So i know i haven't updated in forever but hopefully some of you are still with me. I have another chapter in the works to post and i'm on break so hopefully there will not be such a long wait. thanks to anyone still reading this. reviews always welcome!

Booth looked at the clock. It was 4:47 pm. He'd promised Sweets that he'd stop by his apartment and go over his speech with him at 5:30 pm. It would take him at least forty-five minutes to get there and that was on a good day. Booth cursed out loud, checked himself in the mirror, and rushed out the door. He came right back in, remembering he needed his keys to get in his car.

"Pull yourself together," Booth muttered to himself. The last thing he wanted was Sweets picking up on his edginess. He searched for his keys and finally found them on the end table by the couch. Booth took a calming breath and tried not to think about how awful tonight was going to be. Normally, Booth would only be pretending he hated these things because while he did not enjoy all the small talk and ass kissing, attending these functions meant the company of his partner and that he always enjoyed. However, tonight was different. Not just because the two partners were fighting, but because he was not picking her up, in fact he had not even offered. Not that Bones cared. She usually gave him a lecture about it, but Booth did care because he was a gentleman, and that's what gentlemen do. But, considering he was still angry with her, he had just told her he would meet her there and boy did he regret it. He liked to be the first person to see her all dressed up because then he had time to gather himself before any of their very watchful friends saw his initial reaction. Straightening his tie, Booth walked out of his apartment, very late, and very on edge.

Brennan studied herself in the mirror, her head tilted to the side. Her body-hugging, little black dress fit her perfectly. It was long enough to still be considered classy and the top was just revealing enough to catch the eyes of all the males that saw her. The sleeves that reached a little past her shoulders were lace. Her long legs looked even longer due to the black heels she was sporting. Her hair was full, curly and a little messy. Her make-up was smokey with nude lips, making her eyes pop compared to the rest of her features.

As she looked in the mirror, she thought about how awful tonight was going to be. She never really looked forward to these things, except for when her handsome partner agreed to go with her. Even though Booth would be there she knew it would be different because he hadn't offered to pick her up. He always did that, much to her annoyance. But she secretly loved that he was such an old fashioned gentleman and was extremely disappointed when he had told her he would just meet her there.

When she began getting ready she had no intention of putting so much effort into her appearance because she did not see the need. But, she found herself selecting the perfect make-up and dress combination to wow everyone, especially Booth. This ridiculous obsession with appearance had now made her late and that was why she was looking at herself harshly in the mirror.

"Quit being so irrational," she whispered to herself in the mirror. She gave herself one more disapproving look, grabbed her red clutch, and left her apartment, very unhappy, but dressed to kill and she only had one target in mind.

Booth glanced around as he finished his second drink. He saw many faces, but not one of them stopped his heart and made his blood boil at the same time. He sighed and looked at his watch.

"Earth to Booth," Angela said, snapping Booth out of his trance. "She'll be here soon." Angela smirked. Booth grimaced.

"I don't know what you're talking about. I'm just bored," Booth whined. Angela's smirk grew.

"You're awfully grumpy. Is it a little past your bedtime wittle Seewey Boof?" Angela asked. Booth rolled his eyes at her.

"Ha. Very funny," Booth replied. He felt the hairs on the back of his neck prickle slightly and knew his partner was close. Booth resisted the urge to spin around and find her in the crowd. Suddenly he smelled the distinct perfume that Brennan always wore.

"Hello Booth," Brennan said sweetly at his side. "Hello Angela." Booth glanced up at his partner and felt his mouth drop. The image in front of him was almost too much to handle.

"Bones," Booth choked out.

"Yes Booth?" Brennan asked a little too innocently. Booth's eyes narrowed as he tried to compose himself a little better, but his shock just turned into anger.

"What exactly are you wearing?" Booth gritted out. Brennan looked down at her outfit, a confused look on her face.

"A dress Booth," Brennan replied. "Sweets told us we were supposed to dress nicely for this event. Strictly suits and dresses, I think were his exact words."

"And you couldn't find anything less revealing?" Booth said, eyes glinting with anger. As he waited for Brennan's answer he heard Angela mutter something about finding Hodgins and saw her leave.

"I don't know what you mean. This is completely appropriate for this occasion," Brennan answered.

"Maybe for someone who's not you," Booth mumbled.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Brennan asked, a slight edge to her voice.

"You know exactly what I mean."

"Just because my dress does not live up to your puritanical, alpha-male views does not mean that you have the right to tell me what to wear," Brennan replied angrily. Booth stood up and stepped closer to Brennan, who backed up slightly.

"That's what this is, isn't it?" Booth said.

"I don't know what you mean."

"You did this on purpose. You knew I'd react this way," accused Booth.

"Don't be ridiculous Booth," Brennan countered. "How was I supposed to know you would act so irrationally about a dress?"

"I'm not buying it Bones," Booth replied. "You like to pretend that you're socially inept, so you don't have to face your feelings, but you've always understood. You put up this wall that makes it impossible to get close to you, but I've got you figured out Bones, so quit trying to hide."

"I'm not hiding Booth and I'm done with this conversation," Brennan said angrily.

"Fine," Booth said, walking away from Brennan towards the bar. As soon as he left Brennan ran her hands through her hair, somewhat shakily. She took a deep breath and drank the rest of Booth's drink in one gulp.