The Gift Is You

Morgan and Garcia

December 2010

Chapter Four

In the early morning light Derek stared at his wife as she slept. They were staying at his mother's house for Christmas. Since Penelope was advised not to ride on a plane in her third trimester they had driven to Chicago. Even though Penelope had made Derek promise two years before they would get a hotel when they next visited Chicago it never seemed to actually happen. His mother loved having them in her home and it always seemed rude to deny her that simple pleasure.

Most visits were spent wishing for half an hour of an empty house so they could satisfy their pent up cravings. But this trip was totally different. Penelope was just over eight months pregnant. Their whole world was centered on the child growing inside of her- making plans, dreaming about the baby's future, discussing possible names. Aubrey, Johanna, Sierra had all made their short list. Penelope wanted a name that wouldn't blend into the crowd.

What Derek wanted most of all was a healthy baby and wife. Sometimes he couldn't sleep for worrying about Penelope going into labor. Since he didn't want to miss the birth he was going to take time off when they got closer to her due date and stay near her side constantly-even if he drove his wife crazy with his doting ways.

Derek had to be there to hold her hand when she brought their child into the world. Just another month, maybe a little more or less, and they would be the parents of a newborn. It still blew Derek's mind how he had went from being such a ladies' man to falling for his best friend and then marrying her. It felt surreal sometimes. Like he shouldn't be this lucky. He shouldn't get to be the guy who has all this.

Like he would wake up to find the last few years had all been a dream and he was still living alone, playing the field, the bachelor with just a dog for company. That Penelope would belong to some other man who was smart enough to fall in love with her at first sight and actually, unlike Derek, tell her so right away. A man who deserved this happiness that Derek called his own.

He had to shake himself sometimes and remind himself that he was the man who got all this not because he was the most deserving man in the world but because Penelope had chosen him. Because she said he made her happier than any other man ever could. And, for the rest of his life, he planned to stay on his number one job of pleasing his baby girl.

Staring at his sleeping wife, Derek had the urge to lean over and kiss her but he didn't want to disturb her. There would be time for kisses later. They had a whole lifetime to spend together.

(Watching as you softly sleep,

what I'd give if I could keep

just this moment,

if only time stood still.

But the colors fade away

and the years will make us grey.

But, baby, in my eyes

you'll still be beautiful.) (The Gift by Jim Brickman)

XXXXXXXXXXX

The first year that Penelope heard Derek's Uncle Blue sing an Irish folksy Christmas ballad she had been appalled at his drunken carrying on. But this year she sang along with him. She had grown to enjoy the song because now it held funny memories for her of that first Christmas that Derek had brought her home with him.

Uncle Blue's real name was Bob but they all called him Blue because as a baby his security blanket had been blue. He dragged it around for four years and the nickname stuck. The song he sang every Christmas he had first heard when it was popular in the eighties. He was married back then but now he was divorced. His drinking had chased his wife away- though she was still friendly with him. Considering he was seventy years old it didn't seem he'd ever go on the wagon. That made Penelope sad but she loved him and his drunken but festive spirit at every Morgan family party.

Whenever she thought of Blue she thought of this song he would sing with gusto at Christmas time.

Penelope had downloaded the song to her ipod and had been singing it for the last couple of months, along with other Christmas tunes, to keep her in the spirit of the season as she battled morning sickness, swollen ankles, worries about preeclampsia and Derek's overprotectiveness that had kicked into high gear the moment he first suspected she was pregnant. Leave it to the profiler to figure it out before his own wife. He thought she was hesitant to mention it since they had stopped trying when they went through eight months of not getting pregnant and had decided to take a break from thinking about kids. But Penelope hadn't even realized she missed her period. Back then she had been stressed out over work big time.

Once Derek had suggested that her moodiness might be because she was pregnant (asking her in a way that was so sweet and worried) she had been scared to even believe it was true. Ten home pregnancies later it was confirmed and joy filled the Morgan house.

All their worrying, and talking about going to see specialists, was for naught cause they were fertile without any help. And now their baby was only a month away from being in their arms.

Even on Penelope's worse day now she knew that she was one lucky chick-a-dee. She had the life of her dreams and nothing to complain about. And so she sang with Uncle Blue, who slurred more than he pronounced, as Derek looked on, shaking his head at her silliness, and some of the rest of his family laughed while others joined in the singing.

"And the boys of NYPD choir still singing Galway Bay and the bells are ringing out for Christmas day...I could have been someone. Well, so could anyone. You took my dreams from me when I first found you... I kept them with me, babe. I put them with my own. Can't make it out alone. I built my dreams around you... The boys of NYPD choir still singing Galway Bay and the bells are ringing out for Christmas day."

Before they had left for their trip Derek had presented Penelope with the first present from him to their baby. Their baby had already received several gifts from their excited friends. Reid sent Mozart CDs for Penelope to play to her stomach. JJ was buying baby clothes practically every time she went shopping. Emily bought a book that was interactive. It was a bedtime story that allowed Emily to tape herself reading it so that their child could hear her reading that story anytime the baby wanted. Not to mention the baby shower where everyone went completely overboard with giving gifts.

But the most special present the baby had received so far was from her Daddy. Derek had made a dollhouse. Even though the baby wouldn't be able to play with it for a few years it was still very precious because he had made it himself. Now it sat in the nursery at home just waiting for their little girl to make her entrance.

Penelope was standing at the sink in Fran's kitchen, washing some glasses, when Derek walked up and wrapped his arms around her from behind.

"Woman, you do not need to be doing that. Here. Let me."

"Hush. I'm knocked up not helpless."

He teased her, as he took the glass away from her, "You're knocked up with my baby so my rules."

"Oh, is that right?" she teased back. "And what if I don't like your rules? What are you gonna do? Spank-ow!"

"What? Penelope, talk to me."

"Its nothing, I'm sure."

"Is she kicking you like crazy again?"

"No, it was just a twinge."

"Twinge?"

"Its been happening all day."

"What?"

"Like I said, I'm sure its nothing. Its too soon for it to be something."

"MA!" And then Derek was ignoring his wife in favor of getting a second opinion from his mother. Soon Penelope was sitting down, with her feet up, as Derek fretted about if she was having contractions. She convinced him to sit down and watch a movie, taking a wait and see approach, and by the time it was over the contractions were a little stronger, but still very far apart.

Penelope said "It could just be false labor. Tell him, Fran. Its probably false labor." Since she was afraid of giving birth she was trying to convince herself that she was not actually going to give birth that day or the next. She still had weeks.

Derek looked at his mother with big eyes.

Fran conceded, speaking slowly, "It could be."

"And it could not be," Derek said. "Come on, woman, we are taking you to the hospital."

"But-"

"Penelope Morgan, do you wanna give birth right here on my mother's couch?"

"Of course not but-"

"Then we're going to the hospital!"

"I'm giving birth in Virginia with my doctor!"

"Take that up with our daughter," Derek said, as he walked out of the living room to go pack a bag for the hospital. The whole way there he called her hard headed and she kept telling him that she was not in real labor.

As they walked through the hospital doors her water broke. Derek started screaming for a doctor as if his life depended on it until his mother calmed him down some. Within a few hours, after a very quick labor, Derek cut the cord and soon after they placed the baby in Penelope's arms.

She looked into brown eyes and fell in love. Tears were in her eyes as she looked up at her husband. "She's perfect! She's the uber best baby ever born. Look at her, handsome. Just look at her."

"I see her," he said tenderly. "As beautiful as her mama."

For so many years Penelope thought this moment would never be hers to call her own. That Derek would never give up his player ways and if he did it would be for some gorgeous model type who was sophisticated and refined. That she would get the life that Penelope dreamed about every night.

Instead Derek gave his heart to her. And now they shared a child, a last name, a home, a future and a love.

Tearfully Penelope told him "I love you so, so much. Thank you. Thank you, Derek, for this angel and for loving me."

"Silly girl, I couldn't do anything but love you."

That's just how she felt about him and their daughter. There would never be a day that Penelope wondered if her life had taken a wrong turn. This was just where she was always meant to be.

They were just good together. And lucky. So very lucky to have each other and their daughter. She would never take her Christmas miracle for granted.

(All I want is to hold you forever.

All I need is you more everyday.

You saved my heart from being broken apart.

You gave your love away.

I'm thankful everyday-

can't find the words to say-

for the gift.) (The Gift by Jim Brickman)

THE END

The prompts I had to use were: snow, a present, yule log and the song that is mentioned in this chapter which is The Fairytale of New York by The Pogues. I really struggled to write this but its not about the prompts. Its because my muse seems to have flown the coop lately. Hopefully she comes back for the new year.

Happy holidays everyone.

Sara