Chapter 2

AN: Thanks for the reviews, everyone...This was on such a different keel than "The Book", it seemed like the perfect follow-up...You all know; I try to be versatile!...Now, a little more in the thick of the story...

"Derek Morgan, you better explain yourself when you call back, because, if I recall correctly-and I always recall correctly- you are not even dating anyone at the moment!"

That sentence was said in a rush; she had to take a deep breath after spitting all of those words out. She was actually much more calm than she was an hour ago, and that was no small feat. She was rather proud of herself.

"So, mister," she huffed, pouting although he couldn't see her, "call me pronto, before you send me into another apoplexy from shock!"

Married. Derek. The words together seemed like an oxymoron. He'd never mentioned getting married. Not once yesterday when they'd been at lunch, not the day before that at the dog park with Clooney, not once when they'd watched a movie last Friday, not when they met six years ago, not three years ago at Angelo's Pizza talking about dates...

Not once. Not ever.

She didn't know why it bothered her so much that he said that. It wasn't the semantics of him getting married. Truthfully, she wantedto see Derek happy and settled with someone like she was. He was her bestest friend in the world, nothing was going to change that. He had so much to give. He was loving, caring, sweet and good. She knew he'd make a great husband to some extremely lucky woman someday.

The more she thought about it, she determined it was the thought of him keeping a secret like that, something huge, from her. It hurt to think of that. They shared everything.

Derek's knock on their adjoining wall signaled that he was back.

She waited impatiently for him to arrive, and nearly shouted before he got his foot in the door, "What in the stars was that call all about?"

He was grinning like a fool at her. "Nothing. I'm just going to get married."

"To who?" she growled impatiently.

"No one you know...yet," he answered smoothly.

That look on his face...She knew he was glorying in ruffling her feathers a wee bit.

"Cut the cryptic, sweet cheeks, and tell me what is going on?"

He smiled again, but this time, it wasn't teasing. It was a sad little smile, wistful and bittersweet, like she'd seen only rarely with him before. He'd had it in Alaska, right after he'd hugged her, telling her he kinda loved her. That smile. It tugged on her heart like nothing else in this world.

He took a deep breath and sighed. "I'm going to start at the beginning, okay?"

She nodded. "Good place to start."

"Remember Ellie Spicer?"

She frowned a little. "Of course...Is she okay, Derek?"

"Oh, she's doing wonderfully," he answered, smiling again with his puppy dog eyes and heartrending smile.

"I'm glad," she said, her tone questioning. Those eyes of his weren't matching his grin; something was definitely off. She took a seat across from him, leaning forward. "What is this about, sugar?"

He looked at her with an expression she'd never seen him have before. He was biting his bottom lip, and half smiling. It was such an odd look, it took awhile before she realized what it was.

Derek was nervous.

He stayed looking at her, opened his mouth to speak, then chuckled.

It was contagious; he was making her feel nervous, and she hated that feeling.

"Go on, honey," she growled.

He sighed. "I want to be a foster dad."

Now she stared at him, then slowly leaned back into the chair. She was glad she sat; this was a lot to take in. Her playboy, bachelor, new girl every ten days best friend wanted a house full of children? She knew he wanted that someday, but now? What happened to rush this?

She started with the obvious question. "Okay...since when?"

He smiled softly. "Since Ellie. Since knowing the conditions Ellie was in. Since placing her back with her mother." Picking up the paper cup of coffee on his desk, he took a sip, then held it out to her. "Want some?"

She accepted the cup, took her sip, then said, "Go on."

"I realized that Ellie was the lucky kid. That that foster home with those so called parents still had numerous kids I couldn't save, I couldn't help." He was frowning now in concentration as he peered at her. "It gave me insomnia again, P. I already sleep badly enough, but that..."

"Hot Stuff," she murmured, reaching for his hands that were folded on his desk. "You can't save the world. I know you want to, but you can't."

"No," he answered, holding her hand, his thumb tracing patterns on the back while he continued speaking, "but I can make it better for a couple of them-and they can make it better for me, too."

She looked confused. "How?"

His thumbs stopped patterning, and instead, he held her hand tightly. "Baby, I have so much love to give. I've always wanted to be a dad, give my mom lots of grandkids, but I'm pushing forty. I don't need babies-"

Penelope's mind immediately began to imagine beautiful brown-eyed, chubby cheeked Derek Morgan babies, and her heart began to pound at the love she felt for them. He was right; he'd be an excellent father. She'd spoil his kids rotten. He'd have little girls that fell in love with their daddy, and little boys that were tough and strong like he was. He'd play catch with them, take them fishing and campi-

"Baby Girl?" he asked, waving a hand in front of her.

"Wh-What?" She immediately shot a glance back at him and sat straight up.

He was smirking at her. "Did I lose you there, angel? You looked kind of far away."

"Oh, no, no," she lied. "Continue."

He nodded, then went on speaking, "Anyway, so that's what I need to get approved for foster care."

Oh, man, she thought, feeling massively embarrassed. She'd missed a huge chunk of that while daydreaming!

"Ummm," she mumbled. "Can you repeat that?"

"Repeat what?"

"Sweet Cheeks, I missed it," she said flatly. "What do you need to get approved?"

"A wife," he responded in a matter-of-fact manner.

She snorted. Only a man would make it that simple!

"Ah, cupcake?" she asked archly. "Don't you need to fall in love and all that before you get one of those?"

"No," he answered.

She frowned. "Derek-"

"If Miss Right isn't here for me, ready to go, after searching for her for almost twenty years, then chances are, I'm not going to find her," he said flatly, shrugging his shoulders. "I just want someone nice, someone who is good company, who loves kids, and would be a great companion."

"I have a great aunt who fits that description," she mused sarcastically. "She's eighty."

He shot her a chastising look, and she had the good graces to hang her head a little.

He smiled and continued, then, "I'm going to look through my old girlfriends and see if anyone is marriage material. I know back then I wasn't ready to get married and settle down when some of them were. I'm hoping that maybe they're still ready now."

"I think you're going about this the wrong way," she cautioned, shooting him a warning seemed like an awful plan to her.

"Sorry, honey," he answered. "I want to live my life. I'm pushing forty, I'm alone ninety percent of the time, and everyone else has someone. I want someone to share my life with, some kids to give my time to, before it's too late and I'm left wondering."

Suddenly, she was feeling rather sorry for him. She'd never had that before. She didn't like that feeling. "Hot Stuff, I just think you deserve...better."

"Sweetheart, waiting for the perfect woman to be ready for me isn't doing any good." He grinned at her and stood, coming over to her side of the desk to help her stand. "Besides, you're taken, right?"

He folded her into his arms, and she accepted his hug. She buried her face in his chest, surrounding herself with his wonderful, familiar warmth and delicious, woodsy, spicy smell. Being with Derek, she always felt safe, secure...like she was home, even a thousand miles away, like when she was in Alaska. He supported her, cared for her always.

She needed to support him, no matter what.

She gave a soft laugh, and pushed away from his chest. "Yeah. Now, skedaddle, Sweet Cheeks, or I'll never get any work done."

He smiled at her, his melted chocolate eyes twinkling hopefully, making her heart ache. She hoped this worked...for his sake.

"Thanks, Baby Girl, for the ear."

He chucked her under the chin softly, then walked out of her office.