Five or Six years after their wedding
"Time to get dress Chris," she said picking Christopher out of their bed.
"Let me dress you first," he pleaded
"Nope," she said with finality.
"Please Mommy," he said giving her that Morgan smile.
That smile is her weakness, she smiled "I'm a sucker – what should mommy wear?" She asked him as she picked him up and stood in their walk in closet.
He grabbed Derek's pants, "Nope, those are daddy's."
He grabbed a pair of Derek's suspenders and a black pair of pants, "This works," he said like Tim Gunn.
"Ok, so you want me to dress like Dick Tracy?" She said kissing his head.
"Who," Chris asked.
"Sweetness, where are you?" Derek called in the bedroom.
"In here"
"Izzy is ready," he said smiling. She laughed as soon as she saw Izzy in a green tutu, yellow tights and a pink t-shirt.
"Wow, she is bright," Penelope, said between the giggles.
"She get's her fashion sense from her momma," Derek said adoringly.
She leaned over and kissed him, "how are doing on time?"
"735am."
"Ok, I will be down in 15 minutes," wishing it to be true.
"OK, 30 minutes," he said with a smile, "I'll get breakfast ready."
"Mommy, Mommy" Chris cried wanting all of her attention.
"Yes, honey"
"And this"—he said grabbing one of her fancy black lace bra's.
"He is your son," She laughed.
"And this," Chris said as he grabbed her black and white soccer sneakers.
"Ok, now go be a big boy and get dressed and I will meet you downstairs."
As she emerged down stairs at 8:10 am, dressed as Christopher instructed Derek grinned ear to ear. She was wearing black wide leg trousers, his suspenders, a white fitted t-shirt, and black and white polka dot heels. She put her bag and green cardigan on the chair by the foyer.
"Sweetheart you look delicious," he walked over and put his arm around her waist—"and you smell amazing," he said kissing her neck.
"Well, if being Unit Chief means you wear a suit—I'm officially in love with you," she said.
"Hey, I thought you were already in love with me," he said with fake sadness in tone.
"I'm talkin' love – love—like call out sick love," and she said whispering "handcuff you to the bed love—follow you around in heaven love," she said.
"I love you, Unit Chief Derek Morgan."
"Acting Unit Chief," he corrected
"I'm so proud of you baby—watch they are going to offer you, your own team soon."
"Mommy, Mommy come here—"
"Like his daddy, he doesn't want to share you," Derek whispered. Christopher was at that age where he wanted her attention all the time. She read that this possessive phase would pass soon.
When she arrived, Chris said, "You look like a princess in pants."
"Thank you—my little prince,"
When Chris noticed her feet and saw she was wearing heels, he began to protest, "Mommy, you have on the wrong shoes."
"Do I?" she said playing dumb.
"Yes, I'll go get them," he said as he tried to hop off his chair.
"Little man, finish eating," Derek told him.
She sat next to Derek and ate a slice of toast and bacon.
"Are we dropping them off at the BAU or are you going to take them to Penn Day care." He asked her.
"Do you guys have a case? If so, I can do lunch with the munchkins after my first class."
"Not that I know of." Derek replied.
"Ok, let me drop them off at the BAU and I will train it in. Oh if you're here tonight let's have a movie night after we tuck them in," she said excitedly.
"I can think of a few more pleasurable things we can do," Derek said, as he licked the jam off the corner of her mouth. He then continued to kiss and caress her back.
"I love you, sugar," she said
"I love you more baby girl," he said "Shit it's 8:27am… we have to go."
Four Days Later
It was a Sunny day in Quantico and she was walking towards him with two coffees.
"Hey Tamara," he said
"Hey Derek," she said, she passed him a coffee, "just the way you like it"
"Awe, you're too good to me." He said smiling at her, "How is your sister in law holding up?"
"Well, I just visited her in LA. She and the kids are settling in fine. Well, they are adjusting but—as good as can be expected."
"I'm glad." He said smiling at her taking a sip of coffee.
"I wanted to thank you for checking on me Derek, without my family here - I've come to rely on our budding friendship. You are a great listener."
He laughs, "I feel like I do all the talking," he says as he takes a seat next to her on the bench.
"You are a talker," she said with a big grin.
"How is the new position going?" Tamara asked.
"It is a lot of work, but I do enjoy it. I can't wait until Hotch can return to the job. I miss seeing my family. My daughter took her first steps when I was in Ohio, on a case. Penelope recorded it with her phone. Do you want to see it?"
"Of course proud papa."
He pulled up the video on his phone and played it for her.
"She is so cute—she looks just like you."
"Christopher is so glad to be an older brother – he loves bossing her around."
They continued chatting until JJ texted him for the 10 am meeting at 10:10am.
"Crap I have to head back up," He said standing up
"It was good to see you – maybe we can grab a drink again soon."
He gave her a hug and dashed up stairs.
Later that day—
Penelope is sitting in his office and reading her kindle when Derek walks in.
"I thought I could take you out to a pre-anniversary lunch," she said.
"Hmm," he replied.
She continued talking, like a child on a sugar rush, "Yeah, I have Amy booked for tonight, tickets for Alicia Keys concert, and reservation and Luca's. Reservations are so hard to get, but Plato pulled some strings for us since he dates the one of the managers. Wait until you see the dress I bought for our 5th year—it is amaze-balls D! Amaze ballz."
"Penelope, I can't—we are heading to Florida for a case."
"Seriously?" she said unable to hide her pissed ness.
"Yeah," he said regretfully.
"Can you join them tomorrow? I hacked your calendar and blocked off the time D—"
"Hey baby girl, the Director doesn't care about my pressing personal engagements."
"Derek, last year we did nothing and you promised this would be different—we have tickets, reservations, backless dress," she said annoyed.
"I can't," he said simply.
She took a deep breath, "Ok, I know—guilt trip over," she said accepting her reality.
"Maybe Stella or Jackson can go with you to the concert and I'll make it up to you this weekend," Derek said eagerly.
She knew that weekend would never come—but she couldn't believe he wanted her to go with someone else.
"What?" she said baffled.
"I mean you have tickets, babysitter and dress—I don't want to ruin it." He said
"So you want me to go with someone else?" She said wondering if he knew how irrelevant that made her feel.
"I don't want you to—but I want you to enjoy Alicia Keys, sweetheart," he said as if that was a good reason.
"I'm sorry but I gotta go—meeting," he said grabbing his I-pad.
He kissed her quickly on the lips and dashed out.
She headed out of his office and to the bathroom, before she burst into tears. She couldn't figure out why she was feeling so emotional – pretend it wasn't an anniversary -it was just a date night, nothing big, she told herself. She just felt so … so frustrated. She just needed to relax. It's just another day. You have your happily ever after—she told herself. Be happy. This was a mantra that she told herself often when he forgot her birthday, anniversary, or cancelled. You have your happily ever after—Be happy. After her 20th deep breath, she saw his smile in her head. She wiped her tears. She left the stall and splashed water gently on her eyes so that she could get rid of the tear streaks without ruining her make-up.
Be Happy she said to herself in the mirror.
She then sent a text to Stella.
Hey- do you have plans tonight? Want to see Alicia Keys tonight?
Do you want to get a drink before? He replied in like less than 30 seconds, which made her smile.
We could go to Luca first if you don't mind seeing your girlfriend tonight.
Ex girlfriend—and yes, so there.
Great. Meet you there at 630pm.
Thanks for being free, Plato.
NP, L8r will call you after class.
This is your happily ever after—Be happy, she repeated to herself as she drove home.
Thank you for the reviews and follows. They make me smile.
This is my story but I can't wait till I get through the next 2 chapters- they break my heart. Next time, I am going to write a happy piece through and through!