This story begins a few years after - Not Fade Away. After the battle in the blind alley against the army of demons and the dragon… Since it's an alternate universe - some of our favorite have got another chance :)

Disclaimer: All characters and basic concepts used in this story are the property of their respective owners. I own nothing; they are used solely for entertainment purposes. Any copyright infringement is not intended or implied.

Credit: A special thanks goes to unicornball —without you it would not have been possible. Thank you for always standing behind me; for everything you do for me :)

I wish you a lot of fun reading and hopefully you'll enjoy the story :)

Chapter 1

The morning started so normal, as normal as any other workday Seeley Booth had had with Temperance Brennan in the last three years. He made himself fit for work, drove his car to his partner's house to pick her up. They ordered a drink, coffees to go, and they drove to work. His cell phone rang and both were directed to the office for a work order.

Normal.

And then it happened: "Agent Booth, you and Dr. Brennan have a case in Los Angeles."

When he heard this sentence, he did not know how to respond. Seeley Booth looked at his partner, because at first he thought he heard wrong. He stared, mouth agape and stunned. Why didn't he just say no? Or Brennan, why didn't she just say no? Why could neither of them say no? What was so difficult about a no? It was only two letters.

And now he was driving a rental car in Los Angeles with Bones next to him in the passenger seat. In the plane everything was so easy to ignore but now that he had solid ground under his feet, he was getting more and more excited by the minute. Poor Bones looked... less than excited. And he did not want that under any circumstances, but he couldn't do anything about it.

Whether he wanted it or not, but Seeley Booth, aka Angel the Vampire with a Soul, had ended up faced with his old life. Even if it hurt him. He had always thought if his Shanshu Prophecy would be fulfilled, Connor—his son, Cordelia and his other friends would rejoice with him. But now no one was by his side. And it hurt more than he thought it would.

And now this task came and needed him at the place where he never wanted to visit again. But he could not refuse because it was work-related, he earned his money with it.

He had met many new, but also good, friends: Bones, Angela, Zack, Camille and Hodgins who looked like a lawyer from Wolfram and Hart. A lawyer he met when he had a case. If Seeley Booth remembers it correctly it was one of his very first cases as Angel at the law firm. But as fast as the thought had come, he tried to displace him. Jack Hodgins was one of his friends.

His thoughts turned to Parker; his second son. Parker meant a lot to him. But he had experienced a lot in Los Angeles. He tried to hide most of those feelings, but they were never completely eliminated.

Although he now lived his life in Washington DC, there had been some great experiences. Like Connor's birth. He didn't want to forget that, unlike the other experiences he would like to burn forever from his memory.

For a few years, Los Angeles was his hometown; his territory. But now it seemed strange and not at all like a home. He didn't want to be there at all. But it did not change the fact that he needed to do his job.

Seeley Booth concentrated again on the street and saw that he was almost at the Hyperion Hotel and that there was a burning light inside. Why was there a light inside? He sighed as he passed it. Why hadn't he chosen another route?

"Booth, you seem tense."

Brennan pulled him out of his thoughts. He put on his charming Seeley Booth smile. "It's nothing, Bones. It's all alright," he said in an effort to sooth Brennan. He wasn't all that sure he knew who he was trying to calm down, though; her or himself. His voice was calm enough but he felt himself tense even more.

Why was he here? Couldn't another FBI agent do it? Or, at least, the case be handled by the local authorities?

But no, he'd been called in. He had to travel all the way from DC. Just to be reminded of his old friends, Cordelia, Connor, Wesley, Gunn, Fred and Lorne. It tore up old wounds, knowing he was there but none of his old friends were nearby.

Booth steered the car around the next corner and saw the large Wolfram and Hart building. His hands tightened on the steering wheel as he looked up at the building.

Wolfram and Hart was where he had last seen Cordelia. His best friend, the woman he had fallen in love with. Both was finally be able and shared their first real kiss without being obsessed. And shortly afterwards he lost her again. It hurt just to think about it.

It was also where he'd last seen Wesley and Lorne.

As he drove around the corner, he was reminded of Spike, Gunn, Illyria and how they fought against the army of demons and the dragon.

He clenched his hands and his knuckle went white with the pressure around the steering wheel. For some inexplicable reason, tears welled up in his eyes. He sighed and tried to exhort himself. Seeley Joseph Booth, this is your past. You are now a different person. Do not pull yourself down. You have a new life and live in another city - so straighten your shoulders, concentrate on the street and do NOT frighten your partner! She knows nothing about it. Temperance didn't believe in things like vampires or demons. None of what used to be his world.

Brennan sat in the passenger seat and noticed that her partner was behaving stranger than usual. He was quite tense and too quiet. She couldn't help but worry. "Booth," she said, hoping to get his attention.

Booth briefly turned his head so that he looked at her before returning his gaze to the road. "Yes, Bones?"

Brennen stared at Booth, concern growing. Why did he have tears in his eyes? What happened here to throw him off track? Bones had never seen him like that, she was afraid and did not like it. Temperance always did cold and unreachable but seeing Booth like that did not please her in the least.

"You seem... different than usual," she said carefully. "Are you getting sick?"

"No, Bones, it's all fine," Seeley said, as if he would believe it himself. How was he supposed to explain to her that he was on a roller coaster of emotions? He could barely understand it himself.

Why did he have to come to Los Angeles again? The question circled his thoughts for the umpteenth time and he wondered again and again.

The sun went down and he realized that it was strange to be back in LA at night and drive past certain locations.

The sun down meant the vampires were running around. Seeley Booth tried to wipe away the thought as he rubbed a hand over his face, keeping the other on the steering wheel.

So, he was back in Los Angeles— as if vampires didn't exist in DC. He had to admit that he had not actually thought about that before now. He hadn't really thought of vampires at all in the last few years. There was no evidence of their existence in DC. He'd been able to put it all from his mind since he didn't see anything, so he didn't have to deal with it. And yes, maybe it sounded cocky but he enjoyed being human again. Being able to enjoy the sun, he ate normal again, he could do anything he wanted. And could walk around in the sun ... The only thing missing was his AI team.

He knew Temperance wouldn't believe a single word of any of it if he told her.

Slowly but surely, Brennen grew concerned. Something did not seem to be right with her partner. Something was depressing him and he didn't want to talk about it. Although it was difficult for her not to ask about it, but Brennan learned to know when Booth didn't want to talk. So, she let the issue drop and just looked out the window at the passing city.

The last few minutes went by without them talking to each other, both lost in their own thoughts.

To be continued?