A/N: Sorry about Cullen guys. After all, it gives the story yet another twist. Here's part 2 and Booth's decision.

Disclaimer: I do not own the phrase "fresh batch of pregnancy hormones". Came from Friends (Ross said it to Rachel) and I just thought it was appropriate.

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Booth sighed loudly as he walked up to his desk and fell in his chair. He knew that he should have been heading home, that Temperance would be waiting for him but he just didn't have the courage to face her just yet. Facing her would mean that he would be forced to choose between her and his career, the two most important things in his life. He didn't want Cullen to be mad at him but he'd never be able to give up Temperance and his children for him either. On the other hand being demoted would be such a slap in the face. He knew he'd have to choose really soon. Cullen wouldn't wait forever for an answer.

He didn't know how long he sat at his desk, his head resting against his palms, but his cell phone brought him brutally out of his reverie.

"Booth." He said, after putting the phone to his ear.

"Booth, where are you?"

The sound of her voice made his heart ache and he sighed again. What was he going to do? Just hearing her voice made him regret leaving Washington and he hadn't even left yet. He didn't think he would actually be able to do this if he ever left for Seattle. He didn't think he'd be able to attempt this new relationship as a long distance one.

"Booth? Are you still there?"

"Yeah. Sorry. I'm coming home soon, Tempe. There are just a few things I need to do at the office. It won't take long, I promise."

"Are you okay? Is there something wrong?"

Yes. I have to go to Seattle and leave you and the twins behind, he almost answered but held himself back. He'd tell her face-to-face. It would be better.

"Yes, actually, something is wrong but I'll talk to you when I get home, okay? Have you eaten supper yet?"

"No, not yet."

"Do you want me to get something on the way?"

"Chinese food would be nice."

"Then Chinese food it is."

He had tried to sound cheerful but had failed miserably.

"Booth..."

"We'll talk soon, baby." He said, interrupting her.

He hung up before she even had a chance to reply.

Getting to his feet, he decided that sulking in his office wasn't going to solve anything.

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He unlocked the door with his left hand, his right one busy holding the stack of Chinese food he had picked up. He hadn't realized how hungry he had been until Sid had brought him enough food to feed an entire army. Thanking the bartender, he had paid him and left the restaurant.

Now here he was, standing outside his house, trying to gather up enough strength to walk in and face her. He didn't understand why it was so hard. He never had any trouble before when it came to choosing work over love so what was so different this time?

He quietly opened the door, not wanting Temperance to know he was home yet but when he heard some moving around in the living room he knew that he wouldn't be able to hide very long. He stepped in the apartment and closed the door behind him. Taking off his shoes, he tried his best not to drop the food all over the floor then entered the living room. Temperance was sitting on the couch, watching some show on TV.

"I'm home." Booth announced softly.

His gaze met hers and he knew that he wouldn't be able to hide what had happened for much longer. He knew she'd see right through him, like she always did, despite her lack of emotional IQ with the others.

"I brought Chinese food, like you asked. I'm pretty sure we have enough food in there to last us three days."

"Great."

As he made his way to the kitchen he heard her get up from the couch. He heard her steps on the hardwood floor behind him and only stopped once he did. He turned around to see her standing pretty close to him. Her blue eyes were searching his for answers to her questions but he wouldn't let her find them until they had eaten something. He had made up his mind on his way home or so he thought he had. Just the thought of what he was going to do...

He pushed the thought aside. He handed her a plate and watched her as she opened the boxes and picked out whatever she wanted. He did the same and the two of them sat down at the table. He could see that she wanted to ask him what was wrong but that she was holding back. For once he was thankful that she simply didn't ask any questions. He still needed time to gather up some courage.

They talked about nothing in particular and the air was thick with awkwardness. But after fifteen minutes of small talk, Brennan couldn't stand the awkwardness anymore.

"Booth, I know there's something wrong that you are not telling me and I want to know what it is."

Booth sighed and dropped his fork in his plate.

"I just had a really bad day at work today."

"The interrogation with the teachers didn't go well?"

"No, that actually went really well. I found out that the Thompson family wasn't such the happy family as they described themselves to be and that Jennifer had a lot of issues with her parents."

"If it's not the Thompson case then what is it?"

Booth took a deep breath.

"Cullen called me in his office today."

"Oh."

"He isn't too happy with our situation, let me tell you that."

Brennan nodded. She knew that Cullen wasn't too fond of her. In fact, she knew he despised her and all of the other squints as well but she had never thought that he would actually be against her and Booth being in a relationship. Was there actually a rule at the FBI against them being a couple? Booth had never said anything about it so she hardly doubted there was one. Unless Booth hadn't known himself. And why should Cullen had a problem with their relationship? Even if it was against the rule, she wasn't FBI so why should it even matter? Was there something else she didn't know about? Was he trying to break up with her?

She pushed the tears that were threatening to fall at the thought of Booth breaking up with her. No he loved her too much for that, or so she thought anyway.

"He gave me a choice."

"What kind of choice?"

She knew her voice was betraying her and how she truly felt about this. Her voice cracked and she could see in Booth's eyes that he had heard.

"It's either I move to Seattle to be trained as an undercover agent or I stay here with you but being demoted to a normal field agent."

She had always thought that Booth had been a "normal" field agent and hadn't really known that there were different kinds.

"What I mean is that either I stay here and lose you as my partner or I move away and lose you altogether."

She nodded again, dropping her gaze to her food. She suddenly found that she wasn't hungry anymore. Losing Booth was something she just couldn't stand. She just couldn't see her life without him in it or see herself raising these kids on her own when Booth was thousands of miles away from her. She just couldn't see any of that happening. She secretly wished that he would choose demotion over his transfer to Seattle but she wasn't going to tell him. After all, this was a decision he needed to make on his own.

"You still haven't said anything." Booth mentioned after a few minutes of eating quietly.

"I don't know what to say, Booth. Cullen doesn't want us together and you have to make a decision."

"I was... I was kind of hoping we'd make this decision together."

"Well what do you want me to say? Go to Seattle. Leave me alone with the twins in Washington."

"Bones, I don't want to go to Seattle. I want to stay here with you and the babies and be a family. Do you really think that I am happy with my boss' ultimatum? If it were only for me, we wouldn't be in this situation."

"And what situation is that, Seeley?"

The emphasis on his name made him regret his choice of words.

"You getting me pregnant or you being in a relationship purely because I'm having your babies?"

"That's not what I meant, Temperance."

"Then what did you mean?"

Anger was rushing through her, her heart was racing like crazy and she was shaking. She had never been so mad at him in her life. Their situation? What situation was that and why was he so unhappy about it? Had he been faking this entire time?

"Did you get a fresh batch of pregnancy hormones today or something? We'll you just let me explain. I meant to say that if it were only for me, we wouldn't be here, trying to decide what to do with our future just because my boss doesn't think it appropriate for us to date. That's what I meant."

Temperance calmed down but she could still feel a little anger boiling in her somewhere. She was overreacting and she knew it.

"Booth, I don't want to lose you." She said after she finally calmed down completely.

"I don't want to lose you either, Tempe, but Cullen won't change his mind so we'll just have to deal with it. The problem with Cullen is that he doesn't want us to be together romantically. I'm sure that if we weren't, then he'd let us work together again."

"What are you saying?"

She looked up in his eyes to find them teary. "Seeley Booth was capable of crying?" she couldn't help thinking to herself.

"I'm saying that maybe it would be best if we broke up."

Brennan shook her head and looked at him desperately. She saw in his eyes that he was serious but that it pained him to have to resolve to this.

Booth reached up to cup her face but she moved away. She wasn't going to give in to this mushy stuff, it wasn't her style anyway. He wanted them to break up then he would just have to deal with the consequences.

"Tempe, I don't want to but we don't have a choice." She heard him say.

She shook her head once again.

"There was a choice, Booth, and you chose your career over me."

"No, I didn't. Just the thought of not being able to work with you anymore but seeing some other agent do, it's just more than I can take."

"Booth, I know you and I know that your very career-focused and I understand that because so am I. That's how I know that, what you just said, well you didn't mean any of that. You just don't want to get demoted because it would be an embarrassment to you in front of the others. It's this male pride you men have going for you. I won't blame you, it's in your nature. Some women might find it charming but I definitely am not one of them."

Brennan got up but Booth grabbed her by the arm.

"We don't have to do this today. You're still on maternity for a few more months."

"It's better if we do this today. It'll be too painful if we do this after the babies are born. Please drive me home."

He felt like replying that she was home but stopped himself. Torturing her or himself wouldn't do them any good.

He followed her to the SUV and was about to open the door for her when she stopped him. Sighing he jogged to the driver side and climbed in. The drive to her apartment was spent in deep and painful silence. Booth glanced sideways every now and then. Why did he have to say anything? They were doing so great. The last two months had been great, Booth actually thought he had managed to break in the wall she had built around herself. Now he'd have to start all over again.

When Booth pulled up in her parking lot and parked near the entrance, he turned to face her but she wouldn't look at him. Instead she opened the door to the SUV and climbed out.

As she passed in front of the vehicle, Booth felt his heart calling out for her and as she disappeared into the hallway of her building, he felt once again the emptiness he used to feel before they had started dating. Putting the SUV in reverse, he left the parking lot.

As he drove down the streets of Washington aimlessly, he knew that he'd have to do something about this. He wouldn't be able to stay away from her for too long. He had to be with her. He needed to be with her and Cullen would just have to accept that.

"There must be another way." He told himself for the thousandth time that night.

But this time he wouldn't rest until he'd find another solution.

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Wow I'm actually depressed just writing this! Please review! I have a feeling a few people won't be too happy with me. gulps