A/N: First of all thanks for all the reviews. You guys make my day!!! Here's a short chapter I hope you enjoy. Please keep those reviews coming.  They really do help!

"You two seem to have everything under control here. It doesn't look like you need my help." Derek said with a grin.

"Actually I can finish up what's left here, why don't you go and show Penelope where she's going to sleep so she can settle in. Get her some fresh towels from the linen closet too." Fran said.

Penelope dried her hands and followed Derek to Des' room. Des was getting the spare bed ready when they both walked in. Derek had carried her bags to the room and placed them near the bed.

"I hope you don't mind sharing your room." Penelope said.

"Not at all, it'll be fun! I miss having Sarah here to chat with at night." Des said.

"You all set Baby girl?" Derek asked as he handed her some fresh towels.

"Yea angel I'm fine. Thank you." She said with a smile.

"We have a long day planned for tomorrow so get some rest. Don't let chatterbox here keep you up too late." Derek said as he ruffled Des' hair.

"You're just jealous because you can't join in on the girls chat." Des teased Derek.

Derek smiled at the comment and said "Yea I think you're right." And with that he turned to walked away closing the door and yelling out "Good night Baby girl, you too sis."

Derek went to the kitchen and found his mom putting away the last dish. He walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her. "Thanks Ma." He said and planted a kiss on top of her head.

"For what baby?" Fran asked.

"For being you. For making Penelope feel so welcomed. For not hounding me with questions about the grandbabies." Derek said and chuckled.

"Well before I start asking about grandbabies, I need to ask about relationships?" Fran said coyly.

Derek looked at his mother and smiled. "All in due time Ma… I'm still trying to figure it out myself." He said.

"Baby I think you both figured it out, you just haven't let each other in on it." Fran said.

"It's a little more complicated than that." He said.

"It's only as complicated as you make it baby. You both seem to be very comfortable around each other. "Fran said.

"We work together Ma and we're best friends. We confide in each other about everything. I don't want to lose that." Derek said as he pulled out a chair to sit down.

"Honey why would you lose that? You have the best foundation for a relationship. You both obviously care for each other. "Fran said.

"Ma she just took some time off of a relationship. I can't even say she's broken up. I have no idea how she feels or what she feels. I was hoping this week would give me some answers." Derek said.

Fran placed her hands on Derek's cheeks and leaned in to kiss the tip of nose. "Baby the only way to get answers is to ask questions. You can't figure out a relationship when only one person knows that it might possibly exist. You need to be honest and open with her. Sometimes we need to take a leap and risk getting hurt. "Fran said.

"I love you Ma." Derek said with a smile.

"I love you too Baby." Fran said. "Now get to bed you have a lot planned for tomorrow."

Derek went to his room and sat on his bed. His mother was right. It was going to take a lot more than a week of one on one with Penelope for him to get answers. At some point during this get a way he was going to have to be honest with her and tell her how he felt. It was going to be the only way he'd truly know. He lay down on the bed and fantasized about telling Penelope how he felt. He went over the words he would say and where he would say them. With these thoughts in his mind Derek fell asleep.

"Is it ok if I turn off the lights?" Des asked.

"Of course, I was just sending a text message to the girls. I wanted them to know that everything was ok." Penelope said.

"It's nice that you're all so close. Are they going to be coming up too?" Des asked.

"No they all had had their own plans for this week. This was an impulse trip." Penelope said.

"Impulse trip? In what way?" Des asked.

"It wasn't planned. Actually Derek had planned to come when he was told we all had the week off, he asked me to join him last night when we were watching movies." Penelope said.

"How long have you two been dating?" Des asked.

Laughing Penelope said "We're not dating. Derek and I are best friends."

"Oh I'm sorry I just assumed you were." Des said as she turned around in her bed and got ready to go to sleep. "Guess Mom is going to have to continue praying for them grandbabies."

Penelope giggled and snuggled under the covers. The thought of Des thinking that she and Derek were dating made her tummy jump. "Get real Penelope, men like Derek Morgan don't date women like you." She said to herself. She knew that but it didn't stop her from fantasizing about him. She closed her eyes and thought about Des' question. "What if we were dating? What if …" With those thoughts in her head Penelope went to sleep.

Derek felt a tap on his arm and woke up. "Des what's wrong?" he asked.

"Derek there's something wrong with Penelope, she's moaning and crying. I didn't ask her what was wrong I just came here to get you, I thought she'd feel more comfortable telling you." Des said.

Derek looked over at his clock and saw it was 4:30 in the morning, he immediately jumped out of bed. "She's having a nightmare." He said and quickly ran to Des' room. When he got there he could her struggling in bed and he immediately jumped in next to her and wrapped his arms around her. "Shhhhh baby girl I'm right here. It's ok." He said.

Penelope turned to snuggle against Derek wrapping one arm around his waist and snuggling her face close to his chest. She calmed down immediately and didn't wake up. Derek looked up at Des who stood at the door looking worried.

"It's ok Des, she has nightmares. She'll be fine. Mind if I stay here with you guys?" Derek asked.

"No, it's ok by me. Do you want my bed?" Des asked.

"No I'll just lay here and hold her. She stays calm when I do and she sleeps." Derek said.

Des thought it best not to ask any questions but obviously this was something they had both done before. Derek knew exactly what she needed and Penelope responded immediately to it. Des smiled as she got back in bed and thought to herself "Best friends my ass! I don't have my best friend holding me in the middle of night chasing away my nightmares." She made a mental note to talk to Sarah as soon as she could and fill her in.