Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds

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'Ready baby girl?'

'As ever.' Penelope replied as she took Derek's hand and slipped out of the car into his careful embrace. It had been 2 days since Nick had gone down for his heinous crimes that he called an act of love to get Penelope back to California, she used the next two days to recuperate as she felt the energy drain from her, Derek welcomed the rest and spent most of his time with her while Fran and Lance stood guard in the front room making interesting conversation about the past and present Penelope, both realising she hadn't changed at all. Kat had stopped by once but Penelope needed to see her even if she was pregnant, it was the initial pain to see pregnancy in any form but they knew Penelope could do it and get over it triumphantly and she did, she couldn't hide from things forever. Like Derek said, it wasn't impossible for them to not have children, just difficult and if he knew his wife he knew she would get pregnant under her own steam.

He felt her gasp. 'Still sore?' She nodded as she bit down on her lip. 'Sure you want to do this?'

'Yeah handsome.' She said taking his hand whilst the other held her side. They walked through the gates and up the path. 'I need to come here more.'

'And you will... you have masses of people that want to stay in contact with you, never mind brothers, Lance, Jimmy, Kat and Owen who are going to be back and forth, you're extended family just got bigger. People aren't letting you go.'

'And I have a husband that will push me back here.'

'Too right.'

She smiled. 'Thank you.'

'For?'

'Everything, you've done for me since we lost the baby.' She looked at him. 'I don't think I would've coped with anyone else.'

'You would do... what to know why?' He asked as they continued to walk, she remained quiet. 'Because you're stronger than you think you are.'

'I wasn't until I met you.' She looked up bashful. 'Since I met you I've overcome a lot, you made me feel welcomed, you made me feel loved unconditionally, you accepted me just like Lance did, he took me as I came, not that he had much choice but he always loved me, and that never changed and nor did you.'

'Well I never plan to baby girl.'

'And that's another thing I'm thankful for.' She said and gripped his hand tighter as the nerves grew in her stomach and the grave stone of her parents came into view. They closed the distance and looked down, there were 4 light pink roses, he heard Penelope suck in a cry.

'Baby?' He said worried, knowing the meaning of the colour. 'Come here.' He hugged her and felt her cry slightly but not heavily. They looked at the roses and Derek knelt down to put the bunch off flowers down, he caught a glimpse of white wrapped around one of the roses. He read it and smiled. 'Seems your brothers felt the loss to.' He said and stood passing her the same.

'Baby Morgan... forever loved, forever looked after in the sky.' Penelope read out and looked at Derek. 'I didn't know.'

'What was there to know P? They obviously saw it as a way to get through what happened.' She smiled at him.

'I'm done here handsome.'

'Come on then goddess...you look worn out again.'

'Hmm I feel it.' She said accepting his hand as they walked back towards the SUV. When they got back to the hotel, Penelope was completely worn out that all she wanted to was fall into her pyjamas and curl up and sleep, Derek easily allowed her to do so and then went and sat in the main living room while everyone gathered.

'How was it?'

'She cried slightly... thank you for the roses.' Derek said looking at the brothers.

'Hey... we lost family that day too, if putting a rose down was all we could do then so be it.' George answered and looked at Andy who had worry written all over his face.

'I don't think this is a good idea.' Was all Andy said as he rocked his nearly 3 week old daughter in his arms.

'I need to do it sooner or later.' Penelope quipped from the doorway she was leaning against, a hand on her side in an eager way to loosen some tension and pain.

'Pen!'

'Derek!' She retorted and saw them look at her hand as it massaged her side. 'I'm fine, its just painful.' She smiled. 'Now do I get a cuddle?'

'If you want one...'

'Of course I want one.' Penelope said and said down gingerly. 'May not right now.' She said as she pushed harder.

'You sure you're okay baby girl?'

'I will be... just movement makes it play up... I'll be fine in a minute.' She looked at the 6 sets of eyes. 'Seriously!' She said and smiled. 'I am not lying to you!'

'Kiddo... you did this when you were 16.'

'And after Battle.'

'Well you did it after flinging yourself from a detonated ambulance but I didn't pressurize you.'

'No you put the pain meds in my drink instead.' Derek joked and Penelope smiled at memory of when she finally told him the truth of why his pain in his arm dispersed easily.

'She didn't!'

'Oh she did.' They all looked at Penelope who smiled sweetly. 'Don't pull that face at me!' Derek said. 'You tricked me good, I had my mom laughing at that... someone had beaten her baby down.'

'You'll always be your mom's baby though... only male.' Penelope then looked at Andy. 'Come on then... let's give her a hug, with one stipulation.'

'What's that?'

'Don't all look at me.' She said knowing they had fears of how she would respond to holding a baby so close after losing her own. Andy stood and placed the neatly wrapped child up in her arms, Penelope just stared in awe at the small being that was her niece. 'She's beautiful.' She said as she naturally cradled the child like she had done it for years, the brother's, Lance and Derek couldn't help but watch, not with worry but with amazement.

The door went and Derek cleared his throat before getting up and answering it. He let everyone before telling Hotch he was just popping out. The team plus, Jimmy, Fran and Desiree poured into the room, making space difficult and watched Penelope in wonder but when she looked up she frowned.

'Where's Derek?'

'Just popped out.' Hotch said feeling uncomfortable for a moment.

'Andy take your little girl.' Penelope said and once she was child free stood slightly, gritting her teeth to hide the pain before going into the bedroom and putting on a pair of sweets and a t-shirt and shoes and heading to the door.

'Kiddo.' Carl warned. 'Where do you think you're going?'

'To find my husband.' Was all they heard as the door opened and then closed. They looked at one another and knew that however much any of them tried, Penelope would not give up regardless of their will or her pains, she was on a mission. Penelope knew exactly where to go, she caught the elevator up and headed out onto the roof and found Derek leaning the railings.

'Handsome.' She said softly and saw him jump slightly and stiffen before turning to her. 'Na-uh you don't close down on me Derek Morgan.' She said as she walked towards him, a hand glued to her side the other swinging freely. 'You didn't let me so why the hell do you think I'm going to let you.'

He smiled and she heard it break slightly. 'I'm sorry.'

'For?'

'Watching you hold that little girl, you looked so perfect, like you had done it before... it came natural to you.' He said staring off at the view again; she knew this was his time to talk. 'It just shot at me a little too fast at what we had, at what we lost.'

'A man once told me that our time will come, that it's not impossible, that'll be difficult but that we could do it.' Penelope just said effortlessly. 'I believed that man... I believed how he wouldn't let any harm come to me if he could help it, how he would look after me while I'm hurting... and right now however much it hurts me to hold a child so small and so new to this world I know that one day I'll be holding our child.' She ran a hand up his back and forgot her pain, to her, her husband was hurting and he needed looking after. 'Now...'

She started but was cut off as Derek turned to her and caught her in his embrace before plying her with a deepening kiss. 'You are the bravest woman I know.'

'Hardly.'

'Believe me baby girl... you are... I love you so much.'

'I love you too handsome... just don't close off from me.'

'One thing.' She cocked an eyebrow at him which told him to continue. 'Don't close off me either.'

'Never.' She said before taking his hand and leading him off the roof and back to their room, her whole world wrapped around Derek, she could wait for once.