Disclaimer I hate you so much for making me keep saying this: I do not own Criminal Minds.

Derek finally allowed his mom to take him home that night, Penelope hadn't really woken up since and he was glad, from what he'd heard he knew she was going to be in pain and that would wreak havoc on him most. So he went home and crawled into his bed, he missed feeling Penelope's curves as they spooned together, he missed everything about her, the nights were just too lonely at the moment but for her he slept. If he wanted to care for her properly he needed to keep on top of sleep and he needed to be able to function so he rested when he could, slept when necessary and it was beginning to pay off.

Come the next morning when he woke up he stretched, and slowly sat up, he felt ready, he was ready to tackle whatever happened head on and so he jumped up, went for his run and then as he was about a half mile in he realised that Penelope had said she used to do running but had to give up. Running was his release from time to time, Penelope must've been good once upon a time and as he turned and ran back he decided that when the doctor encouraged exercise, he was going to make sure running was an option and he was going to get her running again.

As he slowed into a gentle jog up to the house he knew that only positivity exuded him, Penelope had woken up, that was all that mattered to him. So he jogged into the house, straight to his room, into the bathroom and got showered and dressed quickly before heading into the kitchen, writing his mom and sister's a note, grabbing an apple and a bottle of water he ran from the house into his car and drove to the hospital.

Now he stood in the room, an extended visiting time, and Penelope breathing on her own. The positivity growing ever more vivid with every passing moment. He took a seat and took Penelope's hand in his and just kissed it. He then reached into his pocket and drew out the ring. He smiled every time he held it. It was a family heirloom, one of many great treasures but Derek saw it as the best. He knew its value grew more and more and he knew that the ring was only to be given to the woman he loved, the woman he was in love with and the woman that he was going to die with in decades to come. Penelope was that woman. So he slipped the multiple diamond ring onto her finger and kissed her hand.

'Feels good.' Penelope said low and raspy, her voice husky and heavy with exhaustion. Derek looked up with a smile on his lips and his eyes met Penelope's. He put his hand on her head and leant in.

'I hear you had a good night Baby Girl, does it feel like it?'

'No.' She said honestly and he laughed. 'It really hurts.' She groaned as the ebbs came and went.

'I bet it does, nurse said you panicked a bit when they took the tube out?' Penelope nodded, she didn't know what was happening when she felt her lungs contract and yearn for a deep breath, then as the tube was taken out she felt the shortness of air before being given oxygen to help her, only when she regulated her own breath did she calm. 'You're brave though, you know that right?'

'I don't feel it.'

'Maybe not but everything that's gone down in the last 3 days Baby Girl you're being brave. Taking it in your stride, that makes you brave to me.' He told her and squeezed her hand. 'All of this will be gone in a couple of days and we can get you better and home.'

'Oh don't tempt me.' Penelope said drowsily. 'If I had the energy to, I'd get up and go there now.' She then looked at him, then the ring on her finger and back up at Derek's face.

'What's up?'

'Sell my apartment.' She told him and confusion grew on her face. 'It'll give us extra money to sort medical bills if I don't have enough with my insurance.'

'You've got enough, more than enough, I've had this talk with your doctor already, and Hotch and Rossi looked into it, everything's covered princess.'

'Okay well downsize my apartment, the money could prove handy because I'm guessing your mom and sisters are here?' He laughed and she smirked knowingly. 'Let them have the excess for flights because it's not fair on them otherwise.'

'I heard Penelope was awake.' Fran's warming voice came from the doorway and Penelope looked up, and Fran smiled idolising at her, the motherly concern on her face. 'It's good to see those beautiful eyes Penelope.'

'I'm going to make her get some sleep in a moment.' Derek got his say in, knowing that Penelope was coming back in leaps and bounds.

'My apartment?'

'Can wait but don't doubt you aren't living with me permanently after you get discharged.' Derek told her forcefully. 'My future wife is not living away from my home and bed any longer.' He continued and Penelope smiled. 'Half your stuffs at mine so I'll move the rest when I can.'

'And then sell my apartment?' She pushed; she wanted them to be financially stable.

'Then I'll look at selling your apartment.'

'Thank you.'

'Get some sleep Penelope.' Was all Derek hushed and she accepted the rest. Derek just continued to sit there and watch her for a moment.

'That ring looks beautiful on her.' Fran commented,, the tears falling, she'd brought up Derek to know the significance of that ring and she was hoping that Derek had taken noticed was using it properly.

'She's my better half mom, always has been and God be damned if I'm going to let her walk away now. I want her as Mrs Morgan.' Derek looked up, his watery eyes catching the lights; he was near tears as he spoke. 'I never wanted to settle down, I never even wanted kids but with Penelope that's all I see. I look back at my past relationships and I can't doubt her, she's been through so many throes with me and woman and now I'm on woman man. And it's always been thanks to Pen.'

'You are using the ring right then.' Fran smiled as she wiped her face.

'I've had this ring at mine for years mom, even when a relationship took off I never wanted to use this and then Pen came along and the yearns been there every day just itching away at me.' He pushed the back of Penelope's hand to his lips and then looked up as the nurse came in. 'See you soon Baby Girl.' He told the sleeping Pen and then kissed lips gently, her cheek a little harder and then left with his mom.

'Let's go get breakfast; she won't want you wasting away on her.' Fran commented as she walked down the corridor towards the elevator. 'You look more settled today.' She commented, seeing the mood of her son shift greatly.

'I am, she's awake, she's breathing on her own and more importantly she's still her pushy self.'

'Just how you love her.'

'Exactly how I love her.'