Note- Sequel to the last story.

And In The End

Late May 2010

".....And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years."- Abraham Lincoln

Her head on his shoulder felt so right. Derek lived for these moments when they were on the jet together, cuddled close, catching some rest after another grueling case. This night he had way too much caffeine in him to sleep so he was just sitting there with his headphones on.

Penelope jerking in her sleep made Derek's eyes move to her. He took off the headphones and that's when he heard her whisper his name. It was tortured plea "Morgan!"

He gently shook her awake. "Baby, I'm here."

They were sitting in a set of seats at the front of the plane with the rest of the team in various seats behind them. Her brown eyes fluttered open. She had taken her glasses off before she drifted off to sleep. Seeing her like that made her look even more vulnerable to him. He would do anything to take the fear out of her eyes.

Penelope blinked a few times, seeming to take in where they were and that they were safe, and then she said "Just a bad dream."

"What was it about?"

"You."

He screwed up his face. His tone was hurt- for her- when he murmured "Baby." Then he paused and added firmly "Tell me about it."

She sat up and fixed her clothes, fidgeting, until he took both her hands in his, wrapping them in the warmth of his larger hands and told her "Give it up, woman."

"The ambulance...it blew up...and no matter how many times I called out your name you never answered. You were....gone."

"Look at me," he whispered "I'm right here, baby girl."

She nodded but still looked shook up.

He leaned close to her. "We all have bad dreams but they are just dreams. Just our worries. They can't hurt us. They aren't real. You know I did answer you." He gave her a small smile, full of secrets and past love that never died for him. "Remember what I told you?"

Penelope whispered "Yeah."

Leaning even closer, he spoke against her ear, "And I still mean it, my solace."

When he went to lean back her hand came up quickly, to hold the side of his face, and keep him like that, their cheeks nuzzling against each other. She whispered back to him "Don't ever die on me. Swear to God."

He moved back then and looked deep into her eyes. "Baby, its not about when we die. Its about what we do while we're alive."

Just then the pilot announced the plane would be landing in half an hour. Penelope excused herself to go to the bathroom. The moment passed.

But for Derek he could still feel lingering warmth from the tingles that shot down his spine when she was caressing his cheek and whispering in his ear. When she was saying, in her own way, Don't ever leave me.

He didn't plan to. No matter what happened.

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

It was a few days later, when they were still off work, that he got a text message from Penelope asking if he would come to this pedestrian bridge near a park they used to take Clooney to back when they hung out together on weekends.

He knew the place well. But he couldn't figure out why she wanted him there today.

There was a growing excitement that he tried to clamp down as he texted her back that he was on his way. When he got there he could look across the park and see her standing there.

His beautiful baby girl. Her blonde hair was shimmering in the sunlight. The pink highlights marking her as a true original among a world of plain and ordinary.

Derek nearly jogged up to her. "Hey there, Goddess."

Now that he was close enough to look into her eyes he could see that she looked subdued. Touching her arm he asked "Everything okay?"

She nodded. Then she turned and stared out at the water.

Derek did the same for a minute but his concern for her overweighed his patience and he asked "What's up? Why are we here?"

"We had a lot of fun in this park before. Remember?"

"Baby, I remember everything. Don't doubt that."

Another long moment passed and she whispered "I guess I'll just spit it out: I broke up with him."

His answered quickly, his tone surprised, "Really? When? Why?"

Watching her closely he saw her lick her lips, in nervousness, before turning to him and crooking her finger at him, the way he did to her so many times when things had been good between them. He was already next to her so he leaned down. Her lips pressed against his in a kiss fueled with six years of pent up lust, pain, hunger, loneliness', confusion, longing and need.

Overcome by it all he pulled back. His eyes searched hers. "You sure, baby?"

Then she smiled. This big, brilliant, filled with love and happiness smile. Her arms looped around his neck. "After that kiss, hells yeah I'm positive. Now kiss your baby girl again before I get cranky."

Smiling and chuckling he did just that. Later on that day they curled up on his couch together, just talking and cuddling close to each other, with Clooney laying nearby. Penelope didn't need to wear Derek's sweatshirt or his warm socks, because it was nearly summer.

But he felt great knowing that next winter she would be again.

THE END