Derek and Tamara opted for a short honeymoon, a few days in New York to save Derek's leave for when Baby Morgan arrived. After the wedding, Penelope had met up with JJ and Emily. The anniversary of Penelope's parent's death was the following weekend and she was meeting her brothers in California instead of the beach house that year, mainly because she couldn't risk Derek showing up knowing what the weekend represented should by chance he make the connection of the dates and know that she would never miss an anniversary. Emily and JJ had organised a team brunch the following day without disclosing their surprise.

After meeting the boys quickly the three girls disbursed to Penelope's room, excited to be together again.

"I am so glad you're here Pen. We've so missed you. I mean, I know we talk almost every day, but it's just not the same."
"I know. I miss you guys too. As awesome as my lovely boys are, it's just not the same."
"Did you go?" Em asked the eternal question. Though they had discussed it, they weren't sure if Penelope would go through it
"I did. I think I really needed to. Nail the coffin shut so to speak. It was a lovely ceremony."
"A little over the top," Emily muttered earning a chuckle from both her friends who were trying to omit those words from their conversation.
"What? I'm only saying what you're disciplined enough not to say. I'm all for fairytale weddings, but it's a little hard for me to see it as one when it clearly was a shotgun wedding."
"Don't get her started," JJ said looking at Penelope. It was no secret that Emily was very anti the Tamara and Derek nuptial. Especially as she watched the strained face of their friend as he could barely choke out the words.
"I'm all for he's an idiot, but come on. His face and his the way he has been dragging his feet for months is a dead giveaway. If I was her, I wouldn't let him marry me. I'd know that his heart isn't in it."
"Em she's carrying his baby. That's huge!" Penelope tried to placate,
"I guess, I don't know. I think I would rather raise the baby myself than marry someone who I'm not sure really wants to marry me."
"We don't know that he doesn't want to marry her."
"Pen," Em started by JJ had but her off,
"Pen's right Em. Morgan made his bed. He needs to lie in it." Catching on Em closed her mouth and grabbed the bag of M&M's in that JJ had in her hands.|
"So what's the plans for tomorrow?"
"The boys are heading off to see their own families and hang with them the week. We're all just going to meet in LA after my thing. We're thinking of taking a road trip to the Grand Canyon for a hike, team building and what not."
"What's the Brit doing?" JJ asked after Gabriel. The girls had great rapport with all the boys, but Gabriel in particular.
"He's doing the NY thing, and I am going to meet him there, once you know the coast is clear and I think he's coming to LA with me but we haven't really set anything in stone at the moment. I know he wants to hang with Mac, Stella and the gang for a bit, so who knows."
"You staying with Mac when you get to NY."
"As if I'd live to tell the tale if I didn't." Penelope and Mac had known each other for years. He had gone to school with her eldest brother Adam, while she was in the same year as his sister who was Penelope's best friend as they were growing up. He had been the one who had been trying to recruit her into the CSI for years.
"That is true. Does he know?"
"Yeah, he does."
"Derek better pray he doesn't cross paths with Mac, or Stella for that matter." Em said knowing just how protective Mac was of Penelope.
"Mac's been pre warned. He's not allow to do bodily harm." Pen answered.

The next morning Penelope and the boys went for their usual run before the boys had to pack up and head their separate ways. She had just finished seeing them off when it was time for her to meet the others for Brunch at the hotel restaurant downstairs. Emily and JJ had set it up so that she would be the one to arrive last. Jack had been the first to spot her. He jumped to his feet with a grin on his face,
"Aunt P!!!!" he squealed happily as he rant straight into her outstretched arms. Reid, Hotch, Rossi, Will, Fran, Des' and Sarah's head snapped towards the direction Little Hotchner was headed. They watched as she caught Jack in her arms and lifting him up into a tight hug. Jack wrapped his arms around her neck tightly.
"I've missed you Aunt P."
"I've missed you too my little man. So much! I've missed you all." She said meeting the eyes of those who were looking right at her.
"Surprise…" she said meekly.
"So this is where you two disappeared to last night?" Hotch said accusingly at Em and JJ who grinned,
"Yup, we were setting up the surprise." Everybody rose from their chair as she came around the table to hug them all. When she reached Fran, it wasn't at all lost on her that the older woman clung to her tightly, as a reassurance, and perhaps even an apology.
"Hey P." Des said a little choked up, the years spent being intertwined in their family had made Penelope extremely close to both Morgan sisters.
"Hey Des, it's okay honey. I'm okay." She reassured her.
"You're looking great Penelope." Sarah complimented as she hugged Penelope,
"Thanks Sar. How's the twins?"
"They're great, they're with Daddy at the zoo. We weren't quite sure what brunch was about so I didn't bring them in case it was an adult thing, if I had known you would be here, I would have brought them. They miss you."
"I miss them too. I'm in Virginia for a couple of days, I'd love to see them if you guys are sticking around. I was going to take little Hotchner Ice Skating, if you want to bring the kids."
Penelope said throwing Jack a wink as he jumped up and down excitedly,
"That sounds great."
"Hey is it kids only or can we all go?" Rossi asked with a smirk,
"You can all go, but you come, you skate. You too Reid." Penelope said pointedly at Dave, Reid and Hotch.
"Small price to pay Penelope." Hotch answered dropping a kiss on her head before pulling out a chair for her to sit in.

They had a nice brunch together just catching up on what was the latest in each other's lives. After brunch they all reluctantly parted needing to run their own errands. While Sarah and Des went to collect Ted and the kids, Fran stayed with Penelope.

"Looks like London agrees with you Sweetheart." Fran observed as Penelope was telling her all about her new job and new city
"I truly never anticipated how much I would love it. I love what I am doing, who I work with. London is just this playground of unknown for me, and I love wandering the little nooks and crannies and finding Penelope approved places." Fran had to smile at Penelope's genuine enthusiasm,
"And I hear you've found a family like group of people."
"I have, they're my workmates/housemates. I live with three boys, and they're fiercely protective, loyal, and loving. They look after me. I've really been blessed Fran, and I am grateful."
"That's not something to sound apologetic for honey."
"I know, it just kind of feels like…"
"I asked, and it's only right that you move on with your life and enjoy it to the fullest. I'm happy that you are surrounded by people who love and care for you. You deserve that honey." Penelope's eyes filled with tears,
"Thank you,"
"I meant what I said Penelope, you will always be a part of this family. You are a daughter to me and you will never be anything less. My house is always open to you. I will never not be happy to hear from you. Wife, grandchildren, whatever your place in this family was cemented a long time ago, and no one can ever take that away." Fran pulled Penelope into her arms, in typical Mamma Morgan fashion.
"How was he?" Penelope finally asked despite herself,
"Stoic, certainly didn't look like a man who was getting married, but a man who was standing by his principles because it was the right thing to do, despite the sacrifices he had to make, and how much it had hurt him."
"I'm sorry Fran, I know how hard that must have been for you to watch."
"For you as well I'm sure." She replied earning a surprised look from Penelope,
"You forget I know you Penelope. I know how much you love my son and how much he loves you. Despite everything that's happened, you were never not going to be there. Regardless how much it would have hurt you, you would have gone because you wanted to make sure he would be okay. I know that if he was to fall apart and you were there, you would have talked him off his ledge." Penelope had no words, because she knew Fran's words were true. It didn't matter how much Derek had hurt her, at the end of the day, if he needed to be rescued, she would have rescued him.
"I needed to see him go through with it, in a way it sufficiently closed our door, and now there is no turning back."

They had spent that evening having dinner with both the team and the Morgans, as promised they went ice skating before hand. That evening JJ and Emily were staying the night in her room for one of their infamous slumber parties. In the few days that she was she was there, she managed to spend quality time with each of them. The Morgan's left for Chicago the day after their brunch. She, Emily and JJ hit their favourite mall for a lot of pampering and shopping. She and Reid went to the Planetarium. She had dinner with Rossi and Hotch, and stayed one night at Hotch's to hang with Jack. After they had put Jack to bed, it gave Hotch and Penelope an opportunity to catch up,

"So… things are going well it seems." She stated after close observation of her friends and the development since her departure.
"It is Pen, she makes me happy. I love her."
"The feeling is more than mutual my friend, trust me."
"Then why is she so hesitant about moving in,"
"Aaron, she's scared. You know how Em has to compartmentalise everything. She's just afraid that you guys are rushing into it, and maybe you'll one day realise that it was the wrong thing and take it back."
"That's crazy!"
"Says the man who almost had a heart attack when he kissed the woman he loves for the first time."
"That's going to haunt me forever isn't it."
"Yes, if only as a reminder as to why she is so cautious."
"How are you holding up?"
"By a thread, I know it was slightly sadistic to come to the wedding and watch it, but I just had to. I guess a part of me wanted that closure. I wanted to see if he would actually go through with it. Watch his face. Look for a sign, I don't know. If I were completely honest, I guess I wanted him to choose me. Whether or not I was there, I wanted him to want me enough."
"Penelope, you know he would have walked out of that wedding if he saw you there."
"But he wouldn't have had to risk anything Hotch. He wanted a guarantee."
"He never fought for us, for even the possibility. It was all too little too late. He's not the man I thought he was. He just didn't love me enough." Aaron pulled her into a hug as she leaned into his chest with a sigh.
"Thanks for listening, I love the girls but there's no way I would admit all that to them. They'd skin him alive."
"What makes you think I won't."
"Because you're a reasonable man, and I know if I asked you not to, you won't."
"Fine, you win that round."

On the day that the Morgan's were to arrive, was the day Penelope was flying out to New York to hang with Mac and Stella. Derek was surprised to see Emily, JJ and Spencer waiting at the arrivals for them. Penelope had convinced the three of them to wait for Derek and Tamara seeing as they were already at the airport. They had brought her to the airport a couple of hours earlier and after checking in they hung out at Starbucks till she was called to board, leaving them with ten minutes to get to Derek's gate to pick them up.

"Oh hey you guys, thanks for coming to pick us up." He said gratefully. He was well aware of the change in dynamics since Penelope's departure and had not expected them to be there. He had noticed that JJ and Emily had slipped out of the wedding hours before it ended.
"Sure man, all good. Is this all your luggage?" Reid asked looking at the numerous bags before them,
"I got a little carried away with the shopping." Tamara said sheepishly.
"It's a girl thing." JJ assured her. As they headed out the door, Derek saw his three friends look out the window when a final call for a New York flight was called, it was brief moment but it was significant.