Hi Everyone. I am so sorry, that I have been so busy. Who would have thought this following your dream thing could actually work out? I'm being booked more and more and end up with zero time for myself. My goal is to get more writing done. I promise I have no abandon these stories and they will all be updated. Thank you all for your continued support. I love you all.

And always remember. Follow your dreams, you never know what could happen.

Six Months Later

Derek opened the sliding door leading to the back porch. Penelope had wondered out there when he first answered his phone. She was leaning up against the railing, watering the plants, just as the sun was starting to set.

She was beautiful. The glow on her skin from the sun radiated off her. She truly was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. He could spend the rest of his life in this moment, looking at her.

After he was released from the hospital, he had made a point to find a home for Penelope and him. "New Beginnings" he called it. At first, she didn't want to move from her little apartment, but he was able to convince her, with a wrap-around porch and three extra rooms for further on down the road… Although, if it were up to him, that further on down the road would be tomorrow. But he was willing to wait. As long as Penelope was by his side, he'd wait forever.

"How's Hunter?" she asked, turning to him with a cheeky smile.

He couldn't help the little growl that came out. "He's fine."

Penelope laughed. "He still settling into your old position? I think he misses you actually."

Derek moved to where she stood, grabbing onto her hand and bringing her down into the lounge chair, he maneuver himself into. "He's getting used to it. It's a process having to learn how to manage a team, rather than just being a part of one."

"Did he ask about me?"

"Penelope…"

"What? It's a legitimate question." She smirked.

"And it's one I'm not going to answer." He pulled her tighter onto his lap forcing her to lay back on his chest. He kissed her shoulder and nuzzled into her. "I love you," he whispered.

She sighed, as he felt her move more into his embrace. "I love you, too."

All of a sudden something inside him snapped. He squeezed her tighter. "I can't…"

She turned to look at him, a brief glimpse of horror and hurt clouding her face. "Ex-excuse me?"

He kicked himself for causing that look, but he couldn't stop now. Not when he was so close to having everything he had ever wanted at his fingertips. "Penelope," he started, as he moved her so she was now looking directly in his eyes. "I was going to die. When I was in the room, I thought… this was it. I never was going to be able to get the one thing I truly always wanted, and that was you." He held her gaze. "I was a coward."

"Derek, we're past all that," she said quietly.

"I damaged you, just as bad as I damaged myself with walking away." He shook his head, before looking back at her. "I know I kept telling myself I can wait. But I don't think I can anymore."

"What are you talking about?"

"I want your last name changed." He grabbed onto her hand squeezing, as his other hand moved to the side of her cheek slowly caressing it. He spoke softly when, he said, "I want to use those extra rooms."

"Like another office?" she tried to joke, as a tear tear fell from her eye.

"Penelope," he warned. He moved his hand to her stomach as he closed his eyes. "I want a little girl. One that has crazy bouncy blonde hair like her mother. I want a son that will stick to his guns-"

"She'll stick to her guns too," Penelope chocked out.

"I know she will, Baby Girl." He leaned in, resting his forehead against hers. "I want to watch our children grown up every day and be more and more like you," he whispered.

She moved in and kissed his lips. "Well, I want our children to be strong, and brave just like their daddy. I want them to know right from wrong, and always stay strong in what they believe in." She locked eyes with him again. "Just like you."

"I don't want to wait anymore," he said. "I know I kept telling myself I could wait forever until you were ready, but almost dying-"

"Don't," she said. She moved off of him and stood up.

Something inside of him broke. She wasn't ready, you idiot. You hurt her so bad before, and now you've pushed her, he thought.

He stood up and followed her through the house as she made her way to their bedroom. "Penelope, baby, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring it up," he pleaded as he followed.

He watched as she walked to her dresser and started hunting through it. "Baby, please." He reached for her, but she turned and instead, placed a rectangular box in his open hand.

He looked down, then back up at her.

"I was actually going to come up with a creative way to tell you, but I can't think of anything more perfect than this moment," she said, as anticipation spread across her face.

He looked back down and the box and lifted off the lid.

"I found out three days ago," she whispered.

Tears blurred his vision as he looked at the positive pregnancy test. "Penelope," he whispered.

"Let's hope, he or she turns out exactly as we want," she said, tears streaming down her own face.

He dropped the box on the floor, before pulling her into his arms. "Marry me."

He moved them to the dresser on the other side of the room, where with one arm he rummaged through the top drawer, all the while never letting go of Penelope.

Once he found what he was looking for he dropped to his knees, kissing her stomach. "Hey, little baby," he said. "I'm your Daddy. I've had this ring for a long time. I've just been waiting for the right moment to ask your Mommy a really important question."

He looked up into Penelope's eyes and showed her the ring. She gasped and placed a hand over her mouth. "Oh God, Derek."

"Marry me, baby Girl? Give me what I've always dreamt of. Give me what I have always wanted… with you."

She jumped into his arms, knocking them both onto the floor. "Yes, Derek Morgan. Yes, I will marry you!"

He kissed her on the lips as she laid on top of him. She pulled away with a giant smile on her face. She looked down into his eyes, before saying, "We're gonna have to make sure to invite Hunter."

"That's it!" he growled, as he rolled her under him.

Another PolHop story has come to an end. Thank you for this journey. This has been one of my favorites. Which one do you guys want me to update next? I can't promise fast but I can promise I haven't given up on them.