Thanks to everyone who's still reading this. Unfortunately, Mystery picked up a new plot bunny, and she's been grooming it, leaving this one a little messy. I'll try and get her back on track for the next chapter. She always likes hanging with Reid.

FLAMES WILL BE FED TO MY DRAGON PYROS. MYSTERY EATS REVIEWS, AND IS VERY HUNGRY.

DISCLAIMER: Me no own, yada yada yada no one reads these moo cow

"Derek, I can't do this," Penelope gasped, pressing the phone into his hand. "I'm… I'm too scared."

"Baby Girl, I can't do this for you, as much as I'd love to. Just try it, and if she doesn't answer, or hates you, then we can continue from there. I promise you, though, it'll be ok, no matter what. You have me, and Reid, and Prentiss," Derek reassured her, placing the phone back in her hand. "Now call J.J." Penelope's pale fingers hesitantly found the surface of the phone, and she pressed the button to call J.J.'s number.

"Jennifer Jareau," the familiar voice of the media liaison answered. She held the phone with her shoulder as she carried Rosaline to her bedroom, setting the baby down in her crib. She heard nothing on line for a minute, and was about to hang up, when she heard a voice she thought she'd never hear again.

"Jayje?" Penelope asked hesitantly.

Jennifer was torn. She hated Penelope for leaving, but was so glad to know that her friend was all right. She decided to throw on her simple mask, the one that would let nothing through, to keep Penelope in the ark. Because, as much as she hated Penelope in that moment, her son missed his godmother.

"Penelope?" she asked, no seeing Henry slink into the room, his new spiderman pajamas a rumpled mess over his tiny body.

"IS THAT AUNTIE PEN!" Henry shouted, running to his mother. "IS IT IS IT IS IT?"

Penelope could hear her godchild through the phone, and she smiled. She cried a little, but smiled at Derek. She covered the speaker of the phone.

"Happy tears," she told him, uncovering the speaker.

"I can hear Henry in the background," Penelope said, shifting the topic of conversation from herself to someone else. She would've shifted the conversation to the worst serial killers they'd ever taken down to avoid talking about herself in that moment.

"Yes, he's demanding the phone," JJ said, warmth overtaking her voice at the mention of her son. "I'm glad you remember him. Seeing as it's been three years and all, and you left without a trace." Garcia felt the bitter resentment like a slap across her face. Her makeup dripped down onto her chest, staining her skin bright colors that couldn't be less appropriate.

"Can… can I talk to Henry," Penelope asked, her crying muffled by her own attempts. JJ balked at this; she hadn't wanted to hurt Penelope that badly. Sure, Garcia had done a lot of damage, but when it came down to it, she didn't deserve that anger, so JJ handed her son the phone and walked away.

"AUNT PEN! IS IT REALLY YOU? IS IT IS IT IS IT?" Henry demanded. Penelope brushed away her tears and laughed.

"Yes Henry, it's me. How are you?" she asked, trying to keep her voice even. She had missed the sound of Henry's voice.

"AUNT PEN ARE YOU COMING HOME?" Henry asked, still shouting excitedly into the phone. Penelope had to think for a minute before she could answer.

"Yeah, Henry. I'm coming home," she answered, gripping Derek's hand in her own as she spoke. "Henry, tell your mom that I said I was sorry, for everything, ok?" Garcia's voice wavered a bit, but she managed to finish the sentence without crying. She had done too much crying.

"I will!" Henry replied faithfully. He still sounded like his six-year-old self, and Penelope could barely stifle a giggle at the little boy's innocent response. Even though he was nine, some things never changed, or at least, she hoped they didn't.

"Henry, I need to talk to Aunt Pen," JJ said, taking the phone from her son. She held it up to her face, unsure of what to say.

"JJ, I'm so sorry, for everything I did, and I hope that you can forgive me because I really don't want you to hate me because I miss you and," Garcia rambled on. JJ felt wetness soak the corners of her eyes. She thought she had hated Penelope, but she didn't. She missed her friends, and she wanted her sort-of-sister back, her lovable, fluffy, colorful sort-of-sister who would always be there for her.

"I accept your apology, P. I… I've missed you so much." Those few words alleviated everything, let the entire world around Penelope hop of her shoulders and stand on its own legs. She smiled wider than she had in weeks.

"I missed you too, so much. Now, tell me all about what Henry's been up to. Has he been good…?" Penelope trailed off, settling in against Derek for a long night of talking, and catching up with her friend.

"I told you so," Derek whispered as Penelope hung up. She replied by catching his face in her hands and kissing him, bringing their lips together as the world around them crumbled away.

"Thank you," she said, "for telling me so."