AN: Sorry it took so long to get this to you guys. It's a little different than the previous chapters, but I hope you like it.

*twinkle*


Temperance paced the length of her room for several minutes. Glancing at the clock she saw it was only ten forty three. Seeley would be coming in seventeen minutes to pick her up for their date. The date she had planned. The date she was having second thoughts about. What if he didn't like her idea? What if he couldn't handle the revelations she had to share with him? As more and more questions flitted across her mind she took several deep breaths and began to meditate. What seemed like second later her peace of mind was interrupted by a knock on the font door.

Grabbing a jacket, her keys, two pairs of binoculars, and a picnic basket, she opened the door to a waiting Seeley. Stretching up, she greeted him with a kiss.

"So where are we headed today?"

"Well, when I was little I always wanted to go horseback riding and I never got he chance to go. So I wanted to go with you."

'Horseback riding?? Could she have picked anything more girly? But I did tell her she could decide. Horseback riding it is.'

"Just tell me where to go."

'I can't believe he agreed. He doesn't seem like the type of guy who wants to ride a horse.'

They spent the next hour driving to the horse ranch. They got saddled up (Seeley had a bit of difficulty with that.) and Temperance somehow stored the picnic basked on her saddle. And they were off. For once, Seeley let her lead.

"Are you sure you've never rode a horse before?"

"Yes Seeley, I'm sure. Though I did read up some on the anatomy of horses and how to properly ride a horse."

As Seeley's horse began to flail around he responded, "I don't think I can last much longer."

"That's ok, we're here."

Sighing with happiness, Seeley jumped off his horse and followed the instructions the ranch hands have given him on how to deal with the horse. He looked up to see a meadow of daffodils and what looked like a lake a little farther off. Temperance had already grabbed the picnic basket and was wading through the daffodils to the shore. Running to catch up, Seeley took the picnic basket from her and the two silently walked on. When they reached a nice dry spot Temperance turned to Seeley and opened the basket, taking out a blanket and spreading on the ground. She sat and patted the spot next to her. Seeley sat down and let her take out their lunch. To his surprise, she pulled out takeout containers from the dine where they had eaten after formal. She had gotten two order of fries, a burger, and a Caesar salad. Seeley smiled at the selection.

"I wasn't sure what you liked, but I knew you liked food from the diner so…" She trailed off, all of a sudden shy.

"This is perfect, I couldn't have picked it better myself." Seeley replied.

For the next twenty minutes, the two ate and chatted amicably. Then they went to check on the horses. After they had cleaned up everything, Temperance spoke up.

"There's something really important about me that I haven't told anyone. But I know that I can trust you. So here it is. Last Christmas Eve, my mom and my dad told me they were going off to store, but they never came back. It was just me and my older brother left. A few days later he took off as well. Maybe a week later, Social Services showed up and I officially became a ward of the sate. In about a year, I've gone through three foster families; this one is my fourth. Usually everything's going fine, I stay unnoticed at school and at their houses, but some kind of problem always arises and then I'm off to another family. I wanted to share that part of me with you because you mean so much to me." She finished, wiping away tears.

Seeley moved closer and placed her in his lap, bury his face in her hair and speaking directly into her ear. "Thank you so much for sharing such an important part of you with me. I'm honored that you trust me enough to share that."

"I wish I could have a perfect family like yours." Temperance sighed.

"My family… uh. They're not as perfect as they seem. My dad… he drinks. Almost every night after he comes home from the barber shop, he goes to this bar and drinks and drinks and drinks until he's completely drunk. Then he comes back home and if he's in a bad mood he'll barge into either my room, my brother's room or his room. Either way I end up getting a beating, but I take it because I can't bear to let Jared or my mom get hurt. I don't think I could live with myself if I did. It's gotten to the point where I sit in the kitchen just waiting for him to come home so no none else gets hurt. It's a lot to deal with… it's just a lot. And what kills me is everyday my mom and Jared and my dad act like nothing happened then night before. This past month my dad went to go visit his mom because she's dying. The rest of us went to visit, remember?" She nodded in reply. "So I've been free from that for a while, but soon he'll be back and it will all start over again. My family's not that perfect after all, huh?" He laughed, a sharp cynical laugh to cover his tears.

"Have you ever told anyone?" she asked.

"You're the first. Everyone knows me as this perfect guy with the perfect life. They can never understand."

The two sat there comforting each other and reveling in the peace and tranquility of the water for several hours. Seeley looked down to Brennan asleep in his arms. Kissing her hair, he whispered, "I'm think I'm falling in love with you."

Somehow he gathered up the blanket, the basket, and prepped the horses. Although he hated to wake her, he knew they should be getting back soon. Gently kissing her, Seeley stood her up. As soon as he released his mouth's hold on her lips she began to wake up.

Smiling at her he said, "Do you think you can make it back?" Nodding, she got on her horse and they headed back to the ranch. Soon they were on the road. After ten minutes, Temperance fell asleep. Seeley couldn't blame her, he was as emotionally spent as she was. As they approached her house, he shook her awake. When they pulled up, he grabbed the picnic basket and some binoculars. 'What were those for?' he wondered.

Opening her door he ushered her to the steps and handed her the items. Clasping her face with his hands he spoke. "Don't think that I think any less of you because you're a foster child, alright? As you know, I've got my own demons. Now go inside and rest. You've exhausted yourself. Call me if you need me, don't hesitate."

She nodded and he pulled her in for a passionate kiss. "Now go get some rest." She locked eyes with him, saying everything he needed to hear in that one look, before turning and entering the house.