A/N: Long chapter ahead witha bit of fluff to make you guys go "Awwww". Hope you like it and don't forget to hit that review button where you're done.

"What was that for?" Booth asked as he and Temperance slowly pulled away.

Temperance, whom the kiss had left breathless, simply smiled. Resting her forehead against her husband's, she closed her eyes and waited for her breath to come back to normal.

"Seriously Honey, did I miss something here? Like an anniversary or something?"

"No. I just felt like showing you how much I love you." Temperance replied, her forehead still pressed against his and her eyes still closed.

"Well you showed that to me, alright. Are you sure it's not because you did something that you're now feeling guilty about and that was your way of making things better?"

"You mean like when men bring women flowers and then confess to forgetting about their two-year anniversary?" she asked teasingly as she pulled away from him, keeping her arms linked around his neck.

"Will you ever let this go, Tempe? I apologized like a zillion times."

"You didn't answer my question." Temperance replied, ignoring his comment.

"Okay, yes, sort of like when men buy women flowers for forgiveness."

"Then no, that's not what the kiss was about."

Booth chuckled before kissing her quickly once again on the lips.

"What are your plans for today?" Booth asked as he released her from his embrace and walked back to his desk.

"I'm going to St. Sebastian's with Ryan to interview Allison."

"That's the girl's best friend?" Booth asked, trying to divert his attention from the fact she was going there with Ryan.

Since his little fight with her, he had decided he would try his best not to be jealous about Ryan but so far, he was failing miserably. He had to control his anger as it shot up at the mention of Ryan's name.

"Yeah. Apparently, she was in the same room as Melina and Carl the night they disappeared so we're guessing that she must have some idea of where they went and with whom."

"I guess." Booth replied, unsure.

"What? You don't think she would know?"

"Hey I'm not thinking anything. I know you don't believe in psychology, Bones, but sometimes the mind works in mysterious ways. There's a slight possibility that her memory of that night was repressed deep in her subconscience so she wouldn't remember what was probably one of the most traumatic event of her life."

"I guess it's a possibility."

Like Booth had said, she didn't believe much in psychology. It was a soft science.

"Is that all you're doing today?"

He secretely wanted to take her out to lunch, something he hadn't done in a long time.

"No. After we interview Allison, Ryan wants to go talk to the lieutenant and the captain who were working the night of the fire to get their side of the story. Ryan thinks that maybe they saw something."

"Sounds like you'll be busy." Booth replied, disappointed. "Does this mean we shouldn't be expecting you for dinner tonight?"

Temperance's gaze dropped to the floor. What was it about her husband that made her feel guilty so easily? Nobody ever had such power over her. What was different about him? They had been together for five years but she still hadn't got her answer to her question.

Then again, she had to admit, he had the right to make her feel guilty. She had barely spent any time at home over the last couple of months.

Things had not started that way. After Temperance had brought the twins home, she had spent a full year on maternity leave, raising them and making sure that Riley was progressing as quickly as she should have been. Her and Booth had started dating once again, taking small baby steps at first and taking more giant ones after a couple of months. She had felt so at peace with everything and it had seemed to her like everything in her life was finally perfect. Russ even visited his niece and nephew every now and then.

But as much as she had loved her time spent at home, she had started missing her work greatly and had been more than happy to go back to the Jeffersonian two weeks after her twins' first birthday.

The following two years had been spent doing various lab work: identifying remains from some particular era, examining bones that were brought in by various law enforcements and, also, appearing in court as an expert witness. The FBI had found some new liaison after Booth had official resigned and accepted Cullen's new offer instead but the new agent assigned to the task hadn't taken a liking to her, therefore never made her his official partner. She was more the 'woman he needed to examine bones' than his partner. So Temperance had stayed in the lab and had watched her colleagues come and go and others get ahead, like Zach who had finally finished up his doctorate and whom everyone now called Dr. Addy.

Then Elena had come along and the two women had immediately hit it off. Elena started taking her out on the field, just like Booth had done, though less reluctantly, and Temperance helped immensly with the investigations. For almost two years, the two women had inseperable. But going back to the field had meant, for Temperance, less family time. The time she lost doing field work instead of analyzing bones at the lab had to be caught up some way. That had been when her marriage had taken a toll for the worst.

At first, Booth hadn't minded. He had figured that it was normal for her to get all worked up over field work since he knew how much she had loved it and how much she had missed it before Elena had come along. But as the months passed, she spent less and less time at home and the kids were starting to miss her, not to mention Booth as well. He had become a little more demanding and had begged her many times to take some days off and to come home at reasonable hours. At first, Temperance had obliged. Once or twice a week, she would come home for dinner time and she had even taken a couple of weeks-ends off. But that hadn't been enough for neither Booth nor the kids and soon enough, her work had become once again her main focus. Booth had simply given up.

It was when Ryan had come in the picture that Booth had gotten worried. He didn't really think his wife would actually cheat on him, especially after what he had told her about his previous girlfriend. The problem wasn't Ryan itself, it was more the relationship that he had with his wife that bothered him the most. They had just clicked from the first day they had met. There was no bickering, no differences of opinions, no mean jabs, nothing. They just... got along and any outside would have thought that they had been friends for ever even though they had just met. That had been what had (and still) bothered him.

Fortunately or unfortunately for her, depending on how people looked at it, Temperance was oblivious to her husband's side of the story. She knew that it hurt him that they didn't spend as much time together as he would like but, then again, he knew way before they had gotten married how important her work was for her. He, of all people, should be able to understand that. But as much as ehs tried to make herself seem like the good person in this situation, she knew that she wouldn't succeed.

"Actually, I was thinking about spending the weekend with you and the kids."

Booth's eyes grew wide in surprise. Was she serious? No, she couldn't be. She hadn't really taken a whole weekend off in... six months. Before he even had a chance to voice his thoughts, an unexpected knock at the door was heard. Temperance turned around while Booth peered around her to see Ryan standing in the doorway.

"Are you ready?" he asked Temperance, not bothering to look at Booth.

Temperance nodded. She went around the desk and gently kissed her husband on the forehead.

"See you tonight." She whispered in his ear.

She turned back towards the door and walked out of the office.

The ride to St. Sebastian's turned out awfully quiet. Ryan had fallen into this strange anger-filled silence that Temperance hadn't seem to notice. Her mind had been focused on the tasks ahead. They would have to find a way to make an eight-year-old girl tell them what happened on the probably only traumatic night in her entire life. Booth was right, she had admit. There was a slight possibility that Allison had blocked the whole incident.

She turned into the parking lot of the school for the second time this week, feeling a little apprehensive. Ryan still hadn't opened his mouth and it didn't look like it was going to be his intention as he opened his car door and got out as soon as the ignition had been turned off.

Temperance skipped behind him to catch up but only succeeded when they got to the door of the school. Realizing suddenly that he hadn't spoken to her since they had left the FBI headquarters, she wondered what his problem was. Why wasn't he talking to her?

They immediately headed for the secretary's desk and Ryan asked to speak to Allison Martin. The secretary nodded before grabbing her phone and dialing some number. She talked for a few seconds to the person at the other end of the line before hanging up somewhat harshly. She told the two partenrs to sit on the chairs lined against the wall across from her desk, adding that Allison's teacher would soon be bringing her. Apparently, the child had been in gym class.

Ryan nodded and sat down on the assigned chair. Temperance immediately followed. They sat in silence for a few seconds before Temperance, not able to take her parnter's silent treatment a second longer, turned to face him.

"You're awfully quiet today." She whispered, not wanting to disturb the silence of the St. Sebastian's.

The school was a bit too quiet for her. She felt like she had walked in a church and, if she would remain quiet long enough, she would be able angels chanting somewhere between the walls of St. Sebastian's. Her own private school had certainly not been like that.

"I'm not feeling too well." Ryan replied, harshly.

"It it something I did?"

If kissing your husband is what is bothering me, then yes, it is something you did. Ryan thought to himself.

"No. I just got bad news, that's all."

"What kind of bad news?"

A teacher turned the corner at the exact moment, preventing Temperance of getting the answer to her question. Ryan immediately got to his feet and walked up to the newcomer. He recognized her as being his son's former teacher and smiled warmly at the woman. He knew that the teacher was middle-aged even though she didn't look a day over thirty.

His eyes then fell on the little girl standing beside the adult. She was shorter than he had expected, had bright blue eyes and long auburn hair. He couldn't help but think thta she looked like his partner. He immediately pushed that thought aside. This wasn't the time nor the place.

"Allison?" Ryan asked, tentatively.

The little girl nodded. Ryan crouched down to be at her height.

"I'm Ryan and this is my partner Temperance, but you can call her Tempe." He said, pointing to his partner.

Allison followed his motions.

"We would have a couple of questions we would like to ask you."

Allison looked up nervously at her teacher who simply nodded reassuringly. Bringing her eyes back to Ryan, she smiled shyly.

"Is there a room where we could talk to her in private?" Ryan asked the teacher, standing back up.

"The teacher's lounge will be empty for another hour or so."

"Perfect." Ryan replied before looking back down at the child. "Come with us. I promise it won't take long and you'll be able to go back to gym class very soon."

Allison fearfully followed the two partners into the teacher's lounge, her heart racing inside her chest. The last time something like this had happened...

"If you tell ANYONE..." the voice had told her.

Allison gulped as she stepped in the lounge and the door closed behind her.

"Well that was useless." Ryan sighed as they climbed in Temperance's car.

Temperance could do nothing but agree with her partner. Forty minutes of questioning had brought no answers to their questions. Allison hadn't told them anything that they didn't already know.

"Allison, we have a few questions to ask you about the fire at your friend's house six months ago."

Allison's expression had just seemed to shut off at the mention of the fire. Neither partners had been able to detect what she was feeling or thinking.

"You were rescued by a fire fighter and brought back to safety outside but Melina and her brother didn't. We need you to tell us why."

"Maybe it was the way you introduced it to her." Temperance guessed as she drove out of the parking lot.

"Excuse me?" Ryan said, taken aback by her accusation.

"Well you sort of just threw all of it in her face. You could have been more gentle."

"And how else was I supposed to present this to her?"

Temperance fell silent.

Allison had looked down at the table, refusing to meet either of their gaze. Ryan had asked his question a second time but was once again rewarded by silence. Sighing, he had leant back in his chair.

"Allison, I know how tough this must be for you." Temperance had told the little girl.

"How do you know?"

Her voice had been small and squeaky and Temperance wondered if the child was going to start crying.

"I've seen a lot of little girls in your position and I know that it was tough for them."

Allison looked at her suspiciously. This woman just didn't understand.

Her attempt at winning Allison's trust had failed. She didn't know how the little girl was feeling and Allison knew it. She had never really been in her position before and she hardly doubted that having her own parents disappear was the exact same thing.

"Allison, we need to find out what happened to Melina and Carl and you're the only one who can help us."

"I am?"

Her tone had been hopeful and Temperance had smiled.

"Of course you are. You're the only one who was in thesame room as them when the night of the fire. You managed to be rescued but they didn't. You know what happened to them. I know you're scared, Allison, but you have to help us. If you do, we'll be able to find Carl and Melina."

"If you ever tell ANYONE..."

Allison shook her head no. She wasn't going to tell.

"Why are you shaking your head?" Ryan had asked gently, who had regained hope to get something out of the child.

"Okay, I admit it." Ryan said after a while. "Maybe I could have been gentler. I should have known, I mean, I have children and when I want them to admit something, I don't just shove it in their face."

"It's okay, Ryan. You weren't feeling well and it's just the way the words came out. There's no need to beat yourself over the head with it."

Ryan nodded and smiled. His Temperance was back, the caring and sweet-loving woman that he knew and adored.

"So do you believe her story?" Temperance asked.

"I'm still debating on that." Her partner replied.

"I don't know what to say." Allison pleaded.

"Just tell us what happened from the moment you went to bed and the moment you were brought outside by the fireman."

Allison had tried getting away with it by crying like she could do with her parents but she soon realized that it would never lead to anything with the two adults sitting across from her. She gave up after a few minutes and she decided that the only way to make the questions stop was if she told them what she knew or, at least, parts of what she knew. The threat still echoed through her mind.

"Melina's mom tucked us in and she left the room. Melina, Carl and me, we stayed up talking. We heard the water running and we guessed that Melina's mom was going to take a bath. Mel had an idea. She asked us if we wanted candy and we said yes. So we got up and sneaked downstairs to get chocolate and cookies. Then we sneaked back into the room. Melina's mom didn't see anything. We ate cookies and chocolate but we were getting sleepy so we went to bed after that. When I woke up, it was really hot in the room. Someone lifted me off the ground and carried me outside."

"Were Melina and Carl still in the room?"

Allison gulped.

"I don't know. I didn't see them."

"Well, we're here." Temperance said as she pulled in the Fire Department's parking lot.

"Let's just hope that this interview goes better than the other one." Ryan said as they got out of the car.

Temperance agreed.

They were welcomed by a fireman named Bronson who led them to an office on the second floor.

"Lieutenant Foley and Captain Tracey are in there waiting for you." The man replied, pointing at the door, before going back down the hallway.

Temperance and Ryan looked at one another before Ryan knocked on the door.

"I just can't believe it." Ryan said for what seemd to him like the hundredth time that day. "If the fire fighters came even help us with our investigation, I wonder who can. And a fire fighter suit theft? I mean, what the hell?"

"I know, I'm getting a hard time believing this too." Temperance replied as she turned into the ongoing traffic of the avenue. "But do you think it's something important to the investigation?"

"I'm not sure yet. I mean, it would be highly coincidental that a fire fighter suit disappears two weeks before the house fire and not be linked to it."

Ryan sighed.

"Here's what I think. Let me know if it makes any sense."

"Okay."

"Whoever stole the suit is our murderer. Posing as a fireman, he kidnapped two of the three children that were in the room."

"But the fire was accidental. How could that man have known there would be a fire that night?"

"Don't ask. I haven't figured that out yet."

"And why didn't he kidnap Allison as well? Why leave her?"

"Maybe he didn't get the chance to. Maybe when he came back, Allison was already gone."

"I guess it makes sense. I don't know."

"Well what's your theory?"

Temperance chuckled.

"You know I don't work with theories. I work with facts and hard evidence."

"Sorry Dr. Booth." Ryan mocked as he glanced sideways at his partner.

He looked at the time. They had spent nearly two hours with the lieutenant and the captain. It was nearly time for dinner.

"Wanna go out for dinner?" he asked, knowing fully well what she was going to answer.

"I can't." Temperance replied. "I have a date."

He stared at her in disbelief.

"You have a date?"

"Yeah, with my family."

Sorry for the lack of interview in this chapter but I was finding it long enough already. Coming soon: fluff! Please review and I might post really soon:-)