Hey sweeties! Thank you all so much for your wonderful reviews. Glad you liked how Cullen reacted to Andrews... Here we go, Booth and Brennan are still at the restaurant.

Chapter 11:

Booth's phone rang, interrupting his meal. He sighed, lowering his fork, and looked at the lasagne on the plate in front of him. He could only hope the conversation was going to be short or the delicious pasta would get cold.

Or Miss "I-eat-it-all" in front of him was going to steal it from him. She sure had a predatory expression on her face and her plate was already empty.

He quickly pulled out his cell phone, not happy when he saw it was a call from his boss's secretary. "Booth" He answered it.

"Special Agent Booth, Deputy Director Cullen asked me to inform you, that he wanted to meet you in his office after lunch. He is leaving for lunch now... he should be back in an hour." Mrs. Benton's voice told him.

"He wants to see me again?" Booth could not hide his surprise. Had he changed his mind?

"Yes. Ehm...Booth, there is ... something I wanted to ask... I mean..." Booth could not believe it... was Rachel Benton really stammering, as if embarrassed? Cullen's secretary usually was pretty forward and professional.

"Rachel?" He asked, waiting for her to continue.

Then he spotted Brennan's hand - armed with a fork - move towards his plate and hissed.

"Could you keep your hands off my food, Bones?"

Brennan gave him a pleading look, patting her belly, as if she wanted to say. 'I am eating for two.'

Booth rolled his eyes and gestured for her to take his plate. Who could resist that look?

"Rachel?" He asked again, still waiting for Cullen's secretary to ask her question.

"You're with Dr. Brennan right now?" Rachel Benton blurted out.

"Yeah." Booth answered, frowning. Why would she want to know that?

"Booth... Cullen kind of... implied you and her..." Rachel stopped again.

Booth could hardly believe that the Rachel Benton he knew seemed to be flustered and embarrassed about this.

"Rachel if you are asking if we are a couple, then the answer is: yes, we are. But WHY do you ask?" Booth said, watching Brennan's eyes suddenly snap to his, at the word 'couple'. Her eyebrows rose, questioningly.

Booth shrugged lightly. He would explain it to her later.

"Well... I just wanted to make sure. Cullen told me to inform people that you will be working with Saunders from now, but that you will be seeing Dr. Brennan often. I... he practically told me to gossip. I don't do that, usually. I don't want to be just telling tales, you know." Rachel quickly explained.

"Cullen told you to gossip? Why on earth would he do that?" Booth gasped.

Brennan watched him intently, chewing on a bit of lasagne. A quick glance to the plate in front of her told Booth it had been the last bite of HIS lasagne. Her gnocchi were finished too. That left only a bit of salad... well, he would not go that low to battle over a few leaves with her. Better endure the hunger like a man.

"Well, Booth... I am not sure if I should tell you this... But I like you and I just want you to be warned, when you come back later... Andrews rushed in to talk to Cullen about something urgent... and soon afterwards he practically ran from Cullen's office. After this Cullen was in a good mood and well... told me to go for lunch and tell people about you and Dr. Brennan... unofficially, as he said." Rachel reluctantly reported.

"Well, if he told you, do it... I don't care. People will find out eventually. It does not matter." Booth answered, watching his girlfriend finishing off the salad that she had ordered as a side dish.

"Okay, Booth... Hey,... Congratulations." Rachel said, her voice indicating she was relieved now.

Booth's eyes widened in surprise. "On what?" He quickly asked, suspicious. Rachel Benton could not know about Bones' pregnancy, could she?

"That you two finally admitted what you mean to each other, what else?" Rachel gave back, surprise in her voice.

Booth relaxed "Oh, right... Thank you, Rachel. Until later, okay?" He quickly closed the phone, effectively terminating the conversation.

Brennan gave him a questioning look. "What was this about?" She asked, reaching for the last slice of white bread that was left in the bowl on the table.

Booth watched her incredulously, but answered: "Cullen told his secretary to make sure people know we are a couple. I don't know why, but I have the dubious honour of meeting him in an hour – again. Maybe he will explain it. Rachel thinks that another agent might have something to do with it. People will be talking about us pretty soon... ah well,... it would have happened anyway."

Brennan looked at him, a smile tugging on her lips. "It's awkward, isn't it? Zach told me he hopes we'll be happy together... it was... strange." She mused, recalling the conversation that had taken place earlier that day.

"Bones, Zach IS strange." Booth commented, watching the last crumb of bread vanish between her lips.

"He is not. You know, he was afraid he would have to go out and arrest and question suspects with you." Brennan mumbled, licking her fingers.

"As if..." Booth chuckled. "The kid would be no help, more the contrary."

"I know. I told him you'll take Agent Saunders with you instead. He was relieved." The forensic anthropologist said, her hand searching for another slice of bread. A frown appeared on her face, when she found the bowl empty.

"How about dessert?" She asked, licking her lips. The predator was back.

Booth shook his head. "Where is all the food going?"

Her frown deepened. "It's going the same way as usual. You chew, you swallow..."

Booth leant forward, silencing her with a passionate kiss.

"What was that for?" Brennan asked after a moment, still savouring the feeling of his lips on hers.

"You know, it's kind of sexy, this hungry, ravenous side of yours." Booth grinned at her.

"It's perfectly normal that I need more nutrition now, Booth. Especially since my sickness cost me my breakfast today." Brennan lectured him, a stern look on her face.

"Uh-uh. I know, Bones. Come on, let's order dessert. I am still hungry, since you ate half of my lasagne." Booth quickly answered, taking her hand in his.

"I think I'll try that chocolate cake..." She sighed, the expression on her face going dreamy. "Or how about a macedonia? Or... maybe I'll just take both."

Booth watched her, how she mused about which dessert to take, her fingers absently tracing the rim of her water glass. She looked adorable and he whispered in a gentle voice. "I love you."

Her eyes fixed on him. "I'll take both."

Booth chuckled. "Did you hear what I was saying?" He had never thought Brennan could get so excited and distracted by food.

Brennan smiled at him. "I love you too."

Then she motioned for the waiter to come to their table.

Okay, all together now: aw!

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