A/N Hey guys, I am overwhelmed by your support! It makes me feel so giddy and excited! Im not too sure when or if i'll be updating, but rest assure that I will finish this story! Thank you again, and for those who said that she should've taken Christine, I did contemplate it but I felt that it was too much alike of S7 finale and I said in the last chapter, Brennan will be back! Sooner than you think.
So without further ado..

As she drives, she realises that there are barely any cars on the road, and this calms her. 'Why would there be? Its only 5am' She drives onto the highway taking her to the only destination she had in mind. A couple of years back, Brennan had found an old inn, one that epitomised of a land and time forgotten. It was quaint, and darling, and she knew that nobody would even think of looking for her here. And it was just outside of DC, a perfect location for her to get away, and also within time and travelling distance just in case an emergency were to occur.

30 or so minutes later, and she's finally driving up the gravelly road leading to the inn. After parking her car, she walks up to the door leading to the reception, and finds that it is locked. Peeking through the glass door, she sees no movement inside. In her haste, she has realises that this particular inn does not open until 8am and she has nothing to do and wait until then.

So she hops back into her car, starting the car again and makes her way to the 24-hour diner she had passed on her way to the inn. It is only a ten-minute drive and she's glad this particular establishment is open. Walking inside, the waitress pays no attention to her- as she makes her way to a seat suited for two and furthest away from anybody.

'Hi Darl, anything I can get for you today?'

'Just some tea please.' She replies in a whispered manner.

'You sure darlin? You look you could do with a decent meal'

'Yes, i'm sure' Replying once again in the same tone, not even bothering to make eye contact with the waitress.

'Okay, darl, if youre sure' the waitress leaves, and once again Brennan is left on her own. She stares mindlessly outside, watching the cars speed by, trying to get to their destination.

'I thought he wanted this?' 'In the years spanning our parternship, he has always made it clear how imporant marriage was and is to him…'

The waitress disrupts her line of thinking, arriving with her tea.

'Here darlin, one tea'

'Thank you'

As the waitress walks off, she cant help but think to herself about the intriguing women she's just served. Her eyes are evidence of tears, most likely over a man, it often is, recalling the days she too has looked like that over her past lovers. 'I hope that man comes to his senses, because, boy she is a honey'

Sipping the tea, once again her mind is blank. So she returns to staring at cars, her train of thought taken as they speed away.

—x—

After reading the letter, Booth hears the cries of his daughter upstairs, indicating that she is awake. The letter is pushed to the back of his mind, and he rushes to his daughter. Walking into her room, she is awake and standing, her arms positioned in the way that indicates her desire to be picked up.

'Hi baby girl' whispering, he lifts her up and sets her on the side of his body.

'Mama?' Christine asks, her blue eyes, exactly like those of her mothers, meeting his.

'Well, baby girl, mama's gone for a while, but don't you worry- she'll be back sooner than you know.'

He tries to think whether what he has just said was self-assurance for Christine, for him or for both of them. Hoisting her onto her high chair, he straps her in, getting ready to start a new day.

—x—

Walking into his office, his phone begins to ring. Not even bothering to see who it is, knowing that the only person he wanted to speak too wont be calling any time soon.

'What?' Which comes out more of an angry whisper more than anything else.

'Well, somebody woke up on the wrong side of the bed.' He immediately recognizes it as Cam.

'Can we make this quick? I've got a lot of work to do today, Camille.'

'Don't call me, Camille.' This just frustrates him even more. Why cant people just leave me alone?

'I'm really not up for games, now what do you want?' Irritation seeping through every word.

'I'm just calling about Doctor Brennan, she hasn't arrived yet and I was wondering if she was going to come in today? I tried calling her cell, but it's been turned off'

Booth was startled by this. It was unlike Bones to leave without any notice, but then yet again, he would've acted the same if she had done the same thing to him. He tried to think of an answer, 'What would Bones want him to say?' 'You can't lie, Booth- they'll know.' 'Christine isn't an excuse, she's happily playing at daycare.' 'Think Booth, think..'

'Seeley?' That shakes Booth out of his reverie.

'Um.. Bones.. She. She went and rushed off to see Russ.' 'Yes, Russ! They wouldn't ask any questions if it were about him.. Or he'd hope not.'

He continues his string of lies 'He got into some accident, so Bones has driven up to see if he's okay and if Amy and the girls need help with anything'

'And her phone must've not been charged, probably why you can't get through to her.'

Cam doesn't know what to do. She can tell that Booth is lying to her, but to confront him over the phone? No, that wouldn't go too well. So she plays along for now.

'Okay, thanks for letting me know. Just call me if there's anything we can do.'

Booth doesn't even bother replying, and immediately ends the call. Relaxing into his seat, he shuts his eyes. All he can see is she, and the hurt in her face when he told her that they shouldn't go along with the wedding. And her reply, 'I'm glad you're finally seeing things from my perspective.' That was the bullet that hit him deep in his heart. He could see her retreat, her walls rapidly building,.

Opening his eyes, he sees more than just minutes have passed. The bullpen was empty, many gone for their lunch. He endeavours to do the same, leaving his office behind.

—x—

After checking in, Brennan makes sure to put the do not disturb sign on the door. She just wants to be alone. For years, she lived like this. Alone, undisturbed, with no one caring about where she was and how she was. And this all changed seven long years ago, when Special Agent Seeley Booth waltzed into the picture, and turned her world upside down.

Changing into sweats and a baggy top, she tucks herself into bed and continues to think about how her life has changed from the moment Booth came into her life. He opened her eyes, metaphorically, to the world. He made her feel. He challenged her, and at the same time, respected her and her beliefs. He never once tried to change her, which was different to all the men who had come and gone in her life. He was her partner, her equal, the only man she has and will ever love.

When she proposed, he was so happy to accept it. So what made him change her mind? They were having such an enjoyable day, and he was not the same after that phone call from his mother. He was much more distant, especially once Christine had gone to bed. Something has happened, yes.. But before she could pinpoint it, sleep and exhaustion had finally claimed her.

Waking up, there was not a single light on. She looks outside the wide-open window, and realises that the sun was long gone, replaced with the dark night sky. She stares at it from her bed, remembering the nights on the run, especially that particular night she was forced to sleep under a bridge with her daughter, the sky similar to the one of that night. She had cried in fear of her and her daughter's life, and in loneliness. But tonight she shed none.

—x—

Coming home to an empty house felt miserable, but he got over it, pushing his sleeping baby girl inside the house. He turns on the lights, half expecting Bones to be sitting on the couch, or making dinner. But no, she still hadn't arrived. So he leaves his baby girl in her stroller, and makes dinner for one and a half.

Whilst making dinner, he can't help but feel the pang of guilt inside his chest. 'Why me?' 'Why can't the fates allow us to be happy for once in our lives?' He doesn't realise it, but tears are silently streaming down his face. He finally allows himself to feel the pain of what he has done.

He wipes his face clear of the tears. Finishing dinner, he carries out Christine's nightly routine of dinner, bath, reading and bedtime in a slow manner. This is usually a task done by both him and Bones, but tonight he had to make do. This is the least he could do after what he has done to her.

Once finished, he can't even bare the thought of sleeping in the bed without Bones. He couldn't do it while on the run, and he sure as hell won't be doing it now. So he makes his way to the lounge, but instead of sleep, he claims the next best thing. Opening up his good whiskey, he fills the glass to the brim, and sits on the couch, allowing himself to drown in his sorrows.

A/N How was that? Will Brennan pinpoint the actual reason? Will Booth drive himself to instanity before Brennan comes home? Is this story becoming too angsty? Leave me your thoughts, PLEASE!

bunnywabbit