No One Heals Me Like You Chapter 6, a criminal minds fanfic

Epilogue

Penelope and Derek ended up spending four days in Chicago at the very end of the year. It was his chance to show her off to his family and for them to see the love between him and her.

They stayed with his mother. The lust between them was now at a fevered pitch. They had decided to hold off on sex until they could both get out of their relationships- though what he had with Tamara wasn't exclusive or romantic it was still a tie that had to be cut.

Then work got busy and that kept them separated until right before Christmas. They spent the holidays at the Hotchner's house. The day before was spent on a mad shopping spree for Jack and Henry plus wrapping the presents they bought online. The day after was spent napping in bed and watching movies because they were exhausted from the cooking, tree cutting and decorating and spending long hours hanging out with their family.

The holiday had a quiet sadness to it but everyone pushed to smile and laugh as much as possible.

A case came up a few days after Christmas that kept them busy until it was time to rush to the airport to head to Chicago. Now Derek and Penelope were back in Virginia, had picked his dog up at the kennel and were standing at Derek's front door.

He slipped the key in the lock and looked at her. "Home sweet home, baby girl. God, I thought we'd never get alone together again. I was ready to head back here after just a day in Chi-town but my mom would have kicked my ass if I-"

Penelope gave him a tongue tangling kiss. Right before their lips met she muttered "Shut up, Hot Stuff, and give me a good night."

He got the door open, as his lips were still on hers, and Clooney ran inside. Derek pulled Penelope in, closed the door and started to get her coat off her. She slipped him out of his.

Everything went fast, like an out of control wild fire, just the way it would have been if it was six years before in early 2004 when she came walking into his world. Except now he knew how much he loved her and how he could never let her go again.

He carried her upstairs. Most of their clothes were laying strewn near the front door. She was nipping at his ear and begging to be fucked out of her mind as hard and fast as he could manage. Getting him completely insane with her words, like she always did.

Derek lay her on the bed, chucked out of his pants and underwear, and then came down onto the bed with her, taking her mouth in another kiss. He spent time kissing her neck and then sucking her breasts. Her body was still throbbing from the first orgasm he gave her by thrusting his fingers in her when they were downstairs. Her legs shook and she was sure she couldn't even walk right now if she tried.

Penelope begged him to take her. Derek grinned and captured her lips in one more desperate kiss before he thrust into her.

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Penelope, Emily and JJ went to visit Haley's grave during March. They brought flowers to put on it. All three were going through changes in their hearts that year. For Penelope it was all about coming home to the man God made just for her.

For JJ it was more complicated. It was about the pull between being safe and being known. She loved Will but there were parts of her that he would simply never touch. She wouldn't let him in that deep. Sooner or later something would give- one way or the other. She would either let down her last wall and make him her husband so they could share a beautiful life together, the life he had always been begging to give her and patiently waiting for her to take. Or else she would push him away, maybe for the best, and end up with a man who knew her better than Will ever could. Because she let that man know her.

For Emily it was even more complicated. She was used to taking care of herself and not allowing anyone to nurture her. Now she found herself in the position of having a man willing to be there when she was falling to pieces who didn't ask for anything back. It was scary and exhilarating all at once. Her fears and doubts told her that it would never work out between them and yet she was becoming more and more dependent on him everyday.

It wasn't the way she ever imagined this working out. She kept her mouth shut about it at work and faked a smile for everyone. But she sometimes caught him giving her a certain look that said he suspected she was going through more than she let on and that she didn't have to go through it alone.

Penelope spoke to Haley's grave. "We miss you, friend. I know you hear me talking to you all the time but since I'm here I just wanted to officially thank you for getting through my hard head. You used your last words to speak to Hotch about love and family. That made me see that nothing else matters but being with the one you need most on this earth. I'm with him now, like you know, and you helped us to get past ourselves and get together. Thank you, angel girl. We're looking out for your boys. You keep looking out for all of us too."

JJ put her arm around Penelope's waist and laid her head against her, in a comforting gesture. Emily was a few feet away but Penelope touched her arm and brought her close to them for a group hug.

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Two months later it was time for the BAU's yearly two weeks of vacation. Derek and Penelope had spoken at length about where they wanted to go and decided to see some of Europe by taking a train trip through Italy and France.

They made memories that they would add to the years worth of memories they already had, making their history together richer still. On the last night of the trip they ended up standing near the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

Derek took her hand and kissed it. Looking deep in her eyes he said "Stay with me tonight. I need to know you're okay. I need to hold you."

She grinned. "I'm with you every night, baby."

He pulled a ring box out of his pocket and opened it. "Stay with me forever, baby girl. I need to know you're mine. That my solace won't ever be separated from me again."

She gasped and tears filled her eyes. "Derek? Are you sure?" her voice shook. "I don't need a ring to know you love me. I can wait....just like you waited for me."

"Baby girl, why would I want to make you wait longer? I'm all in. I love you, sweetness. You're my light and my strength and my courage. Hey....silly girl....marry me."

She nodded happily and he swept her off her feet, spinning her around, and then found her lips to kiss.

"I'll show you a good life, Hot Stuff."

"I know you will, princess."

(And won't you kiss me on that midnight street.

Sweep me off my feet.

Singing "Ain't life so sweet?"

This year's love had better last.

Whoa, ohhhhh.

This year's love had better last.) (David Gray)

THE END