So, I decided to start another multi-chapter fic. I know, wow, I've updated something two days in a row. This is an AU Booth & Brennan story inspired by the song 'Need You Now' by Lady Antebellum, though that part will come in a little later.

Enjoy!

Need You Now – Lady Antebellum

It's a quarter after one, I'm all alone

And I need you now,

I said I wouldn't call, but I'm a little drunk

And I need you now,

And I don't know how I can do without

I just need you now.

(This is where the line break should be)

Sitting in her room, 15-year-old Temperance Brennan sat at her desk doing revision for her biology exam the day after tomorrow. Glancing at her clock, she realised the time and gathered her books in her bag, throwing it over her shoulder. Hurrying down the stairs two at a time, she called out 'bye' as she practically ran out the front door.

Being a Sunday, Temperance didn't normally have anything on. Though, today, she had to drop by her friend Angela's house to pick up her pet dog, Murray, whom she'd be petsitting for the next few days while Angela went to Miami with her parents. The streets weren't too busy, probably because it was 11:00 on a Sunday morning. She also needed to return Angela's biology book; she had been borrowing it as hers was set on fire after her lab-partner, Jack, tried to put out the Bunsen burner with her text book.

"Hey, Tempe. Come on in," Angela's dad greeted her when he answered the door, then calling out, "Ange! Tempe's here!"

The sound of hurried footsteps became more pronounced when Temperance saw Angela's feet appear at the top of the staircase.

"Hey, Tempe," Ange said, giving her a quick hug.

Following her through to the back patio, Tempe was bombarded by the size of the no longer small Golden Retriever.

"Wow, Ange! He sure has grown," she said utterly shocked.

"Oh, yeah, he's going on 40 kg now," Ange said almost proudly.

"here's you biology book back. Thanks for that," Tempe said as she removed the folder from her bag.

"Oh, please don't give it back. I hate biology. Please, keep it, you'd be doing me a favour," she said, cringing at the thought of enzymes and body cells.

"You're sure?" she asked.

Angela nodded quickly.

"Well, Tempe, you've already got his food and bed at your place. So, you just need his lead and Murray himself," Angela said, clipping the lead onto the loop on his collar. "Have fun with him. See you Thursday, Tempe."

(This is where the line break should be)

Tempe casually strolled back home, content she didn't have any deadlines to be anywhere. Passing St. Christopher's Church, she noticed the last few people leaving the hall after their usual Sunday morning service. Distracted by the church's enormous stained-glass windows, Tempe's grip on Murray's lead loosened and left her unable to hold on when he bolted after a flock of birds. Stumbling over her won feet a little, Tempe tried to chase after him, though there really was not point as Murray ran numerous times faster than her.

She muttered quietly to herself, "damn it!" just as a guy who looked to be a few years older than her ran past and said, "s'okay, I'll catch him."

Watching as he chased after Angela's dog, Tempe couldn't help but admire him. Within less than a minute, he'd caught onto the end of Murray's lead and brought him to a halt. He jogged back, the dog keep pace with him, to where she was standing, still dumbfounded at how easily he had caught him.

"here you go," he said, passing her the lead, "he's a fast one, he is. Strong too."

"Yeah, he's fast. Too fast for me," she sighed, "thankyou…."

"Booth," he piped up, sticking out his hand.

"Temperance," she replied, shaking his hand, "or Tempe, either is fine."

"Temperance…. That's nice," he said, wearing a smile that almost made her heart melt the moment it appeared.

"It was very kind of you to chase after him for me," she acknowledged, still a little puffed out from her 'attempt' at catching Murray, "and my dad says chivalry is dead."

"Well, I think chivalry is very much alive," he said, smiling that smile again. "Where're you headed?"

"Home. Just down the road from the supermarket," I explained, then asked hopefully, "and you?"

"Fancy that, I'm actually heading down to the shops. Mind if I tag along with you?"

"I wouldn't mind at all. Murray here isn't a very good conversationalist," Tempe smiled, as they set off walking together.

They walked in silence for a few minutes, neither really wanting to speak first.

"So, you're in high school?" Booth eventually piped up.

"Yeah, Year 10. And you?" she enquired, doubting he would still be at school, if his appearance was anything to go by.

"Nah, I finished school last year; only just," he chuckled, and she couldn't help but chuckle a little herself. "I was gonna join the army, but my Pops told me to wait a couple of years, and like they say, 'Pop's know best'."

"I'm going to be a scientist," Tempe said simply.

"A scientist?" Booth asked, :You don't seem like the sciency type. What kind of scientist?"

Pondering that for a moment, Tempe's mind wandered; she'd never actually thought about what kind of scientist before, she'd just been thinking 'scientist'. "I haven't quite got that far yet."

Reaching the T-Intersection where they must part ways, Tempe turned to Booth and said, "well, I gotta turn off here."

Stopping beside her, Booth said, "nice meeting you, Temperance."

"You too, Booth," she smiled, wishing she had an excuse to walk with him a little longer.

"I'll see you 'round sometime, then?" he asked, and when she nodded, he picked up her left hand and kissed the top of it with a feather-light touch," just remember, chivalry will never be dead, Temperance."

And with that, he turned on his heel and walked the opposite way.

Feeling as though her heart was about to burst with happiness, Tempe set off home, with a slight skip in her step.

As Booth approached the supermarket, he wondered why he'd made up a story about needing to go to the shops just to get to know her a little. It was stupid really, because he didn't have any money to spend and he lived on the complete opposite side of town.

Oh, well. It was worth it, he thought, smiling, as he began to walk home.

(This is where the line break should be)

There you go, that's the first chapter. Please review and let me know what you thought and if you want me to continue.

And about Tempe being in Year 10, I'm Aussie and I don't know how the American education system works.

Also, the beautiful Golden Retriever, Murray, is based on my own dog, who's so adorable.

Like I said, I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Em xXxXxxx