Like ships in the night
You keep passing me by
Just wasting time
Trying to prove who's right
And if it all goes crashing into the sea
If it's just you and me
Trying to find the light

Like ships in the night letting cannonballs fly
Say what you mean and it turns to a fight
Fists fly from my mouth as it turns south
You're down the driveway
I'm on the couch
Chasing your dreams since the violent fifth grade
Trying to believe in your silent own way
Cause we'll be okay, I'm not going away
Like you watching at fourteen as it went down the drain
Your pops stayed the same and your moms moved away
How many of our parents make it anyway
We're just fumbling through the gray
Trying to find a heart that's not walking away

Turn the lights down low
Walk these halls alone
We can feel so far
From so close

Like ships in the night
You keep passing me by
Just wasting time
Trying to prove who's right
And if it all goes crashing into the sea
Its just you and me
Trying to find the light
Like ships in the night
Your passing me by
Your passing me by
Like ships in the night

I'm at the airport waiting on the second plane
Had to pack you had cramps
And I was late heading to a red carpet
They wont know my name
Riding in silence
All that we wanna say
Bout to board when you call on the phone
You say I'm sorry I'll be waiting at home
Feels like we're burning this out on our own
Trying to find our way down a road we don't know

Turn the lights down low
Walk these halls alone
We can feel so far
From so close

Like ships in the night
You keep passing me by
Just wasting time
Trying to prove who's right
And if it all goes crashing into the sea
Its just you and me
Trying to find the light
Like ships in the night
Your passing me by
Your passing me by
Like ships in the night

I'm gonna find my way
Back to your side
[X2]

Like ships in the night
You keep passing me by
Just wasting time
Trying to prove who's right
And if it all goes crashing into the sea
Its just you and me
Trying to find the light
Like ships in the night
Your passing me by
Your passing me by
Like ships in the night

Ships In The Night by Mat Kearney - this story's theme song - give me a listen ;0)

Ch. 30

Booth walked out into the waiting room of the ICU to make a call while Brennan was asleep. He was at a loss of what to do, of what to think? Bones thought they were married and had a daughter. They weren't, hell he had just lost his fiancé. Though, he had woke from his coma believing they were married and Bones was pregnant…huh, what was it with them?

He wished she had awakened and remembered everything. Remembered their past relationship, which led to their, oh so complex present one. He never wanted anything so much as to have Bones wake up in love with him. Though, not if it meant she forgot how she came to love him, because they had traveled the, long, long winding path less taken to get where they were now. It was worth every step too.

That is wherever they were now. Their relationship had taken yet another turn down the winding path when Brennan returned and Hannah had passed. Their relationship had been nothing but twists and turns from the day Brennan admitted to Booth she loved him. They had started out slow, the logs creaking and moaning, but never breaking. They were never able to make it that far, never able to break through the dams iron clad wall.

For one night Booth found out Hannah was pregnant. He told Bones that Hannah had just found out she was four months. She didn't cry, he didn't cry. Though, when Booth walked out of her apartment closing the door behind him, he remembered hearing her fall to her knees and cry racking sobs. He remembered as he walked down the halls of her apartment that he cried too, and by the time he made it down stairs he was a disaster.

He remembered it all, and he wished he could forget that night. The night that he basically shot a bullet through her heart and told her not to cry. He would do anything to take it back, but he couldn't. He never would because then he wouldn't have Ashley.

Speaking of Ashley Booth looked up to see the little girl running full speed toward him. He opened his arms just in time as she crashed into him. He put his cell away no longer needing to call Angela.

"Daddy!" Ashley yelled. "I missed you!" she smiled.

Ashley crawled into Booth's lap and Angela, Hodgins, and Piper watched as Booth hugged his little princess as tight as he could. "I missed you two Ashley." Booth said as he placed a kiss on her crown.

"Did Auntie Bwen waked up now?" Ash asked curious.

Booth stood up and locked eyes with Angela. He looked down to Ashley answering her, "Yes, baby she did."

"That's good!" Ashley said, but Angela could see the hesitant look on Booth's face. The look that said, she is awake, but we still aren't out of the woods yet. Hodgins looked at Angela then to Booth.

"Okay, big guy she is up. What aren't you telling us?" asked Angela.

Booth's voice became low and took a step toward Angela glancing at Piper and Ash who were busy talking about something or other. "She thinks Ashley is her daughter and I'm her husband-"

"Oh God, what is it with you two? Did Bren just jump into your coma dream and pop out the kid you dreamt she was pregnant with?" Angela tried to make light of the situation.

"Angela, she doesn't remember she is an anthropologist. Hell she thinks you are still a struggling artist selling your paintings for cheap." Booth said.

"Oh God." Angela brought her hand to her mouth.

Booth looked at Hodgins, "I don't even think she knows who anyone at the Jeffersonian is besides you Ange. She didn't remember that you were married or that you had Piper. She thinks she is a NY times bestselling author. She doesn't remember any of our cases." Booth said.

"What does she remember of you?" asked Hodgins.

Booth exhaled, "She claims the only thing she is sure of is that she is in love with me."

Hodgins was silent. Booth and Brennan had never openly admitted this to anyone. "Did she asked who you were when she woke up?" asked Hodgins

"No, she knew I was her partner. Though, I think she meant it as in husband. I tried to tell her we were just close friends and not married, but she didn't belie-" Booth started but Angela cut him off.

"You what?" Angela asked in a stern whisper. "You know full and well you love her and she loves you studley." Angela rolled her eyes, "At least one of you remembers the important stuff in life."

"Angela I couldn't let her think we were more. She already thinks we are married and have a daughter." Booth argued.

"Gee, I can't imagine why her brain would have thought that up?" Angela said sarcastically and Hodgins chuckled, Booth shot him a glance and he stopped laughing.

Booth exhaled and looked at the two little girls playing. Then back up at Angela and Booth, "The doctor said it could take a couple of weeks for her to get her memory back. It is normal for her to be dazed or confused at first. The brain is still an intricate complex enigma to man and does what it wants. He said stories of comatose patients past could help trigger memories and that she should continue in her old routine, as it may help as well." Booth said.

"Well what are you going to do?" asked Angela

"I'm going to start at the beginning." Booth exhaled.

Angela sized him up as Hodgins eyes grew a bit, "You can't leave out the bad time either Mister. You didn't mean too, but Hannah, that whole – it was nobody's fault I'm not saying it was. But you hurt her, she needs to remember that her heart is capable of a break like that." Angela said.

"Angela, I would never use her memory lapse to my advantage. Do you really think that I would do that?" Booth defended himself.

Angela exhaled hanging her head and picking it up again, "I'm sorry, I just...She doesn't even remember Hodgins or Piper or what she does for a living." Angela said in her defense.

Booth shook his head running his hand through his hair. Angela's eyes were a bit watery, "What about the girls? What about Ash?" Angela asked, "she is going to want to visit her. Bren thinks she is her mother." Angela said.

"Bones will be okay with it. She said she can accept she is a doctor, that Ashley is not hers, that you are married, and that you work at the Jeffersonian doing facial reconstructions." Booth said leaving out the last sentence Bones had said to him.

Hodgins rubbed at his forehead, "God she doesn't even remember what she loves most." Hodgins said speaking of her job.

"Oh, she remembers." Angela said, "she remembers all too well. I just don't know how you are going to pull this off Booth." Angela said, "Hodgins is right, you are going to have to start at the beginning with Ashley being around – visiting her. Even I seeing her, it may confuse her." Angela said. "It's going to be hard."

Hodgins added quietly, "The doctor didn't guarantee that she would regain memory in two weeks."

"I'm bringing her home with Ashley and I and I will help her to remember. She helped me and Ash it's the least I can do." Booth said sternly.

"What about the lab?" Hodgins asked, "She doesn't remember her work, she won't be able to work."

Booth thought a moment, "The doctor said the best thing for her is to go back to her old routine and that stories of her old life could trigger her memory, right?" Booth asked.

Angela and Hodgins nodded yes.

"I'm bringing her to the lab, she can hang out and watch you work Ange." Booth said.

"Okay, but Booth what if Bren doesn't like anthropology anymore?" Angela asked.

Ashley tugged on Booth's pants and he looked down, "Daddy can Pipaw and me visit Auntie Bwen now?"

Booth looked to Angela and Angela answered, "One at a time?" she looked at Booth.

"Yeah, one at a time for today. Auntie Bren still needs to rest baby." Booth said and Angela agreed. Their previous conversation was put on hold.

Booth picked Ashley up and walked toward Bones' room, "Now Auntie Brennan-" but Booth stopped, he didn't know how to explain to her Brennan thought she was her daughter without doing it at the same time. So he didn't, it would all work out. He had told Bones she wasn't and she believed him. He had a hard time digesting the lack of faith Angela had in him. He could do this. He would be able to get her memory back. They would do it together, just like they always did everything.

"Auntie Bwen what?" Ash said looking at him.

"Nothing." Booth said as the automatic doors opened for them.

"Hey Bones, look who I brought to visit you." Booth said.

"Auntie Bwen!" Ash smiled, "Yous all better now? Did Daddy kiss you all better like in Sleeping Beauty?"

Brennan looked to Booth confused, both about the kiss and who Sleeping Beauty was. "Sleeping Beauty is-" Booth started.

"Can I sit on the bed next to you Auntie Bwen?" Ash asked and Brennan and Ash looked to Booth for an answer.

"Uh, yeah, just be careful of her tummy. She broke her ribs." Booth explained as he set his daughter down on the bed next to Brennan.

"I broked mine too, member? You helped me all better though and now I will help you." Ash smiled brightly at Bones then pointed at her IV in her hand. "I had one of those too." Ashley said. "Does it huwt?"

Brennan smiled at Ashley then threw a smile at Booth, "No, it doesn't. How are you Ash?"

"I'm good, I stayed at Auntie Angela's with Piper and Hodgie while you were westing." Ashley said, "How are you, feeling betteh now? When awe you coming home?"

Brennan looked to Booth again. She lived with him, but wasn't married or dating him? Hodgie must have been Angela's husband? Most likely.

"I…I'm unsure Ash, baby." Brennan smiled and looked to Booth then back into Ashley's eyes. Ashley smiled as well and held her little palm up to Brennan's cheek.

"S'kay, you come home soon? Yous hafa come to my biwfday pawty." Ash smied at Brennan assuring her.

Brennan locked eyes with Booth they shared one of those more than friends glances that she was so sure was real and deep. She looked back to Ashley addressing her, "What kind of party are you having Ash?"

Ashley shrugged her shoulders, "I dunno, a pwincess one!" Ashley smiled and Brennan reached out and tucked a strand of Ashley's hair behind her ear.

"I think a princess party is a fine choice Ash, although, you need to have a queen at your party as well as a king and of course a castle as well." Brennan explained.

Ashley thought about it, "You could be da queen and daddy could be da king and Auntie Angela and Hodgie's house is big like a castle!" Ashley said excited of the idea.

Brennan yawned and Ashley asked if she could lie down next to her. Booth started to protest, but Brennan had already made room for the pint sized princess now resting at her side, drifting off into a dream world known only to her. Booth smiled at the two people he loved most.

Brennan looked to Booth, "Why did Ashley say she wanted me to come home? Do we live together?" She saw Booth tense, "We do don't we? The three of us live together?" Brennan asked. "How long Booth?"

"Bones, it's not like that." Booth started.

"Then please explain to me what it is exactly like?" asked Brennan.

Back to the beginning, thought Booth. "Okay, but you have to let me explain, just listen. Okay?"

Brennan nodded yes and Booth began. "You were on a dig in Australia and came back to the states the same night Ashley's mom died. Her name was Hannah. Anyway, Hannah and Ashley were in a car accident, Hannah didn't make it." Booth inhaled and exhaled continuing, "But Ashley did. Angela called you and you came straight from the airport to the hospital to help out. You walked right in the room and asked to see Ashley's chart and x-ray's. You diagnosed her with some sort of intestinal perforation that the doctors missed." Booth was quiet looking deeper into Bones' blue eyes, "She probably wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you. To get to the point when Ash came out of surgery the doctor said it would be best if I had someone to help manage her perforation."

"Me?" Brennan guessed.

"Yes, you offered to do it and we went home with you that night." Booth said and Brennan nodded her head wrapping her head around this.

"When did Hannah pass away?" Brennan asked quietly.

"It's going on five months." Booth said and Brennan nodded.

"What was I doing in Australia on a dig? Do I normally go on digs?" Brennan asked and Booth inhaled and nodded no.

"You haven't gone on any digs for about five years. Well you were gone when Ashley was two so really it's been like three years, kind of." Booth said.

"Then what made me go on this dig or digs it seems I went on two since Ashley was born?" Brennan asked, honestly curious.

Booth was quiet and nodded yes, while looking at his hands which he was rubbing together. "Yeah, one in Maluku and the other in Australia." When he looked up his eyes were red rimmed. Brennan was instantly concerned, "Booth, what's…" and then she understood the unsaid.

"I left because of you?" Brennan asked and Booth nodded yes.

"Bones, just…" Booth started.

"No, no Booth. You said you would help me remember, what happened before Maluku? What happened that caused me to leave?" Brennan asked forcefully.

"I told you I loved you, in front of the Hoover. That you had and always would be the one and that I just knew." Booth said and Brennan nodded.

"And Australia?" Brennan asked.

"When you left for Maluku I left for Afghanistan and I met someone-" Booth started.

"Hannah." Brennan said.

"You remember?" Booth asked.

"It was obvious seeing as how you said Hannah was Ashley's mom's name." Brennan said.

Booth nodded an okay, "Before Australia, before Ashley. Hannah and I broke up a few times, we took a break Bones. It was a rocky relationship, and for a while…" Booth glanced to his hands letting his voice trail off.

"For a while what Booth?"

"Daddy?" Ashley rubbed at her eyes as she stirred awake, "Auntie Bwen?" Ashley smiled glad to see her Aunt and her dad.

"Hey sweetie, did you wake up?" asked Booth.

"Obviously she did Booth, she is awake." Said Bones.

"I'm hungwy Auntie Bwen." Ashley said as she rubbed at her eyes.

"Ok, your daddy will get you something or do you want to see if Auntie Angela can bring it up to the room?" asked Brennan

"Auntie Ange and Pipah." Ashley smiled.

"Okay." Brennan smiled and Ashley lay back down her head rest in Brennan's shoulder. Booth smiled, he was frustrated that their conversation had been cut short, but knew that he would have to have some faith and patience to make it through this.

Soon Angela walked through the automatic doors. "Hey, Munk." Angela said smiling, apprehensive.

"Hi Auntie! Where are Hodgie and Pipah?" asked Ashley.

"They are waiting for us to have lunch with them munk, why don't we hurry up so we don't keep them waiting?" Angela asked hoping Ashley would go willingly and not be upset.

"I want to stay with Auntie Bwen and daddy." Ashley said.

"I know Ashley, but-"

"Ash, listen to Angela. I will see you later, okay?" Brennan said and Ashley smiled at Brennan and climbed into Angela's arms.

"Okay."

"Hey, Bren, you look good sweetie, I will come back in a bit. Just let me get this little monster fed,kay?" Angela said hesitant of Brennan's response to her.

"Angela, Ashley is not a monster. Monster's do not exist and whoever told you they did was wrong." Brennan said and Angela smiled as Ashley giggled.

"See you later sweetie." Angela said turning to leave, "I love you."

"I love you as well Angela and I love you too Ashley." Brennan said.

"Ditto!" Ashley said a large smile plastered on her face as she looked over Angela's shoulder to Brennan and her daddy blowing a kiss. Then just as soon as Angela arrived she left with Ashley. When the doors closed Brennan turned to Booth her eyes red rimmed, tears streaming down her face. Ditto…that one word brought back so many memories.

That one word made a hurricane like wind blow up in heaven, a gust of wind that made Hannah wonder if the storm was over or not. That one word put a halt to everything. Hannah heard a drop in the ocean, the crash of the sea. Memories could be inviting and frightening all at once.

Brennan looked at Booth her voice a solid slow whisper, "It was raining, and I got you a towel. You sat me on the couch and told me Hannah was pregnant. I asked if you were going to ask her to marry you like you did Rebecca, you said you didn't know. I knew, I knew you would and then you kissed me and I kissed you back. Words were lost on me that night, I pretended to be okay, but I wasn't. You left, walked out of my door…closed it." Brennan's tears were fleeting now, streaming down her face faster than she could wipe them away. She looked at Booth staring deeper into his dark orbs.

"You didn't even look back Booth, I waited for you to look back and you didn't even look back!" She cried looking into his tear filled eyes. "I know you thought it was the right thing to do Booth, but I still cared, I still care!"

"I know." Booth was crying as well. "I know Bones." The truth had reared its ugly head for all to see.

"Then why did you say we were just friends?" Brennan's heart was breaking all over again, but this time she not only had to feel it but watch her painful flashbacks as well. "Why didn't you look back?"

"If I looked back I would have never been able to leave Bones…hearing you slide down the back of your door crying, because of me? No. I couldn't take it. Do you not think I didn't cry too? By the time I made it downstairs I was a disaster. It was the worst night of my life, knowing I hurt you like that." Booth said.

"Why did you say we were just friends then? Never mind, I don't need your stupid reasons!" Bones yelled, confused, angry and upset with herself and life in general.

"Bones you thought we had a daughter together and that I was your husband. I didn't think telling you that, oh by the way, we live together and have been involved in the past was the best call at the time." Booth shot back in his defense. "I do want you to remember the past and present – reality, not you're your minds complex fantasy." Booth said.

"Well it seems to me my reality and my complex fantasies aren't that much different." Brennan said her tears starting to slow, mostly dried angry tracks on her cheeks remained.

"Exactly Bones, which is why I didn't tell you, I want you to remember reality. Do you remember who Hannah is? Do you remember Hodgins and Piper? Do you remember that life at all?" Booth asked.

"Stop yelling at me! It's not my fault I don't remember!" Brennan shouted.

Booth stood up and turned around then faced Brennan, "Damn it Bones this is hard on me too, okay? It's hard on me too."

Her big eyes stared back into his as her bottom lip trembled. She looked away breaking their stare first.

"I'm sorry Bones, I didn't mean to-" Booth started.

"Just…just leave Booth…It's what everyone always does anyway." Bones said and Booth nodded solemnly in understanding. She needed her space, so he walked out of the automatic doors in silence. Brennan watched him walk away and then the flood gates opened as tears fell like rain down her cheeks. She let herself fall back onto the hospital pillow and kicked the side panel on her bed. She cried for all that was and all that wasn't, all she remembered and all she couldn't. She cried because deep down she really wanted was him here holding her and telling her it would all be okay.

Booth walked briskly down the corridor and found the soda machine. He held it together, bought a soda and then broke. He cried kicking and hitting the machine, for yesterdays, today, Hannah, Ashley, and Bones.

Bones…he never meant to hurt her damn it! He slid down the side of the machine and sat crying his head in his hands. This was hard on him too! Who did she think he was? He didn't have all the answers! He didn't know what was best! He didn't lie, he said they were just friends, but he never lied to her! How was this any different from when she told him he needed protection from her? He wasn't perfect! He didn't know how to handle everything that was being thrown at him! Damn it Bones!

Hannah looked down through the holes in the floor of heaven. She frowned, because this wasn't how it was supposed to end. She knew Temperance wouldn't remember limbo, for not many people who are comatose and visit limbo or heaven ever remember it or the people that visited them when they were comatose. Though, she at least expected Temperance to at least remember her job and the people she worked with. Hannah had to smile at the memory her little girl had jogged with the word Temperance had taught her, ditto.

They were so far yet so close to finding their way back to one another, two ghost ships in the night. They stubbornly passed each other on the rough seas in silence lost. Their safe harbor, their anchors both absent, lost in the storm they drifted on. They were searching to find them, find their way back home to safety. A safety they found only within one another.

They all just needed to have a little Faith, to be reminded that anything was possible with a little Faith. If Ashley had jogged her memory with one word, Hannah could only imagine how much good countless stories would do her. Now if only she would let Booth tell them to her.

Sooooo what do you think? I was very tired while writing it. Thanks and hope you liked it some :) any questions just ask.