Disclaimer: I think I'm finally resigning myself to it. I don't own Bones, or anything much really. Oooh that still hurts.

A/N: Something I've been subconsciously working on for quite a while now….so here it is in its latest version. I would also like to mention that I still think Cam is a dumb bitch and refuse to incorporate her in my stories, so I use Goodman in her stead. Ah, the good old days….OK so here.

Temperance Brennan was quickly but efficiently gathering her things together in her office at the Jeffersonian when her cell rang. Still organizing papers and her purse, she held the phone with her shoulder.

"Brennan."

"Hey Bones, it's me."

Brennan took a breath and set her purse down. Absently perusing through her files, she took the phone with her hand.

"Hi, I was just leaving for lunch. What are you doing?"

She heard Booth laugh in disbelief.

"Are you serious? You are taking off for lunch, without me begging or driving you from a crime scene without your consent?"

A grin crept over Brennan's face.

"Well, get ready for this- I'm taking the whole rest of the day off."

Booth's laughing abruptly stopped.

"Bones I'm not joking, are you okay?"

She laughed.

"You're not funny, and I'm fine. I just have some things to do."

"Okaaaay, well what kind of things would inspire you to take the whole day off, may I ask Dr. Brennan?" As usual, his voice held a tone of affectionate teasing.

Her smile growing, Brennan replied,

"Just some things. It's hard to explain." She added playfully "And you're so nosy, Booth."

They both laughed at that.

"Well how about you tell me at lunch?"

--

Thirty minutes later, Booth and Brennan inevitably sat at the counter of their favorite diner, sharing Booth's fries (not that he'd had anything to say about it).

"Well Bones," He started out with a charming smile, "tell me about these 'things' of yours."

Rolling her ears and mumbling 'nosy' as she ate several more fries, Brennan considered her response. In her usual tell-it-like-it-is style, she answered,

"I'm buying a house."

Booth choked on his milk.

"Today?"

"No, I'm just house shopping today. I'll buy one when I find the one I want."

Booth studied her for a second, puzzled and ridiculous with his milk mustache.

"Why now, don't you like your apartment?"

Brennan played with her salad for a second, then dabbed her napkin along Booth's lip thoughtfully.

"I just….decided I'm ready to put down some roots." She halted, but Booth's steady silence coaxed her to go on.

"I've always moved from place to place, and it took me a while to determine where I wanted to stay…more permanently."

Booth's eyes studied her, boring into her. "But now you've decided you want to stay in DC. What made you pick here, your job?"

Booth was grinning at her and Brennan knew he was teasing. He really meant 'working with me?', and she smiled a little.

"Partly. I love my work, I have great friends, and I love this city. But I got another job offer this week, from Chicago, and I just thought 'I don't want to leave'. It's…difficult to explain. I've lived here for years, but now I'm ready to stay."

Booth's dark eyes glittered like gems as he murmured,

"Yeah, I understand."

Feeling better now that the hard part was out of the way, Brennan's excitement surfaced.

"So I'm meeting with a realtor in about an hour. I've got three houses I'm looking at today, and hopefully I'll find one I like."

Booth leaned back and stretched in his seat, lacing his fingers together behind his head.

"Cool, I'm happy for you Bones. And jealous! Damn." He leaned over a few inches and poked her shoulder jokingly. "I love architecture and carpentry. And taking the day off! Leaving me to go check out nice houses while I go back to work by myself," He clicked his tongue and half-grinned at her, "it's just not right."

Grinning back and biting another French fry, Brennan raised her eyebrows, drawing her innocent blue eyes open wide.

"Well…" She trailed off with a shrug and gave him a look he reciprocated almost immediately. Both their smiles curling upward, Booth whispered conspiratorially,

"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" He wiggled his eyebrows up and down. "Should I play a little hooky?"

Brennan's smile shrunk dramatically. Getting that flustered look, she questioned,

"Wait, is that some kind of game? I was going to suggest you call in sick at work and come house shopping with me."

Booth rolled his eyes and sighed, shaking his head but still grinning.

A/N: Please tell me what you think! Don't be one of those anonymous people that read and bail….I know you're out there!! Oh, and don't hate me for starting another long story while I'm in the middle of Into the Amazon (haven't read it? Check it out). Love all you little freaks.