Thank you very much for the response for the last chapter. As much as I wish they were mine they are not. I make no money just a few reviews.

"There is a nice family restaurant not far from here, we can go there if you like."

" In a little bit, we need to talk Penelope."

"Yes."

"You changed your name and everything that goes with it, didn't you?"

"How about you call me Siobhan and we'll leave the rest unsaid."

He can't help it a smile crosses his lips leaving just a quickly as it came. He knows the reason she won't answer him. His job and the fact that he is still a practicing lawyer. "Thank you. But Jack, he knows you as Penelope."

"So Siobhan Penelope McAdams, So he couldn't pronounce Siobhan when he was younger and Penelope he could."

"This place, and the store?"

"I rent. All legal, well if you don't count the stuff you have no knowledge of."

"Is there anything I should be worried about?"

"You do remember how good I am and how long it took you to find me?"

He smiles a real a smile it what seems like ages. "You let us find you?"

"I'm not . . ." she starts to say only to be interrupted by Jack as he comes into the living room with Nicodemus following close behind him.

"Dad. I'm hungry."

Three hours later they walked into the apartment. After eating they went to the a near-by department store. Cat food and a few odds and ends that she needed for her home, she even bought a video game that Jack had his eye on

After setting up the game, she walked back into the living room and has to smile as Hotch is sitting on the couch with a lap full of a Maine coon cat.
"Would you like some coffee?"

"Yes, please. About the game."

"Don't worry about it, mild violence. One giant quest. " she tells him as she starts the coffee maker.

They talked keeping things as casual as possible, general catching up with each other. It was nice talking to someone that you didn't have to hide from, someone you have history with, someone who could make you smile with just a pointed look. With Jack playing on the deck with the cat just off of the kitchen they lost track of time.

"Excuse me." Jack says as he walks back in the living room.

"What is it buddy?" Aaron asks.

"I'm hungry."

"I'm sorry what a horrible hostess I am, how does a beef and broccoli stir-fry sound. I can have it on the table in twenty minutes."

"You don't have to feed us."

"You bought lunch," She reminded him.

"Jack you should come in now it's getting a cold out."

"Nick too?"

"Yes him too." Penelope answers. She hands Jack a tablet telling him to download any book he wants.

"How can I help?" Aaron asks her after watching her slice up some steak.

"You can set the table, if you want to. The rice is cooking and all I have to do is trim the broccoli, before I stir-fry."

"You eat meat now, that's a change."

"Change is good for you,or so I've been told."

Jack adored Penelope or Penny as he liked to call her. As they were eating dinner he smiled as he watched his father looking at her. He looked happy, more than he has in a long time. "Can we play a board game after we eat? I saw some in the office."

"It's okay with me Jack, but the decision is your father's."

Being an only child and with everything that he has had to deal with, Jack behaved a lot older than he really was. You tended to forget that he was still only a boy not yet twelve.

When she sees him nod his head once more, his chin touching his chest she knows it is time to call it a night. "It's late and if I had to bet you still have a go bag in your car, one for the both of you to share. Leave through the kitchen door bring your car out back park it next to my little blue beast, stay the night. It's no problem."

He is back in just under five minutes, expecting to see both of them still at the table, he is surprised to see that she has him in her bed his shoes off as well as his shirt. Looking up she smiles. "Ill leave the rest to you, you're going to have to share I only have the one bed. I'll be fine on the couch."

He start to frown, then sees a familiar look on her face. "I locked the door, and thank you."

"You're welcome I just have to double check down stairs and set the alarm. I left some towels for you on the bathroom vanity."

Hearing a voice talking softly he looks at his watch he is surprised to see that it is almost two in the morning. He get up gently so he doesn't disturb Jack in the bed they are sharing. Years of walking softly, in order to clear a building or room are second nature for him, he does it without even thinking.

He sees her sitting on the couch with paperwork and ledgers in front of her, spread on the coffee table. He doesn't move, something has been bothering him all afternoon. Something about her, as good an actress she is, he knows she when is lying. Not so much lying as she is holding back, something that she wants to keep to herself, he just hopes it's not something that can get her into trouble or worse hurt. "All done Nicodemus, the bills are paid, we are in the black this month, I can even afford the tires for the beast." She takes off her glasses, the turns off the lights.

The big cat climbs up on her lap he stretches so his head is resting on her ample breasts. She strokes his head making the cat purr, a loud pleasant noise.

"Oh Nicky, why didn't you stop me when I was making those scarves, huh? I remember you weren't living with me then. I should have left well enough alone. I knew he was out of the witness protection, It only took eight months for the team to get that sick bastard, after he went in. But by that time Jack was happy and the stress lines on his face were gone. It was then we knew he wasn't going to come back. I shouldn't have settled so close to him, if I had to guess one of the profilers would tell me that I wanted to feel safe and secure. That is why I picked this place, even if he didn't know I would and that would make me feel better. Thinking about if they would be right, that and the fact that after all of this time I was trying to prove to myself that all those feeling I had, were gone for good. What a fool I've been, they are back in full force and now I'm back to square one, tying to squash love that has not a chance in hell of being returned. Time to brush up on my acting skills and try not to give any tells when I'm lying. Funny huh? I've got a better chance of winning an Oscar. I can't lie if my life depended on it, at least not to him."

When the purring stop she looks into the eyes of her large pet. "What?"

"Meow."

"Not much of a conversationalist are you?"

"Meow."

"Okay you win time for bed." She watches as he jumps down waiting for her to follow him.

""Sleeping on the couch tonight Nicky. Come on back." She whispers to him as she pulls up the blanket. He swishes his tail and continues on towards the bedroom. "Go on then go sleep with the other XY's, you can be replaced with a hot water bottle to warm my feet ."

He turns and leaves just a he arrived without making a sound. Settling back down he looks at his son and has to smile as he sees Nicodemus sleeping right next to him.

Staring into the darkness of the room, not even a sliver of light coming through into the room from the street light. He goes over in his mind everything that he heard her say. He just can't get over the fact that this warm loving woman, a woman with an abundance of enthusiasm for living and seeing joy in almost everything, would love him. Him a middle aged, fuddy duddy, a scarred man. She was in love with him. Just the thought of it made him grow warm deep in he chest and elsewhere as well. Glancing at his son he quells his feelings enough to make his body calm down.

Now he just has to tell her that she is not alone in her feelings. It took a long time after Haley and the Reaper to get his life back in track. Just as he was getting ready to test the waters Sam came along for her, then that bastard Scratch destroyed his life and that of his son's. The time never seemed right. Maybe now if he takes his time and shows her that he loves her as well.