A/N: Here is the beginning of story number four in the A Year in the Life Series. I hope you like it as much as the other three!

Chapter One: Philadelphia

Temperance Brennan was nervous. There wasn't much in her daily life that made her nervous. Her job, one of the central focuses of her life, definitely did not make her nervous. Although identifying human remains would bother most people, it didn't bother her. She loved every aspect of her job. 'Except perhaps the paperwork.' She thought to herself.

The other central focus of her life, her partner, had a habit of making her nervous. More than she'd like to admit. But at the same time, he always made her nervousness disappear. She hoped that when he walked through the doors, he would do just that.

"Sweetie, are you alright?" Angela said, next to her.

"What?" she said, confusedly. "Oh, Ange.. yeah I am fine." She went back to looking at the skeleton on the table.

"Is this about Philadelphia?" Angela asked.

"No." she replied a little too quickly. She hoped that Angela hadn't noticed. Unfortunately she did.

"Bren what are you worried about?" Angela asked.

"Nothing, I'm…it's just that people don't like me." She admitted. She knew it was true. Most people thought she was odd and completely lacking in social skills. She usually avoided social situations, preferring to focus on her work. Unfortunately she couldn't avoid this weekend.

It had been three weeks since Booth had come back and they had been reinstated as partners. They had already solved a case and were working their way through another. He had received a call last week from his mother asking him to bring Parker and come up to visit and he had relented. And he was bringing her along.

"People like you." Angela said. "You know they do."

"Not when they first meet me." She said honestly. "Not that I care of course but.."

"It's Booth's family." Angela interrupted. "Of course you care."

"What if they don't like me?" she said in a quiet voice.

"Oh sweetie, they will love you." Angela said. "And if they don't, it doesn't matter. Booth loves you and that is all that is important."

"It's just that I am not sure what to do." she said. "I never met any of my previous boyfriend's families, and my own family… I guess I just don't know how to act."

"Well first of all you have got to stop worrying about this." Angela said. "And I don't think there is one particular way to act. You just have to let go and see what happens. Booth will be there to help you out."

"I guess you are right." She said. "I was being irrational."

"Don't worry" Angela said. "You will have fun and everything will be fine. What time are you leaving?"

"In about an hour." She replied. "We have to pick up Parker from school and then we will be on our way. But I will have my cellphone on if something comes up with the case. I have already told Zach and Hodgins that they can call me."

"No way." Angela said. "You need a weekend away. You can deal with the case on Monday."

She put down the skull in her hands and turned to Angela. "Thanks a lot, Ange." She said.

"No problem, sweetie." Angela said, giving her a hug and walking away.

As she finished reconstructing the skull, she heard a voice call out.

"Bones! Ready to go?"

She turned around and saw him coming up the stairs toward the platform. He was dressed in a t-shirt and jeans and she smiled in spite of herself. She loved how different he acted when he wasn't in FBI mode. He made the distinction in his clothing as well, foregoing the suits for more casual attire when he wasn't working.

"Yeah." She replied. "Let me just tell Zach that I am finished here."

Ten minutes later, she had gathered all of her things and was heading out the door of her office.

Zach and Hodgins were on the platform arguing over something and Angela was rolling her eyes at them. Booth was just staring at them amusedly.

"Ready?" he said, holding out his hand.

"I am." She replied, walking towards him and grabbing his hand. "I will be back on Monday." She said to the others.

"Have fun sweetie!" Angela said. "Remember what I said!"

They walked out of the Jeffersonian and headed to the car.

"What did Angela say?" Booth said. "Don't tell me it was dirty." He looked at her and grinned as he loaded her bag into the trunk.

She smiled back. "It was nothing like that." She climbed into the passenger's seat and waited for him to get in. He got into the car but didn't turn it on.

"What?" she asked.

"Listen, Temperance are you okay with this?" he asked, looking concerned. "Because it's my family and I know that with your family and everything…."

She pressed her fingers against his lips to quiet him. "I'm okay with this Booth." She said. "I'm just nervous."

He pulled her hand away, leaned over and kissed her softly on the lips. "You are my partner and my girlfriend and if I have to spend my whole life showing them how much I love you then so be it. I would like them to like you and vice versa, but really it's not important. What is important is that we are together. Besides you will like my family, I promise."

"Okay." She replied, squeezing his hand. "Let's go get Parker."