Please forgive me if this is a little off - I haven't been able to see the latest episodes. This is set after the Blizzard episode. It's nothing special - just a vent fic. Booth has to have a talking to from someone and that someone has to be Angela.

Please enjoy!

I don't own Bones.


Booth laughed as he watched his son and partner chatting animatedly as she dropped a scoop of ice cream into the boy's soda. No doubt she was explaining the frothing reaction in 11 year old squint and a twinge of... something picked at Booth's heart making his smile dip a little.

It was a beautiful spring afternoon and the team were enjoying the unofficial baby shower at the Hodgin's residence gardens. Bringing Parker had helped to ease him back into the circle of friendship that he had somewhat neglected since his return from Afghanistan.

"She's missed Parker."

Booth jumped slightly at the sound of Angela's voice.

"Yeah. I'd say Parks missed her too." Booth knew the feeling was more than reciprocated by his son but to admit it explicitly would have been too much of a stab to his guilty conscience.

"It's refreshing to see her so... unguarded."

"Yeah she's really improved over the last few months."

The artist crossed her arms over her growing bump and tried to get a read on the agent – it had been harder to work him out lately. "Hmmm... you think so?"

He turned a little to face the mum to be – his slight smile meant she had hidden her sarcasm a little too well. "Yeah."

"Right, so she has improved." She paused, wondering where the old Booth had gone, "Because she needed to, huh?"

He caught on to her cynicism and tried back peddling with a nervous chuckle, "C'mon Ange – you know what I mean. Sometimes Bones can be... I dunno; walled, a little bit... hardhearted even. But, she's getting better." He caught her glare and added quietly, "There's a lot that you don't know... just leave it."

He snorted lightly, shook his head and looked at his feet, worried about what she was building up to and regretted saying anything.

"God, Booth, you make it sound like she had an illness or something. That's just Brennan's insecurities. She hasn't changed; she's just become more transparent... more vulnerable."

He simply nodded – his face wincing as if he had been kicked in the guts.

"Lose the puppy dog eyes, Mr! Best friend code stipulates that I should have kicked your ass long before now! You're just lucky you're so darn handsome!"

He smiled at her sugar-coating but was clearly put out by her words, "You have no idea, Ange. I asked her to take a chance on us and then she runs halfway across the world! If that's not closed off – I don't know what is! She needed to show some vulnerability... some, some proof that she's human and has feelings."

"Oh? So you told her your feelings – you told her you love her?"

Booth huffed and looked to the heavens for strength, "I can't believe I am talking to you about this." With an exasperated sigh, he continued, "She never believed in love, Ange!"

"Oh, sweetie, if you believe that – then you didn't really know her well at all." Angela shook her head sadly, "And you're meant to be the heart person."

After a contemplative pause Angela spoke again, "You know how many times Jack asked me out before I said yes? Or how many times he asked me to marry him? If he hadn't been so persistent; so... determined to prove to me that he loved me; if he gave up after only one attempt, I'm afraid that we wouldn't be here." She rubbed her swollen belly affectionately. "I was scared. I was scared to death and I have not gone through anything near what Brennan would have been through with her parents leaving."

"We've all got our skeletons in our closets, Ange." He smiled with sad awareness, "You're right though, I guess Bones has more than her fair share. Anyway, things will work out with us eventually. We're good."

"Yeah, well, I'm happy for you." She eyed him uncertainly.

"But?" He knew there was a 'but'.

Angela shrugged, "Meh, I don't know..." she deliberated a moment before spinning to face him directly, "Oh, what am I saying! Booth, you know I am and have always been team Booth n Brennan but if you aren't dazzled by her like you used to be, if you aren't totally and completely crazy in love with her – quirks, insecurities, social setbacks and all, if you aren't that guy anymore then don't bother. Because if you break her heart again, I will kill you slowly and painfully. You got that big guy?" She tapped him playfully on the chest, winked and began to walk away.

In a moment of afterthought she spun back around, "Oh, and if you think that it's just Brennan who needs improving, then think again buddy!"

With that final, hormone fuelled jab, the pregnant lady sauntered away with her head defiantly high.

Brennan looked worriedly after her best friend, "Is Ange alright?"

Booth placed a tender hand on the small of her back and smiled humbly, taking in the glorious glow of her eyes, "Yeah, Bones, she's very right."

Brennan nodded, trusting her partner's better judgement, "Ok. Well, I'm just going to change."

She went to leave as his hand gripped hers and he gently pulled her back to him, "you don't need to change, Bones."

Smiling, she argued, "My current attire is hardly suitable for water activity, Booth. Parker wanted to have a swim."

He ran his finger achingly slow down her face, inciting a shiver as her eyes involuntarily closed, "No, I mean, I don't want you to change Temperance, I should have told you that before. I love you just as you are."

With her eyes still closed she responded, "We aren't talking about clothing anymore are we?"

He chuckled, "No, I mean I'd love to see you in a bikini but, no, we aren't talking about clothing."

"Hmmm." She still hadn't found her words but when she opened her eyes and saw it again – that look of pure, unguarded love that had once graced his chocolate depths every time he looked at her; when she saw that look that she never thought she would see again – the awareness flooded her body and stole her breath.

There were no words so she did what she promised she would if she ever saw it again - she kissed him.

Booth smiled over her lips... no, definitely no improvement necessary!


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