching her in deep concentration on the software she was testing. He could always tell the depth of her concentration by the way she bites her lower lip, or poke her tongue into her cheek.

"For someone who makes it a habit to watch me sleep, I would have thought you'd be sick of watching me by now." She said rolling her eyes without looking at him,
"Nope, I like the view. So sue me." He answered making his way to her, placing his hands on her shoulders while dropping a kiss on her forehead as she looked up at him,
"Hey Baby, I'm almost done. Where's Satan's spawn?" Pen asked after their ball of mischief. Derek chuckled,
"Aunty Stella and Aunt Lindsay have taken him for a walk,"
"To?" she asked worriedly knowing Stella and Lindsay were as bad as JJ and Em when it came to spoiling James.
"FAO Schwartz"
"Of course." She replied shaking her head.

After having an extremely long talk after he was shot, Penelope and Derek set ground rules, what they expected from the other and a promise to talk to each other before they even thought about bolting. It was Penelope's idea for James and Derek to come down to New York as he recuperated, which for all those involved and privy to witness was a huge step for Penelope. The Morgan Men were set up on her futon, but most nights, if not every night James Morgan ended up in Penelope's bed.

"So Uncle Mac had a thought." Derek said as he sat down on the chair beside her,
"And what thought would that be?" she wondered out loud, though she had a pretty good idea what it was,
"He suggested taking James in for the night, take him to a ball game with the boys, and let him camp out for the evening at his so I can take you out to dinner."
"You trust Mac, Don and Danny with your son for a whole evening?" she teased,
"Stella and Lindsay offered to go with them if we were concerned."
"He'll be fine. He can help Mac try and keep Don and Danny in line."
"That's what Stella said. So is that a yes?"
"I haven't heard the question Agent Morgan." Penelope replied slyly,
"My apologies, Penelope Margaret Garcia, may I take you out to dinner tonight?"
"Well when you put it that way Derek Morgan, how can I say no?"
"I'll come and pick you up at your place at 6:30"
"And where are you going?" she asked as he dropped a kiss on her lips before heading towards the door.
"Phase two, bye P. I'm getting ready at Mac's so you have your apartment to get ready."
"But…" before she could finish her sentence he was long gone.

Penelope worked another half an hour before calling it a day giving herself an early mark after pulling ridiculous amounts of hours from home testing programs and softwares. Penelope made her way to Stella's office in search of her friend in hopes that they had returned from their little trip to the biggest Toy store in New York. Just as she was about to walk in she felt the impact of an energetic six year old hugging her middle.

"Now I wonder what that could be? A tornado perhaps?" Penelope teased as she looked down at James wrapping her arms around him.
"Did you have fun with Aunt Stell and Aunt Linds?" she asked as James nodded enthusiastically.
"Uncle Mac said we can build a Fort for me to sleep in at his place tonight, and after the basket ball game we're going to cooks smores on his veranda."
"That's cool. Where's Aunt Lindsay?"
"She had to go back to work."
"Well why don't Aunt Stell and I drop you off at Uncle Mac's office and we can spend the rest of the afternoon playing hooky." Stella's face lit up at the suggestion,
"That sounds like a great idea." She seconded just as Penelope knew she would.

After dropping James off to Mac, Stella and Penelope headed to their favourite Spa place, and got situated for an afternoon of pampering. A massage, manicure and pedicure. By the time they had finished they just had enough time for a coffee before Penelope had to get ready for her date with Derek.

"So as someone who's been heavily involved in the progression of my relationship with Derek, and as it is seemingly progressing, may we address what's remained an untouched topic?" Penelope asked as Stella chuckled.
"Subtle as a hammer you are my friend."
"Well I love Mac, and I love you. Anyone with one sense can feel, see, and hear how much you two care and dare I say love each other, why not?"
"Because he's not ready to let her go, and that's okay, when it's time, I trust it'll fall into place. If not, well, I'd have to live with that. For now I don't want him to fell pressured on doing something he's not ready for. We all remember Peyton."
"Oh hon, Peyton was great, and she drew him out of his shell, as much as he cared about her, she knew that he wasn't all in, not the way she was and was ready for."
"And what, you think he's ready for us now?"
"You never know, stranger things have happened. All I'm saying is, I don't want you to not see what's there because you're scared, don't hide behind the memory of Sar."
"I hear you Pen, but only he can decide if he's ready. I can't, no I won't force him into it."
"I know, it's one of the things I love most about you. Just be open to anything that may evolve, that's all I'm saying."

By the time Derek knocked on the door Penelope had literally just slipped on her second shoe. She opened the door to one incredibly handsome looking Derek Morgan in tailored pants and a dress shirt.

"You're beautiful," he gasped as though seeing her for the first time. She was wearing a simple black wrap dress, her hair that was normally either held loosely by a claw clip or tied back in a pony tail was down, her curls prominent and accented the frame of her face. Her make up was minimal but effective in bringing out her best features. Derek leaned forward and gave her a brief kiss on the lips.
"You're pretty gorgeous yourself Handsome." She replied resting her hand against his stomach. Derek felt butterflies at her mere touch. She could see his eyes darken with longing as he stared lovingly in her eyes. She rubbed his stomach affectionately and habitually,
"Shall we baby?"
""Yup, let's go." Penelope heard him inwardly groan and looked back at him and smiled innocently,
"Don't you even try that with me Penelope. You know exactly what you do to me." It was true, though it had take some time, she had begun to see that he saw her the way he said he did, and though she may doubt herself, she couldn't doubt him.