AN: Hey guys, this chapter's a solid T for anyone keeping track. Kind of a filler here, but somewhat essential to what will happen in the future. Anyway, I'll try to get another chapter soon, but since my birthday is on Tuesday, it will most likely be after that point. I'll be the bit three oh. Fun,huh? Anyway, let me know what you think. I hope to get more on course next time. Until then though, enjoy.

"Hey Max, thanks for meeting me," Booth said as he sat back in his usual table at the diner. It had been far too long since he'd last been there, and was somewhat pleased to see the waitresses were happy to see him back. When he'd earned the nickname 'Pie Man', he didn't know, but at least they'd brought him a slice of Dutch Apple and a glass of milk as soon as he walked in.

"So the 'absentee husband' returns, eh?" Max slid in across from Booth and flagged down a waitress for a cup of coffee.

"Oh don't you start that too. Has the press been hounding her since she got back from New Jersey?"

"Practically night and day. I mean it seems odd that they'd go after her so hard, but maybe it's just a slow news period." Max shrugged and took a sip of the coffee that was placed before him. "So, why exactly did you want to meet with me?"

"I wanted to find out what's been going on while I was away. She's obviously been dealing with a lot, but she's never been one to elaborate. If I ask her then she'll just shrug and say that everything was fine." Max contemplated Booth for a moment before taking another sip of his coffee. He watched as the special agent speared some of the pie and ate it.

"Some braniac reporter started digging into her past and thought she'd be the best thing since sliced bread. She tries to take things in stride, but it's been wearing her out. The entertainment reporters and their vultures hang out around the Jeffersonian and follow her whenever she leaves. I think they're hoping she'll get mad and threaten someone, I'm not sure.

"Angela and that bug guy….Hodgins? They let their identities and associations get leaked out to take some of the focus off of Temperance. Honestly I don't know what the big deal is with her. She's a writer and anthropologist, not Angelina Jolie." Max shook his head and looked out the window. Across the street were some of the reporters that had taken to following him around.

"I wish someone had told me that the reporters were getting this bad. I would have been back a lot sooner."

"I don't think there's much you can do. They know the law and tend to stay at a safe distance."

"Yeah, well if they get too close during an investigation and something is going to happen. We won't be able to work if their presence interferes too much."

"That's your arena son, not mine. I'm just happy the pair of you finally got your acts together and realized what a good thing you have. For a while there, I thought I was going to have to take both of you over my knee."

"Ha, as if I'd let you."

"Don't fool yourself son. I let you arrest me. I could have gotten away if I wanted and you know it."

"I know Max, and I appreciate what you've done for Bones. She needed to know that the people who love her will come back. I don't know if I would have had a chance with her if she thought I was going to just walk away… Well, if I stayed gone… okay, you know what? I'm going to just stop talking now."

"You're good for her, son. If I didn't think you were the right person for her, I never would have left her in your care."

"Don't let Bones hear you say that."

"Speaking of which, why exactly is my daughter not here with us?"

"I wanted a chance to speak to you alone and she deserved some pampering, so I set up a spa treatment for her at the Ritz-Carlton, speaking of which, I need to get back."

"Of course, of course." Booth threw a few bills on the table to pay for their pie and coffee, and then stood to head out of the diner with Max. As they exited the building, Max clapped Booth on the shoulder and squeezed his hand down. "You take care of her. Don't let those vultures get to close."

"I will. Thank you for keeping an eye out on her while I was gone."

"That's what fathers are for, right?" Max offered a wry smile and headed off, his hands in his pockets and whistling as he walked away. Booth watched him leave and shook his head before getting in the SUV and heading for the Ritz-Carlton.

XxXxX

Booth watched Temperance as they walked along the reflecting pool toward the Washington Monument. Their fingers were intertwined as they meandered on the water's edge, families and couples picnicking and taking photographs all throughout the Mall.

"Did you enjoy the massage?" Booth brought her hand up to his lips and kissed her knuckles. She smiled at him and closed her eyes, turning her face up into the sunshine.

"I did, thank you. It's been a while since I've indulged in a massage. Angela used to drag me to a day spa about once a month when we first met, but it's been a while."

"Hmmm, well you should go more often. You deserve to pamper yourself."

"There are other things I can do with my time that are more productive. Besides, in a few months I won't have time to indulge myself." Booth sighed and pulled Brennan into him, wrapping his arms around her.

"And that's all the more reason why you need to indulge. You can take some time to yourself and I can spend time with the kids." Temperance smiled up at Booth and kissed him on the lips.

"I'll think about it."

"That's all I ask baby." Booth let go of her and they began walking once again. "So you're going to pick up your book tour again?" Brennan glanced over at Booth then turned her attention back to the reflecting pool.

"I'm not going anywhere for another month, and I'll only be going places that I can reach within a few hours by car. As much as my obstetrician gave me permission to return to all normal activities, I still would prefer not to fly. Sometime after our child is born I'll extend the distance, but until then I'm not going much farther than Pennsylvania."

"How long are you planning for your tour?"

"No longer than three weeks. I still have to see Dr. Tarlow once a month, so I don't want to have an extended tour."

"Just please take it easy when you go." They were both quiet for a while before Booth spoke again. "Bones, I don't want you going into the field unless it's to retrieve remains."

"What? Booth, we're partners. Why wouldn't I go with you?"

"You know that things don't always go smoothly, and I couldn't bear it if something happened to you and the baby."

"I can take care of myself you know. I'm not some delicate little flower. Pregnancy is not a handicap and I don't want to be treated as though it is." Booth turned to look at her, his mouth agape.

"I'm certainly not trying to treat you like an invalid. If I recall correctly, it was almost a year ago that you were shot in the abdomen. Bones, that nearly killed me, not knowing if you were going to make it. I just kept cursing myself for letting you get hurt."

"That wasn't your fault."

"Yes, it was. I spent that entire case preoccupied with either you or Noor, and because I couldn't get my act together, you got hurt. I should have seen that shooter, should have been the one to take the bullet, not you."

"You can't change the past. I'm fine, there's no lasting effect, and it brought us together when I was too stubborn to let you in. After Sully left, Angela talked to me about opening up my heart because I missed too much when I kept people at arm's length. I did that to you more than anyone, as much as I did let you in. I didn't want you to betray me, didn't want to get hurt."

"I'll always be there for you, you know that Temperance. Even if we're fighting, I'll always show up if you need me."

"I know, and I think that's why you've been a constant in my life just like Angela. You two never give up."

"Well, no one ever said I wasn't persistent." Booth smiled at Brennan and pulled her in again for a kiss. He swiped his tongue against her lips before dipping in and rubbing it against her own. She moaned and leaned into him a bit.

"I think, Agent Booth that you still owe me some one on one time. What do you say we head back to the hotel?"

"Hmmm, I think I like that idea." He kissed her again before they turned around and headed for the SUV.

XxXxX

"I don't give a shit how much money you're offering, I didn't agree to that trash!" Booth and Brennan stopped in front of their hotel, the woman from the lobby was walking out ahead of the two men she'd been with the day before.

"You can't just back out now Beth. You signed a contract."

"Go to hell! I agreed to do a video, not some fetish trash. You want someone in that kind of filth go find someone off the street." The woman stormed past Booth and Brennan toward the street. She was followed immediately by the two men as they pushed past the federal agent and the anthropologist.

"C'mon, he asked specifically for you!"

"Oh that's real comforting. Someone wants to see me killed." Booth and Brennan looked at each other before he pulled out his badge and showed it to the three from the lobby.

"Excuse me, federal agent. What's going on here?" The two men looked at the badge and sighed, while the woman crossed her arms and approached him.

"There's nothing going on, just a huge misunderstanding."

"Oh? So the fact that I heard you say that someone wants you dead?"

"Look, it's not what you think, okay?" One of the two men spoke. "It's just for a video that someone requested. No one's going to die or be killed."

"Well, just the same, I'd like the three of you to come with me so this can be sorted out." Brennan shook her head and looked over at her husband.

"So it looks like our alone time is going to be postponed." Booth glanced over at his wife and gave her a wry smile.

"It looks that way."