She tries not to let him see her irritation, as they inch through rush hour traffic. She looks over at him, when the traffic comes to a halt.

"You don't have to drive like a sane person on my account," he points out.

"I don't want to..."

He cuts her off, "Just drive!" he tells her.

She whips into the next lane. She whips in and out of traffic, for several blocks. Suddenly she realizes how quiet the car is.

"Is something on your mind?" she wonders.

"No. Why would you think that?"

"You are being too quiet."

"I'm just thinking."

"Thinking what?"

"Wondering, really."

"Wondering what, Caleb?"

"Why did you want to keep me?"

"You really want to have this discussion, again?"

"There are things that I don't understand."

"Like what?"

"You were fifteen how could you possibly think you could take care of me."

"I was naive."

"Why wouldn't you want to give me up?"

"I wanted you. It was crazy. I know that. I have always wanted you. I know that it is hard to understand, but it is the truth."

"You didn't think that it would be better to give me to a family who..."

"Caleb, do you wish that I had given you up?"

"No, I just..."

"You just what?"

"You left me."

"I am sorry. There were things that were beyond my control. I know that is not an excuse."

"Why do you keep making excuses. Just tell me the truth. I can handle it. Why didn't you come for me?"

"There were a lot of reasons."

"Like what?"

"I was convinced that I was doing what was best for you. I have never been very maternal. I have never been patient, understanding, or empathetic. I didn't think that I had what it took, to be a good mother to you. I was afraid that you would hate me, that you would resent me. I wanted you to be happy. I wanted you to have the kind of life I couldn't give you."

"A mansion, and a pool? A family that eats dinner in three different places? All I want, all I have ever wanted, was you."

"I am sorry. I should have been there for you. I should have been the parent that you needed me to be."

"Why is he trying to come into my life, now?"

"It doesn't matter."

"He didn't want me, did he?"

"Caleb, anyone would be a fool not to want you."

"It's ok. You can say it. Tell me the truth."

"No. He had no interest in being part of your life."

"He didn't want me."

"He was young, and he didn't want a child."

"You were young too, but you wanted me."

"It was different for me."

"Is he going to take me away?"

"No, Caleb. He is not. I am not going to let that happen. I am not going to let anyone take you anywhere."

"It's a little late, don't you think."

"Better late than never. I hope that you can forgive me, one day, for the mistakes that I made."

"Mom?"

"Hm?"

"I am sorry."

"For what?"

"Ever doubting that you loved me."

"You have nothing to be sorry about. I did not do a very good job of showing it."

"Are you going to make me go back?"

"No."

"What if she comes for me?"

She pulls into a parking space, in front of her building. She puts the car into park. She turns the engine off. She looks into his eyes. She smiles.

"I am not going to let you go anywhere. I know that you need me. I know that there were times when I should have fought for you, and I didn't. I will do whatever it takes, to make sure that you are happy. Do you understand me?"

"Yes."

"How do you do it?"

"Do what?"

"Love me so much?"

"You are easy to love."

"How? I took away your childhood. I took away a lot of choices, a lot of opportunities. I made your life harder than I had to be."

"No. You didn't. I made choices that affected my life. You are not to blame for the choices that I have made. You are not to blame for anything. You didn't do anything wrong."

"I was born."

"I wouldn't have it any other way. Caleb you changed my life, for the better."

"You are obligated to say that, because you're my mother. You don't want me to feel bad. You don't want me to feel guilty."

"Because you have nothing to feel bad, or guilty about. I love you. I have always loved you. I will always love you."

"But you didn't have to. You could have chosen a dozen different ways."

"A dozen wrong ways. You were the only way. I am sorry that I didn't choose you sooner, and more often. I am sorry that I didn't come for you. I thought..." she trails off, fighting back tears.

"You thought what?"

"I didn't think that you needed me. You had someone who..."

"Can never give me what you can."

"And what is that?"

"A mother's love."

"How did you get to be so smart?"

"I got it from you."

"I don't think that I can take credit for that."

"Then you can take the blame," he smiles.

His smile pushes away her tears. She smiles back at him. She touches his hair, brushing it out of his eyes.

"You want me to get it cut?"

"It's your hair."

"But you want me to get it cut?"

"I would like to be able to see your eyes."

"I think I might be able to agree to a trim," he concedes.

She follows him into the building. He waits for her to find the key, and open the door for him. He steps into the apartment. She steps in, closing the door behind her. She locks the door. She turns around, and finds him standing still, just looking at her.

"What?"

"Nothing, I was just thinking."

"Thinking what?"

"That I love you," he hugs her.

She kisses the top of his head, "I love you more."

"Maybe."

"Definitely," she lets go of him.

"Can I ask you a question."

"I have never been able to stop you."

"What is going on between you, and Agent DiNozzo?"

"Nothing. He is my partner."

"I see."

"You see what?"

"You're afraid to get hurt."

"What are you talking about?"

"You have been disappointed, and hurt more than once. I can't blame you for..."

"Caleb, you have no idea what you're talking about."

"Really? So you are telling me that you have absolutely no feelings for him?"

"He is my partner."

"That doesn't answer my question."

"I have feelings for him, but..."

"But you will never tell him. You will never do anything about it. Heaven forbid you tell someone how you really feel. They might run away."

"Why are you so interested, anyway?"

"You keep everyone at arms length, all the time. If you can't be honest with yourself, how can you be honest with the anyone else? At some point you have to take a chance, on someone."

"I did."

"Other than me."

"You deserve to be happy."

"I..."

"Mom, you made mistakes, everyone does. You can't punish yourself for them, for the rest of your life."

"I'm not."

"Really? So he knows how you feel?"

"I wouldn't know," she admits.

"Have you told him?"

"No."

"Why not? What are you afraid of."

"He's my partner. He's my friend."

"You are afraid that he won't feel the same?"

She points to the couch, "Sit. Please."