"How long for ?" whispered Temperance, standing up a little straighter.

She was now paying him her full attention. Temperance didn't meet his eyes, instead she searched all around the apartment. She heard Booth take in a deep breath, then exhaled.

"As long as it takes," replied Booth.

Booth had been selected to go on an undercover mission to New York. At first, Temperance thought maybe he had been joking but she soon realised he was being deadly serious. Temperance just stood there, minimum words left her mouth as she registered his words. She felt disgusted with herself, she had become some soft woman who couldn't control her emotions. Temperance had lost her independance. Suddenly, though none of them could see it, her walls began to build up again.

"Ok. Goodbye," said Temperance.

She turned her back on him and walked down the hallway. She heard him shout her name, but she ignored him. Well, until he got rather loud and she was worried that he would wake Summer up.

"BOOTH! You will wake up our daughter if you don't turn your volume down," scolded Temperance, shaking her head.

"Bones, listen -"

"I gave you a daughter, Booth, didn't you want that ?" asked Temperance.

Her voice was barely more than a whisper. She didn't know what had come over her, but the question just left her lips before she had time to think about it. Temperance looked up and saw Booth's face, it was twisted with hurt and sympathy. She looked back down, not wanting him to see the tears which threatened to fall.

"Course I do, Temperance,"

Temperance noticed the change in her name, he was now using her first name instead of her nickname.

"I am so thankful you gave me a daughter, married or not."

Temperance looked down at her left hand, the Claddagh ring on her middle finger. She had been against marrying, and Booth accepted that fact. However he went out and brought her a claddagh ring instead of a wedding ring. The crown represent loyalty, the hands represented friendship and the heart represented love. Booth put it on Temperance's finger, making sure the ring was pointed to her. It usually meant they were married if the heart pointed to the wearer. However Booth changed it for Temperance. He told her that it meant you belonged to someone if the heart pointed to you. Which, like always, sparked up the argument about Temperance not being anyone's property.

"But I have a job," sighed Booth.

Temperance nodded. She turned on her heel and headed towards the bedroom, her eyes connected with the Claddagh ring the whole time. As she opened the door, she turned to face Booth.

"Logically speaking, I thought your job was to protect this family," said Temperance.

She stepped inside the room and slammed the door shut.

---

Temperance's eyes flew open as she sat up slowly. The sound of the door slamming shut always woke her up, the noise echoed through her head. Temperance dropped her head in her hands and rubbed her face, biting her lip. Temperance threw her covers back and dropped her feet on the cold floor, causing a tingle to travel through her toes. She walked towards the door, pulling on her dressing gown, and opened it, stepping out into the hallway. The house was quiet, drowned in silence. Temperance walked down the hall, trying her best not to wake anyone up.

Temperance opened the door to Summer's room and poked her head through. Summer was asleep in her cot, wrapped tightly in her covers and snugglin against her teddies. Tempe, Angela's daughter, slept in the bed. Temperance had brought the bed for when Summer was older, she knew that Summer couldn't sleep in a cot forever. Although, whenever Tempe stayed, she would sleep in the bed seen as she were three years old and too small for a cot. Temperance stepped outside, shutting the door behind her and moved towards the guest room.

Temperance opened the door slowly and shuffled inside. She heard a snore escape from the bed, a smile unfolded over her lips as she sat down on the edge of the bed. Angela's chest rised and fell, her breathing was slow and deep, whilst she drooled on the pillow.

"Ange, I think I'm ready to talk now," whispered Temperance.

"Hodgins! Where did you learn them tricks, you dirty boy!" mumbled Angela.

Temperance shook Angela's shoulder, not wanting to hear anymore dialogue from her dream. Angela groaned and sat up, rubbing her eyes. She blinked a few times and stiffled a yawn, finally she turned to Temperance.

"Sweetie! What's up ? Is everything Ok ?" she questioned, sitting up a little straighter.

"I think I'm ready to talk," sighed Temperance.

Angela smiled. No one, including herself, knew what happened on the night Booth left. Angela had desperatly been trying to get Temperance to open up, however she was rather stubborn and had increased the walls around her. Angela budged over and let Temperance sit besides her on the bed.

As the night progessed, Temperance told Angela about the night when Booth left. However, Temperance didn't involve any of her emotions and just told the story like it was a school report. Angela sat, silently, and listened the whole time, not interuppting her best friend once.

Thank You Everyoneee for the reviewss :) it means alot! x