Disclaimer: I don't own Criminal Minds…but I sure do enjoy them!

Looks like we are coming to the end of the story. I think this has been my favorite one to write so far…a little angst and a little fluff. A big thank you to all of my readers for their reviews (and proposals – you know who you are!!!). Hopefully the muse will be back soon with another MG adventure.

Chapter 18

It was almost noon when Penelope finally woke up. Rolling over she was disappointed not to find Derek's luscious body next to her in the bed. Sitting up she looked around but he was nowhere in sight. For just a moment she panicked, had he had second thoughts after last night? Had it all been some kind of fantastic dream?

Just then, she heard some banging coming from what she assumed was the kitchen and the most delicious smell came wafting her way, making her stomach growl. Looking up, Derek appeared in the doorway wearing only his jeans and carrying a tray filled with fruits, croissants, pastries and coffee.

"Well look who finally decided to wake up," he said with a grin. "I'm surprised you were able to sleep through that growling stomach of yours this morning. You must have worked up quite an appetite last night."

"Yeah, well, I think you may have had something to do with that, Hotstuff," she said as she giggled and blushed. Carrying the tray over and laying it on the end of the bed, Derek bent over and gave Penelope a passionate kiss.

"God, you look beautiful in bed, you know that?" he said as he finally pulled away.

"Yeah? I would look even better if you were in bed with me," she teased as she threw back the covers.

Derek chuckled as he climbed into the bed next to her and reached down to get the tray and set it between them. "I like the way you think, Baby Girl."

Looking at the scrumptious array of food on the tray, Penelope smiled as she inhaled the scent of the coffee. "Where did all of this come from, Derek? It's simply divine!" she said as she picked up a large, ripe strawberry.

""Let's just say my friend told me of a few contacts, just in case. There's a bakery down the street and for the right price, they deliver," he said with a wink.

"For the right price, so do I," Penelope said seductively as she slowly sucked the strawberry between her red, kiss-swollen lips.

Derek just moaned as he watched. "Name it Goddess, and it's yours!" He could hardly believe the affect this woman had on him with the simplest of gestures. Already he could feel his body reacting. Picking up the tray and setting it on the nightstand, he quickly turned back over, grabbing Penelope and flipping her underneath him with a husky growl.

Reaching down and grabbing the front of his jeans, Penelope just giggled, "I think you just came up with the price of admission," she said as her body arched to his. It was another couple of hours before they touched the food again.

3 months later….

"Rossi, can you get that last box in the living room for me please, Sugar? But be careful, it's got my laptop and some of my computer stuff in it," Penelope directed as she looked around her now empty apartment.

"Yes, Ma',am. As soon as this is loaded, Hotch and I will get the truck over to Derek's" he replied as he picked up the box and headed down to the moving van.

Two weeks earlier, Derek had asked Penelope to move in with him and she had readily accepted. The team had all graciously accepted to help with the move and they had successfully cleared out her apartment in a little over a day. Hotch , Rossi and Derek were getting the last of the boxes while JJ, Emily and Reid were over at Derek's helping get things ready for Penelope's arrival.

As Rossi left, Penelope stood in the middle of the quiet apartment. A slight lump formed in her throat as she looked around. "You okay, Baby Girl?" Derek asked as he came up behind her and slid his arms around her waist.

"Yeah, Gorgeous, I'm fine. It's just a little sad, you know? Sure, a lot of bad things happened here but there are good memories, too. This was the first place you told me you loved me, remember?"

"I remember, Penelope," he answered as he held her just a little tighter. Sensing her sadness, he turned her around so he could look her in the eyes, "You're not having second thoughts are you? Cause the team will have my head if they have to move all this stuff back," he teased.

"Never, My Love," she smiled and reached up to kiss her man. Taking her by the hand, he began to lead her out the door. "Derek, hang on a sec…" she said before they could get out the door.

"Did you forget something, Sweetheart?" he asked.

"Not exactly. Do you still have that letter in your jacket pocket?" she asked.

"Of course, Pen. It hasn't left there since that night, you know that."

"Well, I think it's about time it did. We're making a new start right?" she asked as he nodded his head. "Then let's really do it right. That letter is a symbol of bad memories and as much as I love that you have kept it…I think it's time to move on."

"Pen, I don't know. Are you sure?"

"Yes, Derek. It's time to concentrate on the good, on us, not what could have happened. I think leaving that letter behind will allow me to leave the bad things behind too. Please?" she said.

Seeing the sincerity in her eyes, Derek slowly reached into his pocket and pulled out the letter that Penelope had written the night she thought Kowalski was going to kill her. "Penelope, I'm not sure about this Baby," he said. "This letter is pretty special to me. It's how I first knew how you felt about me."

"Awww, Derek, I know but you won't forget that and can you honestly tell me you don't think about what could have happened every time you read it? I don't want those to be the memories we have," she said as she held out her hand.

Nodding his head, he laid the letter into her palm and watched as she carried it over to the kitchen sink. Pulling out a drawer, she found an old box of matches she knew she had left there. Lighting the letter with a match, she held it as it started to burn and then dropped it into the sink. Putting her arms around Derek, she looked at him and said…"To new beginnings, not old endings."

Derek bent down and kissed her. "You're right, Baby Girl….let's go start those new beginnings right now," he said as he swept her up in his arms and carried her out the door.

The End.