Can I make a confession, and then request to all my homies here on ? First of all, I have to confess…I love Booth and Brennan stories where they grow closer to one another as friends and romantically at the same time. I love that tentative, friendshippy new level of awareness, and all of that. And I like writing those kinds of stories. The problem (for me at least) with those kinds of stories is keeping the characters…well, in character. Especially Brennan. So, as you read this story, I welcome your critical eye. Just because it might be something the characters have never done doesn't necessarily make is OOC, BUT…perhaps I'm merely justifying what I think is a possible scenario. But like I said…give it to me straight with this one, yeah?

It's based on this quote from David Sedaris....

"My students were middle-class kids who were ashamed of their background. They felt that unless they grew up in poverty, they had nothing to write about....I felt sorry for these kids, that they thought their whole past was absolutely worthless because it was less than remarkable."

~~ David Sedaris, January Magazine

But enough about that...one with the story!

--b&b--

Dr. Sweets pressed his palms together in front of his chest and considered his next words.

"Dr. Brennan, Agent Booth, I have a task for you."

Booth sighed and Brennan looked at him and raised her eyebrows. "What's the task?" she asked.

Sweets nodded. "I want you to both identify some area of your life in which the other is currently not involved, and I want you to invite one another to an event in that area."

Booth shook his head. "No"

Brennan was confused. "Do you mean like, in my bed, or something? Booth isn't there..."

Sweets flushed a bit and gave a nervous laugh. "Um, no, that's...not...not what I meant, but...um...sure...I guess? Agent Booth, comments?"

Booth cracked his knuckles. "If I am ever in bed with Bones, I can guarantee it won't be based on one of your tasks, Sweets."

Sweets nodded. "I feel we have strayed from the original intent. Dr. Brennan, what is an area of your life you feel Agent Booth isn't really a part of."

She considered this. "Well...probably my life as a writer. He knows about it, but...it's not really something we discuss."

Sweets agreed. "That makes sense. Agent Booth, do you concur?"

Booth inhaled through his nose. "I concur"

Sweets hid a smile. "Great, okay, so...what about you, Agent Booth? What's an area of your life that so far, Dr. Brennan has not penetrated."

"Do you have to use the word 'penetrated'?" Booth shuddered.

Sweets conceded that with a nod. "Very well, what is an area in your life, she is not a major part of?"

Booth thought about it. "Well, I guess I'd say my life with Parker. I mean, she knows about it, but...it's kind of my time, it's not something I share with her very often."

"I concur" Brennan spoke up.

Sweets nodded and wrote their responses in his notebook. "Okay, then your task begins. You need to invite the other one to some event or something where you previously would not have done that."

Booth and Brennan stood up and walked out of the office...both thinking of what might work....