The first chapter has had such a great response that I couldn't help myself but to update again today! I hope everyone enjoys it. Oh and I couldn't remember if Brennan's current publicist on the show has a name, so I named her myself, I apologize in advance if I'm wrong.

"Are we here?" Brennan said, straightening up in her seat as the car pulled to a stop.

"Yeah, wow this place is huge," Booth replied, gazing at the towering building beside them.

"Booth, we have to get out so that the valet can take the car," Brennan said, slightly impatient. "Our bags will be brought to our room," she added as he got out and reached for his suitcase, "we just need to go get our keys."

As they walked into the hotel, Brennan's reaction matched Booth's from their arrival. She gazed around the lavish lobby in wonder. The hotel really was beautiful. Brennan gave her name to the concierge and received a key in return.

As soon as they were in the elevator, Booth turned and said, "Admit it Bones, you're surprised by how nice it is too. I saw the look you had when we walked in."

Brennan considered this as they left the elevator and headed for their room. "Well I do have to admit that it's a very nice hotel, if not a bit over the top. Wow," she said as she unlocked their door, "look at this room."

Booth would have argued that their suites had multiple rooms, but he was too busy ogling the flat screen television set.

oOoOoOo

They only had a little over an hour to get ready and Brennan found herself rushing to get dressed. She showered quickly and fixed her hair into the careful up-do Angela had shown her, leaving her bangs down to frame her face. She kept her make-up basic, some pink blush, light red lipstick, and smoky eye shadow. She put in her silver dangling earrings and pulled on her dress, zipping it as far as she could.

"Booth?" She called, moving into the sitting area where she could see him sitting, facing away from her, watching some sports event on the TV. He was already wearing his tux.

"Mhm?" He responded absentmindedly, eyes glued to the screen.

"Do you mind zipping me up?" She moved around the couch. His eyes widened as he looked at his partner. Sure he had seen her dressed up before, but this dress was a whole new level. It seemed to capture every light in the room, shimmering with every movement she made. As if her presence didn't already distract him completely, he had no idea how he would ever manage to take his eyes off her now.

"Wow," he said quietly as he stood and finished her zipper.

"Do I look 'hot' again, like in Vegas?" She asked, with the slightest hint of sarcasm that was tinged with self-consciousness.

He shook his head, "Not hot, tonight you look beautiful, absolutely stunningly beautiful."

His earnest response brought a blush to her cheeks, "Thank you. You look quite handsome yourself." His tuxedo was perfectly fitted to his muscular frame.

"Thanks Bones. Shall we head down?" He said, offering his arm and wondering whether she would take it or begin a lecture about strong women not needing to be linked to men. To his surprise, and even a bit to her own, she took the offered arm with a small smile.

They made their way down to the ballroom where the dinner was being held in relative silence. Brennan could feel her nerves mounting; she really hated large events. The hours of mindless chit-chat, of people sidling up to her forcing her to talk about her books trying to get her to divulge new plot-points, having to dance with every man who asked her while attempting to keep their roaming hands in check. The only good thing was that at least Booth was with her.

"Dr. Brennan," her publicist called to her as soon as they entered the ballroom.

"Hello Erin, how are you?" Brennan asked cordially.

"Fine thanks," she answered, eying Booth.

"Erin, this is my partner, Special Agent Seeley Booth. Booth this is my publicist, Erin." Brennan watched as they shook hands, then Erin directed them to their table.

The dinner was delicious and Brennan found that with Booth there she wasn't constantly looked towards as a source for conversation. He kept a steady flow of conversation, telling particularly interesting stories from past cases, and asking questions in all the right places when others told stories. When he left to go to the bathroom, Erin leaned over to Brennan.

"Who knew that a cold fish like you could snag a guy like that?"

Brennan looked at her, confused, "What do you mean?" She hated when people considered her cold.

The publicist rolled her eyes, "Your boyfriend, I don't understand how you ended up with your boyfriend."

"Oh," Brennan said quickly, "Booth is just my work partner."

Erin raised her eyebrows and leaned back in her seat as the man in question returned.

"You okay, Bones?" He asked as he slid into his seat, noticing the blank look on her face.

"Yeah Booth," she forced a small smile, "I'm fine." She lied, in her head she couldn't stop thinking about what Erin had said and wonder if she was right. Booth had told her countless times that she wasn't cold or unfeeling, but maybe her personality was part of the reason they hadn't made any progress in their relationship since months ago when they had been trapped in his building's elevator. She had come close to ruining their friendship so many times that she couldn't simply ignore Erin's thoughtless comment.

As dinner wound down a band began to play melodic jazzy tunes and the dance floor slowly filled. Booth stood up and reached a hand out to her, "Wanna dance Bones?" He flashed her his most charming smile and she couldn't help accepting his hand and smiling back at him. They danced together for a few upbeat songs, and Brennan found herself smiling more and more, and she actually giggled when Booth twirled her around. She found herself wishing that she could dance with him the entire night, but she felt obligated to dance with other men who asked, since the banquet was about publicity after all.

After dancing with at least five different men, none of whom were very good, Brennan found herself sitting back at the table, trying to avoid attention, she didn't feel like dancing with anyone else. She could see Booth on the dance floor with Erin and she bit back a sigh. Her publicist was exactly Booth's type, petite, blonde, and gregarious. When the song ended, Booth headed towards her and sat beside her.

"Hey Bones," he said, "having fun?"

She shrugged as she sipped at her drink, "I never really enjoy events like this."

He narrowed his eyes and looked at her closely, "Are you sure that nothing else is wrong Bones?"

She hesitated before finally answering, "Erin said something to me earlier, not anything that I haven't heard before, but it still stung."

"What did she say?" He glanced over at the woman he'd just finished dancing with, she had seemed nice enough but anyone who upset Bones lost his good opinion immediately.

"She called me a cold fish and she implied that my personality is the reason that I came tonight with my work partner and not a real date." Brennan gazed at her drink, studiously avoiding Booth's gaze.

"Bones," he reached out and took her hand, "you are not cold. How many times do I have to tell you that? You are one of the most warm-hearted people I know, you just let only the people who deserve to see that side of you see it."

She gave him a small smile, "Thanks Booth."

"Do you want to dance again Bones?" He waggled his eyebrows at her and she laughed.

"Sure," she let him lead her back to the dance floor. The music turned soft and slow and Booth pulled her in close. They swayed back and forth to the music, and Brennan rested her cheek on Booth's shoulder tiredly. His hand circled softly on her back.

"Tired?" He asked softly, and she felt her nod against his shoulder, "We can head upstairs if you want."

"No, this is nice," she said, and his arm tightened a bit around her, pulling her closer to him, and her arms wrapped around his neck in response until there was no space between them. It was as though they were enveloped in their own bubble where nothing existed but the two of them, warm in each other's arms. When the song ended, the band announced that they were through for the night and thanked everyone for coming.

"Bones," Booth said, taking a small step back, "the music stopped."

"Oh," she blushed slightly, "sorry." He looked down at her shining blue eyes and rosy cheeks and he seemed to be brought back to reality. He was holding his beautiful partner in his arms and she was gazing up at him with this beautifully awed look on her face. So, he did the only thing he could think of. He kissed her.