Flashback...the last night...

Home of Penelope Garcia –

Derek placed another log on the fire and joined Penelope on the couch. This was their last night together. The crackling fire mimicked the sounds of their hearts breaking. There was so much both of them wanted to say but they both knew it wouldn't change anything; Derek was leaving, returning to his real life and real obligations. She had no claim to him and no right to ask him to stay.

Derek pulled her into his arms and held her as if his life depended on it. He closed his eyes as she cried, and he inhaled the scent of her; he'd grown accustomed to the lavender fragrance that seemed to hold him captive.

"I meant what I said." He whispered. "I love you, Penelope."

"You can't love me, Derek."

"I can and I do. Tell me, how do I fix this?"

"You can't fix it. Just..."

She couldn't finish her sentence, her emotions seemed to silence her as the reality of him leaving hit her again.

"Just what?"

"Don't forget me; okay, don't forget me."

He fought his own tears now. How could he forget her? How could he have a life away from her now? She was a part of him, the most important part of him.

"Never. I could never forget you."

Derek kissed her again and again, each time deepening the kiss allowing his heart to speak without saying the words. This is where he belonged not in Quantico and not with another woman. He needed her and his heart was breaking at the thought that he would never see her again.

Penelope felt Derek pull away slightly. She opened her eyes and saw the tears in his eyes as he stared at her. She couldn't speak and neither could he. It was as if he was studying her and vowing to keep his promise to not forget her.

Lightly, he traced her face with his fingertips. Penelope's breathing increased as his hands traveled from her face to her neck, then her shoulders before he kissed her again. She shivered as his fingers touched her arms like feathers falling from heaven. The promise in his eyes holding her firmly in place.

"I love you, Penelope." He kissed her again. "I need you...please." She watched a lone tear drift down his face.

"Derek...I..." She began.

"I can't leave; I can't leave not knowing you, really knowing you...Penelope you saved my life before, now please I need you to save it again."

He kissed her again lightly and this time her tears began to flow as she nodded yes. Then taking his hand she led him to the bedroom. She turned to face him with so many questions in her eyes.

"What about tomorrow?" She asked tearfully.

"Tonight, is all that matters. Tonight, is all we have." He answered.

"Derek?"

"Yes?"

"I need you too."

Piece by piece their clothes fell to the floor and the look in his eyes told her that he loved the woman standing naked and vulnerable before him. His hands began to touch her slowly tracing her; his gaze burning an imprint on his mind. She did the same as she memorized every inch of his body. She felt as if she were floating as he lowered her slowly on the bed then joining her.

He took his time as if by some unknown power he could make the night last forever. With each touch of his hand her body was scorched with the heat and the intent of that touch. She touched him too and he smiled at her soft yet firm hand.

Derek looked at her face, flushed and at peace; her smile was the yes, he needed to go on and so he found his place between her legs. Her arms wrapped around his strong body pulling him closer with a sense of urgency that told him that tonight would end too soon. Then unexpectedly, he stopped and looked into her eyes.

"Are you sure, Penelope?"

"Yes Derek, I'm sure. I need you...I need you now."

The phone rang ending her thoughts of their last night together. It was JJ and it was at that moment that Penelope realized just how much she needed a friend.

"Hey Penelope!"

"JJ, hi..."

JJ noticed the distance in her voice. She was even more worried about her friend now.

"Are you okay? You sound off."

"I'm pregnant, JJ! I don't know how I let this happen but, I'm pregnant!"

"Can I ask?" JJ began.

"Yes, yes it's Derek's baby."

"Does he know?"

"No JJ, he doesn't know."

"Well, you have to tell him Penelope!"

"I don't know JJ he's engaged, and his life is there in Quantico."

"Penelope, this is his child, and he has a right to know!"

Home of Savannah Hayes – Evening –

Savannah nervously set the table for dinner. She wanted everything to be just right for him when he returned home. She wasn't the best of cooks, so she'd ordered his favorite from Gianni's downtown. They needed to talk; they'd gotten comfortable with going through the motions and avoiding the truth that things were not good between them. He was unhappy and no matter what she wanted, Savannah couldn't deny the phone calls, the late night runs and the sleeping with his back to her every night. Thinking that she could fool him into believing that they were a happy couple would catch up with her and then she'd be left alone again.

Derek smelled the food as he opened the door. He found her in the kitchen rushing around putting the last touches on dinner. She couldn't cook her way out of a cardboard box, and yet she'd been trying to prepare dinner for them. He felt miserable and guilty for not trying to make them work and for not loving her.

She hadn't heard him come in and she forced a smile as she approached him wrapping her arms around him. He stiffened under her grasp; Savannah pretended not to notice.

"How was your day?" She asked.

"Good, busy."

"Well dinner is ready. I-I-I ordered from Gianni's."

"Thanks, but you didn't have to go through all of this trouble."

"No, I wanted to besides, we need to talk."

"About?"

"Us."

"Look Savannah..."

"Derek, please?"

Derek sat down. He watched her from across the table. The food from his favorite restaurant sat before them that neither of them had an appetite for.

"So, what are we talking about, Savannah?" He began.

"Us." She answered.

"What about us?"

"I know that you are only here because you think you owe me something for saving your life."

"Look, Savannah."

"No, Derek let me finish."

Derek nodded and shrugged his shoulders.

"When Kevin told me that he had found you and that you had been injured, my heart stopped. When he told me that you had lost your memory, I felt terrible for you. Then he came up with a plan to make you believe that we were a happy couple and that you'd proposed to me." She continued.

"Savannah what are you saying?"

"I'm saying that I went along with Kevin's plan. You and I had broken up several months before you left for New York."

"What?"

"You can't remember proposing because you never propose to me, Derek. You broke up with me."

"I can't believe this."

"In fact, you made it quite clear that you didn't want a future with me." She paused to see the shock on his face. "Oh, you were very apologetic, after all, you'd sworn to me last year that you would do anything to be with me."

There was so much he could say to the woman who suddenly became a stranger to him again. More memories began to flash before his eyes and those places in his mind that had been just shades and shadows of gray and black were now illuminated in bright colors and light.

"I'm sorry, Derek." She continued.

"You took a bullet for me." Derek whispered.

"And I would do it again. I couldn't let Kevin hurt you. I didn't know what he had planned and I'm sorry for being so foolish and willing to steal your life away."

"You saved my life."

"I love you, Derek."

"How could you do this? Why did..."

There was no way she would be able to explain her actions and so he stopped himself from asking the question. He thought of Penelope and the time they had lost because of a lie; so many lies.

Derek stood shaking with anger and confusion. He looked down on the woman who had been willing to do whatever it took to get what she wanted. He needed to go, he didn't belong here, this wasn't home, not anymore.

Savannah's heart broke as she watched him storm out of the room. She wanted to follow him, and she wanted to beg him to stay but it wouldn't change anything. It wouldn't change the fact that she had overheard his conversations and it wouldn't change the fact that he'd called another woman's name in his sleep. It wouldn't change the fact that he didn't love her; he'd never loved her.

"I'm sorry, Derek...I'm so, so, sorry."

The Journey home –

Derek felt as if he had been robbed of a lifetime. Savannah's words had held the key to the rest of his memories of the past as well as his future. He wanted to feel justified in leaving but he only felt sorrow for her. She had wanted a life with him, and he had convinced her that she could have it. He wondered if he had been the cause of her actions, her lies and her desperation.He wondered how long he would have stayed had she not told him the truth before all of his memories returned.

After a few minutes, Derek brushed past Savannah and without saying goodbye, he headed toward the door. He jumped into his truck and started the engine. So much had happened and he didn't know what lied ahead. All he wanted to do was drive. And so, with one last look toward the house, he saw Savannah standing in the window. He knew she was crying and for that he was sorry for his role in her sorrow, but it wasn't enough to keep him there. The truth had set him free.

Home of Penelope Garcia – Morning –

Her conversation with JJ had kept her awake. So, giving up on the notion of sleep, Penelope pulled her body from the bed. Her queasy stomach reminded her of the life growing inside of her. After making a now routine stop in the bathroom to relieve herself of last night's dinner, Penelope slowly headed toward the kitchen.

Just as she filled the teapot, the doorbell rang; she assumed it was Sam. She'd told him about the baby, and he'd accepted the fact that the two of them would never have the future he wanted together. It didn't matter, he'd become a friend in spite of her circumstance, so she assumed it was him at the door. Without looking through the peephole she opened the door and her jaw dropped.

"Derek, what are you doing here?"

"Hey, Baby Girl."