A/N: OMG! WOW… the response to this was incredible, I was just messing around, I didn't actually think it would do this well. THANKS GUYS! I give you the next chapter and surprise number ONE… because I have TWO. =)

"Bones, I feel stupid for even asking, but…" the hesitation in his question lingered in the air, as they headed out of the airport, their bags intact.

"What, Booth?" she asked, impatiently. Her eyes crossed over to the blonde still standing at Booth's side, closer than she needed to be if she were only an acquaintance. Brennan's stomach took the express elevator to the basement, as the blonde woman's hand reached out to grasp his arm, linking it together with her own.

"Uh… nevermind," he muttered turning to look at the woman on his arm. "Bones, this is Hannah… Han, this is my partner, Temperance Brennan."

"Hi," Hannah replied extending a hand, in which Brennan reluctantly took in her own. "Seeley has told me a lot about you. It's nice to finally put a face to the name."

Brennan nodded politely. It wasn't like she could respond with the usual 'I've heard a lot about you too' so instead, she turned her attention back to Booth. His gaze moved back to her stomach, and she folded her hand over her belly, self-conscious of her sudden weight gain since she had last seen him. Beside Hannah, Brennan thought of herself as a fat cow, unattractive in the eyes of men, this blonde woman – Hannah, the mystery of a title attached to her name – she was beautiful, elegant, and classy.

Brennan couldn't compete with that, it seemed.

"Would you like to get a cup of coffee with us?" Hannah offered. "We were going to get some coffee. You can join us… I could get to know you a bit more, maybe. Pry some information from you about Dumbo here," she said playfully elbowing Booth in the shoulders.

"I don't think so," she declined. "I have some work to get back to, but-"

"Come on, Bones," Booth pleaded. "I haven't seen you in EIGHT months. There's a lot to catch up on…" he purposely moved his eyes back to her stomach. "Wouldn't you say?"

Brennan's heart quickened.

"We have plenty of time to catch up, Booth."

"Please, Temperance," Hannah smiled warmly. "It would really be a pleasure. I'd love to ask you some questions about Anthropology."

Brennan took a deep breath. "Alright," she agreed. "I can't very well deny the invitation now, can I?"

"No," Booth smiled. "That would be rude."

They reached Brennan's car, and she offered to drive them to the ROYAL DINER. Both readily agreed. The drive was awkward for Brennan, as she kept her eyes focused on the road, her mind buzzing with questions about the woman Booth had returned him. Was it serious, like a heart attack, or was casual, like friends with benefits?

As they picked their seat by the window, Brennan found the strength to ask the question that had been weighing on her mind.

"How did the two of you meet?"

"I guess," Hannah looked at Booth and smiled. "Our parents put us in the same play-pen when we were babies."

Brennan frowned. "You have a family history?" her heart felt a pin-prick of disappointment. That made it much worse, how could she compete with that? Past flames always seemed to rear their ugly heads.

"Yeah, you could say that," he smiled knowingly at Brennan.

"Stop teasing her," Hannah scolded. "Temperance, Booth is my cousin, on his father's side."

"Cousin?" she gasped. The relief she felt was almost overwhelming.

Hannah nodded.

Releasing the air she had trapped in her lungs from holding her breath, she laughed.

I know the challenge was H&B had to be INVOLVED but you didn't specifically indicate HOW… I hope I'm not disqualified, and maybe I might even be rewarded with extra points for being creative. *fingers crossed* ;)