Disclaimer: I own absolutely nothing, just the plot bunny ;)
A/N:Wow the reviews you guys gave and the response I received was phenomenal... now I hope to God this appeases your appetites ;) and you enjoy what's to come!
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- While In Wonderland -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Derek shot awake with a fright. His heart was pounding a million and one beats a second, or so it felt. His body was shaking, his face hot and wet with sweat and he just jumped to his feet. He was back in the living room, not upstairs, but Penelope had still gone, she wasn't with him. She had still left him on the couch.
"Penelope!" He near enough screamed out in terror as he jumped to life. "Penelope!" He shouted again as he made his way to the stairs. "Baby Girl!" He called out, his voice shaking with fear.
His whole body was a live wire in those moments; he was shaking with fear, his eyes burning with tears, his body still somewhat in its sleepy state, his head not caught up yet.
"What Handsome?" Penelope asked as she came down the stairs to him, literally running into him. It didn't take long for her to see something wasn't right but she didn't have time to react as he gathered her in his arms like it was the last time he would ever get the chance to. "Oh!" She said as his arms clasped around her waist. "Easy tiger," she commented and then separated a little, "What's up with you?" She finally questioned and then out her hands to his face. "You look like you've seen a ghost or something."
"I'm fine." He deflected her worry as he just kept her close to him, feeling the ease sweep in.
Penelope shook her head, not prepared to just let this slide. "Na uh, Sunshine, what happened in the two minutes between me leaving you on the couch and going up the stairs?"
"Two minutes?" He asked under his breath, "It was so real," he said looking to the stairs, looking for any signs of fire, or smoke, or potential damage.
"What was? Hot Stuff, I need you to talk to me here." She pushed putting her hands to his face, her eyes full to the brim with concern and worry. "What the hell has you shaking and looking scared witless?"
Derek stilled his gaze onto hers and breathed a sigh of relief. "Bad dream." He admitted truthfully, "Bad feeling."
Penelope sighed, "That has to be the quickest bad dream ever, D," she frowned, "You need some sleep." She told him sincerely and then dropped her hands so one could take his hand and pull him towards their makeshift bed for the night. "It's getting late."
As Penelope's foot went to the first step Derek halted and pulled her back.
"Derek..." She started.
"I don't want to stay here," He breathed out truthfully. He then ran a hand over his head, "I wanna go back to ours, Baby Girl."
Penelope could see the minor dilemma going on, the inner battle that Derek was fighting and she started to worry. "Of course, Handsome, whatever you want." She told him then went passed him and grabbed their go bags that were yet to go up stairs and put her hand out ready for him. "I'll drive us."
Derek smiled, grateful for her and her power of understanding. He took her hand and pulled her close. "I love you," he confessed and kissed her, hard and heavy, adding the passion with each new movement made to deepen the kiss. Pulling away he put his head to hers and sighed, "Thank you."
"For what exactly?" She asked him gently.
"Being you, and for being here loving me." He told her, stole a kiss and then got out of the house. He wanted to leave the bad feeling behind once and for all and get a good night sleep, one with his baby girl in his arms.
"You make that easy." She told him, still a little worried at his reaction but she decided to let it slip for the night, he needed sleep and maybe tomorrow he would open up to her more. "Straight in and straight to bed you hear?" Penelope asked as they got into the SUV and she watched him chuckle lightly and agree.
By the time they got back to theirs, Derek was sound asleep, and he took a while to rouse him awake from his slumber. He looked at her, then at their house and smiled, somewhat settled and then looked back at her.
"We'll go back tomorrow, and we'll get what we need done, you hear?" Penelope told him sternly, "No distractions, you build, I'll paint." She then leant in, kissed him and proceeded to get out. "Come on, Sugar, you need to get some sleep."
Penelope shut the door and went up to the house, unlocking the door and going in, turning on the hallway light she went back to the door and waited for him to get out and come in. He smirked, he loved any form of Penelope waiting at home for him. It was the biggest pull factor to getting home on time after work.
He climbed out and just allowed Penelope do what she needed and that was to get him to bed before the worry at him just falling asleep in the very spot he stood happened and he remained unmoved until morning.
He felt all the lasting feelings of the dream disperse as Penelope fell into his arms later that night, safe and unhurt. Still, however, when he shut his eyes again the image of her badly hurt body remained in his head and that made his heart race. She looked so small and vulnerable under the rubble and he hated that, but then he felt her kiss his chest and gently murmur that she loved him and he knew it was a dream and when he woke in the morning she was going to be there, perfectly safe.
At that he fell asleep with a smile on his face.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- While In Wonderland -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Come the morning he woke before Penelope did. She was asleep against his chest, her hair splayed out messily, her breath tickling him gently, her arm on him, her hand on his stomach.
This was his favourite wake up.
He lay there in the bliss of the morning light, he was happy to know they didn't have work for a couple of days. He had two whole days of Penelope and she was going to be all his and that was something he thrived for. Alone time with his Baby Girl was always set to be unique and loved.
He ran a hand down her back, setting on the base of her spine and he felt her stretch a little, her breathing changing and she moved her head down his arm a little to be able to look up at him.
"You ready to finish a house?" She asked him with a cheeky grin.
"Now that's not the good morning I was after." He pouted at her and she giggled and pushed up to kiss him. "Good morning, Baby Girl." He whispered as he kissed her again.
"I'll show you a good morning, Hot Stuff." She told replied and then got out of bed, wide awake, going to let Clooney out of the room. "Feel better today?"
"So much," He agreed and sat up, "So why don't you come here and give me that good morning."
Penelope laughed, went to her side of the bed and leant in, her fists hitting the mattress to keep her up. "How about we get that house finished and ready to be sold and I'll give you a good evening that'll lead into a good morning?"
"You're naughty you know that?"
Penelope smirked and stood up straight, turning ready to go take a shower. "You love me for it." She made it to the door, froze and turned back. "Plus you might be lucky. We do have a shower big enough for two after all..."
He watched her disappear and she left the door open, inviting him to join her in the shower. He didn't need telling twice or a live broadcast to know to go or not, he just went.
When they left the house nearly two hours later they were both more than a little revived and awake. Derek locked up and told her he was driving, so Penelope got Clooney into the back of the SUV and then climbed into the passenger side, raring to get the house nearer completion.
Penelope loved this house, it was both their creation, Derek's handiwork with the reconstruction and building with her creativity with the designs and layout and it screamed them. Something that made her love it and want the place for themselves.
"So still no chance we can keep this place then, Handsome?" Penelope asked as they pulled into the road the house was situated.
"No, Baby, we've had this conversation." He told her with a slight laugh, "You got too attached you know that?"
"It's our second home we've completed, I fell in love with this like the last one," She told him back seriously.
"Yeah and we live in the first one."
"So this can be a vacation home." She tried her hardest.
"In the same state?" He questioned, his eyebrows cocked at her effort, he looked at her as he slowed and indicated to turn to park up.
"Oh God," Penelope gasped as they pulled into the drive, her hand going to her mouth in horror.
Derek hit the brake as he looked up at the smouldering, blackened heap that had once been a house.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- While In Wonderland -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Say my name like it's the last time,
Live today like it's your last night,
We want to cry but we know it's alright,
Cause I'm with you and your with me,
Butterflies, butterflies...we were meant to fly,
You and I, you and I...colours in the sky,
We could rule the world someday, somehow but we'll never be as bright as we are now.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- While In Wonderland -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Song: The Wanted – Gold Forever
A/N: NOW who was expecting that?