Hello everyone! This is an idea that I thought of a few days ago, and I couldn't wait to get the story started! I'm not stopping my other story, I'll just be writing them at the same time. This story takes place 3 years after season 5, and pretend that season 6 never happened. It should make sense once you read this prologue. Please, let me know what you think! I live off of reviews, and will accept any comments or suggestions :)

Prologue

Since when was Seeley Booth one to forget things? He always remembered to pick up Parker for the weekend, to interrogate suspects on time, and to finish his paperwork.

Well, most of the time.

He could recall sports games scores, how many stripes were on his socks, what his favorite number was, who had told him what, and important dates in his life. He remembered everything.

But sometimes, he wished he could forget.

The night he remembered to clearest, was the one he wanted to forget. It had flashed back into his mind when he glanced at his calendar, the date was so familiar, and it ruined his day. Friends asked what was wrong, people commented on his grumpy attitude, but how would they be able to guess what was wrong?

They didn't know what had happened, no one there did.

He hated himself for it, he was ashamed. More than he had ever been before. He dug his feet into the dry dirt, trying to think about something else. There wasn't much to distract him there, everything was dull.

"Sarge?"

He heard a voice from behind him, seeing one of his soldiers leaning against a tent post. Franklin was his name, but everyone called him Frank.

"Maybe you need sometime off," He said, walking over to where Booth was sitting, and taking a seat next to him.

Booth played with the glass in front of him, tipping it back and forth, watching the yellow liquid slosh around inside. It might not be the best beer he'd ever had, but at least it was something numbing.

"Is this about that girl?"

Booth looked up at the question. Frank was a good man, loyal to his country, and his friends. Booth looked back to his beer, watching it with sad eyes.

"Yeah."

Frank nodded subtly, pressing his lips together to form a tight line.

"You know, you haven't told us much about her," Said Frank softly, leaning closer to get Booth's attention.

"I don't like to think about her," He said honestly, shrugged his shoulders with an exaggerated motion.

"Is she still in America?" Asked Frank, tilting his head.

"Don't know. I haven't talked to her in three years," Said Booth, laughing halfheartedly.

"Three years? God sarge, I talk to my girl every month," He said, "But I guess she makes an effort too," He didn't want to make Booth feel even worse, so he bit his tongue to prevent himself from talking anymore.

Booth looked up, smiling a bit, with a peculiar glint in his eye that Frank had not seen before.

"Wanna see a picture of her?" Booth asked, pulling his wallet from his pocket.

"Do I," Frank said, excited to see this mysterious woman he'd been hearing about since Booth had been here.

Booth unfolded his wallet, flipping through the several cards he had, and pulling a small picture from the back of them. Glancing at it himself for a few seconds first, before handing it over to Frank.

Frank's eyes widened, and he smiled a large, happy smile.

"Damn sarge! Gosh... she's beautiful," He said, examining the photo once more before handing it back.

"Isn't she?" He asked, taking another look.

"I can see why your so bent out of shape. You must miss her terribly," He said sympathetically.

"You have no idea," he chuckled, "Worst part is, she doesn't know how much I care about her." he said longingly.

"Why didn't you tell her before you left?" He asked, curiously.

"I did."

"How does she not know then?"

"She has, trouble understanding..." He said, sipping at his beer, "She's not stupid, she's brilliant. But she can't rationally explain feelings," Said Booth, emphasizing the 'rationally'.

"Doesn't she feel the same way about you?" Asked Frank, pulling out a cigaret, and lighting it up.

"I don't think so. Not after what I did to her."

3 Years earlier

It was late. And Booth's apartment had never felt so cozy. They were sitting together on his couch, watching some sports related program, drinking. He didn't care though, they both knew they were leaving, to go to separate ends of the earth. And this was one of their last nights together.

He couldn't waste it.

"You know Bones, this is it. Our lives are about to change, forever," He said, setting down his drink.

"It's quite exciting, isn't it?" She said happily, taking another sip.

"You sure love dead bodies, don't you?" He said jokingly.

"The ones in Maluku, they are stunning. I could possibly discover some of the first hominids," She said, smiling.

"Bones," he said in a serious tone, "We aren't going to see each other for a yer. A whole year. That's 365 days."

"I know how many days are in a year Booth," She laughed, but soon realized he wasn't in the mood for her giggling.

"I'm going to miss you."

Brennan wasn't really sure what was happening, or why she was feeling so lousy. But the way Booth looked at her... It just hurt.

"Of course we'll miss each other, we've been partners for five years," She said logically.

"Are you sure you want to go to through with this? I mean, we could just stay," he said.

"My trip is one that, every anthropologist dreams of Booth, I can't say no now," She said, looking at him with sad eyes.

They spent the rest of the night trying to be happy, giving the occasional smile or laugh, but it was hard. Once the game ended, Brennan looked at her watch, and seeing how late it was, she decided to head out.

She was standing outside his door, facing inside. He was on the inside, facing outside. She couldn't help but think that this is where two people would share a romantic kiss in a film, and then everything would fall into place. But she knew that wasn't a possibility.

"Goodbye Booth," She said, giving him a sad smile.

"Good night, Bones," He said, clutching the door handle with his fingers.

Brennan turned, and began to walk slowly down the hall towards the elevator.

After a few moments of hesitation, Booth walked after her. "Bones, wait."

Brennan turned around in the middle of the hall, looking back to see Booth catching up with her.

"Don't go."

"Booth, it's late. I really should get home."

"No. Don't go to Maluku."

Brennan looked at Booth quizzically. Knitting her brow, she responded.

"Why not? I want to go."

"But I don't want you to leave. And I don't want to leave either," He said, stepping closer.

He could see that she was confused, and uncomfortable with the situation. But he couldn't keep it bottled up inside any longer, he had to tell her how he felt.

"Ever since I asked for a relationship... No, ever since my coma, I have loved you Bones. I love you. And I can't pretend I don't as you try to walk out of my life," Said Booth, grabbing her by the shoulders.

Before she had a chance to reply, He pressed his lips against hers in a passionate kiss.

It was just like their last kiss, It only lasted a few seconds before she pushed him away.

Again.

"Booth! Stop!" She shouted, backing away from him.

"I can't stop it Bones! Listen Temperance," She was surprised at the use of her first name, "I can never stop loving you. I just can't," He pleaded. He couldn't take another rejection either.

"You don't love me, It's impossible. Love... It doesn't exist! I can't..." She trailed off, taking a breath to keep herself steady, "I'm just... No." She said, her eyes brimming with tears.

"Why wont you just accept it? I love you Temperance Brennan, and I always will. You can't leave now. You can't..." He said, he could feel his own eyes start to water as well.

"Stop. Just, stop. It's not fair Booth," She said, letting her tears fall.

"Do I have to beg? Fine. Please Temperance, please stay. I can't be away from you. I think about you everyday, it's not fair to me that you have to leave either," He said, grabbing her hands with his own, "Please stay."

"No Booth. I'm going, whether you like it or not," She whispered, crying at the same time.

"I'm not afraid of all the reasons that we shouldn't try this. But you are, you can't handle it. You think you're strong, and you are, but you just can't handle it," he said, pulling on her arms tighter.

"I'm leaving..." She cried, trying to turn away from Booth.

"You have to stop being so cold and insensitive! What about my feelings?" He asked.

By the look on her face, he knew he had said the wrong thing. Now that he thought about his word choices, he had said something very wrong. And hurtful.

"Bones... No, no I didn't mean that-"

"Just leave me alone." She said, her sad expression replaced with and angry one.

Booth felt her hands rip from his, and the next thing he knew, she was gone.

"Sarge, it's been three years. Don't you think She's forgiven you by now?" Asked Frank, stamping his cigaret out on the dry soil inside the tent.

"I doubt it."

"Well, you could either mope here for the rest of your life, or go back and find her," He said, standing up from the chair.

"I know Frank. What am I supposed to say? Sorry for being gone for three years after I hurt you, do you love me now?" He said angrily.

"You've done your time here. Go back to your old life," Said Frank. He gave booth a reassuring smile, and then walked out of the tent.

Booth pondered for a moment, pulling out the picture of Brennan again. He smiled at the memory of her, and all the fun they had together solving murders.

Frank was right, he needed to go back.

Next Chapter: how will Brennan react when she sees Booth for the first time in three years? And how will Booth react to how she's changed? Find out soon! Please, let me know what you think :)