Apologies on the hiatus! Hope you enjoy this chapter…

It would have been an understatement to say that both Penelope and Derek were looking forward to seeing each other. After months of being apart and limited to phone calls, Skype, emails and text messages as their only form of communication, they were both longing for a hug so it wasn't at all a surprise to find Penelope all jittery from excitement as she waited for her beloved best friend to waltz through the door.

"I'm surprised she's been functioning at all let along as well as she is," Hotch joked as he leaned against her doorway.

"Very funny Boss Man!" Penelope quipped without looking up from what she was doing.

"You can't fool me Hotchner, you're just as excited to see Derek as the rest of us." Emily said in quick solidarity while Aaron grinned sheepishly in reply.

"No sign of him yet I gather as you are all here at may lair waiting in anticipation and you guys tease me. You love that boy almost as much as I do."

"No one could ever love him as much as you do Garcie." JJ pointed out with a laugh

"You got that right Sugar."

"Did you all start the party without me?" Derek bellowed as he came down the hall.

"MORGS!" Penelope exclaimed excitedly as she jumped to her feet. Derek's grin widened, though he hadn't seen her yet he could hear the excitement in her voice and could imagine the enthusiasm exuding from her very presence. As if on script the rest of them stepped back allowing Derek to beeline straight for Penelope without any obstruction.

"Baby Girl!" he said happily as he engulfed her in his arms.

"God I've missed you." he murmured longingly in her ear, his voice breaking just a fraction from his overwhelming emotions.

"Me too handsome." she said reluctantly pulling back to get a better look at him.

"Do you not get fed in New York?" she said in obvious disapproval.

"Before you start Sweetheart let me say hello to the rest of the team."

To no one's surprise the BAU team disappeared from the moment Derek arrived and uncharacteristically Strauss had turned a blind eye. It was no secret that as well as their team performed despite the loss of one of their own his absence was deeply felt by each and every one of them. They had gone straight to Mr Fong's, a local favorite to all.

"It's good to have you home Derek." JJ said meaningfully placing a hand on his shoulder as she passed him to return to her seat. Derek caught her hand and gave it a brief squeeze,

"It's good to be home Jayje. I've missed you guys too."

"So Morgan, how is it?" Rossi asked. It seemed like an innocent question, but they all knew his answer would gauge the permanency of his decision. Though they had all kept in close contact with him since his departure, and got a brief run down on his daily routine, it was hard to determine how he truly felt. Derek inwardly chuckled, he knew the question was coming, and was quite impressed at the restraint that Rossi waited till it was dessert time.

"It has its good points. I am learning a lot. I miss you guys all the time, but I feel that I'm settling down little by little. It's certainly not home, and I can't really see it as ever being home, but I'll do the full year as agreed upon and take it from there." Hotch gave Derek an encouraging nod, as if to convey his support for his decision. Penelope who already knew of his plans only placed her hand on his leg. The rest of their team took it in stride, as though deep down they already knew that he wouldn't be back any time in the near future. Or if even he would be back. Derek grabbed hold of Penelope's hand on his leg and gave it a loving squeeze of reassurance, that nothing was going to change between them. Penelope met his gaze and gave him a brave smile, trying not to show him that it made her heart sad knowing that he wasn't going to be around. She had already began to feel the distance take their toll. In the last few weeks, they had both been so busy that it felt like they were playing catch up every time they did speak. A part of her felt like they had begun to try too hard killing the easiness that they had always had with each other.

After their early dinner, they made their way to the bar for drinks and dancing. It felt like they were complete again. It was as though no time had passed. That Derek was never missing. It gave them all comfort to know that they were able to just pick up where they left off. On their second round Penelope's phone began to ring, without looking at the screen she knew who it would be and excused herself. Derek watched as Penelope went outside to take the call. It wasn't at all lost on all at the table that Derek's attention was lost to his best friend outside talking animatedly on the phone. He watched as her face lit up in conversation, how she bit her lower lip in nervousness and giddiness as she talked to who he assumed to be Gabriel.

"Hey, I know you're out and about, but I thought I'd just check in to see how you were. I was just going to leave a message on your voicemail."

"Aww thanks G. Yeah we're at Halliwell's for a couple of drinks. You sure you don't want to come and join us?"

"Nah, it's your time with Derek. He's only here for the weekend, you guys should enjoy the family time."

"Well if you change your mind, know that it's an open invitation."

"I appreciate that P. I'm looking forward to meeting the famous Derek Morgan on Sunday at Brunch."

"He's looking forward to meeting you too. Thank you for checking in G. It's good to hear your voice"

"You too P. Have a great night."

When Penelope got back to the table she noticed that Derek was not at the table. She scanned the room for him, and looked at the other questioningly when she couldn't spot him.

"He's gone to get the next round of drinks." Hotch answered her unspoken question as she nodded,

"I might go and give him a hand." Penelope said making her way towards the bar in search of her best friend.

"Hey you!" she greeted nudging him with her shoulder. Derek turned and smiled at her. He draped an arm around her shoulder and gave her a quick but meaningful hug.

"I've missed you P." Penelope's eyes watered losing the composure she had been sporting all afternoon,

"Me too handsome." She answered dropping her gaze,

"Hey, talk to me." He pried cupping her cheek,

"No, I'm fine." Derek dropped his hand from her cheek and clasped his hand in hers before walking towards the nearest exit,

"Derek…" Penelope protested which fell on deaf ears till they were outside. Once there he turned her gently so that she was facing him. With both hands on her shoulders, his eyes locked hers,

"Talk to me P. Please…"

"I want you to be happy in New York, I do."

"I know that sweetheart,"

"But I want you here too. I miss you. These last couple of months without you has been almost unbearable."

"Why didn't you say anything before?"
"Because you deserve to be happy Derek, and if that means New York, well I have to suck it up. You're my best friend and I have to be happy if you're happy. But now you have a whole life somewhere else and I'm not a part of it."

"I feel exactly the same way P. I hate that I'm not here with you guys. That I don't get to see you every day, or talk to you everyday. I can see that you've got all these new developments and I haven't been able to be a part of them. I feel like I'm losing my place." He confessed. Penelope wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him with all her might.

"You will never lose your place Morgs. You'll always be my best friend. It just means that there are changes we need to accept have to happen. That you can't be at two places at one time, that we are going to miss out on some moments, but it just means we just need to make more of an effort on the bigish moments."