Author's Note: Hey! I expected more reviews from the last chapter, I know it was a little graphic in terms of this FBI plot and Gerard Jacks plot and I probably should have given a little more heads up. Spinelli recording everything on tape will be important later. Won't say why, it just will be. Any who enjoy this chapter. It's short, but the next chapter is all about Spinelli and what threatens him. Review! Thanks.

Chapter 11

"The Apology"

"You want to do a piece on me?" Winifred looked at her surprised and excited, "Really?"

"Yes, I mean I still have to pitch it this week, but if you don't mind then…"

"No I would love to, I just…" Winifred paused having no idea why she had her guard up, "I guess, I guess I'm just wondering why?"

"Why? Winifred you are an remarkable career woman," Maxie kept a straight face.

"Yes, but there are a lot of women out there that are remarkable."

"I agree and you know what makes you different from them?"

"What?"

"Your story."

Winifred looked at her confused, "Um everyone's stories are naturally different Maxie."

"Well yes," Maxie rolled her eyes wishing Winifred would just go with it, "Okay. My demographics are really high in the ages from 13-18. We've seen over the years that girls really like to read stories about strong independent women who got a happy ending."

"Alright, I see where you're taking this."

"Winifred let me put it to you this way. You save the world every day. You have this amazing love story with…Spinelli and you had something tragic happen to you."

"And readers will love this because…"

"Because you show there is no obstacle too great and I think the my readers need to instill that in themselves."

"Wow," Winifred had to admit she was impressed at how well she spun her life story. "You are good at this."

"The best and let me assure you this isn't about selling magazines."

"I know."

"And that if there is anything you don't want to talk about…"

"You mean the baby?"

"I just don't want to bring up any bad or uncomfortable moments for you."

"Well it will, but if my story can help just one person get over the loss of their child then I think it's a small price to pay."

Maxie softly smiled, "Good, so then…"

"But," Winifred stopped her from changing subjects, "I wouldn't tell Spinelli that we're doing this."

"This?"

"I mean," Winifred looked at around feeling the sudden need to hush the conversation, "He'll be excited for me to be featured in the magazine, but he won't like me talking about the miscarriage."

"Oh."

"He still blames himself sometimes for what happened and I've told him over and over again that it's not his fault. But it's like an ego thing ya know? He wasn't man enough to save himself or save me and…it's always a no win argument with him so we just don't talk about it."

"I see," Maxie slowly nodded. There were other stories to tell, this certainly didn't need to be one of them if it was going to cost the little bit of friendship she had with Spinelli. "You know we don't have to do a story on it. We can just focus on you and getting married and…"

"No," Winifred nodded, becoming persistent. "I want to do the story. I think I need to for myself."

"And Spinelli?"

"I'll find a way to tell him. If he knows it's for the greater good then I think he'll be okay with it."

"And if he's not?"

"He and I don't always agree on what each other does," Winifred frowned and Maxie could tell it was a definite struggle in their relationship.

"I know I probably seemed really out of line yesterday like a bitch."

Yes.

"But Spinelli works a lot and I work a lot and so it's frustrating when two people are trying to work to a common goal such as plan this wedding and we have to put ourselves second. I don't know if that makes any sense…"

"No it does, I've been so busy with this magazine for the past couple of years that I hardly take a break to enjoy life."

"Yeah and that's what I'm talking about. We're supposed to be enjoying each other and he's working. It's like he doesn't want to be here and I guess I understand it. I mean what guy really wants to pick out flowers and wedding invitations and all of that, but…sometimes you just have to pick your battles and that's how we handle things."

"He wants to be here Winifred. I know he does."

"Yeah," Winifred smiled, wanting so very much to believe her, "But hey about the article, I won't let him get mad at you for it."

"Thanks," Maxie said, but meanwhile thought she damn well better not be blamed for it.

"And, I'm sorry, I know I'm slowing everything down today, but there's something I wanted to tell you and it's not easy for me to say," Winifred cowered her head. "Maxie I owe you an apology."

"An apology?" Maxie wasn't quite sure what she was sorry for unless it was…then yeah it's a little over due.

"I want to get this out in the open now because I can't imagine that you're doing this for any other reason than him and so whether you accept the apology or not, I want you to know that I really am thankful for this."

"Uh…"

"You don't have to say anything. I wouldn't expect you to say 'oh it's okay', I just want you to know that I was wrong about you. I never thought you had his best interest at heart. I was young and immature back then. It was my first field case and a part of me didn't know what I was doing or getting myself into and I'm, I'm sorry."

As sincere as her speech was and Maxie knew it definitely was, Maxie herself couldn't believe it nor accept it entirely.

"Winifred, I'm not gonna lie," Maxie looked away from her still stunned.

"I know what I did was wrong and if I could go back, I'd do it differently."

Maxie jerked her head, "I bet you would."

"I mean I'd make it so you two could have been friends."

Maxie shook her head, "Really?" She scoffed at how serious Winifred looked. "Winifred, it's one thing not knowing I had his best interest, but don't sit here and say you didn't know what you were doing when you blindly manipulated him into thinking the worst of me and then took him away from."

"You never claimed him."

"That's not the point. No matter what we would have been we were friends first and you robbed us of that, six years of it. I shouldn't have had to read in a newspaper that he opened up his own PI business, which was a dream of his long before he met you. Or how about the fact that he was almost a father? Had I known what he was going through I would have been on the first flight out to wherever he was and been there even if he didn't want me there. You and the damn FBI made us so furious with each other that we couldn't…we didn't know how to speak to each other and as a result…we missed out on everything because of you and that I can never forgive you for."

"Understood."

"Understood? That's it from you?"

"What else do you want me to say? I didn't apologize expecting you to forgive me. I was hoping that maybe if we were honest and up front about our intentions that it would make this easier, but you're damn right. I know what I did. It was a bitchy thing to do and sometimes I wish I had made an effort to fix what I had broken…Okay? There I said it. Are you happy?"

"Hardly, but I appreciate the thought. It's well over due, but I don't hate you too much that I can't put you in my magazine and plan your wedding.'

"Because of him."

"Because you make him happy," Maxie smiled ignoring her heart that was telling her just the opposite.

Next Chapter:

Someone is after Spinelli and it isn't the man of many aliases.

Maxie gets the feeling something is not right with Spinelli.

Sam makes a house call as Spinelli gets attacked.

Review! Other spoilers will begin to come true that I mentioned in the last chapter.