Gah! So sorry! Been doing a lot lately! Forgive me!

This one is fairly long and just something random. I dunno, not my best or my favorite, but I said I'd post all the stories I had and here you go. Keeping to my word!

P.S: I don't know why I picked Vermont, and I don't know why she's there.

Disclaimer: You hear that? Shh, shh. Listen. That's the sound you get when you don't own a damn thing!

Accident

Takes place seven weeks after Season 6 Finale.

She hadn't seen them all right away, and it wasn't purposeful. Or planned.

Just kicking off her new job (and promotion she received in Vermont), Hannah booked a hotel room in the heart of D.C. where she would begin her interviews at a local police station for her first professionally published work. Her new boss, as well as the board, all agreed her first job should be somewhere she'd been before, so she would be able to get around easier. It hadn't been hard to decide where to go. The closest place she'd been to that was anywhere near Vermont had been Washington D.C. So naturally, she brought it up to the board and it wasn't long before the decision was made to send her on her way, plane ticket in hand.

Shockingly, in thinking of a place to go, she had hardly even considered the events that had occurred last time she was there. Sure, there was a few passing thoughts – memories – that sprung up but she was mainly focused on work and not the possibility of running in to anyone.

Which was why she was so shocked to have seen the four of them at the park. She hadn't considered it.

They didn't see her, all caught up in their laughing and talking. As far as they were concerned, she was just another person in the corner of their eyes making her way to her destination.

Hannah had first spotted them as she J-walked to the other side of the street. The police station she wanted to hit first was on that side of the road and she'd be able to go right into the parking lot if she stayed on this sidewalk. She looked both ways as she bustled to the other side, her shoulder bag bouncing off her shoulder as she did so.

Just as she'd stepped onto the sidewalk, she looked ahead of her briefly, taking in the greenness of the park, the pond with a handful of ducks here and there. It was just a glance, but something in her mind made her do a double-take. And that's when she saw them.

It was the entomologist and Angela, the artist who amazed Hannah with her skills computer-programmed or no. The other two were people the Journalist knew well.

Temperance Brennan, Anthropologist expert (the best in the world), and Seeley Booth, Special Agent at the FBI.

All four of them stood casually in front of a bench in the shade of a tree. In the shock of seeing the familiar figures, she stopped. Despite her hurry to be at the station before anyone else, she stood where she was at. She was a good distance away that if anyone had happened to look over, they would assume that she was just looking around at the park, or waiting for someone there. Nothing to draw attention to.

Hannah watched in surprised interest as her ex smiled then laughed at something Angela had said. Hodgins must've said something somewhat offensive as his wife smacked his arm, not taking her eyes off the two people in front of her. It was then that Hannah realized a fifth person was with them.

It was a baby. Although she couldn't tell what age or how big it was, she knew it was just that because a stroller was in front of the married couple, facing Hannah, and the blankets were moving. Which was what caught her eye. She thought, for a moment, she discerned a faint cry carried by the wind or an echo that emitted from the infant. Her assumptions were proven correct as Angela sat on the bench and pushed away the large sun visor and made faces inside the stroller. The other three moved around her.

All was uneventful for a few seconds until Temperance bent down and picked up the baby and placed him (for now she could see it was a 'him' from the clothing he wore) on her hip somewhat awkwardly but with confidence. Her partner proceeded to make faces at him and claimed his spot next to her.

She didn't know why, but she took in what the anthropologist wore. It was nearly two months into the summer – which would account for the warm weather – but now that autumn was around the corner, there had been a few bouts of rainfall, leaving a light coolness over D.C. Though it was thin, the anthropologist sported a light blue-striped sweater with the sleeves rolled up to the elbows. The style was long, pulled down to her mid-thigh, and she wore skinny jeans that didn't look tight at all – not like what the "kids" had nowadays. Flats were the shoe-type she chose for that particular day. Black ones.

Her hair was done in a different way than Hannah last remembered and it took her a moment – at her angle – to realize that her hair had grown out, her bangs were longer. Duh. She wore a hat that sat on the back of her head. Hannah didn't get those styles, where the had wasn't meant to cover your head entirely, but somehow still managed to not fall off. Hannah thought about her own attire.

T-shirt, overcoat, slightly-curled hair, black work pants and sneakers. The life of a nomad, she mused, remembering when she'd first moved in to Seeley's apartment with just three bags and herself.

She continued to watch, suddenly intrigued, as Brennan made faces at the baby and wiggled her fingers in front of his face. She looked over as her partner said something, and Hannah watched as Hodgins and Angela made 'Ohhhh!' faces, as if a good joke was made. Brennan seemed to turn to them defensively, apparently irritated with Booth.

Hannah took a moment to examine her old fling as well.

Clad in just a grey T-shirt (leather jacket held in his hand at his side), faded blue jeans and his favorite all-black shoes, Seeley looked much more relaxed than Hannah could ever last remember. His hair was longer, probably too long for his liking. The smile plastered on his face told her that he was happy, now. And quite right, too. Her mind flashed to the last time she'd seen him. Disappointment, anger, resentment, betrayal, hurt. All emotions she'd seen on his face the last time she'd been in this city.

How could he suddenly be so happy? Had he already let go? Forgotten? Then again, she hadn't even thought about him as she flew in from Vermont to do the story here. It didn't mean the memories were any less painful.

But what caused the joy in him? Though she couldn't see them from this distance, what caused the light in his eyes? It wasn't the beating he approved of the entomologist receiving, being pushed and punched on the arm. It wasn't the remark Angela just made, or the attention the now babbling, gurgling baby was getting from the group, making everyone laugh.

Continuing to watch, no longer thinking about the interviews, Hannah observed further, holding the strap of her bag in place as it hung over her shoulder. A movement from the duo caused her to grip the strap uncharacteristically tight.

As the baby settled on Brennan's hip once more, Booth seemed to inch closer to his partner, stepping to the side to place an arm around her. The knee-jerk response for her, it seemed – as she did it almost instantly – was to rest her head on his shoulder. She bounced the baby in little movements, shocking the Journalist to no end, as she remembered Temperance never showing such contentment before. She stood up from the tree she found herself leaning against as her ex's hand moved from her shoulder down to her hip, just under the infants' thigh.

How could that have happened? Hannah's mind raced. Were they really in that sort of relationship? Or were they always like that before. . .before Seeley had gone to Afghanistan and met her? Words couldn't be found to describe the thoughts running through her head at the moment. He'd told her himself; told her that things weren't like that between them. Temperance had admitted she had feelings for Seeley, and Hannah had trusted him when he'd said it wasn't going to happen. And she trusted Temperance when she said she would handle it and that she didn't mean to hurt anyone. Because, honestly, once you get to know the woman, she really doesn't play that way.

How had the brilliant scientist conquered her emotions in the six months Hannah had been gone? How much had actually changed? Hannah suddenly felt like a huge piece of her life here was ripped from her, shut out into darkness. The same question coming back to her: How much had really changed?

It was just a simple gesture. Should she be making a big deal of it?

Of course! She brainstormed mentally. Wasn't the artist a big sucker for these two in the past? She'd heard stories from Seeley and Cam, at various times during her stay here. Angela had kind of a thing for these two. She'd have been their biggest fans, once upon a time. Then he'd met Hannah. . .

Hannah looked over to the artist who had, during her thinking, leaned back on the bench and was joined by Hodgins, who laid an arm over the back. They both looked up at the partners, clearly all in deep, humorous conversation. Hannah peered at Angela, looking for any hint of sudden surprise or shock; anything leading to believe this was the first she'd seen of such a display.

Nothing.

She simply looked at them comfortably. Though the smug, contented smile she played for them didn't go unnoticed by Hannah. Obviously this had been a long time coming and it had been out in the open for a while.

She observed further, intent on getting the whole thing sorted, She realized she'd been watching them for almost five minutes, but she couldn't tear her eyes away.

Seeley made gestures with his free hand, really in to whatever he was saying. By the time he was done explaining, he had the other three laughing. Hannah wondered if it was something he'd told her before.

They baby got fussy and Brennan was forced to hand him over to his father, who kissed his cheek and pretended to eat his hand while his mom got the stroller.

She watched with sparked interest as the two parents were occupied by their child, leaving the duo. Brennan seemed to be saying something that got Booth laughing. She stood up straight and Hannah noticed for the first time how close to his height Temperance was. She thought back to how she'd have to stand on tip-toe to reach Seeley, because she didn't prefer heels. It wasn't to say Brennan was abnormally tall, not at all. She still fell a few inches short of her partners' height.

Again, Hannah watched.

Booth came in close, too close for having been 'just partners'. Unless there was now a double meaning to that term for them. He was saying something to her that got her smiling. Hannah felt embarrassed. She shouldn't be watching, it was weird. But she had to, just to see if. . .

Booth placed his arms loosely around her. He said something to her, and she made a head gesture (rolling her eyes?). She replied and then it was his turn. The topic must have been shoes, because she looked down at hers. Hannah imagined a confused expression on her face as she looked back at him.

It was slow-happening, but Hannah could've sworn they were going to kiss. Maybe their relationship was newfound, testing the boundaries in secret. But if that were so they wouldn't be doing the complete opposite in public where they'd be seen. Let alone practically right in front of two of their friends.

She imagined them to be bantering back and forth. They were so close their noses touched, but still they went back and forth. Brennan's hands came to rest on his shoulders as the gap was finally closed between them. They were chaste kisses, but Hannah had the feeling that each two second lip-lock meant more to than met the eye. More than any kisses they'd shared in previous relationships. And that plausible realization hurt a little.

She still couldn't believe what she was seeing. They were together seven months out of his year in Afghanistan, then broke it off nearly around February. Close to a year. It had been months since then. It seemed like enough time, but then again, a year is along time, too. She pondered these thoughts as she shouldered off the tree, starting her less brisk walk in the direction she'd set off in minutes before.

Maybe after their relationship ended, it took him months to get over it. But you don't just propose to someone and move on. Her mind was brought, again, to that last night.

Hannah turned, taking one last look at them all, now further away than before due to her change in position. She just made our the four of them, walking along the path in the opposite direction than her. She caught a glimpse of the partners. She'd never pegged Temperance Brennan for much of a hand-holding kind of girl, and she was right to do so. The anthropologist held on gently to her partners' arm as they exited the park, looking as though it was part of their every day routine, like she belonged there.

Turning, she continued her trip to the police station. Hannah thought with a slightly more positive outlook on this whole thing. She had been wrong to say what she did that night when she left.

They were definitely done.

I know, I know. "What are the odds of Hannah coming across them in a place like D.C.?" It was just an idea. This was just my idea on how she may see them after everything that happened. No anger or anything, just observing.

And don't ask about the long description of Brennan's clothing. For some reason, I just had the idea of what she was wearing and it fir her perfectly and she always wears those stretchy skinny-jeans anyways. And we've seen Brennan in that hat before. Santa in the Slush, anybody? ;D

Yeah, I don't like this one. Pictured it a lot better in my head.