Don't Own.

Please R&R

Enjoy!

…

Penelope had just finished telling Derek about the time her parents had taken her and her brothers to Costa Rica the summer before her oldest brother was supposed to go to College.

She told him how her father hadn't brought enough underwear and being the penny pincher that he was, started washing the pairs he did have in the sink. However since he didn't have a proper dryer in the room and didn't want to pay to use the hotel's laundry mat, he decided to use the rental car and roll the windows up on them, then when they would drive anywhere the underwear would dry flapping in the wind.

Penelope laughed as she told Derek how when she and her brothers had protested his idea since it was rather embarrassing to have underwear flapping in the wind outside your car, her father had just said "Well sometimes you've got to do things you normally wouldn't to save money."

By the time she had finished her story Derek was laughing so hard that he had to wipe tears from his eyes.

When he looked back at Penelope she was grinning. She picked up her mug of cocoa and drained the last of it. Then she picked up the candy cane from the side of the cup and sucked it into her mouth.

Instantly Derek felt a tightening in his jeans as he watched her suck and lick on the candy cane. It was, quite possibly, the most sensual thing he had ever seen.

Pulling his eyes away he jumped to his feet, startling Penelope.

"What is it?" she asked.

"I need a drink" Derek said thinking quickly.

Penelope looked over at his unfinished mug on the table as he made his way to the kitchen.

"What about your cocoa?" she asked.

"I think I'm going to need something stronger than that" Derek answered.

Penelope stared after him in confusion, but then shook her head and went back to eating her candy cane.

While Derek was in the Kitchen looking through the fridge for a cold beer, the lights flickered and then went off completely.

He heard Penelope scream and stubbed his toe in the dark as he hurriedly tried to make his way back to the living room. He cursed as his big toe throbbed, but continued into the living room anyway.

He could see Penelope's outline on the couch and let out a sigh of relief once he realized that she was okay.

"It's okay Garcia," he said "the power has just gone out."

"Sorry for screaming, but I don't like the dark" Penelope whispered.

Derek looked around the dark room trying to figure out how to add some light to it "Wait here" he said to Penelope, getting an idea.

"Wait!" Penelope said "Where are you going?"

"Don't worry, I'll be right back" Derek said and then carefully made his way to the hall closet.

Penelope sat curled up in a ball, trying to keep herself calm as she listened carefully for any sound.

A few minutes later Derek came back with a box in his arms that was full of supplies. Emily had told them on the first day where the emergency kit was kept.

Penelope let out a squeak as Derek appeared in front of her without a sound.

"Sorry," he said as he set the box down on the table "I didn't mean to scare you."

Then he handed her a blanket and walked over to the fireplace with matches and some newspaper in his hand. There was already some fresh pieces of wood sitting in the fireplace so all Derek had to do was put in the newspaper and light it.

He blew on the flame that he had placed under the pieces of wood and waited for it to catch fire. He grinned once one of the logs had begun burning. He stood up and placed the grate before the fireplace and made his way back to the couch.

The fireplace admitted a soft glow to the room and Derek smiled at Penelope "Any better?" he asked.

"Yes lots, thank you" Penelope answered, wrapping the blanket he had given her around herself.

"No problem," Derek said, "now I'm just going to grab my beer."

"No!" Penelope practically shouted grabbing his arm "please don't leave me."

Derek looked down at her hand on his arm and then up at her face.

She blushed and pulled away "Sorry" she said.

"It's okay," he stated "I'll stay, don't worry."

Penelope relaxed as Derek grabbed his own blanket and then sat back down beside her.

"It's so quiet," Penelope whispered after a moment, not liking the silence at all.

Derek could tell she was uncomfortable, he sat forward and reached into the box on the table, he thought he had seen something earlier when he had first opened the box that might help them out.

It was hard to see with only the light from the fire but after a moment Derek found what he was looking for "Here it is."

Penelope tried to make out what Derek had pulled out.

"It's a crank radio" Derek explained, "You have to crank it up in order to get it started, but then it runs without batteries or having to be plugged in."

Derek started cranking it, moving the hand-crank faster and faster, he turned it at least forty times. Then he placed the radio on the table and pressed the ON button, mentally crossing his fingers, hoping that it would work.

Thankfully the little radio crackled and came to life, at first they could only hear static, but with a little fiddling of the dial they were able to find an FM station.

The station was playing Christmas music and Derek went to change it but Penelope stopped him.

"Leave it here," she said quietly "it's nice."

Derek shrugged, Christmas music wasn't really his thing but he didn't mind listening to it. He sat back on the couch and both he and Penelope just sat quietly and listened for a while.

"Oh," Penelope said as another song started to play "I love this song."

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

Everywhere you go.

Take a look in the five and ten glistening once again

With candy canes and silver lanes aglow.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas,

Toys in every store,

But the prettiest sight to see,

Is the holly that will be,

On your own front door.

A pair of hop-along boots and a pistol that shoots,

Is the wish of Barney and Ben,

Dolls that will talk and go for a walk,

Is the hope of Janice and Jen,

Mom and Dad can hardly wait for school to start again.

"This used to be my parents favorite song at Christmas," Penelope said "they would always sing it while we were putting up the Christmas tree."

Derek looked over at Penelope, she looked sad as she told him and she shivered slightly.

"Are you cold?" he asked.

"A bit" she answered.

Without thinking Derek reached an arm around Penelope's shoulders and pulled her into his side.

She was tense for a moment but the she relaxed with a contented sigh. "I'm glad we made our truce BEFORE the power went off" she said.

Derek chuckled and pulled her closer "I'd have to concur with you on that."

Penelope grinned and turned to look at him. She was surprised when she got a look at the expression on his face. He was staring at her with longing in his eyes and Penelope's heart caught in her throat.

She couldn't deny that Derek was an attractive man. Even when she hadn't gotten along with him in the past, that didn't stop her subconscious mind at night from creating many a dream featuring him, where she woke up feeling hot and tingly.

She felt her face flush and her heart begin to beat a little faster, biting her lip she stared into his heated chocolate brown eyes.

Derek groaned softly as he watched her "God you're beautiful," he stated.

Penelope's breathing became heavier and she leaned even closer to him.

"Penelope…?" he breathed out.

"Yes…" she answered just as breathless.

"I know this is sudden but…"

Penelope didn't give him a chance to finish; she leaned in and kissed him softly.

"You're amazing" he moaned as she pulled back.

"Derek," Penelope said seriously "I don't want to be just another notch in your belt buckle…"

"Never, I promise" Derek said just as seriously, even though they had never gotten along, he always knew there was something special about her.

"Good," Penelope said, leaning down to kiss him again.

…

Afterwards they lay together panting, Derek on top of Penelope. He leaned down and kissed her intensely, grinning at her when he pulled away. She smiled back, placing a hand on his cheek and running it gently down her face.

Derek caught her hand in his and gently kissed her palm. Then he reached for the blankets that were on the floor and moved them into a more comfortable position on the spacious couch, with him behind her and her back pressed into his front. He pulled the blankets over them before wrapping his arms around Penelope's waist.

Penelope let out a sigh of content and soon they were both fast asleep, cuddled comfortably together.