Penelope remained the same to everyone else, that if you weren't a part of their team, you wouldn't know the difference in her demeanour, which only appeared when she was addressing Derek directly. Though a part of her felt like it had been amputated, she did her best to make the best of what she had. She kept herself busy and spent time with her friends. She had started visiting her brothers more than before and spending time with her nieces and nephews. Every so often she had her twelve year old niece Maggie stay with her when Jasper and his wife Ellen would be called away to work at the last minute. They had moved to New York shortly before their parent's death anniversary, and Penelope loved having them close by. With Caleb in Boston she had brothers within easy reach and that brought her more comfort than she could have hoped for.
"Are you sure it's okay Penelope?"
"Hotch, seriously if I have to say yes one more time I will throw something at you." Penelope replied picking up one of her troll dolls from her desk. Hotch laughed.
"I love having Jack over, we have loads of fun. So once again I say I don't mind taking him for the night. I am happy that you finally got off your tush and giving it a go with Em."
"You don't think it's bad of me as a father to go on a date the night his son stays with him."
"Aaron, you've had Jack for weeks, it's not his first night at your place. He's fine. He loves Em, and he's happy for you. Just go out, enjoy yourself. You can call in ONCE to check on us, otherwise, I don't want to hear from you till tomorrow. You got that?"
"Yes, Ma'am!" he answered with a salute
"Good boy, now go and leave me at peace so I can finish up here and meet you back at mine in a couple of hours."
"Thanks again Pen, you're the best." Aaron said placing a kiss on the top of her head before leaving her office. Pen turned back to her computer with an amused shake of the head. With Derek isolating himself with Tamara, the rest of their team continued to strengthen their bond with casual hang outs that was open to all, and Derek rarely attended. Emily had expressed her disappointment that Derek was no longer around, and that she missed him.
With the reaper finally in jail, and his family safe, Hotch was soon reinstated as their Unit Chief, and Derek was more than happy to pass the position back, for the price he paid was a big one. It was easy to isolate himself from the team when there was that boundary. The boundary allowed him to immerse himself into his existence with Tamara and be so consumed by it that he did not realise that he has separated himself from all of them, just as he had done so with Penelope, who funnily enough was the warmest towards him of late.
Emily had long since stopped asking him to hang out when he kept blowing her off for his plans with Tamara and he could see the resentment in her eyes that he had abandoned her too.
"Addy I'm fine, I'm not over exerting myself, I promise." Penelope said trying to assure and placate her eldest bother.
"What time is your appointment tomorrow?" he asked as she sighed in resignation,
"Not till the afternoon."
"Should you really be running around after a five year old beforehand?"
"Ads, it's exactly what I need. I don't want to think about it."
"I really wish you would let one of us come with you, at least let Em and or JJ take you."
"Hey, I'm having enough trouble containing your panic, you want me to spread the hysteria?"
"I worry Bug."
"I know you do big brother, which is why I love you as much as I do, but if I felt that it was anything to be panicked about, you will be my first call."
"I better be Kid."
"I promise!" Penelope swore to him as she juggled her back pack and hand bag closing up her office. Derek who was on his way back to the bullpen caught most of her conversation and stopped dead in his tracks and hid behind one of the dividers.
"Good, and you'll call me right after?"
"Yes, I will call you right after, you and the rest of the Goon squad."
"You drive a hard bargain."
"But you love me in spite of it."
"That I do Lady Bug, and don't you forget it."
"I love you too Addy. Give Olive and the monkeys my love. Depending on how it all goes, I will try and head on out to yours in a couple of weeks okay."
"Done deal, talk to you tomorrow."
"Not like you'd let me get away with not…" Penelope muttered after her brother had already hung up. Derek's concerns were at its peak, was something wrong? Was she sick? Knowing she would never speak to him about it, he had decided to take matters into his own hands.
Penelope went home and set up one of the rooms for Jack to sleep in that night. She had picked out a few DVD's for them to watch that night. She had also taken the board games out of her cupboard. By the time Hotch, Em and Jack arrived they were all set to go for their night of fun.
"Aunt P!!!" Little Jack Hotchner shrieked with excitement as she opened the door.
"Hey little man, you've grown!" she exclaimed on impact as he threw his arms around her waist,
"You always say that."
"Well you keep growing on me. Did you bring your swimmers for tomorrow morning?"
"Yep, Emmy made sure I did."
"Good girl. Guess what I have for us tonight?"
"What?" he asked excitedly,
"S'mores!"
"Aww, can we stay for S'mores?" Emily asked with a small pout enlisting a laugh from both Hotchner's
"No, you'll have to wait till the next girl's sleepover."
Derek watched from his car as Penelope and Jack sat side by side in front of their mini camp fire, he could see that she was cooking hot dogs for their dinner, and by the looks of it, there were S'mores in their future. Derek watched a Jack laughed happily as he and Penelope talked. It was obvious that Penelope had won the heart of one Jack Hotchner.
Derek contemplated his next move. It wasn't the first time he had driven past her new house, he had admittedly done it more often that he'd care to admit, but he'd never stopped let along gotten out of the car. It didn't seem as though he had a right to just drop by anymore. His concern winning over his fragile ego he bit the bullet and got out of the car.
Penelope had looked up to see Derek was walking towards them. Surprised, she tilted her head to the side questioningly. They were far from friends, but she had long since stopped avoiding him at all cost.
"I was in the neighbourhood and thought I'd drop by. Hey Little Man, sorry I crashed your party."
"It's okay Agent Morgan. We have plenty of hot dogs and S'mores. You can come and join us." Penelope chuckled not quite sure how she felt about being sold out by Jack.
"Is that okay P?"
"Sure Morgan. Pull up a log, and I'll grab you a stick." Penelope said getting up to go inside for his stick and regain her composure, not knowing what he was doing at her house. She knew that he had found out that she had moved from the others, but she certainly has never extended the invitation to him. The months that passed had thawed her anger, and though she was still highly guarded, she was a lot more gracious than she was before. When she returned she found that Jack was wrestling with Morgan.
"Take it easy on Agent Morgan Jackers, people his age don't recover from injuries as quickly as you."
"Nice P!" Derek said with a laugh appreciating the moment of teasing they haven't had for almost a year.
"If the geriatric shoes fit Morgan." She retorted as she handed him a stick for his hot dog. Jack laughed and scrambled out of Derek's grasp and crawled into Penelope's lap.
"You done eating Jack?"
"Yes thank you Aunt P."
"You ready for S'mores."
"Am I ever?" Jack replied enthusiastically. Penelope tickled his stomach before reach over for the S'mores supply. Three S'mores later, little Jack Hotchner let out a yawn.
"Hey why don't we get your teeth brushed and have you in your Jammies, so that when we watch your movies you'll be comfortable?" Jack hesitated for a moment before reluctantly nodding
"Will you help tuck me in?" he said turning to Derek.
"Sure Kid as long as it's okay with your Aunt P."
"Sure, why not…"
