Part twenty-six:
Penelope heard Derek speaking softly. "There's my girl," he murmured. "Look at those pretty eyes of yours – your mommy's going to fall in love with you. She's still sleeping, sweetheart, but she'll wake up soon and be so happy to see you."
"I'm awake," Penelope mumbled, slurring a little as she blinked her eyes. Her glasses were nowhere to be found – but she remembered asking him to hold her glasses during the worst contractions. They'd been sliding off her nose from the sweat on her face. This had definitely been the worst of her birth experiences – the pain had been overwhelming and she didn't remember much after a point.
"Hey, Mama," Derek cooed softly. "You feel okay?"
"I feel like I got run over by a truck," Penelope murmured.
He sat down beside the bed, a tiny pink bundle in his arms. He slid her glasses back onto her nose with one hand. "You had a rough time," he said softly. "They ended up having to do an emergency c-section because little miss thang here got herself stuck – and your blood pressure went crazy."
"Oh," Penelope exhaled. "Is she okay?"
He smiled and leaned over. "She is perfectly all right," he said softly. "Are you up to holding her? She's been fussy unless I'm holding her."
"She's probably hungry," she murmured as he settled the baby in her arms. "She's so small –"
"But perfect," Derek said firmly.
Penelope gently traced the lines on her daughter's face and smiled. "All of my babies are perfect," she breathed. "She's beautiful, Derek – so beautiful." The baby's skin was as pale as her mother's, and her hair was coal black and fine as silk. Her mouth was a small heart shape with a perfectly defined cupid's bow and as those unfocused eyes opened, she saw that they were an unsubtly piercing blue like Fran's had been. "Oh goodness, princess," Penelope cooed softly. "Hello, darling…"
"Did we ever decide if we were going to name her Alyssa or Louise?" Derek asked with a tiny smile on her lips.
"Why not both?" Penelope whispered, pressing a kiss to the baby's forehead. "Alyssa Louise Morgan… it's strong and beautiful, just like my little girl."
"Good thinking," he said. "I should probably call Hotch and tell him we won't be in today – but it's lunchtime, so I think he's figured it out by now."
"You might call Rossi and tell him, though," she murmured, wincing as she tried to get ready to nurse. Her stitches and staples were going to be problematic, she could already tell. "So he knows that he needs to make sure the kids are fed and put to bed later and –"
"Mama Bear, everything is going to be okay," he promised, giving her a kiss. "Look at our little girl," he whispered.
"She looks like Evie did when she was born," Penelope whispered. "But she has your nose."
"I love you," Derek breathed. "So much, Baby Girl."
"I wish your Momma was here," she said sadly. "She would be so happy right now –"
"No, she'd be lecturing us about safe sex and birth control," he teased, hugging her around the shoulders. "I miss her, Pen."
"Me, too," Penelope said softly. "She would be so proud of her grandbabies."
"She would be," he agreed quietly.
She leaned against him and cried a little – happy tears and sad tears all at once. "I love you," she whispered, sniffling. "I love you both so much…"
Penelope settled into the recliner and cuddled Alyssa gently. Kitty came over and leaned on the arm of the chair, looking down at the baby. "Is she going to get big soon?" Kitty whined. "She doesn't do anything."
Rose sighed from the couch and rolled her eyes. "Kit-Kat, babies are supposed to be little," she said. "You were little like that when you were born –"
"No, Daddy said I was bigger than Lissy," Kitty said with a frown. "Why's she so little?"
Penelope laughed. "Because she is," she said softly. "Every baby is different," she said. "You were a very big baby, and Alyssa is a very small baby. But you're both perfect."
Kitty huffed. "What about Rosie?" she asked. "She gots a funny hand like Lissy –"
Penelope smiled and kissed Alyssa's little fingers like she and Derek had all the time when Rose was a baby. "That doesn't make her any less perfect – or any less Alyssa."
"Yeah, stupid," Rose said. "Just because we're got gimpy hands doesn't mean we're not cool."
"Don't call your sister stupid," Derek said firmly as he came into the living room with a smoothie for Penelope in one hand and a travel mug of coffee in the other. "Where are the terrible two?" he asked.
"They're working on their science project over at the Williams'," Penelope said. "Dave should be home from dropping them off soon. He was going to stop and get something for dinner on the way."
Alyssa yawned and snuggled into her mother's chest.
"Did she finally go to sleep, baby?" Derek asked, handing her the smoothie.
Penelope smiled and said, "Sort of – she keeps waking up. But that's okay. It's her first day home – remember when Kit-Kat came home and stayed awake the first forty-eight hours because she couldn't stand to go to sleep? She just had to know everything about everybody."
Kitty looked at her mother suspiciously. "Did I really do that?" she asked, scowling.
"You bet you did," Derek said. "You just about drove your Mom crazy."
"And all the rest of us, too," Rose said cheerfully. "But you were so cute, we didn't care much. What happened, Kit-Kat?"
"I'm cute," Kitty said, wounded.
"Not as cute as Lissy," Rose replied.
"Enough," Derek said firmly. "All you girls are cute. Just like your Mom."
"Dad, please don't," Rose groaned. "Because – ew. Gross."
Penelope chuckled and gave Derek a kiss. "Thank you, honey," she murmured, "but I think our kids are disgusted by us."
"Only when you make out in public," Rose said pointedly.
Derek laughed. "So, only all the time –"
"Yeah, pretty much," Rose replied.
"Aren't you scared you're gonna get cooties, Mommy?" Kitty asked.
Penelope laughed. "Oh, honey, I've had your Daddy's cooties for a long time," she said. "I don't mind."
"Ew, cooties," Kitty said with a frown. She sighed a little and mumbled, "Mommy, I really wanted a little brother."
"I know," Penelope murmured. "But Daddy and I couldn't help that Lissy was a little girl, sweetheart. You're just going to have to be her protector anyway – and you can teach her how to play baseball."
Kitty paused, then smiled. "Yeah," she said. "I can teach her to play ball."
"That's my girl," Penelope murmured. "Now, why don't you go with Daddy and help him clean up the yard so he can mow the lawn?"
Kitty sighed. "Mommy…"
"And then you can have a bigger slice of pie for dessert," Penelope said with a tiny smile.
Kitty sighed. "Okay, Mommy," she said in that tone of someone who's been suffering a long time. "But only because you're giving me more pie."
"She's going to be an extortionist," Derek said. "I fear when she starts dating."
Kitty scowled at him. "You're not funny, Daddy," she said coolly before she headed for the back door.
Derek gave Penelope a Look, and she dissolved into giggled. "She's definitely her Daddy's girl," she teased, giving him another kiss. "Go mow the lawn – I can handle the baby."
About ten minutes later, she heard the mower start up outside. The noise seemed to settle the baby and Penelope closed her eyes. She woke up when the phone started ringing. "Mom, it's Mrs. Strauss," Rose said quietly. "She says it's important – "
Penelope got up and got the phone from Rose's hand, then headed toward the kitchen. "Strauss, hey," she said.
"How are you and the baby?" Stauss inquired.
"She's fine – and I'm healing," Penelope said. "I assume you're calling because you've set everything up for my undercover op –"
"You'll be going to London first thing tomorrow," Strauss said. "I've arranged a nanny specifically for the baby –"
"Derek is going to kill me," Penelope sighed. "I mean, I told him it had to happen, but I thought there would be more time…"
"Time waits for no one," Strauss said gently. "And your daughter will remember you when you get home –"
Penelope sighed again. "I'm sorry… I just don't want to leave her," she said softly, looking down at Alyssa's sleeping face. "I'll just have incentive to work faster, won't I?"
"And any contact you have with your family will have to go through FBI channels," Strauss said. "Emily Prentiss will be your Interpol handler. She will meet you at Heathrow and give you your assignment upon your arrival."
"Yes, ma'am," Penelope said quietly.
"Penelope!" Emily Prentiss cried, wrapping her arms around her friend and smiling. "I'm so happy to see you – not under these circumstances, I mean, but…"
"I've missed you, too," Penelope said, hugging Emily back. "So have the kids – we'll have to fly over and see you some day. Maybe when Kitty and Alyssa are a little older…"
"Alyssa?" Emily asked.
Penelope smiled sadly. "Yeah, she's five days old today," she said. "Poor baby – I need to call and check in with the nanny later…"
"Penelope Morgan, you are too old to be having more kids," Emily scolded, laughing. "You and Morgan need to –"
"Come on, let's go get some coffee or something," Penelope said. "I'm worn out."
"Absolutely," Emily replied. "You'll be staying with Rhys and me for your protection. We've installed all of your tech things in the apartment, and, basically, you're here to plug holes."
Penelope sighed. "Remind me to resurrect Kevin so I can kill him again."
Emily smiled sadly. "You know that he was smarter than he looked, right? Setting his brother up to take the fall for him –"
"I don't want to talk about it," Penelope said coldly. "I just want a cup of coffee and a nap. And then I'm all yours."
Nine weeks was a long time in the real world; it was even longer when Penelope wanted every day to be with her family. So when the job was finally done, she was on a plane as fast as she could convince Emily to let her go. She rented a car at the airport and drove home like a bat out of hell. It was still dark and she was so glad to be home…
She checked her phone for the latest alarm code before she went into the house. Rossi was on the couch in the living room, and the other kids were all in their beds. The only ones missing were Alyssa and Derek – but she found them in the master bedroom. Alyssa was on her back in a nest of pillows, and Derek was on his side, curled protectively around the nest of pillows.
Penelope knelt down and kissed Derek gently on the cheek. "Hey," she whispered when he stirred awake. "I just got home."
"Baby Girl?" Derek mumbled sleepily.
"Yeah," she murmured. "I couldn't wait to get home and see you, Hot Stuff –"
Alyssa shifted and her little eyes opened. She yawned, then started to fuss a little. Derek immediately reached for her, but Penelope reached past him and scooped the baby up. "Hi, sweetheart," she murmured, smiling down at her. Much to Penelope's dismay, the baby looked at her and started screaming at the top of her lungs.
Derek got up and took Alyssa. "She's not used to you anymore," he said. "I'm sorry, baby –"
"No, it's okay," Penelope whispered as he walked away to change the baby and get her a bottle.
Once the baby was asleep again, he laid her into her crib and came back to their room. "Hey," he said with a smile. "I missed you –"
"She doesn't remember me," Penelope said sadly, wiping away her tears. "My little girl doesn't remember me – I've been gone so long…"
"Baby, take a deep breath," he said softly. "She'll know you soon enough – it's all right –"
"No, it's not all right," Penelope whispered. "I've paid for Kevin's sins over and over again, and now my daughter doesn't know me. I hate him – I wish I could kill him again."
"No you don't," he sighed, "because that makes you no better than him."
She sighed and leaned into his arms. "I missed you – all of you. So very much."
"I know you did, but you're home now," Derek replied with a smile. "And we should all go out as a family tonight and –"
She growled in the back of her throat and yanked him down for a hungry kiss. Their tongues tangled, hot, slick, wet, and their hands roamed over all the old familiar territory, arousing delicious need and delight. The sex was sweet, hot, and fast. "I love you so much," she breathed against his chest when they were finished. The cuddling was just as important as the fucking. She was home, and now it really felt like it.
They fell asleep entwined on top of the covers.
The door opened and someone said, "Derek, do you know where Alyssa's pacifier is?" The door opened wider and the girl gasped. "Oh my god!"
Derek woke up with a start, still stark naked as the day he was born. Penelope sat up behind him and smiled. "I assume that you're the nanny?" she said.
"Uh –"
"Pen, this is –"
Penelope said, "Oh, stuff a sock in it – I know who she is." She appraised Felicity with an intimidating stare. "Do you often wake my husband up in the morning?"
"Only if –"
"Pacifier," Derek said, grabbing it off the bedside table and tossing it at Felicity, who was still gawking at him being completely naked. "Go take care of the baby. It's your last day. Go."
As soon as the door was closed, he turned and kissed Penelope. She poked him in the chest and said, "If I find out that you did anything with her while I was gone –"
"Why would I want her?" he asked. "I've got the best, most delicious, sexy wife on the planet –"
"I was gone and you love sex," she said quietly.
"Stop being jealous and profile her – if we'd've done something naughty, she wouldn't have been so surprised to see me in the buff," he reasoned, kissing her again.
"Damn profilers," Penelope breathed, letting him take over. They kissed and touched… till someone pounded on the door.
"Daddy, get up! You're supposed to go on my field trip!" Kitty yelled. "DADDY!"
Derek groaned and pulled away. "Fuck," he sighed. "I set my alarm so I could go with them –"
"DADDY!"
"Just a minute!" Derek shouted back. He got up and rifled through the dresser, tossing a pair of panties and a long t-shirt at Penelope. He winked and got on a pair of basketball shorts and a BAU t-shirt. "I'm coming, kiddo," he said. Penelope got dressed in a hurry and was ready when he opened the door.
"You have to wear nice clothes," Kitty said curtly as she walked in. "No shorts like that, Daddy –"
"Oh, I was thinking that maybe I could wear some nice pants," Derek said with a small smile as he looked at his daughter, who was already dressed in a jean skirt and a long-sleeved t-shirt and a lace vest. Kitty's hair was sticking out every which way, and she looked like Penelope standing there with her hands on her hips. "Maybe Mommy should pick my clothes for today."
"Very funny, Daddy," Kitty said with a scowl.
Penelope came out from behind the screen and said, "I think I should – the other moms like to drool over you. Come to think of it, maybe I should go instead."
Kitty's eyes widened and she shrieked, "MOMMY! OH MY GOSH!"
Kitty bounced over the bed and vaulted into Penelope, knocking her to the floor in excitement. "Wow, I'm glad someone missed me," Penelope joked, hugging her daughter tight. She started to cry, but that was okay – Kitty was crying, too.
"I missed you," Kitty sobbed. "I love you – Mommy, are you home for good?"
"Yes, baby, I am," Penelope whispered, giving Kitty a kiss. "And I missed you, too."
"Can you and Daddy come on my trip?" Kitty asked, wide-eyed. "Please?"
"Where are we going?" Penelope asked.
"The Smithsonian," Kitty chirped.
"Absolutely," Penelope murmured, kissing Kitty again. "Now, you go and wake your brothers and sisters up. Daddy and I are going to get ready to go."
Derek raised an eyebrow as Kitty scampered off. "You're coming with?" he asked.
Penelope reached into the closet and smirked. "Can't let my husband flirt with the pretty young moms," she teased. "Besides, I've missed so much – she's grown like five inches since I left."
"You aren't even kidding," Derek said with a smile. "And there's only one woman I want to flirt with, baby – and that's you."