Baby Girl

Morgan and Garcia

Chapter Twelve

July 2002

Penelope had a cook out for Fourth of July. One of the things she liked most about the day was all the pictures she got to take of Derek and Jasmine, and also of her and Derek. It reminded her that they should go in for a family portrait soon.

Now Penelope was able to start building her first photo album that included Derek in it. There were pictures from Jaz's birthday party, from Derek's birthday dinner at his new house, and also from this cook out today. Penelope treasured every photo because it showed life the way it should have been all along for her daughter. Having Derek right there holding her.

Late that night everyone but Derek and Reid had gone home. Reid was in Jasmine's room telling her some dry, boring facts about Independence Day. She laughed the sound of his voice though and giggled whole heartedly, as if it was really very interesting to hear about the Revolutionary War.

Penelope was cleaning up the kitchen, with Derek's help, when he said "Too bad we couldn't have made it up to Chicago for this holiday weekend."

"I know your Mom wants to meet Jaz. Just as soon as we get more than two days off in a row you can take her up there, promise."

"You won't be coming with?"

"If you want me to I could but I trust you to take her alone. Of course, you may get a frantic call from me freaking out and screaming to bring my baby back to me immediately. Just ignore that if it happens. The only time I've been away from her overnight is when I was arrested. But it has to happen sometime, right? She needs to start spending some nights with her Daddy."

"I'd love to have her at my place. Thank you, baby girl, for trusting me."

"Whoever knew a playboy who wasn't gonna settle down for a decade would turn into the ideal Mr. Mom?"

Derek laughed. "That's cruel, woman, to throw the stupid things I said in the past back in my face like that."

Penelope chuckled. "Be warned, sug, I have an elephant's memory." She looked him up and down. "When it comes to everything."

He grinned. "Good. Cause I don't want you forgetting a thing."

"Ohhhh, I never shall forget the most mind shattering orgasm of my life."

Just then Reid walked in. It was clear he had caught when she said because he looked completely uncomfortable. "Oh! Hey. I was just...I wanted to say good night."

Derek tore his eyes away from Penelope's lustful gaze and smiled at Reid. "Hey, kid, I'll walk you out. Thanks for coming by today."

"Sure."

Penelope said "Night, junior G man. Take care of that sunburn. You are adorable red but not that red."

"Night, Garcia."

A few minutes later Derek came back in the house. He went to Jasmine's room and got her settled down for bed, turning off everything but her night light, changing her diaper one more time and giving her the giraffe she always slept with now.

"Good night, angel. I love you very much. You are mine and your mother's pride and joy."

Jasmine babbled at him and grabbed his finger. Derek grinned at her. It was still hard to believe that one night of passion created this child. She made him feel hopeful again and like his life had roots now. He was more than just a profiler. He was a Daddy. There was no contest to which title meant more to him.

XXXXXXXXXXX

When Derek came out of his daughter's room that night Penelope was settled on the couch. She had on a pink sun dress but had kicked off her shoes. Her hair was cut shorter that it had been two years ago and there was no more pink streaks now. He still found her beautiful in every way though.

"So, girl, you need any more help cleaning up around here?"

"I think we got it all. Thanks for all your help today, Derek, and thank you for taking the time to show up. You know, next time, feel free to bring a date. Don't feel like you have to keep your love life on the down low from me. I'm a big girl. I won't rip her hair out...unless she's bitchy to Jaz and then its on."

He sighed wearily. "I don't think that will be an issue for a little while longer but thank you. One day I'll take you up on that offer, baby girl. Thanks for being so cool about it. Uh...the same goes for me...you feel free to bring your dates around. I won't interrogate them too hardcore. And I won't scare them off. Unless they are mean to our daughter and then its on. They won't know what hit em."

Penelope smiled at him. "I would expect nothing less, handsome."

Derek sat on the couch and let out a tired sigh. "Long day. I guess I should take off."

"You got a text when you were putting Jaz down. Sorry but I read it."

"Huh?" He snatched up his phone off the coffee table and read a very dirty text from a chick he met in a club. "Penelope, I'm sorry that you read that. This chick is just like this but I don't text her back the same kind of stuff."

Penelope shrugged. "And I thought you liked it dirty, baby."

In a silky smooth tone he told her "I do like it dirty but with the right baby only."

"She seems to think she's right for you."

"Yeah, well, she ain't even close."

"Maybe it's Tanya then? Is she close?" That was the woman Penelope caught Derek flirting with at work.

Derek gave her a look that asked how she knew about Tanya but then answered "No, she's not close either." He reached out and tucked some hair behind Penelope's ear. "You wanna know the truth, baby girl? No one has been close to me in two years now. You're my hot blonde and nobody lives up to the memory of you. I wouldn't blame you if you don't believe that or if it don't matter to you anymore...I get that a lot of time has gone by. But I'm still working my was past everything we got cheated out of. I'm not there yet. One day, I guess."

"I didn't know."

"I didn't want you to know."

"We're some pair, huh? We both got stuck in that weekend and wanted it to go on forever but it can't. Its over and its never coming back. We can never be in that weekend again, no matter how much we crave it. But still it was so magical that who wouldn't want to live there forever? So we stubbornly refuse to move on, even when our lives are totally different now. I'm doing the same thing, Derek. I go on dates but they never stay over...I want to be able to let someone else touch me but I haven't worked up the nerve yet. I guess I'm more of a scardey cat then I ever let on. Or else I'm just afraid to get knocked up again and this time it won't be a handsome prince charming who is my baby Daddy."

"Hey," he said tenderly as he scooted closer to her on the couch "this probably goes without saying but I hate the idea of any man but me touching you." He ran his knuckles over her cheek. "You're still in my blood, Penelope."

"Its not simple anymore."

"It never was. So what? All it comes down to is do you want me or not?"

"Its complicated now."

"Do you want me?"

"We have to think of Jaz."

"You hard headed woman, answer me!"

"Yeah, my handsome man, I want you uber much but I'm just concerned-"

Her words were muffled as his mouth crashed into hers and then words, concerns, the past, the future, the world and everything else was forgotten as they got lost in kissing and caressing each other.