Hi everyone! Thank you so much for the love you've been giving this story! And thank you so much for being patient between updates – I am trying so hard to write faster. Hopefully I can get the next one up sooner! Your support means the world. Thanks again for reading! – Mac

Chapter 8

Brennan was relieved about two things, as they arrived at the couples' retreat, finally, after nearly two hours of driving.

1. That they were pretending to be a couple having a fallout. Because after the initial excitement to be Roxie and Tony again, Brennan realized how that disguise had worked in the past. She'd had to act attracted to Booth. That was easy; he was an unquestionably attractive man. Symmetrical. In peak physical condition. Strong but soft, friendly features. Okay… the point was, being attracted to him had only been awkward then because they were friends and partners and acting the part meant crossing a few unspoken boundaries they'd set up. They'd had a bit more physical contact, open flirtation – but mostly, because of their incredibly close friendship, it had been fun. Being Roxie had been fun because Booth was Tony. And now… she couldn't put her hands on his chest, lean in close, whisper in his ear as if she was suggesting sexual activities for after hours fun. He was with Hannah. He barely looked at her anymore. He was distant to her, so now, she was distant to him. Their old chemistry was just gone. Pretending to be a couple who were falling out of love… that was a relief. It was the only way she could sell "Roxie" at present.

2. That they'd finally arrived. The drive had been okay. At first. She'd been polite and asked about his wedding plans. And he'd seemed really opposed to talking about any of it. He was days away from the most important moment of his life, and he couldn't even talk about any of it with her. It was just further proof of how far they'd drifted this year. They couldn't share anything anymore, it seemed. But when she mentioned the wedding, he'd practically bit her head off with some comment about some guests changing their plans at the last minute and how that really kind of screwed up the seating arrangements. It had felt like a pointed comment, but he never explained it. So she dropped her shoulders, looked out the window, and just dropped it. He'd asked her about limbo, after awhile, probably to break up the unbearable silence. It was just polite, superficial conversation. And she couldn't do it. Not with Booth. With Jake, fine. She could talk on and on about medieval soldiers remains. But Booth… they'd always been able to connect. To not need an ice breaker. So she lied and said she hadn't been in limbo lately. And he dropped it. He put on some music and it was a okay for a bit. They'd even smiled over some shared blasts from the 80s and 90s. But when "Hotblooded" came on, the mood shifted completely.

He was the first one to turn it off.

Yes, it was a relief to be stepping out of the car. Though Brennan wondered if agreeing to do this case was a big mistake. They could barely stand to be around each other anymore. What on earth could they do for a case that didn't have remains or involve murder, and had an expectation for them to carry on like they'd ever been lovers?

No one would buy that he'd ever been interested in her. She barely remembered what it felt like to think he had.

B*B*B*B*B*B*B*B*B*B*B*B*B

Booth swore to himself as he walked to the check-in, for the thirtieth time since they took off for this case. He'd been so eager to work a case with Bones, to try to keep some semblance of their old dynamic going. The dynamic he'd felt recently was actually long gone. But he wasn't ready to let it go. And with his wedding coming up – so fast – he felt like everything was just going to keep changing. More and more. And if they couldn't get away and figure their stuff out, find their footing as partners, then they didn't stand a chance of making it. And he just…

He couldn't accept that.

So why on earth had he acted like an uncaged gorilla for half the ride? All he knew was that when they got in the car, it had felt a bit like old times. But then she'd started asking about the wedding, and suddenly he saw the wedding. Saw Bones there with Jake. Her date. Maybe… her boyfriend. And he was pissed. Because you don't do that, right? You don't just decide to go with someone to a wedding after selecting "1" on the invitation. People plan around those numbers and those details. Jake was sitting with Booth's friends from the bureau. Bones was sitting with the squints. Neither of them thought about any of that when they were just, what, kissing after their first date and making plans to do whatever the hell they wanted to do on his day?

But when she gave up the fight and stopped talking altogether, he knew he'd been unnecessarily cold and biting – and without giving her full insight as to why (because he barely understood that himself), it probably confused her, leaving her with nothing to talk about. So he tried again. But when he'd asked about limbo, he hadn't expected her to lie. He knew she'd been down there lately. A lot. Cam had mentioned it the past few weeks. Why had she lied to him about that? She used to love talking about the medieval and ancient kings or peasants or whatever she found in her time down there. She would light up. And he had wanted that – to cheer her up. To offer that olive branch and have her steer the conversation. But she'd steered it into a ditch, closing off that possibility.

And that song… why did that song have to come on, when they'd finally managed to relax together? It used to come on and they'd smile, although she'd sometimes get upset when it made her think of the explosion. Of him being hurt, possibly killed. But mostly they'd laugh, pull their silly dance moves – even on car rides. Back then – before Hannah, before the admission in the car or the admission outside the Hoover… there had been something definitely flirtatious in the air when that song played. Like it was their song.

And today was not the day to play that song because all it did was throw them back into old memories of closeness and friendship – and hearing it now… it just created an unavoidable truth that hung in the air very heavily. They just were not those people anymore.

Well. They were here now. And Booth was determined to start fresh. To forget just about everything. He was ready to be Tony to her Roxie – and try to salvage the closest friendship he'd ever had.

B*B*B*B*B*B*B*B*B*B*B*B*B

Jared grabbed his cell phone and looked at the text that had just come in through the Squint Squad thread. It was from Angela.

I just spoke with Bren's publicist, Katia. She confirmed that she's supposed to be doing a signing for her latest book Friday. It's exclusive. The Tea Room on 5th, 4pm. Max of 100 people.

Jared smiled and wrote.

And you got her to add Chris Finnigan to the list?

Yes. Once again, Jared… who is he?

Jared smiled.

Oh, he's trouble.

Angela replied immediately. That doesn't sound good.

Now Cam was adding her two cents. I agree, Jared – we don't want anyone who's trouble. Dr. Brennan has enough to deal with without any additional 'trouble.'

He took a deep breath.

I just mean that he's going to shake things up.

Now Sweets was getting in on the fun. They're already shaking things up. They'd undercover at a couples retreat. That wasn't even on you. That case just fell in their laps. A couples retreat!

Angela: OH my God… with all their baggage… they're going to kill each other before they make it back in time for your friend to shake anything up.

Jared smiled to himself as he typed. I'll admit, this case is a little unbelievable. Close quarters, mediation for a broken relationship and love nearly lost? It seems like even the universe is getting in on this matchmaking scheme.

Angela: It's about time!

Jared smiled as he texted Chris the details for Friday.

B*B*B*B*B*B*B*B*B*B*B**B*B*B

When they arrived, the couples all seemed to be sitting around outside, doing what looked like some kind of mid-morning meditation. Booth checked them in, while Brennan walked over to observe the group.

It was an interesting anthropological concept; seeing couples on the verge of breaking up. A therapy retreat to help couples find their way back to love. She wondered what the point was. These relationships had obviously run their course as relationships do. She had always asserted and believed that love was ephemeral, and Booth had pushed that it was not, that true love did exist. Well – this place was a case in point for her argument. Except… well, Booth himself was an outlier in this group. He was getting married in mere days, and would be proving for the rest of his life that love was lasting and true.

She pushed down thoughts of his impending nuptials and began to take deep breaths, summoning Roxie. How would she handle a rift in her relationship with Tony?

"Can we help you?" someone asked in a gentle voice. A man who seemed to be running the group. "Are you a part of the couple checking in today?"

Brennan nodded. "Yeah, that's us – falling out of love as we speak, wouldn't you know it?" She smiled and pretended she was chewing gum, wearing earrings. She channeled the big hair and black leather and smiled at the group. "You all talkin' bout your feelings? Probably won't help you." She sat down in a one of the two vacant spots – probably the ones put aside for her and Booth. "Once the love's gone, it's gone."

The therapist smiled sadly at her, sympathy flickering in his expression. "Not always. Love can definitely be saved, if both people feel it is worth fighting for." He looked to his left, to an older couple in their sixties. "Janine was just telling us about her history with love."

"Okay," Janine, apparently, said. "I was saying that when I was twenty-one, my history professor and I had a torrid affair."

"Happens," Brennan said, shrugging her shoulders, thinking of Michael Styers. When she looked up, all eyes were on her. "What? She's a good-lookin' lady. I'm thinking that her professor agreed and she was at a consenting age, and—"

"Let's try to let everyone speak in their turn," the therapist said. "By the way, my name is Henry."

"Henry," Brennan said, nodding. She winked at him boldly. "If things don't work out with me and Tony, maybe you could—"

"Whoa, Rox," Booth said, scooting into his spot. "Are you honestly trying to replace me two minutes into this retreat? And with our new therapist of all people?"

"We are on the rocks, and I'm young. I should definitely get to have my fun, Tony. You have your fun."

Booth's eyebrows shot up at that. "I have my fun?"

Brennan nodded. She hadn't meant to say that. "I just mean, that if this doesn't work out, it'll be nice if we can both have some fun."

"Well, it seems like you're doing just fine having your fun, too. I mean here I am and I'm barely having fun and already you're… you're lining up your fun."

Brennan stared at him, her brow furrowed.

Booth cleared his throat. "This guy," he clarified, pointing at the therapist.

"Henry," Henry said. "And I wouldn't worry. I'm not allowed to have any 'fun' with patients here. Nor would I want to. I built this business to bring couples back together. Not to be a part of the reason they break."

Brennan nodded at him quickly. "We'll talk more later," she whispered. Booth shot her an exasperated look and she shrugged innocently. Turned out, acting like Roxie breaking up with Tony was fun in a different kind of way.

"Okay," Henry said, taking a deep breath. "Why don't we switch it up a little in light of our new arrivals. Let's play a game. The person to your left asks you a question and you answer honestly. It has to be a question about your romantic experiences – but nothing sexual," he added, seeming to look pointedly at Janine, that woman in her sixties who had gotten it on decades ago with her professor. "Okay, let's start with you, Micki."

Micki looked at Janine and thought for a moment. "What is the best date you've ever been on?"

Janine looked at her husband, on her right. She laughed. "Well, I'll tell you, he's not a romantic man. So it wasn't with him." Her husband blushed and looked down, but also nodded in agreement. "I guess I like when I can go out dancing."

"We've never gone out dancing?" the man asked, his eyebrows furrowed in complete confusion. "No." She shrugged and smiled. "We haven't."

"We can do that," he said, his face open, like he didn't understand why she'd simply never asked.

She smiled and Henry indicated that Janine ask the next question. It was aimed at a man whose nametag said Roger. "What is your favorite position?"

"Janine!" Henry said.

"Sorry! Agh. Okay. Um…" she thrummed her fingers on her leg, thinking for a long moment. "Who was the one who got away?"

Roger looked taken aback at that question and he quickly looked over at his wife nervously. She moved her hand to indicate that he should be honest and answer. He looked down. "I… I mean, it… it doesn't really matter," he stammered.

"It all matters," Henry said gently.

"I guess Jessie," he said softly, and his wife nodded hard, though her eyes seemed to fill with tears. "But," he added, "I say that because she left me when I still felt like she was the person I was going to marry. That was my first heartbreak. For years, everyone I met I compared to her. She was my baseline. Until you." He looked at his wife. "You kind of took my breath away. I just wanted you. I've never compared you to her."

"That cannot be true. Even your family still talks about Jess—"

"I swear to you on my life. I've never compared you to her."

Brennan looked down at that one, really glad that no one had asked her that question. Because she might've broken open honestly, with the raw reality of the actual truth.

"Okay, Tony," Roger said, looking at Booth. "What do you feel is your biggest flaw, romantically?"

Booth looked at the other man for a moment, seeming to be thinking. For a moment, his disguise… Tony… fell away and he was just Seeley Booth. She knew the difference, though the two men were one and the same.

"I go too fast," he said after a moment.

"Can you elaborate?" Henry asked.

"When I want something, I… I go too fast. I've… I've moved too quickly with women. And sometimes I feel like I'm left wondering how I got there."

"Got where?"

He shook his head, snapping himself out of whatever it was he was thinking. He shrugged. "Beats me," he said, coolly. And she could see that Tony was back.

Booth asked the girl next to Brennan about her first crush – and finally that girl turned to Brennan.

"Roxie, is it?" she asked.

"That's right," Brennan said, fully in character. Feeling good. Feeling confident. Feeling like Roxie.

"Has anyone ever loved you?"

Brennan felt, for a moment, like the ground had been yanked out from under her – or the air had been sucked from the atmosphere. What kind of question was that? Surely it would make more sense to ask have you ever been in love? Asking if anyone has ever loved her – that was strange. Almost like she was suggesting she seemed a bit unlovable and was calling her out on it.

"Well," Brennan said after a moment, "my mom seemed pretty fond of me. Said I was her princess." She winked at the group and looked at Booth, but he wasn't smiling. He was staring right at her, almost like he was worried about her, about how that question might've made her feel. Because… he knew the truth. And maybe he pitied her. But he knew the truth. And even in character, she could probably just admit it and move on.

"That's not what I meant," the woman said.

"Fine, fine," Brennan said. She smiled, though it felt hard to do that as the words came out of her mouth. "No. The answer to your question is no."

She couldn't look at anyone. Not even Booth. Because it was still so embarrassing – everything that had happened between them. His misguided attraction to her, her stupid confession in his car – why had she done that? – his upcoming marriage, all of her total disasters for relationships…

"No? No one… no one has ever loved you?" the woman asked. Brennan looked at her and now she thought that maybe the woman hadn't meant to hurt her with that question. She'd probably been eager to hear some Roxie-styled stories about paradise by the dashboard light.

Brennan shrugged. "No," she said again. "Is it my turn now? Because I have a good one." She still couldn't look at Booth.

"But… you're here to save this relationship," the woman pressed. "With… Tony is it? For you two to be here, surely he must have –"

"No," Brennan said, more firmly this time. "Not everything is as it seems."

That shut the woman up, and finally they got to move the game along. Something about being Roxie allowed Brennan to just be open and honest. It felt liberating. But the honesty also kind of crushed her. And she wondered for the hundredth time if maybe this case was not such a good idea.

B*B*B*B*B*B*BB*B*B*B*B*B*B*B

When she said "no", Booth's face swiveled so quickly to hers, like he'd received an electrical shock. She was just in character, though. She… she had to be. Because she knew that was not true. That no matter how things had turned out… she knew…

She knew he'd loved her.

Right?

But he stared and stared and she never looked at him. Not once. Not for a split second. Not even for guidance on their ruse and this case. He knew, too. He was looking at Bones. Not Roxie.

And he had a sinking feeling that she meant what she'd said.

When the game was finally over, he walked over to her immediately.

"Bones," he said quietly, "What was that all about?"

She rolled her eyes and looked around at the other couples. "No idea. I thought it was a stupid game. I mean, can couples honestly find healing by talking about which celebrity would be on their 'list'? And having a list full of people you're allowed to cheat on your partner with seems like a major red flag to me regardless, but no one seemed to fixate on that."

"It's a celebrity list. As in, it likely would never happen."

"That hardly seems relevant."

"You'd never have a list? The ability to say that if you met certain celebrities – some sexy TV doctor or handsome famous scientist or whatever – you'd just pass?"

"If I was in a committed relationship, I wouldn't see the point of being with someone else for a night, no." She looked around at the couples. "By the way, did you talk to the front desk about having two rooms?"

"They said that the policy for this place, since it's philosophy is to bring people together is to keep them together. Plus they don't have the space. Sorry, Bones."

She stared at him for a long moment. "So we have to share a room?"

He looked down at her for a long moment, hating how upset she looked right now. Because… this was just work. Why would she be this upset? "We've done that before."

"I guess," she said, seeming to be having some kind of inner struggle. But finally she brushed it off and looked at him. "So how do you want to handle this?"

He took a deep breath and looked around. They did have more pressing issues than his concern over her answer when they were in a disguise while she gave it. "Let's split up and talk to some of these couples. They have all been here long enough to know who the missing people were. Henry, too."

"I can talk to him," Brennan said. "We had a sort of rapport."

Booth rolled his eyes, and suppressed – again, if he was honest – the caveman response to her flirtation with the mediator of the group. He knew that it was just Tony anyway, responding to Roxie being flirtatious. Because in this world, Tony was possessive of Roxie. Even if they were on the rocks, she was his. And he didn't like the idea of her flirting with other men.

"Fine," he said. Right away, Bones moved to leave, but he gently grabbed her elbow, stopping her. She looked up at him, her eyes wide.

"Did you mean what you said? When she asked that question?" He hadn't wanted to ask. He just wanted to focus on their work. But… it was just gnawing at him, how sure her "no" had sounded.

"Of course," she said, though once again, she wasn't looking at him. "Okay, I'll talk to that woman Janine first. She seemed very interesting, from an anthropological standpoint—"

"But… you know that it's not true. You—"

"I know that it is true, Booth. And I know we have a job to do. So just… forget about it. It's fine."

"But, Bones—"

"Booth." He stopped, her voice forcing him to look at her. She looked like she was trying to stop herself from getting upset and pleading with him to just let it go.

"Okay," he said. And he let her go.