A/N: Ack! Didn't realize so much time had passed. Sorry again. On another note, today marks the one year anniversary of this story's first post! Yay! I'm so very, very proud of this fic! Ok, I think that's enough tooting my own horn. Brennan's dream is in italics; please enjoy!

Chapter 34: Hope

He walked. He didn't know where; he just walked, fingering the ring box that had been shoved back into his pocket. He felt alone, empty, and utterly humiliated. Why didn't things ever turn out as they should? Instead of being happily engaged he was wandering aimlessly through the streets, feeling like some loser reject…again. When would he learn? No one wanted to marry him. He was unmarriable…if that was even a word. Bones would know.

He shook his head and slumped down on an available park bench. How long had he been walking? Hours probably. He'd promised to come back, but not now. He couldn't face her. Not tonight. Maybe by tomorrow it would hurt less. Experience told him that, no, it wouldn't, but he couldn't run away. Not again. It was his fault after all. He had known how she felt about marriage. She hadn't kept that fact a secret from him. A drop of moisture hit the top of his head and his hand immediately went to the spot. Rain, the perfect addition to the evening. As the drops grew more frequent, he debated staying outside and getting drenched. He deserved it.

Then he took a look around his rain soaked surroundings. Maybe he hadn't been aimlessly wandering after all. His subconscious, or whatever was at work here, had led him across the street from a familiar building. He had been walking for a long time. Which meant that, hopefully, she would be home. He felt more lonely than he had in a long time, and a part of him reveled in it, loved the self pity, but another part of him didn't want to be alone, not tonight. So, he got off the bench and walked across the street, barely feeling the cold wind blow rainwater harshly across his face.

Olivia sat in her hotel room, watching a crappy made for TV movie while awaiting the pizza delivery guy. Ten more minutes, she thought, and her pizza would be free. The rain pounded the window outside and she felt regret at making the pizza guy go out into such weather. No one should be out in this. She'd give him a good tip, make it worth his while. Stretching across the bed, she threw her arms out to the sides, a reminder that she was alone, and wondered how her partner was doing. Most likely he was basking in the glow from the engagement ring that was probably sitting on Dr. Brennan's finger right now. She rolled her eyes at her thoughts and attempted to focus on the TV.

The knock on her door brought her eyes away from the clichéd plot being played out onscreen. Another glance at her watch told her the pizza guy was right on time. Jumping up from the bed she strode to the door and opened it, fighting against the biting wind which threatened to close it again.

"Hey there Sweetie." Brennan's head snapped to the direction the voice had come from.

"Angela? What are you doing back here? I'm sorry, but I really wanted to be left alone right now."

"You're dreaming. You fell asleep after crying your eyes out and here I am."

"I'm dreaming about you?"

"Not exactly. I'm a manifestation of that part of your mind you never listen to" Dream Angela sat on a couch which appeared behind her and patted the spot next to her. "Please sit down."

Brennan did. "I know what you're going to say."

"You do?"

"Well, yes. You're representing a part of my mind, therefore I know exactly what you're going to say because a part of my mind is thinking it."

"Ok, so enlighten me. What am I going to tell you?"

"That I should take back what I said to Booth and marry him."

"That sums it up pretty well."

"I can't though Ange. I've been against the institution of marriage for a long time. To go against my beliefs now would just be wrong."

"Yes, but look at what you're doing to Booth. You know he's heart broken right now."

"I know and that's why I'm wondering if I'm really the best thing for him. It seems like I only hurt him."

"You know that's not true." Dream Angela put an arm around her shoulders. "You've made him very happy and I know you know that because I wouldn't be able to say it if you didn't think it."

"I just don't know Ange."

"I think you do. Look, would it really be so bad to be married to Booth. Think about it. Booth." She gently shook Brennan's shoulders and gave her a small smile. "And we both know you've been thinking about it on and off. Mrs. Temperance Booth."

Brennan shook her head. "Absolutely not! I keep my name, no matter what."

Angela scoffed. "You would in the end, sure, but that doesn't mean it hasn't floated through your brain once or twice. It's like junior high, remember? Derek Stonner? You wrote Mrs. Temperance Stonner all over your notebooks. Remember?" She nudged Brennan playfully. "Tempe Stonner? You remember?"

"Yes, I remember. Although I'd rather not."

"Point being, names aside, you would still be you. Your own person. You wouldn't have to give up any part of yourself. You'd be the same Dr. Temperance Brennan that you are now, and you know it. That sound familiar to you?"

Brennan nodded. Dream Angela continued. "It's like you and motherhood. You're not taking away from any part of yourself. You're only adding another dimension. If you can be Temperance Brennan, forensic anthropologist, crime fighter, and mother, then you can also add 'wife' to that list with no problems. Besides, it's just vows, rings, and a piece of paper. You can do that."

"Exactly my point. There's no real purpose in us getting married. I mean, what's the difference between what Booth and I have now, and marriage besides those things you just mentioned?"

"The difference, sweetie, is that Booth wants those things, and you know it. And that makes all the difference in the world. It'll mean everything to him, and deep down, you know it would mean everything to you. You're just scared of what it all means."

"No, I'm not."

"I'm essentially you, remember? Don't try to deny it. I know you."

Brennan gave a shaky nod of her head. "Then, yes, I am scared." She looked at Dream Angela. "Very well. I'll consider it."

"Thank you! I can picture it now. A big wedding, with all the trappings!"

"I haven't said 'yes' yet, and besides, I don't think I'd want a big wedding."

"Oh, yes you do! You want the decorations, the huge wedding cake, the priest, the sappy vows, the awesome reception, the bridesmaids, the hot wedding night; all of it."

"This dream is frustrating me. I can't keep anything from you."

Then wake up!"

Brennan sat up from her position on the couch. The upholstery underneath her head was still damp from tears and she swiped a fist across her eyes, irritated at her weakness. But, then again, wasn't she allowed that from time to time? She placed a hand on her belly and rubbed. "Well baby, it looks like I'm considering marriage, or, at least, engagement. You've certainly turned my life upside down." She looked at the clock. It was past eleven. He'd said he was coming back, so where was he?

She was about to call him when she noticed his phone resting in the charger on the coffee table. Thunder boomed from outside, making her jump at its suddenness. He was out there, somewhere. If he had to be by himself to think about things, then she hoped he'd at least found someplace nice and dry.

Olivia opened the door to reveal a drenched pizza man holding a soggy box out to her.

"Isn't there supposed to be a cover of some sort to put the box in?" she asked. She'd take it anyway, and deal with soggy pizza. She was just that hungry. She paid the guy, told him to keep the change, and closed the door, locking it securely before settling back on the bed with the wet box. A burst of thunder and lightning made the earth shake and illuminated the outdoors briefly before the hotel, and the rest of the area was engulfed in darkness. Perfect. Alone, wet pizza, and now no crappy movie. Olivia sighed, took a bite of pizza in the dark, and hoped nothing would spill on the bedspread.

Angela was lighting candles around her apartment when she heard her knocker rapping against the wooden barrier. Immediately on alert, she scurried to the kitchen and pulled out a large frying pan. If it was robbers, she'd give them a surprise or two. She raised an eyebrow. Did robbers knock? Concluding that, maybe they did if they wanted to lull you into a false sense of security, Angela made her way slowly to the door, unlocking it and then swinging the door open quickly, pan held at the ready. She lowered the cooking implement in surprise.

"Booth?

The man in question looked down at the puddle of water forming on the carpet in front of her door.

"Yea."

"Oh, my god! You're drenched! Come in!" Trying to ignore the water dripping all over her clean carpet, Angela shut the door behind him and went back to the kitchen to put the pan away. "Take your shoes off please," she ordered. Looking back at him, she noticed he was shivering. The evenings were still a little chilly, despite the impending summer and throwing aside concern for her furniture she directed him to sit while she fetched a blanket and a hot cup of coffee.

"Thanks," he replied quietly as the blanket was draped over his shoulders and the steaming cup handed to him. Angela took a seat in the recliner next to the couch and eyed him up and down, making sure he was comfortable, or at least, as comfortable as he was going to get.

"Why are you here?" she asked directly, noticing he hadn't met her eyes since she'd opened the door. She softened her tone and took his hand, warmed by the coffee cup. "I know you're probably feeling embarrassed about what happened." Before she could continue, he cut her off, his voice incredulous.

"Probably?!"

"Ok, definitely. But, you can't hide from Brennan or me or anyone else for that matter. It happened. It's awful and so not what I wanted for you guys, but it's over."

"I never wanted everyone to be there, and then to have you all see that... I think I'm going to kill Zach."

"Zach meant well. He always does. But he's like a walking, talking, bad luck charm sometimes. And he has the worst timing of anyone I've ever met."

"Got that right."

"Look at me." When he raised his eyes up to hers, he found only compassion in their depths. "Brennan loves you. She does. She's just having a hard time with the whole thing. Everything's changing for her, so fast, and it's overwhelming her. She has no control in this situation right now. She has no control over when the baby's going to come, over your feelings for her, and over hers for you. The one thing she did have control over tonight, was her response to you. And her views on marriage dictated that response. She didn't want to hurt you; that much I'm sure of, but she's scared of what's happening, and let her scientific thoughts override the emotion I know she feels for you. The scientific is where she feels the most comfortable, the most secure. And it's gonna take time and a lot of soul searching on her part, to get over that hurdle. You with me?"

"I'm with you. I shouldn't have gone through with it at all. I was only setting myself up. I just…thought it'd be different, ya know?"

"I know. And it still could be. She's fighting with herself over this, I know it. We just need to wait and see which side wins out." She gave him a Look. "And never, ever, regret for a second that you went ahead and asked her. You are different, and she knows it. Deep down, she does." She patted his knee. "I think you're staying here tonight. I refuse to be burdened by guilt if you go back out there and catch pneumonia or something."

"If you say so." The lights snapped back on and Angela breathed a sigh of relief and went around blowing out candles. There was just something about thunderstorms she didn't like. She was secretly glad Booth had shown up. She never liked being alone in the dark with the thunder rumbling outside.

"But I'm going to call Brennan, let her know you're all right and safe and still in the continental United States, all right?"

Without waiting for an answer, she picked up the phone and dialed. "Hey sweetie, it's me. Are you ok?" She waited for an answer and the corners of her mouth quirked up at the response. "Good. That storm was awful! I'm so glad the thunder part's over. You know how I am about those. Listen, I found something that belongs to you." At Brennan's answer of 'what' she smirked. "It's tall, has brown hair and brown eyes, and showed up at my door dripping wet….Yep, he's fine, all in one piece."

She glanced over at Booth and winked, attempting to lighten the mood. "I gotta tell you, he looks absolutely delicious wet. I might just have to keep him." She smiled delightfully at the response she got. "Seriously, though, he's gonna stay over. I don't wanna send him back out while it's still raining. I'll send him back to you in the morning, I promise. Cross my heart, hope to die."

After saying 'good night' and hanging up the phone, she turned to Booth. "Ok, you've thoroughly drenched my couch, so I won't make you stay on that. I have a sleeping bag left over from my camping days. You can sleep in that on the floor. That work?"

"Thanks Angela."

"As though I had a choice," she said teasingly, a smile on her lips. "Ok, I need to wash your clothes and get them dry for tomorrow, so get into the bathroom and strip." Her smile grew wicked momentarily. "I never thought I'd be saying that to you in a million years."

"Angela…"

"Oh, god, I'm embarrassing you! You're blushing!"

"Am not!" came the indignant reply.

"Honey, your face is beet red. Now, go! Pass me your clothes and…" she thought for a moment. "I might have something you can wear."

"Might?"

"Ok, I do. Don't ask why, it's a long story." She watched him disappear into the bathroom and went across the hall to her bedroom and to her closet. In the very back hung a pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt. She grabbed them both and went back to the bathroom where a hand gripping a pile of wet clothes was sticking out from the crack in the door. She took them and thrust the dry items into the waiting hand. "I'll be right back," she said going back to her small utility room. The extra rent money was worth it to have a washer and dryer. She wasn't a big fan of Laundromats.

"I'm not wearing this shirt."

"Well you're not going without either. I can't promise I'll be able to control myself." She giggled at that. She loved doing this to him. He knew she was joking but it never stopped his face from turning that lovely shade of crimson.

"Cut it out! What would Bones think?"

"Oh, stop it and let me have my fun. Brennan doesn't care. We talked about it. She thinks your reactions are hilarious, as do I. Besides, you know you're hot."

"I do?"

"Yes, you do. Now, put the shirt on." She started the washer and came back, laughing out loud as she saw him scowling in the black shirt, the word 'Man-ho' printed on it in neon green letters.

"How did you come by this shirt again?"

"I told you; don't ask," she said between giggles. "At least it fits…barely." She grinned wickedly and disappeared back into her bedroom, returning with the rolled up sleeping bag. "Here ya go. I'd love to stay up and gossip, but it's late." Smiling softly at him, she wrapped her arms around him, giving him a hug. "She'll come around. I love you both and I personally will not stop until she's walking down that aisle in a virginal white gown."

"Thanks Angela," he said again.

"Don't mention it. Now, get some sleep. You can't be all growly with dark circles under your eyes when you go back to Brennan." She released him and padded back to her bedroom to get some sleep, shutting the lights off on her way.

Booth spread the sleeping bag out on the floor, taking the pillows from the corners of the couch and relaxing his head against them. The ring box was resting in the pocket of the sweatpants and when he rolled over it dug into his side uncomfortably. He pulled it out, opened it and stared at the ring in the pale moonlight shining through the open slats of the blind at the window. Hopefully, soon, it would rest on his love's finger, a testament of their feeling for one another. Soon.

A/N: Thank you so, so much everyone for reading thus far. We still have a ways to go, and hopefully I'll be posting again soon. My semester will be starting to wind down over the next month, so I'm thinking I'll have more time. Thanks again for the responses!