Once again, I'm sorry for the time in between updates! Our power was out all weekend, and I just haven't had time. Here's another chap of NOC!

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Tempe snuggled closer to Booth, seeking warmth. They had been sneaking out nightly to the commons to watch the sun set. Tonight was no exception.

Tangled together in the grass, there were no annoying older brothers, no birthdays, no social workers, and no school. They were lost in their thoughts.

"Hey Bones." Booth said, turning his the the side to look at her. "I forgot to tell you earlier, but we enrolled you at my school, BC High. You'll go as Temperance Brennan, but what should your relation be to me? I was thinking second cousin twice removed or something."

"It would be weird to be your cousin." She commented.

"Well I can't say that you're my foster sister, that would ring too many bells."

"Why do we even need a set 'relationship'? Just say that you made friends with the new girl." She said, shrugging.

"Bones, you LIVE with me. Little hard to say we just met."

"Ok, I'm a foreign exchange student. I have a killer English accent." Booth chuckled.

"I can see that, James James Bond..." He teased.

"Hey!" She objected, punching him before settling back into his side. "What if we just don't explain. If someone asks, say that it's complicated." Booth nodded, thinking.

"You nervous about school at all?" He asked.

"No." Brennan replied. "I always get good grades, school comes easy for me. I have yet to get a 'B'." Booth grumbled in reply.

"I TRY, I really do. I just can never get the science stuff." Booth said, sulking.

"I can help you with it, if you want." His eyes lit up.

"Really?!"

"Yes. I'm a decent teacher. Let me drive to school sometimes, and we have a deal."

"Bones! How would it look if I showed up and a girl – no offense- was driving?" Booth argued, outraged.

"Fine. Just tomorrow."

"On the first day of school! No way." Brennan rose up on her elbows, and then leaned in so that their lips were almost touching.

"Please Seeley? Just one day?" She begged, her voice pouting as one finger traced his jaw teasingly. "What could it hurt?" She breathed. Unexpectedly, he leaned up and kissed her softly.

Her world spun, sparks flew, and all too soon it was over. With her brain on sensory overload, Brennan did the only thing she could think of. She kissed him back.

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Several happy hours later, Booth helped Brennan clamber up the ladder an through the window to his room. They collapsed, still dressed, on the bed and on top of one another.

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Brennan woke up at five the next morning. It was still dark, but the sun was showing sights of wanting to come up. Booth snored softly next to her as she closed her eyes contentedly. The shot open seconds later.

Oh. My. God. I kissed him! Many times! And I...

Of course you enjoyed it... The voice in her head reminded her.

But it was just hormones! I don't like Booth like that. That's it. It was just a biological reaction to a stimulus...

Just keep telling yourself that, Brennan, The voice taunted.

Ignoring the voice, she remembered, Today is the first day of school! Booth said that we were in most of the same classes. At least I'll know SOMEONE.

Who you kissed... The voice reminded her. She told the voice to shut it before extracting herself from Booth's grip and heading downstairs. John was already up, making coffee.

"Want some hot chocolate, hun?" He asked upon seeing her.

"Please and thank you." She replied sleepily, plopping down on one of the bar stools at the kitchen counter. John handed her a steaming mug.

"You guys were out late last night. Go anywhere special?" He asked, sipping thoughtfully.

Brennan blushed at the thought of what they had done. "Just the commons." She mumbled.

"You'll like BC High school. It's a good school, although Seeley has some trouble with his science."

"I've promised to help him in exchange for some driving time. Booth insists that driving the bike is the 'man's' job." Brennan explained.

"I give you full permission to boss him around. Seeley needs someone to bump his ego down a bit every once and a while."

"Thanks a lot, Dad." Grumbled a half sleeping Booth who had just ambled into the kitchen. He walked over to Bones and was about to kiss her, but restrained at the last second.

Woah, Seeley. Cool it man. He told himself.

"Morning, Bones." He said instead, sitting beside her and taking a mug of hot chocolate from his father.

"Morning, Booth." She replied, sipping her coco.

"Ready for school, you two?" A cheerful Molly crooned as she dished pancakes onto plates that had just appeared in front of them. Both mumbled their thanks and dug in. Booth had chocolate chip, Brennan had blueberry pancakes. Without verbal consent, they both switched plates halfway through the meal. John was observing them with interest.

I've never seen Seeley like this. He is so in tune with her, and they both know exactly what the other needs. Amazing.

John looked up as the two pushed their chairs backwards at the same time, and headed once again for Seeley's room. They returned ten minutes later, fully dressed.

Booth had some dark jeans and an ACDC sweatshirt on, his backpack thrown carelessly over one shoulder. He had the left ear bud of a pair of headphones on, the right was in the ear of Brennan. She had some jean shorts that came to mid-thigh, and a gray tank top with a skull and crossbones on it. A backpack was also on her back.

"You're not cold, Bones?" Booth asked as they walked to the garage.

"Nope. I'll be fine. Now..." She started, backing Booth into the wall of the garage. "Are you going to let me drive?"

Booth, with his eyes crossed at her proximity, could only nod dutifully. He snapped out of his Bones-induced-daze when he felt her reaching into his pocket. Before he could even yelp in surprise, she withdrew, his keys dangling triumphantly on her finger tip. With a wicked grin, she clambered onto the bike and revved the engine. Turning to him, she asked "Coming? Or are you planning on walking?" Booth climbed on behind her and they sped off. Directing her with taps on her side to tell her to take a right or left, Booth clung to her waist for the relatively short 15 minute ride. They soon arrived at a large brick building that said 'Boston Collage High School'. Locking up the bike, they both took a deep breath and then started towards the building together.