Absence makes the heart grow fonder…

Nassau, the Bahamas…

It had been a week since Brennan confessed her love for Booth, and all she could think about was him. She was supposed to be trying to forget about him, but it turns out once you become involved with Seeley Joseph Booth, it's not that easy to erase him from your life. No matter where she would go in the world, Booth would always be on her mind. She left him speechless a week ago after telling him of her love for him. The timing way definitely off but she could not keep her feelings bottled up any longer. She had no idea how he felt about her confession, but at that moment in time, she could not handle his response. She knew that Booth was not the kind of man who would be unfaithful to the woman he was with, so he would not give in to Brennan. She didn't know what he would have done if she never left. She didn't want to know, well not yet.

Here she was, in the Bahamas, slowly but surely coming out of her depression but she was still upset about her situation with Booth. She wasn't sure that after all they have gone through, if she could still work with him. But that was not something she wanted to think about. All her focus was on trying to forget about Booth and move on with her life as an anthropologist. Maybe she would go on more digs or travel to Indonesia to further her studies in anthropology. She would try just about anything to forget about Booth. She had to accept that it would never work between them. Booth was with Hannah and that was that. But why was she having such a hard time accepting that? Brennan was the kind of person who could rationalize any given situation. But why couldn't she rationalize this one?

"Why so sad? Did your puppy die or something?" Said a man about the same age of Booth noticing Brennan's sad expression.

"I don't have a dog." Brennan said confused.

"I was kidding."

"Oh, I'm not good at metaphoric expressions."

"I can see that." He said while taking a seat beside her and calling the bartender for a drink, "so what's wrong with you? I'm Andrew by the way, Andrew Martin."

"I'm Dr. Temperance Brennan, and I really don't feel comfortable with telling a complete stranger my problems."

"That's alright, so you're a doctor. Medical?"

"No, I'm a forensic anthropologist. I work at the Jeffersonian, I'm the best in my field and I also write novels." She was never good at modesty.

"Wow. A forensic anthropologist, so you work with bones?"

"Precisely." She said then took a sip of her beverage, "what do you do for a living?"

"I'm an architect. So, Dr. Brennan, what brings you to the Bahamas?"

"I came here to get away from something, well, someone. You seem very nosey."

"Haha! That's just my nature. I would love to show you around the island sometime. Are you free tonight?"

Before Brennan did not know when someone was asking her out on a date, but after countless conversations with Angela, she now knew when someone was asking her out. Why not? Booth managed to move on and this was her golden opportunity. Maybe this could go somewhere.

"I would like that very much Andrew."

"Great! When can I pick you up?"

"Seven is fine; I'll give you the address of my hotel and phone number."

"That would be great."

After Brennan gave him her address and phone number, he left and so did she. She had a date tonight. This was a good thing. She had a chance to get over Booth. To experience someone else and to be happy for once. Andrew was a handsome man. He had deep green eyes, a straight nose, perfect lips and short brown hair with a great body. He was nothing compared to Booth, but he was good to look at. He was charming and had a good job. He was everything a woman could want but he was not Booth. Despite the fact that he was not Booth, Brennan decided to give him a try. Maybe this could go somewhere. Maybe this man could make her happy.

Washington DC, USA

Booth was sitting on his couch in his apartment with his girlfriend curled up to him, while watching the game. He found himself thinking about Brennan for the one hundredth time for the day. She told him that she loved him, and she wish she didn't. How did this situation get so complicated? He was with Hannah, he loved her and he was happy, but everyday his mind would focus on Brennan and only Brennan. He thought she was okay with Hannah. How could he miss that she was so depressed and hurt that she had to run away? He had not been a good friend or partner lately. He was purposefully trying to distance himself from her to avoid any feelings that might arise if he was with her. But he had no idea that he was hurting her in the process.

'She must have thought that I didn't care anymore.' Was the thought that was always on his mind that killed him because he did care about her. She was his partner and best friend. Sure, she broke his heart but that did not change their friendship.

"What you thinking about?" Hannah asked looking up into his face.

"Nothing babe."

"You look like your thinking about something? You miss Temperance don't you?"

"Of course I miss her Hannah, but I'm sure she's okay."

He had not told Hannah of Brennan's confession to him and he felt very guilty about that. Like he was entitled to tell her. She was his girlfriend after all. They're supposed to share everything with each other. What was the harm in that?

"Um, Hannah, I have to tell you something."

"What about?"

"Bones. It's about something Bones told me the day she left."

"Is she alright?"

"Yeah she's fine. It's just that.."

"What is it Seeley?"

"Bones, she… She told me… She told me that she loves me."

Hannah was speechless. There she was thinking that her boyfriend and his partner's relationship was strictly professional. She knew that they were close but not that close.

"What?" She began, "She loves you? What else aren't you telling me? Did you sleep with her?"

"What? No, Hannah, It's not like that."

"Then what is it?"

"Me and Bones, we have a past Hannah, but we never slept with each other!"

"What kind of past Seeley?"

"Look Hannah, I don't want to talk about it, but nothing happened."

"Then what did you do after her confession?"

"She left before I got to say anything."

"I can't believe this is happening. She loves you?"

"Yeah she does."

"And do you love her?"

"What? N- No. I'm in love with you Hannah."

"Really? You sounded hesitant just now."

"This is crazy Hannah! I just told you what she said because you are my girlfriend and I don't want to have any secrets between us. I will never do anything to be unfaithful to you Hannah. I love you."

"Okay, Seeley. But you're not going to get off the hook so easily. I just don't know how I'm going to talk to her or even look at her."

"You don't have to think about that now. She's in the Bahamas."

Booth and Hannah spent the night in silence, neither of them wanting to talk for they were afraid that they would have another argument. Now the subject of 'Temperance' was a soft one in the Booth household. Someone was in love with Hannah's boyfriend, and the part that scared her was she wasn't sure if her boyfriend was lying when he said that he didn't love her.

Nassau, the Bahamas…

Brennan woke up to the sun streaming in on her through the wooden blinds. She was wrapped in the embrace of her date last night, Andrew. Last night they went to this fancy Bahamian restaurant and enjoyed drinks afterwards. But they managed to stay sober. They talked about life, their jobs, relationship status and somewhere down the line they started to kiss and eventually ended up sleeping together.

"Morning Temperance." Andrew said as he turned to his side to face her, "How did you sleep?"

"Fine. Best sleep I had in a long time."

"I agree."

"About last night Andrew…"

"Please don't say it was a mistake because I sure as hell didn't consider it as a mistake."

"I wasn't going to say that. I was going to say that I thoroughly enjoyed it."

"Really?" He smiled.

"Yes, you have excellent stamina."

He laughed then closed the small gap between them with a tender kiss, "So do you think this is going somewhere?"

"Maybe."

"Well how about we take a shower, grab some food and start the day as a couple. I was thinking that we can go to the beach."

"Sounds good. I'm looking forward to it but I think I'm more interested in that shower."

"Then come on, what are we waiting for?"

Andrew was great company; he made her feel as good inside. She was happy. And for once, in long time, she wasn't thinking about Booth.

I updated! Yay! I have been very busy with homework and studying but I made some time to update! Let me just say thank you for reviewing, I appreciate the feedback. I added Andrew because it was depressing to see Brennan so depressed, I wanted her to be happy but Booth isn't going so happy in the following chapters. Why? Well you're going to have to read to find out. Thanks again for reading/reviewing. Keep them coming, I like to know what you think!