Okay, so I had to get in on the post finale frenzy. I loved the episode, but the end was utterly heart breaking. I balled my eyes out when I saw Booth in his army uniform. But anyways, this story takes place one year later. I'm going off speculation from the amazing Bones producer Stephen Nathan. He said, "They will meet up, but one of them might not be alone." So that is what this story is based on so, enjoy! Please review at the end!

Disclaimer: Do I even have to say it? I do not own Bones or any of the characters. They all belong to Hart Hanson and Fox. Though, if I did own it, B/B would've totally kissed at the end of the finale ;)

Temperance Brennan exited Gate 54 at Dulles International Airport. She hadn't been in D.C. for exactly one year to the day. She looked around, and all the memories of what happened 365 days ago came rushing back. Her saying bye to Cam, then to Hodgins, then to her best friend Angela. It had made her sad thinking about how everything was changing. And then, she had to say the hardest goodbye she had ever experienced, to her best friend and partner, Seeley Booth.

"Sorry I had to get a pass. I had to sneak off base to come say goodbye. Listen, Bones, you got to be really careful in that Indonesian jungle, okay?"

"Booth, in a week, you're going to a war zone. Please don't be a hero. Please just….don't be you."

"One year from today, we meet at the reflecting pool on the mall. Right by the…."

"Coffee cart. I know. One year from today."

And here she was, holding her end of the bargain.

She grabbed her bags and headed out into the beautiful spring atmosphere of Washington, D.C. She flagged down a taxi, jumped in, and told him exactly where to go. On the way there, she thought about how much things will have changed.

"What will Booth look like? How will he act? Will he treat me the same? Will we still be best friends?"

Her hair had gotten shorter and she now had bangs. She was thinner, but a healthy thin. She had also realized just how much the simple things at home meant to her. And she also realized, that she indeed, loved Booth, after spending one entire year without her best friend who knew everything about her.

He knew how to make her laugh when she was sad, how to make her understand a joke that was foreign to her, and how to complete her. She was now ready for a change. She was ready to begin her life, loving and being with someone else, besides herself. She was ready to be a wife and possibly, a mother. She was finally ready, and she hoped he still was as well.

She sat on the bench by the reflecting pool, waiting for Booth to arrive. She had been there for 5 hours already, wondering where he could be. Did his flight get delayed? Did he take his stuff to his apartment first? Or worse, did he forget about their meeting?

She gulped at the final thought. She was about to leave, when she heard two people laughing behind her. They walked past the bench where she sat, and she realized she recognized the man that was laughing with his girlfriend. It was…..

"Booth?"

The man turned around. "Bones?"

It was him. He was skinnier now as well, but his muscles were huge. He also had a buzz cut, which made him look younger. The mystery woman looked back and forth between Booth and Brennan.

"Who's your friend Seeley?"

Booth gulped. "This is uh…Dr. Temperance Brennan."

"The author?"

"That is correct." Brennan responded.

"Wow. It truly is nice to meet you. I am a huge fan of your books." the woman said, shaking Brennan's hand energetically.

"Thank you."

There was an awkward silence.

"Uh, Bones, this is Lt. Colonel Joan Burton. She's my…uh…"

"Girlfriend." Joan spit out.

"Yeah, sorry."

"G, girlfriend?" Brennan stuttered.

"Yeah. We met over in Afghanistan. We worked on the same base."

"Oh that's…great. G, good for you Booth."

Booth could see the hurt look in Brennan's eyes.

"Joan, can I speak to Dr. Brennan alone for a minute?"

"Of course. Take your time. It seems you two have some catching up to do. Meet me at….the Royal Diner? I heard it's pretty good."

"Sure. Thanks J."

"No problem. It was nice meeting you Dr. Brennan."

"Y, you too Lt. Colonel Burton."

"Please, call me Joan."

"Okay, Joan."

Booth kissed Joan on the cheek as she walked away.

"You have a girlfriend now?" Brennan asked.

"Yeah, I'm sorry. We really connected over there."

"It's, it's fine, Booth. She seems remarkable."

"She is. But how have you been?"

"Great. I had an amazing time in Indonesia. The finds' were breath taking. I lived a lot and learned a lot."

"Good for you Bones. I'm glad."

She sighed.

"I missed you." he mumbled.

"I…missed you too. A lot."

They sat in silence for a mere 5 minutes.

"So, uh…you really moved on huh?" she asked.

"Yeah, I guess I had too. I had to realize that you were never going to say yes to me. And when I did, I met Joan."

Brennan put her head down, and Booth saw how hurt she was. He lifted her head up with his index finger.

"But I never stopped thinking about you." he confessed.

"I….I….." she wanted to tell him so badly that she was finally ready to be with him. But he had finally moved on, without her.

"I have to go." She announced.

"What? Why? We just started talking. I haven't seen you in a year."

"We'll talk later." she said, standing up. "I still have to unpack."

He looked over and noticed the bags sitting beside the bench.

"You haven't been home yet?" he asked, surprised.

She shook her head.

"This was the first place I went after the airport." she replied, holding back a tear and dropping her head once again.

"Aww, I'm so sorry Bones, I had no idea."

"No, it's fine. You were preoccupied. I understand. I'll see you tomorrow. I really have to get home and take a shower."

She started walking away, when he grabbed her arm and turned her around.

"I really am sorry. I'm sorry if I hurt you. I'm sorry if I made you feel unimportant. But you are very important to me Bones. Okay? Don't forget that. I thought about you so much over the past year and you don't know how many times I wanted to jump on a plane to Indonesia. You are my best friend Temperance, and always will be. Never forget that."

She started crying, as he brought her into a tight embrace. He kissed the top of her head.

"I wont." she mumbled against his chest.

After a couple minutes in each others arms, she backed out, wiping a tear from her eye.

"I have to go."

"I know. See you tomorrow?"

"I….would like that."

And with that, she grabbed her bags and walked across the mall, as Booth watched her and thought....

"God I love her."

So some of you might recognize Joan from Lifetime's Army Wives. Just to point out, I absolutely love Joan and Roland on there, and this is not because I want her with someone else. I just thought that they would be a good much and shes the only woman in the army on the show, so I decided to use her. Anyways, shall I continue? Please let me know what you thought. Please review! ;)