Disclaimer: I own nothing, just the little plot bunny (kinder!)
A/N: So I was mean, and turned happy into sad! Not for a long I can tell you now =)
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- When The Sky Falls -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Penelope knew this was a distraction for her as much as it was for the others, but she didn't want to join in with the conversation that was flowing, nor did she want to laugh or smile. She wanted to go back to bed and sleep until Derek could wake her up. It was her anniversary and she only had one present in mind.
She wanted Derek here to take her mind off of the pain she was in, off of the strange place in which she now lived and off the every changing life around her. She just wanted Derek here full stop. Then, maybe then, she could quit feeling so nervous over things, and she could feel better in general.
It seemed like the day was passing in waves and motions. She wasn't keeping tabs on what the time was nor was she keeping track through what everyone was up to. Even though, for the majority, it was revolving around her. She wanted to be alone, and she got her wish when she was granted a little breathing space while everyone went to get food.
She just let her thoughts consume her for a while before she took up another mindless activity to waste time.
Looking up from her magazine, Penelope expected Fran to walk in after going with the food she had gone to get with the others. However, her mouth dropped, the magazine fell from her grasp and her eyes began to well up.
"Better late than never right?" Derek said as he approached her and dropped the huge bunch of colourful flowers down on the coffee table. "I'm sorry, Penelope. I never meant to break my promises."
Penelope still remained silent, her composure coming back to her.
In that moment, she forgave him. Just having him back with her, alive and unscathed, made her realise that now was not the time or place to bare grudges and hold out guilt trips. Within seconds his arms were wrapped around her body, hugging her tight before he kissed her and she forgot that he was ever gone for so long.
"I'm so glad you're back," She told him delicately, trying to withhold the tears.
"I'm not leaving you again," Derek vowed and he knew he wouldn't break his promise because he really had not reasons to leave her alone again, "How you feeling?" He asked her quickly, his worry magnifying momentarily.
"I've been fine," She lied to him.
"Want to explain the dark circles under your eyes, and the fact that you can never keep whatever pain you're in away from your eyes?" He simply asked her as he ran a hand up her face, "You know I can read you like an open book, Baby so don't lie to me."
Penelope sighed, "My foot is killing me a lot lately, I've been worried sick about you and about the baby. Just the same old story."
"You need a proper home again. If this had happened any other way and you got to go back to our house after, you'd have been better. I will make it up to you."
"You have nothing to make up to me," Penelope told him gently, "We're all stuck in this predicament. You came home, there really isn't anything else that be done to make this home completely."
"I'm sure there could be a few things, Baby Girl," Derek replied and gave her a kiss as her face begin to get the questioning look to it. Pulling back he pulled back a little, "I have some pretty impressive surprises for you that's why, Baby Girl," He said as he got up and went for the door.
"Oh yeah, like what?"
"Well," He said and stepped outside before bringing in a large box, "This isn't all I got." He told her as Reid and Hotch came in with two suitcases each. "I tried to get as much of our clothes as possible. Jewellery, make up, photos, anything that meant any major significance."
Penelope felt herself welling up.
"And that's not all," He told her as he went back towards the door and disappeared for a moment before he came back in with Clooney on a leash.
"Clooney!" She said as Derek let him go and he ran to Penelope, jumping up next to her, "How the hell did you find him?" She asked Derek as she plied her full attention onto the dog for a moment.
"He was wandering around by the house. Seems he didn't stray very far," Derek commented as he realised the extent of just how lucky he had gotten. "He's been pining the whole way back, Baby."
"Let's hope that maybe now he'll calm down," Rossi chucked in after going through the flight back with the dog barking repeatedly. He came in with a box in his arms and placed it down on the dresser. He took one look at the dog now curled up under Penelope's elevated leg and nodded, "Seems to do the trick."
"Aw my Italian Stallion, this pup dare not disobey his mistress or he'll go without any treats," Penelope quipped and Clooney's ears pricked up in that instant, "See, he knows who's boss," She winked at them.
Rossi chuckled at the action he just witnessed and went to get the two other boxes that Derek managed to save from the house when they got back there. He remembered Derek's request to not tell Penelope just what mess the house was, like the rest of the neighbourhood. He was just thankful that he had his wife, his pet and some of his favourite things.
Picking up the last box he went back in and put the box in the corner. He couldn't help but smile as he saw Derek near enough dousing his wife with the attention she had lost in the past couple of days.
"Gonna stick around?" Derek asked as he stood back up.
Shaking his head, he smirked, "I think I'll leave you two to it," Rossi bowed out, giving Penelope a quick kiss. "Good to see you looking a bit better, Bella," He said and left leaving a smile on Penelope's face and a quick pat on Derek's shoulder.
Penelope didn't think she'd ever feel so in heaven as the moment she felt Derek pull her close to his bare chest as they snuggled down under the thick freshly cleaned bed linen later that night. Having his warmth and smell surround her made her fall into an almost immediate sleep, but she wasn't ready to close her eyes. If there was one thing Penelope was worried about, it was falling asleep to wake up and realise that Derek coming home didn't really happen at all.
She didn't let the negativity sit long know as she felt him kiss into her hair and she smiled wistfully.
"You're actually the best," She told him truthfully, "You made this anniversary the best ever."
"Even if I nearly missed it." Derek admitted sorrowfully, his tone so full of regret.
"Doesn't matter," She replied sleepily, "You're here now and that's all that matters." She said as she calmly slipped into sleep.
Just as Derek felt her fall into a slumber, Clooney jumped up on the bed and nuzzled his way between them, claiming a spot firmly in the middle of the bed. He then felt Penelope begin to laugh and he looked down as she looked up tiredly.
"Soon it won't be just a dog we need to worry out," She joked, her body facing him now as the dog got comfortable.
"I think we've got a couple of years between the baby taking the bed over and the dog," Derek replied as he tried to shoo the overgrown puppy off with his foot.
Penelope watched on for a moment before turning her attention back to Derek, "You forgot about the fact that I'll be like a house before long, Stud. So I'll be taking over the bed."
"I can't actually wait," Derek told her and gave up trying to move Clooney and kissed his wife.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- When The Sky Falls -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-