I hope you are enjoying this story. I thought I would warn you that some of my chapters are going to be short and some will be long. I don't want to interrupt the rythm of the characters.

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As a rule, Booth didn't like to come home late when he knew Brennan was going to leave the lab early. He had made a lot of relationship mistakes in his life and he knew that being inconsiderate to Bones and coming and going as he pleased would never do. If Bones was making an effort to go home early, then so would he. After all, he did have a lot of agents working for him and delegating some of his work load was in everyone's best interests. Besides, Bones promised to make him mac and cheese tonight. No way he was going to miss that. She had told him a couple of days ago that she didn't mind cooking once in awhile; but, she couldn't do it all of the time. She didn't have enough time to do everything she wanted to do as it was. So mac and cheese night was pretty special to Booth.

Walking into Brennan's apartment, Booth could smell the mac and cheese baking. His mouth watered just thinking about it. Stopping to lock up his gun in the gun safe he had installed a few weeks ago, he could hear Brennan talking to someone. "Who the hell is bugging Bones at home?" Booth thought.

Walking into the kitchen, Booth was not overjoyed to see Max sitting at the kitchen table.

"What are you doing here, Max?" Booth asked rather caustically. "Bones and I have a dinner date and I don't remember her mentioning that you were invited."

"Relax kid", Max said, turning in his chair to look at Booth. "I just dropped by to see if you guys has any leads on the murder of that guy I found and did NOT murder."

"We can't talk to you about an ongoing murder investigation, Max," Booth said. Smiling at Max rather meanly, Booth continued, "It's FBI policy. Besides, Bones, considers you a suspect. We don't give out our game plan to murder suspects."

"That's what I told Dad, just before you came home, Booth. Why don't you go change your clothes. Dinner will be ready in 15 minutes."

Seeing that Brennan wanted to stop talking about the case, Booth said, "Alright. I'll be right back." Leaving the kitchen, Booth walked down the hallway. Booth took some pleasure in the fact that he heard Max get up and walk over to the hallway entrance to watch him. Booth smiled when he walked through Brennan's bedroom doorway and closed the door. "Serves him right", Booth thought. "If Bones wants her father to know that we're living together, then Max will just have to choke on it."

Max, turning from the hallway entrance, said to Brennan, "Tempe?"

"What Dad?" not looking at Max.

"Tempe? Why is Booth changing his clothes in your bedroom?"

"It's our bedroom Dad. I don't need or want your permission either. Booth and I have come to an understanding and it's none of your business."

"Of course it's my business, Tempe. I'm your father. I don't want Booth taking advantage of you."

Giving her Dad an intense look, Brennan said, "Taking advantage of me? I'm taking advantage of him, Dad. I decided that I don't want to live by myself anymore and Booth was gracious enough to move in with me. Well, we're living in his apartment and mine. Actually we're thinking about looking for a house; but, we really haven't had time to look yet."

With a stunned look on his face, Max decided to leave. Before he left, he said to Brennan, "You know honey, when they had that murder at the bowling alley, I knew there was something different about you and Booth. I just thought you had finally started to see each other. You've really surprised me though. I never thought you would move in with anyone. Your very independent. What changed?"

Looking at her father with a smile, Brennan said, "I've changed, Dad. I've changed and Booth loves me for it. That is all I am going to say on the topic. Good night Dad."

"Night, Tempe." And with that, Max left the apartment.

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I think Max took that rather well, don't you? Review if you want to. Thanks.