Penelope's moving day... 2 weeks later...
Derek placed the last box in the bed of his truck and headed back into Penelope's apartment. He found her in the kitchen staring into space. He wondered if she was having second thoughts. She had always relied on herself, fiercely independent and the last thing she needed was to relinquish control to a man by moving into his home.
"Ready to go, Baby Girl?"
She didn't respond, her back still to him. He waited for a few seconds before moving from his spot at the doorway.
"Baby?"
Slowly she turned to face him, and he saw the uncertainty in her eyes.
"It's hard to believe that I've lived in this little apartment for fifteen years."
"Are you having second thoughts? Because if you are, we can probably cancel the move with your landlord." Derek offered.
"Is that what you want, Derek? I mean you came up with that solution pretty fast!" She snapped.
He approached her and reached to pull her to him, but she moved away. He was confused.
"No of course that's not what I want. I just want to be your hero, the man you can count on whenever..."
"I don't need a hero Derek. I've taken care of myself all of my life...I don't need to be rescued!"
"I'm sorry, that's not what I meant. I know you don't need a hero; you don't even need me."
Derek turned and walk out of the room. He wasn't sure what he had done wrong to make her so angry. It would be so easy to unload her things from his truck and head home. But he loved her, and he wanted her in his life even if it meant things staying the way they were. DJ and Hannah were already in love with her and were excited that she was moving in. Maybe he had been too eager and put too much pressure on her.
Penelope felt like a fool. Of course, she wanted to move in with Derek and his children. She was so used to living alone and the only life she had to worry about screwing up was her own. She panicked and hurt the one man who only wanted to love her. She needed to make it right before she lost him for good. She headed out of the kitchen and was surprised to see that he was still there.
"Derek?"
He turned slowly to face her. She saw his fear and for that she was sorry.
"Look, I'm sorry. I don't mean to pressure you or rush you into something you're not ready for." He started.
Penelope continued to walk toward him until she was well into his personal space.
"I know me, and the kids are a lot to ask...I get it...really..."
She kissed him, catching him off guard. He pulled away surprised at her act. Her smile gave him the okay to kiss her back.
"I'm the one who's sorry, Derek." She kissed him again.
"Then what's wrong?"
"I panicked, just for a moment." She answered.
"Are you ready for this, because if you're not it's okay."
"I'm more than ready. I'm warning you, I'm set in my ways, I'm moody, and crazy and Comic-Con is a non-negotiable...and..."
He kissed her this time silencing her ramblings. He kissed her hard and long and passionately. He showed her that her craziness and her demand to be among weirdly dressed comic book characters would not scare him away.
"Wow, do kisses like that come with the lease agreement?"
"Oh, that's just the beginning, Baby Girl."
Home of Derek and Penelope and DJ and Hannah - 2 Months later...
Things had gone amazingly well with the addition of Penelope to the Morgan household. As he watched her move around the house interacting with his children and decorating the empty spaces of the newly restored home, it was clear why he had purchased this house. It wasn't a purchase for then as much as it was a purchase for his future which now had become his present. She cared for his children as if they were her own, and most times he was convinced that both of them preferred her company over his.
Fran had moved in with Dave, but she was still available for babysitting when he needed her. Dave had already asked Derek for permission to marry his mother to which Derek said, yes. The house that he had once thought was too big seemed intimate and cozy now. Changes had come with ease in his and Penelope's life and there was only one thing left to do.
It had been a busy day with Derek and Penelope filling her day off with a family outing at the fair. Now, things were winding down and DJ and Hannah had just been read a bedtime story by their favorite lady. Kissing them both goodnight she headed toward the bedroom door where Derek had been watching and listening. Kissing her lovingly on the lips he reached to turn off the lights.
"Good night daddy and mommy!" The two squealed in unison.
"Good night you two!" Derek responded smirking at the shocked speechless Penelope.
He turned off the light and took her hand pulling her still-shocked body down the hallway.
"Did you just hear what they called me?" She said dumbfounded.
"I heard them." He answered.
"Are you okay with that?" She asked.
"I'm fine with it. Are you okay with it?"
"Well, yeah...I'm fine...I just...never..."
Derek stopped her and looked her in the eyes. She was terrified and excited and a whole lot of other emotions all at the same time.
"They love you Baby Girl. To them you are their mother, especially Hannah; she was just two when Savannah was killed."
"I know, I love them as if they were my own. I just didn't realize they felt the same way about me."
"Well, it's obvious that they do."
Derek pulled her into his arms and kissed the top of her head.
"I don't think I've been this happy in my life." She moaned against him.
"I love you Penelope Garcia."
"I love you too Derek Morgan!"
2 Years later...
The doorbell rang and Derek headed for the front door. He'd asked his mother to come over to watch the children for the next few days. While he was out of the room, Penelope caught a glimpse of a large-framed picture on the nightstand. She picked it up and smiled down at it remembering the day it had been taken.
Penelope ran her fingers lightly over the man dressed in the white tuxedo. He was so handsome as he smiled while holding the adorable little boy who was his spitting image. Then she saw herself, dressed in white to match with her hair held behind her ear by a small floral barrette. The little girl in her arms had her golden-brown arms wrapped around Penelope's neck. It seemed only yesterday that she'd just met the man and his family in the midst of a murder investigation.
She heard Derek's footsteps coming down the hall; she kissed the picture and returned it to its place. She was still looking at the picture when he stepped into the room. Wrapping his arms around her he joined her in the memory of their wedding day.
"My favorite picture." He moaned against her neck.
"Mine too. We've come a long way."
"Did you ever expect to be married to a father of two?" He asked.
"Did you ever expect to be working with the BAU? She asked.
"No." He chuckled.
"Then I guess we're even."
Derek's hands roamed down to her expanding belly as did hers. This was unexpected as well. She loved it when he placed his hands on her stomach; it made everything real for her. Their family was expanding in more ways than one.
"Are you sure you want to go on this case, Baby Girl?"
"Hotch wants me there and I'm months away from delivering this baby."
She turned to face him, and she saw the worry in his eyes.
"Listen Hot Stuff, I'm not going to do anything to jeopardize myself or this baby; you have to trust me."
She kissed him once then twice.
"I trust you; I do."
"Then stop worrying, okay?"
"Tell me not to breathe that would be a hell of a lot easier."
"Now you know how I feel when you go charging after unsubs or busting through doors."
"I'm sorry, Baby Girl. I'll do better."
She chuckled and hugged him tight.
"No you won't but I love you anyway."
Derek grabbed their go-bags and followed her out of the room. The squeals of two darling children greeted them at the front door as both Derek and Penelope said their goodbyes. Fran promised not to spoil them and both Derek and Penelope knew it was all a lie as they hugged the older woman and left the house.
It seemed so long ago that Derek had found himself in a terrible place married to a woman who'd cheated and had no regard for his heart. His past had followed him and no matter how hard he tried to deny his pain, it would not be denied. Then Penelope stepped into his life in the most unlikely way, she was strong, and committed to her job and to the truth. It was that commitment that had truly set him free; free to have a life and free to love again.
Life was good, he'd found happiness and he couldn't help but wish that Elle had found happiness too. He was a living testimony that the more life changed, the more it stayed the same and love was there to change the colors of his life and his perspective. Penelope was not Savannah and she proved that every day. To be here now with her and DJ and Hannah, with a baby on the way was beyond believable...it was nothing short of a miracle and unlike before, Derek finally believed in miracles.
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"Time is too slow for those who wait, too swift for those who fear, too long for those who grieve, too short for those who rejoice, but for those who love, time is eternity." – Henry Van Dyke
THE END
