Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds

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

'Put the ring on Penelope.' Hotch said as he stood watching the rest of the team interact with Lance and Owen.

'Sir.'

'Hotch...' He corrected her.

'But are we allowed Hotch?'

'Yes... now put it on.... I know you have it on the chain around your neck.'

'How?'

'You play with it when you're concentrating.' Penelope laughed largely and blushed. 'You had a good life here, what was so bad you had to go?'

She sighed heavily. 'I loved the majority, don't get me wrong, Lance and Owen and the others were great, but when Benny died I felt a piece of me go with him and then my mom and dad went and another piece went and then George thought it would be best to plunge me into marriage, I guess to protect me but I seriously felt like if I stayed here I would slowly drown so I left and it was the best release of my life and now I have a life I chose, a job that okay at times is hard but I love it... and a man that wakes me up in the morning with kisses... I never thought I would get that.'

'Since you got married, I don't think I've ever seen Derek smile more... you're an antidote you are... best to keep you around... and I can see exactly why you are how you are.' He motioned to Lance and Owen. 'Another story from the past I take it?'

'By the looks of it... yes.'

'So you going to tell me about Aunt Lara?'

'Let's just say nothing really gelled, she's the old fashioned type of woman, homophobic and racist... I had a friend who was slightly darker than Derek is and she was so horrible to her once that she never came round again... Lance was basically classed as family the moment he was born so she had to put up with it.'

'How you think she'll be with Derek?'

'I have no idea and to be honest... I really don't care in the slightest, I'm not the intimidated niece anymore, I won't stand to the side if she starts.'

'I think its safe to say those two won't either... it's like they've known each other a lifetime.' Hotch said as the 7 people in from of them laughed and joked, he waited for Penelope to put her rings on properly before joining the group.

10 minutes later the doorbell went. 'Pen, that's Kat, she's coming earlier with her fiancé, so stay here, okay?' Penelope nodded to assured but was obviously nervous. 'It's Kat honey, not a Mormon.' He said making her laugh, another inside joke obviously.

Lance disappeared and answered the door. 'Pumpkin!'

'Lancey! Wedding bells ringing yet?'

'They have done since the proposal... right I have a surprise for you.'

'Well is it chocolate?'

'Your cravings pumpkin have to go on hold, this is better!'

'No way! I don't believe you could beat chocolate...unless its my John made of chocolate.'

'I can think of one thing that would beat that!'

'Oh and I can think of one thing that would, but that's never going to happen.'

'Well let's see shall we? Oh and there are new people for you to meet but where's John?'

'New people eh? He forgot something; he'll be here in like 10... Plus I look like a house though.'

'No honey you're in the house, you look pregnant!' He said walking into the living room smiling; he winked at Penelope before moving out of the way. The small brunette looked at Penelope in disbelieving awe.

'You! Lance you beat it!' The woman said, her smile growing. 'Penelope!' Penelope just smiled and felt awkward as the woman pulled her into a hug once she had rushed over the small distance in the room. 'Where the hell have you been?!'

'Erm, in Quantico.' Penelope said strained as she was still in a death lock hug. 'Honey, may be wise to put me down.'

'Sorry! Oh Pen... why didn't you come back with us?'

'I don't know.' Kat looked behind Penelope and raised her eyebrow. 'Kat this is Hotch, Rossi, Reid, Emily, JJ and my all time favourite...'

'And Husband!' Owen butted in.

'Derek.' Penelope finished with a smile.

'Husband! Please tell me you aren't trying to get my waters to break?'

'No such thing...'

'How long you here for?'

Penelope looked at Hotch. 'No idea.'

'She's here with work.'

'Work?'

'Yeah Vickie's death.'

'Oh... I don't understand... you work for the police.'

'No F.B.I.'

'F.B.I! Pen! What the hell?'

'Can we do this another day please?' Penelope asked. 'Its a bit full on for their engagement.'

'Try us.' They said in unison.

'Really... after your wedding, you can fire whatever questions you want.'

'No Penelope, 12 years, we deserve explanations.'

'Penelope, maybe its time to just let it out.'

'How about we tell them?' Penelope shrugged her response to Rossi. 'Your ray of sunshine, ours too, is on a list.'

'A list that has the world's most dangerous hackers on it.'

'Hackers?'

'Cal tech... computers.... when I dropped out and you tried to get me out of the underground I was teaching myself code, it ended with me getting arrested and it was either work for the this man here.' She put her hand on Hotch's shoulder. 'Or go to prison.'

'Are you safe?'

'Penelope is extremely safe, let's just say she is amazing at what she does.'

'I don't physically harm... I can just do damage to your paper trail.'

'Oh God that's definitely ominous.'

'See wasn't so hard to tell them was it?'

'Nope.'

'There's more.' Lance said, Penelope gasped at him. 'Doris, honey, you seem to have forgotten I can read you like an open book so don't come that shocked look with me...'

'Ah see there's two people that can Penelope well.'

'I'm going to guess Derek's the other one?' Lance asked.

'He is indeed.'

'So come on gossip... how long?'

'Best friends 8 years... married nearly 6 months.'

'Aw! You had the best foundations of a relationship then!' Everyone soon agreed and even more introductions were done as people filed in, Penelope slipping into conversation easily, Derek always by her side.

'I'm just going to pop out for some air handsome.'

'You okay P? You're looking a little washed out.'

'Yeah, I just need some air that's all.'

'Okay... I'll come and find you in a minute yeah?'

'Thanks.' She said as he kissed her forehead, and she appreciated that he knew how to read her and give her space. She stood out in the garden and felt slightly overwhelmed. In no more than 2 days she had arrived at her hometown, learnt about a niece, found forgiveness for leaving, stood up for herself, been to a house she knew too well to go over a laptop, help narrow down and so far save families in the area of the same description of the victims, done more decoding than she had ever done and now she was stepping out as Penelope Morgan after a long wait. Now she had to get over Friday for Saturday when she would watch two people marry that she held closely, and she couldn't be happier for a case to bring her back here.

'Party's inside dear.' Came a voice next to Penelope.

'I know it is.' Penelope said still staring off into the darkness, not taking note of the person that had come outside.

'You know Penelope that's no way to greet family.' Penelope sniggered. 'What's funny?'

'Family... is that what you call it?'

'I am your Auntie.'

'Who hated every person that came in my life.'

'I was protecting you.'

'You still going to protect me?'

'If I don't like first glances.'

'Don't bother; I could happily live without you Lara.'

'But could you?'

'12 years not mean anything to you.'

'Yes, 12 years I have had only nephews around... where have you kept yourself Penelope?'

'About.'

'Where?'

'What does it matter? This is uncomfortable enough and now to make it even harder more for you than myself but I'm married, and not to a white man.'

'You wouldn't dare.'

'Oh I did...' Penelope held her hand up, Lara grabbed her hand. 'And I'm happy.'

'It's corrupted... your marriage is corrupted... you mother...'

'Would be proud of her daughter.' George interrupted. 'Lara let go off her.'

'Not until she tells me she's getting a divorce.'

'Why should she divorce?'

'Because we want a...'

'Lily white family?' Penelope looked at the voice. 'Lara... now.' Their aunt let go and walked off in a huff. 'Penny you okay?'

'Yeah.' She said looking down, avoiding eye contact all at once.

'Look at me Penelope.' George said. 'There's 3 other people here that want to hug their little sister.'

'Yeah, I've missed the hugs she used to give... the perfect fit.' One of the men stood forward. 'Come here kiddo.' He said using the nickname only her brothers used, he pulled her into a close embrace and smiled. 'Still a perfect fit.'

'Still the same smell Joel.' She said making them laugh.

'Things haven't change,d.'

'I'm guessing that.'

'My turn!' A dark haired man said. 'Come here!' He said wrapping his arms around her tightly. 'I've wanted my daughter to meet you since I heard Carla was expecting.'

'You're still with her Andy?' Penelope said as the pains grew.

'I am.' He said and felt Penelope's body hitched, he had felt this before. 'Hey! You better not be crying.'

'I'm trying not to...'

'Why the tears sis?'

'Because I've just realised I'm selfish.'

'No way!' Came the third new voice. 'Come on and give me a hug too.'

'Do you not hate me in the slightest?'

'Are you happy?'

'I am I really am.'

'Well then we have no need to hate you... just don't skip out again.'

'I can't move back here.'

'Well we don't expect you to... we can drive, you can drive... hopefully still in Esther... so there's no problem.'