"Crap! Derek, honey, wake up! We forgot to set the alarm and it's already half past seven!" Blearily, he blinked open his eyes, looking up into Erin's face.
"What?" he asked as he rubbed his eyes free from sand sleep.
"We have to get a move on, honey. We meet the Director in ninety minutes!" She leaned in and kissed him hard, and he smiled goofily into the kiss, wondering if he had fallen into a rabbit hole at some point in the last few hours.
"You are adorable in the morning," he said as he slipped his hands down her back to cup her ass, grinding up against her. Tenderly, she slapped his hands away, smiling into his face.
"We don't have time for that this morning, Der. We have to get going!" She climbed off him and walked over to the door. "We also need to shower, and there's only one bathroom in your apartment. Get a move on." There was a half serious, half teasing, tone to her voice and he smiled as he threw back the covers and joined her by the door. Together, they walked over to the bathroom and she stepped into the shower, obviously waiting for him
"We've only been married for a few hours and you're already bossing me around," he joked as he turned on the water.
"Get used to it, Der." She leaned in and kissed him gently before pushing him under the stream of water. "I hate being late, and when we have momentous news to deliver to the man who controls the fate of our careers in his hand, that sets me even more on edge." The playful tone had left her voice, rapidly replaced with steel, and Derek could read the fear in her eyes.
"Pretty Lady, you need to stop worrying so much. If, heaven forbid, we both get fired, I have a side income that will support us. I flip houses and apartments and have socked away a fair bit of money. We could live comfortably until I could get another position. Hey, I might even be able to swing a private security detail." Derek tried to smile at her, and she just shook her head as she turned them, stepping beneath the water and wetting her hair, washing it quickly.
He watched her wash her body, the way the water slid down the planes of her stomach, and he reached out, caressing the soft bump. "You have everything planned, a quick answer for everything. I should be worried about that."
"No, you should know that I take care of what's mine." Her eyes narrowed dangerously as she washed her body. "And you know what I mean by that, Erin." Leaning in, he stole a quick kiss and she relaxed a little, letting him pull her close as he washed the soap off their bodies. "You and this baby are going to be the center of my world," he whispered, turning off the water and opening the shower door.
They stepped out and he wrapped a towel around her body, his arms closing around her and holding her close. "You're amazing, Der."
"I know." She laughed lowly and closed her hands over his, rocking back and forth a little. "What would you like to wear today?"
"Pick something out for me." The response pleased him for some reason and he nodded before leaning in to kiss her softly. "Go on, before we really are late." She shooed him out with a wave of her hand and he escaped out into their bedroom.
Opening the closet, he thumbed through the clothes hanging there, trying to find something perfect for that morning. He knew that blue was her power color and so he tugged out a navy suit and picked a cream colored blouse to go with. Then, he made certain to match his outfit to hers. Knowing that they would be meeting with the Director, he decided to dress up a little, pulling out a light blue shirt and navy suit coat.
"That looks perfect, Derek," she said as she came up behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist. He turned and found her in bra and panties, smiling gently. "You matched our outfits."
"I did." He leaned down and kissed her gently, welcoming the feel of her molding her body against his. "But we need to get dressed now."
She nodded and pressed her lips against his once more. "I know. I just, I really like this feeling of safety we have right here, right now. Do you blame me for wanting to prolong that?" He shook his head as he watched her slip into her clothes, hiding her porcelain pale skin beneath the fabric of her blouse and suit coat. "Derek?"
"Yes, Pretty Lady?"
"Thank you for being so gentle last night." She smiled at him before rushing from the room. He chuckled a little as he tugged on his own clothes, wondering what he had done to earn such sweetness so soon.
After he had finished dressing, he joined her out in the kitchen, taking the cup of coffee from her hands. "Are you ready to head out?"
"Yes." She picked up a banana from the counter and followed him out the door, putting on her coat as they walked down the hall to the elevator. "So, after our meeting, you'll come to my office, and we can call my doctor. I don't think my OB is still practicing, so I'll need to get a new recommendation. Unless you know of someone? Like Agent Jareau's, perhaps?"
He shook his head as she peeled her banana, beginning to eat it with gusto. "Are you sure that's going to be enough for you this morning?"
"At the moment, yes. I just need a little something to settle my stomach. Somehow, I feel if I were to eat more, that I would end up bent over a toilet bowl the moment I walked into our building. I'm sorry I'm so nervous, it's just, the FBI is the only job I've ever had. It's sort of become my identity, along with being a mother. I don't know what I'd do without my job."
Derek wrapped his arm around her waist, tugging her close to his chest. "You are well within your rights to feel that way. Jayje has been through some of that same struggle, since it is hard to balance motherhood and work. We'll make it work, and the Director will see things our way."
"My eternal source of optimism?" she asked gently, resting her head on his heart.
"Yes."
"Good." She sighed a little and snuggled close to him. "Do you want a boy or a girl?"
He paused, not knowing what answer would please her the most. "I've always wanted a little girl," he finally replied. "A princess to love on and spoil, just like I am going to do with her mother."
Erin seemed to relax gently against him, as if he had passed some test he wasn't aware of. "You make the future sound so pretty," she whispered, curling her hand around his shoulder. "I want to have that future you have planned for us."
"I want that, too, darlin'." She shrugged her shoulders a little as she let out a pleased noise. He was used to those sounds, hearing them often escape Penelope's lips. Penelope. "Erin?"
"Yes, Derek?" She stepped out of the elevator and reached for his hand, letting him lead her out to his truck.
"Will you be bothered by my friendship with Penelope? I know that we are a lot closer than normal friends, but she is my best friend. She's always been there for me. That one time, when we were in New York, I called her my God-given solace. I don't want that to be a stumbling block between us."
"Auntie Penelope will always be welcome in our home." Nine words were all it took to make him fall in love with her. Nine simple, beautiful, understanding, words. He grinned at her, leaning in the truck and kissing her softly. "Der?"
"You are amazing." He kissed her once more, mentally kicking himself for not telling her the full truth. Getting in, he took off for work, turning up the Christmas music as a way to distract him from the words that were beating out from his heart.
Together, they got in the first elevator that opened, and she snuggled close to him, as if she needed to feel close. He led her over to her office, slipping her coat from her shoulders and hanging it on the tree. Then he followed suit, making certain his was next to hers. "Derek?"
"Yes, Erin?"
"I know it's quick, but we've known each other for years at this point. I love you, too." Her words took his breath away, and he turned, bundling her up in his arms and burying his face in her hair. "I don't know what type of love this is yet, I don't know how this love will grow and change us, but I do know that this is a different type of love than what I had with Alan or David. I love you."
"And I love you." He turned his head and kissed her cheek, feeling his eyes tear up a little. "But, we have to get up to Shepperd's office." She nodded and clasped his hand, threading their fingers together as she led him out of the office. On the way over to the elevators, they almost ran into Rossi, and Erin visibly stiffened, scooting closer to Derek. "Good morning, Rossi."
"Morning." His eyes quickly slid from her stomach to his face, and he frowned a little, letting go of Erin's hand to wrap his arm around her waist, splaying his hand protectively over her bump. "I'll see you at the briefing."
"Probably not. We're going to hole up in Penelope's office and try to find a suitable baby doctor for Erin after our meeting with the Director." Derek watched the way the man's nostrils flared, the slight way his eyes narrowed, and he knew that the barb had hit home. "If you'll excuse us," he said lowly, pushing past Rossi to lead Erin into the open car.
The ride up to the Director's office didn't take too long, but Erin never moved his arm from around her waist. "Thank you," she whispered as they stepped out and he smiled at her.
"Anything for my most beautiful, darling, wife." She sighed with pleasure and led him over to the correct office. A pleasant looking man sat behind the desk and he looked up at them, a surprised smile spreading across his face.
"May I help you?"
"Yes, Sean. I need to see Director Shepperd about a rather delicate matter. We have an appointment." Erin's voice was all business, the earlier softness gone from her appearance as she straightened her shoulders, a cool smile on her face.
"Of course, Chief Strauss. The Director is actually expecting you and Agent Morgan. He asked me to ask you if you wanted any coffee or water while you were with him."
"We would love some water, Sean." Her smiled softened somewhat as she rubbed her stomach absently, and he saw the flicker of recognition in the young man's eyes. "May we go in now?"
"Sure, and I'll pop in with the water in about five. Congratulations." She gasped lightly, and Sean shrugged, looking apologetic. "Kara just told me we were having a baby, too. I'm used to the signs. You'll be a wonderful mother, I'm sure."
"Thank you," she said lowly, squaring her shoulders a little as she tugged on Derek's arm. "We should head in now, Der."
He nodded and allowed her to lead him into the inner office. The man behind the desk looked stern, like his middle school principal, and Derek swallowed hard. "Good morning, Erin, Agent Morgan. I hear that you have some news for me?"
Erin nodded as she took a seat in front of the man, gesturing for Derek to sit down, too. He did, and found himself pinned by a pair of stormy grey eyes. "Yes, Ron. Derek and I were married yesterday, since I found out that I have a baby on the way. We wanted to give the child a stable home as they grew up. And I know that this flouts all the frat rules, but, we love each other, and I will accept whatever punishment you deem fit."
The man nodded, his eyes never leaving Derek. A heavy silence fell over the office, only to be broken by Sean bringing in two bottles of water, handing them to Erin and him. He broke the seal and gratefully drank. "And what about David Rossi? I thought that you were in a relationship with him."
"I was. He and I decided to part ways when we disagreed on a very important issue. Sometimes, love comes softly and finds a home where we least expect it." Erin turned to look at him, and he met her gaze, smiling widely. "Please, if you have to fire one of us, fire me. Even though this job is all I know, I know Derek won't be happy unless he can help people."
Her eyes welled up, and she looked away from him to drink from her water bottle. Derek turned his gaze back to Ron, frowning slightly. "I'm not going to fire either of you. I just wish that I had been more in the loop. You will need to keep this relationship quiet here, but discretion has always been one of your virtues, Erin."
She looked up at him and nodded, sipping at her water once more. "Thank you, Ron. We, we should be going now, I have to find a good doctor, since this is going to be a risky pregnancy. Once I know more, I'll send you an email about when I'll need to start maternity leave and whatnot."
"I'll look forward to it." He stood and Derek jumped up to help Erin to her feet. Reaching out, he shook Director Shepperd's hand strongly before guiding Erin from the room, a heavy weight lifting from his heart.