I'm sorry for taking so long to update this, thank you all for being so patient with me xxx

Chapter 14

…

Penelope sat picking at her Thai food as Derek watched her intently. He could see she was nervous and he had a fair idea why. He got up from the chair and came to sit down beside her on the sofa.

"Baby Girl…what's up?"

"I wanted to talk to you about what happened the other night."

"I see…well, have you remembered then?" He asked.

"Huh…you mean you do."

"Well yeah of course I do."

"Are we talking about the same thing here?"

"Well I don't know about you but I'm talking about you and I sleeping together."

"Oh my god...Derek, why the hell didn't you say anything. Do you have any idea how freaked out I've been thinking that I was the only one who remembered?"

"I'm sorry, it's just when you didn't bring it…well, I didn't want to be the only one who did. I didn't mean to upset you."

"Oh gorgeous, you could never upset me, I'm just so relieved this is all out in the open."

"Does anyone else know about what happened?"

"Alex does, she saw the hickey and put two and two together…oh and Erin knows."

"Strauss knows?"

"I needed to talk to someone and I like talking to Erin, she seems to understand. If you were to tell me a few years ago that I'd be confiding in Erin, I never would have believed you but now…I don't think there's anything I wouldn't tell her. She's like a surrogate older sister...you know?"

"I'm glad you had someone to talk too. How's she doing?"

"Okay I guess, given what she's been through. We all need to be there for her Derek, she needs us now more than ever."

"We will be…but right now is our time."

She looked at him as he took her plate from her hand and put it on the table before standing up and extending his hand for her to take. She took tight hold of it as he pulled her to her feet and wrapped his arms around her and placed a gentle kiss to her lips.

"Wow, there's nothing you're not good at, is there sweet cheeks." She smiled.

"Well I aim to please, now how about we go and re-create the other night huh."

"You read my mind."

…

Alex waited as Erin dried her tears, gently rubbing soothing circles on her back to try and calm her.

"Thank you Alex."

"No need to thank me, do you feel any better now?"

"A little, I'm glad we had this chat Alex and I do value your Friendship."

"The same goes for me and I meant what I said, we are all here for you. I don't know how we'd have coped if he'd killed you."

"I can't believe he hated me that much to do that, and not just me but all those innocent people he killed…they did nothing wrong."

"You can't think about that Erin, we can't change what happened. All we can do is try and put it behind us and move forward with our lives."

"It's hard Alex."

"I know, but you have a man at home who loves you more than anything else in the world. He'd do anything for you, don't push him away."

"I could never do that, you know when he walked back into the BAU I thought he was going to cause me nothing but heartache, I couldn't have been more wrong."

"Can I walk you home?"

"I'd like that, thanks Alex."

…

JJ and Spencer were on their third beer when JJ checked her phone and realised it was nearly 1am.

"Spence, we should be heading home. It's getting really late."

"I don't think we're in any fit state to drive."

"I have an idea."

JJ got out her mobile and made a quick phone call as Spencer paid for their drinks. He came back to the table as JJ closed her phone.

"Problem solved, I gave Hotch a call and he's coming to collect us."

"You didn't wake him, did you?"

"No, I had a funny feeling he'd still be at the office and I was right."

"He's spending so much time there lately since he split up with Beth."

"I know how he feels, it's horrible going home to an empty house."

"Am I the only one who likes living alone?"

"We're all different Spence."

"I hate seeing him so down and he seems to be working harder after what happened to Strauss."

"Someone should talk to him?"

"He won't listen, Rossi already tried, so did Morgan. He'd never listen to me."

"I'll have a go tomorrow but right now, we need to get home and sleep. Come on, Hotch should be outside by now."

…

Dave woke up to the sound of the front door opening. He got up to see Erin walking in, followed by Alex.

"What's going on, I didn't hear you go out?"

"Sorry David, I went to have a coffee with Alex."

"A coffee, at this time of night."

"I needed some air."

"It's alright Rossi, she was perfectly safe."

"We did you ladies go anyway."

"Just the café down the road, not far…stop worrying, I'm alright."

"Yeah?"

"I'm going to bed, Alex, thank you for the chat. It's just what I needed."

"Don't mention it, I'll see you soon." She smiled.

Dave waited for Erin to go into the bedroom before turning back to Alex.

"Is she really okay Alex?"

"She's fine, really."

"Just coffee was it."

"Huh, oh yeah of course. Look, I just wanted to apologise to her for the way I've behaved towards her since I arrived."

"Yeah, you haven't been the kindest."

"Well that's all going to change, I swear."

"I'm glad Alex, really I am. She needs her Friends and Family around her, now more than ever."

"I should probably head home, I didn't notice the time."

"Well look, if you want…you can stay in the spare room tonight, save you the drive home."

"You sure Erin wouldn't mind."

"I highly doubt it, go on. Far room at the back and bathrooms on the right."

"Great, thanks Rossi. Well, good night then." She smiled.

"Night Alex."

…

To Be Continued…