Involved

Chapter Eight

December 2009

The start of December brought with it Hotch taking back his job as unit chief. Foyet was killed, and Haley and Jack were allowed to come home from witness protection.

Hotch moved back in with them and their little family seemed to be clinging tight to each other for the moment. Who knew if it would last but for the holidays there was no where else Hotch wanted to be than near them. He slept in a guest room.

The team struggled through their cases, both with tracking down Foyet before he could kill again and then with a case where Emily was in a car accident. She wasn't hurt too bad and didn't even take time off work but the death of a cop who was with her in the car seemed to rattle her.

By the time Morgan and Garcia left for Chicago they were more than ready for a break. They had been spending as many nights together as they could in the last two weeks but they were still longing for the six days they would spend at a hotel where they could have all the fun play time they craved.

Derek was getting to know Penelope's body in a way he had only fantasized about for years. And she was getting to show him just how sexy she really was. He knew it took her trusting him, at her deepest level, to be as wild, free and emotional as she was with him.

Every time they made love he only loved her more.

XXXXXXXXX

Derek parked his rented SUV across from the youth center. He let out a shaky breath. From the passenger seat Penelope looked at him instead of the building.

His eyes focused on the kids who were hanging around outside, even though it was only twenty degrees that day, and he remembered when he was one of those kids.

After a minute Penelope said "Lets go, baby. James is waiting on us, right?"

Derek shook his head to clear his thoughts, killed the engine and reached for the door handle. "Yeah."

He loved to open the door for Penelope so she waited patiently until he came around the vehical. Once she was out she took his hand in hers and gave him a long look. After one kiss on the cheek from her to him they went inside.

Derek was tense the whole time. Once they found James and introductions were made Derek invited him to go with them to get some pizza. They also took him to the mall for some Christmas presents and ended the day by visiting with his mom, to discuss James college plans.

They promised to come back in June, if no case got in their way, and see him graduate. If they couldn't make it then said they would come in July for the Taste of Chicago, more shopping for James, and to see a Cubs game.

When they were driving back to the hotel Penelope told Derek "He's uber cool and you're great with him."

"If I was great I would have spared him from what he went through. I'm not great, baby girl. Not at all."

"You're not perfect, Derek, but you are a good man. Just ask James and I bet he would tell you the same thing. You can't convince me otherwise. I'll never believe it."

He relaxed a little. That night they didn't make love. Instead he rested his head in her lap, as they sat on the sofa in their suite, and she rubbed gentle circles over his back till he fell into a fitful sleep. Penelope watched movies for a few hours and then woke Derek to move to the bed.

She told him, as they got under the blankets, "Thank you for bringing me along for this trip. You make me feel like a real Morgan."

He grinned sleepily and pulled her close to him. "You do know how to cheer me up."

They shared a tender kiss before he said "I love you very, very much and we will change that last name of yours one of these days. Count on it, baby girl."

That night he had a nightmare about their son being molested and woke up sweating and breathing hard. Penelope jerked awake. She turned on a light and put on her glasses. "Derek, its okay."

He got out of bed and went to the shower. It was an hour before he came back. He got in bed and didn't say a word.

Penelope put down her book and looked at him. After a moment she gave him a kiss and let her hand caress his chest, moving downwards. He pushed her away. "I can't, baby. Not right now."

He flipped out the light, turned away from her, and mumbled a "Sorry."

Penelope spooned him and kissed his neck. "You made me believe I'm worthy. Well guess what, my love? So are you. Everything about you is good. There are no bad or dirty parts, I promise you that."

He rolled over and hugged her close. He smoothed his hands over her back and she murmured "Shhh. Mmmm. Its okay. I'm here and I love you so much I would lose my mind if you ever weren't around to love me back."

They fell asleep a half hour later after Penelope soothed Derek's tortured mind.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXDecember 2010

Derek stood there in a black tux, with his hands shoved in his pockets, looking guarded and uncomfortable. In front of him was Penelope.

Their eyes met and held.

He cleared his throat. "I never thought I'd be at Lynch's wedding."

She smirked. "Be nice, handsome."

He glanced at his watch. "Lets make it an earlier night, sweetness."

Penelope walked closer, pressing herself against him at the reception, and whispered in his ear. "I have an early Christmas present for you.....Daddy."

He pulled back. His eyebrow raised. "Did you just call me Daddy?"

She took his hand and placed it on her stomach. "We have to get you used to it."

He lifted her off her feet and spun her around, as she laughed happily, before she playfully swatted his shoulder. "Put me down, you gorgeous cave man!"

He set her down. His eyes were dancing with light and love. He whispered "Oh, wow, is this for real, Penelope?"

She nodded. He gave her a sweet and tender kiss. She told him "We should get out of here. We don't want to steal the show, handsome. Besides, I do believe you owe me some We Made A Miracle nookie."

He laughed. "You still owe me a bunch of rain checks, woman."

She flirted with him. "Get me somewhere private quick and I will make good on them."

Taking her hand he led her outside and they kissed again, as snow fell down. Then Derek said "I never thought I'd have a wife and a kid."

"You just never knew you'd meet a sexy tech kitten like me. Once you did you were mine. You just needed five years to catch on."

He smiled widely. "Oh, I'm caught, that's for sure, and I wouldn't ever want to be let go."

"You won't be."

"I love you very, very much, my phenomenal better half."

She caressed his cheek. "Get me and your baby out of the snow then and show me a good night, Hot Stuff."

He did just that.

THE END