Disclaimer: I don't own Bones or anything to do with it, including any characters or places mentioned. I earn nothing for writing this. It's just for fun.

Chapter Nine

Brennan was slightly disappointed when Booth did not show up at her flat that morning. At seven 'o'clock her phone rang. This excited her, although she was unsure why, surly working a case without Booth would not feel as rewarding.

"Brennan."

"Morning Bones, you okay?" Came the cheery reply.

"Why are you calling so early Booth? Do we have a case?"

"No, Bones, and even if we did you know I wouldn't be working it with you."

"So why are you calling me?" she asked, confused.

"To let you know that I haven't forgotten you. I've planned things for today; but they're in a theme. The theme is favourites."

The women's interests were engaged. "Really? Why is that?"

"To prove to you that I know a lot more about you than you think I do, even though I've been forgetting a few things lately." He replied triumphantly. If you open your front door I left the first one outside just before I called you, go find it while it's warm. Catch you later." The line went dead.

Putting the phone back in her pocket Brennan went out into the hallway. Sitting there was coffee in a takeout mug and a croissant in a paper bag. Balancing on top of them was a note.

Hi Bones, thought I'd help you start your day with your favourite breakfast; from the diner, just the way you like it. Your next surprises are at the office. Hope you like them. Booth.

Smiling, the brunette added the note to her pocket, picked up her food and left for work. On the way there, she tried not to notice how odd it always felt to drive anywhere without Booth in work hours. The car seemed quiet and the journey long. She put on the radio hoping it would help. The sound of Cyndi Lauper telling her that girls just wanted to have fun filled her ears. Suddenly she shot back in time. There was a loud ringing and Booth was on the floor. She squeezed her eyes tight and shook herself before she had time to recall the blood. She turned off the radio deciding she would rather be lonely than disturbed.

It took a great deal of effort and skill to manage to doge past Angela's office without being noticed on the way to her own. It wasn't that she was deliberately avoiding her friend, she just wasn't in the mood for the barrage of questions that she knew she would face when they met.

Things had changed in her office, for a start there was a vase of orchids and a scrabble board that already had tiles placed on it. Stuck on the vase was a second note. Turning around to check that no one was watching, she pulled it off and read it at her desk.

Hey Bones, hope you enjoyed your breakfast and that I got the right flowers this time. For a clue as to what I have in store for you next, read the message on the scrabble board, which i happen to know is your favourite board game. Please do what the note says at the right time or a lot of people will be mad at me. Booth.

It had not occurred to her that she should be nosey and see which tiles were placed on the board. Wondering over, it took her a few moments to work out which way to read the interlocking words before she worked out they read GO TO THE AQURIUM AT TWELVE PM. DO NOT BE LATE.

The aquarium was quiet when she arrived thanks to be being a Tuesday lunchtime. One thing that the scientist couldn't miss in the empty lobby was the other woman stood next to the reception desk holding a piece of paper with her name on.

"Excuse me, but my name seems to be written on your sign and I am confused as to why."

"Oh Ms Brennan, hi!" the blonde curly haired woman gushed. "I must say I love your books! I was worried that you wouldn't show but the FBI guy insisted you would. You're right on time too. He said to give you this." She added thrusting a framed certificate into her hands. The weight too Brennan by surprise and she almost dropped it. Reading it she realised it was a certificate of adoption: for a dolphin named Smuge.

She felt her face twist into a huge grin. "Is this serious?" She asked.

"Yep!" the receptionist gushed "100 per cent genuine. I'm guessing this was a shock. I wish my boyfriend was that romantic! And he's a hottie! You're so lucky!"

"Actually, he's not my...oh never mind. Can I meet Smuge?"

"Of course, right this way."

It was a couple of hours before she left. Stepping on the pavement she noticed that Booth was stood leaning on his SUV. "Hey Bones," Jump in."

"Thank you Booth!" she squealed in a rather uncharacteristic moment of delight, throwing her arms around him as best as she could with her hands full. "But where are we going now?"

He grinned, "I'm glad you asked. We're going to do one of my favourite things. We're going bowling."