Use Your Words

Chapter Twelve

Wednesday March 24, 2010

Ever since the moment that Penelope had agreed to become Derek's wife he had been thinking about how he should actually formally propose to her. In his mind he pictured many different scenarios (going to the beach, getting down on one knee in the park where they walked Clooney and where one day their kids would play, or in front of the fireplace in their new house) but in the end he came up with something completely different.

He knew it would take her by surprise and he just hoped he hadn't really miscalculated what she would want. It wasn't the most romantic way to propose but it felt the most right for them in his heart and mind.

They were in a briefing one afternoon. Hotch had just said "We're wheels up in forty, everyone, so lets get moving."

Everyone stood up and headed for the door.

"Hold on just a minute, guys," Derek said. He got to his feet and walked the few steps across the room to Penelope's side, then he took her hand and gave her a tender look. "I think everyone pretty much has heard by now that me and this gorgeous lady are very much a hot thing," his last few words were said in a teasing way as his eyes locked on hers. "You all know she's the absolute light of my life, my sunshine and my heartbeat. That's why..." he took out the ring "it would be my honor and privilege to spend everyday of the rest of my life trying to keep a smile on her pretty face."

Penelope let out a shaky breath. "Oh, Derek," she said, in a loving tone.

"Baby girl, we need to do this right." He dropped to one knee. "I've had a crush on you since the day we met, mama, and I wanna keep that crush going till the day I die. Its so much more than just a crush but that's part of it too. Cause you make me wanna chase after you like a teenager who just discovered girls all over again. You keep it fresh. You keep me on my toes. I wanna tell you in front of our closest friends that I will always be the man you can trust, Penelope. So do you trust me to be your man? Will you marry me?"

She answered "Only a fool would say no to a chocolate God and my mama didn't raise no fool! Yes, I would love to marry you, Hot Stuff! Just remember that once you are mine you are mine for every breath you take from now on and I will never let my man get away!"

He slipped the ring on her finger, kissed her hand, stood up and scooped her off her feet, giving her a kiss as he did so. The team all clapped and cheered- except Hotch, who crossed his arms over his chest and just had a very small smile on his lips and the very slightest trace of tears in his eyes. It was good to see them both so happy and in love. He felt they deserved it after having gone through so much in their lives.

He wanted nothing more than for everyone in that room to know the same level of happiness and joy too but he knew how rare it was to find. It was a miracle that Derek and Penelope had found each other, kept the spark going six years and finally allowed it to turn into a fire that could burn for years to come.

Maybe they would make it. He prayed they did. Life was easier with someone to lean on like they always leaned on each other. And when that someone loved you unconditionally, made a home with you, and gave you children it didn't get any better than that. It was rare indeed. He couldn't be happier that his friends had found it in each other.

XXXXXXXXXX

Many days after work they stumbled into Derek's home kissing. On this particular day as they were kissing and tearing each other's clothes off Penelope said, against his lips, "Oh my God, I love my ring, baby."

He slammed the door closed, told Clooney to lay down, and then started kissing her again. "That's good, mama."

While Derek was kissing her neck Penelope raised her hand to look at the ring again. "Its so pretty! You have such uber good taste, my love."

He took her hand, laid it against the door next to her head, and then kissed her palm. His lips moved around her wrist and down her arm before going to her neck once again. His fingers intertwined with hers on the hand that was raised.

She promised "I will never take this ring off...well maybe to shower and that's it! Otherwise it does not leave my finger! You can do all the dishes, Hot Stuff."

Chuckling he moved in for another kiss "Motor mouth, are you trying to tell me something right now?"

"That I love this ring very much?"

"That you're not in the mood, huh? Cause you're sure distracted."

She gave him her sexiest look and purred, as her hand cupped the back of his neck, "Oh, don't be fooled. I'm just multi-tasking."

Sternly he said "Focus."

"Yes, Sir Derek. Its just that this ring is the most beautiful thing I've ever owned and it almost feels like a dream to have it on my finger. Every time I look at it I just wanna cheer with happiness because its so uber awesome that we are engage-"

"Hush!" He gave her a tongue tangling kiss. Leaning his forehead against hers he said "Being engaged is just technical. I told you that already, woman." He took the hand that was raised and brought it down to press against his heart. "In here...what are you already?"

She cooed "Your wife."

"That's right, baby girl! Now, wife, you get a choice: dinner and then bed or bed and then dinner?"

"Hmmmm."

Derek grinned. "Garcia, is it really that tough to decide?" he teased.

"Hmmmm. I did skip lunch today."

He laughed. "Okay, fine, I'll feed you first. You know me: I can wait. But, I warn you, when I wait I just get that much more ready for showing my wife how much I love her. So I hope you've got lots of energy stored up because you just talked yourself into quite the long night." Derek turned to Clooney and said "Come on, boy, lets go out and leave mama here to think about how hungry she is."

Penelope smiled brightly and jumped on Derek's back. She kissed his cheek. "Hot Stuff, I told you before not to get me turned on and walk away. Do you wanna be spanked?"

She got off him. He turned around and pulled her close, wearing a big smile.

"Silly girl, you can spank me anytime you want."

She laughed. "Its not punishment if you like it!" They kissed again before she said "Take your doggie-"

"Our doggie."

"Take our doggie out and then you, sexy super fox hubby, meet me upstairs. Dinner can wait. You never should have to again."

He couldn't stop grinning as he walked to the back of the house to let Clooney into the backyard.