Derek felt Garcia firmly squeeze his hand.

"We know you must think we're monsters but..."

"...how about five minutes okay, Handsome? Please, hear them out," Garcia pleaded.

"Fine; five minutes."

Charles ushered Derek and Penelope to the seating area where the four sat down.

"First, we want to apologize for everything that's happened..." Charles began.

"...you hired a killer to take my son, ruin my reputation and when that didn't work, kill me! Apologize, you think an apology will wipe the slate clean?"

"We had no idea what Artemis was up to; please you have to believe us! He was only supposed to use legal channels!" Lydia insisted.

"I know you've never approved of me and that's no secret but what you both did," Derek took a deep breath before continuing, "I should use, legal channels, and have you both prosecuted!"

"Derek...please..." Lydia began before the sounds came from the nursery. Everyone stood and focused their attention on the hallway.

"I just want my son, that's all," Derek responded as he headed toward his son's voice, "then we don't have anything else to talk about."

Derek stepped into the room and slowly approached the bed. Then scooping Hank in his arms, he held him close kissing him lightly on the cheek.

"Hey little man, did you miss me? Did you miss daddy?" Derek kissed him again and again. "Well daddy missed you."

The others watched silently from the doorway. Penelope fought back tears as she watched the love of her life reunite with his son. Charles and Lydia felt defeated knowing that this could very well be the last time they'd see their grandson.

Derek inhaled his son's scent; he'd missed him terribly. He wanted to be angry and act out of that anger. After all, his actions would certainly be justified. Lydia's sniffles and Charles watery eyes would haunt him forever. Then there was Garcia. If he acted poorly in this moment, he would risk disappointing her and that he couldn't live with.

Derek turned just as his ex-mother-in-law wiped tears from her cheeks.

"Look, I know the three of us will never be friends but for the sake of my son and your grandson, I want you in his life."

Both Charles and Lydia nodded unable to speak as tears streamed down their faces. Derek gently placed Hank in Lydia's arms. Charles smiled and whispered a tearful thank-you, as he wrapped his arms around his wife.

2 weeks later...

Temporary Home of Derek Morgan – Morning –

Derek rushed around the kitchen, checking his watch every few seconds; he was nervous. Hank sat in his highchair playing with his toy car as his father made the two of them breakfast. It had been two weeks since father and son had been reunited and things still seemed a little unsettled.

The doorbell rang and after shooting a quick glance at his son, Derek rushed to open it. He was happy to see Penelope; she'd promised to come over before the others arrived.

"Thanks for coming, Baby Girl."

"I said I would."

"I don't know why I'm so nervous."

"It's been two weeks since you or Hank have seen them."

"Yeah, I must be crazy."

Penelope wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tight. He felt energized somehow just by her touch.

"You're a good man, Derek Morgan. After everything that's happened, you are making room for Charles and Lydia in Hank's life. If you'd sent those two to jail no one would have blamed you."

"You would have blamed me, Baby Girl, you would have blamed me."

"What do you mean?"

"That big heart of yours; it makes me want to be a better man, a better person. I don't know how you do it, but you always see the best in people, no matter how despicable they may be."

"Well, I don't know about that, I just know you'd regret keeping those two away from Hank, especially when he gets older and there is no tie with his mother in his life."

"Yeah, I know you're right. It's just that it's hard sometimes."

"I understand, I understand totally."

"Well, they'll be here in a few minutes, and I'm supposed to play nice and hand Hank over for the weekend for a little family time."

"At least it will give us time to move into your new place without..."

"...my new place..."

"...yeah," she saw something in his eyes, "your new place. Derek what's going on? Are you having second thoughts about moving?"

"No, I'm having second thoughts about it being just my place."

"W-what are you..."

"...move in with me, with us!"

"I-I... what is this? Derek you just lost your wife, you almost lost Hank...you're not thinking straight! The last thing you need is a roommate!"

"The last thing I want is a roommate, Baby Girl."

Then the doorbell rang.

"I'll get it," Derek moaned, then turning back, "this conversation isn't over."

Penelope exhaled. She hadn't realized that she had stopped breathing until that moment. She watched Derek open the door and invite Hank's grandparents in while she tried to make sense of what he'd said.

Charles and Lydia followed Derek into the kitchen and Hank's face lit up at the sight of them. Derek quietly backed out of the room unnoticed as the grandparents doted on their only grandchild.

"You're a good man, Handsome," Penelope assured him again.

"I don't know about that. A part of me wants my son to reject them but I know he needs them; despite everything they've done, he needs them. He loves them and they love him."

"Well with all the work we have ahead of us, time will fly and before you know it the Hayes' will be bringing him home."

Penelope was right; time flew and by evening they'd gotten most of his and Hank's things packed and moved to the new house. All that was left was furniture from the old house and what he was keeping from the small temporary apartment.

"I'm exhausted," said Derek collapsing on the couch. Then as he looked around the near empty room, "and hungry."

"The pizza should be here soon. We got a lot done and we deserve a break, don't you think?"

"Absolutely," he agreed, "and we have a lot to talk about."

"We do?" She asked nervously.

"Yes, we do!"

Once again, the doorbell interrupted them. Derek shook his head and quickly headed to the door. Penelope's heart was beating a mile a minute as she watched him head back her way with a large pizza box in hand.

"I'll grab some plates and napkins," she began, standing to her feet.

"No, no I got it. Just relax and I'll be right back," he ordered.

When he returned, he sat next to her handing her a plate and a napkin. The next several minutes was spent eating and watching a movie as if he hadn't warned her of an impending conversation.

"So," he began sitting his plate down, "I owe you an apology and I can't go any further without telling you how sorry I am."

"Sorry for what, Hot Stuff?"

"I'm sorry for never telling you how I felt...how I still feel...about you."

"We're friends, right...best friends..." she replied.

"If we're best friends...and we are...then I'm in love with my best friend," he confessed.

"I-I- didn't see that coming."

"Tell me you don't feel the same way."

"But...but when did this happen? With everything that's happened...when..."

"I've loved you from the moment I met you, Garcia; from the moment Pretty Boy told me your name was Gomez, which now I know he was trying to be funny; I mean with an eidetic memory he knew your name was Garcia all along! I mean with my reputation..."

"Derek, Derek, breathe..."

"I'm sorry. I knew getting involved with Savannah was a mistake and it was wrong. I loved her but I wasn't in love with her. I couldn't love anyone else after meeting you."

"Then why did you choose her? Why did you have a child with her?"

"I saw you with Kevin and then Sam... you seemed happy. You knew everything about me, and I knew there was no way you could love someone like me."

"Someone like you as in, caring, loving, brave, incredibly hardheaded, stubborn..."

"...Hey, hey..."

"I have a confession and I think I owe you an apology."

"Why?"

"Because I'm in love with you too. I was willing to be your friend if it meant I could be close to you. I only dated Kevin and Sam because I didn't think you were one of my choices," she admitted.

"Really?"

"Yes, really!"

Derek was momentarily stunned. He studied her eyes wondering if what he was hearing was real. Then he saw the love in her eyes just behind the tears that were threatening to fall on her cheeks.

"I want a life with you, Baby Girl. I want us to make a choice that we never thought was possible. I want us to choose each other. Please tell me it's not too late."