𝐁𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧 ~ Derek Morgan

𝟰. Lilac short skirt

It's been three ish months...the time had been moving faster with him gone on cases so much. But we made it work. Derek and I had been out on a small handful of other dates since our first one and it was safe for me to say that I was really happy spending time with him. So happy that I didn't even mind when he had to reschedule a date because of a last-minute case. Something that seemed to shock him every time it happened. We have yet to put any labels on our relationship yet, something that didn't necessarily surprise me. 

Currently I was in my room, getting ready for yet another afternoon to be spent with Derek. Looking into the floor length mirror I pull at the bottom of my lilac skirt, and then at the hem of my shirt. this outfit makes you look fat, I think to myself. I almost went back to my closet to change before hearing a knock on my apartment door. Before talking myself out of it I left my room to go answer the door. 

"Hey," I say with a small sigh and smile as I open the door to Dereks handsome face. 

"Hey baby girl," He replies as I step to the side to let him into the apartment. "How are you?" 

"I am wonderful," I say as I turn around with a smile. "How are you?" I ask knowing he got back from a case not too long ago. 

"Better now that I'm seeing your smiling face," He replies and my smile falters slightly in concern. "Nah, the case really wasn't that bad, just a mother trying to protect her mentally ill son, it could have been worse," he says with his signature breathtaking smile. "I brought you these," He says as he brings a bouquet of flowers from around his back. 

"Derek these are so pretty," I melt a little as I take the colorful flowers from his hands "I'm just going to put these in a vase and grab my shoes and Ill be good to go," I say over my shoulder as I walk to the kitchen to grab a vase. 

"Take your time," was his reply. "we've got plenty of it," 

~~~

I make my way across my relatively small apartment to the main room finding Derek standing against the back of my couch scrolling through his phone. 

"You ready?" He asks looking up at me. 

"Uhm," I hum checking I had both shoes on my feet and my small bag with keys and phone. "Yes," 

"Perfect," he says pushing off the couch to walk towards me. "You look gorgeous by the way," I blush at his words as he gently takes my hand twirling me in front of him. 

"Thank you," I smile. 

"Any time," He shoots a smile back before placing a sweet kiss on my cheek and leading me out the door, not once dropping my hand. 

~~~

"You're sure that's all you want to eat?" Derek asks. 

"Yes Derek, it's fine I promise," I say looking down at my salad before looking back up at him. I watch as his face grows slightly disapproving, I let out a small sigh knowing he didn't believe my words. "can we just, talk about it later?" I ask knowing that this was going to ruin this wonderful thing that I had just gotten. 

"yeah, later," he repeated with a small nod. We move on with our day pretending like the conversation didn't happen. 

~~~

"I had a wonderful time today," Derek says leaning against the wall as I unlock my apartment door. 

"Good," I say with a smile as I get my door unlocked and turn the handle. "Do you want to keep it going?" I ask raising an eyebrow. 

"I'd love too," he smiles following me as I walk into my apartment. 

"Do you want anything to drink?" I ask walking into my kitchen smiling as I see the flowers sitting on my counter. I listen for his reply as I grab my drink and eventually his. Walking around the counter I move into the main room where he's sitting on the couch. 

"Anything specific you want to watch?" He asks as he flips through my tv. 

"You choose," I take a seat on the couch next to him, not to close, but not alarmingly far away. I wait for him to choose something to watch before speaking up again. "we should have that talk now," i say crossing my legs underneath me as I look down at my hands. 

"are you sure?" he looks over to me. If i had looked up I would have seen the concern on his face. "it can wait for a different time," 

"No, no it's fine, I'll give you the out you want," I reply with a shake of my head. 

"the out?" Derek sits up this time turning to face me more. "Ivy, what are you talking about?" 

"when I was around 14 I was diagnosed with two disorders," I get out as quickly as possible. "One of them was an eating disorder because you know the dance community isn't the best especially when you're a teenager," I sigh not looking up from my hands. "It took a long while and a lot of therapy to get it under control, and I got rid of it, at least I thought I did. When I was around 20 almost 21 I met Michael and we hit it off and it was great, until it wasn't. He was controlling like majorly controlling, and weather he ment it to happen or not he caused me to relapse. And now it's... " I shake my head. "Now you have an out, which I won't be mad if you take by the way,"

"Ivy, baby girl, why would I leave after that? Why would I quit this thing that we have because you struggle with how you think about food? That's nothing that can't be fixed with a little bit of time and some lovin," Derek says gently tucking a peice of hair behind my ear before moving to grab my hands.

"Really?" I ask looking up, just by looking in his eyes I knew the answer. I could see the sincerity in his eyes.

"Really," he nods in confirmation. "I was actually toying with the idea of asking you to be my girlfriend tonight," he says suddenly getting nervous. "I mean we've been doing this dating and talking thing for a couple months now, and I just, I really like you. I havent really don't this relationship thing in the past, so I don't really know how it works so you're gonna have to be patient with me but ivy," he stops his rambling for a moment as he looks at me. I like spending time with you, and if you come with disorders or emotional baggage or trauma whatever I'll take that too because it's part of you," I suck in a slight breath at his words. "And so far, I'm finding no parts of you that I don't like," I melt as I bring myself closer to him wrapping my arms around his neck. I feel his arms wrap around my waist as he gently pulls me to sit next directly next to him. How can one man be so perfect?

I pull away just enough to be able to place a kiss on his lips, hopefully expressing all the emotions I was feeling.

"Yes," I say quietly as he rests his forehead against mine.

"What?" He asks softly pulling away slightly.

"Yes, I'll be your girlfriend," small smile growing on my face witch only becomes wider as a smile grows on his face.

A/N: Hi!! it's been a second and for that I'm sorry but I have been SWAMPED with stuff, but I am currently working on more stuff for this story and I'm excited to share it!!! I hope you all have had a wonderful day!!! ~M