Disclaimer:

I don't own Bones, the show or the characters! Just letting them have some fun!

Another chapter should be up relatively quickly!

Enjoy!

WHAK

RSSAQ and SSAQ

She wandered off into the forest, holding a little bowl of hot apple sauce. She slowly ate it as she walked. It was cold for this time of the year and yet, she didn't feel it, she was deep in thoughts.

Angela had organized a surprise birthday party for her in a local vineyard. She had always loved coming to this particular vineyard because it was one of a kind. Just behind the actual vineyard, there was a forest. And on the west side of the property were a bunch of apple trees. They had planted those when they had had a particularly bad year and they had been faced with bankruptcy. So in a last effort to save the vineyard, they had planted apple trees and a year later, they had start producing cider as well. Right now, the vineyard was one of the most respected vineyards in the tri-state area. Angela knew how much she loved this place and the wine and cider they produced and had organized a surprise birthday party. Angela had lured her here by telling her that she wanted to have a girl's night out on her birthday.

"If only," she sighed softly. She preferred some time alone, to relax, catch up on her reading. She would've even appreciated some girl time with her best friend. But this... So many people that she had a shallow work relationship with, so many people that had come for the wine and the cider, not for her. The only people, who are here because of me, are Booth, Angela, Hodgins, Cam, Sweets, Daisy, Dad, Russ and Amy.

She shook her head again as she continued to walk through the forest, listening to the wind, softly blowing through the leaves. She walked away from the party noises, deeper into the forest. She didn't belong at that party. She was not fitting in there. She didn't know what to say to all those people. Usually when she didn't know what to talk about, she would talk about her work, but they were all from the Jeffersonian. Originally she had thought it would mean that she had a lot to talk about, but it had turned out that no one wanted to talk about work. And when she brought up her book, the only thing they were interested in discussing was page 187. I didn't even write the goddamn page in the first place. Well I typed it, but I didn't come up with it. So she had done the only thing she could think of. Leaving the party and trying to find some private place to enjoy nature.

Booth startled when his cell phone started buzzing. When he opened his text, a smile formed on his face. 'Booth, she is heading your way. I saw her walking into the forest. Love, Ange. PS: Don't let her walk out there too long. She forgot her jacket.' He frowned when he read the last words. "Oh, Bones! Well, in that case, I guess, I'll have to speed things up." He got out of the tent, which he had put up in the small clearing in the middle of the woods and started to walk, hoping he would find Bones quickly. He had no desire to let her freeze in the middle of the woods.

Booth had been walking around in the forest for a few minutes when he finally noticed her. She was sitting against a tree, staring off into space, holding a small, steaming bowl in her hands. He slowly, carefully, walked over to her, smiling at the idea of surprising her.

She had sat down next to a tree, allowing the calmness of nature, to relax her nerves. She hadn't heard Booth coming closer, so when someone sat down next to her, she quickly turned her head, ready to defend herself. When she recognized Booth, she sighed. "Booth! You startled me!"

"Yeah, Bones. That was kind of the point. So... what are you eating?" He dipped his finger into the warm applesauce and grinned. "Oh, that you have to share, Bones!" He scooted closer and dipped his finger into the applesauce again. "So, you mind telling me why you are out here? Without your jacket, I might add!" He quickly licked the applesauce of off his finger, before taking off his own jacket. Putting a hand on her lower back, he gently nudged her into an upright position and wrapped the dark leather jacket around her shoulders.

As he wrapped her in his jacket, which was still warm, she sighed. "I'm here because I just wanted some time alone. I'm different than those people, Booth. I enjoy the fact that, Angela appreciates me enough that she would go through so much trouble to organize a birthday party for me, but I didn't fit in there. So I came here." She closed her eyes as she sank back against the three behind her. "You should go back, Booth. I'll come back in a few minutes." She grabbed the spoon and had another spoonful of warm apple sauce.

"Nah, Bones. I came to YOUR birthday party to spend time with YOU. Not anyone else." Enthusiastically he got back to his feet. "Actually, I have a surprise for you." He got a hold of the bowl, scooped the last bit of apple sauce out and put it next to her on the ground. As she looked up at him, he shrugged and added, "I'll come back for it later," holding out his hand to her. "Come on. Let me show you."

She looked up at him. "A surprise? You really shouldn't have bothered." She turned her attention to the small clearing. "You can go; I'll be back in a minute. I just need a few moments by myself."

"Nope, we are not doing that again. Come on, Bones! Don't you trust me?" He gave her the puppy dog eyes, coupled with a charm smile, he noticed she was unable to resist.

"Booth," She sighed exasperated. "You know I do!"

"Great!" He bend down and grabbed her hand, "Let's go then!"

She allowed Booth to pull her to her feet. "Okay. Where is this surprise of yours?" She was pleased to notice that she didn't feel so different anymore. She felt normal and accepted in Booth's presence.

"Well, it's a surprise! I'm not going to tell you, Bones!" He quickly went to stand behind her. He covered her eyes with his hands and softly whispered, "Now, we can go to your surprise. I couldn't quite wrap it up, so you'll just have to keep your eyes closed. And since I don't want you to peek, I am keeping my hands over them. So suck it up!"

Brennan sighed, slightly annoyed by his alpha male behavior, "What if I trip and fall?"

"Not going to happen. I won't let you, but I do know something that could help with that," He grinned slightly as he removed one hand away from her eyes and wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her back against his chest. "There. Feel better?"

Surprisingly, she did. Not that she was going to admit it. "Are you sure this is necessary, Booth?" She felt him nod against her shoulder as he took a step forward, forcing her body to move as well.

"WOW!" He practically yelled in her ear as he pulled her back against his chest.

"What, Booth!" She stopped moving and froze in his embrace as she put her hands over his, trying to pull them away.

He snickered, "Gotcha, Bones. Jeez, RELAX, would you? You are safe with me." He added in a husky whisper, "Don't you know that by now?"

She sighed, relaxing slowly in Booth's embrace. "Yes, Booth, I know that. But we are in a forest. The ground is covered with twigs and broken of branches and…"

Booth interrupted her, "In that case, I think it's best if you just shut up and let me take the lead." He smiled as he felt her ribcage expanding, which let him know that she had taken a deep breath and was about to give in.

"How are you going to take the lead, if you are standing behind me?" She pointed out, glad to have found a reason for Booth to stop this stupid game.

Booth rolled his eyes behind her, not going to let her ruin his romantic plan for her. "Fine, Bones. I'll take the lead. You just keep your eyes closed, okay?" He slowly let go of her and quickly went to stand in front of her. "Mmm… Wait a sec." He quickly loosened his tie and removed it. "Don't be afraid." He stated softly as he used his tie as a blindfold.

"Booth, this better has a good point." She felt a strange kind of excitement at his antics, yet she didn't feel on edge. She knew he wouldn't let anything happen to her.

He ignored her words as he grabbed her hands with his. "Let's go, Bones. I'll take the lead, just like you asked." But fate or God, seemed to have other plans. The first step he took, he tripped over his own feet. "Shit," he mumbled the moment he lost his balance. He tried to find it again, but as soon as it became obvious he was going down, he let go of her hands and wrapped his arms around her. Together, they fell the on the surprisingly soft forest floor.

Bren yelped as she felt herself fall, yet it wasn't really falling. Booth held her close to his chest as he fell on his back, shielding her. "Booth? Are you okay?" She was trying to free her arms out of Booth's grasp, so she could remove the damn tie and make sure that he was okay.

Booth groaned as he tightened his arms around her. "Would you stop squirming, Bones?"

She stopped moving, but she didn't stop struggling. "Booth, you could be hurt. You need to let go of my arms so I can get up and make sure you are okay. You already have back problems. And I don't want to add to them so…"

The rest of her words were muffled as Booth quickly rolled them over and pressed his lips to hers. He settled between her legs and kissed her passionately, pressing his body to hers. When he pulled back after a few moments, he whispered softly, "Happy birthday, Bones. Now, can I give you your surprise?"

"More surprises?" She was surprised that Booth had kissed her, but they had been circling around each other for weeks, the flirting had been increasing exponentially and she had been anxiously awaiting his arrival at her side of the line he had drawn years ago. She truly relaxed, now that the wait was over.

He could hear her whisper huskily, her hot breath puffing into his ear hoping they would arrive at the last surprise soon…among that she wouldn't kick his ass when she found out what he had planned. Getting back onto his feet, he pulled her up a few seconds afterwards; her eyes still covered by his tie and lead her further through the woods. "Well, not a surprise per se… More like proof."

This spiked her curiosity as she was led through the forest by Booth, who was still firmly pressed against her back, keeping her close to his body to make sure they wouldn't end up on the ground again. "Proof? Of what?"

Booth grinned as they finally arrived at the tent he had set up for them. "Yes, Bones. Proof." He leaned in a little closer, so he was whispering in her ear. "And I'll show you exactly what I want to prove. But I have another thing to show you first."

The feeling of Booth's breath which was softly tickling the side of her neck, making a blush appear on her cheeks. She tried her very best to not allow his words to wreak havoc on her body, but with the kiss lingering in her mind, on her lips, it was near to impossible.

Booth gently tugged the tie down her face until it rested around her neck, "Happy birthday, Bones. What do you think?" He wound his arms around her waist, keeping her close as he waited for her reaction.

"Booth…" She was speechless as she took in the scenery in front of her. In a small clearing, Booth had set up camp. A big army tent was standing in between two tall trees; two big dark green blankets were spread out over the forest floor. The blankets were littered with several big cozy-looking colorful pillows. Bright yellow, red and purple pillows looked inviting. The big bottle of champagne, which was placed in an ice bucket, made her want to let go of her control and sit down, ready to give over her control to her partner, but something was keeping her back. "Booth, you didn't have to do this."

"You're right." He placed his hands on her hips and gently coaxed her body to turn, so she was facing him. "I didn't have to." He pulled her closer and held her tightly in his embrace. "I wanted to," he leaned down again and pressed his lips to her forehead.

As he leaned down, her heart started to beat faster, her skin started to tingle and she could feel her entire body anticipating his actions. When she felt him pressing his lips to her forehead, she didn't know whether to be grateful that she was being kissed by her partner, or feeling disappointed that she wasn't being kissed on her lips by her partner. Nonetheless, she found the feel of his lips on her skin an incredible turn on. It scared her beyond comprehension.

After he had apparently silenced his partner by his simple chaste kiss, he gently guided her to the blankets where they sat down. He grabbed the bottle of champagne and let the cork pop.

She watched in a daze as he produced two champagne glasses, and she found herself briefly wondering where the hell he got them, but for some reason, rational thought seemed like too much to ask of her brain at that moment in time.

He filled two champagne glasses and handed her one. "Relax, Bones." He clinked their glasses together as he sipped his glass and sank back into the pillows, looking up at the sky, where the first stars were becoming visible.