They had their Christmas party at the house this year instead of at Derek's company.
Savannah Morgan brought a platter with fruits and cookies to the den, where a bunch of children were playing on the Wii and others building with Lego. She smiled as she watched Hank with little Helen Conrad. He had her on his lap and was reading to her. Her blonde head was cozied up against his shoulder and she had her thumb in her mouth.
Mitchell came in and joined his daughter Stacy and her own son Isaac on the floor to help with a construction. Nobody would think that this tall, lanky guy in jeans and a reindeer sweater led a billion-dollar empire.
She went to the kitchen to get herself some coffee and passed her husband's office.
The door was mostly open so she could see Penelope sitting on the desk. Derek was leaning back in his chair, grinning at his best friend while she told some funny student story, animatedly talking with her hands.
Since their reconciliation on Derek's birthday, Savannah had noticed that her husband was much more balanced. They were texting and calling regularly, sometimes about serious matters, but more often having fun and laughing together. When she had mentioned to him how good Penelope was for him, he had simply nodded and admitted to be relieved. He didn't want to elaborate what had gone wrong though and Savannah knew better not to insist.
Thanksgiving the Morgan family had taken a flight down to L.A. and spent it at the Conrad residence in Encino. They had all eaten outside, the children were roaming freely on the property and the adults had enjoyed the jacuzzi, lovely wine and relaxed conversations on the patio.
The Conrads had a great group of friends, a mix from the foundation Penelope was working at, employees from Mitch's company and parents from the children's schools. Savannah and Derek had fit right in with their family. The cake of the weekend had been a spontaneous visit by no one other than Dr. Spencer Reid. Derek had swooped the thin man up into his arms making them both dizzy, roaring with joy. The three former BAU members had exchanged stories into the deep of the night.
She was about to enter the office to ask them if they wanted some coffee as well, when she noticed her husband's hand was on his best friend's stocked foot. He was massaging it while they were talking. Neither paid any attention, oblivious to the intimacy of their actions. Savannah couldn't remember him ever doing the same for her.
Not that Derek wasn't an attentive husband at all. She had never lacked anything, but since she got to see him interact with Penelope again, she realised that they shared a bond technically only a couple should. Again, she knew that Penelope loved Mitch deeply, soppily and was happy with him, like Derek was happy with her. She was sure that they both never contemplated cheating. They simply didn't realize what was obvious for her and probably Mitch as well.
XXXXX
She couldn't sleep. First Mitch had kept her up, complaining about his sore stomach from too much punch and now he was snoring softly. Luckily she had brought some tums.
Penelope got up and went to the adjoining room to check on the girls. Stacy lay on her back, her teddy tucked in her arm. Helen was only half under her blanket. She felt her forehead, no fever and pulled the blanket up over the little girl.
In the hallway she listened if anyone was up, but all was silent. She tiptoed down the stairs, clad in her santa pyjamas and elf slippers.
A small light was on above the stove in the kitchen. It still smelled good from the mix of cookies, punch and the fantastic vegetable soup Savannah had made.
She found her ginger soda where she'd put it in the fridge this morning. She took a sip and turned around nearly smacking into Derek's chest with the bottle.
Her surprised cry was quickly smothered by his hand. His eyes were bright with laughter.
"Sorry, mama..didn't mean to scare you", he whispered.
"Why are you up?"
"Thirsty.."
He took her drink and Penelope bit her lip, knowing what was going to happen. Derek promptly started coughing and shooting her an accusing look. She giggled, patting his back.
"You did that on purpose.."
"I couldn't resist, angelfish..Go get some water."
"How can you drink that crap?"
"It's yummy and healthy.."
The wind was pretty loud and she went to the large bay window to watch the trees move wildly.
There were twinkly lights on some of them in the neighbors garden.
Derek slung his arm around her shoulder.
"I like doing this at night, especially with the weather. Makes you feel cozy in the warmth inside."
"Sometimes..well mostly around Christmas I miss the cold and snow.."
"Uh..nah..too much hassle on the street. Work gets hard. There are lots of delays for my teams and that starts customer complaints."
"Remember when Henry was small we made snow angels and built this giant snowman..and he got so scared he started crying.."
"Yeah..but then we all got to watch The little mermaid.."
"Helen loves it..she even sings along now.."
"That girl..she sure brings a smile to my face whenever she opens that mouth of hers..in fact..this afternoon..she called me Morgan..no uncle Derek..Morgan..same intonation.."
Penelope chuckled. "You have to tell her no..or she keeps doing it.."
"I like it too much..it's so freaking cute.."
"We are blessed to have her."
They wandered towards his office, their favorite spot to chat, with her sitting on his desk and him in the comfortable chair across her.
"Oh..I almost forgot", Derek said quietly and pulled her towards the entrance hall.
There above them, attached to the chandelier hung a mistletoe.
"Derek.."
"It's tradition.."
"Derek..", she repeated but then her chin was between his long fingers and his soft open lips descended on hers. She was gripping his wrist, her heart racing as he let the kiss linger on for long minutes. It was chaste, no tongue, but heated with feelings. He could have done this all night. She was shaking and he stepped back.
She saw that his hands were unsteady.
"Only at Christmas", he promised.
Penelope nodded and escaped upstairs.