A/N: Hello again everyone! Thanks for being patient! I needed to take a break from writing because I was totally and completely out of ideas for this story. But, I think I have a great angle for the story and am back. As a treat, I will give you all an extra-long chapter. I hope everyone enjoys the rest of the story because I am enjoying writing it. Now, without further ado, the chapter you have all been waiting so patiently for.

Booth, Brennan and Sweets arrived in front of the Founding Fathers 15 minutes later. As they were getting out of the car, Hodgins, Angela, Cam and Wendell pulled up to the curb. The four got out of Hodgin's car and walked over to the rest of their team.

"Hey, guys!" Angela said as she gave Brennan and Booth a combined hug. She lowered her voice so that only the two could hear her. "Make 'em sweat a little. They were pumpin' me for information the whole ride over here. I told them you guys had something to share with us, but that I didn't know what it was. I think Jack knows that I know, however. He knows me too well."

"Oh we will Ange. This is going to be so much fun." Booth said with an evil grin on his face.

"Booth?" Brennan looked at her partner inquisitively.

"Follow my lead, Bones. Pretend we're undercover. Act. Can you do that?"

"Of course I can, Booth. I am a very good actress."

"Okay. Let's have some fun."

The group walked into the bar and sat at their usual table. After ordering drinks, all eyes turned on Booth and Brennan.

"So…why did you invite us all here?" Hodgins asked.

Booth and Brennan shared a conspiratorial look.

"Well, Hodgins, we wanted to tell you all something. Something pretty big." Booth started, then looked at his partner. "Bones, do you want to tell them.? About the big thing?"

Brennan smirked wickedly. "Sure, Booth." She turned to her friends with a grave expression. "As you all know, we are currently trying to solve the murder of Tracy Manahan."

"Well, yes of course we know, Dr. Brennan. We just came from the lab."

Brennan looked at Booth pleadingly.

"I'm sorry, guys. Bones is a little nervous about what we have to tell you. So, I think I'll take over until she feels ready. Is that okay, Bones?" Brennan nodded. "Okay, so, as she was saying, right now we have a case. But after this case, things are going to be different. Very different."

"Are you two ending your partnership?" Sweets asked, with a panicked look on his face.

Booth said nothing but his face turned very serious. Everyone instantly broke into hysterics, begging the partners to see reason.

"Agent Booth, Dr. Brennan, are you sure about this?" Sweets asked.

"You guys can't break up! We're a team!" Hodgins shouted.

"What will happen to myself and the other interns?" Wendell asked quietly.

"Guys, I'm sure whatever happened can be resolved. There is no need for the two of you to break up." Cam reasoned.

Brennan spoke up. "Why are you all assuming we are ending our partnership? When did anyone say anything about that? Neither Booth nor myself said anything about ending our partnership."

Everyone looked at Brennan, speechless.

"Then why are things going to change after this case, Bren?" Angela asked, innocently.

"Thank you for not jumping to conclusions, Ange. Now, if you had let Booth continue, you would have found out that the reason things are going to change after this case is that we have decided to start a relationship."

There was a stunned silence following Brennan's announcement. Booth took the opportunity to take Brennan's hand in his. Brennan looked at Booth and the two shared a loving smile. When they turned back to look at their co-workers—their friends—their family—all hell broke loose. Angela squealed louder than anyone had ever heard before. Cam started clapping loudly, immediately followed by Hodgins and Wendell. Sweets, however, made no noise, because he had hit the floor in shock.

"Sweets!" Brennan cried.

Everyone rushed to his side. Booth shook the young psychologist in an attempt to rouse him. When that didn't work, he resorted to lightly slapping the sides of his face. After a few seconds, Sweets' eyes opened.

"You—you—you two—in a—in a relationship? Like a romantic relationship? You must be joking." Sweets stammered.

"We most certainly are not joking, Sweets. But if you would like to hear a joke—"

"Time and place, Bones. Time and place. This is neither the time nor the place."

"Right. Sorry."

"So, I was right? In my book? I was right when I said that the two of you were in love?"

"Yea, Sweets. As much as I hate to admit it, you were right. Bones and I are very much in love."

"Woah. This is just, like, crazy." Wendell said.

Hodgins clapped the intern on the back. "You have no idea. No idea. We have been waiting for this for like 6 years."

"Well, I, for one, would love to hear how this exciting change came about." Cam said, retaking her seat.

Booth and Brennan helped Sweets to his feet. They all sat down and ordered another round of drinks.

"Well, it all started after we told Sweets about our first case. He told us that we were in love and that one of us would have to break the stalemate. Then he said I would have to do it because I am the gambler. We left his office right after that."

"Then he took Sweets' advice to heart. He told me that he wanted to be with me. That he could see us together in 30, 40, or 50 years. Then he kissed me."

"She pulled away and I thought my heart was going to stop beating. She said she couldn't be with me. That she couldn't change."

"I was scared. I couldn't bear to let myself admit my feelings and then have him realize he didn't really love me. I knew I wouldn't be able to survive that. So I told him no in order to save both of us misery."

"We left knowing that things would never be the same. But we decided to stay partners. It was best for all of us. I laid in bed for hours trying to figure out where I went wrong. I replayed our entire partnership in my head. I just couldn't figure out why she had said no. Then, I realized what she had said. She hadn't said no, but that she couldn't change. And I had just accepted that. I looked back and realized that she had loved me since our first case. After I fired her we got drunk and we called a cab. I told her that I was a gambler. After she asked why I told her, I said that I thought we were headed somewhere."

"And I told him that we were not going to sleep together because we were both too drunk. I didn't think we should start something serious after a night of drinking tequila."

"And after I realized that I ran straight to her apartment. I pounded on the door and pleaded with her to give us a chance. To let us have what we were both craving. I told her that I didn't want her to change because I love just the way she is."

"He asked me to just take it one day at a time. I finally conceded and we decided that the best thing for both of us was to start a long-term, committed, monogamous relationship. Then we went to sleep. When we woke up we told each other how much we love each other. After that we—"

"We got up and went to work. We were late because we were both up late, so we slept in." Booth said, silently reprimanding Brennan for almost sharing their sex life with their friends.

"Yes."

"So, that's the story."

"Wow. That's…" Wendell said.

"So romantic!" Angela finished. "I'm so happy for you guys!"

"We all are. Really." Cam said.

Booth and Brennan glanced at each other and smiled.

"Let's see a kiss!" Angela shouted.

"Ange…" Brennan started.

"Aw, come on, Bren. Just one little kiss. You don't have to jump his bones or anything."

Brennan sighed and looked at her partner. "Just one."

Booth leaned over to his partner and captured her lips with his in a passionate kiss that made Cam and Angela fanning themselves after.

"That was hot!" Angela said.

Booth, Brennan and their friends all chuckled.