A/n: I know, I know I am a horrible person. Sorry all who have been reading this but life has thrashed me about for the last couple of weeks…okay like a month but just because they call it a "break" doesn't mean it really is a "break"!

Thank you to everybody who has written me a review…it really helps me out a lot. Some readers have brought to my attention that I took things a little to quick and I agree…so lets see what I can do to maybe slow it down a bit. Enjoy!!!!

"Ange…uh, what are you doing?'

Dr. Temperance Brennan had just entered her office after a "quick" questioning the witness session with Booth to find her best friend, Angela Montenegro sitting on her couch fiddling with the trim of a small green throw pillow.

"What does it look like I'm doing?" Angela said with a tone just dripping with annoyance continuing to pick at the what Brennan could only assume was the offending strings.

"Okay…," Brennan said as she hung her coat on the back of her seat. "Look Ange, I'm here for you really, but if you want to have another one of those advice talks I'm not really the best person."

Angela stopped picking at the strings and looked up at her friend with a sigh.

"That obvious, hu?"

"You're not exactly pulling my eyes Ange."

"What?" A small chuckle escaped. "Sweetie I think you mean 'pulling the wool over my eyes'." Times like these made Angela love her friend even more, not for her misuse of the terms but her innocent obliviousness that went along with it.

"What? Oh…I knew Booth used it differently! I'll have to remember that for next time."

Angela just stared at her with an arched brow. "Sorry…" Yup, something definitely happened outside that diner. Angela made a mental note to ask her about it later, for now she had enough to think about involving Jack.

Brennan completely ignored her friend's question. "Think about would have happened last time if you had followed my advice, you…"

Angela cut her off. "He asked me to marry him." That got her attention.

"What?" clearly surprised, "Ange that's…"

Angela butted in again. "Terrifying, rushing it a bit, busting out the ol' ball and chain."

"I don't know what that means…"

"Of course not." As soon as the words were out of her mouth she fully regretted them realizing she was on the receiving end of the Brennan death glare. "Sorry, Bren I didn't mean to say that. I'm just…overwhelmed."

Temperance let up on the death glare, realizing what her friend was about to spill as she sank heavily to the couch. Brennan followed suite.

"Ange you said…"

"Yes." It was barely a whisper but nonetheless heard.

Angela placed her head in her hands as tears began to roll down her soft cheeks. Brennan encircled her friend with her arms; in the midst of her breakdown, Angela noticed how her friend's hugs had become much less awkward.

Another Booth break-thorough. Angela let this thought pass quickly.

"Oh Bren, I'm so scared. I told Jack yes, but…"

This time it was Temperance's turn to interrupt. "But what?"

"…but I don't know. I don't have good relationships….I always do something to screw them up. I mean just look at Keith and me….I- I was the one who put the boundaries on our relationship. I'm the one who could only commit to three weeks a year! Then he was murdered and it's all my fault. I can't make a relationship last more than three weeks, how am I supposed to make a marriage last a lifetime?"

"Ange nobody…"

"…nobody can last right? Marriage is doomed from the start because it's just an archaic way for a male to show ownership over his woman. Right? "

"…that's not what I was going to say. It is not your fault, Ange and Keith didn't die because of you. He was a part of something stupid and it got him killed…Nobody has control over what their partner does."

Partner? Interesting choice of words Bren.

That the second time in less than an hour that she received the same 'uh-hu' look and it was beginning to unnerve her. She diverted her eyes to the floor.

" It's just that if two people feel the same way about each other they will give it their all to make it work…no matter what. It's not uncommon that a couple participates in a public ritual to symbolize their commitment to each other…anthropologically speaking of course."

"Of course…" Did I just hear her right? She didn't protest marriage at all! Not even to say anything about being due to 'alpha male syndrome' or whatever she calls it….God, Booth was right I'm sounding more and more squint-ish everyday. "But Bren, I lost Keith because I was such an idiot and…"

"He was murdered Ange. It wasn't your fault." Brennan tried to reassure her.

"Yeah but…the day you and Jack…I mean…the blood…I can't loose him Bren. I don't think I could ever get over it…not like…" Angela stopped.

Now she felt even more horrible, if that was even possible. Keith had been murdered and she found herself being comforted in the arms of a friend…namely Jack. The man she had agreed to marry no more than a year later.

"Bren…I can't do this…I can't marry Jack. The closer I get the harder it will be when he…" Angela visibly shuddered.

A knock on Brennan's office door as it was opened interrupted the two.

"Hey Dr. Brennan I…Ange?"

There stood Jack Hodgins with a print out of the latest trace results. He looked between the doctor and his still secret fiancée. He noticed her eyes were glassy and red-rimmed, as if she had been crying. This made Jack nervous.

"Ange is everything okay?" He walked over to her.

"Yeah…fine," She said as she whipped her eyes with the tips of her fingers and walked put the door, leaving Hodgins and Dr. Brennan in her wake. Jack opened his mouth as if to say something but closed it again and looked at the door Angela had just exited.

"Talk to her Hodgins."

A/n: okay kiddies this is where I end this chappie. Let me know what you think by sending me your reviews/opinions/ideas about the story I will be glad to accept any advice you might have good or bad.

Also, my muse tends to pop up at random times…so I will try to write some more soon. Hopefully before school starts again. Love you all!!!

BP : p