A/N I apologize for this chapter taking a little longer to post than usual. I had actually started writing a conversation with Angela next-and then I watched the season premiere and wanted to slap her for how she was treating Booth-and what she was apparently telling Brennan. I understand she's Brennan's best friend and gets defensive of her, but after so many years she knows the kind of guy Booth is-she has to know he's a Catholic that wants to get married-but her reaction is that since he called off the engagement, he's lying and cheating. (Hodgins and Cam at least were both willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.) So Angela may or may not make a reappearance here. If you're a fan of Angela, I usually am too, but Booth has enough stress without her attitude-so for me I just had a hard time writing her as Booth's friend after watching the episode. Yes this story is AU, but I have to go with what I feel like writing.

And I realized I forgot disclaimers in the last couple of chapters-you do all know I have nothing to do with the ownership of Bones, right? Pretty sure that was clear, but in case it wasn't…..

Bones and I sat quietly next to each other on the couch, arms around each other. Pops had gone off to bed, after giving me a huge hug, saying "I'm proud of you for that, Shrimp."

Bones stirred a little. "Booth?"

"Hmmmm?"

"Are you all right? I know that was very difficult for you. Especially as I don't believe you were expecting the kids of answers she gave you."

I sighed. "I don't know what I expected, exactly. But probably not what I ended up hearing, you're right. And honestly, Bones, I don't think I'm really all right. I keep trying to pretend it is, but in reality, it's not even close. I'm-I'm just not sure what happens now-where we go from here. I don't even know how to start to forgive her-and right this minute I'm not sure I want to." I held up my hand as she opened her mouth to speak. 'I know, I know-the 'Jesus myth' as you want to call it encourages forgiveness. And I want to forgive her eventually, but right now, right this minute-I'm too angry for that. I just-I guess you and Pops were right about my putting her on a pedestal. I feel kind of blindsided by the person I've been seeing and talking to now."

Bones put her head down on my shoulder. "I'm sorry, Booth. Perhaps I should not have involved myself-"

"No, Bones. The person she's turned out to be, the explanations she had-that had nothing to do with either of us. And you've been able to be more direct that I could manage sometimes. You've looked out for me through all of this. I wanted you here-I needed you here. I just have to think about this-about what kind of relationship I want with her now. Because it has to different-I can't pretend that she didn't say what she did about everything. About how she handled leaving, about why she came back. I don't understand it, Bones. I don't get how she could do that to her kids. And then to come back the way she did-just because it was easier because she had a reason, because Jared and I by ourselves weren't enough-"

"Booth." Bones straightened up, took my face in her hand and turned it towards her. "Of course you are good enough. You are the best man I know. Whatever issues your mother may have, whatever excuses she has for why she did what she did, please remember that. Her actions have influenced you, but they have not destroyed you. Do not let them destroy you now. No one is worth that, Booth. Not even your own mother. Come to terms with that-on your own schedule, no one else's-and go on. I meant what I told your mother about you being the strongest man I know. You are. And I know you can get through this-whether you continue to have your mother in your life or not. I will support you in whatever way I can."

I placed my hand over hers. "I know, Bones. You've been there for some pretty terrible stuff in my life-I know you'll be here for this too. It's-I-" I broke off and sighed. "I guess I just expected my mom to have more-I don't know-backbone or something than that. I figured it would take some courage to come back after all these years, but to hear that used her marriage to come back-that maybe she only wanted me to approve her new life without talking about her old one-that's just hurtful. And I need time and space to try to figure that out."

Bones drew back a little. "From me?"

I shook my head. "Definitely not from you. From Mom, though, yeah I can't handle any more from her right now. I need to get my head straight first before I can think about talking to her again." I sighed. "Now I get to feel guilty about being a bad son, on top of everything else."

"No," Bones voice was sharp. "You are nothing of the kind. Your mother was not a good one, Booth. I know that you have idealized her, but consider the evidence now-"

"You know this isn't actually a case, right?"

Bones shrugged. "Evidence is evidence, Booth, only the context is different. The point I was trying to make is that her own responses should alleviate some of whatever guilt you might feel. It was her actions that set all this in motion-not yours. You did not create this situation-she did. The guilt should be hers, not yours. You're allowed to be angry, Booth. She has apparently not handled many situations particularly well in regards to you. I am angry at her for you. Tell, me, though," she hesitated, then continued, "do you feel you at least got honesty from her this time?"

I leaned against the back of the couch. "I think so. I think between the three of us facing her and asking her what we wanted to know, it made it easier to get actual detail from her. But I have to admit, some of it I would rather not have heard."

"I know, Booth. But didn't you say that whatever she said would help you deal with this?"

"Yeah, I did. And it will. Doesn't make it easier when you're sitting there listening to it, though."

She sighed. "I certainly didn't always enjoy my talks with Max while we were reconciling. Some were very painful and I did not like some of what he had to say-I suspect he did not enjoy some of what I had to say either. I was very resentful. So you and I have that in common as well, if that is of any reassurance to you."

"It is, Bones. It really is. And I know you get it. The thing is, at least Max stayed away for a reason-and his reason for coming back was to protect his kids. My mom came back because she said she had an excuse-and a selfish one at that. And she's been completely oblivious until now just how painful it is to have to deal with this. She said she knew she hurt me, but until tonight, I didn't see any real sense of regret. I did see it tonight, but I'm not sure if it's not a case of too little, too late." I exhaled slowly and stood up. " For now, though, I think we should go to sleep. I feel like my head's going to explode." I laughed a little at the frown on Bones' face. "Not literally, Bones. But I think a headache is coming on, I'm tired, and it's been a really long night. We'll get some sleep-tomorrow we'll take Christine to the park after she gets home, and eventually we'll figure this out."

Bones stood and slipped her arm through mine. "Together."

"Yeah, Bones. Together-always."

Together. Always. So looking forward to a wedding! (And Pelant being gone-but that goes without saying for pretty much everybody I think.)