Disclaimer: I own nothing.
So after a very long sabbatical from this story, I have come back to finish it! I appreciate your reviews very much and hope you like the rest of this.
Penelope was sitting in her hospital room, breathing unsteadily. She had been in the hospital for a week and she was not having a great time. Her children and Derek had spent every moment with her, but she finally told her daughters they had to go back to school. While Derek had walked out to grab a cup of coffee, Tala poked her head in and grinned. "Hi!" she said, coming into the room, her backpack slung over her shoulder.
"Tala," she groaned. "It's noon. You're supposed to be at school!"
"I snuck out," she stated, sitting down in Derek's unofficial seat. "I just wanted to come and see you."
Penelope's stern expression softened and she smiled slightly. "Okay," she said. "But this is the last time. No more ditching class. And you'll have to go back after this. I'll be home soon anyways, so you won't have to go anywhere."
Tala stuck her tongue out and shifted in her seat. "Well, it's good to see you're getting back to your usual self. Making me be responsible."
"How much trouble were you in for..." Her voice trailed off.
She immediately understood. "Oh? You mean breaking Ashley's arm? Well, they're not giving me a suspension due to my...well, you know. But they did make me quit soccer." She snickered. "But at least I get the satisfaction of seeing the bitch's petrified face every day. It's extremely hilarious."
Penelope instantly became concerned again. "Tala, I know you meant well, but I don't want to see you getting in trouble for defending me. What you did to Ashley could have been a lot worse in the way of consequences."
"Eh, I don't really care," she muttered. "All I can say is Ashley got what she deserved: a good kick in the ass." She sighed. She looked directly in her mother's eyes. "So..." she drawled out. "I was wondering about..."
Penelope sighed. "About what's going on with your father and me," she finished.
"Well, yeah," Tala said. "Exactly that."
"Don't freak out or anything, but we haven't really discussed it yet," she admitted. "Right now we're just focussing on getting me out of here as quickly as possible. "Hopefully that will be in the next few days."
Tala perked up. "I'll make sure everything is ready," she said enthusiastically. "I'll clean the whole house! I'll make sure Soraya and Lindy behave exactly right!"
Silently, Penelope watched as her daughter went on and on about everything she was going to do to get the house ready her. It was almost like she was trying to make up for everything going on between them since Derek had left. It almost brought tears to her eyes to see how hard she was trying. Holding up her hand, she shook her head and interrupted Tala. "Sweetie, sweetie," she murmured. She held out her hand for Tala to take. "I think I know what you're trying to do."
"Yeah," she said as if it were so obvious. "I'm trying to help you. I know that cleaning will be a little hard for you, so I'm going to do everything -"
Again, Penelope interrupted her. "You're trying to make up for all the fighting we've been doing." Tala was silent and she averted her eyes. Penelope knew for sure now that she was right. "But you need to realize that you don't need to make up for anything. You're my daughter; I'm your mother. There's nothing to forgive."
Tears filled Tala's eyes and she leaned up to hug her mother tightly. "Love you, Mom," she murmured.
"I love you too, Baby."
XXXXX
Tala snuck out before Derek came back and Penelope was sad to see her go.
"Hey you," Derek said, reentering the room. He smiled. "I talked to the doctor. He cleared you to go home tomorrow."
"Really?" Penelope asked excitedly. "I can go home?"
He nodded. "Yep," he said. "Exactly that."
She pursed her lips. Now seemed like a good time as any to bring up their predicament. "Derek? I was wondering if you and I could have a conversation. Like right now?"
He nodded and took a sip of his coffee. "Absolutely," he said. "What's up?"
"We need to discuss when you're coming home," she said.
"Well, we can do it slowly," he said. "I'll keep the apartment. Maybe sleepover a few times a week on the couch or -"
She shook her head. "Derek, that's not what I want."
He shook his head in confusion. "What do you want then? I suppose I could sleep over only once a week."
Again, she said, "That's not what I want either. I want you home. Sleeping in our bed, living with us everyday and out of that apartment, cooking breakfast with the girls and I on Sundays." Tears filled her eyes. "But Baby, I need you home. I love you and want you to see our daughters grow up. I want you around and with us."
Derek was silent and looked at his steaming cup of coffee. But then he looked up at her again and smiled. "I'll make sure Strauss gives me the same plan I asked her for before. And if she refuses, I'll hand in my resignation and find another damn job."
Her eyes went wide. "No, no! Don't quit! Just -"
He leaned up and planted his lips gently on hers to quiet her down. "No, Baby Girl," he said as he pulled away again. "You were right. I need my family and I should never have abandoned you and the girls. You are the only things that matter to me. That's the God's honest truth."
More tears filled her eyes and she sniffled. "Okay," she murmured. "I just want you home. I just want us happy. And I will never let us lose everything again."
He smiled. "I'm coming home," he said.
"You're coming home, Hot Stuff."
So this one is very short, but that's all the muse had. Don't worry...there will be more!