The Maluku islands were tiny green dots on a sea of blue, quickly shrinking away from sight as the plane flew away towards home again. A twinge of sadness hung in the air, for up until today, they had been home for the past year.

Warm memories came too thought as the mind wandered over that space of time. Memories of the discoveries, the excitement of possible breakthrough, and the collaboration of Anthropologies' greatest minds raced through her head. The islands represented the early part of her life and career, every aspect of it reminded her of why she had started in her profession and passion in the beginning.

But along with that sadness of goodbye was the joy of hello to another chapter in her life. Her present. Back to the bustle of the city, the noise of civilization, the pure satisfaction she got only after a day of work. Back to her office, her interns, and the lab. Back to her friends and colleagues. Back to finding truth and catching bad guys. Back to the strong relationship, companionship and trust that could only be found in her Partnership. Back to the coffee cart, the diner, the Founding Fathers and Wong Fu's. Back to beer and pie. Back to warm brown eyes, bright smiles, strong arms, determination for justice and fierce loyalty and friendship. Back to love. Back to….Booth. Back Home.

Brennan turned away from the window. She reached out at a passing flight attendant, "May I please have a glass of water?" she asked.

"Of course Dr. Brennan, here." The flight attendant smiled brightly.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome. If you need anything else just let me know."

"I will."

She took a sip of the cold refreshing water, set the glass aside and leaned back into her first class seat. She closed her eyes, wondering what her partner was doing right now.

Booth blearily glanced over at his alarm clock, squinting at the angry red letters screaming 0430 hours at him. Time to get up…..

"BEEP BEEP BEEP!"

His hand flashed out from under the covers and whacked the off button. With a groan he pushed himself up into a sitting position and started to stretch, feeling better and better with each pop! from his joints. He let out a loud, long yawn, threw back the blankets and tossed his legs over the side of the bed. He stretched out his legs and rotated his ankles; the sound of more pops met his ears. He rolled his neck a couple times and stretched his arms and back again until he was satisfied.

Finally he launched himself to his feet and stumbled to his dresser, quickly pulling on a shirt, cargo pants and his military jacket. Then he padded down the hallway to the mess hall to grab some breakfast and coffee. As he waited in line for his turn he couldn't help but look around and only see the uniforms. By the end of his thirteen hour flight today he would be back in D.C with Parker, his friends and he would be back at work for the FBI, catching bad guys and solving murders with his partner, best friend and the woman he loved… Bones.

Just at the mere thought of her name, all his thoughts went straight to her. Fond memories, memorable cases, and the way her eyes light when she's working and when she saw him. The touch of her arm in his on the way to the diner, the feel of her hand on his shoulder when he's stressed, her head resting on his chest when she's crying or scared, the feel of her in his arms in one of their "guy" hugs. He missed everything about her. Even the squints, who he had to admit, had grown on him and where now his closest group of friends.

One of the things he missed the most about her was their banter and the times when he gets to explain things to her that she doesn't understand and that he knows all about. He wondered if she missed him as much as he had missed her. He couldn't wait to meet her at the coffee cart. Only thirteen more hours…

"Next!"

The sound of the food server's voice jarred Booth back to the mess hall. He took his plate and handed it to the server, a fellow solider. Porridge was slopped onto his plate with an over ripped banana and watered down, luke warm coffee poured into his foam cup. He sighed to himself and put on a fake smile. In just a few hours I'll be drinking real quality coffee and breakfast with Bones. He left the line and wandered over to the tables to find a place to sit and eat. As he paced through isle upon isle of soldiers chowing down on their food his thoughts returned to the life he had spent for a year now.

Some of them were only boys. Men. He corrected himself, after all they had been through they were men now, not the boys fresh out of high school or college they had been when they arrived. While he was going home and had a great life and job to return to tomorrow, these guys would still be active soldiers tomorrow. They won't be civilians in regular clothes instead of uniforms. Going out with friends to get drinks and going to movies and sport games with their kids. They won't have the luxury of seeing their loved ones in person or to sleep in their own beds. No, they would have to remain in this hell hole till their tour is over. And some would never make it home.

"Attention ladies and gentleman, this is your pilot speaking. We are approaching the Cairo Airport. We should be landing in ten minutes. Please turn off all cellular or wireless devices and return your seats to the upright position. Buckle your seat belts and remain seated for the duration of the flight. It's a beautiful day, sunny skies and 75 degrees; we hope you enjoy your stay in Cairo and thank you for choosing Horizon Airlines." The sound of the pilot's voice jolted Brennan awake. She pulled off her compliment sleeping mask and blanket and rubbed the sleep from her eyes.

She folded her blanket up and put it and the sleeping mask in a pile on top of her complimentary pillow. As flight attendants walked down the aisles collecting the bundles Brennan held hers up as one passed by and pulled her seat back up into the vertical position and fastened her seat belt.

Around her other first class passengers were doing the same, turning off lap tops, storing away carry-on luggage and ending business calls. Beyond the divider curtain she could hear people in coach getting their kids to settle down and get back in their seats.

She heard the sound of children laughing, whining, crying and arguing. For a moment her heart ached for the possibility of one day doing the same with a child of her own. And of Booth's if things were to go the way she wanted.

She shook her head, dispelling the thoughts of a world where she and Booth were together and had a child. Be rational Temperance. She chided herself. Booth most likely moved on now after you turned him down before you left. He may even have someone new in his life and has forgotten all about you in 'that' way. Brennan sighed, although she was excited to see him, her heart couldn't help but stop in fear that he really had moved on and no longer cared for her as she did for him. If it turns out he is with someone new, I don't know how long I could bare to not have him all to myself after a year of being apart, especially after I finally stopped denying the thing that Angela, Cam and Sweets have been telling me all along; I love him. I love Booth.