Disclaimer: I own nothing but the triumph of this plot bunny!

A/N: So the end is here guys! Thanks for loving this as much as you did and I hope you like the last chapter =)

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- If It Hadn't Been For Love -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Waking up in their new house that morning was a weird experience, but Penelope thought nothing could feel weirder in one day. The steps towards the entrance of the Bureau made her heart start pumping away fiercely in her chest. It made her realise that this day was going to get weirder and weirder.

However, she kept her head high. Knowing she had Derek by her side was enough sanity than anything else in that moment.

Derek could feel Penelope's palm getting sweaty and he took a look at her, waiting for the others in the elevator to either leave for their floors or for them to get off so they could have a few seconds alone before they were joined with the team.

Finding it was having to wait until their floor, Derek shook her hand and offered her a smile. He then walked off onto their floor, never releasing her hand and then turned her to look at him. Immediately he felt an involuntary frown take over his calm expression.

"Maybe coming home wasn't a good idea," Derek said as he inspected Penelope's paled exhausted eyes. "The nightmares are back."

Penelope looked into Derek's eyes, "The nightmares never left, Handsome and this is our first week back here. It's a lot to take in." She calmed him some, "It's been over eight months, it's a shock."

Watching her, Derek thought for a moment and frowned, "You know what?" He asked her, "You have nothing to be scared about. This is our home, and I refuse to allow what happened all those months ago to take that from us. This will always be our home, the place we found one another."

Smiling, Penelope tilted her head as he went on his mini speech. "See, that's what I need right now. We've lived in bliss in Chicago, and we chose to bring it back here, so that's the plan." She winked at him, "So we're going to reclaim our place here as the flirtatious pair of the team and we're going to lap it up." She smirked at him then, "Just this time, Handsome, there are no boundaries to what we say or do." She then reached up and kissed him.

Hearing a cough, Penelope dropped back to earth and fell against his chest, his jacket held in her clutches and she looked at Hotch. She could feel the blush burning her cheeks quickly and she bit her lip.

"Not the welcome we usually get in a place like this," Hotch commented as he walked towards them. "But it's one that offers a bit of a promise in our jobs." He gave them a small smile, a Hotch perfected gesture and approached more, "Welcome back the pair of you."

"Nice to be back, Hotch," Derek said as Hotch put his hand out to shake his.

Penelope offered Hotch a bright smile as he turned to her, "You sure you want us back?" She asked as she just engulfed him in a hug, awkward or not she had missed her boss.

"Believe me, we never knew what we had lost until you were gone. You're all important to our team."

"You just couldn't get a tech bold enough to dig did you?" Penelope questioned knowingly.

"Let's just say they weren't quite up to previous standards that were set," Hotch replied and gave Penelope a look that told her he was more than a little grateful for them coming back. "Eight months though, you sure you're ready for this?"

Penelope exchanged looked with Derek, "I've been jobless for eight months, Boss Man. There's only so much a girl can do with her day. I'm more than ready to reclaim my throne."

"Then I guess I have to go and dismiss the new stand in tech." Hotch told them and watched Penelope's expression, "You were on medical leave, Penelope. It's always been your office. No one else's."

"I understand that, Boss Man, but I feel like I'm just coming in staking claim. Kinder taking liberties, is it not?" Penelope questioned.

"I don't want to hear it. I know how to make this team work even if Strauss disagrees, but I do. I need you as our tech and maybe she might see a different rate in the cases being solved now that you two are back."

"Don't argue with the man, Baby. Just take your little lair back and please, be the best damn tech this FBI has ever seen again." Derek said as he put his arm around her back, "This is home."

Penelope smiled at him now, "Oh you are worth keeping around just for your motivational speeches, Hot Stuff." Penelope commented making him laugh. She looked to Hotch, "Okay, the oracle of all that is known and unknown is back!"

"Definitely worth the wait," Hotch complimented his tech. "Morgan, your desk is still the same. It's good to have you both back, but I think we could drag the others out for a lunch. I think we have reasons to celebrate." He turned to go back to the bullpen, seeing JJ storming towards them all, he then looked back. "I don't mean you returning to work either." He said and looked at the ring on Penelope's finger.

"You're home?" Came JJ's voice, somewhat excited whilst trying not to be unprofessional as she made it into the corridor.

"We're apparently just leaving, Jayje," Penelope threw in, watching confusion cast upon her blonde friend's face. "We going out for lunch and I do believe it's on the two boss men," she said and winked at them.

"Back five minutes, Kitten, and already striking demands left, right and centre I see," Rossi picked out and smirked.

"Chicago didn't change her," Derek commented and Penelope swatted his arm.

"No but it did change your marital status obviously," Emily said approaching and taking her hand away from Derek's chest. "That is some rock!" She exclaimed as JJ swarmed in, "Lunch is on you two," She looked back and smirked.

"They are just back and newly engaged," JJ added on.

"Hardly seems fair them paying for it all," Reid chucked on, trying to keep the excitement at having them both back from overtaking him.

Derek smirked them, "Good point Pretty Boy, you can chip in," he told him with a wink. "Can we just move this party in there, rather than keep it out here?" He asked and everyone agreed and turned to move back into the bullpen and up to the conference room.

Rossi looked at Hotch and smiled, "Seems old times are upon us." He said and walked after the others.

Nodding, Hotch smiled, "I do believe we are a team again," Hotch said following everyone back into the bullpen.

His team exactly how it should be.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- If It Hadn't Been For Love -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

The End

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- If It Hadn't Been For Love -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-