Thanks to all the reviews so far! You guys really make me want to continue this story (which is shaping up to be much larger than I originally plannedThis is mostly a filler chapter, hopefully to keep you wanting to read it. Let me know!

Tricia Schwartz's best friend, Annabelle Reynolds, sat on the oversized couch across from Brennan and Booth, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. She looked between the partners who were currently squished together on the small plaid loveseat in her homey little living room. The room was well decorated, and well lived in. Picture frames were scattered about, some on tables, a few above the mantle, each housing a different picture of the same couple smiling out from behind the glass.

Brennan lifted a small frame from the end table next to her, looking at Annabelle and her husband seated at a table, Joseph and Tricia Schwartz beside them. They were all grinning stupidly, their faces sunburned. In each of their hands they held a brightly colored drink, each with a small paper umbrella peeking out from over the tops. For a moment, Brennan paused at Joseph and Tricia. They seemed so happy, so carefree. It still sometimes caught her off guard that the remains that ended up on her lab table had once been cheerful, emotional people. They couldn't just be broken down into a femur or clavicle, no matter how much she tried to do just that. They had been whole. They had been complete. They had been alive.

Annabelle smiled sadly at Brennan, breaking the doctor out of her trance. "That was taken the summer before they disappeared. We went on a cruise to St. Thomas."

"Mrs. Reynolds," Booth started, leaning forward, his elbows resting against his knees. "Do you remember anything else that could help us find out who killed them?"

Annabelle shook her head slowly, her teeth biting into her bottom lip. "I already told the police everything I knew when they first questioned me after I reported them missing."

Booth nodded. "I understand, but anything, the smallest thing, could be helpful."

Annabelle nodded at him. "We had gone out to dinner, just the 4 of us. My husband drove and we all car-pooled. We went to this little Mexican dive around the corner. They had just gotten back from a weekend trip and they were tired, so we didn't stay out for long. We drove them back to their house, and watched them go inside," Annabelle stopped, choking back a broken sob. "They were supposed to pick their dog up from the vet the next morning. That's when I knew something was wrong."

Booth nodded. "How do you know they didn't pick up their dog?"

Annabelle sniffled and brushed the free-flowing tears off her cheeks. "The vet is a friend of ours. Georgia Morton. She lives a couple blocks from here. She was dog-sitting Pogo for the weekend for Joe and Trish. When they didn't pick Pogo up that morning, she called me to see if I'd heard anything. I went over to their house, and no one answered. Their cars were still there," she paused. "Everything was the same, only they were gone."

"Where did they go the weekend before they disappeared," Brennan interjected.

Annabelle wiped her nose with her thumb. "Down south, North Carolina, the Smokey Mountains. They went there every year to celebrate their anniversary."

"It was their anniversary?" Booth said, sitting up straighter.

"No, their anniversary was Valentine's Day. They just went the weekend before to celebrate early." Annabelle took a deep breath. "I'm sorry, that's all I know. I wish there was something new I could tell you." She shook her head solemnly and looked down at her hands.

Booth stood, and Brennan followed suit. "Thank you for your time, Mrs. Reynolds." Booth handed her a business card. "If there is anything else you remember, just contact me."

Annabelle took the card from him and nodded. "I will."

Booth and Brennan walked back to the car in silence. After they had buckled in, Brennan turned to Booth. "Booth, the DuPont's anniversary was Valentine's Day as well."

Booth nodded, and looked over at her quickly, before returning his gaze to the road. "I know, Bones. It seems that our victims had more in common than just the way they were killed."

A long silence stretched between them, each caught in their own entangled web of thoughts. Two couples, each murdered in February, both married on Valentine's Day. No leads for either case. Who had done this? Why? Were there others that were still out there that hadn't been found? Who would be the next victims? A shrill ringing from Booth's pocket disturbed their thoughts.

Flipping open his phone, he answered, "Booth." He paused for a short moment. "Yes sir, we'll be right there." Ending the call, he looked over at Brennan, his eyes slightly wider than usual. "That was Cullen. He wants to see us immediately."

Brennan looked at him, her eyes shining with curiosity. It wasn't often that they were both called in to see Cullen. It was even less often that he himself called. She wondered what was in store.

Well? How was it? Press the button and let me know. It only takes a second and it means so much