This takes place in the near future… Hope you like it. I don't own any of them.

"I'm getting married."

Brennan physically flinched at the memory of Booth's words from earlier that day. She couldn't get the scene from playing over and over in her head. Bones and Booth had been partners for 4 years and she thought that she knew him better than anyone but nothing could have surprised her more than that statement. When he walked into her office earlier today she never would have guessed the conversation they were about to have. He had sat her down and told her he had something serious to talk about. The look on his face was as if somebody had died so Brennan prepared herself for the worst and had been right in doing so. "I'm getting married." She knew she wasn't an expert on human emotion but she thought one was supposed to look happier when delivering that news. Booth certainly did not look very happy his eyes almost look tormented over what he was telling her.

Booth had been dating Jenny Walters for a little over a month now and Brennan couldn't figure out why. Jenny was clingy and whiny. If Booth didn't call every hour she hounded him until he assured her everything was okay. She wasn't funny or even all that pretty. She was everything Brennan wasn't and everything that she had thought Booth hated. Obviously she had been wrong.

Brennan did the only thing she knew to do in that moment after Booth broke the news. She congratulated him, like he had taught her to do in these social situations. They exchanged the usual questions and answers, when's the big day, etc., talked about their last case and then falling silent. As if their relationship had just evaporated. Booth walked out of the room without so much as an offer for pie. It was the most uncomfortable conversation they had had in a long time.

Something had happened though when Brennan had heard the news. She didn't know why but she felt lost. Like her whole world had turned upside down. It didn't make logical sense. Her and Booth would still be partners so why was she so upset? Why did she care so much? Like she did with all of her emotion questions she decided to go to Angela for help. She walked into Angela's office and was greeted with the customary greeting.

"Hey sweetie, what's up?" Angela said turning away from the computer screen.

"Did you hear Booth's news?" Brennan questioned bluntly. "About Jenny?"

"I heard a rumor." Angela said with a grin. "I laughed pretty hard, actually. Like Booth would ever willingly marry that girl." At the look on Brennan's face Angela stopped laughing. "It's not true is it?"

"He told me himself so I'm assuming it's true." Brennan responded. "He's getting married."

"What?" Angela sputtered, clearly shocked. "He barely knows that girl and she's like a little annoying puppy that keeps nipping at his heels. Why would he want to put up with that forever?"

Brennan looked as confused as Angela obviously was but thinking logically answered. "Because he cares about her and don't you always say love is accepting someone as they are? He accepts her and although it is not scientifically sound he must have some chemical reaction to her he sees as love."

"There is no way, he's okay with that. That girl is weird." Angela insisted.

Brennan ignored the last part getting to her point. "I'm never going to understand your interpretation of love but what I don't understand is my reaction. I feel like I did when I was buried alive. I feel lost and like part of me is gone and I don't understand why."

Angela answered simply, "Sweetie, because he's yours and she's taking him away. What you're feeling is completely normal."

"No you're wrong. He's not mine. I don't own Booth, we're partners. You can't own a person." Brennan stated with conviction.

"I know that, but I mean he's your guy. He's who you cry with and laugh with. You can be yourself with him and he completely understands. It's understandable that you would miss that, Brennan."

"That is true, if he's married our relationship would fundamentally change. I guess it would make sense I wouldn't enjoy that." Brennan reasoned.

"See, its all easily explained." Looking at Brennan though Angela thought that maybe this was a good time to test the matchmaking waters again, maybe Brennan would be more receptive. "You know though, there's always another scenario, for your feelings."

"What's that? Seeing all aspects will be helpful in figuring this out." Brennan questioned.

"You're upset because you feel it's a missed opportunity. That it should be you and him getting married. Because you love him." Angela said hoping that her friend wouldn't completely write off what she was saying.

"That's ridiculous. We are not in a romantic relationship we are just partners and I certainly do not love him like that."

"I know you keep saying that and I know you hate psychology or imagining things and think the idea of love is ridiculous but just do this one thing for me as a favor. Imagine your life in 40 years. You're retired from the Jeffersonian, who are you with? When you see your grandkids, who do they look like? You and Booth have a connection that is very rare Brennan and up until now it was fine staying the way that it was because nothing threatened it but maybe you're realizing that you want more from your relationship. What you feel may just be love."

Brennan was quiet for a few moments then whispered, "What if I do want more, how would I know for sure, 100%?"

"You just have to know, sweetie, and trust yourself which I think that you do. The thought of him being gone from your life terrifies you but you have to accept it, something I've been pushing you to do for years. You better figure it out quick now though so you can tell that sexy man. You don't want to have to wonder what if."

"You're right. Thanks Angela."

"Anytime, sweetie and just so you know if you ever want to egg her house I'm ready."

"I don't know what that means."

Angela laughed, "Just go think about what I said and be honest with yourself."

"I will." Brennan walked back to her office thinking of how to figure out what she felt. She tried to think about it reasonably. Putting together the pieces of evidence and looking at all possibilities.

There was the way she felt after Pam Noonan had shot Booth and she thought he was gone. She knew she had never wanted to feel that pain again and had assumed it was the loyalty she felt to her partner but she also knew it could be more.

She decided something that night. All signs pointed to her being in love with Booth just like Angela and Sweets had hinted at for so long now. This realization terrified her because everytime she had loved someone it ended badly but at the same time she was now also terrified of losing him. She knew that if she wanted to do anything about the situation she had to tell him but her instinct was to turn and run. Telling him would make her more vulnerable then she had ever been and she wasn't sure if she could handle that. Her decision was whether or not her wounded pride was more important than a broken heart.