Chapter 2

Kate was early to the Diner the next morning; she was both excited and a little nervous at the idea of being close with Seeley again. She didn't know if everything would be the same or

whether things would be different. All the Sullivan's were close with Seeley – he was practically one of them and Kate had lots of fond memories, so there was no reason why they couldn't

pick up where they left off.

"Heya, Katiekins!" Booth said as he sat down. Seeley Booth had most certainly not changed and Kate didn't have anything to worry about.

"Seeley Snail! Enough with the nicknames, ok?" Kate said laughing.

"Haha, ok. I'll stop if you promise never to call me Seeley Snail again. Ever. Not even when you beat at basketball."

"Done and done. So, how is life? Tell me all the juicy deets, big bro."

"Deets?"

"Deets – you know, details. Parker would be like, 10 now yeah? You should know these things. Geez, Seel, get up with it!"

"Haha ok ok. Yes, Parker will be 10 this year. Let me see. I went back to Afghanistan last year to train soldiers. Prior to that, Bones and I had been working together for about 5 years. And before that, nothing much."

"So are you and Tempe married with beautiful babies yet?"

"Sorry?" Booth sputtered, pie spitting everywhere.

"Well, that's the main reason Timmy didn't come back for her. He knew you guys had a thing. And not just a thing, a massive-everyone-can-see-it-except-the-two-people-it-involves thing. I just assumed you two had gotten your act together. Obviously not. I'm sorry if it's a tender subject."

"No, no, its fine. I just, uh, we have been through a rough patch lately. Well, like a year long rough patch, actually. But hey, we are working on it and everything is fine now. Enough about my life. What have you been doing with yourself? Sully? Bryan, Liz?"

"You don't know? Dad died last year I thou- Seel?"

"Bryans dead? Katie! Why wasn't I told?" Booth went pale. He couldn't believe that the closest thing besides he grandfather to a dad had died, and no one had bothered to tell him.

"Seeley, I'm so sorry. Tim tried to contact you, phone, email – I guess he had the wrong details or something. I just assumed you couldn't make it to the funeral. I'm so so sorry."

"Yeah, the last number and email address Sully had for me was before I 'died'. I had to get new everything after an undercover op a few years ago, and I was also pretty much un-contactable in Afghanistan. Jesus. Kate, I'm sorry to hear that. How?"

"It's ok. I mean, I miss him like crazy and I'm still trying to get over it, but I'm doing ok. It was a heart attack. We couldn't believe it, no warning or previous heart disease. I mean the guy was healthy as an ox. Built like one too." Kate smiled as she remembered her dad.

"I remember. How is Lizzie doing?"

"Mom's good. She is still trying to deal with everything, but besides that, good. Tim is good too. Still off in the Caribbean somewhere, doing charters. He tells us its 'fishing' and 'snorkeling' charters, but personally, I think he has stripper parties every night. It has to be. I mean this is the longest he has stayed in one profession since losing Ben." Seeley laughed, and then sat for awhile, remembering the agent who had sacrificed himself for Sully a few years back. Sully had never really got over it and had been trying to find himself ever since.

'I'm so sorry about Bryan, Squirt. You know I would've been there if I knew. You will have to take me back home one day to see your mom, it's been too long.'

"I know you would have been there Seeley, it's never too late to show you care though and I'm positive mom would love to see you, Tim too."

"Ohhh I saw enough of Sully when he dated Bones. But it would be nice to see him again."

"Well, maybe I could convince him to come back – he loved Tempe you know. That's why he left, coz he knew you two were supposed to be together, but since you haven't got your act together in 5 years…." Kate smirked when she saw the jealousy flare up in Booths eyes.

"Hey! Bones and I, well, we can only ever be partners now. Too much has happened and I couldn't lose her as a partner if we didn't work out romantically. I need her in my life. But that doesn't mean you have to bring that oaf of a brother back."

"Haha. Oh Seeley. You two are still fighting over women. Some people never change! But what you just said, it proves you love her. Love can conquer anything if you believe it can."

Kate and Seeley sat silently for a few moments, pondering over their catch up session. Things hadn't changed, at least not personality wise. Booth was still Booth and Kate was still Kate.

Both were older and somewhat wiser, but the love and friendship was still there. That's how Kate could tell that there was one thing stopping Seeley from being truly happy – his partner.

Kate was going to make it her personal mission to get these two together if it killed her. Life was too short to waste time on the 'what if's'.