A/N: Hello! I am sorry I haven't been able to update. There were some urgent family things that needed to be taken care off. I did manage to write some new scenes, so that should aid in lessening delays for future parts of this story. It is either now or then, right? At least I hope so...

Thank you Kareneb and Mphs95 for reviewing!

WARNING for curse words.

"So, cher how have you been doing?" Caroline had invited Lilly to lunch at the Royal Diner for some privacy than the lunch room at the Justice Department.

"Really well Caroline. How is the case going?" Lilly answered while Joanne placed their orders in front of them. Lilly wondered why Caroline had asked her here. It wasn't unusual to have lunch together, but twice in one week was a bit unusual.

"Slow but we're progressing. I had one of Booth's puppets serve another warrant yesterday and we got a shitload of paper to sort through."

Lilly nodded. "Let me know if I can help."

"Thank you, I will." Caroline acknowledged the offer before moving on. "I wanted to talk about how you feel about your job."

"Wow. Well. That is a rather broad subject..."

Caroline smiled. "I know cher and I am pretty sure I'll be able to narrow it down further for you. The thing is - as you know- you only have two months left as an intern. What do you want to do next? I feel we need to have this discussion because I have a job opening if you're interested. Your work is exceptional; you're capable of making very strong analyses and you speak squint like no lawyer I've ever met."

Taken aback by the compliments, Lilly took a second to respond. "Thanks, Caroline. I do enjoy working with you, Booth and the Jeffersonian."

"But?" Caroline asked.

"I honestly don't know how long I can deal with murder as a job in my life."

Caroline nodded. "I can't make that decision for you. But that being said. I've seen junior lawyers that needed to get used to it for over a year. You've currently been around for a little over six months. It could just be that you're still settling in."

"It could be," Lilly agreed. "I guess part of the problem is that I just don't see myself doing this job for the next 20 years."

Merde. That wasn't what Caroline hoped to hear from her intern. "There are always promotion options but I am guessing that is not what you are getting at. I am not asking you to stay for 20 years. Frankly, I would be happy if you would only stay on an additional six months."

"I think I can do that. As I said I am very happy working with everybody we work with. I definitely still have plenty to learn in this job so it isn't like I am bored by it or anything. And maybe I do need more time to get settled in. I would definitely love it if that would be the case."

"Glad to hear that, cher. I'll get the paperwork started as soon as possible. So, what is it you do see yourself doing for 20 years?"

"Thanks, Caroline and..." Lilly sighed. "... I am not sure. I thought criminal law was going to be my thing, but it is really hard to look at corpses and hear about the most awful times of people's life. At the same time, it is also kind of beautiful that we are in a position to help, but it is so dark."

"It is a striking balance, isn't it? I am asking since with your brains you can land any job you want."

"If only my brain could figure out what job that is. Maybe I do just need to get used to it. No position is perfect after all."

"That is true, and while I do feel that you should give every job a fair chance, changing jobs is a young professionals' game."

Lilly nodded. "Sure, though I've changed jobs plenty of times already. I am not as bad as Wendell with all his extra jobs but I managed to squeeze in several odd jobs here and there too. And then I started off at a lawyer's office before I came here."

"What is your dream job if you could just pick one?" Caroline was curious. With all the parties involved in the legal internship happy with Lilly's work, Caroline couldn't help but wonder if Lilly might be more squint than lawyer.

"I don't really know. I don't see myself going into big law. Serving the big cats to evade taxes more easily. I enjoy seeing you plead cases in court but I am not sure that is my thing. For me, the best parts are the human interaction and doing research."

Caroline nodded; those were the areas Lilly excelled in. "How about the RICO cases? You could help catch some big cats doing the tax evasion. It involves a lot of paperwork and research of the books."

Lilly thought for a second. "That does sound interesting. Though I would miss the lab very much."

"I didn't mean you give up working on the murder cases completely." Caroline chuckled. "Maybe we could make it 50/50 or whatever ratio you would enjoy the most. Besides, a RICO skill set comes in handy on murder cases as well. Miss Montenegro usually sorts through plenty of finances. Also, Booth usually works on RICO cases as well so you wouldn't have to miss him."

Lilly looked at Caroline. "That could be interesting."

"Of course, it is interesting cher. I am just very happy you're willing to stay on board a little longer after your internship ends. When is your graduation again?"

"I hope at the same time as Wendell's. I e-mailed the administration desk if they could work me into that ceremony. Which is kind of weird since they'll get an anthropology degree and I'll receive a criminal law degree with an anthropology minor. Plus, my diploma will be co-issued by NYU instead of only the American University."

Caroline smiled. "It is special, special is good. I think it suits you. For one I would be glad if we don't have to go down to New York City. Going to the ceremony here would be much more convenient."

"Oh definitely. Though there might be a chance my dad wouldn't be able to make it."

"Sorry to hear that. That is a shame."

"Yes, it is, but then again most of our team will be there and that will make it better."

"Certainly."

Lilly sighed. "I still need to defend my thesis, so maybe I won't even graduate."

"Of course, you'll make it!" Caroline shook her head. Sometimes Lilly was too modest. "I read it last week and it was really good. Very useful to the Justice Department and the FBI, maybe even for the Jeffersonian but they are so stubborn it probably won't make a difference there."

Lilly snorted at that last remark.

"Did you get your presentation all ready and done?"

Lilly nodded. "Angela helped so it actually looks dazzling."

"See? Nothing is going to stop you from graduating. Have you invited people to come to the defending?"

"No", Lilly said. "The lab usually only sends their advisor, so I am guessing Dr. Saroyan will be attending. Do you think Booth will come?"

Caroline chuckled. "Probably not, he really hates these science lecture-type things. Though, for you, he might make an exception. He's never been this enthusiastic about any intern."

"So, you don't think there will be anyone present from the FBI?" If Booth wasn't coming, she was hoping there would be one less person attending.

"Oh no, there will be someone. I recently had a chat with Assistant Deputy Director Hacker and he was also very impressed by your research results so I am sure he'll send someone to attend."

"Okay, then there will be you, an anonymous person from the FBI and Dr. Saroyan and my professors."

Caroline nodded. "That sounds like more than enough of a crowd."

"Yes, I agree."

A/N: Thank you for reading and your patience. Next week I'll be on vacation, so I am uncertain if I'll have time to update. Please review :)!