It was three weeks later and Derek was at his doctor's. Penelope was in the room with him. At the moment, she was on her laptop helping the team with a case in Nashville. During the appointment, the doctor took off the bandages around Derek's chest and the cast off his arm.
"Okay," The doctor began. Penelope closed her laptop to listen. "Your bruising is all gone and your ribs are healed enough to where I feel comfortable leaving the bandages off. Your arm is also healed enough to take the cast off, but the ankle needs another two weeks. Thanks to your physical therapy and diet, you've regained a significant amount of muscle mass.
"Your medication for your withdrawals is working. I want you to finish the few days you have left in the prescription and then I'll see how you feel in a week when you come back. All in all, you are making fantastic progress physically.
"How are the nightmares?" Derek's doctor asked.
"Here and there. I don't get them as much as I did the first week," Derek responded. "Maybe a few a week."
"Good. Well, keep up the emotional therapy then. And, with that, I think this appointment is done."
"Cool. Um, doc, I actually have a question," Derek said.
"Sure," his doctor replied.
"Actually, it's kind of a private question?"
"Private?" Penelope asked. "That means without me. Oh, I see," Penelope said, slightly offended. "I'll just wait out here then." Penelope walked out to the waiting room and waited for Derek to come out.
The whole time she was trying to think of what could possibly be so private with Derek, of all people, that she couldn't know. This drove her a little insane.
Derek came out to the waiting room a few minutes later.
"Hey, Princess," He said, walking up to Penelope.
"Hey, Angelfish," Penelope said, standing up from her seat. "Ready to go?"
"Absolutely," Derek said with a grin, holding his newly cast-free arm out.
"Why are you so happy?" Penelope asked, looping her arm in his.
"I get to go home with you," Derek responded. Penelope couldn't help but smile back.
"Okay, let's go."
Derek and Penelope got back to Derek's place after his appointment.
"How'd the Nashville case work out?" Derek asked Penelope.
"Good. They should land late tonight," Penelope said. She set her stuff down on the kitchen counter and turned around to find Derek standing right in front of her. "Oh, hey there," Penelope said in a flirty tone, placing both of her arms over his shoulders. He leaned in and kissed her while sliding his hands from her shoulders down to her waist, sending shivers up her body. Penelope gasped when Derek lifted her up onto the counter, only to break their kiss when she spoke. "How'd… you do that? Are… are you… allowed to… do that?" Penelope asked in a slight panic whilst trying to catch her breath.
"I just did, didn't I?" Derek asked with a pride-filled grin.
"Well, just because you do, doesn't -" Penelope began before getting cut off by Derek's kiss. She gave in and moved her hands down his torso, teasing her hands under his shirt. She grabbed the bottom of his shirt and untucked it from his jeans.
Derek grabbed the collar of his shirt and pulled it over his head, tossing it on the floor.
"Ooo," Penelope exclaimed, running her hands over his bare chest. There were no more bandages and no more bruises. As the doctor said, Derek had built up more muscle tone in his body.
"Like what you see?" Derek asked against her neck in between kisses.
"Always." His lips climbed her neck, up to her jawline, and finally landing a fiery kiss on her lips. She looped a finger through his belt loop and pulled his hips closer and unlatching his belt buckle, though it was more challenging given he wouldn't let go of her lips.
He had one hand working it's way up her thigh and the other struggling to unbutton the back of her dress.
Out of the blue a phone began to ring, pulling them right out of their moment.
"Is that yours?" Derek asked, pulling away from Penelope's lips, trying to catch his breath.
"No, it's yours. But you don't have to answer it," Penelope said quickly as Derek picked up his phone.
"Oh, it's my mom. I should take it."
"Fine," Penelope groaned.
"Hey, Mama," Derek greeted over the phone. "Really… Um, when?... Oh! … of course, Mama. We'd love to have you," Derek said, looking right at Penelope who was making a pouty face with her bottom lip sticking out. Though it was difficult, he kept himself from laughing. "Okay, Mama. We'll see you then. Love you too. Bye," Derek said hanging up.
"How long do we have?" Penelope asked in desperation. Derek let out a long sigh.
"Fifteen minutes tops."
"So, not enough time?"
"No, not for what I want to do to you," Derek said with a seductive grin.
"Alright," Penelope sighed. Derek laughed at her tantrum. "So, are you gonna get me down, or what?"
"Yes, Queen," Derek said, wrapping his arms around her waist and lowering her feet to the ground. He stole a few more passionate kisses from her before she spoke again.
"Okay. Now I have to go take a cold shower because you've got my head spinning and I have to converse with your mother soon," Penelope said, walking toward the bathroom.
"I'll join you, we can save water," Derek teased.
"As tempting as that is, we don't have very much time!" Penelope disappeared around the corner.
"Okay, Princess!" He said, waiting for the door to shut. "Damnit," He muttered, smacking the countertop.
After about fifteen minutes, as they expected, Fran came in through the front door with her arms full of groceries.
"Woah, Ma let me help you with those," Derek said, grabbing the bags from her arms. "What's all this for?"
"Well. I told you I was coming for dinner, didn't I?"
"Yeah. I just didn't know you were bringing dinner with you," Derek said, setting the bags down on the kitchen counter.
"Of course I am! Can't a mother cook for her babies?"
"I have no objections, Mama," Derek said with a smile, walking over to plant a kiss on her cheek.
"Good," Fran responded. She walked into the kitchen and started dinner. Penelope came out from the hallway.
"Hey, Mama Fran," She greeted.
"Hi, Sweetie," Fran said, tying an apron around her waist.
"So what's for dinner, Mom?" Derek asked.
"You, Mister, will have to wait and see," Fran said, pulling out a bottle of red wine.
"Oh, anyone with wine, is a friend of mine," Penelope said.
The three were carried away talking and laughing while Fran made dinner. They all sat down to roast chicken, mashed potatoes, and green beans.
"So, what'd the doctor tell you today?" Fran asked Derek as they ate.
"Nothing but good news, Ma. They took the bandages off and, as you can see, the cast is off of my arm. He said I can finish the prescription I'm on and then stop the medication to see how I do. And my ankle will be cast-free in a couple of weeks."
"That is so good to hear, Derek. Do you know when you'll be back to work?"
"It will be a while still. Even after all the casts are gone, I will need to keep doing physical therapy. He hasn't even given me a time frame yet."
"That's probably for the better. Lord knows you'd be going crazy trying to shorten it," Fran stated. Penelope chuckled because she knew this was true.
The three finished dinner together, cleaned up, and Derek and Penelope walked Fran to her car. Fran hugged them both before she got in her car and drove away. The two stood there for another minute.
"Did I mention that I love your mother?" Penelope asked.
"I think so," Derek chuckled as they made their way inside. Derek shut the door behind him and before Penelope could get too far away, he reached out to grab her hand, playfully pulling her into a kiss.
"Oh, hi," Penelope said, surprised by his gesture, interlacing her fingers with his and meeting his lips for another kiss.
"I think we should finish what we started," Derek said in a low tone in between kisses.
"Okay, but are you allowed to?" Penelope asked, looking up at him.
"That's actually the question I asked my doctor about."
"Oh, that private one?" Penelope whispered.
"Yes," Derek whispered back.
"And what did he say?" Penelope continued her whisper tone.
"He said, as long as I'm careful, yes," Derek said with his classic Derek-Morgan-grin.
"I'll show you careful," Penelope said playfully. She kept hold of Derek's hand while she led him down the hallway and into the bedroom.
Penelope woke up the next morning, tangled up in nothing else but the bedsheets and Derek Morgan, who was still sound asleep. She felt like the happiest person alive at that very moment. She had the love of her life back for good and in her arms.
Derek stirred and woke up before Penelope could worry about another nightmare. He looked down to see Penelope right next to him in his arms with her head resting on his shoulder. Her big, brown eyes were looking right into his. He felt like the luckiest man alive at that moment. He was safe again and in his Princess' arms.
"Good morning, Sweetness," He said softly, placing a gentle kiss on her nose and then her lips. A subtle moan escaped her lips, causing a grin to stretch across Derek's face.
"A good morning indeed, Angelfish," Penelope replied. "You know, I could get used to waking up with you like this," she said as a smile grazed her lips.
"Me too. Which is why I think you should move in," Derek said, brushing his fingers through Penelope's blonde curls.
"I practically already am. I mean, I have a toothbrush and pretty much all of my clothes here. Plus, I haven't stayed at my apartment since you got back."
"Exactly. I think you should make it official."
"I like that idea," Penelope said.
"Good," Derek said, kissing Penelope once again.
"You know, I never thought I would be here," Penelope said after a long, quiet moment.
"What do you mean, Baby Girl?"
"I mean here with you. Honestly, after a while, I didn't think I'd ever see you again. And here with you like this, I never thought you'd want to be with someone like me."
"With someone like you?"
"Well, I'm a complete nerd, not to mention I look nothing like all of the girls you usually went for."
"You know, I happen to love the way you look. And your nerdiness is one of the things I love most about you. I wish I had had the courage to tell you sooner. I always figured I wouldn't be good enough for you," Derek admitted.
"Derek Morgan, you are more than enough for me, and nothing will change that."