Lean On Me-Ch 6
Penelope blushed and said, "M M Mr Mrs. Morgan", Fran laughed and said, "it's okay honey and please call me Fran", Penelope said, "F F Fran"?, the older woman nodded her head yes as the nurse helped her back into her bed. When she was settled Derek said, "how are you feeling momma"?, she said, "tired and weak but I'm okay baby".
Derek said, "what did the doctors say"?, she said, "it was a light stroke and I'm going to need some physical therapy for a while but I'll be as good as new in no time". He smiled and kissed her cheek and said, "that's wonderful news", Fran noticed that Penelope was still hanging by the door and she said, "come here honey, I won't bite, I promise".
Derek and the girls watched as Penelope walked toward their mom, she was scared to death, you would have thought she was marching toward her death instead of just going for a friendly chat. When she sat down beside Frans bed she looked at her kids and said, "why don't the three of you go and get something to eat so that we, Penelope and me can talk"?, Derek said, "momma I" and she said, "Derek Michael".
He held up his hands and said, "alright, alright we're going, we're going" and as Penelope watched them walk out the door she felt her heart racing as she looked back at Fran. Fran said, "easy sweetie, I just want to talk to you, get to know you a little better", Penelope nodded her head and said, "sure, what do you want to know"?, Fran said, "well I've heard Dereks side of the story for years soooo how about I get your point of view".
Penelope said, "okay", Fran said, "how long have you been in love with me son"?, she said, "I I I", Fran put her hand on Penelopes and said, "it's okay, it's okay, he loves you to and he has for years". Penelope started calming down and she said, "I've been in love with your son since the first day I met him", Fran sat listening as Penelope filled her in on the depts. of love she had for Derek.
When Penelope was finished she said, "I don't know if you no or not but you have a hickey on your neck", she touched her neck and then pulled her shirt up and said, "I'm I'm soooo sorry". Fran laughed and said, "don't be, obviously you and my son had some fun", Penelope said, "I'm afraid that maybe we rushed into something that we weren't ready for or I wasn't ready for".
Fran said, "you love my son, right"?, she said, "with my whole heart", Fran smiled and said, "and he loves you just as much, you Penelope Grace Garcia are the love of Dereks life". Penelope smiled as Fran said, "I never thought I'd see the day that my son would talk about getting married and having kids, that was until he fell in love with you".
Penelope said, "he really talked about marrying me and settling down"?, she said, "really honey and do you know when I knew that the two of you were destined to be together"?, she said, "when"?, Fran said, "when you were shot, he was so scared that he'd lost you". Penelope said, "so you mean he was going to tell me then"?, she said, "well he did didn't he"?, she said, "yes but I".
Fran said, "you thought he meant like a friend, right"?, she said, "I did Fran, I did and thinking back now I could kick myself for getting with Kevin and Sam when my heart ached for Derek, to be with Derek". Fran smiled and said, "well then what are you going to do about it"?, she sighed happily and said, "I'm going to stop fighting fate, me and hotstuff are meant to be and it's time that we be together".
Fran grinned and said, "and then the two of you can get to making me some of those beautiful grandbabies Dereks been promising me for years", Penelope laughed and said, "a life with Derek and kids sounds like heaven to me". She winked at Penelope and said, "to me to honey, to me to" and they sat there for the longest time laughing and talking while they waited on Derek, Sarah and Desiree to come back from dinner.