Home of Dave and Fran Rossi – Afternoon –

Everyone had arrived and Fran had checked her watch for the tenth time before Derek and Penelope rang the doorbell. Dave insisted on answering the door while Fran watched from the hallway. She was anxious and began second-guessing her plans to have them all under one roof. She felt a firm tug on her elbow; it was her eldest child pulling her back into the kitchen.

"Come on, you can't manage everything and everyone. It's time to let him clean up his mess like a big boy."

"I know, Sarah; I know."

Fran reluctantly followed her daughter into the kitchen where the other guests had gathered. After looking through the peephole, Dave opened the door.

"Hey, you two are in trouble."

Penelope pointed to Derek who was hanging his head.

"It's his fault. He wanted to play, Tim the Tool Guy, before coming."

"Funny Garcia," Derek responded.

"Well, come on in everybody's hanging out in the back."

Just short of the kitchen's threshold, Dave gently grabbed Derek's arm keeping him from going further.

"Can we talk?"

"Sure."

Derek followed Dave back down the long hallway into his large office. Derek stepped in and Dave closed the door.

"I wanted to talk to you before the day got started."

"Sure, what's up?"

"I know that today may be tough for you and I needed to acknowledge that."

"Thanks Dave, is that it?"

Derek moved toward the door placing his hand on the knob to leave the room.

"Look Derek, I'm trying here, really I am."

Derek hung his head and exhaled.

"I'm tired of apologizing. The fact is, I'd do it again if it meant saving your life! So, if you can't forgive me or your mother then..."

"...I'm sorry."

"What?"

Derek turned back to face Dave.

"I'm sorry. I'm the one who should be apologizing. I understand what you did and why you did it. I know it had to take a lot to make the decision to give me up to be adopted by the Morgans."

"Derek, you are a Morgan! You're my son, but you are also a Morgan, just as much as anyone else! My work put you and your mother and sister in danger; they lost their lives because of me! I had to keep you safe! I couldn't let anything happen to you!"

"I know, I know, and I get it and I'm sorry for holding it against you."

"We've lost so much time. I'll always regret that."

"But you kept me alive, and I won't regret that."

Dave looked at Derek, he looked different somehow and Dave couldn't really explain why. He'd given Derek his name and he'd held so much hope in having a son to raise, and watch grow into a man; a son who would share his name and his legacy, but life had other plans. He'd watched Derek's life from a distance, forced to settle for progress reports from Fran and Hank and standing in the shadows at graduations then escaping before being seen. On those occasions, he wanted desperately to reveal his true identity and take his son back, but he knew that it would mean his life and Dave loved him too much to risk that.

"Derek," Dave began tearfully, "I need you to know that I love you and if you don't want me in your life, I understand but I hope..."

Derek pulled the older man into his arms and held him for what felt like forever. This man had given up everything to love and protect him. Derek couldn't and he wouldn't hold that against him, not anymore.

"I love you too and I'm sorry for being so angry and so hurtful."

"No, no, you deserve your feelings but let's make a deal."

Derek released the man and waited for him to explain.

"From this day on, we must promise each other that we won't hold the past against the other. No more lies and no more secrets."

"No more lies and no more secrets," Derek repeated.

"Now come on let's join the others before your mother sends a search party to look for us."

Dave wrapped his arm around Derek's shoulders and the two headed toward the office door. Just before Dave turned the knob, he stopped and looked at his son.

"I'm not naive I know it's going to take time before this all makes sense; just know that whenever you have questions, I'll answer them."

Derek nodded and wrapped his arm around Dave and the two left the office and headed back down the long hallway to join the others.

The others couldn't help but notice the change in the two men as they entered the large great room. Fran smiled at her husband and then her son as she joined the embrace. Sarah and Desiree smiled at each other and sighed in relief; their family was complete for the first time, really and truthfully complete.

"Okay everybody, let's get this party started!" Dave ordered.

The others burst into laughter both out of joy and relief; perhaps things could go back to normal now, but normal had changed and perhaps that was the real normal, for life was always changing and always revealing things that often seemed to leave one speechless and reeling and things that would often, bring joy and happiness into their lives. This was one of those moments of joy, great and unexplainable joy.

"Are we okay?" Fran whispered.

Derek smiled while Dave glanced hopefully at his son.

"Yes, yes we're fine Ma; we're fine," Derek answered.

Dave allowed his tears to fall as he nodded, yes.

Fran hugged Derek and then Dave while the others looked on breathlessly.

"I got my family back, I did, I got my family back," she swooned.

The rest of the day seemed like old times, and it was hard to allow the past several days to interfere with the gathering. After a while, Derek pulled Penelope by the hand and whispered in her ear.

Fran, Dave, and the others watched as the couple stepped outside into the lush garden. The two had put off returning to the conversation that had begun in the hospital; somehow Derek felt that this moment was a good time to continue the conversation.

"Hey, what's up, baby boy?"

"I wanted to thank you for being my friend."

Her heart sank; she thought she was more.

"Friend, uh yes of course Derek I'll aways be your friend."

"I learned something recently that I didn't know before."

"What's that?"

"That a love affair cannot survive without a foundation of friendship. I love you Penelope, now more than ever. You've proved your love to me by being that friend that has been steadfast and reliable; Baby Girl you've been my rock."

"Derek..."

"...no, please let me finish."

Penelope nodded and allowed him to continue.

"I want you to know that I've been thinking about our talk in the hospital a lot."

"You have?"

"Yes, I have, and I need you to be a permanent part of my life. I need to wake up with you by my side every day and I need to know that no other man will come into your life and steal you away."

"Derek, I love you and there is no other man for me; no one but you."

Penelope's eyes widened as he stepped away from her slightly as he reached into his left jean pocket. Her hand flew to her mouth as he dropped to his knee in front of her with a hopeful little boy look in his eyes.

"Oh..." she gasped.

"Penelope, Baby Girl, I don't deserve you and I know that but what I do know is that I would be so deliriously happy if you would look past my flaws and shortcomings and agree to hang in with this man and spend the rest of your life with me."

"Derek..."

"Penelope, will you marry me?"

One chapter left...