As promised, some B&B action in this chapter ;) Enjoy!


Angela felt like her apartment was foreign to her as she crashed around it in the arms of a stranger. He was a phenomenal kisser, though. She was a little too tipsy to care about anything else. She just wanted to forget. Ripley ran and hid when they came into the room. He had been startled out of his sleep, and somehow in his doggie brain, he knew he didn't want to watch this.

"Is your roommate coming home?" he asked, breathless.

"I have no idea," she giggled. "I left my panties on the doorknob."

"That's so hot," he said, kissing her again. Eventually, they got to her bedroom. Eventually, Angela was experiencing pure bliss instead of misery.

...

"That was really quite lovely," Brennan said as they approached the apartment.

"It was," Booth agreed, smiling at her. He got out and went around to her door, opening it for her.

"I could really get used to this," she teased.

"I could get used to doing it forever," he joked. He held out his arm for her to grab as she hopped out. She leaned on his shoulder as they walked to the door.

"I had a really nice time," she said when they stopped at the door. Booth turned so he was facing her head on.

"Me too," he replied. They stood there looking at each other, and Brennan shivered when he reached and tucked her hair behind her ear. She had this feeling he was going to kiss her, that this was finally the moment she was waiting for.

"You know what my favorite part about this night is?" Booth asked. They were inches apart now.

"What's that?" she questioned, her eyes darting around from his eyes to his mouth.

"This right here," he whispered. He cupped her face, and she closed her eyes. He tentatively touched her lips with his while running his thumb down her throat. Brennan pushed into him then, and the kiss intensified. His mouth was incredibly warm and soft on hers. She couldn't even begin to describe how his tongue felt on hers. After a few moments, they broke apart.

"Wow," he breathed.

"Yes," she agreed, blushing. He looked like he wanted to keep kissing her, but he restrained himself.

"I haven't had a good night kiss like that ever," he admitted.

"I concur," she laughed. Oh how she wanted to pull him inside and not let him out of her sight. Yes, she'd had dates and sex before, but not very often and not with a lot of guys. Booth was topping them all right now.

"I guess this is goodnight," he said huskily. He really didn't want it to be.

"Yes, it is," she nodded. Then she went to open the door. "Oh!" She brought her hand back like it had been burned.

"What is it?" he asked, concerned. "Is it hot?" His thoughts immediately went to a fire, but she started to laugh.

"It's...it's..." she couldn't finish for laughing.

"What? What?" he asked, confused. She kept laughing for another few moments.

"It's Angela's underpants," she gasped.

"Her what?!" he asked, guffawing.

"Her undies!" Brennan laughed. "She must be inside with somebody."

"Oh, how awkward," he chuckled. She bit her lip, trying to contain her peals of laughter before Angela heard her.

"I'm not sure what to do," she admitted. "I understand this is the sign for your roommate having sex, but I always thought it was supposed to be a sock."

"Guess she didn't have any on," Booth joked. Then he got an idea. "You wanna come to my place?" Brennan toyed with the idea.

"I would enjoy that," she agreed. "Although, it is a school night, and I shouldn't be up too late." She hoped he understood her meaning. Yes, she wanted to wind up tangled in sheets with him, but not yet. She wanted to savor the beginnings of intimacy as long as she could.

"That's fine," he agreed, getting her point. "I will be a perfect gentleman." They walked back to his SUV, and he helped her back in.

"I hope she's having a good time," Brennan said as they drove off. "She has been really depressed since Gary left."

"I'm sure she is," Booth laughed. He reached for her hand and held onto it for the rest of the drive.

...

"Thank you for the shirt," Brennan said. "And shorts."

"My pleasure," he grinned. He couldn't help but admire her in them. She looked so damn hot. She blushed then, as if sensing that was what he was thinking.

"I'd offer you the bed, but it's a really old mattress, and I wouldn't want you walking around with a back ache tomorrow," he said, wincing.

"I'm okay with the couch," she chuckled.

"It's a pull out," he said, showing her. She grabbed the sheets he'd brought out and started making it up. Booth helped.

"Does Parker stay overnight much?" she asked after a few moments.

"Not a lot. Rebecca doesn't really give us that much time together," he admitted. "It's frustrating."

"That's very frustrating. Don't you share custody?"

"Well, sort of, but since she's 'Mom' she gets more rights than I do," he explained.

"That's ridiculous. I think you should look into that further," Brennan advised.

"Maybe I will," he agreed. They were all finished making up the bed. "You need anything else?"

"No, I'm okay," she smiled. She missed Ripley as he had been her bed buddy for a while now, but she would get along just fine without him for one night.

"I'm in here if you need anything, anything at all," he said, gesturing.

"Okay. Good night, Booth," she said. He wrapped her into his arms, and she stood on tiptoes so he could kiss her again.

"Anything," he repeated, looking at her. She laughed.

"Good night," she said again, giving him a push. He laughed as he went into his room and turned off the light. Brennan made herself comfortable before snapping off the lamp. She fell asleep with a very big grin on her face.

The Next Day

Angela was racing around and getting dressed. Her clothes were strewn everywhere. Her guest was in the shower, and she had to be at the school in less than an hour.

"I'm home," Brennan called, coming in.

"Oh, sweetie," Angela said, spinning to face her. "I didn't expect you to be here..."

"I had to pick up my stuff for class today," she explained. "I figured you'd have enough time to be decent."

"Thanks," Angela laughed nervously. She didn't want Brennan seeing who had stayed the night. She felt embarrassed.

"Got it," Brennan said. She bent to fill up Ripley's bowl and refresh his water. He lapped it up greedily. "I'll see you later."

"Bye," Angela called as the door shut behind Brennan. She ran to find her other earring.

"Cute dog," the guy said, coming into the kitchen. Ripley looked up at him and gave a slight wag of his tail.

"Yes, he is. You gotta go now," Angela said. "I'm late for work."

"As am I," he laughed. "So, I guess this is it?"

"Yes, it is," Angela agreed. "Thank you. It really did help."

"I'm glad. If you ever change your mind..."

"I'll go to that same bar and find you," she finished. "See you later."

"Wait, no kiss?" he asked, smiling cheekily. She gave him one on the cheek. "Awww, man."

"Sorry, bud," she laughed. "That's all you get the morning after."

"I'll take it," he grinned. "See you." Angela whipped a brush through her hair, yelping as the tangles got caught. She found her good shoes and bolted out the door. It was another day.

...

"So, how was your date last night?" Angela asked, waggling her eyebrows suggestively. "You didn't come home."

"I did, actually, and I saw your sign, so I stayed the night with Booth. Not in that way," she finished quickly before Angela could interject.

"Oh, sweetie. That's disappointing," Angela pouted.

"Not really. I am enjoying the build up. It makes the end result that much better," Brennan winked. "Speaking of which, how was your mystery man?"

"He was fabulous," Angela drawled. "Too bad we agreed on one night only."

"I'm sure if you really wanted to find him again, you could," Brennan reassured her.

"Oh, I have no doubts about that," Angela replied. She sipped her coffee. It was lunchtime, and they were sitting in the teacher's lounge.

"My sub gave the class an assignment," Brennan went on, slightly outraged. "I hate when they think they can do that."

"I'm sure you just made twenty children's day, didn't you?"

"Yes. One even pumped his fist. Is homework really that dreadful? I enjoyed it."

"That's cos you're weird," Angela laughed. "Oh, there was a message this morning saying your apartment was ready."

"Oh good! I mean, I loved living with you, but I'm sure you're ready for your own space back," Brennan laughed.

"You read my mind, sweetie," Angela winked. "Will you get Booth to help you?"

"I'm sure he wouldn't mind," Brennan smiled. She was looking forward to it. The bell rang then, and they stood up, getting ready to go back to class.

Later

"Hi, Dad," Brennan said, sitting down across from him. She gripped the phone tightly. Matthew looked tired. "Are you all right?"

"Yes. Those beds are just hard to sleep on," he said, smiling lopsidedly. "How are you?"

"I'm okay. I'll be better once you're out of here."

"Well, you'll have at least another month. They're setting up my trial date," Matthew explained. "It will be confirmed in court tomorrow."

"Oh, so soon?"

"Apparently court is bored," Matthew joked. "Ah well. I will know faster if I'm stuck in here for good or if I can rejoin society."

"I'm scared, Dad," Brennan said. He held up his hand to the glass.

"Don't be," he urged. "I'm all right. People leave me alone. I have thoughts of you, Russ, and your mother to keep me busy throughout the day."

"I don't know if she'd be proud or upset that you're in here," Brennan said truthfully.

"Probably both," he chuckled.

"Do you have a good lawyer?"

"Yes, I think so. David Barron is his name. Seems sharp."

"I'd like to meet him."

"I'll set it up," Matthew nodded.

"I'm moving back home tonight," she said, filling the silence.

"That's good. Booth helping?"

"Yea."

"He's a nice fellow. I like him."

"I do too."

"Tell him I said hello," Matthew said, smiling. Their time was up.

"I love you, Dad," Brennan said.

"I love you too, Tempe," Matthew replied. He blew her a kiss as she walked away.

...

Flashback

"Do you ever have any regrets?" Christine asked Matthew. They were lying on the ground outside looking up at the stars. It was starting to snow a little bit too. Christine shivered.

"About?"

"Doing what we did?"

"Sometimes."

"Me too," she agreed, sighing. "I try to not to think about how normal our lives would have been if we had been normal people."

"We're normal now," Matthew pointed out.

"We're in hiding, honey, that's not normal."

"That depends on how you look at it," he teased. She swatted him.

"I want Tempe and Russ to be all right," she went on.

"They will be. They won't be like us."

"How do you know?"

"I just do. They have better sense."

"Do you promise to get along with my father while we're here?"

"I will if he will."

"I'll talk to him," she promised. Matthew squeezed her hand and moved to kiss her. Yes, they were in hiding, but they were together. He wouldn't have it any other way. He looked at the house to see Temperance move away from the window where she'd been watching. He hoped eventually she would understand why they did what they did and forgive them. He hated to see her mad at them.

...

"How can you find this funny?" Brennan asked Russ. He was brushing his teeth while she stood leaning in the doorway of the bathroom.

"I 'unno I jist do," he mumbled around his toothbrush. Then he spit.

"This is serious, Russ. Our parents were bank robbers!"

"So? At least they're not murderers," he said, wiping his mouth.

"That we know of," she argued.

"Oh my God, Tempe, just let it go, all right? They said it was in the past. They don't do it anymore. Just move on."

"I'm sorry, but I just can't do that," she huffed. Russ pushed past her, and she followed him down the hall to his room. She stood in his room while he crawled into bed.

"Go to sleep, Tempe. As Dad says, it will all be better in the morning."

"I doubt it this time, Russ."

"Okay, well can you leave me alone so I can sleep? I'm tired."

"Fine," she growled, going to her room. She climbed in and wondered what their future would hold. She had a hard time trusting that her parents were telling the truth. She searched back into her memory to recall events where they were gone for either nights or weekends that seemed fishy. She couldn't find any. She pictured them lying outside talking to each other. How did they get into that sort of thing anyway? Robbing banks? She wondered if she'd ever find out.

...

Present

"So good to be home," Brennan said as Ripley bounded around the apartment. Booth followed, carrying her bags. She halted short at the sight of the two men from her science class standing there. Jack and Zack. She stifled a laugh at their rhyming names.

"What are you doing here?" Booth asked.

"Just took one last sample. Sorry about that," Jack said, bowing his head. "It's all yours now."

"Sample of what?" Brennan asked.

"Sorry. We can't share that," Zack answered. "Come on, Hodgins."

"Yea, yea," Hodgins replied. Booth moved to put her bags in her bedroom. She noticed Hodgins was standing there all fidgety.

"Can I help you?" she asked.

"Actually, yes. What is the name of your friend? The artist at the school?"

"Angela?" Brennan asked, surprised.

"Yea, her," Hodgins smiled.

"Why do you want to know?"

"I just thought she was cute. Thought maybe I would ask her out."

"Well, I don't know if now is a good time since she got out of a relationship," Brennan explained. He looked a little downcast.

"All right, well, thanks anyway. Have a good evening," he said, picking up his work bag.

"You too," Brennan replied. She chuckled to herself as he left.

"What did he want?"

"Angela," she answered. He laughed.

"Are you gonna tell her?"

"I might. It would make her smile at least." Brennan moved closer to him, making him bend down and kiss her. Ripley made a noise in his throat from the corner. They both looked up at him.

"It's all right," Brennan reassured him. Ripley made a huffing noise and lowered his head onto his paws.

"Protective guy, huh?" Booth asked, eyes twinkling.

"Yes, he is. I think he's warming up to you, though."

"Well, that's good."

"Stay for a movie?"

"Sure," he grinned. Any excuse to cuddle her was good.

...

"What did you ask her?" Zack asked as they rode back to the Jeffersonian.

"Nothing," Hodgins replied.

"You seem to be not telling the truth," Zack noted.

"Just be quiet," Hodgins ordered. Angela. Even her name was beautiful. He became lost in thought about her lips, her skin, and her laugh. She had been so amazing. He felt only slightly bad for finding out her name behind her back. He wanted to see her again. He had to. She was someone he'd never be able to forget, and he hoped that just maybe she was having a hard time forgetting him too. There was only one way to find out.


Music that inspired this chapter: Slow Burn by Kacey Musgraves, Look After You by The Fray, Dangerous Woman by Ariana Grande, Thinking 'Bout You by Dua Lipa