Garcia lead Hotch to her office where they sat for five minutes in silence. "You could've come to me Penelope. You didn't have to leave like you did."
"That's where you're wrong, Hotch. I had to leave; do you think I would've been able to avoid Morgan and Kevin? Even if I moved teams I would've seen them." She huffed "Could you imagine how they would've reacted when they found out I was pregnant? I wasn't going to put myself through that. I left because I had to."
"You're wrong Penelope. You say we're family but a family member wouldn't have left in the middle of the night. We could've worked something out. I just wish you would have come to me first."
She hated confrontation so she tried to change the subject. "How's Jack?"
"He misses you. He asks me when he'll hear from you. I foolishly told him you would call and always be there for him." He was letting his anger take hold of the situation.
"I was going to be in contact you, I swear. Its just after I found out I was pregnant I couldn't face any of you again. I wanted to close that chapter of my life." He looked at her with a hurt expression "I was broken okay, my heart fell apart that night and the only thing I knew I had control over was getting out. I couldn't live there and be reminded that I was just a one night stand that meant nothing to him, when in reality that one night stand gave me my miracle." she rubbed her belly. "I don't regret leaving but I regret how I left."
"We miss you, we all miss you. It's not the same without you, Penelope. We could always guarantee you'd be waiting for us with a smile once we got off the jet. We just don't have that anymore. I failed you and my team." Hotch said in a defeated tone.
She got up to move in front of him "You did no such thing. None of this had anything to do with you and everything to do with me. You're an amazing leader Aaron, you failed no one."
"After you left the whole team fell apart. I tried to get it back together but I can't; we need you Penelope. You're our light in otherwise a very dark world."
"I won't move back but I'm just a phone call or a short train ride away."
"Why won't you move back?" He looked at her cockeyed.
"You know why."
"You're going to need to talk to him Penelope. There is no way around it."
She sat back down "Did you see how angry he just was?" she rolled her eyes "I should've known not to expect anything else. I don't even know how we were even friends to begin with." a small tear fell down her face. If she was honest with herself she still loved him with all her heart, but he broke her one time too many. Flirting with her than taking someone else home from the bar, sleeping with her than calling it a mistake and the kicker "I don't feel that way about you and never will" those words haunted her every minute of everyday. She would love this baby with her whole heart, and she would protect it from everything she could. She wasn't going to let him treat this baby like a mistake. She would rather bring this baby up alone then let it feel like a burden because of its father. Randall already agreed to be the father figure in his or her life. As far as she was concerned Morgan was just a sperm donor. He lost all the rights to this baby when he said it was all a mistake.
"He's hurt Penelope. Within the last 24 hours he found you and found out you are pregnant with his baby" Hotch said trying to defend his agent. "That's a lot to take in."
"That might be true Aaron, but it's not just me anymore. I have someone else to take care of. Every decision I make now affects not just my life but also my little monkey here. My baby is my number one priority now." she sighed. "I don't want to deny him his baby, but I won't put the baby in danger of feeling unwanted in anyway."
Hotch shook his head. He wasn't going to get anywhere with her and Morgan. They were going to have to deal with that by themselves. He was just glad to have her back.
Out of nowhere Penelope shot up and grabbed his hand and placed it on her belly. "My little Monkey likes you." She said with a smile. Hotch returned the smile thinking back to when Haley was pregnant with Jack. He loved reading to her belly and talking to his unborn son. He spoke to her stomach "I like you too little guy. I'm your uncle Aaron, you have a huge family that can't wait to meet you." he rubbed her belly "You lucked out getting your mom, little one. She's one of the best people I've ever known."
The rest of the morning went by fast. They were all glad to have Penelope's skill back on their side, Lynch was good but nowhere near as good as her. They would be ready to give their profile after lunch because of her help.
When she'd come into the room all eyes were on her, even if she didn't have anything to say. Morgan watched her evey move like a hawk. He was afraid to get close to her in fear of her reaction, so he just hung back and watched her interact with the rest of the team.
Around 1 o'clock Sandra showed up with lunch. Penelope hastily went through the bags looking for something. When she didn't find it she pouted at Sandra. "It's not in here is it?"
She laughed at her friend "No its not. I told you this morning the doctor said you can't have it because of the heartburn."
"You tell the baby that? Go on I dare ya!" she said pointing at her belly. Randall let out a laugh "Here comes the monster" He bent down to her belly "Kid, didn't I tell you to knock it off?" He left the room for a minute to go to the break room when he came back he had Penelope's ice cream "I knew she wouldn't get it so after I called in the order I went down and brought one back." He looked over at his wife "You get to leave after lunch, the rest of us have to deal with her. Trust me when I say this, I will get her anything and everything she wants."
He handed her the ice cream cone. She looked up at him with innocent eyes and in the smallest cutest voice said thank you. The whole room burst out laughing
They ate and chatted for about ten minutes. JJ looked over at Penelope "Have you started a nursery yet?" Penelope finished the last part of her ice cream before she answered, "Randall and his friend Mark were over last weekend to help get the room ready to paint, I'm between two options. Once I find out what I'm having tomorrow I'll know what one."
Sandra grabbed her hand "Speaking of that Sweetie, there's no way I'll be able to make it to the appointment. We're short two nurses on my floor and they need me. I'm really sorry."
"I'll go with you," Morgan said.
"I'm sorry Morgan, but I don't think that's a wise move right now. We haven't even said more than two words to each other. I think it would be better to go alone right now." She wanted him to be there more than anything but this wasn't a movie. He wasn't going to show up and sweep her off her feet and everything would be happily ever after. He broke her heart too many times. She refused to let herself fall back into the same routine. Insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting different results, not this time. She was going to stand her ground and protect her and her baby.
"Then let's talk, right here, right now. I've got plenty to say to you."
Hotch saw that he needed to step in before this got out of hand. "Agents right now is not the time or place for this." He looked at JJ "You'll go with Garcia tomorrow morning. I know you want someone to go with you Garcia and JJ's been through all of this with Henry. As for you two talking, I agree that needs to happen, but not right now. Right now we need to deliver the profile." Hotch threw his discarded lunch away and walked out of the room.
Penelope made a strange face "Pen, are you okay?" Randall moved over to her seat. The tension in the room disappeared and filled with concern for their pregnant friend. "Yes sweetie, its just..." She looked at Sandra.
"I told you! Let me see if I have any Tums." Sandra said rolling her eyes.
Penelope looked up at the room "There's some in my desk, I'll just go get them. You guys need to deliver the profile anyway and Sandra has that gloating look on her face so I would rather not be around her." She moved to walk out of the room. Morgan was right behind her.
"Right now is not a good time Morgan. I need to get to my desk." She turned to face him.
"Fine, you want to keep avoiding this then far be it from me to stop you." He spat out.
"You know what Morgan? You just proved to me you not coming tomorrow is a good thing." She turned back to continue down the hall rolling her eyes. How could she have ever been so stupid to fall in love with that man?
"You don't just get to walk away when the situation doesn't suit you, Penelope." He ran up to her grabbing her arm to stop her from continuing to her office.
His touch sent shocks down her body. She pulled her arm away and pushed him back. "Get off of me, never touch me again. I'm not running away from a situation I don't like, I'm trying to get back to my desk to take some Tums. My chest feels like its about to explode. I really don't have time for this." she moved back down the hall.
"Please Penelope, we need to talk." By this time they'd made it to the door of her office. She turned to look at him before going in, "I know Morgan, we can talk tomorrow after my appointment. You can meet me at my apartment at noon, I'll have Randall give you the address." With that she walked into her office closing the door.