A talk with some friends

Disclaimer: I don't own Criminal Minds

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Derek went back at work on Monday. Everybody sensed something different with him.

At the end of the day, Emily finally asked him.

"Derek, you're ok? Your time off went well?"

"Yes… It's just I met Penelope in Chicago."

"Really? She called JJ and me yesterday and she didn't say a word about it."

"Well. Maybe she wanted to forget about it." He said with a little voice."

"Was she…alone?"

"You mean if she was with her husband. Yes she was. I invited her to dinner with my family and we met her husband."

"Oh. Was she alright?"

"Yes I guess." He said not wanting to go further.

"I think we need to spend some time together. What about we go to have some drinks?" Emily asked her co-workers.

"Good idea, I'll tell Hotch, Rossi and JJ." Derek said getting up.

"How do you think he's taking it?" Reid asked.

"He has to adjust to the news. Penelope disappeared so quickly from our lives and then he met her and she's married…"

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"So, what push you to want to unwind?" Hotch asked.

"I met Penelope in Chicago, she's married with a doctor." Derek said abruptly.

"oh." Was all Hotch said.

"You knew?"

"I… I just run some searches."

Is Penelope alright, Derek?" Rossi asked.

"Yes she's ok… she designs software from home now and follow her husband when he had conferences through the country."

"Are you talking about our Penelope?" Reid asked.

"Yes, it's strange isn't it? She said she had quit from her job in the university when she got married."

"How is her husband?"

"He seems nice with her. But she kept telling me that maybe you girls wouldn't approve her wedding since she hadn't met him for a long time."

"Well yes. We just want her to be happy and she knew so little of him but now it's too late."

"It's never too late." Hotch said staring pointedly at Morgan.

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Days went on and Penelope withdrawn more and more. She feared Chris reaction of she did something wrong. She was under the impression that she was walking on eggs with him. She sensed he was suspicious of her.

From time to time she would call JJ, Emily or Fran. She needed to hear their voice to know that she had some family.

After some months, Fran decided to talk with her son; she knew he had broken up with Pearl for some while now. However he didn't try to call Penelope.

"Morgan."

"Derek baby it's me."

"Mum is everything alright?"

"Yes… It's just about Penelope."

"Is she ok?"

"I guess so, but she sound off every time we're in the phone. Why don't you go and talk with her?"

"Mum she's married what can I possibly say to her?"

"So you love her?"

"What? I… I don't know. I think so. I miss her so much but she decided to move on without us… without me."

"Go and have a little talk with her please. Can you do that for me?"

"Of course mum; give me her address and phone number, I'll surprise her."

"Thanks son…"

He immediately called Hotch and took some time off. He needed to have a good talk with Penelope.