So sorry for the delay. This should round out this story nicely. My many thanks to WmGeorge for her fantastic work in turning my mess into something enjoyable to read.

From WmGeorge: The delay was mostly mine. Real life can throw one mean monkey wrench into plans to edit and write. WG.

She looked from the judge to Hotch then back again, as she shifted her cell from one ear to the other. "Sir," she said softly. When he didn't respond, she spoke a bit louder. "Hotch."

When he looked at her she kept her expression blank. "I found two sealed records."

"Open them," he ordered.

Amber's father stood and gritted his teeth. "Wait a minute, you can't do that, not without a court order."

"Garcia?" Hotch spoke firmly, but she knew it was directed not at her, but at the judge.

She looked up from one of the laptops and then smiled softly as she started to talk into her cell. "Thank you very much, Your Honor. Yes, if we need your help again we'll call. Yes sir, I'll make sure to tell Agent Rossi."

"Kitten?" Rossi asks.

"I have the court order to open the records. I just need a minute."

Two hours later they had Amber, the two men, and the latest victim in custody.

Hotch signed off on the last of the forms that he was required to fill out. He put his pen back in his inner pocket as he looked at the judge. "You need to get your daughter a lawyer, she's going to be charged with murder, along with the men. Agent Garcia managed to collect videos from all the abduction sights. One of the men is already talking, he's looking for a better deal."

The man nodded his head, scowling as Penelope walked back into the small room.

"Any trouble returning the borrowed equipment, Garcia?" JJ asks.

"No, they like me. I have no idea why, they said anytime I'm in town to come get whatever I need."

"You're the best, that's why Baby Girl." Morgan smiled as he took her computer bag out of her hand.

"Let's go home," Hotch said.

There were two SUV's waiting for them. As usual, Penelope rode with JJ, Reid, and Morgan. The shared kiss was still fresh in her memory, making her feel uneasy and … well … scared, as well as confused. She was tired and still stinging from the break-up from Sam. The old saying about better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all, was beginning to wear thin. She wanted a forever type of love, a love that two people fought and work for. Maybe it was too much to hope for, she was too old for fairy tales.

"Write your notes then go home. You can write your reports tomorrow." Hotch rubbed his face tiredly just before the doors to the elevator opened.

They were all tired, needing food, a long hot shower, and to sleep in their own beds. Living in hotels was not conducive to good health, hygiene yes, but you wanted your own food fresh and not made by someone else. After a while all restaurant food tasted the same no matter how good the menu made it sound.

They hadn't even made it to their own office before Anderson came up to them. "You have a visitor, Agent Hotchner, a Miss Clemmons. I put her in the briefing room."

Years of practice of hiding his own reactions and emotions are second nature to Hotch. He looked at Rossi, then glanced at the rest of the team before he moved. As good as he is, Penelope's better, but he still saw the sharp pain that flashed through her eyes, then there was nothing, nothing there at all. He thanks Anderson then walks toward his office.

"Hey, that's great right?" Reid says. "I know how much he likes her and Jack loved spending time with her."

"I think it's great, Dr. Reid, she might even put that smile back on his face. You know, the one we hardly ever see anymore." Penelope tells him.

She takes a few steps away then turns to look at the team. "I'm leaving in ten minutes, if you need anything ask now or forever hold your peace. Well, at least until tomorrow."

"Kitten, how are you getting home? You don't have a car here remember."

" Taxi." she said.

"Beth," Hotch said softy as he entered the briefing room.

"Aaron, you look tried, great, but tired." she said as she stood and moved toward him.

"When did you get back?" He asks kept all emotion out of his voice.

"This morning. I missed you, and, well, I'm here for a week. I got an offer to relocate here, I came to see just how good the offer is. And to see if it was worth it for me to come back."

He stepped away from her, folding his arms across his chest. "I thought you were happy in Hong Kong."

"I am, I was, but I missed you and Jack."

"I wasn't about to stand in your way Beth. I know that your work is important to you. But you have to understand I can't, I won't bring Jack's hopes up that we're going to be together. What if another offer comes along? He needs stability in his life." He spoke firmly, leaving the rest unsaid.

"I understand. Thank you for being honest with me. Would you like to go for a drink, it would give us a chance to at least catch up as friends."

"I can't, I haven't been home in almost a week, and I really need to see my son, he comes first."

"I'd better be going, then. I'm sorry Aaron." She touched his face and kissed him softly on the cheek, and then walked out of the room.

Rossi stood and watched as Hotch packed his briefcase. "She left not long after you went to talk to Beth."

Hotch straightened up and sighed. "I might be late tomorrow. I'm going to see Jack first, then her."

"Be honest, that's the only advice I'll give you."

Aaron nodded. "Thanks - and I will."

Ninety minutes later he found himself in front of her apartment, knocking on the door. When he heard the deadbolt being moved he let out the breath he didn't realize he was holding.

She looked like she had been crying. Her eyes and face were wet, and she was sniffling. Her hair was a mess, her feet bare, she was wearing what looked like a black beach cover up. It was ugly as hell and it didn't suit her at all. She looked at him and then turned away, leaving him to come in or not. He locked the door and followed her into the small apartment.

He saw her in the small kitchen adding onions by the handful into a large pot.

"I'm sorry if I made you cry."

"You didn't, the onions did." She sniffed. "My go to comfort food is French onion soup."

"Don't you need beef broth for that?" That's what Sean told him, the last time he watched his brother cook.

"You can use veggie broth. Besides if you add enough sherry and butter, everything tastes better."

He had to nod and smile as he watched her add a half a stick of butter to the pot.

"Why are you here? Shouldn't you be with Beth?"

"She left, she wanted more than I was willing to give her." He watched as she dabbed her eyes with a tissue.

"You should go back to her tell her you had a change of heart. She loves you and Jack. You trust her with Jack, plus you have history together. She can offer you . . ."

That's as far as she got before he took her into his arms and kissed her. With the pads of his thumbs he gently wiped more tears away.

"You've been crying, all this is not just from onions." He looked at her puffy eyes and face. "And you're wearing black."

"It's not black, dark blue, and you're not supposed to profile me." Her voice was a whisper.

"I didn't profile you, I just stated the obvious, your face is puffy and this thing you're wearing is ugly."

"Yes, I've been crying," she said as she stepped away from him and started to stir the soup again. "I thought … never mind, it's silly really."

He reached around her and turned the stove off. He ushered her into the small living room, and they settled on the couch, side by side. He took her hands and smiled. "You thought what, Penelope?"

"Right after Morgan pulled that stunt with the ambulance in New York, he told me I was his God given solace. I'm his friend, his confidant, I keep him safe. I keep all of you safe, but with him it's different. That's beside the point, what I'm trying to say is that I want that, too. I want my solace, and all it encompasses. Every time I open my heart to someone I get hurt. I'm tired of getting hurt, and I'm tired of hiding my feelings."

He pulled her close and rubbed her back. "Oh, Penelope. I wouldn't have kissed you and held on to you while you slept if I didn't want more with you. You might be Morgan's solace, but you fill my life with joy and much needed happiness. Jack loves you, as do I. I want that love to grow into so much more. I won't hurt you, I promise you."

"I know that, you're too much of a gentleman to hurt anyone. I promise I will never hurt Jack or you." She looked up at him and saw a small smile on his lips. "Did I say something funny?"

"No, you put Jack first, that's all."

"Your son will always come first as far as I am concerned. I adore that child."

"No doubt about it, you're the right one for me." He leaned, in kissing her gently and then with more pressure on her lips. When he felt her respond, kissing him back without fear, he knew she was finally dropping her barriers and letting him in.

After a few minutes, she pulled back and looked into his eyes. "Are you my Solace, Aaron Hotchner?"

"I want to be, I want to be everything for you, Penelope."

He pulled her to her feet. "Go get dressed, we need to eat real food not just onion soup. And Penelope, that dress."

"Charity pile?"

"Yes."

The end.