I am really pleased with the response I'm getting for this story. It is absolutely amazing! Thank you guys so much and please continue to review! And now...on with chapter 3. Enjoy!

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Booth walked out of Brennan's apartment in a daze. He could still feel her lips on his, the smell her of lavender shampoo, and her hands running through his short buzz cut. He felt terrible about how he left her, broken and confused. But she said she understood. He knew that this is what he needed. He had spent so much time with her over the years, that he needed to get to know another woman.

His phone rang, bringing him out of his deep train of thought.

"Booth."

"Hello Seeley. Its Joan." There was a pause, making her continue. "I just wanted to know if you would like to go to the Royal Diner for lunch. I'm starving and would really like to spend time with you."

"I would love to. Do you want me to pick you up at your hotel? Say….12?"

"Actually, I could get a taxi if you don't mind."

"Okay, thats great. See you in a little bit."

"Okay. Bye Seeley."

"Bye Joan."

He closed his cell phone and clenched it in his hand tightly. He suddenly wasn't so happy to see Joan. After his short little rendezvous with Brennan, that's all he could think about. He began to think that maybe he had made a mistake. Maybe he should've told her to wait for him, while he went to break up with Joan.

But she needed to feel how he felt over a year ago. She needed to know that he still cared about her, but he just needed some time to sort things out. He knew that the last year was supposed to be his "time-sorting" year, but it turned into his "moving on" year and "there's other women besides her" year.

But that doesn't mean he didn't want her. He wanted her, so badly. But for right now, he needed time, he needed space, he needed Joan.

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"Dr. Brennan! I am very happy to see you again." Cam said, seeing Brennan walking into her office.

"Care to…." But before she finished, Brennan already had her arms wrapped around her former boss.

"Hug? Beat you to it." Brennan replied, stepping out of the hug she initiated.

"Wow. You've…changed."

"No. I just realized how much you all mean to me."

"Aw, thanks Dr. Brennan."

"Please, call me Brennan, or Bren."

"Okay, Brennan." Cam smiled slightly to herself. "Have you talked to Booth yet? He seemed worried when I told him you haven't been in yet."

"Yes, I saw him. He came to my apartment. We uh…talked. I overslept, that's why I wasn't here early."

"It's perfectly fine. Totally…human."

"Is Angela and Hodgins back yet?"

"No, they will be here tomorrow. They took an extra week to visit Angelas family down in Texas."

"Oh…that's nice."

"Very. So….How was your year?"

"It was amazing. I learned a lot and the finds' were remarkable."

"That's all? No explanation as to why we're here or anything?"

"No."

"Okay? Wow, I'm sorry Brennan, but you've changed."

"I've just…opened my eyes I guess."

"Well I'm glad."

"How was your year?"

"Okay. Wendell did an amazing job while you were gone, but no one could ever replace you."

"Who replaced Booth?"

"Agent Perotta. And uh…let's just say…her and Wendell really hit it off."

Brennan laughed. "I'm guessing that means they had sexual intercourse countless times?"

"Yeah, something like that." Cam replied, laughing.

"Well that's good. How's Paul?"

"We're good. Really good. Thanks for asking."

"Well I thought it was necessary to learn how your life has been for the past year."

"Thank you for being so interested."

Brennan nodded in reply.

"Have you uh…have you met Booth's girlfriend?" Cam asked, trying not to pry.

"Uh, yeah. I have. She seems….great."

"Yeah. I really wasn't expecting him to come home with someone but I guess….things change."

"Yeah they…really do. I uh…I have to get everything situated in my office. We'll talk later?"

"Of course. Welcome back Brennan."

"Thanks Cam."

Brennan walked out of Cam's office, leaving Cam wondering if she had said something wrong.

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Booth walked into the restaurant that he had became so familiar with over the past 6 years. He saw Joan sitting in one of the booths, and he walked over, gave her a kiss, and sat down.

"Did you speak with Dr. Brennan?" she asked curiously.

"Yes I did. She's at the Jeffersonian getting everything back to normal."

"Oh. That's great."

"Yeah. I have to go to the Hoover building later to get reinstated. And then I'm going to have to take a marksmanship test again."

"I'm sure you'll do great."

"Thanks. I hope because I really want to be partners again with Bones."

"Can I ask you a question? Why do you call her Bones?"

"Because she uh…works with bones and….I don't know. I called her that from day one."

"Oh. Well I think it's kinda sweet. Girl's love having nicknames. It probably makes her feel special and wanted."

"Do you want me to give you a nickname so you feel special and wanted?"

"I wouldn't mind."

"Okay…how about….." he thought long and hard but couldn't come up with anything. "I'm sorry. I got nothing."

She laughed. "Its fine. I don't need a nickname to feel special around you."

He smiled. He couldn't help but feel guilty about the situation with Bones. Here he was, with his girlfriend, and all he could think about was Brennan.

"Seeley….I have something to tell you."

"Yeah?"

"I think I'm falling in love with you." she confessed.

Booth stopped eating his food and he dropped his fork.

"You uh…you are?"

"Yeah. I can't help it. You are so amazing. Your charming, funny, handsome. You are a perfect gentleman." She noticed the fear in his eyes. "I'm sorry. I knew I shouldn't have told you that. Its my fault. I'm sorry."

She began to stand up, when he pulled arm, placing her back in her seat.

"It's fine. I'm not mad. I uh…I just don't know how I feel yet. All I know is that I really, really like you. Is that good enough for right now?"

"Of course. That's excellent."

"Good. I'm really enjoying my time with you. Too bad you have to go back in 2 weeks."

"I know. I'm going to really miss you."

"So will I. But uh…lets not talk about that right now okay?"

"Okay."

"So what do you say we go back to my apartment, watch a couple movies, and see where things go."

"I would like that."

"Great. Let's go."

He layed a 20 on the table and stood up, as she linked her arm with his, and they left to his apartment.

It was time to experiment and get a real feel for his relationship with Lt. Colonel Joan Burton.

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So? Questions? Comments? Concerns? Please let me know. If anyone has any ideas or suggestions, pleease leave a review and help me out. It would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!