A/N: Hello everyone! *waves* Did you miss me? I sure missed you.. and this story!

Well I did it. I came, I saw, and I conqured. As most of you know, this was my first year as a participant in National Write A Novel Month. I challenged myself to write a 50,000 word novel in 30 days. And not only did I do just that, but I finished early to boot! I hope you don't mind that I took a few days to let that sink in before jumping back into this story. But now I'm back and I want to thank my readers for waiting for me so patiently. If it wasn't for the fact that I knew you were all here waiting for me to finish and come back, I might have never got it done. So that said, I owe my success to my readers as much as to myself. So THANK YOU!

As an additional side note, there are only 5 days left to place your votes for the Criminal Minds 2010 Profiler Awards. I'd like to take this time to thank my readers again for my nomination in two categories. MUAH! I have also been asked to do a writer interview, which I will try and complete by tomorrow and hopefully, will be posted on the site soon thereafter. This will give my readers a chance to get to know a little bit more about me.

And now, on with the story...

J.J. closed her phone on a sigh and she knew she couldn't put things off any longer. Still, she couldn't help pause for a moment longer when she turned and saw her friend opening the envelope. Her breath caught in her throat and her body froze simultaneously, as she anxiously awaited some sort of sign to tell her what answers lay written on the paper she saw being removed. She watched closely and her breath released in a whoosh of air when J.J. saw Derek pull her into his arms, and look skyward with a look on his face that could only mean one thing. Angel was Penelope. Tangible relief along side a surprising influx of emotion, caused her to close her eyes and send her own prayer of thanks heavenward. When she opened them again, J.J. had to blink rapidly to hold back the sudden onslaught of tears blurring her vision, and pressed fingers firmly to her mouth to stop the trembling of her lips. After a few deep breaths, her emotions were once again under her control and she stepped forward to the embracing couple, quietly clearing her throat to get their attention.

"That was Hotch... he needs us back upstairs. I'm sorry, but we have to go." J.J. turned and started walking away. After only a few steps, she stopped and turned back around, her eyes once again swimming with unshed tears. "Welcome back Penelope Garcia. You have no idea just how much you've been missed."

The softly spoken words were like a soothing balm to the exposed rawness she was feeling. Without a shred of hesitation, Penelope threw herself at J.J., letting her actions speak for her. The two women took precious moments to hold each other and let their warmth and love for one another bridge the gap of missing memories. With J.J.'s quiet words, Penelope didn't need memories of the past to prove the fact that she was surrounded by people who cared, people who loved her unconditionally and who mattered to her in equal measures. If she never remembered another single thing from her past, she had no doubt that she already knew the most important part.

Derek cleared his throat. He didn't want to interrupt, but he knew they needed to get back upstairs. Not only was the rest of the team waiting, but there were thirteen lives hanging in the balance. They really couldn't afford to give any more time to anything else other than this case. When everyone was found safe and back home, then they could spend the rest of their lives figuring out what to do next.

"I'm sorry ladies, but we really need to go."

"No you're right Derek. Let's go." Penelope pulled back from J.J. and stood up tall and proud. "We have some good news to tell everyone and a case to solve. Lead the way and we shall follow, Hot Stuff."

When he remained frozen to the spot and both of them were staring at her like she sprouted two heads, Penelope realized what she said and heat suffused her face. She couldn't believe what she just called him and had no idea where it came from, but she needed to apologize immediately.

"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry! That was totally inappropriate and I promise it won't happen again."

"Considering I've been waiting for over a year to hear those two words again, words I never ever thought I'd get to hear, that's one promise I have no intention on letting you keep."

"You have?" She looked from Derek to J.J. who wore a satisfied smile bigger than the state of Texas on her face.

Staring at the smiling pair it only took a moment for her to put two and two together and realize that the nickname that slipped so easily from her lips, was one she obviously used before, one her subconscious plainly remembered with complete clarity even if she didn't. She rolled the name around in her head and discovered it felt both familiar and comfortable. A fact that pleased her to no end. "I've called you that before haven't I?"

Derek nodded, absurdly pleased that she figured it out. "More than my God-given name, to be honest, and for as long as I can remember."

"Do I... did you..." Penelope began, not quite sure how to voice the question.

Without hesitation, Derek answered her half formed questions, knowing exactly what it was she wanted to know. "Yes you do and yes I did... Baby Girl."

"Baby Girl? Wait, isn't that what you called me upstairs right before I..." Penelope trailed off as it dawned on her. Now she understood why he'd looked like a kicked puppy when she told him not to call her that ever again. Baby Girl was his nickname for her, but not just a nickname. Evidently, it held a great amount of significance to him... to the both of them, more than likely. Looking at his face now, she saw the pain reflected in his eyes and it hurt her more than she could fathom, knowing that she was the one to put it there.

"Oh Derek, I'm so very sorry. If I'd known then what I know now, I would have never said those awful, horrible things to you. Can you ever find it in your heart to forgive me? Please... I don't want you to ever stop calling me Baby Girl. I.. I couldn't bear it." The last part of her words were spoken softly, but held a wealth of emotion within their depths. She couldn't explain why she felt this way and she knew it made absolutely no sense given the fact that she couldn't even remember him calling her Baby Girl to begin with, but it didn't stop the feelings from being there just the same. It didn't stop them from being the truth.

"Sweetheart, I could no more stop calling you Baby Girl than I could stop breathing. There is and always will be, only one Baby Girl in my life. That title belongs to you and will forever remain yours, just as sure as there is only one sun in the sky, and until the day that I die, that's never going to change."

His heartfelt declaration had relief surging like an electrical current through her and had Penelope launching herself into his arms without another thought. She may not remember where she'd been, but with Derek by her side, she knew exactly where she was going and who she was going with.