Note- There is a change in the lyrics here. The word 'love' was replaced with 'others'

Living for a Dream

Morgan and Garcia

Part Three

June 2010

It was after eleven pm when Derek walked the last guest to their car. He came back to the backyard to look for Penelope but didn't see her. Heading inside the kitchen, through the sliding glass door, he found her putting dishes in the dishwasher.

"Leave it be, mama."

"Almost done."

He walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her. "You're done."

"With you distracting me, yeah, I guess I am."

"Well I hope you stuck around till everyone else was out of here for Derek Morgan's company, not because you think I need help cleaning up."

"The birthday boy shouldn't have to do any dirty work today."

"Woman, its fine. I'll deal with the rest of the clean up in the morning. For now you and me are gonna kick back and relax. Now the birthday boy has spoken so that is that, got it?"

She crinkled her nose. "Got it, Mr. Bossy. I won't complain about getting out of clean up duty. And I did stick around so we can have a talk."

He looked deeply into her eyes, as she had her head titled to look up at him. "Oh yeah?"

Penelope slipped from his arms. Walking backwards she crooked her finger at him. "Come to mama."

He chuckled. His eyes drank in her sexy shape in her gauzy peach summer dress, her bare feet, and her hair in loose waves. With a grin on his lips, he chuckled again, and followed her to his living room. A lamp was on, illuminating the room a little.

She had a very seductive look in her eyes.

He asked "A talk, huh?"

Batting her eyelashes at him she turned away from him, looked over her shoulder, and pushed down one strap of her dress. "Oh, not yet," she teased. "Don't rush me. Garci hasn't even given you your birthday present yet."

With eyes burning with lust he watched as she swayed her hips and teased him for another moment before she giggled, flicking the strap back in place.

Derek choked on his tongue a little and told her. "That was so mean."

She gave him pouty lips and he chuckled, moving close to her, ignoring the tightening in his pants from her short show. If her dress had fallen to the floor it would have took supreme willpower to ask her if she was sure she wanted to do this considering she had Kevin in her life.

Derek could feel something very sensual and intense buzzing between him and Garcia for a while now. The case in Alaska had just ratcheted up the already high temperature of their friendship.

Slowly she walked over to him and took his hands then pulled him down on the couch, so they were facing each other and sitting very close. Her eyes held his. He watched as she grew a little nervous, wetting her lips and letting out a shallow breath.

"So," Penelope started "first of all let me say that, you have been amazing lately. You've really been there for me and I totally appreciate the support."

"Anytime, baby girl."

"But...its causing problems between me and Kevin."

Derek swallowed hard and felt a cold chill shoot through him. He pulled back his hands. Leaning back in a feign posed of casualness and deep thought he kept his eyes on hers. "I'm sorry to hear that. What's the problem? He thinks I'm crossing some kind of line or something? Is that what you think too?"

"Yeah, no, I mean...yeah, he thinks that and no, I don't think that. I think that Kevin and I have just, you know, run our course so what I'm trying to say is that you are looking at a woman who will soon be a single lady...hint, hint."

His heart skipped a beat while his eyebrow shot up. "Hint, hint?"

"Yeah."

They shared a tender look.

"That is a good birthday present," Derek told her.

"Whew," she said, relaxing. "I was hoping you might think so."

"I do think so, very, very much," his deep, silky smooth voice told her. He felt like jumping for joy but he kept his cool exterior. "How much have you thought about this?"

"Tons. Like tons and tons. Like constantly...well, not constantly, not obsessively. I'm not obsessed with you or the idea of...you and me being awesome together...I've thought about it some."

He smirked. "Yeah, I can tell."

"And I'm not asking you to give me a sign that this is what I should do when it comes to ending things with Kevin. I have no choice there. Its just not fair. I don't think its ever been fair to him but now its really not and he's mad over silly things that never happened but, to be honest, I wish half the things he thinks we did we really had done."

Derek loved the sound of that. "Baby girl," her name had never sounded so throaty, so soft, so intimate. He leaned close to her and held her face in his hands. "Just so you know...I am not going anywhere. I am here whenever you're ready. I'm here...and I will be here...I'll always be here, okay?"

He could feel her shiver. Her breathing was shallow. She sniffled. "This was supposed to be a lot sexier."

Derek laughed and then pulled her into his arms till they were pressed tight together. His heart raced as he felt her curves against him. "That better?"

"Mmmmerrrruhhhh," she mumbled something.

"Huh?"

"Much."

"Much," he murmured. Though he had been to hell and back in the last three years all that confusion and pain fell away as he held her trembling body, stared into her love filled eyes, and felt her give herself over to him. Put her heart and her future in his hands.

He didn't care if he had to keep waiting a little while more for her to end things with Lynch and for them to ease into dating. Because now Derek knew the day would come when Penelope was his. He knew the wait would end.

He knew she believed in his love finally.

(Now the miles stretch out behind me.

Others I have lost,

broken hearts lay victims of the game.

-x-x

Then good luck finally struck

like lightening from above.

Every highway leads me back to you!)

She lay her hand on his cheek, gently caressing him. "Have I ever told you I love your face?"

"Mmm, yeah, Garcia, you've told me that."

"Have I told you I love your lips especially?"

"Yeah, you've said that more than once."

"I meant it."

"Do you know what I love about you?" His hands smoothed down her back and ghosted over her ass.

"The junk in my trunk?"

He chuckled. "All...of...you."

She melted and then she kissed him. He wouldn't kiss her first because she had a boyfriend. But the moment happened anyway. And that kiss was one he would never trade for anything.

A perfect second kiss. A perfect start to their new chance, more than their second or third but who was counting, to get things right.

(Now at last I hold you.

Now all is said and done.

Now all has come full circle.

Our destinies are one.

-x-x

So if you ever loved me,

show me that you give a damn!

And you'll know for certain

the man I really am.

-x-x

I was living for a dream.

Loving for a moment.

Taking on the world.

That was just my style.

-x-x

Now I look into your eyes

and I can see forever.

The search is over.

You were with me all the while.)

THE END