AN: We have come to the end of this particular journey. I'm a little sad because I really loved the entire idea of this story. On a plus, I had promised myself I was going to download Scrivener after this story so I have done so and am playing with it. This means there will be a delay until we start posting the next story. I want to make sure I know how to use the program and also that my Bastian has his crap together before we launch the next one. Thank you all for taking this ride with us, it was so much fun.

MN: Thanks for reading. This story was just so fantastically adorable! Here's one last little bit of Morcia fluff for all of you lovelies! Catch you on the next one hopefully!

I woke with a start, my heart pounding. I was able to tell why when I heard the front door close. A moment later I heard the familiar thump of a well worn bag being dropped on the floor and instantly relaxed.

Derek had been gone for over a week, and was finally home. I slid from bed and donned my glasses and a pair of slippers before exiting our bedroom. Clooney was a few steps ahead of me, bounding down the stairs.

We found him in the kitchen, pulling a bottle of water and some left over quiche from the fridge. When he stood, the light hit his face and I had to make an effort not to cringe. JJ had warned me that the blow he had taken to the cheek was bad, but I wasn't prepared for the sight of the swelling and stitches.

I crossed to him wordlessly and took the food from his hand and set about warming it up for him while he headed for the living room. I knew better than to push. He would talk to me when he was ready.

When the microwave beeped, I retrieved his meal, adding a fork, then followed him. He was in his usual place on the couch and I sat beside him, handing over the container as I did.

We sat in silence as he ate. After the empty dish was placed on the coffee table, he wrapped an arm tightly around me and pressed a kiss to my temple, finally breaking the quiet. "I'm okay, Baby Girl."

I snuggled into his side. "You always are, Love Bug."

He sighed. "Okay, my face hurts like hell. And I'm pissed that I missed our anniversary. Again."

I could understand his frustration. We'd been married for two years and this week had marked the second time that work had taken him away for our anniversary. "It's not your fault. Besides, you know I don't care about the flowers and dinner and presents. So long as I have you, I'm happy."

I could feel him relax next to me. "I know, Princess. I just feel like you deserve the other stuff."

"Which is why you sent flowers and chocolate to the office while you should have been getting some sleep."

He chuckled and I felt the last of the tension drain from him. "What can I say? I had to do something or my Momma would have my hide." He stifled a yawn.

I stood up and gathered his dishes. "Alright. You smell like stale booze and cigarettes. Hopefully the next unsub you have to tackle chooses to get caught somewhere less offensive to the nose. Why don't you go shower. I'll get some ice for your face and meet you upstairs, okay?"

He sniffed his shirt and made a face. "No arguments from me."

I was halfway to the kitchen when I felt his hand on my shoulder. I turned to ask him if he needed something else and he surprised me by swooping in for a long, deep kiss. When he pulled his lips from mine, he brought them to my ear, his voice low and husky. "Don't take too long cleaning up. I could use some help washing my back.

In an instant he was gone, trotting up the stairs. I smiled to myself as I stuck the dishes haphazardly in the dishwasher. I let Clooney out, imploring him to hurry then locked back up, grabbed an ice pack from the freezer, and headed for the stairs. I could hear the shower running as I got to our bedroom door.

I tossed the ice pack onto his nightstand, shed my pajamas quickly and headed for the bathroom, a grin still on my face.