Scorned Pt. 14

Paradise Rehab Center – Afternoon – 1 month later

“One more, one more! Come on, Derek you got this! YES!”

Morgan collapsed against the mat sweating and breathing hard but happy at the progress he had made since being back. Things he never thought he’d be able to do again he could do now. Truman had been relentless, yet he met every challenge. He wanted to be home with Penelope not as an invalid but as the man she’d fallen in love with. He wanted to return to life on his terms and on his own two feet.

“You’ve come a long way, man!” Truman noted.

“Thanks to you.”

“Nah man, it’s all you. You did this.”

Truman handed Derek a bottle of water and for the next few minutes the two friends sat in silence.

“So, what’s going on with you and my sister?” Derek asked.

“Desiree, man.” Truman chuckled as he thought of her. “She’s a firecracker! She’s amazing.”

“Are you two serious?”

“Yes, we’re serious. I know it’s only been a little while, but I definitely want a future with your sister.”

“Has she told you about me?”

Truman laughed. “Yeah, she told me. Don’t worry, she’s in good hands.”

“I’m going to be back to normal in a few months, and I’d hate to have to come after you if you hurt her.” Said Derek half-joking.

“I got you, man; I got you. I love her.”

“What? What did you say?”

“I said, I love Desiree. She’s way better than I deserve, and I know it. I’m lucky that she gives me even five minutes of her time.”

Derek smiled to himself. He and Truman had something in common. They were both in love with women who were far better than either of them deserved yet, those women allowed them into their lives with no judgement.

“I get it. I’m not sure why Penelope puts up with me either; especially with all I’ve put her through.”

“We are two lucky bastards!” Truman joked.

“That we are that we are!” Derek agreed.

Home of Derek Morgan and Penelope Garcia – 3 months later

Derek had been home for two months but still not back at work full-time. When the team was out of town, he’d stay behind and lend a hand from home. He felt good being able to contribute but it didn’t replace the rush he received from knocking down doors and tackling unsubs.

Penelope was five months pregnant now and she was amazed at how her body was changing; she couldn’t wait to be a mother. Derek was deliriously happy and doted on her non-stop. She worried about Derek; he wanted to be completely healed before the baby came and the fact that he’d gone from a wheelchair to a walker to now just a cane, was not good enough. He’d doubled up on his workout and even though Truman had warned him to be careful, he kept pushing his body to its limits.

There was something else that Derek wanted before the baby arrived; he wanted to be married. He wanted Penelope to have his last name and even though she had teased him about sounding like a caveman, he meant it. He wanted to be married as soon as possible.

Home of Dave and Fran Rossi –

He’d called and said he was on his way over. He wouldn’t say why over the phone, but Fran had an idea of what he wanted. He and Penelope had been engaged for almost six months and knowing her son, he wanted to make their life together official.

The doorbell rang and she heard Dave open the door and let Derek in. It was a rare day off for the team which was good. Derek had summoned all of them to the house except his fiancé; he had an idea, and he needed their help. One by one they arrived and found a place in the great room waiting to hear what he had to say.

“Thank you all for coming! I know you probably had plans today, so I promise this won’t take long.” Derek began.

“What’s going on big brother?” Des asked.

“Baby Girl’s birthday is in three weeks and I want to surprise her with a wedding!”

The group saw the excitement in his eyes; the women in the group wondered if this was such a good idea.

“Are you sure about this, little brother?” Sarah asked.

“Men!” JJ added.

“What?” Derek asked as he looked confused around the room.

“You’re asking a woman to share her birthday with her wedding?” Fran asked.

“That’s great, right?” He asked clueless. “It shows how special our wedding is by having it on her birthday!”

“As opposed to what?” Reid chimed in.

“Uh...as opposed to my birthday?”

“Really Morgan?” Hotch shook his head. “Even I know this is a bad idea.”

“Look, the baby will be here in four months and I want us to be married.” He pleaded.

“Son, don’t you know that you’re taking your life into your own hands?” Dave asked.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, a woman dreams of that special day when she marries the man of her dreams. They have it all planned out down to the last place setting and you want to take that away from Penelope?”

“Spoken by the man who’s been married a dozen times!” Derek teased.

“When I married your mother, that was my only marriage!”

“Ahh, Dave you’re so sweet!” Fran moaned.

“I think I’m going to be sick.” Morgan groaned.

3 weeks later...

It was her birthday and Derek had been acting strange for the last several days. Secret meetings that weren’t so secret and lame excuses to explain his trips away from home made her giggle because she knew he was up to something. Just as long as he isn’t planning a surprise wedding, she thought to herself.

Fran and the girls along with JJ had wrestled the planning duties away from Derek. His event planning skills were lacking, and Penelope deserved more than a large pizza and a case of beer. So, like a well-oiled machine the foursome managed to pull together the most amazing Birthday-Baby shower ever. Derek had one job and that was getting Penelope to the Rossi mansion on time.

Home of Derek Morgan and Penelope Garcia –

“Baby Girl, if we don’t leave in five minutes, we’re going to be late!” He yelled up the staircase.

Penelope stared at the bed, now covered with her entire wardrobe. She was a bundle of emotions; nothing fit, nothing. She’d broken three zippers and sent at least a half dozen buttons flying across the room. She had put off buying maternity wear and now at six months pregnant, she’d been reduced to stretchy pajamas and Derek’s old sweatpants.

Derek ran up the stairs when he didn’t get a response and stopped dead in his tracks at the doorway. Slowly she turned to face him with tears and fire in her eyes.

“Baby...”

Derek slowly entered staring in horror at the devastation.

"This is your fault, Derek Morgan!”

“My fault? How? Why?”

“I’m a big fat cow and it’s your fault!”

Derek pulled her into his arms and gently held her against his chest.

“You are not a fat cow. You my love are the mother of my child and the love of my life.”

“Have you seen this body lately, Derek? Your child is going into timeout when he or she is born for doing this to my body!”

He kissed the top of her head and giggled. He always loved her body and that didn’t change as he watched her belly grow.

“You are the finest, sexiest woman I know especially pregnant! Hell, I’m ready to have at least five more.”

“Bite your tongue!” She growled.

“Come on Baby Girl I’ll help you find something to wear, please?”

“It’s dinner with your family. Can we just stay home? We can have a nice birthday dinner here, okay?”

“No can do. My mother’s been cooking for the last two days and if we aren’t there, she’s going to kill me!”

Penelope pulled away just enough to look him in the eyes. He knew immediately what she had on her mind when she kissed him long and hard on the lips.

“No, no, no you don’t Baby Girl!”

“Can’t I kiss my fiancé if I feel like it?” She said as her hand roamed down his chest.

He caught her hand just before it reached his belt.

“Baby...Baby...you’re not playing fair...”

“Are you sure you want to go?” She kissed him again pulling her hand free.

“Baby...baby...Penelope...”

“I want you Derek. You wouldn’t deny a pregnant woman her biggest craving, now would you?”

"Garcia..."

The sound of his zipper kept him silent. This time he kissed her taking control pulling the baggy sweatshirt over her head. He admired her body...how he loved her expanding belly.

“Make love to me Derek...NOW!”

“Yes, ma’am.”

He backed her up toward the bed. How could he say no to the woman he loved more than life itself? After all, he was his mother’s only son, surely she wouldn’t really kill him if they were a little late, he thought.

...to be continued

*Disclaimer: The Derek Morgan Chronicles is fan fiction based on the CBS Crime drama, Criminal Minds. We do not own Criminal Minds or its characters.