(The Feet on the Beach)

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I don't own Bones.

Oooooooooooooooooooo

"So . . . you think my socks are silly?" Not sure why she'd said that, Booth wiggled his toes in his shoes. "You said you think my socks are silly."

She realized she might have hurt his feelings and she hadn't meant to do that. "I'm not saying you're stupid Booth. I just think your socks are silly." Not sure she had fixed the problem, Brennan frowned. "Perhaps I shouldn't have said anything."

Hunching his shoulders, Booth shook his head. "No, that's okay. You're allowed to think my socks are silly, but . . . well, I like them. I think they're pretty cool . . . you know, I didn't start wearing colorful socks until after I met you."

Surprised, Brennan stared in wonder at her boyfriend/partner. "Really? Why?"

Since they were now dating and he thought honesty was the best policy when it came to dealing with Brennan, Booth cleared his throat and scratched his forehead. "Um, okay a good question . . . Well, when we worked our first case together you told me that para-militaristic organizations constrain individuality, but no matter how restrictive, the mavericks, the rebels with leadership quality find ways to declare their distinctiveness. That's what you told me."

Astonished that Booth was quoting something that she had said to him over six years ago, Brennan slowly nodded her head. "Yes and you said you were a free thinking rogue rebel."

With a smirk on his lips, Booth nodded his head. "And I am. My socks prove it too. No one at the FBI wears socks like me. I'm like Han Solo."

A feeling of pleasure sweeping through her, Brennan leaned forward across the tiny table to be just that much closer to Booth. "I don't know who that is . . . so you wear colorful socks because of what I said?"

Leaning closer so he was just a few inches from Brennan's delectable lips, Booth murmured. "I had to show you I wasn't a cog in the machine, Bones. I'm a leader not a follower."

Her gaze on in his tongue peeking out between his lips and back in to his mouth, Brennan swallowed. "I've changed my mind, Booth. You're socks aren't silly after all. They're very Boothy."

Closing the space between them, Booth leaned forward enough to kiss her. "Boothy huh?" Kissing her once more, Booth finally leaned back against his chair. "We're going to have to rent 'Star Wars' so you can see who Han Solo is."

The kiss very satisfactory, Brennan pulled her bottle of beer closer and then drank some of the cool liquid. Her bottle now empty, she placed it down on the table and leaned closer again. "You're a very good kisser, Booth."

With a twinkle in his eyes, Booth assured her. "That was just a snack Bones. Wait until you get a full Booth meal."

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Stunned, Angela felt like her eyes were going to pop out of her head. She'd noticed Booth and Brennan enter the bar earlier that evening and was surprised to see them there since this wasn't one of their normal hangouts. Her friend Tina had asked her to meet her at this particular bar to help her make a decision about an art show she was putting together.

Since she was very busy looking over venue information with Tina she didn't have time to greet her friends, but she did keep an eye on them as often as she could. Shocked at the sight of the partners kissing, Angela had stared at the couple for several minutes before she became aware that Tina was trying get her attention. "Oh, Honey, I'm sorry. I . . . uh . . . I was thinking about the last venue and what it might take to get your art work in there at a reasonable price. I think you should consider that one . . . I'll . . . oh, hey . . . I need to get home. I promised Jack that I'd do this thing for him and I . . . I need to do this thing." Standing, Angela buttoned up her jacket, moved her cap until it covered her forehead and eyebrows and quickly walked down the bar and out into the night careful to keep her face turned away from Booth and Brennan.

Once she was outside, she hurried to her car and prayed that she had left the bar without being seen.

Oooooooooooooooooo

They'd been found out and Booth was disgusted. "That was Angela, damn it. Why would she be at this bar, it's not anywhere near where she lives?"

Glancing around, Brennan didn't see her friend. "Are you sure you saw Angela?"

His eyes closed, Booth nodded his head and then reopened them. "Yeah . . . I saw her leave. I think she was trying to hide who she was, but it was her . . . we are so screwed. Everyone in the District is going to know about us by tomorrow morning." Angry, he exhaled deeply. "Just once, I'd like something to work out the way it should. Why is that so much to ask for?"

Pulling her phone from her jacket pocket, Brennan placed her hand on Booth's arm to calm him. "She won't say anything, Booth." Placing a call to her friend, Brennan waited for Angela to answer the phone.

"Angela, we know you were here."

Honey, I didn't mean to see what I saw. I wasn't following you or snooping. I promise. I was there meeting a friend.

"Please don't say anything to anyone. Let me talk to you tomorrow in my office. This is important Angela."

No, I won't tell anyone. I won't even tell Jack . . . Honey, you two were kissing . . . are you two finally sleeping together?

"No Angela . . . I'll explain tomorrow. Just don't talk about what you saw to anyone else."

I won't Honey, but you do have some explaining to do.

Ending the call, Brennan placed her phone back in her pocket. "She's not going to say anything to anyone. I'll talk to her tomorrow."

His hand reaching out, Booth placed his hand over her hand. "We need to rethink what we're doing."

Alarmed, Brennan nervously asked him, "Do you wish to stop dating?"

Surprised that Brennan had jumped to that conclusion, Booth protested. "What? No . . . that's not what I meant . . . God no . . . I just meant that we need to think about where we're going to have our dates. We may need to go to out of town places . . . something like that . . . that's all I meant. God Bones, no way do I want to stop what we're doing. We're doing the right thing . . . don't you think so?"

Relieved, Brennan smiled. "Yes, of course, I just wanted to make sure . . ."

Leaning forward, Booth kissed her. "I'm sure."

Oooooooooooooooooooooo

The Lab not busy yet, Angela rushed though the entrance to the Lab and down the hallway towards Brennan's office. She came in early before the work day began for most of the techs, so that she could have a conversation with Brennan. Knowing Brennan's work habits, she had been relieved to see her friend's car in the parking garage when she pulled into her parking space. Well at least she isn't trying to avoid seeing me.

A little nervous, Angela entered Brennan's office and spying her friend sitting behind her desk, turned and closed the door firmly behind her. "Okay . . . Let me catch my breath . . . I didn't talk to Jack or anyone else about you and Booth." Sitting down on the couch, Angela removed her jacket and threw it on the coffee table along with her purse.

Finishing her cup of coffee, Brennan stood up and walked over to her couch. Her thoughts marshaled and ready, Brennan smiled at her friend. "Booth saw you leave the bar. We were quite surprised that you were there. That bar is twenty miles from where you live and twenty five miles from here."

Angela heard the nervousness in Brennan's voice and that made her a little nervous. Her friend was rarely nervous and that made her realize just how important this conversation was. "I have a friend that wants to show some of her artwork and we're looking for a good venue for her . . . That bar is halfway between Jack's house and her apartment. I wasn't following you or Booth. I would never do that, Honey."

"I know Angela." Puzzled why her friend would bring that up, Brennan frowned at her. "Why would you follow us? That would be a complete waste of your time."

A chuckle escaping her, Angela shook her head. "Well maybe not . . . if you're making out in bars . . ."

Certain that Angela was joking even if she didn't get it, Brennan chose to ignore it. "Booth and I are dating. We are not having a sexual relationship at this time. We have several things we are trying to work out before we try to commit to a more personal relationship."

Confused, Angela shook her head. "Can't you work those things out and have sex? It seems like a waste of time to me. You've known each other for over six years. What's the holdup?"

Rubbing her right eyebrow, Brennan slowly exhaled and tried to understand why Angela thought it was important for Booth and her to have sex. "Booth just recently broke up with Hannah, Angela. He was devastated and very angry . . . at himself . . . He says he needs to get to a good place before he tries to have a sexual relationship with me. I won't push him into anything until he's ready."

Enlightened, Angela grimaced. "Yeah, he's scared, I get it."

Puzzled, Brennan stared at her friend and quickly mulled over what she had just said. "Why do you say he's scared?"

Shrugging her shoulders, Angela responded, "He's been dumped by Parker's mother and Hannah and you . . . um . . . well, his track record is pretty bad and well . . . he probably wants to make sure you two are on the same page before he commits anything with you. It's a tough situation when you're in love with someone and they don't want the same things you do. I know, I've been dumped and I've been the one to break someone's heart and ironically it was with the same person . . . He's just being careful that's all. Plus he probably wants to make sure you're okay with moving into a relationship with him because he lived with Hannah and he knows you were hurt . . ."

"Stop Angela." Irritated with her friend, Brennan stood up and walked over to the chair in front of her desk. Turning it, she sat down facing her friend. "Angela, I accepted Booth moving on because it was what he thought he needed to do. I was . . . I couldn't have a relationship with him before because . . . he knows why and by the time I realized that it was alright to love someone and commit to them, it was too late . . . it was too late for both of us." Filled with sadness over lost opportunities, Brennan sighed. "We both made mistakes and we hurt each other. It wasn't deliberate and it wasn't meant to be cruel, it was done out of fear, but we're both past that now."

Folding her arms across her chest, Brennan's gaze moved to the fairly empty hallway outside her glass walls. "We talked about what happened and we want a future together. We're going to move cautiously in pursuit of what we want. We don't want to make any mistakes. Booth and I both know that if we make a mistake this time it will destroy any chance we have to become a monogamous couple. We have time and we're going to do this right, Angela. Our friendship is very important to us and we will not destroy it. Do you understand?"

Soberly, Angela replied, "Yes, I do, Bren. I understand and I won't interfere. I also give you my word that I will not tell anyone. You two do what you have to do to get this right . . . Honey, you were both made for each other and this is going to work. It will. You love him and he loves you. You both have been running away from that fact for years. I'm just glad you two can accept that you're in love and you're trying. It's all I ever wanted for you, Honey. He makes you happy and that's all I've ever wanted for you . . . to be happy."

Filled with emotion, Brennan stood up and walked over to the couch. Sitting down next to her best friend, Brennan pulled Angela into her arms and hugged her tightly. "Thank you."

Ooooooooooooooooooo

That evening, Brennan met Booth at his apartment. After he was greeted her at the door, she entered the short hallway and closed the door behind her. "I talked to Angela, Booth. She won't say anything to anyone . . . she's happy for us."

Leading her into the living room, Booth pointed at the dining room table and smiled. "I made us dinner, Bones. I thought we could eat here and afterward we might dance. I can move the couch so we'll have plenty of room . . . privacy . . . dancing . . . what do you think?"

The air filled with a delicious aroma, Brennan smiled gratefully at her boyfriend. "That's a wonderful idea Booth and whatever you're cooking smells very good."

Pleased that she liked his plan, Booth walked over to the table and lifted the bottle of wine he had waiting for her. "I'll pour us each a glass and we can sit on the couch for awhile and talk until my casserole is ready . . . or we can make out . . . you know . . . whatever makes you happy."

With a glint in her eye, Brennan moved over to where Booth was standing and waited for him to pour the glass of promised wine. "That's sounds like it might make me happy, Booth."

His expression momentarily sad, Booth stared at the wine bottle. "So much time wasted Bones . . . still, I think we're doing it right this time. Don't you?"

Placing a hand on his arm, Brennan kissed his cheek. "We are Booth. We are."

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