Thank you for your reviews. mphs95, Lauwy, Chyrs (currently don't have a follow-up chapter to this planned), 554Laura, MsNYC, queenbee1711, latetobones, Mel1592, RobinAngelena, LoveShipper, Vmf447, FaithinBones, wentzer, jsboneslover, Poppyblue5 (I agree vehemently with you about that comment about wishing Aubrey arrived in earlier seasons), regbride12, yoshimi0701.

I got inspired to write this after re-watching "The Boy in the Time Capsule."

That Guy

Booth hadn't really wanted to come, but he had received the invitation and it was an opportunity to visit his hometown. He had wanted to show Christine and Hank where he had grown up and Brennan had encouraged him, since they had already attended her High School reunion. This time however, it wasn't because of a case, and this time, they were married, not undercover. The timing was also just right given that the now wrecked Jeffersonian Institute was still being repaired and both Brennan and Booth had some time to themselves.

As Booth walked into the gymnasium of his school, he was suddenly hit by a flood of memories. He had good times here. He had always excelled in sports and that afforded him the status of jock, a coveted title in High School. He spied familiar faces, noting how some of his friends had not aged well. Mentally he was patting himself on his back. From what he could see, the woman on his arm that night was far better looking and more accomplished than any of his friend's partners that night.

"Seeley?" A tall blonde man started towards him.

"Paul" Booth grinned. "Good to see you."

The two men embraced briefly. "Wow look at you, you still look like you're in shape." Paul remarked, patting Booth on the shoulder.

"Yeah you don't look too bad yourself man." Booth replied politely.

Brennan had learnt enough from Booth to know that her husband was being polite. Paul though looking like he had tried to keep from putting on too much weight was sporting the beginnings of what looked like a beer belly and was balding.

"And who's this pretty lady beside you?" Paul asked.

"My wife, Dr Temperance Brennan."

"The writer?" The woman standing beside Paul exclaimed.

"The one and only." Booth grinned proudly.

"I've read all your books. I'm Michelle. Paul's wife."

The two women shook hands.

"Didn't think you'd come to this little shindig. You being a big shot FBI Agent and all. I read about you in the news."

"Look I'm just a field agent who does his job, that's all."

"An Agent who does his job rather well too." Brennan quickly added.

"Bones, this is Paul. We used to be on the football team together."

"Bones?" Paul laughed.

"I have reminded him numerous times not to call me that but he insists." Brennan clarified.

"I actually think she likes it," Booth chuckled.

"I do not, Seeley." Brennan rolled her eyes.

"You two are so cute around each other. Still have that newly-wed vibe. Just married?" Michelle asked.

"We've been married for five years now." Brennan replied. "Though, we're still very much in love."

"Bones." Booth hissed.

"That's nothing to be embarrassed about. It's so sweet. You hear that Paul? You should take a hint from your friend. He seems very romantic."

Paul laughed. "Good ol' Seeley, he's always been a ladies' man. Good looks and all."

"Oh-ho no. I'm strictly a one woman kinda guy."

"You guys have any kids?" Michelle asked.

"Yeah three, two with Bones and my oldest, Parker, he lives with his Mom in England."

Booth pulled out his phone, proudly showing off pictures of his three children.

"Seeley Booth?" A high-pitched squeal could be heard and the sound of heels against the hardwood gym floors approached them. A shapely blonde woman seemed to materialise out of the crowd.

"Vanessa?"

The tall blonde threw herself into Booth's arms.

"It's so good to see you." Vanessa said she planted a kiss to Booth's cheek before stepping back. "I didn't think you'd come."

"Right?" Paul said.

"Well here I am." Booth shrugged. He turned to Brennan. "Bones this is Vanessa."

"Vanessa Taylor?"

"Seeley told you about me?" Vanessa asked. "I'm flattered."

"First time under the bleachers."

"Bones!" Booth hissed again. He had forgotten the little fact that he had mentioned that incident to her so many years ago, while they were still partners.

Paul burst out laughing. "That's okay Seeley. Vanessa doesn't mind. Everyone knew about you and your many girlfriends in High School. I'm surprised you told your wife."

"Booth has an excellent physique that he also had when he was an adolescent. Coupled with high levels of testosterone and being active in sports, I'm sure he had his share of female companions."

Paul continued laughing. "Your wife's honesty is seriously refreshing."

"I was his first." Vanessa looked offended. "First love."

Booth cleared his throat, hoping Brennan wouldn't be jealous. "Yeah Vanessa and I um.. .we dated for some time. So you're married now too Vanessa?" He asked quickly changing the subject.

"No. If I knew what a fine catch you'd be I'd have hung on to you Seeley."

Booth shifted his weight from one foot to another uncomfortably. He reached for Brennan's hand. "C'mon Bones, let's go get something to eat." He was beginning to wonder if coming to this reunion was such a good idea after all.

As the night progressed, it became evident to Brennan that Booth had been very popular in High School which was completely opposite from her High School experience. Many of his female classmates came up to say hi, all teasing him of how he was the one who got away. She remembered the specific names of friends he had mentioned to her before. Karen Isley, the girl who had stolen Booth's clothes after he had stripped himself naked, also under the bleaches with, Sherai Bellapenni, by his own words, the coolest, hottest girl whom he went to junior prom with. The men also came up to him, all happy to relive their days together on the football team. Even at reunions, everyone kept to their own social classes. Those who used to command status gravitated back together, similar to the way they did while they were teens. The less popular kept to themselves or formed their own groups. As an anthropologist, she found it fascinating to watch.

As Brennan sipped her fruit punch, Booth leaned over and pointed out a bespectacled, pudgy, balding man to her. "Harlan Kinney."

"The boy your friend hung over the stairway."

"Yeah." Booth nodded towards Paul. "Paul did it. I stood there and laughed along with my other football buddies." Booth paused, as if deep in thought. "Wait here, there's something I gotta do."

Brennan watched as Booth left the table they were seated at, making his way over to Harlan. She noted how Booth towered over the smaller man, then watched as the two men spoke. She noticed how Booth spoke gently to Harlan, almost in the same manner he would speak with a loved one of a victim. After some time, she watched the two men shake hands, both with smiles on their faces.

As Booth re-joined her at the table, Brennan smiled. "You did something nice."

Booth shrugged. "I apologized to him."

Brennan smiled. "I'm proud of you Booth."

"Listen Bones, I just want you to know… I'm not that guy."

"What guy?"

"I don't want you to think that I took all my relationships lightly. I mean looking back now, I was going out with different girls, made fun of the weaker, less popular kids. You know, I was that guy. But I'm not."

"I know." Brennan smiled, reaching for his hand. "While you were in High School, back home you were living with your own pain. A pain you didn't let your friends see. This was your way of coping."

Booth grinned every so slightly. Since when did Bones do psychology?

"My old man was gone by the time I was in High School."

"But his actions forever stay with you, even until today."

Booth nodded. "None of them knew. I never told anyone." He squeezed her hand. "I'm not that guy anymore."

"I know."

"I love you Bones. I don't want you to think that I take what we have lightly. I'm yours and yours alone, forever."

Brennan smiled. "I don't know about forever, since it seems impossible, but I know you don't take what we have lightly."

Booth glanced round. "Maybe we shouldn't have come."

"Nonsense. I got to see what a kind yet brave man you have become. It took great courage to apologize to Harlan Kinney."

"Don't let Paul and my other buddies hear you say that okay?" Booth chuckled.

"So as not to tarnish your alpha-male status among your peers?" Brennan laughed.

The lights dimmed and slow music played. Booth pulled Brennan to her feet as they moved towards the dance floor. Brennan wrapped her arms round his neck as he rested his hands on her hips, pulling her flush against him. The couple swayed to the music, much like they did years ago at her reunion.

"You know what Bones? Every here is jealous of me."

"They are?"

"I don't care if I dated the hottest, coolest girl in school." Booth murmured into her hair. "I'm married to the hottest, smartest woman in the world. Got three beautiful kids. And I'm the luckiest man in here. Everyone knows it."

Brennan smiled into his neck. Around them, Booth's friends watched the couple with envy, validating what Booth just said.

Anxious to hear what you all think of this chapter.