once we met | derek morgan. ✓

18 : dinner party

d e r e k .

Jules eyes flutter open as I chuckle, "Good Morning Sunshine." I state.

She smiles softly, "Good Morning." She states, turning her head to face me.

I stand up from my chair, taking a seat next to her on the hospital bed.

"You stayed here all night?" She asks, looking around the hospital room.

"Yeah. I sent Hotch home." I state as she looks back at me.

She nods slightly, "I can imagine how impossible that was." She giggles.

I chuckle softly, looking down on her, "He put up a fight, but I managed kicking him out." I state as she giggles again, "I promised I'd take care of you all night and make sure you didn't code on us last minute." I state.

Her eyes meet mine, "Have you slept?" She asks, holding my haze.

I place my hand on her cheek, "Let's not worry about that right now." I chuckle.

She smiles softly, opening her mouth to say something, but then closing it again. I know she wants to put up a fight, but doesn't want to ruin the moment.

I run my finger along her cheek, "You get out today." I state as she smiles softly.

She places her hand on mine, trying to keep me from tickling her, "Finally. This hospital bed has been breaking my back." She jokes.

•••

"Alright sign here, and uh- right here." The doctor states, having Jules sign the discharge papers.

She nods slightly, quickly signing the papers before handing the doctors them to her.

The doctor leaves the room as Jules turns her head to me.

"What?" I ask in a low tone, her eyes meeting mine.

"Thank you." She states, looking at me in the eyes.

I chuckle, "For what?" I ask, holding her gaze.

She smiles softly, "For all of this." She states, "For being a friend when Hotch brought the team over when I was younger, for being my first bestfriend at Quantico, for laughing with me over the stupidest shit, for being there through my parent's divorce, for memorizing my coffee order and getting me coffee every morning -- even if it makes you later than usual -- and for the road trip to Chicago, for believing in me when my dad didn't, for the dinner at your mom's house, for saving my life in the train...and for loving me..." She states, looking up at me.

I nod -- letting her know "you're welcome" in a subtle way -- before leaning in, kissing her softly.

"I never thought someone could love me the way you have..." She states.

"I will always love you darling. I have always loved you." I states, cupping my hands on her cheeks, running my thumb along her cheek slowly.

She giggles, ticklish to my touch.

"You ready to go?" I ask as she sits up, slightly groaning in pain due to the bandage on her stomach where the bullet used to be.

"Jules, are you okay?" I ask, gesturing towards her as she puts her hand out.

"I'm fine Derek." She states as I help her up, holding her bag in my other hand.

•••

We pull into the parking lot of Jules' apartment complex. I turn off the car as I turn to Jules slightly, smiling softly.

"What?" She asks, curiously.