Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds

----------------------------------------------------

'You're married?' Reid squeaked out of his silence when Nick has stormed out. 'Married! Like matrimonial bliss?'

'You can now sell and get a place together... that must be killing the bank account!' Hotch added knowing that Reid's thoughts were spilling now.

'Oh it is.'

'Why wouldn't you tell us?'

'They didn't because of Kevin Lynch and frat rules.'

'I thought you had all that sorted.'

'Rossi had to work extra hard to get Strauss to allow all of this... but now we have a profile to build.' The team all got up and left the canteen, they sat in the large room, when they walked in they found Penelope working silently in the corner, occasionally they would look at her and they could see her tensing up at everyone knock and tap.

'Where is she?' Broke the voice through the silence. 'Jimmy! Where is Penelope?'

'George you need to calm down.'

'No! Where is my sister?'

'She's through there...'

'Penelope Garcia!'

They all looked at Penelope as she stared out of the window. 'Come on baby girl, together.' Derek said as he appeared at her side, she knew she had to do it, she just needed a little help and he was more than willing to do so. So she stood and walked out with a new air of confidence to her.

'Oh so it is true... you are still alive.' She remained silent. 'I think you and I need a hefty long talk.' She gripped Derek's hand in hers.

'George she's working... can it not wait until later?' Jimmy asked calmly.

'Fine, but you dare skip this town again Penny and I will find you and bring you back.' He then left the building, all eyes fell on Penelope and she released Derek's hand and followed her brother out of the building. Everyone stood shocked before following her out.

'You want to know why I skipped town?'

'Because you were 18 and hurting and immature.'

'Immature?' She laughed. 'Mom and dad had just died and you were mollycoddling me!'

'By?'

'Oh... arranging a marriage!'

'It was for the best.'

'For who? Because I didn't benefit from it!'

George stepped forward, ignoring Derek, Jimmy and Hotch who were now outside. 'I'm sorry... I guess I wasn't coping and in the process I pushed you away.'

'You should have just listened to me.' She said quietly as she looked down. 'If you had listened to me, we would still be okay.'

'Who says we aren't?'

'I skipped out on life.'

'So...once little Penny Garcia with her blonde curls always Penny Garcia still with her blonde curls.' He said as he touched a curl. 'Do you still put your hair in piggy tails?'

'Yeah she does.' Derek said from behind them making Penelope blush.

'And you are?'

'Penelope's husband.'

'Husband?' She nodded and smiled as she looked at Derek. 'Well mom and dad would be proud, married and works for the FBI... who would of thought it.' He watched her blushed and smiled. 'Still got it kiddo.' He then pulled her into a hug. 'God I've missed you.'

'Lance did tell her forgiveness was given ages ago.' Hotch said. 'I think that's just proved it.' He smiled and headed back in.

'You better get back to work... can we meet up?'

'Of course.' She said close to tears, another hurdle over.

'You going to Lance's wedding?'

'What do you think?'

'Thought you wouldn't miss it for the world and you obviously haven't.' He kissed her forehead. 'We never stopped loving you kiddo.... but go, get my number off Jimmy yeah?'

'Okay.' She smiled before leaving and entering back into the building.

'Pen?' Jimmy said. 'Lance called you and team at his and Owens place tonight if you have time.' He handed over a piece of paper with the address on it. 'You okay princess?'

'Perfectly.'

'Good, keep that chin up, head held high.' He smiled at her. 'Now get going, you have work to do.'

Penelope walked back into the room smiled and got on with what she had been doing, later that night when they were at the hotel, they got ready and headed off to Lance and Owens's, they all saw how fidgety she was getting and only Derek was calming her down. When they pulled up they saw Penelope smile.

'Everything okay goddess?'

'Perfectly.'

'Well why the big smile?'

'Because this is the place me and Lance used to talk about, its identical to how we used to mess around and imagine it.' She laughed. 'We were 10 at the time!' They all got there and saw there were preparations for a party but no one was there yet, as they approached the door swung opened and Lance bounded out.

'Doris!' He said as he grabbed her in a tight hug.

'I'm guessing you're happy to see me.'

'I've missed your gorgeous face for 12 years my love, I want to see it more.'

'Lance, you will be.' Derek said adamantly.

'Good... your man knows his stuff.' Penelope laughed.

'Husband actually.'

'Husband! Penelope Garcia! I think you have a lot of dirt to dish!'

'Still the gossip queen I see.'

'Well... O.M.G! Remember Sarah Gascoigne?'

'Urgh! Who couldn't?'

He laughed. 'Sorry guys this has to be told.' He saw them laugh. 'Like 2 months after you left, she only got up the duff.'

'With Peter Leyton?'

'Yeah, let's just say his scholarship out of the window, her modelling career dead, now she has the terrors running around everywhere!'

'How much have you drunk?' She asked as he was even more overexcited than usual.

'That doesn't matter! And... oh... remember Paul Merton?!'

'Yeah.'

'Honey... he is hot stuff! Not like your HUSBAND but God seriously.'

'No! I don't believe you.'

'Come with me Doris and I'll prove it.'

'He's here?'

'Hell no... well not yet... but we have photos!'

'Oh shit.' Was all the team heard with sarcastic expectancy as Penelope was pulled into the house, as they entered they heard fits of laughter coming from her and wondered what the hell was happening. 'I can't believe you two have all these!'

'There's more at your brothers places.'

'Really?'

'Yeah but we stole all the good ones.'

'Liar! That one I remember being taken by my mom on your camera... oh and that one.' Penelope said as she pointed photos out.

'Okay okay so I took some... like my all time favourite.'

'And mine!' Owen vouched.

'Doris and farmer Pickles.'

'Do we get to see?' Derek asked expectantly as he watched his wife act how he loved to see her act.

'Oh why of course.' Lance took the photo and gave it to Derek.

'Aw well this is a different side to my wife.'

'Wife!' Exclaimed Owen over excitedly. 'Penelope!' He bellowed manly making Penelope laugh. 'I so have the right to deliver punishment here.'

'But you won't... because you love me!'

'Okay but oh sweetie!' He said kissing her and hugging her tight. 'Aw you make me proud.'

'And you make me question how we met.' She said and they all laughed.

'Oh you know how we met!'

'How did you meet?' JJ asked intrigued at how Penelope got two friends so flamboyant and fun to be around.

'Home room, first day!' They said together.

Penelope shook her head smiling. 'Bullies...'

'You, Pen or Lance?'

'Me... don't get me wrong I was a magnet but these two didn't stand at the side and watch, no they delved straight in and helped.'

'And now look at these two.' Penelope said teasingly. 'Love it!'

'You always did.'

'Kat will be here later.'

'Really!'

Lance and Owen looked at the team as soon as Penelope lit up. 'Like a child's first Christmas that face is!'

'Hey!' She looked at the team. 'Kat, well Katrina was my best friend in school, me and Lance went to different schools until high school but Kat's been there all the way.'

'Let's say she' a toned down Pen... '

'Ooh she's going to hate me.'

'Nonsense!' Lance enforced. 'That girl loves you!'

'Like us!'

'And us...' The team added.

'Okay well who else have you got coming?'

'Erm... well... literally everyone. The old gang!' Her eyes widened. 'Honey, you will keep yourself reframed, head held high and be you.'

'Does anyone else want to tell me to keep my head high?'

'Why who else has?'

'Jimmy...'

'That's because that man loves you like the daughter he never had.'

'I know.'

'Yeah we noticed that earlier too.' Ross added. 'You made an impression there.'

Penelope laughed. 'He said that about you lot.'

They all laughed. 'I bet he called Aunt Lara the bitter and twisted old hag?'

'How did you know?'

'Because she is! Your mother, my precious, was the greatest and to have that as her sister didn't add up... wonder why she never questioned an adoption?'

'Because they had the same nose?' The team couldn't help but smile at the scenes of Penelope's past come out in flurry's of fun rather than memories that wouldn't be good to hear, they found themselves loving Lance and Owen and prayed they would see more of them.

'You remembered!'

'How could I forget... you told me I had the same nose!'

'Your nose petal is a cute nose, perfect in every way.'

'You have to say that.'

'No I don't Doris.'

Penelope turned to the team laughing. 'See why I nickname you all?'