New story! So I couldn't wait to start this story. I loved all the reviews I got on the last one and even though I said in my other story that I would only be updating Surprises for a while, I just needed to get this sequel started. Enjoy!

Our Present

Chapter One: Catching Up

He sat opposite her, looking deep into her crystal blue eyes, the eyes he'd longed for ever since they last saw each other those fifteen years ago, not saying anything. And she looked into his eyes, his brown reassuring eyes, trying not to blink or close her eyes for too long, in case this may be another one of those crazy, irrational dreams she'd had so many times before. But, she knew it wasn't the moment he reached out and took her hand in his. She could feel the warmth in the way he squeezed her hand, and the sparks, almost painfully, flying up up arm, until every one of her nerves was tingling.

She shivered slightly, alarming him. But his alarm went away when he saw the warm smile spread across her features. He smiled back.

"So..."he said, breaking the silence, "What have you been up to, Dr. Brennan?"

She smiled. "Don't call me that."

He grinned. "Okay...so what have you been up to, Temperance?"

She scowled playfully at him. "Not that, either. I'm Bones, remember? Just Bones."

He smiled widely, bringing her hand up to his lips and kissing it. "Okay, Bones...what have you been up to?"

Bones smiled. "That's better and I've been up to a lot. But, it's a long story. I wouldn't want to bore you."

"Hey," Booth said, grinning, "I have all the time in the world, and you could never bore me, not even when you talked on and on about science when we were younger, remember?"

Bones smiled and nodded, remembering well. Booth never even acted bored when he was with her. "Okay, then, but I think we should have some coffee first. It truly is a long story."

Booth chuckled and stood up. "I'll go make it now. How do you like yours?"

Bones smiled. "One cream, three sugars."

"Creamer okay?" Booth called from the kitchen.

"Sure, as long as its not too much." Bones called back.

Booth chuckled and got to making the coffee.

Half an hour later, they were talking about what happened in the fifteen years they were apart.

"Have you had any serious relationships since...you know..." Bones asked, irrationally hoping that he would say no."

Booth averted her gaze. "Well...actually, sort of. There was this woman I met right after I got back from the army, named Rebecca. We had a sort of serious relationship. It only lasted for about a year, but..."

"But what, Booth?" Bones urged. "You can tell me."

Booth looked down at his coffee. "She- she had a kid. A little boy, actually. His name is Parker."

Bones blinked at him. "That's all?"

Booth looked up at her, surprised. "What do you mean, 'that's all'?" he asked. "You don't mind?"

Bones shook her head. "Why would I? He's probably a wonderful child. And you didn't know then that you would ever see me again. So why wouldn't I be okay with it? Its all in the past."

"Really?" Booth said.

Brennan nodded. "Of course. Although..."

"What, Bones?" Booth asked.

"Did you love her like you loved me?" she asked, tentatively.

Next chapter will be up soon. I just wanted to get this started. Please REVIEW!