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Oooooooooooooooooooooo

Angela and Hodgins had been standing outside of Booth's apartment for ten minutes. They kept looking at each other and then at the floor. Neither had worked up the courage to knock on the apartment door yet. Sighing and looking around, Angela and Hodgins kept shifting their weight from foot to foot and waiting for a miracle to happen. Any miracle.

That miracle came when the door suddenly opened. Seeing Brennan in the doorway, Hodgins and Angela stared at her like deer caught in headlights.

Puzzled, Brennan stepped back and said, "Are you here to visit me or are you just going to continue to stand outside the door?"

Laughing nervously, Angela grabbed Hodgins hand and walked into the apartment, pulling Hodgins in behind her. Turning around, Hodgins closed the door and with Angela, followed Brennan down the short hallway to the living room. Walking into the living room, Hodgins and Angela stopped and looked at Brennan who was standing next to the couch with her arms folded across her chest.

Watching Brennan's face, Angela said, "I guess Booth called you to let you know we were on the way over."

Nodding her head, Brenan didn't say anything, her face a blank like Booth's had been earlier. Angela really hated that look. It meant that Brennan was trying to keep herself from misunderstanding what was going on. Brennan was trying to be understanding when Angela really wanted Brennan to let her know how she felt about what was going on. Booth called it Brennan's "wait and see" look. Angela thought of it as the "I trusted you and now I don't know if I should" look. Either way, Angela knew she had to make the first move.

Putting her purse down on the couch, Angela looked at Hodgins and then back at Brennan. Clearing her throat, Angela said, "Brennan, Jack and I are here to talk to you about what idiots we've been for the last several days. Now, I'm not putting this all on Sweets; so, don't think I am. Sweets told Jack that he had seen you across the street from the Cracked Egg kissing some guy he didn't know on the cheek. At first Jack tried to blow Sweets off; but, he talked Jack into following you and they saw you with the guy again. They saw you kiss him and then he kissed you."

Pausing to give Brennan a chance to speak, Angela saw that Brennan was still listening. Sighing, Angela continued. "They came to me and then I came and talked to you. I didn't want to upset you; so, I talked around what I was trying to find out. I asked you if you had run into anyone and you told me no. We knew that you had met this guy and yet you said you didn't."

Sighing, Brennan said, "I didn't run into Tim. I had an appointment to see him."

Nodding her head, Angela said, "Yes, well I took your no as an evasion and so did Sweets and Jack. We decided that Tim was probably an old friend or something; so, we didn't want to look into any further. Well, we heard that Booth was going to be out of town so Jack and I bought some cake and drove over to Booth's apartment to keep you company. When we got here, we saw Tim leaving. We saw him kiss you on the cheek and then left. We just thought the worse, Honey. I'm sorry. We both should have known better; but, we just let our imaginations run away with us and we really thought that you were seeing someone behind Booth's back."

Shaking her head, Brennan said, "I love Booth and I would never do anything to hurt him. It took us too long to admit that we do love each other; so, why would you think that I would jeopardize the one good thing I have in my life? I'm pregnant with Booth's child. How could you think I would ever have an affair with someone, knowing that? Am I really that terrible of a person that you could think that of me?"

Stepping towards Brennan, Angela put her right hand out as if to touch Brennan. Brennan, seeing Angela move towards her, stepped back a few steps.

Angela, seeing that Brennan really wanted to continue to talk, said, "You are not a terrible person, Sweetie. I am. Jack is. Sweets is. You are definitely not a terrible person and neither is Booth for that matter. We saw something completely innocent and because of who we are, we assumed the worse. We didn't ask you directly and we should have. You're a unique person, Honey. You always have been. You are probably one of the most honest people I've ever met. Booth reminded me of that. He told me that if you ever got tired of him you'd tell him. He said you'd never do anything behind his back. We knew that, we just forgot. Please, Brennan, I hope you'll forgive Jack and me. I don't expect you to do that today or tomorrow; but, we hope that someday you will forgive us and let us be your friends again. We both have sworn to each other that from now on, when someone comes to us with gossip, we're going to talk to the person involved in the gossip. Really talk to them. Not beat around the bush. We don't promise to stop listening to gossip; but, we do promise not to jump to conclusions because of it."

Nodding her head, Brennan said, "If you'll give me a few minutes, I need to do something. You don't have to go; but, I can't wait any longer."

Turning around, Brennan walked over to her bedroom doorway, walked through it and closed the door behind her.

Angela and Jack, seeing that there might be hope for their friendship with Brennan and Booth, nodded, walked over to the couch and sat down.

Looking at Hodgins, Angela said, "I don't care if she stays in there for hours. She's definitely giving us a chance to stay and work this out so we're staying."

Smiling, Hodgins put his right arm around Angela's shoulders and said, "You bet."

Oooooooooooooooooooo

After closing the bedroom door, Brennan picked up her cell phone off of the dresser and dialed Booth's number.

"Booth," Booth said, not looking to see who was calling.

Smiling, Brennan said, "Angela and Hodgins are here. They've apologized for listening to gossip about us and they want me to forgive them."

Nodding his head, Booth said, "It's up to you Bones. They hurt you; so, it's your call. If you want us to forgive them then we will. If you want them to squirm for awhile, I'm good with that too. I have your back and I'll support you with whatever direction you want to take."

Pleased, Brennan said, "Thanks Booth. I want to forgive them. They are our friends. They are very emotional people and they have a tendency to let their emotions dictate their behavior. They really are apologetic and they do seem contrite."

"Well, then, we'll let them off the hook," Booth said, "You really are a very kind person, Sweetheart. Most people would be furious about their behavior."

Curious, Brennan asked, "Are you furious?"

Shaking his head, Booth said, "Nope, just disappointed."

Smiling sadly, Brennan said, "You really are a very nice person too, Booth. Angela said you told her that if I ever get tired of you that I will tell you and not run around behind your back. I want you to know, Seeley Joseph Booth, that I will never get tired of you. Never. We've known each other for over seven years and in all of that time, I've never been tired of you. Angry maybe, disappointed; but, never tired. That means that you will always have me in your life. I used to think that there were too many variables in life that would allow anyone to make such a statement; but, I've changed my mind. We've seen all of the variables that can happen and in the end, we fell in love with each other. I know now that I can count on you to never leave me and I want you to know that I will never leave you. Booth, I do love you. I have never loved anyone like I love you."

Tears sliding down his cheeks, Booth said with a thick voice, "I love you so much, Temperance Brennan. I've never loved anyone like I love you. I made a promise to you a long time ago that I would never abandon you and I never will."

Tears making their way down her cheeks, Brennan said, "Thank you, Booth. I'm going to end this call and sit here for awhile. I'm then going to go out into the living room and forgive Angela and Hodgins. I want to see you Booth. Come home when you can."

Wiping the tears from his face, Booth said, "I'll be home as soon as I can, Bones. No over time tonight."

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I hope you didn't think this was too gushy. Let me know what you thought of this chapter. Do you think Brennan and Booth were too easy on Angela and Jack? Don't forget, Sweets is not off the hook.

Ok, a quick question. Do you want me to post a chapter Saturday (as well as Friday)? If you do let me know. If I post Saturday, you'll get to see Booth and Brennan's plan go into action. If not, I can wait until Monday morning. It's up to you.