Disclaimers: Don't own Bones or the lyrics...Only for fun...

A/N: Thanks again for reading and reviewing…References to The Man in the Morgue…Sorry for the delay, but London was worth it…Hope this was worth the wait…

Angela watched the two of them during dinner. She didn't know exactly what had happened, but there was something different about Booth and Brennan. To a casual observer it was imperceptible, but her emotional radar was signaling that a shift had occurred. She wasn't sure if they were aware of it, but she could tell. Knowing Booth he probably felt it too. Although, when it came to Brennan, he sometimes had his blinders on, particularly when it came to her feelings about him. While the atmosphere was always charged when they were in close proximity to one another, there seemed to be something more between them. Angela smiled to herself---she knew the wonders the right combination of formal wear and atmosphere could produce. They may not realize it, but she knew they just needed a nudge in the right direction---towards each other.

Dinner was almost over and the entertainment portion of the gala was about to begin. Harry Connick, Jr. was performing as part of the evening's events. His bluesy jazz sound was the perfect compliment to the evening. She knew Brennan enjoyed his music and she could easily picture Booth in a smoky club soaking up the atmosphere, sipping a jack and coke, and smiling that charm smile of his.

She watched as Booth leaned close to Brennan and spoke softly so that only she could hear. She saw Brennan move unconsciously towards him as she listened to his words. They looked like a couple. Their movements were easy, although she thought Brennan looked a little out of sorts. Booth looked relaxed, but determined. Angela wondered about that combination, but hoped Brennan was at the source of it.

The distraction the two provided was welcome. The evening had gone better than she had hoped. She'd expected to feel out of place, but Jack had gone out of his way to make the evening as painless as possible given the circumstances. While a formal event at the Kennedy Center wasn't going to make her Top Ten any time soon, she knew it could have been worse. She still felt like she was being evaluated by the Cantilever board members, but with Booth and Brennan to deflect some of the attention away it was tolerable. She felt Jack take her hand as the lights dimmed. She loved that she still felt his every touch like a mini-shockwave through her body. She met his eyes and smiled before turning her attention to the stage where Harry Connick, Jr. was seated at a grand piano and backed by a big band. He opened with "All These People" from his new album.

As Harry crooned about New Orleans, both Booth and Brennan lost themselves in memories of their time together in the Big Easy. Despite the murder charges brought against her, it had been a turning point in their relationship. Booth had flown down immediately when he heard she was injured. He had risked his career. He had given her back a piece of her mother by returning the earring. Before New Orleans they were partners who had each other's backs. After they were friends who had each other's backs. Now Booth was ready for them to be more. He turned his attention from the stage to Bones. He wondered about the play of emotions across her face. He knew she had been disconcerted by his earlier words, but now that he had decided to find out how she felt, he was just waiting for his next opportunity.

As the band played, Brennan could feel Booth's eyes on her. It wasn't unusual. She was used to him watching her. He was a people watcher, always looking for signs of what people were feeling and thinking, but perhaps not saying. Sometimes she wondered what he saw when he looked at her. She knew she could ask him anything, yet she was reluctant to ask him that. Just as she was hesitant about asking what he meant earlier. She must be learning from him, because even she could tell Booth had been doing more than paying her an idle compliment. Asking Angela was out of the question. Brennan already knew what she would say. She could hear Angela in her head. "Booth wants your next lesson to be more hands on…preferably on each other."

The thought made her smile, but it also made her pause. The idea of being intimate with Booth had crossed her mind. They were both healthy adults and had admitted they found each other comparatively attractive. They spent a tremendous amount of time together and complimented one another---her science tempered his intuition. In some regards, despite the inevitable complications that would result, it seemed to be the next logical step in the evolution of their relationship. Brennan normally dismissed the idea of a relationship with Booth as quickly as it entered her mind, but as she recalled the look in his eyes when he told her she looked beautiful, she knew she couldn't. Her partnership with him had taught her not to discount non-verbal cues. She wasn't anywhere near as adept at deciphering them as Angela or Booth, but Brennan knew there was something more in that look. She wasn't sure what "more" was, but the scientist---and, if she were honest with herself, the woman---inside her wanted to know what "more" meant. Whether or not she wanted to pursue it was another question.

The applause from the audience pulled her from thoughts. She realized she'd missed most of the performance. Glancing around she realized that both Booth and Angela were looking at her knowingly. Before she could say anything, the spotlights around the dance floor turned on. Gala guests began making their way to the area accompanied by an instrumental piece. Ignoring the board members at their table, Hodgins stood and pulled Angela out of her seat. "Come on, Gorgeous, let's show these stiffs how it's done." Despite his teasing words, Jack couldn't take his eyes off her. When Brennan saw the genuine smile on her friends' faces, she couldn't keep a matching one off her own. The two of them deserved all the happiness the world had to offer. One look at Booth's grin as he watched them walk out to the dance floor told her he felt the same way.

Booth stood and offered his hand to her. "What do you say we give them a run for their money, Bones?" Though his tone was light, Brennan again felt that there was more to his request than a simple a dance. Even though she wasn't sure what she was agreeing to, she nodded and put her hand in his. It was Booth after all and she trusted him to have her best interests at heart. Together they made their way to the dance floor and joined the other couples.

Though they had danced together before, Booth's awareness of the woman in his arms was acute now that he was aware of what she meant to him, even if she had no idea. It didn't change the fact that Bones fit perfectly in his arms, but it did make him more determined to try and find out how she felt.

The instrumental number faded out and Harry Connick, Jr. announced that this would be his last song of the night before Big Ray and the Kool Kats took over. He accepted the crowd's applause briefly before launching into "I could write a book".

If they asked me I could write a book

About the way you walk and whisper and look

I could write a preface on how we met

So the world would never forget

And the simple secret of the plot

Is just to tell them that I love you a lot

Then the world discovers as my book ends

How to make two lovers of friends

The song's lyrics were not lost on Booth as his arms tightened instinctively around Bones. She looked up at him in surprise, but didn't say anything. Her gray-blue eyes seemed to search his dark brown ones for a moment before she put her head on his shoulder. He smiled into her hair as they moved wordlessly as one around the dance floor. As the song was ending, Bones broke the silence. "I've heard this song before…"

Booth interrupted automatically. "It's Sinatra, but…" He nodded towards Connick with his head. "He sang it in When Harry Met Sally."

"I know. Angela and I watched it last night. I believe she called it a 'chick flick,' Booth..." She looked at him questioningly, although he could tell from the amused glint in her eyes that she was teasing him.

"So it's a chick flick…I used to have kind of a thing for Meg Ryan." Though he was slightly embarrassed, he tried to cover it with a charm smile and a shrug.

"Used to?" She couldn't resist baiting him. She loved the give and take of their conversations.

Despite knowing her light-hearted intentions, Booth saw an opportunity and decided to take it. "Yeah, used to, Bones. Now I kind of have a thing for brunettes." He wasn't surprised when she tilted her head to the side and considered his response. Just like at dinner, he didn't look away under her examination.

Unlike at dinner, Brennan had a response. With a straight face, she said, "I'm glad to see your taste is improving." Then she winked at him.

Booth couldn't help the chuckle that escaped his lips. He'd expected her to try and sidestep his comment, but not by brazenly flirting with him. He shook his head with amusement. "Must be the company I'm keeping these days." It was his turn to wink and hers to laugh---give and take…yin and yang---Their eyes met and held for a moment. Then the music changed to a quick swing number. Without missing a beat, Booth twirled her and off they went. They spent the rest of the evening just enjoying each other's company. Analyzing meanings and glances could wait; tonight was their chance to just be.