The Ugly Truth

A woman knows the face of the man she loves as a sailor knows the open sea.
Honore de Balzac

Prologue

Penelope couldn't believe it, after almost three years here relationship with Kevin Lynch was over and she did not see it coming. Okay maybe she did see it coming and just didn't want to admit it to herself. Kevin had been hinting for months that he wanted to go back to the private sector and move from Quantico. He knew she wasn't good with big changes in her life and how expected her to give up her friends here and move all the way to some god forsaken backwoods town, where internet connection was spotty at best, and non-exist and worse, she would never know. He was actually shocked when he informed her that he was leaving the BAU and if she wanted to continue this relationship she would have to come with him that she didn't even hesitate in saying no.

"But Penny, with all that has gone on this last year, I thought you would be glad to leave this place."

"Leave this place and go where Kevin? Leave the only family I have to go where?"

"I will be your family Penny. These people are just people you work with; they are not family."

"See Kevin, that is where you are wrong, we are family, Hotch, Rossi, Spencer, JJ, Derek, and myself, we are family, so don't even go there with they are just work colleagues speech again okay."

"Well, where do I fit in there exactly Penny, anywhere?"

"Of course you do Kevin, but I just can't leave them. We have lost Emily and JJ; I just don't think my boys can handle another blow."

"It's all about your boys isn't, or should I say your baby boy. The truth is you don't want to leave Derek Morgan behind. Our relationship has never ranked above your friendship with Morgan."

"That is not true Kevin, I backed off on my time with Morgan and you know that."

"It is not enough, Penny."

"Well, I guess that is all that needs to be said then."

"Penny."

"No, Kevin I mean it. I can't do this anymore. You're right the ugly truth of it all is Derek Morgan matters to me than any other person on this earth and after all that has happened in the last two years to us; I plan on holding on to him with everything I am and everything I have, so take your stuff and leave don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out."

Her boys and Seaver were due back to Quantico any minute now and she had to find a way to stem the tears, which were falling again in earnest.