Chapter 25

Later that evening, Penelope was barefoot in the bathroom of the penthouse suite, the heated marble tiles warming her tootsies and her very soul. The room was steamy from the warm water in the jacuzzi, a misty fog visible in the slightly cooler air of the room. The mirror had a glistening dew of perspiration, as did her upper lip from the heat that surrounded her.

The jacuzzi tub was filled with bubbles, nearly overflowing, and lush towels rested on a bench nearby, ready to dry them when they stepped out.

"I can't believe you rented this room one more night," she murmured, smiling over at her husband, who was also barefoot.

Derek reached down to stir the water and smiled up at her. "It was getting late, and I didn't want you to miss a swim in this tub."

At that point, he was splashed by water, followed by a rubber ducky hitting him square in the chest. Giggles and a squeals filled the peaceful solitude in the tub as his two oldest children clamored in the water away from their dad.

Penelope smiled as she removed Joey's diaper to put him in the tub with his siblings. That swim she was going to take was going to happen much, much later. Right now, it was bath time for the jubilant Morgan children, who had never been near a bathtub as large as the one in their parents' suite.

Penelope laughed as Derek caught DJ, threatening to push him under the bubbles just enough to cause him to screech with mock terror. Meanwhile, Sasha gave up and concentrated on putting bubbles on top of her head, a big, enormous pile of them, so she looked like a woman in the seventeenth century French court.

"Momma, look," she said proudly. "I have fancy hair like you do."

Penelope had piled her hair haphazardly on top of her head, knowing that sooner or later, she would be jumping in that bath. She believed in preparing for everything.

"Yes, Sashy, you do," she replied, helping to form the bubbles even higher on her daughter's head.

Joey had originally been hesitant to sit in so many bubbles, but after a few moments in the tub, he'd relaxed and was splashing and playing as much as his siblings. He looked adorable, his little shoulders and round baby tummy shiny with the water he'd stirred up.

DJ had a full beard of bubbles. "I'm Santa," he said, lowering his voice as much as a six-year-old could do. "Ho ho ho!"

"Very good, Saint Nick," Derek said, scooping his wiry little son closer to him, "but you still gotta scrub those ears."

"Aww, Dad," DJ grumbled. Like most other boys his age, he liked playing in the tub but hated being clean.

Derek helped DJ clean the back of his neck and his ears. A second later, he was shampooing DJ's mop of curly hair.

"Momma?" DJ asked.

Penelope was washing Joey. Since he wasn't potty trained, time was of the essence with the youngest Morgan child when it came to bathing. "What, honey?"

"When can I cut my hair off like Daddy?"

Penelope sighed. She positively adored her son's gorgeous curls. She didn't have the heart to cut them off.

Derek saved her. "When you can shave it off yourself like I do."

"I can do that now!" DJ said seriously. "Where's your razor?"

Derek laughed and shook his head. "Oh, no. You're nowhere near old enough for that."

"But Dad!"

"Time to dunk," Derek said in a tone that meant business, and DJ closed his eyes as Derek leaned him back, rinsing the soap out of his hair.

"Look, Sash," DJ proclaimed as he sat back up, holding his fingers in front of his sister. "I got wrinkly fingers."

"Me, too," Sasha said, holding her hands up.

"Oh," Derek replied, clucking his tongue. "You know what that means?"

Both kids stared at him with eyes wide in wonder.

He grinned at them. "Time for two little prunes to go to bed with Grandma."

DJ and Sasha smiled and stood simultaneously, as Derek folded first Sasha and then DJ in thirsty towels.

He kissed them both on the head. "Go on. Grandma's waiting in the room."

"'Kay, Dad," DJ said.

Both kids stopped to kiss Penelope's cheek and then rushed out of the bathroom, knowing they'd get a movie and popcorn and all sorts of other Grandma treats...and a new fancy room, too, because Grandma was in the room next door. Knowing how worried and upset Penelope had been after the "incident that should never be mentioned again" happened this morning, Derek had rented the neighboring suite so the children would be only a few feet away. She'd burst into tears of happiness and relief, and it had made the extra money spent worth it.

Penelope scooped Joey out of the tub and stood the naked baby on the floor, toweling him off quickly before fastening a new diaper on him. Then on went the footie pajamas that kept Joey toasty after he'd kicked off his blanket in his crib and a quick finger-style of his hair, and the youngest Morgan was ready for Grandma.

Almost.

"I'll take him to Momma," Derek said, reaching for Joe.

Joey turned away, rubbed his eyes, and then toddled into Penelope, nuzzling into her shirt. He'd missed his nighttime nursing last evening; he obviously didn't want to miss tonight, too. Although he was nearly one, he wasn't ready to wean from this last feeding, and Penelope wasn't going to make him, either. DJ and Sasha stopped at around fourteen months; time was precious, and this baby time would be over soon. Penelope held him tight and stood.

"There's a comfy chair right out that door," Derek said softly. "I'll go check on DJ and Sasha."

Penelope entered the sitting room, reached for Joe's warm blanket, and lowered herself into the chair. She unbuttoned her dress and prepared herself, and Joey latched on, drinking steadily, his little hand splayed on her chest. Soon, his eyelids began to drift closed, and the suckling went from eager need to lazy contentment.

Penelope watched him, holding him close, the innocent beauty of her son making her heart melt and ache. He was so precious to her—all her children were—and Derek, too. What a change her life had been through in the past six years. She'd been loving and open before, but now... Her family made it even more so. They were her life, her heart and soul exposed for the world to see.

"I'll love you always," she whispered, leaning down to kiss his forehead.

Joey grunted and then sighed, going back to a more rapid suckling pattern. It made her chuckle to herself. She'd been worried today, and with good reason, but she didn't need to be now. The danger was gone, arrested and locked away, and she could relax.

A while later, Derek reentered the room, coming to stand near her, as he usually did when she fed Joey. He stroked the baby's cheek, a loving, fatherly gesture, and then caressed Penelope's cheek, too.

She turned her face into his palm and kissed it.

He cupped her chin and met her eyes. "Are you ready for me to take him now?"

She nodded. She was ready. He was going with Grandma—poor Fran, who wouldn't let Joey go know if God Himself asked to hold him—and he was going to be nearby, just in case she felt the need to see him for peace of mind.

Not Joey's. He was fine. It was only her peace of mind that faltered...

Joey only focused on the here and now—what was truly important...

They were safe.

They were together.

They had love.

Life was far too short and too precious to squander. Penelope realized she could—and should—take lessons from her youngest.

Starting now.

Lifting him, she gave him one last kiss and then handed him to her husband. Then she stood and kissed Derek's cheek.

"I'll be in the jacuzzi. Don't keep me waiting..." she purred and then unbuttoned her dress the rest of the way, letting it pool at her feet as she walked into the bathroom.

The door closed rapidly, showing her that her spouse had hurried out of the suite.

AN: Thank you so much for the reviews and for reading this story. I hope you enjoyed this story. I think this is it...unless it needs a steamy jacuzzi epilogue? Let me know!