A/N: We've come to the end of this one. Thank you all so much for your wonderful reviews, alerts and favorites. It's been great sharing this with you.
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Disclaimer: I own nothing of Criminal Minds. I'm just playing a little :)
Not long after their explosive climax, Derek led Penelope into her bedroom and tenderly, but quickly, finished undressing her, kissing her body as he bared it to his eyes.
He removed his jeans, and tossed them to the floor, when she protested softly, "Derek, baby, we have to go to work."
In response, he paused, reached for the phone on his belt of his discarded pants, and quickly dialed a number. Looking directly into her eyes, he spoke.
"Hey Hotch. Yeah, it's me, man. Garcia and I won't be in today." Derek listened for a moment, and then said, "Yeah, both of us. She's … not feeling well. I'm gonna take care of her."
With a final, "Okay, man." Derek hung up the phone, tossed it on the nightstand, and calmly removed the rest of his own clothes. Taking Penelope's hand, he guided them both till they had slid under the sheets and lay facing each other.
"You lied to him." Penelope smiled as she said it. "He won't like that."
"And just who's gonna tell him? You?" He raised one eyebrow teasingly at her. "Then you'll have to tell him the real reason why."
For a moment, Derek watched enthralled as a blush suffused her face and neck, then he said gently, "I had a good reason, Baby Girl. We need to talk … really talk this time."
Penelope nodded seriously. Not even waiting for the question to be voiced, she answered it softly, meeting his eyes with honesty.
"I got scared Derek. I woke up this morning … and I panicked. I was so scared we could lose what we had because of last night."
"Why would you think that, sweetheart?" Derek asked her softly as he raised one hand to caress her cheek. "What got you runnin' so scared from me?"
The hollow plea in Derek's voice made Penelope realize just how much she had hurt him, and for the first time, tears ran down her cheek. She reached up for the hand that still rested there and held it tightly.
"I'm so sorry, Hot Stuff. I really am. I never, ever meant to hurt you."
Derek waited, knowing there was more. Stroking his fingers, Penelope continued, "Derek, I've been in love with you for a very long time …"
She paused, astonished at the huge grin that split his face. Derek leaned forward and kissed her soundly. Then he leaned back, and motioned for her to go on.
Penelope giggled. He was silly when he was happy. As his hand slid from hers and traveled down to rest lightly on her hip, she continued more seriously. "I figured I had every possible scenario covered when you came into the kitchen this morning. Then you hit me with the one thing I had never, ever considered."
"That I felt the very same way about you, Baby Girl?" When she nodded solemnly, Derek continued, "I've been in love with you for a long time too, sweetheart. Though, I didn't plan what happened last night."
"I know baby." Penelope interrupted him.
"Not that I wasn't planning on making it happen sometime … preferably sometime very soon." Derek told her then.
When her eyes opened wide in surprise, he reassured her immediately, "Oh, Baby Girl. Of course I was going to tell you how I felt! I was just waiting to do it right, take you out somewhere special … but we haven't had any real downtime in ages."
Running his fingers through the curls falling over Penelope's face, Derek studied her so seriously that she knew what he was about to say was something which affected him deeply. She was right.
Taking a deep breath, Derek drew his hand slowly down to cup her face and spoke, his voice a soft rumble, "Baby Girl … last night, when I said I needed you … I meant it, more than you could possibly know. I need you for everything I told you, your warmth, your sweetness and your pure joy for life."
When Penelope went to speak, tears sparkling in her eyes, Derek laid his thumb tenderly against her lips to forestall her words.
"But it's more than that, girl. I need to be yours, to be your man. It means everything to me to know you would want to be with me. I … I'm not perfect … not what you …"
As he faltered suddenly, it was Penelope's turn to press a finger to his lips.
"You listen to me, Hot Stuff. I do not need what you're calling 'perfect'. I never have. What you think are faults Derek, are some of the very things that made you the man you are." She gripped his chin to force him to look at her. "That is everything I need."
This time it was Penelope who reached forward to kiss Derek, touching her lips gently to his. When he responded, she smiled against his mouth. The kiss was tender and sweet, a loving expression of the words they'd said, and those still left unsaid.
Long moments later, they drew apart, but remained looking into each other's eyes.
Unexpectedly, Derek broke the mood and pulled Penelope fully into his arms, cradling her close. There was a wicked little smirk on his face and his eyes flashed teasingly at her.
"Okay, enough talk Baby Girl … I know it's the middle of the morning, but you and I need a nap."
"A nap?" She looked up in astonishment at him from the circle of his arms.
"Yeah, a nap." Derek murmured, bending to kiss her, "'Cause I got plans for you later woman, and you better get all the rest you can now."
Giggling at his suggestively wagging eyebrows, Penelope cuddled closer, resting her head on his chest, letting his warmth and steady heartbeat lull her into sleep.
She felt safe, in his arms and in his love. Safe too in the knowledge that they had not lost their friendship, but instead gained a love to last a lifetime.
FIN