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Derek leaned against the door, closing his eyes tightly. He felt a hand on his forearm and opened his eyes.

"Are you my daddy?" Melody asked, smiling.

Her eyes were looking at Derek expectantly, almost with hope. He looked at Emily a few seconds, looking for help. She just shrugged.

He knelt down, covering her cheek with the palm of his hand. "I do not know, honey. I really do not know."

She pursed her lips, something grieved. Derek came to her, kissing tenderly her forehead. "But there is something I know for sure. Do you know it is?"

Melody shook her head before looking back at Emily, "Do you know it is?"

She smiled, with tears in her eyes "No, Melody. I do not know"

His voice rang with excitement, almost trembling "I will always love you. Matter what happens. If you want me to be your daddy ... I will be your daddy"

Derek did not know why he had said that. He did not even understand his immense love for that child. A month ago, he did not know her existence. Now, he could not live without her.

Before Dean appeared even before Emily sow that doubt in his mind ... He already loved to Melody.

He felt identified with her. Melody was growing up without a father. He was barely ten years old when his father died. Melody had been abused by an adult.

He prayed that she had not have suffered to such extremes.

She was helpless in the world. He thought it might have happened, if the hospital had not called to JJ. That little girl would be alone now, forsaken ... with no one to protect her from the pain, with no one to take care for her.

"Derek" her sweet voice broke into his thoughts, "You loves my mom?"

He looked into her eyes. "Yes, baby girl. I love your mama"

Her arms were tied around his neck "She loves you, too"

Emily choked back a sigh, trying to control her emotions. She was not able to cope with such scene, at the time. "Guys, I think I'll go"

"Are you leaving?" Melody asked, holding her hand, "Where?"

"Don't be nosy" Derek said, with a smile

Emily laughed weakly before give a kiss to Melody "Be good. Santa is right around the corner"

She shrugged. "I will do my best"

Derek put his hands on her shoulders, "Do not have homework to do?"

She narrowed her eyes, before nodding her head "Yes, sir"

Emily said goodbye to Derek, giving him a hug. Then she hesitated, remaining still in the door. "Derek ..."

"What?"

"Why do you laughed?" she asked nervously "Do you think i'm a big moron, right?"

"I laughed because you blushed. I laughed because you looked so worried, that I thought something was wrong. I laughed because Reid is dying to thy bones, and you do not even know it. I have not made fun of your feelings, do not be silly "

She smiled, sighing strongly "Do you think he has feelings for me?"

"Yes, his body language betrays him"

"Really? Did his body language says he's in love with me?"

Derek raised an eyebrow, "His body says it loudly"

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"Dear God, thank you very much for taking care of me. Know you're up there, very high, watching every step we take. I know you're busy. Everyone has desires but this is important. My mom is sleeping , but she does not wake up. Please, open her eyes.

I love Derek, he's great... but I miss my mommy "

Derek leaned against the wall, right next to the door of her room. His heart was beating hard against his chest.

He could feel his heartbeat in his temples. That whole situation was too sad for a seven year old girl. But she still had faith, she had hope on miracles. She got up every morning with a smile

"Take care of Dr. Lewis, and Nurse Lucy, as they take care of my mom. Thank you for my uncle David, he is very good to me. Thanks for Aaron, JJ, Will, Emily and Spencer. Take care of Henry too, though he eat my sweets "

Derek could not help smiling, at the prayers of the girl. He closed his eyes, making his own silent prayer.

'Forgive all my mistakes. I know I've been wrong many times, I know I've lost my faith. But I'm trusting you. Thank you very much for sending me this little angel. Please help me to keep safe my little girl. I want to become a good father for her'

"Derek loves my mom and loves me, too. God, please let him know that he is the best dad in the world, but that does not give right to listen prayers of other people "

Derek frowned, surprised "Huh ...?"

He appeared at the bedroom door. Melody was still kneeling with her eyes closed. "I've caught you, Derek"

Her eyes opened as he approaching her. "Time for bed. We have to go to the police station tomorrow"

She lay down on the bed, covering her body with the pink sheets "Can we go to the hospital?"

"Sure." he said, giving a kiss to her cheek "Sleep well, monkey"

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Derek woke up, wrapped in sweat. A gasp came from his throat. He got out of bed, wandering like a zombie.

His hands shook as he filled a glass with water. He let the liquid slide down his throat, trying to calm his spirit.

He looked at the clock in the hall. 5:47.

Derek should be sleeping. But his nightmares had altered his tranquility.

Those dead bodies, were emerging from everywhere. Their lifeless eyes, their pale skin, their mortal wounds...

The weariness took hold of his eyelids. His eyes closed again. Now, as ten minutes before, Penelope's lifeless body appeared in his mind. He knew she was alive, but that reality could not calm his heart.

"Are you okay?"

He turned to look at Melody. She was rubbing her eyes with her fingers, her other hand clutching a stuffed animal. Derek approached her. "Why have you woken up? Still early"

"I heard you scream ..."

Derek swallowed hard. "It was just a nightmare. Nothing to worry about, sweetie"

"I can sleep with you?"

He smiled, returning to the girl to lie down, in her bed, "No, I'll be fine. Now go to sleep"

"My mommy sang when I could not sleep. I had nightmares"

She squeezed his hand, pulling him toward her bed. Derek leaned his arms on the mattress, his chin on his forearms. He knew it was true. Penelope had done it so many times, when he was nightmares. He looked intently Melody, while she stroked his cheek.

Your faith was strong but you needed proof

You saw her bathing on the roof

her beauty and the moonlight overthrew you

She tied you

To a kitchen chair

She broke your throne, and she cut your hair

And from your lips she drew the hallelujah

His eyes welled with tears. He remembered that song.

That song, reminded him so much Penelope. That was one of her favorite songs, she always managed to soothe his heart with these lyrics.

Moreover, he felt so identified with that story. Penelope had managed that he could have faith in humanity and in life itself.

She was his shelter, his own comfort.

When she left, he felt lost. Derek did not know what to do with his pain, he did not know fight his nightmares. The sweet voice of Melody managed to bring peace, that Penelope snatched him.

Maybe I've been here before

I know this room, I've walked this floor

I used to live alone before I knew you

I've seen your flag on the marble arch

Love is not a victory march

Its a cold and its a broken hallelujah

She closed her eyes with a smile. Melody knew he was calmer, took her fingers from his cheek. Derek stood up slowly, without making any noise.

He dropped down on his bed, quietly. Then he began to cry..

His tears ran down his cheeks, breaking every chain that tied his soul.

Derek cried for his father, his lost friends, his breakups, his fears and disappointments.

His tears for innocent people dying, for his own sorrow.

When his tears ceased, a great peace filled his soul. On his lips a smile of relief, of pure peace ...

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Derek closed the door behind him, his eyes on Penelope. Melody was sitting beside her, kissing in the face of her mother.

"Mel, honey ... We gotta go. Say goodbye to Mom"

His features were visibly distressed, "I do not want to go to the police station. I want to stay with my mom"

"We must go. Please do not make this harder"

Melody got up from the bed, moving closer to Derek. "Why do not you kiss her?"

"Excuse me?" he asked, shocked, "What ...?"

She pulled a book from her backpack, opening it on the mattress "Watch this. Snow White. Sleeping Beauty. The Little Mermaid"

"Uh ... Very nice"

Melody closed the book shut, looking at Derek "You do not understand. They were bewitched. The antidote was a true love's kiss"

"Melody, baby ..."

"Just kiss her ..."

Derek felt miserable, but he would not lie to Melody, or give her false hopes "Such things do not happen in real life, only in fairy tales"

"You told me that my mom was sleeping ..."

He sighed heavily, covering her chin with his hand

"It's true. She is sleeping but I can not do anything"

"You don't want to do anything!" she cried, her face covered with tears, "You told me she was going to wake up, but my mom does not open her eyes"

"Sorry ..."

An insistent noise filled the room. Derek looked at the screen to controlled her heartbeat. "God …"

A/N: Hey! As always thanks for your alerts and favourites.

Thanks for your reviews to:

Kmn1829, LoveforPenandDerek, People Person I'm Not, West Girl, Maxxbaby, Jenny Crum, Went, Kimd33, Lenika08 and Guest :P

The song is Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen