When Penelope came back to the living room she noticed that Derek was gone and Fran was sitting on the couch staring into space. "Is everything alright? Where's Derek?" Penelope asked.
Fran turned to look at Penelope and smiled. "Everything is better than fine. Derek's in Des' room trying to smooth things out." She said.
"I see he's told you already. I hope Des isn't too upset at him." Penelope said as she walked over to the couch and sat down beside Fran.
"I'm sure they'll work things out. They always do. She's not upset at you Penelope. She's not really upset at Derek. I think she's just feeling a little bit of the green monster." Fran said and gently patted Penelope's hand. "My kids have always been very close but Derek and Des have this special connection. When my husband died Desiree was very young. Things as you can imagine were very different for us from that point on and I wasn't myself for a bit. It was Derek that Desiree started to turn to and it never changed after that. He was security blanket. I guess she's just a little scared that the security blanket is going away." Fran explained.
Just then Derek and Desiree walked out of her room, Derek's arm around his baby sister and both of them smiling. "What are you two up to?" Derek said.
"We were just discussing my favorite subject." Penelope said with a grin.
"Maybe I should stick around for this." Derek teased.
"Too late my vision, we're done." Penelope said as they all laughed.
They all talked for a bit before Fran and Des both excused themselves to go to bed. Penelope and Derek had gone into Derek's room and gathered up a pillow and some sheets and a blanket to set up Derek's bed on the couch.
"Baby Des is going to meet up with us tomorrow at the Youth Center is that ok?" Derek asked.
"Of course it's ok. I'm looking forward to spending some time with her and Sarah. I'd like to get to know them better. Did your talk with her go ok?" Penelope asked as she helped Derek with his bed.
"Yea we're good. She felt I was putting some distance between us by not telling her. I explained everything to her and she understood. In fact she made me promise not to screw this up." He said as he patted the pillow he had just placed on the couch and then reached over and grabbed Penelope in his arms. "I told her there was no way I was going to screw this up and that you were the best thing that had ever happened to me."
Penelope wrapped her arms around Derek's neck and smiled. "I think it's safe to say that this is the best thing that's ever happened to US." She said as she reached up and kissed him.
"You do realize it's late?" Derek said his forehead now resting on hers.
"Yea I do, but I'm having a hard time letting you go." She said.
"Baby when we get back home we'll have a lifetime of holding each other, but right now you're killing me. I'm having a hard time controlling myself." He said and grinned.
Penelope smiled and pulled away. "Ok Angel but just you wait till we get home."
"I'm counting the minutes. Now scoot, go to bed." He said and smiled.
Penelope walked to Derek's room but before closing the door she looked back and caught him staring at her. "Good night baby, I love you." She said.
"Good night princess, I love you too." He replied.
That night Penelope had no nightmares. She had gone to sleep thinking about the events of the day and those continued with her as she slept. The following morning Fran was the first to wake up and was surprised to find Derek on the couch. She gently shook Derek to wake him.
"Good morning Ma." He said huskily.
"Baby why are you on the couch? Is something wrong?" She asked with concern in her voice.
"Ma everything is fine. Penelope didn't feel it would be right for us to sleep together now that we couldn't say we were just friends. She felt it would be disrespectful." Derek explained.
Fran smiled at her son. "It would have been ok." She said.
"I know Ma but she was very adamant. She slept through the night though so it's ok." Derek said as he got up and started to fold the blanket and sheets to put them away.
"Are you guys going to have breakfast?" Fran asked.
"Yea as soon as I'm done here I'll go shower and get Pen up." He said.
While Fran prepared for the breakfast, Derek had showered and walked into the room to wake Penelope up. She was still sleeping and stood there watching her for a few minutes. He went over to the bed and leaned over to kiss her gently and whispered "Good Morning baby girl time to get up and make some more memories."
"Mmmm" she moaned as she turned over to look up at him.
"Mom's getting breakfast ready." He said.
"Do I have time for a quick shower?" She asked.
"Sure do, there are fresh towels in the bathroom. We'll wait for you to finish." He said as he kissed her again and then left the room.
Back in the kitchen Fran was still preparing breakfast and talking to Desiree who had just gotten up. Once Penelope had showered she joined them and the four of them talked and made plans for the day. Derek and Penelope would be going to the cemetery first and would meet up with Desiree at the Youth Center. Fran would be going to church and she had agreed to meet up with all of them. After eating, the dishes were cleaned and put away and all of them got ready to leave.
"I'll call Sarah and see if she's up to meeting up with us too. I'd love to see the kids." Derek said.
"I'm sure she'd love to. Have you called James yet?" Fran asked.
"No not yet Ma, I'll call him now from the car. " Derek said as he grabbed Penelope's hand and gestured towards the door. "Ready to go?"
"Lead the way my prince and I will follow." Penelope said and smiled. "See you all in a little bit."
When they got into the car Derek called Sarah and made plans for that afternoon. He then called James and invited him to meet up at the Center. "I'll see you there then later this afternoon?" He asked.
"I'll be there right after school." James said.
"Great" he said and smiled as he reached over to grab Penelope's hand. "This way you can meet my girlfriend." Derek said.
Penelope looked back at Derek and smiled. This was the first time he'd called her that and she had to admit, the butterflies that started to stir in her stomach felt more like bats. She still couldn't believe how fast everything was happening. She had fantasized about him for so many years but never believed that any of those thoughts she had would actually happen. She was almost afraid to allow herself to be so happy but one look at this man's eyes and she knew that nothing in her life had ever come close to feeling so right.
The drive to the cemetery was quick and as they parked Penelope couldn't help but notice the beautiful landscape. It was an old cemetery but very well maintained. As they walked towards the large oak tree on the far right Penelope couldn't help but think about her own parents and the loss she too had at a young age. She missed them all the time, but it was during the important events of her life that she wished she could share with them that the loss seemed so much more significant. When they reached the large tree, Derek stopped and pointed out the grave directly below it. "This is where Dad is now." He said.
Penelope looked down at the grave site and noticed how polished the stone was and all the fresh flowers around it. On the memorial stone she saw a picture of his Dad and couldn't help but think just how much Derek looked like his dad. Derek stood by in silence and she could tell he was lost in thought. Her heart ached for him knowing full well what it was like to lose a parent and knowing that the feelings of that loss never went away. She squeezed his hand gently but didn't say a word. The gesture was enough for him to know that she understood and she was there for him.
They stood at the grave site for a little while. Derek lost in thought as he played memories of his dad over and over in his mind. "Do you every think about having one last conversation with your Mom?" Derek asked his voice deep and raspy.
"All the time in fact I talk to her a lot. It's comforting in a way." Penelope said as she looked up at him.
"Do you think she hears you?" Derek said as he looked back at her.
Penelope smiled. "I know she does. They never leave us baby not as long as we carry them in our hearts." She said.
Looking back at his father's grave Derek nodded. "I watch my mom when we come and it tears me up to see how much she still hurts. They loved each other so much. Things were never easy for them but they didn't let it stop them from being together." He said. "She gave up everything to be with him and never looked back. I asked her once if anyone in her family had ever tried to contact her and she said her father called her a few days after dad died but she refused to speak to him."
"Did you ever meet them?" Penelope asked.
"No they never acknowledged us as their grand kids." Derek said sadly.
"So Nana is your Dad's mom?" Penelope asked.
"Yea my Dad's family was always very much a part of our family. My mom always said that they gave her enough love and support to fill the gap left of her own family. In fact she called Nana mom." Derek said.
"Do you think your mom regrets any of her decisions?" Penelope asked.
Derek smiled. "I know she doesn't. Her love for my dad and his love for her was incredible." He said as he turned to face Penelope he wrapped her in his arms and looked lovingly into her eyes. "Like mine for you. I know that no matter what happens as long as you're by my side there is nothing I can't do." Derek leaned in to kiss her gently.
"Ditto." She said and smiled.