Chapter 8: A Promise for Forever
The moment Penelope stepped into her apartment, the familiar scent of lavender and vanilla filled the air. It was a comforting reminder of the life she had before all of this—before the chemo, the hospital rooms, the endless worry. She paused at the threshold, taking in the soft glow of the lights, the coziness of her home. It was quieter now, more still, but the stillness was different. It wasn't the silence of fear or exhaustion—it was the silence of a promise. Of something new waiting to unfold.
She turned around to see Derek standing just inside the door, his eyes following her every movement. He had insisted on bringing her home after six weeks of hospital care, insisting that she needed rest, that she needed the comfort of her own space to heal. And yet, here he was, standing like a sentry, ready to protect her from anything that might come their way.
"Home sweet home," Penelope said softly, a faint smile tugging at the corners of her lips.
Derek's gaze softened as he took a step toward her, his hands reaching out to gently touch her arms. "Yeah, it's good to have you back. We've missed you here, Garc."
Penelope's stomach fluttered at his words, her heart warming in a way she didn't expect. She could feel the weight of his concern, the depth of his feelings for her. There were no pretenses with Derek—no walls, no barriers. Just the quiet understanding that they were in this together, whatever "this" was.
And "this," as she'd learned over the past few months, was a fight—a fight for her health, for the baby growing inside of her, and for the love she had with Derek. A love that, no matter how much she tried to deny it, was already a permanent part of her heart.
Her hand instinctively moved to her stomach, where the small but undeniable curve of her pregnancy was starting to show. She hadn't noticed it at first, too focused on the pain, the nausea, the exhaustion. But now, as she caught a glimpse of herself in the hallway mirror, the truth was evident. The baby was growing. And so was she.
Derek's eyes followed the path of her hand, and for a moment, his gaze softened even more. It was an expression Penelope couldn't quite read—an expression that told her, without words, that things were changing between them. That they were moving forward.
"You look beautiful," he said quietly, his voice low and sincere. "The pregnancy suits you."
She chuckled lightly, looking up at him with a smirk. "I'm not sure that's the compliment I was expecting, but I'll take it."
Derek's lips curved into a smile, but it quickly faded into something more serious. He stepped closer to her, his eyes never leaving hers. "Penelope… you've been through so much. And I know you're still fighting. I know it's not easy. But what I want you to know is that I'm not going anywhere."
Penelope's breath caught in her throat. She had heard those words from him before, but there was something different in the way he said them now. Something stronger, deeper. His words were not just promises— they were vows, unspoken but unmistakable.
"I know," she said softly, her voice trembling slightly. "I know you're here. And I'm so grateful for that. For you."
Derek reached out, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. His hand lingered on her cheek, his touch gentle but firm. He leaned in slightly, his forehead resting against hers. "Penelope… I need you to know something."
Penelope's heart began to race as she looked up at him, confusion flickering in her eyes. "What?"
Derek took a deep breath, steadying himself, as if gathering all the courage he had left. He pulled away from her just enough to reach into his pocket, his movements slow, deliberate. Penelope's eyes widened when she saw what he was holding—a small velvet box, one that she hadn't noticed before.
The air in the room seemed to thicken, and for a moment, everything around them seemed to stop. Time itself held its breath.
Penelope's pulse quickened, the realization dawning on her. She didn't know what he was about to say, but she could feel it in her bones. Her heart pounded against her chest as Derek opened the box, revealing a glistening silver ring. It wasn't anything extravagant, but it was perfect in its simplicity—elegant, timeless, a symbol of everything they had been through together.
Derek took her hand, his eyes locked onto hers with a look that could only be described as pure devotion. "Penelope Garcia, I love you. I've loved you for as long as I can remember, and I can't imagine my life without you in it. I want to be with you—through everything, the good, the bad, the ugly. I want to stand by your side, hold you up when you can't stand, and be there for you no matter what."
Penelope's breath caught in her throat, her hand trembling as Derek slid the ring onto her finger, a perfect fit. She was overwhelmed, her heart pounding so loudly in her chest that she thought it might escape her. "Derek…"
His gaze softened, his thumb gently stroking her knuckles as he spoke the words she had never allowed herself to hope for. "Penelope, will you marry me? Will you let me be the one to fight beside you, to carry you through this journey, and to build a future with you? Will you say yes?"
Tears welled up in Penelope's eyes, and her hand shook as she touched the ring, the weight of the moment settling in. She had never expected this. After everything they had been through, after the heartache and the pain, she had never expected him to ask. But here he was, standing in front of her, offering her a future. A future they could build together.
"I… I don't know what to say," Penelope whispered, her voice barely audible. She was shaking now, not from fear but from the overwhelming flood of emotions rushing through her. She had always been terrified of the unknown, of the things beyond her control. But standing here with Derek, she knew, deep down, that this was the one thing she had control over. This love. This promise.
"You don't have to say anything," Derek said softly, his thumb brushing against her tear-streaked cheek. "You don't have to answer now, but… just know that no matter what happens, I'm here. We're in this together."
Penelope's heart swelled with a feeling she couldn't quite name, but it was stronger than anything she had ever known. She took a deep breath, her hand reaching for his, squeezing it tight. And with that, she said the words that would change everything.
"Yes. Yes, I'll marry you."
Derek's face lit up, a wide, genuine smile spreading across his face as he pulled her into his arms. For a moment, the world felt still. It was just the two of them, and nothing else mattered.
"I love you, Garcia," he whispered against her hair. "I love you so much."
Penelope closed her eyes, allowing herself to fully sink into the moment. "I love you too, Derek. Always."
For the first time in what felt like forever, Penelope felt like she was home—not just in her apartment, but in her heart, in her future, in the life she would build with Derek. They had so much to face, so much ahead of them, but right now, none of that mattered. All that mattered was that they had each other.
And that was enough.
As the weight of Derek's proposal settled around them, the room felt even more intimate, the air thick with emotions neither of them had known how to express until now. They stood there, wrapped in each other's arms, as time seemed to stretch and bend, each heartbeat in sync with the other. The moment was so full of promise, of love, and the future they were about to build.
But then, as Derek pulled away just enough to look at her, a soft, unexpected sensation drew Penelope's attention. She blinked, her eyes still damp from the tears of joy and relief. It was a sensation she hadn't felt in days, one that had been more of a fleeting memory than anything tangible during the chaos of the past few weeks. She shifted, subtly, a soft gasp escaping her lips.
"Derek..." she whispered, her hand instinctively going to her belly.
Derek froze, his brow furrowing in concern. "What? What's wrong?"
Penelope smiled, a shaky breath escaping her as she placed both hands gently over the slight curve of her stomach. "I think… I think the baby just kicked."
Derek's eyes widened in astonishment, a quiet excitement stirring behind his gaze. He lowered himself slightly, his hands reaching for hers. "Really?" He asked, his voice softer now, reverent. "Can I… can I feel it?"
Penelope nodded, her heart racing with a mix of emotions. She had been so focused on everything else—the fight for her health, the uncertainty of the future—that she hadn't let herself truly connect with the life growing inside of her. But now, with Derek standing so close, his eyes full of wonder and affection, it felt as though the world outside of their small apartment faded away.
Penelope smiled gently, a light, tender touch resting on her belly. She closed her eyes for a moment, focusing. And there it was again—a small, distinct movement, a flutter, then a gentle nudge from within.
"Did you feel it?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Derek's fingers brushed against her stomach, his touch warm and tender. He nodded slowly, his smile widening as his other hand came to rest on her growing belly. "I did," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "I felt it."
Penelope's heart skipped a beat as she watched him, seeing the joy and awe in his expression. She could feel the tears prickling at the corners of her eyes again, but this time, they were tears of joy—not pain or fear, but pure, unadulterated happiness.
Derek leaned in closer, his lips brushing against her belly, a soft whisper against her skin. "Hey there, little one," he murmured, his voice low and soothing. "I'm Derek. Your mommy and I… we've got big plans for you. We're going to love you so much."
Penelope's breath caught in her throat as she looked down at him. There was something so intimate about the way he was holding her, about the way he was talking to their baby as if they were already a family. It felt like a dream. She had never expected this—this moment, this life, this love. But here they were, with the future unfolding before them.
Her hand moved to his, intertwining their fingers as she gently pressed his hand back to her belly. "I'm glad you're here," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "I don't know what I would do without you."
Derek smiled, his gaze never leaving her face. "You'll never have to find out," he promised softly, squeezing her hand. "I'm not going anywhere. We're in this together."
Penelope let out a shaky laugh, her chest tightening with love for him. "I know. And I don't think I've ever been more sure of anything in my life."
For a moment, they stood there, both lost in the intimacy of the moment. The quiet, tender exchange between them felt like the calm after a storm—a calm that was both fragile and enduring, a delicate balance between hope and fear. They had been through so much already, and there was still so much to face. But standing here, in their little sanctuary, they knew they could face it all together.
A soft, rhythmic thump against her belly made Penelope smile again, her hand resting lovingly against the small kick. She looked down at Derek, who was still leaning over her stomach, his eyes full of awe.
"That's my baby," she said, her voice barely above a whisper, as if speaking too loudly might shatter the fragile, perfect moment.
"Yeah, it is," Derek murmured, looking up at her with a soft, gentle smile. "And that's our family."
Penelope nodded, the weight of his words sinking into her chest. Their family. A little one growing inside her, a love that was deeper than she had ever imagined, and Derek, by her side through it all. She had been terrified of what the future held, but now, she felt something stronger. A fierce, unshakable certainty that together, they could face anything.
"I love you, Derek," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.
Derek's eyes softened, his hand cupping her cheek as he brushed his thumb over her skin. "I love you too, Garcia. More than you could ever know."
And with that, Penelope felt a weight lift off her chest. For the first time in a long time, she allowed herself to truly believe that everything would be okay. The fear of what was to come—of the cancer, of the unknown—still lingered, but now, it was tempered with the strength of their bond. With Derek, with the baby, with the promise of a future that was hers to hold.
She had everything she needed right here, in this moment. And for once, she allowed herself to believe in the possibility of tomorrow.
The two of them stayed in that moment for as long as they could, the world outside their apartment fading away, leaving them cocooned in a bubble of peace. They had been through so much, but here, together, they had found something that no one could take from them: hope.
And as they shared a soft kiss, a quiet promise passing between them, the baby kicked again—a tiny, perfect reminder that life, even in the midst of all its uncertainty, was still moving forward.
Together. Always together.