Don't Own.

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…

While Aaron was shutting the door behind Spencer, Penelope moved over to Payton and knelt down beside him. She looked at the paper on the table and forced a smile "Ah, tic-tac-toe huh? I know how good you are at that, did you give Spencer a shot at winning?"

Payton didn't answer her, he frowned as he got a closer look at her face "What's wrong Mama?" he asked, crossing his arms over his chest. He shot a glare at Aaron over Penelope's head, coming to the conclusion that he was the cause of his mother's tears.

Penelope could have laughed, at that moment Payton was the spitting image of his father, even after all those years there was no way she could have forgotten Aaron's scowl, however she pushed her musing away and smiled genuinely at her son. Her and Aaron's discussion had not gone well but she hadn't really expected anything better, however she didn't want to allow her hurt feelings to affect Payton's first meeting with Aaron.

"Don't worry about me Payton," she said placing her hand on his arm soothingly "I'm just tired after the long journey we had, but there's someone I want you to meet."

Penelope turned to look at Aaron, who had been waiting patiently behind them. Penelope's hand squeezed Payton's arm before moving out of the way "Payton, this is your father…"

Payton's hands fell away from his chest as he stared at Aaron with slight disbelief. He knew that he would be meeting his dad at some point that night, but it was still a shock after seven years without him.

Payton bit his lip as Aaron walked over and pulled up the chair next to his. "Hello Payton," Aaron said quietly using the same voice and cautious movements he would have with a victim's family member.

"Hi…" Payton mumbled, he turned and looked at Penelope for reassurance. She smiled at him with a little nod and Payton turned back to Aaron.

A tear rolled down his cheek as he jumped out of his chair and into Aaron's arms.

Aaron was taken aback at first but he soon wrapped his arms around Payton and rubbed his back soothingly.

Payton pulled away a minute later and wiped his tears away with the back of his sleeve. He pushed himself backwards so that he was standing in front of Aaron's chair "I'm sorry…" he said quietly, shaking his head and feeling embarrassed.

Placing a hand on his shoulder Aaron smiled at him reassuringly "You have nothing to be sorry for Payton. I'm so glad I got to meet you tonight and I'd like to get to know you."

Payton smiled, his eyes shining bright. He got back in his chair and pulled it closer to Aaron's. He looked back over his shoulder to smile at his mom but his face fell when he realized she wasn't there. He looked out the window and saw her standing with Mr. Spencer outside the door.

His instincts had him staring to push his chair back to go and get her since for the longest time being in a new place without his mother would have been a very frightening prospect for him but then Aaron cleared his throat and a gave a voice to his concerns. "Don't worry Payton, your mom hasn't gone far, she'll be just outside if you need her."

Biting the inside of his lip Payton allowed himself to relax "Right," he said with a small smile and turned back to his father.

…

Penelope was shaking when she left the conference room. More tears were threating to fall and she was trying to hold them back when Spencer approached her.

"Penelope?" he questioned softly.

She hid her face in her hands as she let out a small sob. Right away Spencer had his arms wrapped around her as she finally let out her emotion. Seeing Payton so happy with Aaron made her feel like a horrible parent. She had kept him away from his dad selfishly because she didn't want to face Aaron, but in doing so she had been incredibly unfair to both of them.

"Hey," Spencer whispered "It's okay."

Penelope shook her head pulling away "No," she said "no it isn't. He hates me and Payton will probably end up hating me too. I wouldn't blame him if he did."

"Don't say that," Spencer said forcefully "he doesn't hate you. He's just emotional right now, it was a big shock and one that is hard to absorb, but he'll get over it. And there's no way Payton will end up hating you, he's a good kid and knows you were just trying to protect him. Just don't worry about it right now, or you'll make yourself crazy."

Penelope wanted to argue but she doubted that Spencer would understand. He hadn't been in Aaron's office when the look of pure hatred had crossed his face after he finally come to terms with what Penelope had been trying to tell him.

"Um Spence?"

Both Spencer and Penelope turned to look at JJ who was standing just behind him. "I'm sorry to interrupt but…"

Penelope didn't let her finish, she stepped forward "No, of course you're not interrupting," she was quick to pull her old friend into a bear hug "I've missed you Jayje."

When they pulled away from each other a few minutes later, both women had tears in their eyes. "Uh…" Penelope grunted wiping her eye, "I swear I've had enough tears for tonight."

JJ smiled at her wiping away her own stray tears, then she linked arms with Penelope and they walked down towards the desks where the others were waiting for them.

"Okay," Emily said when Penelope was standing just a few feet away from her "I know it's been a long night for you but please tell me you're going to tell us what's going on now?"

Penelope nodded, biting her lip in the exact same manner as Payton did; there was no question about where he got it from "I don't know where to start…"

"The beginning would be nice Kitten," Dave said but Morgan interrupted him.

"Hold off on that Dave," he said leveling his eyes at Penelope "I think what we'd all really like to know first is if that thing with your son and Hotch is what it looks like?"

Dave shot Morgan a look but he ignored it, instead he raised a brow at Penelope.

Spencer glared at Morgan too before placing a comforting hand on Penelope's lower back, Penelope swallowed and then nodded again "Yes, it's what it looks like. Aaron is Payton's father."

The team who had already obviously come to this conclusion didn't look too surprised. Derek's hands clenched into fists but he didn't say anything else.

"Wow," Emily said "But how…now you have to start from the beginning."

With Spencer's comforting presence beside her Penelope began to tell them everything from hooking up with Aaron, to Kevin's abusive behavior and finally running into Spencer earlier that day in the coffee shop.

…

It was almost an hour later when Penelope finished her story. They all seemed to be rather shocked by everything that had happened to her, hurt that she hadn't sought them out sooner and angered by Kevin's abuse.

Penelope took a deep breath when she was finished with her story and let it out shakily. "Are you okay?" Spencer asked, concern clear in his voice.

Penelope shook her head "I think I need to sit down."

Spencer nodded and hurried to pull his own chair away from his desk. He guided Penelope into it and then told her to relax while he went to get a glass of water for her.

Dave, Emily and JJ came over and sat around Spencer's desk but Derek quietly made his way out of the room.

Soon Spencer was back, handing Penelope a glass of water and a cookie he had gotten from the kitchenette "You should eat," he explained "you haven't had anything since we left the coffee shop. You must be exhausted."

Penelope nodded; she couldn't deny just how tired she was "I don't think I'll have much problem falling asleep tonight."

However Spencer picked up the slight edge to her voice "You'll stay with one of us of course, Kevin wouldn't dare to come after you while we're with you." He placed a hand on Penelope's shoulder "I'd be happy to lend you and Payton my guest bedroom."

Penelope smiled up at him "Thanks Spencer," at the moment, even though she knew all the members of the team were capable of keeping her and Payton safe, she felt most comfortable with Spencer.

He gave her a small smile.

A few seconds later the conference door opened and Aaron walked out with Payton holding his hand beside him. However as soon as Payton saw Penelope he let go of Aaron's hand and ran to her.

She stood and when he got to her, he wrapped his arms around her midsection. Penelope rubbed his back soothingly and smiled down at him when he looked up at her "I love you Mama," he said, a slight blush coloring his cheeks considering the rest of the team was watching them.

"I love you too Honey," Penelope said, ruffling his blonde hair.

Payton just hugged her tighter.

Aaron walked down the steps and headed over to them "It's been a long night for all of us; I suggest we all go home and get some rest. Payton and Penelope will be coming home with me tonight." As he said this he barely even glanced at Penelope, it was very clear that even though he had accepted Payton with open arms, he had no plans to forgive Penelope in the near future.

Penelope looked longingly over at Spencer, she didn't want to leave his side but she decided she liked the idea of pushing Aaron's buttons even less. So instead she walked over and gave Spencer a hug "Thanks for all of your help Spencer."

He smiled at her "Not a problem, it's good to have you back Penelope."

Payton also ran to Spencer to give him a hug "See you tomorrow?" he asked.

"Of course," Spencer agreed.