After a few glasses of wine, Booth felt brave enough to ask. "So, what was that all about, earlier? With the recipe box?"

She looked at him, apparently considering her answer. He took that moment to study her once more. She had changed into comfortable pajama bottoms and a grey t-shirt. She had pulled her hair into a ponytail while they were mixing the cookie dough and she hadn't taken it out. He was still in his jeans, but he too had put on a t-shirt, and both of them had bare feet. This moment was so perfect to him that he wanted to take a picture, something he would be able to look at and remember later.

"I'd rather not talk about it." she said finally.

He didn't answer, just took another drink of the wine.

"It's just… personal." she continued. "I would be embarrassed."

"If I tell you something embarrassing about me, will you tell me?" he was curious.

She laughed. "Your idea of embarrassing and mine are different, remember?" she asked. "We've played this game before."

"Fine. Let's play a game!" he suggested.

"Such as?"

"Truth or dare!" Wine made him say peculiar things.

"No, Booth. We're not fifteen." she said. He knew she'd had the same amount of alcohol that he had, so why wasn't she showing it? He felt a little light-headed and much looser, but she seemed to be the same pristine Temperance Brennan that she always was.

"Pleeeaaaase?" he whined. "You go first."

"What? Why? It was your idea!" she protested. He just grinned at her until she said, "Fine, truth."

"What's in the recipe box?" as soon as it was out of his mouth, he regretted it. To his surprise, however, she laughed.

"I see what this is about. Fine, never mind. Dare."

"Hmm… I dare you to go get the recipe box and show me what's inside." he said triumphantly.

To his complete shock, she stood up, walked over to the cupboard, got the box, took off the lid, and showed him. All he saw was a folded piece of lined yellow paper with a date on it in her handwriting, then she snapped the lid back on and returned it to its place.

"By the way, Booth, that will not be there after this evening." she said as she sat back down.

"What? Bones, come on. I wouldn't do that to you. I wouldn't look at something of yours that you explicitly said was private." he was hurt, and it showed. "Don't you know me?"

----

Brennan was feeling the alcohol, of that she was certain. "I'm sorry. No, I know that isn't you. You wouldn't do that." she apologized. It was taking all of her effort to form completely coherent sentences.

At that moment, the oven timer buzzed, and they both jumped up. Booth beat her to the stove and grabbed the oven mitts, grinning again. He pulled out the hot tray of cookies and set it on top of the stove. "Wow, these look fantastic!" he said.

"They look…underdone." she argued. And they did, they were still very moist, like half baked blobs of dough.

"No, they're perfect. Once they cool off they'll be the perfect consistency. Trust me." he said.

She eyed him for a moment. "If you say so."

They sat back down, returning to their wine. Brennan was sure she shouldn't be indulging so much, but it was so pleasant. She didn't want to end the evening, so she kept refilling both of their glasses.

----

Well... the next chapter is another of my favorites. (: Thanks for reading and reviewing!