A/N: This is the sequel to "The Secret". I was aiming to make it a short three or four chaps, but my muse keeps throwing more ideas at me, so we'll see how it goes. Anyway, please R&R 'cuz I LIVE for reviews.

Secret No More

Chapter 1

Angela breezed into Brennan's office early on Monday morning. Her friend was on the floor in front of the couch with a file spread all over the floor around her. Angela perched on the arm of the couch, careful not to disturb any of the papers.

"Morning, Sweetie," she said, getting a distracted smile in return. 'Maybe I should come back later,' she thought. She discarded that idea. She didn't want to wait. "Do you and Booth have anything planned for Friday night?" she asked quietly. Keeping the secret had become second nature, and so far only Hodgins had been brought into it.

Brennan looked up with a frown. "Why? Did you want to do something?"

Angela sighed and rolled her eyes. "No, silly, it's your six month anniversary," she said as though she shouldn't have to tell her.

The puzzled frown remained. "Of what?" she asked, struggling to keep up.

"You and Booth," Angela whispered as though that explained it all. She got a blank stare. "Six months ago Friday you and Booth finally hooked up!" she whispered louder, thinking maybe she couldn't hear her.

Comprehension dawned. "So? Are we supposed to do something?"

Another sigh. For a genius, Brennan could be very slow sometimes. "Yes, you go out to a nice restaurant, wine, dine and go home and make wild and passionate love. It's tradition," she insisted.

"Booth hasn't said anything about it," Brennan replied.

Another roll of the eyes. "Of course he hasn't. He's a guy. You have to remind him," she explained patiently.

Brennan looked skeptical. "Are you sure? I mean, it's not like we're married, Ange."

"It's tradition, Bren. Trust me, I know what I'm talking about. Six months is a milestone these days."

Brennan shook her head, smiling. "I guess I'll talk to Booth, see what he wants to do. I still think it's ridiculous."

Angela smiled knowingly. "Sweetie, you'll see, you'll be thanking me come Monday morning."

They went to a charming little Italian restaurant that Booth had heard was great. Looking at her in the candlelight, Booth smiled. She looked so beautiful tonight. She was wearing a lovely deep purple dress and her hair waved softly to her shoulders. Her eyes were sparkling with amusement as she told him a story about Zach and Hodgins.

"Then Hodgins said 'Why don't you stick to your bones and I'll take care of the bugs and slime?' And Zach said 'You're threatened by my intelligence, aren't you?' and Hodgins said 'Not even close, Zach. I'd pit my brain against yours any day of the week,' which was funny, because Zach is a genius. I don't know what Hodgins I.Q. is, but I don't think…" Brennan trailed off as she noticed the dreamy look and slight smile on Booth's face. "You're not even listening!" she accused, mildly annoyed.

Booth straightened. "Not true. I heard every word," he lied, trying to remember what she'd been saying. "Go on," he urged.

She smiled a little, shaking her head. "Never mind, I don't remember. What were you thinking of?" she asked.

"You," he said, a smile cocking up a corner of his mouth. "You really look beautiful tonight, did I tell you that?"

Brennan felt her heart expand at the love in his eyes. "Yeah, that makes three times. Thank you again. You look pretty good too,' she said, reaching for his hand, needing to touch him.

Leaning forward, he kissed her softly and she responded with all of the love in her heart. "I love you," he said, knowing he had never said it and meant it like he did now.

Booth knocked at Cullen's office door, going in quickly at the muffled 'Come in' that came through the panel. He stopped short as he saw his partner sitting in one of the visitor's chairs. She looked a little worried and his pulse skipped a beat.

"Agent Booth, why don't you have a seat? I was just telling Dr. Brennan about the wonderful Italian restaurant my wife and I discovered Friday night." Booth sat down and Cullen went on. "We were having a lovely dinner when my wife suddenly looked over my right shoulder and said 'Isn't that Agent Booth?' I looked and you can imagine my surprise when I saw you and Dr. Brennan looking very cozy. Then I witnessed a rather unpartnerlike kiss. Care to explain?"

Booth was unable to look at Brennan as he searched his mind for words. Coming up empty, he sat staring at his superior.

"There's no point denying it, Booth," Brennan said finally, resignation in her voice. He slid a glance at her. She was looking at Cullen. "We've been involved for six months," she said in flat voice.

Cullen's brows went up, a little surprised that she hadn't tried to prevaricate. "Really? That long, eh?" His eyes went back and forth between them, studying each of them in turn. He sighed. "This could be a problem," he said ominously.

"Sir, listen, we've done fine for the past six months—" Booth began, but Cullen cut him off.

"Agent Booth, I guess I need to remind you there are a few very good reasons we don't allow fraternizing within the Bureau," Cullen said.

"But sir, she isn't FBI—" Booth argued. His mind was racing, trying to think of an argument to sway him.

"I know that, Booth, but she might as well be, as much as you work together." Cullen rubbed his eyes tiredly. They had put him in an awkward position. There wasn't any regulation against their being involved, but the danger was still very real. "Look, I'm not saying you can't be involved. I can see you really care about each other. But I'm afraid I'm going to have to reassign you, Booth," he said regretfully.

"No!" Brennan said desperately.

Cullen looked at her, surprised at the vehemence in her voice.

"Please, Mr. Cullen, don't do that," she said, almost begging. "We've managed to work together for six months without allowing our personal feelings to get in the way of doing the job—"

"That isn't the only issue, Dr. Brennan," Cullen cut in. "Do you have any idea how dangerous it could be for Booth—and you? Personal feelings cloud the judgment. Also, what's to stop some psycho from using your feelings for each other to force you to do something morally ambiguous?" He paused, waiting for them to argue. The doctor dropped her eyes to her hands and he knew she was thinking of Booth's safety. Booth was frowning as his mind frantically searched for a way out. Cullen knew the moment he came to grips with the knowledge there wasn't one.

"I'll send Agent Phillips when the next case comes in. I'm sure you'll find he's a very capable agent and I hope you'll extend him all the courtesy—"

"Don't expect me to be happy about this," Brennan interrupted, barely holding back tears. "You're making a mistake." Cullen opened his mouth to continue, but she wasn't done. "Don't worry, Agent Phillips will be treated with all the respect that is his due and my people and I will do our best to work with him. But let me warn you, the transition may not go smoothly. It took months for us to establish this partnership, and I'm afraid the balance we've been able to find is a rare thing." At that she stood and left before she lost the tight control she had on her emotions.

Booth rose to follow her, sad to his very soul. "I'll—be waiting for your instructions on my new duties," he said. "Right now I'm taking the rest of the day off. My partner needs me."

Cullen nodded, wondering if he'd just made a mistake. He knew he was right, but he couldn't help but wonder if being right was enough.