~ Epilogue ~

Two years later…

Cam poked her head into Brennan's office, "Change of plans, you two."

Booth was standing behind Brennan, reading a file on her desk over her shoulder. He looked up hopefully, "Did they cancel the visit?"

"The Vice President isn't coming but he sent someone in his place." Cam inhaled deeply and looked at her feet, fighting off a wicked grin.

"Who?" Brennan asked.

"Oh, just the Speaker of the House and his wife." Cam turned on her heel and called over her back, "Come on, they're here and they pay the bills."

Brennan spun her chair around, "What's it been, almost three years?"

Booth nodded slowly, "Just about."

"Well, I think it'll be fun." She pushed her chair back and slowly stood.

Booth held his hands out and shrugged, "Why on earth would you think that?"

She arched a brow and grinned before heading out the door.

He shook his head and called out, "That's not an answer, Bones. That's more like a non-answer."

Booth slowly made his way out of her office. After taking a visual inventory of the guests, a few elected officials and photographers, Booth bounded up the platform just as Cam finished introducing Brennan to the group.

Speaker Woods shook her hand with both of his, "It's an honor, Dr. Brennan-Booth. The Jeffersonian, and by extension the country, is fortunate to have individuals like you, committed to such self-less pursuits. And beyond that, I am a huge fan of your novels. " He glanced down at her stomach and smiled, "Congratulations on your impending motherhood, as well! Could I ask when this little one is due to make their appearance?"

Brennan smiled and ran a proud, yet protective hand over her growing bump, "Of course, thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I have two months to go…July 18th."

Cam hastily gestured to Booth to join her front and center, "Speaker Woods, this is Dr. Brennan-Booth's husband and former partner, Assistant Deputy Director Seeley Booth. He has been instrumental in cultivating the unique and effective working relationship between the Jeffersonian and the FBI over the last decade. Which as you know, has now become the model that all other federal agencies strive to emulate."

Booth stepped forward and firmly shook Speaker Clayton Woods' hand, "All that means is that I was smart enough to realize that we should be quiet when the really smart people talk. It's nice to meet you, sir."

'Seeley Booth…" The Congressman smiled, "I think you know my wife."

"Yes, I do sir." Even though he couldn't see them, he could feel the smirks forming on Cam and Brennan's mouths behind his back. He cleared his throat, "How is Charlotte?"

Clayton looked at his watch and grinned, "Actually, Charlie's late. She should be here shortly." He faced Cam, "We can go ahead and start the tour. I don't want to keep you from any important work."

As Cam and Brennan lead the group down a corridor, Clayton hung back and approached Booth, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to put you on the spot like that. I was caught a little off guard."

Booth nodded, "It happens to the best of us."

Clayton offered his hand again, "Best of luck with the little one."

"Thank you, sir." When the group was out of earshot, Booth exhaled deeply - there was awkward and then there was that.

He headed back to Brennan's office to make a call, when he was finish he headed up the steps to the lounge for coffee before the tour group returned.

When he hit the landing he wasn't surprised to see Charlotte leaning against the railing studying her phone's display.

"I prefer the ripped jeans to the suit but that's just me."

Charlotte started to smile before she even looked up, "I wondered if you'd be here."

"Funny, I wasn't given the same notice."

"This wasn't scheduled until this morning, I had no warning either. Clay asked me to come - it's getting to be that time. You know, the road to the White House is paved with photo ops."

Booth stifled a snort, "How does a woman who used to pride herself on being able to fit everything she owned into a canvas duffel end up married to a career politician?"

Ignoring the hypothetical tone in his voice, Charlotte explained, "Awhile back I did a series of video essays for CNN from various points in Iraq. Clay contacted my boss and said he needed to speak with me. The higher-ups thought I was getting a sweet exclusive but all he did was ask me out to dinner. And that's all she wrote…"

Booth nodded and slowly asked, "You married a guy who…ordered you off the TV like a… like a ShamWow?"

She laughed faintly, "I hadn't thought of it that way but essentially, yes."

They stood side by side in silence watching the officials and lab rats mingle down below until Booth muttered, "That's just rude, Charlie."

"What?"

"You're not even gonna fake an interest in what I've been doing? I thought you loved a good story?"

"I know your story, Seeley. Everyone knows your story by now. And I probably would have gotten to the end quicker than most if you didn't hide and mask everything so well. There's a psychological term for that…"

Before Charlotte even had the chance to remember what she had forgotten, Booth mumbled, "Compartmentalize?"

She swatted him on the arm, "That's it! You are the master – you should teach a course or something."

"So, I've been told."

Charlotte saw the very pregnant Brennan talking with Clayton and Congressman Mitchell. She leaned toward Booth, "You should have just told me that it wasn't me but it was her when you ended things. You would've saved me a lot of time."

"How would that have helped? I-I thought that…"

Charlotte leaned on the railing, "For about a month after, I spent a lot of time trying to figure out what the hell-"

"Was wrong with you?" Booth glanced at her from the corner of his eye.

"Exactly." She looked at him, surprised he understood. "How'd you know?"

He mimicked her stance, resting his forearms on the railing and sighed, "I just know, Charlie."

"Let's face it there are much, much worse women in the world to be the runner-up to than Dr. Temperance Brennan or Brennan-Booth, sorry. I'm ok with it. More than ok."

"I mean, you ended up with the guy second in line to run the free world so…."

She smiled and nodded, "Definitely better than good."

"Definitely…" He rubbed his jaw and dropped his voice an octave, "I meant to get in touch with you after I read your Pulitzer acceptance but-"

Charlie placed a hand on his forearm, cutting him off, "I'm glad you didn't."

"You are?"

"More than you know." She squeezed his arm and then made her way toward the steps to rejoin the group.

"Why?" He had always thought he'd handled things with Charlotte as well as he could have but he had been wrong before.

"Because it's been my experience that, in general, men only look up their exes when their current situation isn't working out." Before she descended the stairs, she turned and smiled with a warmth and sincerity that surprised him, "And following that train of thought…. I hope I never hear from you ever again, Seeley Booth."

Booth chuckled under his breath and watched her approach Brennan on the forensic platform, away from the others. With their backs facing him, he was left to only imagine what was being said and he suspected he'd never be told. They spoke in hushed tones but he gathered from the light laughter and synchronized head bobbing that they were in vehement agreement about something.

Charlotte looked back and pointed up to where Booth stood, still leaning over the railing. "Seeley's very happy."

Brennan looked up at her husband quickly and caught a grin from him, the one that she knew was only for her, and then back to Charlotte, "I hope he is… I try."

"That's just the thing..." Charlotte gently bumped her shoulder against Brennan's before leaving, "You never had to try."

Thanks for reading and all of the amazing feedback and insights!

We've already started plotting and planning the sequel to this.

Look for State of Love and Trust in the next few weeks…

~ NatesMama & Smurfs ~