A/N: I own nothing but the love in their hearts. The angst owns me.
Derek stayed in Chicago for the rest of the week, enjoying the time spent with his mother. He didn't call Penelope again, but both Thursday and Friday she was surprised by gifts; first, a basket of chocolatey delights, including a clever sculpted chocolate man. Penelope responded with a cell phone picture of her red lips pressed against the chocolate doll's cheek, followed by one of her chocolate covered fingers. Both pictures made Derek laugh out loud, and they helped bolster his hope that they hadn't missed out on love- they would be ok.
Friday Penelope was surprised by a bouquet, not of flowers, but of pens, all colors and shapes, each with a whimsical topper. They were presented in a small hot pink metal pail, filled with florists foam. This time, Morgan received a picture of one of the most sparkly pens held between Penelope's teeth.
By Saturday, though, she was on the downward slope of happiness, waking up alone, again, and lonely. She had just gotten out of bed, and was adding cream to her coffee, when she startled at a knock on her door. Grabbing her floral silk robe, she padded to the door to peer out the peep hole.
Recognizing the man pacing outside the door, she opened it, smiling shyly, stepping back and silently welcoming him in. He looked at her with hungry, haunted eyes, closing the door behind him. She moved to go back to her coffee, but he silently grabbed her hand. She stopped, turned away from him, the tension in the room palpable.
"Penelope…"
She lifted her head slowly, turning finally to face him.
He smiled, softly, and stepped closer to her.
"Sweet angel…" He cupped her face with both of his large, warm hands, and softly brought his lips down to caress hers. The kiss was gentle, but not dispassionate. It was a promise, a yielding touch, warm, soothing and stimulating at the same time. He felt her tears wet his fingers, and he moved his hands to cup the back of her head, his lips, and subtly, his tongue, erasing the tears from her cheeks.
She was trembling, torn between need and fear.
He pulled away, laying one hand on her face as he stroked her shoulder with the other.
"Hi…" Her breath was unsteady, her robe falling open, exposing the silky pink nightie she had on underneath.
He smiled hugely. "Hi yourself, princess." He leaned in to kiss her again, but she pulled away. Smiling softly at him, she smoothed his brow where a confused wrinkle had marred his smooth forehead.
"I can't keep my wits about me if you keep doing that… and I think it'd be better maybe if I got dressed?"
He nodded and settled on the couch, waiting for Penelope. Looking around, he noticed that several pictures were placed face down. Curious, he picked them up and realized with a pang that they were all pictures of him. At first, he was flattered that she had so many pictures of him about, but then he realized why they were all hidden. He picked one up, he and Penelope at the carnival. He had won her a tie dyed stuffed rabbit that day. He couldn't help but wonder if it had been tossed after their fight, or if she had it still.
"I named him Sir Hot Stuff… he's kept me company the past couple of weeks, you know." She took the picture from him and sat down on the couch. She had dressed simply, still not back to her cheerful self, a pair of black slacks and a grey sweater. The stuffed bunny was the only bright spot, clasped to her chest.
Sensing her discomfort, he kicked off his shoes and sat cross legged on the couch next to her, back braced against the arm. He wanted to touch her, so badly, but he knew she needed him to be slow, to let her adjust to the change in their dynamic as well as to learn not to fear him. He could see, now, just how deeply he had wounded her. She had never been one to trust easily, but she had placed all her trust in him, the very first day they met, and he had, by running from her, thrown that trust away.
It would be a long time coming back.
"Wanna watch a movie?" She smiled at him shyly.
He relaxed. "Yeah, only if we can go out later?"
She smiled. "Deal."
Thus began a month of dates. They were hesitant, as if reacquainting after a long absence. In fact, it seemed as if they had been years apart. Slowly, cautiously, they made their way back to where they had been, before Battle, before Lynch, before the hurtful words and pain they had caused each other.
That particular evening, they had gone out with the team to a little nearby pub. Derek had gotten Penelope up on the dance floor, and they were now swaying, bodies pressed close, as a ballad filled the room. Derek lifted her chin, and bent to kiss her, gently, but with rising passion. For the past week, their desire had begun to take firm control, as their hearts healed, the longings for each other, and their mutual future, increased. She pressed against him, moaning softly, surrendering to his lips, and he knew that he had to act, now.
He nuzzled his head into her hair. "Come home with me goddess."
She stiffened, and looked up at him, eyes going wide. She blushed, slightly, and nodded, once, flashing him a wicked grin. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing her hips to his provocatively. "What took you so long, lover?"
He growled, a deep rumble in his chest and grabbed her hand tightly. Rushing past the table to pick up their coats, they waved goodbye to the team, ignoring the whistles and catcalls that followed. The drive to his house was quiet, both lost in their thoughts. They shared occasional smiles, holding hands tightly all the way to his front door. Once inside, Penelope kicked off her heels and went to the kitchen to pour some wine while Derek let Clooney out. They met together in the living room.
"My Goddess," He breathed, leaning to kiss her again, languidly.
She laughed, softy, hugging him to her tightly. "Why does this feel like the first time? I swear, I'm nervous as a virgin…"
He arched an eyebrow at her. "Maybe cause you're just that hot for me?"
She hit him and laughed. "Yeah, uh huh, I'm sure that's it."
He took both of her hands, holding them in his above his heart. "Ok, you want to know why?" He kissed her forehead. "This is the first time it actually matters…" She sighed, pressing her body into his. He moaned softly at the lush feeling of her body so close. Her scent, a heady mix of perfume and her own delicious scent, wafted over him, filling his nostrils and igniting his passion, heat flooding his body. Slowly, he began to kiss her neck, pushing the jacket off her shoulders, placing nibbles along the line of her jaw, causing her to shiver. Looking down at her face, eyes closed in bliss, his heart swelled with love. He swooped down and caught her behind the knees, lifting her in his arms. He held her like that for a moment, as she delighted in the sheer masculine strength of him, before he started walking slowly to the bedroom.
He sat her down on the bed, and slowly stripped off his clothing as she watched, awed at his masculine beauty. He knelt next to her to breathe in her ear. "Like the show baby?" She nodded, eyes fastened on his, reflexively licking her lips as her sight traveled lower. He bent his head to trace the shell of her ear with his tongue. "Don't you think you're a little overdressed, my beauty?" She smiled at his affectionate tone and stood to remove her clothing. When she was down to her bra and panties, Derek held up a hand, stopping her.
"Hold on love… just… I've gotta look at you."
Penelope blushed, her whole body flushing, nipples hardening and pushing at the delicate black lace of her bra. He reached out a hand and she took it, smiling, falling back onto the bed with him. He rolled her under him, and began peppering kisses along her neck, chest, the soft swells of her breasts above the lace of her bra. Looking deep into her eyes, he reached behind her and expertly unclasped the filmy garment, tossing it from her, his attention instantly refocused on the blush of pink tipping the generous mounds of her breasts. Smiling mischievously, Derek leant down to trace his tongue around one bright pebble then the other, causing Penelope to arch her back, moaning wordlessly, begging him to take more into his mouth. He obliged, sucking deeply on the soft flesh, before raining kisses lower, over her softly rounded stomach, the curve of her hip, then finally the top of her black lace panties, which he drew off her before inhaling the intoxicating scent of her arousal.
He continued to kiss her heated flesh, licking at the hidden skin at where her thigh met her sweet mound, before finally nuzzling and adoring her soft, wet core. Slowly, lovingly, with skilled fingers and tongue, he brought her to completion, reveling in the way she her body colored, the way she moaned out his name as her fingers curled into the sheets. He moved over her, slowly kissing his way back up her body, whispering near silent adorations as he found himself cradled in the supple warmth of her legs. He leaned in to kiss her, smiling at her wanton expression. Tonight he would make her his, and they would begin working on creating their family.
She paused a moment, breaking the kiss.
"Derek-"
He kissed her neck, "Hm?"
"Derek, don't you think…" He distracted her again by dragging his tongue over her collarbone.
She reached up and grabbed his head. "Derek, condom."
He leaned away from her as if bitten, shock and hurt plain on his face. "Condom." His voice was flat. He moved away from her, his arousal wilting. She rose to her knees to sit next to him.
"What's wrong…?"
He stood up, angrily yanking on a pair of sweats.
"Nothings wrong… I just thought we were being honest here. I thought that was the rule, wasn't it? Or am I the only one who has to be honest?"
Penelope sat back as if she'd been struck, gathering the sheets around her to cover her nakedness.
"Derek… I don't know what you mean-"
"Family, Penelope. I want to create a family with you. I wanted, tonight, to start that. I thought you understood. I thought-" the muscles in his jaw clenched as he struggled to maintain his temper. "I thought you wanted to have that too. Guess I was wrong."
He stalked out of the room, grabbing Clooney's leash on the way. She jumped when she heard the door slam, and buried herself into the bed, sobbing until she fell asleep, exhausted.
An hour and much thinking later, Derek came back. He realized he should have told her, exactly, what he wanted, that he wanted to begin their family. He wanted to marry her now. He couldn't bear to be apart from her any longer. He raced up the stairs to the bedroom, and stopped at the door.
She was tangled in the sheets, still nude, her face buried in his pillow, tears evident on her cheeks. He slipped off his pants and climbed into bed beside her, spooning her body against his. She woke, and smiled at him tremulously.
"I'm sorry, my love… I didn't know…" She turned in his arms, tracing the line of his lips, his heavy brow.
"Sshh… I should have told you. I want our family now. I want to marry you yesterday!"
She laughed. "But hot stuff, do you even know how to hold a baby? Don't you think we're rushing things a bit?"
He frowned at her. "Woman, a month ago you were about to get yourself pregnant from a sperm donor. Isn't that rushing things?"
"Don't, Derek. Don't rush into a family because of me. If that's the only reason you're here-" He placed a finger on her lips, cutting off her angry words.
"Sssh. No, I want this too. Now, let's not fight anymore tonight? Please?" He kissed her, lovingly. "Sleep, baby girl. Trust me. I'll prove to you this is what I really want." He pulled her back against him and they fell asleep wrapped in each other's arms.