Chapter 16-The epilogue chapter

AN: Thanks so much for reading and reviewing, coming along on this little bit different take on P and D's relationship. Next story is rather spicy, lots of fun-Penelope finds a certain book at the bookstore...Coming soon, to an inbox near you! :) Kricket

"Hello, there," he said, coming into the kitchen, leaning over to kiss Penelope.

Immediately, he felt a kick come from her stomach.

"Oh, sorry. Hello to you, too, Junior," he quipped, placing his hand on her extended tummy. He leaned over and gave her belly a soft kiss where his hand was resting.

She smiled, shaking her head. "You'd think with the second one, you'd learn your lesson."

"I can't help it," he said defensively. "I see you standing there, and I am drawn like a magnet."

She grinned crookedly. "That's the iron in the prenatal vitamins I have to take."

He pulled her into his arms. "Bull. It's all you, woman."

Penelope looked down and barely saw her feet. Not that she wanted to; she knew they'd be puffy and bloated, like the rest of her was. Along with that, her roots were showing, she'd gained sixteen pounds, and she was wearing ugly jeans with that fabric maternity band on them.

Baby number two was growing much faster than baby number one had.

"I don't know," she grumbled. "I certainly am not feeling like a femme fatale at the moment."

He began kissing her neck, nibbling softly towards her ear. "Woman, I could eat you alive, every delicious inch of you." His voice was a low growl, causing shivers to run up her spine. "I want to consume you, lick you from head to toe."

She sighed, leaning into his chest, feeling the warmth of his arms encircle her. "You are going to have to wait until I am done cooking supper. I just started spaghetti, and Alyssa is napping, and-"

He turned down the heat on the stove, with all intention of turning up the heat between them. "We can let that simmer...me, on the other hand..."

She chuckled as he scooped her up and started towards the bedroom. He seemed to forget that she weighed the same as a small SUV right now. She wasn't going to fuss about it; that would be silly.

"When did she go down?"he asked in a whisper, glancing at the closed nursery door.

"About fifteen minutes ago," she answered.

He gave her a half smile. "That gives me approximately forty-five minutes. Not anywhere near enough time to make a thorough meal of you, but a starving man can't complain..."

"Starving, ha!" she snorted. She sure as hell did not feel sorry for him; the man got it five times a week at least.

"Well, it's all in the perception, right?" he had the audacity to reply as he laid her on the bed. He leaned over her and raised an eyebrow.

She scowled. "Oh, you-!"

Any reply she would've made was lost as her husband began to kiss her. The magic that had always been there from the first kiss they'd had washed over her and caused her to forget her own name, much less what she was arguing with him about. Soft nips, gentle licks, a deep slide of his tongue against hers, and she was on cloud nine.

Reaching her hands under the back of his shirt, she tugged it up and off of him. He broke the kiss a bit and leaned back a little to toss it on the ground, the muscles in his chest working with the movement.

"Still magnificent, honey," she said, her eyes twinkling.

"Hell, yes, woman, as are you," he murmured.

"But-"

"Don't give me lip on this," he commanded with a grin. In only seconds, he'd pulled her shirt over her head and unhooked her bra. He was sliding down her pants, when he added, "You are the sexiest momma I have ever seen."

"That makes me a MILF," she said, her eyes twinkling. It was hard not to agree with him when he was watching her naked body with a look that said he wanted to devour her.

"Mmm hmm," he replied, kissing again. Then he looked up at her and said, "But you are so much more."

"What's that?"

"You are my life...my love...my reason for being...my soul." Each set of words was spaced with a kiss on her neck, all the while he caressed her side, her hip. He looked up at her, his eyes filled with emotion, as he said, "I had nothing before you, and I have everything now. You are my everything, Penelope."

"Oh, Derek," she whispered, tears coming down her cheeks. She knew she was being oversensitive, but she was five months pregnant, that happened. "I love you, too."

He gave her another soft, deep kiss that made her world spin...but not enough that she couldn't comment.

"Ah, Derek?"

"Yes, honey?"

"You have thirty-five minutes left."

He grinned at her. "I'll take my chances."