Author's Note: I'm terribly sorry for the long absence in continuing this story. Thank you all for your patience. It's been years since I've updated this story.

"Don't cuff her," Booth said. "She's a victim herself."

"You know the rules. Agent Marini has to be taken into custody, no special treatment, you know that." The young FBI agent clicked the handcuffs tightly on the woman's wrists.

"Not that tight, you idiot!" Booth hollered. "She's been through a lot!"

"Thank you, Booth for everything. I'll be just fine," Nikki said, slightly smiling. "I remember the routine. Go and reunite with your son."

"I'll help you in anyway, Wednesday."

"It's Nikki," she corrected.

"I know. But, you'll always be my Wednesday. I'll help you find your son. You can count on me." He gave her a warm hug.

"Thank you very much." The dark-haired FBI agent held up her hands. "I don't think he'd want to see his mommy in handcuffs."

"Hey, don't you worry. Things will work out. I can promise you that, okay?" Booth said, rubbing his unshaven face.

Nikki nodded. She looked over Booth's shoulder, and smiled. "I'm assuming that's Parker. Take care of him, Booth. I'll see you around."

"Daddy! Daddy!" Parker flung his arms around his father. Wet kisses covered Booth's face. "You're back. I sure missed you."

Booth hugged his son warmly. "Miss you, too." He held Parker tightly in his arms.

"Daddy, not too hard," the little boy said, pulling away. "I can't breathe."

"Sorry, it's just that I missed you so much."

"Was that lady your friend?" Parker asked. "How come they're taking her away in handcuffs? Did she do something wrong, daddy?"

"Well." Booth turned toward Nikki. "It's fixable. She'll be alright."

"Hello, Rebecca," Booth said. "How are you?"

"Glad you're here. We...Parker and I have been worried," Rebecca said. "We may not be together anymore, but you're still my son's father."

"Goodbye, Booth," Nikki said, as she was led into another room.

"I'll be right back," he told Rebecca.

"Hey! You'll be fine, Nikki. You didn't kill anyone, you didn't do anything wrong other than falling in love with the wrong person."

"Thank you, Booth. But he wasn't the wrong person for me, I never regretted having been with him. He really loved me, and I loved him."

Booth nodded. "I know."

"It wasn't something I had planned on and certainly wasn't expecting," Nikki said.

"Feelings are fine, it's when you act on it is when you may sometimes suffer the consequences," Booth said.

"I betrayed the agency. But we can't control our hearts, can we?"

"No, we can't. I wished we could have met under different circumstances. We would have worked well together, Agent Marini."

"I think so, too, Agent Booth. You take care of yourself."

"I'll be in touch. I really mean it." Booth hugged her one last time before the younger FBI agent led her away. He watched them until he felt a tap on his shoulder.

"What?" he asked, turning quickly. "Bones," he said.

TBC - Chapter 19