I apologize for neglecting this for so long. I don't own Bones or it's characters. Thanks for the reviews, especially in light of the lack of updates!

Just like every morning, the sun came up the next day. Sleep hadn't been helpful and Booth was too antsy to wait to find something that WOULD be helpful. After an exhausting 3 days, Booth was ready for a change. He had a renewed feeling of control as he decided that his destiny was of his own making. He decided not to shave, just neatly trimming his morning shadow, showering and heading out.

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Temperance Brennan was slowly regaining her perspective. Seeing Booth at the fundraiser was the last thing she expected. Looking as good as she remembered, she fought to remain in control of her eyes, her breathing, and the conversation, she reached her hand out to lightly touch the arm of one member of her captive audience... tilted her head back and laughed. She was acutely aware of Booth's keen attention and briefly acknowledged him with a look... her eyes met his for a fleeting moment. Counting silently in her head, 1 one thousand, 2 one thousand, Brennan smiled, as she had practiced for just such an event, 3 one thousand. Forcing herself to turn her attention back to the conversation.

Aware of his movement away from her, Brennan considered her success in being friendly, yet not indulging herself in the moment she would have shared with him B.H. (Before Hannah as Angela had penned it). Brennan didn't have time to revel in her success as she still had the rest of the event to get through. After months of agonizing drills, she hoped she had prepared herself for any situation that could arise during their first night as different people in the same circles. She had selected her clothing, as she always did. The clothes reflected the style, the color, the overall impression to which his past responses had been positive. Her hair was drawn up as it always was for such an event. Nothing would look different. She would present as typical as possible. Her behaviors were rehearsed, drilled almost but had to appear as natural. She was a world renowned Anthropologist and Best Selling Author. She could do this! She had been practicing since their last meeting... surely she could do this!

Professor Clarkson asked for a dance and she was relieved for the opportunity to change her surroundings. Just because she had conducted herself appropriately short minutes ago didn't mean that she was ready for a longer test. Dear, dull Professor Clarkson provided the perfect escape. Conversation about the transformation of the Jeffersonian from a museum to one of the most highly respected institutions globally was abruptly halted by a voice to her left declaring "Excuse me, but I am cutting in."

Brennan quickly reviewed her options and turned, thanking Dr. Clarkson for the dance and turning into the arms of her former partner. Appropriate distance? Yes. Stable breathing? Yes. Smile? Yes. She considered herself prepared just in time to respond to his question. "I am well, Booth. How are you?"

As she had conditioned herself, she responded charmingly, wittily, and as lightly as possible. Song after song, they drifted across the dance floor and Temperance kept her focus. Finally sensing that her time with him was bordering too lengthy, she offered him an 'out' by announcing that she needed a drink. To her dismay, he led her to the bar. She couldn't fathom that he had accepted her polite offer to join her as a genuine one! She still couldn't understand why it was socially polite to make an offer that wasn't sincere! Fighting panic, Brennan was able to recover some of her focus when he asked about her Williamsburg Project. When he purposefully baited her about an 'ancient' murder, Brennan ignored his classification error (as Williamsburg was Colonial, NOT ancient) and announced that she needed to rejoin the Jeffersonian group.

She sighed in relief as she was able to put distance between the two of them once they returned to the table. As she made her way efficiently around the table, she quickly thanked the universe for Cam who seemed to have pulled him in to an exchange that would facilitate her escape. Brennan could feel him watching her and as long as it was from a distance, she would be just fine. When the Hodgins expressed their intent to leave, she felt like it was perfect chance to slide out unnoticed.

She was almost in the clear when Booth headed the small party off at the exit. She felt her resolve slipping when he offered to drive her home. That slip caused her to reveal that she had moved. His voice raised "You MOVED?" in disbelief. Damn him! He caught her off guard and almost caused her to fall back in their historical bickering. She recovered quickly and dismissed him, declaring that she would take the cab.

Safely in her cab, Brennan wrapped her arms around herself and the tears fell freely. She had been angry at him when he seemed upset that she hadn't informed him of her move. When he told her "I would like to drive you... to your home." She was still firm. His next words, "Just like old times, eh?" cut through Brennan more effectively than a knife. The loss of his friendship had never felt as great. She couldn't retreat into the safety of the cab quickly enough. She could only prepare an excuse if someone had seen her unfortunate lapse in control. Time flew past her as quickly as the miles taking her to her home which would be her safe haven... her salvation.

Once home, she quickly let her hair down and shed her clothing, opting for the comfort of yoga pants and a sports bra. After removing the carefully applied facade that was her make up, she felt herself a little more at ease. Padding downstairs, she grabbed her laptop and pulled up her journal. She had to catalog the events of the night, record her actions/reactions, and then calculate her success/failure. Staying inside the boundaries of the ultimatum that Booth had issued could prove to be more difficult when he was near. .

Brennan was alerted to the arrival of Max by the noise he seemed to generate purely for her benefit. Her home was arranged in such fashion that unauthorized entry would be difficult to achieve without her knowledge but Max usually went overboard to let her know he was there. The surveillance cameras were located discreetly around the property filming virtually every movement 24/7 over every inch of the place at Max's request yet still he entered like the proverbial bull in the china shop? Yes. That was it. Bull in the china shop.

The father & daughter spent a few moments chatting before both decided to retire for the night. Brennan was exhausted from her evening and there was no telling what had worn Max out, but after exchanging hugs and good nights, Max headed to the guest house for the night.

+++++

Rising early, Brennan decided that the best thing she could do was to follow her usual routine. She went to the green grocer, ran her errands, then headed off for the remainder of the day. Most weekends were spent doing the same things. Yoga, then shopping. Martial arts class. She would rummage through an old bookstore not far from The Jeffersonian then slip in undetected to work the exhibit. As she headed down the stairs she thought about the event and Booth. Instinctively she reprimanded herself for allowing the thought to enter into her day. Booth, B.H, was off limits. In order to be the friend to him that he wanted, she had to rid herself of those old habits. Being his friend, any way he wanted her was exactly what she wanted. There would be no backsliding to her old habits.

+++++

Hours later, not even sure if it was Saturday or Sunday, Brennan headed home. Slipping into the garage so as not to awaken Max, she parked and opted to leave everything in the car overnight. As soon as she entered the house, she noticed something out of balance in the energy in her home. There was a slight scent that was both comforting and familiar. She identified it as belonging to her partner but knew that it must be the confusion she was experiencing causing her mind to play tricks on her. Slipping between the sheets of her bed, she quickly drifted off to sleep. Across the courtyard, Max shook the amused look off of his face and decided to turn back to bed. He would need to be up early if he was going to get to see how things played out between his daughter and former partner.

+++++

Just before the sun fully rose, Brennan went to the sunporch with her tea. It was her favorite place to drink it. She wasn't expecting Max as she really wasn't there most Sunday mornings but was pleased for the diversion. Reading her father wasn't one of her stronger attributes so when she saw the look of guilt cross his face, she assumed it must be something really dramatic if she could sense it. Max smiled tightly and breathed deeply. "Booth is asleep in your guest room."

Her mind was frantically attempting to process the information. Booth. Asleep. Guestroom. This was definitively one scenario for which she was ill prepared. Leave it to Max. He had a gift of placing her in situations that she never wanted to be in. It would take some time to calculate her actions. Temperance was acutely aware of the danger of acting without planning. Seeley Booth wasn't just an excellent agent. She couldn't allow him any leverage in to her thoughts. His skill in the interrogation room was far above the average, but his personal skill of reading Temperance was uncanny. Years she had spent keeping herself behind a facade that no one had been able to, or willing to, see beyond. From very early in their partnership, he was able to see what others never did. He looked past the facade and was literate in reading Temperance. She hoped her acting skills were better and the fact that she had spent the last few years practicing couldn't hurt.

Watching the footage from the security camera, Brennan was caught up in his mechanics than in his actions. She watched him slowly pass the home, only to return and peek through the fence. His movements were actually very graceful. She forgot that she was examining his justification for being there and enjoyed her view. From every angle, even in the dark, his features were beautiful. He looked at home in almost any environment and the tape proved that Booth couldn't look suspicious. She was certain that anyone who may have seen him would be at ease with his presence at the fence. It was fascinating to watch him.

Several hours later, Brennan decided it was time to confront her fears. She entered the guestroom, taking a water with her. She stopped abruptly and had to force herself from watching him sleep. He was still, after all these years near perfect in the golden ratio. Clearing her throat, she saw his eyes fly open in the reflection in the mirror. She offered the water and he failed to respond. Finally, she goaded him in to a response by threatening to call 911. Being a good hostess dictated she should offer him coffee. He still wasn't really speaking so she directed him to the washroom and made her escape downstairs. As his feet lightly announced his descent of the stairs, Brennan stole away long enough to splash her face with water, quickly give her clothes the once over, and prepare for her next encounter. She found him a few minutes later, holding out a cup of coffee to her.

Her heart skipped a beat after they settled on the sun porch and 'idle chit-chat', which was something that she was glad she had practiced, lead the conversation to Kathy and Andy. She had known this was coming. Booth always considered Andy to be his character. She wasn't strong enough to talk about how it all ended for Kathy and Andy. She quickly skirted the issue by focusing on the success the book itself, rather than the content. She left the room briefly to get the picture of her with the LA Kings after the Stanley Cup, knowing it was a bad idea to share it. She was getting too personal. She had to reign herself back in. This was the problem that being around Booth created... she was unable to resist following him in to territory that was now...OFF... LIMITS. Shuffling him out the door was her next objective. Get. Him. Out... before she did something she knew she would regret.

After he was gone, Brennan was drained. Drained of all energy, defense, pretense... She dusted off her metaphorical brain and resolved herself to get moving. Cleaning would be good. Anything physical would help but cleaning was the most productive activity she could think of. She set out in the kitchen, quickly loading the cups and spoons into the dishwasher. Heading upstairs, she was assaulted by his scent in the guest room doorway. Her eyes were drawn to the nightstand which held his badge and ID. Crossing the room, she picked up the worn, leather case and held it closely to her nose. It smelled of weathered leather and Booth.

Opening the case, she noticed just how old the picture was on his ID. It saddened her to think that he was aging in what seemed like such a short period of time. These past (almost) 10 years had taken a toll on her former partner. She wondered if it was just recently it had shown. Maybe his failed relationship with Hannah had sped up the process. Before thinking it through, Brennan sent a text to Booth offering to drop his items at the Jeffersonian on Tuesday. When her responded that he would be in her neighborhood shortly, panic set in. She couldn't have him back... not so soon. Her facade was in need of some repair. She changed his determination by suggesting she deliver it to him, instead.

Brennan mentally kicked herself for contacting him! She just showed him that she had his number! She had removed his speed dial not long after the severing of the partnership. Her place in his life had been erased and she deleted his number. Surely it was a sign of weakness to let him know she still had it memorized. Vowing to not slip yet again, Brennan got ready to head in to DC. She had things to do, and errands to run before delivering his property.

Brennan hesitated before knocking. In a whirlwind, he had opened the door and asked her to come in. Against her better judgement, she allowed herself to be ushered in to his home. She stopped abruptly at the entryway, only to have him encourage her further in. She knew it was a bad decision, but agreed to dinner. She was somewhat confused that Booth would be serving vegetarian lasagna, but acquiesced. The wine he offered would help.

The air seemed sucked from the room momentarily as she wandered around the living room looking at his adornments. The blend of memorabilia and nostalgia gave her a sense of comfort. It didn't look much different than the last time she had been here... so very long ago now. She snapped out of her reverie when he announced dinner. The safe topic of conversation was Parker. He was a busy child and in a high growth age group... the years were marked with great strides in education,sports, maturity, and physical changes. Out of the blue, Booth blindsided her with a comment that lead her to reveal that she and Parker had an arrangement during her hiatus from Booth. Things were quickly getting out of control and Brennan wasn't sure she could stop the flood gates of her emotions. She needed and exit and it needed to be fast.

The sanctuary her car provided was little shelter from the wave of emotion that swept over Brennan. She was able to compose herself enough to drive to Angela and Hodgin's home. There was nothing she could do to stop the outpouring words expressing grief, shame, love and hate. She spoke to them until she relieved herself of the taunting emotions that caused her to remove herself from his home so quickly.

Without any protest, she allowed herself to be tucked in a guest room. She slept.