Welcome to the sequel to our story The Only Thing Different. This story takes up 16 months after the epilogue of its predecessor. We suggest you read the prequel in order to understand the original characters, situations, and how everyone reached this place in our story. Thanks for reading, and enjoy!

~Smurfs and NatesMama

B&B

"At the time, my life just seemed too complete, and maybe we have to break everything to make something better out of ourselves."

~ Chuck Palahniuk (Fight Club)

Chapter One: Get Off of My Cloud

FBI Assistant Deputy Director Seeley Booth looked around his tidy backyard and smiled. He seriously doubted that his life could get any better than it was right now. His family and friends, all together for the Labor Day holiday to barbeque dead things (and not-so-dead things in deference to his better half), drink beer and just…be. No murder or death hanging over their heads, no suspects to find and drag in to interrogate, no bodies to bring back to the lab. The only thing Booth had to worry about at the moment was whether or not he made sure Hodgins' steak was blood rare, Cam was kept to her usual three-drink minimum of mojitos, and Bones didn't try to retell the story of Alexandra's birth ("Booth delivered her in the back of the SUV in a traffic jam…we simply can't do anything the easy way.") to everyone who showed even a passing interest.

As he flipped another tofu burger, Angela came to stand beside him for a food status update. "Are we going to eat soon, Booth? Clem is starving and honestly…I could eat a horse myself. All this chasing kids around is a hell of a lot more exhausting than it looks." She grinned up at him and wrapped an arm around his waist. "I need to refuel and soon."

Booth switched hands with his barbeque tongs and pulled his friend close. "Yeah, give me maybe another ten minutes and we can chow down." He looked behind them quickly. "Where is your munchkin, anyway?"

Angela dropped her arm from his waist and turned to point over by where Brennan was lounging on a blanket, chatting with Cam and watching idly as Alexandra Brennan Booth toddled to and fro across the yard, moving from her Uncle Sweets to her brother Parker in that adorable, slightly gawky way 14 month olds have. Standing in her way was Clementine Hodgins, who at two years old had taken it upon herself to mentor her friend by trying to teach her how to traverse the rough terrain of the backyard without falling on her diapered backside.

"I have to say, Ang…Clem is so much like you. Allie is reserved like Bones but your girl brings out her personality so easily." Booth watched with a loving smile on his face as Angela's daughter hooked her arms under his daughter's arms and struggled to pull her up to a standing position from where she had just fallen. Alexandra tilted her head back and giggled at Clementine, seemingly sharing some private joke that only those under the age of five would ever understand.

Angela nodded, delighted. "You would never know she was adopted, would you? She even loves bugs as much as Jack does."

"To be fair, all kids love bugs."

"True. But how many know their Latin names?"

Booth laughed and shook his head. "Only your kid, Angela. Only yours."

When Angela and Hodgins had decided to expand their family with children, both agreed that while having their own progeny was important to them, they wanted to start with a child that had no one else in the world. A tribute to their work, which sometimes saddened them, and to Brennan…a perfect example of grace and achievement despite great odds. So when a six month-old child had been left abandoned at a local church, the Hodgins' jumped at the chance to take her in and make sure she was loved and that she never felt alone. And ever since, Clementine Joy Hodgins had been the center of their lives.

"You ever think about having another?" Booth asked lightly, continuing to watch the girls play even as he kept one eye on the barbeque.

"Sure. All the time." Angela smiled. "You never know what the future holds."

Booth turned his full attention back to the food while Angela headed back to where the other women were sitting. She plopped down on the blanket next to Brennan, and then waved across the yard to where Sweets' girlfriend was sitting on a lawn chair, watching them all intently.

"Oh, Penelope…come sit with us other hens and let's gossip about the men!"

Penelope grinned and stood almost immediately, knowing that if she refused Angela would never let up. When she had first started dating Lance, Penelope expected to be intimidated by the people he called friends…especially when they consisted of a best-selling fiction writer, a high mucky-muck in the FBI, and a bazillionaire. But almost immediately, since that first dinner she'd shared with them, they accepted her with grace, friendship and a sense of family she herself hadn't felt in a very long time. It never seemed to matter to them that she was just a nobody who owned a marginally-successful small bookstore; to them all that was important was that she made Lance happy. And nothing else could have endeared them to her as quickly.

As she settled her chair next to Cam's, she shook her head at Angela's choice of topic. "I don't know what you think you're going to get out of me, Angela. I don't gossip." Penelope winked at Cam surreptitiously, causing the other woman to laugh.

"Liar! All women are gossips…it's encoded in our DNA." Angela gave her best friend a sideways glance. "Well, all women except Bren, of course." Cam nodded in agreement.

"Gossip is useless and generally hurtful, Angela. And aside from that, a vast amount of information gleaned from gossip tends to be erroneous. It's not a reliable way to-" Brennan stopped and took in the amused looks of her friends. "You're kidding. I should have known that."

"It's okay, Bren. I wouldn't have you any other way." Angela patted her knee and then turned to watch Booth taking hot dogs off the grill top. "But if you want to make it up to me, you can share a little about your second honeymoon with Director Delicious there. I imagine the views were spectacular."

Brennan nodded, once again completely missing the subtext. "Oh, yes! Ireland was beautiful! The entire country is wonderful, but I really enjoyed the Lakes of Killarney…spectacular coastal scenery, and gorgeous castles with such rich history. Booth especially loved going to Glendalough, one of the most famous monastic sites in the country. The drive there through the Wicklow Mountains was breathtaking, and the lakeside walk we took was so peaceful, very centering. We both very much enjoyed the trip and even talked about going back sometime soon with Alexandra."

Cam laughed and nodded. "I agree, Temperance. I've been there a few times and it is beautiful. But I don't think that's the 'view' Angela was referring to." Penelope squelched a snicker and looked at Booth, who was now arguing good-naturedly with Hodgins on the pros and cons of charcoal barbequing.

Angela couldn't help but laugh at the 'lightbulb moment' look Brennan got on her face when she finally caught up to their inference. "Aaaand now she gets it."

Brennan blushed and shook her head. "Angela, you know Booth doesn't like for me to describe our sexual experiences. Those belong to us."

"I know, Bren. But I can't help asking in the faint hope that you'll slip one of these days. I know, it's a sickness." She winked at Penelope, who had given up trying and was laughing heartily.

"I've gotten used to it, but no one ever asks me about mine and Lance's sex life." Penny grinned and waved at a smiling Sweets, who was playing catch with Alex, blissfully unaware of the topic of the ladies' conversation.

Angela looked at a still-amused Cam and shuddered. "That's because we all consider Sweets like a little brother…and no one wants to know when their brother is getting some. It's just…wrong." Brennan and Cam nodded vigorously in agreement.

"Really? Then you don't want to hear about this delicious thing he does with his-"

"NO!" All three women shouted together, sending Penny on another giggling fit.

"You're no fun." She said after she recovered her voice. "Believe me; you'd be looking at him with a whole new level of respect if you only knew."

Brennan began to stand, brushing invisible blades of grass off her slacks. "I think this is one of those times where I believe Booth has the right idea about keeping your sex life private." Cam and Angela looked to each other in surprise, and then busted out in hysterical laughter.

"Oh Bren…" Angela wiped her eyes once she'd gotten control of herself. "You don't make jokes very often, but when you do…they are instant classics."

Booth and Hodgins finally managed to get the food off the grill and onto the picnic table with the rest of the side dishes, and called them all to come and eat.

"Behold, womenfolk!" Booth intoned, swept an arm across the spread on the table, and then settled his fists on his hips, chest puffed out, in a complete and total alpha male stance. "Your manly men have procured sustenance! My tribe mates and I have slain the charging beasts, gathered the edible vegetation, peeled the potatoes, deviled the eggs and mixed the coleslaw in preparation for our celebratory feast! So come, gather the offspring and the baby-faced shrink-o-saurus and consume the fruits of our labor!"

Hodgins helped Booth finish his speech by joining him in manly grunts and noises as everyone laughed, settling around the table to eat. Parker, Alex and Penelope bowed their heads as Booth led them in a quick prayer while everyone else waited patiently. At Booth's 'Amen', they all began to fill their plates, chatting and laughing as they all congratulated Booth on his impressive barbequing skills.

"So Cam…" Booth began, winking at Angela, who knew what was coming. "I noticed that you didn't bring a date with you. Any particular reason?"

Cam sighed, suddenly very aware that with the exception of the children, she was the only one there without a significant other. "Seeley, you of all people should know that a good man is hard to find. Thanks to Brennan and Angela, the pool has been depleted by two, so don't blame me if I-"

Cam's response was cut off by the sudden clearing of a throat. To a person, they all looked up to stare at the imposing man who stood, appearing seemingly from nowhere, at the head of their picnic table. Booth stood at once, turning to glare at their uninvited visitor.

"What the hell are you doing here, Mr. White?"

March 15, 2011, 8:35 PM EST: Founding Fathers Bar, Washington D.C.

Cabina's "partner" picked her up and brought her here while I followed the two of them from the airport. The rest of their team soon followed. He was late, but appeared soon enough. This ritual, initiating her into his life, is nothing but a sham…a pale imitation of what I could offer her. What I have offered her. What she has refused time and again. But not for much longer…

The partner passed me on the way back to her seat. I don't think I've ever seen such an intense stare. I wonder what Cabina's relationship is with this intriguing woman? Is she simply a friend? Former lover? Current lover? He's never struck me as the type to be unfaithful…but I've been wrong, so very wrong before. Especially concerning him.

They are leaving the bar alone…his lips on her temple make me want to stop them, to show myself and take her far, far away from him. From his hands, from his possessive stare, from his everything.

I don't know how much longer I can wait to be with her.