Unmasked

Brennan rushed out of the penthouse without so much as a look back. She had to get out of there and fast. Something was wrong, she couldn't breath. She felt like she was on fire.

Booth pushed through the crowd and caught up to Bones as she left the hotel room in the hallway.

"No! Don't run from me, Temperance. You promised you wouldn't run away!" he accused as he pulled her to him.

He could see her eyes were red and showing signs of unshed tears through the mask. "I am not running away, I am removing myself from the situation and going back to my room. I need to process this. You can do whatever you like" she said as she pulled away from him and continued to the elevators to go their room two floors below.

They waited a couple to exit before entering the elevator. Brennan angrily punched her floor button then stood as far as possible from Booth.

"Bones, it's not what you think" Booth tried to explain.

Bones was just silent with her arms crossed against her chest in a classic defensive pose. The damn mask did not allow Booth to see her face clearly so he was unable to read anything from her face. As the doors opened, Brennan stomped forward down the hall until they reached their room. Brennan unlocked the door, Booth quickly followed her inside. "Bones, we need to talk about this, please," Both begged.

Brennan came to an abrupt stop and quickly turned to face Booth. "What is there to talk about, Booth? Your ex-girlfriend was at the party. You spoke, she spoke, you both smiled. I left to give you time to catch up," she said in her best and coldest Dr. Brennan voice she said then started to walk away to the bedroom.

"Babe, just listen to me," he said as he grabbed her waist to make her face him again. "Angela emailed her an invitation before I emailed Angela back that I would be there. Hannah said she was a bit shocked that Angela still considered her a friend even though we broke up. She had no idea that I haven't told the brain trust that we are no longer together yet. Remember, you and I decided to keep our relationship a secret so I haven't had time to tell everyone about Hannah. Not to mention, I have been avoiding the lab as best I can until we are ready to go public or have a case." Booth sighed.

"She asked how I was doing. How Parker was doing and how YOU were doing." He explained to sooth her.

"Oh."

Booth kissed her fingers then pulled off his mask with ease then sensuously pulled off her mask. He needed to see her, all of her, no more hiding behind a mask. They needed to be true to each other as they promised a week before. He brushed the hair away from her eyes, then cupped the side of her face with such a loving touch that it moved Brennan as she closed her eyes and leaned into his palm.

"I love you, Bones. I always will. I made a promise to you that I intend to keep for the rest of my life, Babe. I am yours completely."

"I love you, Booth. I find that I am compelled to thank you for following me and for fighting for us. Although I find that I am a feeling a bit irrationally as well because I want put a hit on Hannah in the New Year for even talking to my significant other, even though she doesn't know we are together."

"She knows, Bones, I told her that was why I smiled and she smiled back. She was happy, we realized that 'just partners' doesn't mean work partners… it means life partners." Booth said as he pulled her into a long slow kiss. His alarm on his phone chirped, "10 minutes until midnight, Bones. Would you like to go back to the party?"

"No, I only want to be with you," Bones said honestly.

The servers and bartenders were making sure everyone had a drink in their hand and a noise maker. Everyone still wore masks pulled their dates close for the midnight reveal and customary kiss. Sweets and Daisy found Angela and Hodgins and stood next to them. Cam pulled Paul over to the Hodgins party as well so this family could start the New Year together. The final countdown has begun.

Someone started " 10….9.." the rest of the crowd joined in "8…7…6….5….4…3…2…1! HAPPY NEW YEAR!"

Cheers and confetti filled the air as guests unmasked to kiss their dates. Hodgins dipped Angela into a deep 'make your knees weak' kiss and pulled her back up to see everyone. 'Auld Lang Syne' begun to play, as Angela scanned the crowd with happy tears in her eyes. She saw Fisher with some Goth chick, Clark with his professor girlfriend and Wendell with his date she met earlier.

Angela looked for Brennan and her date so she can get a good look at Mr. GQ, but what she saw made her stop short. Hannah Burley was kissing a man who had the same build as Booth, except that he most definitely was NOT BOOTH! The kiss recipient was wearing a blue shirt which Booth was not wearing when she saw them together earlier.

"Oh My God! How could she do this to Booth?" Angela said as she marched up to Hannah with Hodgins hot on her trail.

"Angela, stop!" Jack tried to say knowing that Booth was going to kill him if he said another word.

Angela pulled on Hannah's arm "What the hell do you think you are doing? How could you do this to Booth? I invite you both to my party and you make out with this, this guy instead of your boyfriend? What kind of person are you? Get the hell out of my party! NOW!"

To say Hannah and her guest were flabbergasted would have been an understatement. The party seemed to have gone quiet once they heard the commotion. Luckily, Hannah found her voice to retort "Angela, Booth and I broke up weeks ago. I thought you all knew that since you are all family."

This knowledge brought Angela dead in her tracks. "Excuse me? What are you talking about?"

"Yes, we broke up about almost a month ago, it was mutual with no hard feelings. That's why I was honored that you still invited me. I thought we were still friends."

Angela was speechless. Jack jumped in "Hannah, we are very sorry about this but Booth didn't say anything to us. We assumed you were still together." Hodgins said as Cam and Sweets came over to calm Angela down.

"I think it's best if I leave now. Brian, let's go." Hannah said.

"Hannah, I am sorry for my outburst" Angela apologized.

"Don't. Seeley is really lucky to have you all to watch out for him. You all are very tight. I hope you all stay that way. Bye." Hannah said and turned to leave. No one noticed that Brennan, her 'date' and Booth were not there to see this exchange.

In the hotel room below, a private celebration was about to start. Booth led Brennan out on the balcony so they could overlook the city and fireworks. He pulled her close to him. As the countdown from the nearby celebration started, Brennan turned to look at Booth. She placed her hand over his heart while she held the other. Booth continued with his favorite past time, sharing into Brennan's eyes. There was so much emotion that flickered over those blue eyes.

"10…9…8…7…6...5...4…3…2…1! Happy New Year, Bones" he whispered.

"Happy New Year, Booth."

Bones pulled him down to kiss her. She made up her mind, it was time.