Sorry, i post the wrong chapter, so here is the correct one. Sorry if i confun you guys!!! :-(

Chapter #25:

Brennan waited anxiously for him. She knew that it was time, but she just couldn't wait any longer. She had been waiting, ready for him for almost a full hour. He was going to pick her up, and she did not know what to do, or how to act with him. A soft knock took her out of her wandering state. She stood up and walked towards the door. It was him. She took in a breath when she saw him. He had a black suit with a black shirt without a tie, and the three upper buttons open.

He almost felt backwards when she opened the door. Her hair was straight and was pulled back, her dress fell to her knees. The dress is an empire waist dress with a deep v-neck with bold stripes in the frame and abstract prints. The dress was black, gray and white.

After surviving both first impressions, they became aware that their clothes matched and laughed at the situation.

"This is for you." Said Booth as he gave her a red tulip. "I know that this is not your favorite, but I thought that something new would be good."

"Thanks, it's beautiful." She said as she looked delighted to the flower.

"Shall we go?" He asked, giving her his arm.

She agreed with him and took her purse, placed the tulip in a vase on the dinning room and after closing the door, she grabbed his arm and directed their steps into the elevator.

Booth opened the SUV door for her. She felt happy, but nervous. He let her select the place. She decided to go to the small Italian restaurant near the FBI. He already knew that this would be the time for both of them to talk, so that seemed to be a great place. The maitre showed them a small table that was located far enough from the live music on the restaurant. They both sat and after ordering their meals an uncomfortable silence came between them and Booth decided to break it.

"Dr. Brennan, I know that you want to know. I must admit that you amused me." After talking with Julia and reading her diary, he decided to let her enter in his life, but was not quite sure how deep he could allow her to enter. He still loved her, but he couldn't allow her to break him again like she did. He was quite sure of what he wanted and knew that she did not knew yet.

"Because..." She smiled shyly at him.

"You had been quite sweet during the past few weeks. I mean in the past, you would be over my head trying to get the answers you wanted." Brennan's smile became wider and she nodded silently.

"You were right, people do change." She replied simply and looked at her hands.

Booth knew she was nervous, and that she wanted to ask him questions. He let out a light sigh and decided to open himself a little to her.

"So, what do you want to know?" He said and she looked at him puzzled. "I promise I will answer all of your questions. But be kind with me." He added, still looking at her.

"I don't know what to ask." She said averting her eyes from him.

"Alright, let me help you." Booth let out a breath and moved in the chair.

"As you can see, many things have changed. Maybe the biggest change were the kids. After I had the promotion, I got Parker more often with me. Well, during that time, Rebecca married Drew, and she became pregnant with Amelia." Brennan looked amazed at Booth's declaration and he smiled. By now she knew that Amelia was Rebecca's, but still she had thought that Booth was her father.

"I was appointed as her godfather. I was very happy with that. I had imagined myself only with Parker, so having a little girl near me was very new." Brennan watched his expression turning into sadness suddenly and she knew that he was going to tell her what she wanted to know since she returned. Seeing his pain, she instinctively reached for his hand over the table and he smiled at her.

"They were going to the zoo one Saturday morning and a SUV collided with their car. Rebecca and Drew died in the scene, but Parker and Amelia survived. Amelia was fine, but Parker was in the hospital for 3 days. During that time, I learned that Rebecca and Drew appointed me in a will as the legal guardian of Amelia, if I wanted her. After reading a note that she left and speaking with her lawyer I decided to adopt her as my daughter. And so after a few ups and down, I got two little persons with me." Booth spoke with his eyes closed and only opened them when the story was finished.

Brennan remained speechless at the story. She did not know what to say.

"I'm sorry." Was the only thing she managed to say.

"What for?" He asked.

"For everything, for leaving, for all of this..." She started talking fast and Booth stopped her.

"This was not your fault." He said seriously before she could give him some of her anthropological speeches.

"I know, but I hurt you." Her voice was filled with emotion as she lowered her head.

"It's true." He said simply in a calm voice.

"You're mad at me. You must hate me." She tried for it to sound like a question but it turned out as statement.

"No Dr. Brennan, I don't hate you, and I am mad at me, not you." Brennan looked into his eyes and saw the pain that he held inside.

"But I..." Again she tried to explain herself, but Booth talked and she stopped.

"I should know from the beginning that you were going to leave. I was the one that was wrong. I should have never told you my feelings. Sometimes you love alone. And that is what happened here. I loved alone, but my love was not enough for both of us. I understand that now." He finally was able to take off the heavy weight he had on his chest. For the first time in a long time, he felt free.

"But..."

Again, Booth calm voice restrained her from talking.

"Dr. Brennan, I know the reasons that made you leave. And I understand it. Trust me. You were clear with me from the beginning; you didn't want to be involved with me. I was the one that always believed that between the two of us existed something else, but I was wrong. Like usual." Booth let out a low laugh. "Don't blame yourself for things that happened in the past. I had regretted many things in my life but loving you was not one of them. I just want you to be happy, even if it is without me."

Brennan couldn't believe what she was hearing; he was letting her go, as she had done with him. But his tone was sad, almost a pledge. He was quitting but she was not doing the same this time, she will fight.