Thank you so much for the reviews and the follows. My chapters were getting to long so I had to split them—I will try to correct the grammatical errors in the previous chapters – it's hard to see them sometimes. Disclaimer: I own nothing.

The Next Day

The team put Foyet into protective custody, after The Reaper killed all the passengers on a Boston metro bus. Penelope worked all day to see if they could get an image of the Reaper before he put on his mask. None.

Jackson sent her flowers letting her know that American University made him an offer and she called to remind him that they need to talk tonight.

After her dinner party, at Miguel and Eric's, she headed home to meet Jackson

At home, she's rehearsing what she is going to say. No variations and no kissing – we know he is going to try but we have to anticipate and deflect. She knew that when she got Derek on the phone she had to tell him Jackson knew about their relationship since that was one of his main points. She also knew that it was too soon to tell Jax but she just couldn't loose Derek. She continued to practice her lines Jackson I'm seeing someone – Jackson, I am in a relationship.

Her doorbell rings and it's Jackson. He is wearing jeans, white t-shirt and a brown corduroy blazer. His hair is messy as usual and he still hasn't shaved. She was still wearing her dinner party outfit—a black off the shoulder loose dress with gladiator sandals and her signature black cat eye glasses. Her hair was resting on her shoulders.

"You look beautiful—where did you come from… dinner?" he asked.

"Come in" she said.

He walks in and surveys her place. "This is so you. I love the pop of pink by the couch. Is this the bowl we made in Ceramics 101? I didn't know you kept this."

He walks closer to her and tries to kiss her but she avoids it. Point 1 for Garcia.

She walks away from him and towards her glass of wine and begins-

"I should have told you this earlier, but I didn't know or think you were really moving here – and maybe, I was trying to protect your feelings but I've met someone."

"What?" he said shocked and breathless.

"I've met someone" she said conclusively

"What do you mean you've met someone. Who?" He asks gruffly, as he walks away from her running his fingers through his haphazardly styled hair. When she doesn't answer, he tries to distract himself with a candle on her mantle.

"What do you mean you met someone. When?" He repeated a bit calmer.

"When I came to DC." She replied holding his gaze. She knew he was going to freak out she just didn't know how.

"Who?" he asked at a metered tone as he leaned on the column that separated her living room from the dining room.

"It doesn't matter – who it is." She replied firmly

"Are you sleeping with him?" he countered

She sips her wine and doesn't answer

Did I wait too long? He says to himself, as he looks up to the ceiling. He continued to stare at the ceiling as he asked his next question—

"How long?"

"Several months, now "

"Why?" he asked rapidly after her answer.

"We were over and I – I don't have to explain this. We're done."

"Is the sex good?" he asked as peered at her – afraid of her answer.

She sighed exasperated "Not everything is about sex, Jackson. He is funny, handsome, smart, and amazing and he loves me—truly, loves me and I come first"

"is that all it takes, making you come first—I thought I did that every night" he said frustrated, as he walked further away from her.

"It is about the sex" he said loudly … "it is always about the sex" he said acknowledging his volume.

"Is he good?" he asked her nervously. "I mean we're great together so is he better?"

She sighed and turned her back to him and looked out the window. The pain in his voice made her start to cry. You can do this, she told herself.

"Is he good, Penelope—is that why you want to throw away 12 years for 8 months?"

"Jackson, let's not make this about phantom menaces this is about us and I need to be clear that our romantic relationship is over and "

"This isn't a phantom menace, Penelope Garcia – he's a real person right? Or, are you fucking a ghost."

He started to pace and his volume increased "Say his name. Why is it so hard to say his fucking name Penelope? Derek Morgan right? See I can say it"

"What?" She said surprised

"He watched you all night like a love sick school boy—I thought he just he had a crush on you- I didn't know you were fucking him as well."

"Do you love him?" he whispered and she began to feel anxious again. His pacing speed increased and he screamed

"do you love him?"

"Yes," she whispered

He let out a deep painful sigh, "do you love me?" He whispered.

"Of' course I do. I will always love you but it is not the same as before. I love you as a friend – my best friend"

"No Penny" he screamed over and over again as he kicked and punched the coat closet door in the dining room. He kicked and punched the door till there was a hole as large as him.

She jumped at the first punch and started to cry – she knew he would never hurt her but she was scared to see the rage and sad to see his pain. She knew this was coming but she needed to do this to make everything right, again.

"You have to go home" she said

"Stop saying that" he cried as he wiped his tears "you are my home, Penelope."

He left her place and once again she was crying in the apartment. She stood in front of what used to be a closet door crying. She knew in that moment she just lost her best friend.

After her bath, she called Morgan again and left him a message.

Hi, it's me –I know you need some space and I am trying to give it. So, I'll stop calling you and we can talk when you get back. I miss you.

The Reaper case had her working round the clock for several days. She basically, slept in the office.

On her first free day, Sunday, she was taking out pieces of her broken door when Jackson stopped by with a coffee for her.

"Hey."

"Hey." She said shaking the bangs out of her face.

"I am sorry about the other night."

"You really scared me," she said honestly

"Come on Sweet P. I would never hurt you—I was angry."

"You hurt the door though." She said gesturing towards the pieces of wood she was putting in the trash.

"I am sorry—I will replace it."

"I've got it handled—don't worry about it." She said putting the last bits of wood in the trash.

"You've always called me selfish and that night was the first time I saw it. I act as if the world stops if I'm not there—in my world if a tree falls in a forest and I didn't hear it, it didn't happen. And I'm sorry."

"We are still friends right?" He asked hesitantly.

"Of'course, but like I said I am not sure about your relationship with the door." She tried to joke.

"I promise I will respect you and Derek's relationship – I just want us to be friends and since I did accept the American University job for the semester. I will be around if you want to hang out but I understand if you"—he said looking down – "want space."

He let that hang in the air for a few seconds and then said "I will always care and love you so if you need anything."

"Hey, she said you are my best friend and my family. That will never change."

She smiled running her fingers through his hair. "But, it is obvious to me that you and that door are officially over."

"Officially over" he said with a sad smile. "Let me help you get the rest of that door out"

Now, she had to talk to Derek.