It was well into the morning by the time the team had gone their separate ways. They had ended up at Hotch's after the bar as his babysitter was due to go home at midnight and Derek had insisted that he also wanted to see Jack even if he were asleep.

"Hey little man did we wake you?" Penelope asked as Jack approached rubbing his eyes. Jack nodded walking straight into Penelope's outstretched arms his head sinking right into the crook of her neck,
"Oh sweetheart we're sorry. Did you want me to tuck you back in?"
"Will you stay with me till I fall asleep again?" he asked with his big brown Hotchner eyes.
"Well of course. Do you want to say hi to Uncle Derek before I tuck you in? He's missed you." Finally looking around the room Jack saw Derek. His face lit up into a grin as he torpedoed towards Derek who caught him in his arms hugging him tightly.
"I've missed you too kid!"

Habitually Derek and Penelope crashed in the one bed. Though she had set up the guest room for him, it seem weird to have him sleep in the guest room of his own home, and he would not hear of her moving into the guest room for the weekend.

"So P, tell me more about this guy. You're pretty evasive on the phone."
"I like to call it mysterious thank you very much." Penelope replied as she handed him a glass of orange juice the next morning at breakfast. She watched amused as he hoed into the waffles and bacon she had heaped onto a plate for him.
"Do you not get fed in New York?" she teased.
"With what time P?" he answered.
"Hey, don't you have a girlfriend that feeds you or is she one of those typical Morgan waif types who only eat salads?"
"Somehow I think I got insulted in the midst of the delivery of your concern?"
"It's a talent. I'm serious, doesn't Lollipop feed you?"
"Once again her name is Candy, and yes that's what her parents named her. To answer your question, we're just seeing each other. It's nothing serious."
"Of course it isn't." Penelope muttered rolling her eyes as she got up from the table.
"What? You know I'm not looking for anything serious."
"Geez Morgs, you're working some serious karma there. Does she know you're not in it for the long haul?"
"She knows I'm not the getting seriously involved type."
"Oh my goodness, do you hear you? You're one step away from sounding like one of those creeps you warn me about all the time. What happened to you? This is the Derek I first met, cool and suave not the caring Derek that left here all those months ago. What you've left the nest and realize what fun you've been missing out on so you take whatever comes in?"
"Hey that's not fair!" he said in protest.
"Maybe not but I barely recognize who's sitting in front of me now."
"And who's fault is that?" he threw back. Shocked Penelope wasn't quite sure what to say,
"You're the one who's moved on without me. Always too busy to come and visit. You're the one who was happy to replace me." He continued.
"You told me to go. You told me nothing would change, that we would be okay, you said that everything I left behind would still be here, but are they really P? Are you really?"
"Morgan, you're my best friend. Nothing nor anyone can ever change that. You're right I did tell you to go New York, because it is the right thing for you. You love what you're doing. It's a great opportunity for you. I have never left your side. Yes I tried weaning some distance between us because I knew if you and I kept each other so close you would never give New York a fair go and you would have been home in weeks, and I wanted you to give this opportunity your all. Don't think for a moment that it didn't hurt me to have to do that, or that a day passes that I don't miss you. There are days when I miss you so much that I find myself having imaginary conversations with you. I never replaced you Derek, even if I wanted to I can't. There's a part of me that will always belong to you."
"P…"
"Don't." she said raising her hand to stop him from saying anything further.
"We have to go. The guys are waiting for us at Hotch's."
"I'm sorry, that was uncalled for." Derek apologized regretfully knowing he had pushed too hard.