"Derek, this may be your chance."

"But New York?"

"It's a well deserved opportunity Derek. I don't want you to go, but you and I both know that you have dreams beyond Supervisory Special Agent. You've worked hard for this."

"I don't know if I could leave the team Hotch. You guys are my family."

"Derek, we will always be here and we will always be your family. Can you honestly say that you're not going to look back with a 'What if' should you decide to let this pass by?" Hotch asked gently,

"I don't know Hotch,"

"Talk to Penelope Derek, talk it through with her." Hotch could sense that Penelope was in part the weight that Derek carried. Their friendship was what he held as most important in his life and his hesitation would lie in the fact that he didn't want to leave her or be apart from her. Derek nodded, though he knew that she would put a brave face and tell him to go.

Derek left Hotch's office with his eyes downcast and as though the weight of the whole world was resting on his shoulders. He headed straight to Penelope's office, though unsure of what he was going to say or how he was going to start that conversation.

"So are you going to tell me why you're hovering over my threshold or shall I ask you in a few?" Penelope asked without looking up from her screen. She had felt his presence a few minutes before, and when he hadn't made his presence known as obnoxiously as normal, it meant he was still stewing in his mind. Derek sighed dropping to the chair closest to the door and rolled it over closer to her.

"Baby, we need to talk."

"Are you pregnant?" she teased trying to ease him into what looked to be a difficult conversation. Derek couldn't help but smile, he let out another breath before taking her hands in his and met her gaze,

"P," Derek habitually tucked a loose curl behind her ear,

"NY Brass has offered me Kate Joyner's position. What to do you think?"

"What? Whoa! Derek that's great. Honey that's awesome. I'm so proud of you!" Penelope said genuinely throwing her arms around him hugging him tightly. Her heart dropped a little after it caught up to her brain, realising what that meant. Telling herself to pull it together she dropped her lips to his shoulders and hugged him a little tighter before stepping back to look at him,

"You've been working for this moment Morgs your entire career, you deserve it. It makes sense that it's elsewhere, you've always said that you would never feel right taking over from Hotch if that time ever came."

"I know, I just…"

"But what baby?"

"I don't want to leave. I don't want to leave you." He finally breathed out in confession,

"Oh Morgs, I don't want you to leave either, but this is your career. You and I, we'll always be us, regardless if we're together or apart. It's not permanent or forever. If it's not for you, I'm sure Hotch will have you back in a heart beat. Just try it out, give it a fair chance. You owe yourself that much. You haven't worked as hard as you have to be SSA Morgan forever." Derek could only nod knowing she was right. Penelope wrapped her arms around his waist and gave him another hug,

"I am proud of you, but I sure will miss you." She murmured against his chest as he pulled her as close as humanly possible.

"That means a lot to me P, and you know I'm going to miss you like crazy."

"Sure you will, till you meet some leggy, drop dead gorgeous model like person, then you'll forget all about your best friend."

"Hey, don't even joke." He said lifting her chin so that she met his gaze,

"You know that will never happen." Penelope smirked,

"I do, and if you even think of heading down that road you know I'd kick you ass. Not to mention sick Momma Morgan on to you."

"Good, because I expect nothing less. I may be miles away but you're still my best friend in the whole world P. Nothing will ever change that. Time, distance, etc. You got me?"

"Yes I do, and back at you."