Happy New Year to you and your family! I appreciate every reader who takes the time to read, follow my story and for every review I receive.
Penelope laid awake thinking about that night two months ago that things changed. The night they actually acted like a family. She closed her eyes and thought about that night.
"Pen I'm back."
"I'm in D's room changing him. I'll be right out."
Derek moved the magazines out the way and took out the cartons of food. He went to her favorite Chinese restaurant. She came back with D and put him in the bouncer while they settled down to eat.
"Fran called me today to see if she could watch D tomorrow since it's your day to have him."
"What did you tell her?"
"I said she could so I'm going to drop him off in the morning and then you can take him to daycare."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. It's fine. I know one of the reasons she moved down here was to be closer to D and I understand she wants to watch him but I'm not entirely sure that it's good idea. Not that I think that Fran won't take care of him right. I like knowing he's just a couple of floors down and I can see him when I want."
"Is that the only reason?"
"No. it gives a sense of security that he's there. Savannah can't get to him there." she said. "She scares ne Derek. She hates me so much and she hates D. I'm afraid of what she would do if she got to close to him."
"I won't let anything happen to him. You know that."
"I know but you aren't always around are you. You leave to go on cases and you won't be here and you know right now she wants you back. D is the main reason you won't go back."
"He's one of the reasons." He said. "Can I ask you a question and you not get angry with me?"
"Ask?"
"What happened between you and Spencer?"
"What do you mean?"
"Things are not the same between you. I may not have seen what was right in front of me but I see other things."
"Spence and I aren't getting married anymore." She whispered.
"Why not? What happened?"
"Spence was there for me when I needed him and I thought I could fall in love with him over time but I couldn't. It wasn't fair to him. He loves me but I don't love him the way I should; like a woman loves a man. He deserves to have that love and more. I couldn't marry him."
"How did he take it?"
"He was ok but I think he knew. He bought this house for me and D. He was willing to be a father to my son. He loves me like I loved you. How ironic is that?"
"Does that mean I have a chance?"
"Derek, you have so much going on in your life right now and I have so many conflicting feelings. I know that I want to concentrate on our son more than I want to concentrate on my love life. I'll be honest with you Derek, in all the years we've been friends I always thought that some way, somehow we would eventually get together. I never thought for a minute that you would turn on me the way you did. I never thought you would treat me like that. IT hurt and broke my heart. It's not something that you can fix overnight. I hated you for a time. Then when I found out I was pregnant, I thought for sure you were going to hate me. I was going to leave and you were never going to know that we had a baby together. Spence wouldn't let me go and in the end I couldn't do that to you."
"Penelope …"
"Look Derek, I want to be friends with you and raise our son as much as we can together but that's all I want. You have to figure out your situation with Savannah and if that baby is yours then that puts Savannah in your life forever, which means she will make my life hell as well as yours and I don't how long I could deal with that."
"What does that mean?"
"It means if I have to move away I will."
"You can't do that."
"I'll do what's best for my son. Don't you see Derek, it isn't about us anymore, and it's all about him." D cooed at her when she looked at him. "It's all about him and what's best for him."
That was the end of that conversation and she let Derek give D his bath, he fed him before bed, and rocked him to sleep. He stayed in D's room with him and she let him get up with him when he woke up. She heard him singing to him, talking to him when he changed his diaper. She fell asleep that night more conflicted than ever.
She told Spence about that night and he told her he was glad that she talked to Derek and told him what she really felt and wanted instead of putting up a wall. Since that night Derek had changed and they were slowly working on their friendship, even Spence had notice a change in him. He stilled called every day to check on D and when he was on cases he skyped so Derek could see him. Spence skyped too and D would get excited when he would see him. D was lucky he had two men that love him and would do anything for him.
Fran watched D once a week since that day also. She would take him to her townhome and then Derek would pick him up, keep him overnight and then take him to daycare in the morning. That was the routine they had for the past two months. Savannah still didn't know that D was in daycare or that he stayed with Derek overnight. He never told her where he moved to and so far she hasn't found out. She didn't even find out where Fran had moved too. She thought for sure that she would be watching Derek but he said he hadn't noticed anything. Penelope thought Savannah was stalking her because she could feel that someone was watching her. She even told Spence this and he told her to be careful and be aware of her surroundings. She was worried D would be at Derek's when Savannah showed up. Her fears were spot on but instead of finding D at Derek's, she saw them in the garage of the FBI building.
"What are you doing Derek and why is he with you?"
Derek turned around and saw Savannah standing few feet away. She was seething and Derek knew this wasn't going to go well. He started walking.
"Derek I asked you a question. Why is he with you?" she asked again as she tried to keep up with him.
"Why do you care?"
"I want to know why my husband is bring his son to work."
Derek hurried to the elevator to get away from Savannah because who knew what would happen if Penelope saw her near D. he ignored her as best he could but she managed to get in the elevator with him. He put the carrier on his right.
"I asked you a question."
"Look Savannah, I already told you that I don't have to explain anything to you."
"You kept him last night didn't you? Is that why he's with you this morning?"
Derek continued to ignore her and she stood there tapping her foot. The elevator opened on his floor and he walked and went straight to JJ's office. She looked up when he walked in.
"Why isn't …." Derek shook his head and she saw Savannah walk in right behind him. "Come to Aunty JJ you cutie."
She took the carrier from Derek and he sat D's bag down. JJ took him out of the carrier and held him. He looked at his new surroundings. When he gaze landed on Derek he started fussing and whimpering. Derek took him from JJ but kept on the other side of the desk. Before anyone could talk, Derek heard the familiar click of heels coming closer. He looked at JJ and closed his eyes.
"Hey JJ, I've came to ask if you would …."
Penelope stopped when she saw Savannah standing in JJ's office. She then looked at JJ and Derek, than at D. he heard her voice and he started bouncing in Derek's arms. She went around Savannah and went to her son.
"HI there little man." She cooed and he smiled. "I'll just take him with me."
"Why is he even here?" Savannah asked.
"That is none of your business." She said as she walked by.
Savannah whirled on Derek. "I need to talk to you privately."
"Let's go to my office."
Derek brushed past her and she followed. He entered his office and sat down in his chair. He watched as she sat down in the chair. She was starting to show and he felt like the biggest asshole because he hoped that baby wasn't his.
"What do you need?"
"What I need is my husband? What I need is for you to come home and quit playing this game. You don't call me to see how I'm doing. You don't come over. I'm going through this pregnancy all alone. How are you going to feel when this child turns out to be yours and I tell him or her how you treated me. Are you prepared for it?"
"Anything else you need?"
"I have my ultrasound this afternoon and I thought you would want to go take a peek of your baby."
"Well you thought wrong." He said. "I have a lot of work to do and you didn't give me enough notice."
He could see the flash of anger in her eyes as she left. She was right about one thing. He felt like shit but he knew that baby wasn't his and he didn't want to get too attached. But he was going to feel lower than dirt if that innocent baby turned out to be his and it would also ruin what little chance he had left with Penelope. He knew she wouldn't want to deal with Savannah for the rest of her life. Hell he didn't even want to deal with her now. He knew he had to call Penelope and explain what happened.
"Derek."
"Pen I want to explain."
"There is nothing to explain. She was bound to find out."
"She doesn't know he's in the day care."
"I'm sure she knows now. She saw me coming off the elevator without him. I'm sure it won't be long before she puts to and to together."
"Are you mad at me?"
"No. it's ok." She said. "What did she want?"
'She has an ultrasound this afternoon and wanted me to go."
"Ah and you didn't want to, go that is."
"No."
"I need a favor."
"Anything."
"I need you to pick D up from daycare if you don't catch a case."
"Sure. Do you want me to take him to my place or yours?"
"Take him to yours. I'll pick him up there."
At the end of the day, that is exactly what he did. He picked up his son and went home.
Derek answered his door quickly since he didn't want D to wake up. He was in the swing asleep. He let Penelope in. she saw D in the swing and went over and touched his cheek.
"What's wrong?"
"I rented an apartment not too far from here."
"Why? Are you moving out of Spence's house?"
"I don't want to but I have too. He won't ever move on if I'm still there. He needs to find the love of his life and I'm not that person."
"You could have moved in here or with mama."
"I know but no. thanks anyway." She said. "We need our own place. We'll be fine."
"Is Spence ok with this?"
"No he wanted to give me the house and he would move out. He bought that house I won't take it away from him. He's worried but that's Spence."
"When are you moving?"
"Next weekend. I need to pack up all of his things and mine. It'll take about a week."
"Do you need help?"
"Spence said he would help if he was here, if not he would rent a moving truck for me. I need to buy some furniture."
"What all do you need?"
"A bed, a dining table, kitchen things and bathroom necessities."
"What happened to all your stuff?"
"I gave away most of it to Good Will since I was going to leave. I have my personal things at the house."
"Well I'll help."
His phone vibrated on the table and he checked it. His eyes widen when he looked at the screen.
"What is it Derek?'
"It's from Savannah. She sent me a photo."
He turned the phone so Penelope could see it. It was an ultrasound image and the caption read "It's a girl!"
