Savior

Chapter 91

-xx-

"So who knew that you were actually going to make it?" Cate asked as she began to organize things in the kitchen of the new house.

They decided since they were closer to the house on Cardinal Road rather than their apartment that they would drop off most things there rather than filling the small apartment.

Derek chuckled as he carried in another load of kitchen equipment. "Your mom and my mom," he admitted. "And obviously Garcia."

Cate nibbled on her lower lip and sighed. "Was it just perfect timing or did you plan it?"

He sighed as he rested against the kitchen island and watched her move seamlessly around their new space. "We wrapped it up late last night." Derek crossed his arms over his chest. "We don't usually fly out right after a case, so we made sure to leave first thing this morning."

"I'm shocked you and JJ didn't hijack another FBI car and drive home," she replied with a wink.

"Don't think that the thought did not cross my mind," he answered. "But to drive from Seattle would take over forty hours. We landed about an hour before the shower started."

Cate pursed her lips and tried her best not to lunge at him now that his hands were empty. "Seeing you walk in the room made my day," she admitted. "I'm really happy you could make it."

"I wasn't missing you in that dress," he said as he eyed her up and down across the kitchen. "If you look anything like that on our wedding day, I am kicking every one out."

She laughed as he wiggled his eyebrows. "Good luck with that," she muttered.

"You don't even know how beautiful you are," he complimented.

Cate bowed her head away from his scrutinizing eyes. It was amazing that even months later he could make her feel like the only thing in the world. They had a beautiful home around them – one that they got together – but he could not take his eyes off of her.

Derek offered her a hand; she happily obliged and stepped over barefoot, as her heels had been discarded by the front door the second they arrived. "I am the luckiest man in the world," he mumbled against her lips before claiming them with his own.

When the two finally pulled apart, Cate wrapped her arms around his neck and snaked her hands up to the base of his neck. "You are pretty lucky," she replied as a smirk took over her lips.

Derek nodded as she messaged the back of his neck. "I can't wait to take you home," he muttered as he pulled her as close as possible to him.

"We are home," she reminded him. "This is all ours."

Derek smirked and lifted her in one swoop and planted her on the kitchen island. "Yes it is," he said before kissing her once more. "Mom said you brought them over to see this place."

She shrugged. "I figured why not," she answered. "They loved it."

"It's hard not to," he replied. "Mom said she mentioned kids and you froze."

Cate closed her eyes and rested her forehead against Derek's. "I just don't want them to get their hopes up," she mumbled. "Trust me, I'd love to give your mom a grandbaby, but."

Derek placed his fingers tenderly over her lips. "No buts," he cut her off. "It'll happen somehow, someway, baby."

She opened her mouth to reply to him but sighed and closed it again when he added just a bit of pressure with his finger.

"Everything will all work out," he promised. "When it's time, and He knows when it's time for us, baby, we will have everything we ever wanted and more."

Cate nodded against his forehead and finally opened her eyes. "Let's finish getting everything in here so we can head back to the apartment and catch up."

Derek ran his hands up and down her sides as she sat in front of him on the counter. "And what did you have in mind?"

The wiggle of his eyebrows caused her to chuckle. The two relished in the sound echoing throughout the house. "A little Netflix, some wine?" she asked with a grin crossing her face.

"I could make that work," he answered. "Too bad we weren't all set up here," he said as he helped Cate down from the counter. "That new bathtub you special ordered is looking better every single day."

Derek started back towards the front door to grab more boxes from his truck. "Hey! That's my bathtub, mister," she called after him.

-xx-

Cate released a relaxed sigh as she swirled the wine in her glass. They stopped for a quick dinner on the way back to the apartment, but Cate was anxious to get home and change - and give her feet a rest.

Derek relaxed back on the opposite end of the couch next to her; his feet were propped up on the coffee table and his eyes were slowly closing as he tried his best to focus on the movie in front of them. Cate placed her glass on the table next to the couch and pulled the blanket off of the back of the couch. She swiftly crossed over the couch and curled up next to the black man.

His arm instinctively wrapped around her and rested her against his chest. "My girl," he mumbled, his voice dripping with sleep.

"My love," she muttered back, and smiled against his bare skin. She placed a kiss to his chest before settling back down against him and wrapping the two in the blanket. "I'm so happy you're home."

"There is no place I'd rather be right now," he said as he ran his hand over her shoulder. "Besides maybe in that bath with you," he added with a tired laugh.

Cate could not help the smirk crossing her lips. I've lost it already and the damn tub hasn't even been installed yet, she thought to herself. "Do I have to send you back to the land of the crazies tomorrow?"

He shook his head. "I will be working from home," he answered. "I just have a few reports to finish tomorrow morning and then I'm all yours."

"Perfect," she mumbled. "I have a meeting in the morning, and then a closing around eleven. I am open after that, though."

"Mmhmm," Derek released the muffled sound against the side of her head. "I do owe you a date night," he reminded her.

"Don't forget we have a cake tasting, too," she added.

Her smile tickled his skin as she curled in closer to him. Cate settled herself on listening to Derek's heartbeat. She was excited to have her man back next to her; his heartbeat was evident of that.

-xx-