Booth walked into the Royal Diner and took a seat facing the door. The burden of the last few months was finally off is shoulders. Kovac was dead and his sister was in maximum security. The FBI, Danny at the CIA and a long list of Army intelligence officers had confirmed that there were no other relatives of the general unaccounted for. Mark and Jeanine were the only two children and since Raddick had killed both of his brothers and their wives it was unlikely that any nieces and nephews would be out for revenge. It was over at last. Bones was recovering nicely, he still had a few sore spots left over from the blast, but was definitely on the mend. Stark had threatened him with bodily harm if he appeared in the Hoover before next week and for once Booth wasn't fighting the mandatory paid vacation. Yea, when Aubrey showed up they MIGHT discuss some cases, but technically he was just having late breakfast with a friend. These musings had distracted him enough that he was mildly startled when Joan came by to pour him a cup. He definitely didn't notice the blond at the far end of the counter behind him.

So, he was caught unaware when the blond got up and came to stand next to his table, holding her cup of coffee.

"Seeley?"

His head jerked up at the voice he had once known so well but hadn't heard in a long time.

"Hannah?" He looked at his former lover and was startled to realize two things. One, it had been years since he'd thought of her, and two, there was no gut punch. He wouldn't exactly say that he was glad to see her, but he wasn't sorry either.

"Can I sit or do you still hate me?"

He motioned to the chair. "Yea, have a seat. Never did hate you." He looked at her raised eyebrows, and clarified, "I was extremely pissed at you, but it never crossed to hate. And I've been done being angry for a while."

She offered a half smile at that. "Glad we got that straightened out. How are you? I heard about the explosion. Everybody's okay right - Temperance, Angela, Cam? "

"We're all fine. Some minor injuries but it could have been a lot worse. "

"Good. I hadn't seen their names in any casualty reports, but it's always nice to have confirmation. I did think of them as friends when...well, back in the day. " She paused as Joan refilled her cup, a little unsure of whether it was a good idea to journey down memory lane. "So, you're good? Kids are doing well? You've got three now right? "

"Yea, Parker's in London, but coming back for the summer, can't believe he's 16 now. Christine is 6, Hank is heading towards 2. how did you know?"

"Well, I am a reporter, and your wife is a best selling author. It's pretty easy to keep tabs on you in a non-stalkery way."

He smiled at that and nodded, "I guess it wouldn't take too much work. But yea, I'm good. Happy. " He sipped his coffee, "How about you? You back in DC or just visiting?"

"Just visiting. First trip back since, well, almost 6 years. Am kind of done with the war zone, it's gotten frustrating at how long it's gone on and how little things have changed. Will be heading to New York and working out of there for a while."

"The nomad is settling down?"

She shuddered, "God no. Just leaning more towards writing and print instead of in front of the camera. According to the brass I'm getting too old. "

He looked at her quizzically. She was still stunning, not in a Bones way, but the years had been kind to her.

Catching his raised eyebrows, she shrugged. "Unfortunately that's the way of things. It's still a little tough for women. 40 is ancient in this business and I'm pushing it."

"That sucks. So, working out of New York but still living out of a suitcase? "

She nodded. "I've been with a guy for a couple of years. We have an apartment there. If we happen to both be in town at the same time, great, if not, that's okay too." She caught his expression. "What can I say it works for us. "

He held up his hands in mock surrender, "Not judging. As long as you're happy." But he was thinking to himself, damn that sounds awful.

Hannah studied him. He seemed sincere about his wish for her happiness but if she were a betting woman she'd put money down on his relief that he didn't live that way. She sipped her coffee and then replied, "Yea, I am. It took me a while to figure out that what I was supposed to want out of life wasn't for me, and that it's ok. "

"What you're supposed to want?"

"You know. Fabulous career, handsome husband, white picket fence, 1.8 children, dog, mini van, the works. Turns out for me, the job is what interests me and the rest not so much. " She studied her mug for a minute and then looked him in the eyes. "I'm just really sorry that I didn't figure that out before I hurt you. When I came to DC I thought I wanted it all, and if anyone could have convinced me to go that route it would have been you. It wasn't until you offered that I realized that I wasn't cut out for that - no one gets it all and trying to just requires more compromises than I want to make."

He touched her hand laying on the table. "Hey. Don't worry about it. " He fidgeted with his cup a bit and then snorted. "This is probably going to come out wrong, but you saying no turns out to be one of the best things that ever happened to me. "

She laughed. "I get it. We've both ended up with the life we wanted. So it's kinda hard to be mad at how we got here. " She raised her mug in salute. "To wishes that didn't come true and unanswered prayers."

They clinked cups and drank. They exchanged updates for a bit, she had met her new guy at work convention - not nearly as memorable as being arrested by him she said with a laugh. Ken was a freelance photographer who lived out of his suitcase as well. The apartment in New York was a studio with a wi-fi connection. That pretty much summed up their household needs. He showed her a couple of pictures of the kids but could see that while she was happy for him it was clear she had no regrets.

After a bit she glanced at her watch, "Hey, I gotta run. I gotta ask though, any truth to the rumor that the Jeffersonian was targeted as a result of past actions of the US government?"

He shook his head, amused, "No comment. "

"I figured as much. At least now I can legitimately tell my editor that I gave it a shot. Maybe he'll stop being annoyed that I refused to ask you for an exclusive when you brought down Durant. "

"You knew about...all that?"

"Reporter? Yes, I still have contacts in the DC area. And I was really angry about what they did to you - I had just gotten back into the country when you nailed him. I wanted to contact you, but I wasn't sure you'd want to hear from me and I figured you probably had enough on your plate. I also guessed that you wouldn't be talking to anybody about it, so there was no point in trying. But, " she added wagging a finger at him " if you do ever decide to do a tell all, I want first crack ok?"

"I'm pretty sure you'll have a snowball fight in Afghanistan before that happens, but point taken."

She rose and laid a hand on his shoulder, "Good to see you Seeley. Take care. "

"You too Hannah. "

As she walked out the door she passed Aubrey who had noticed her conversation with his friend. He took her seat, pushed her empty mug aside and asked, " Was that who I thought it was? " Aubrey occasionally caught the evening news and she looked familiar.

"Nah." Booth sipped his coffee, "She's just someone I used to know."