A/N: This is set during Double Trouble in the Panhandle, so events since that time are not taken into account.

Chapter Four:

"So Max, how do you like working at the Jeffersonian?" Hodgins queried, sipping his coffee. The two were sitting in the diner, getting a quick caffeine fix before going to the museum.

"I really enjoy it. I've always like working with kids, and it's great to be close to Tempe," he murmured.

"Hey guys, what's up?" Sweets sauntered into the diner and sat next to them.

"Hi Dr. Sweets," Hodgins greeted the shrink.

"What do they serve for breakfast around here? I'm starving," Sweets muttered, looking through the menu.

"They have an amazing omelet. I get it almost every day," Angela interjected, sitting in the open seat next to Max.

"Maybe I'll try that," Sweets pondered.

"Try what?" Caroline asked as she came in the door. She was covered head to toe in a bright yellow down coat, matching snow pants, and yellow boots. As she noticed the stares of the squints, she asked, "What? It's colder than a witch's bosom out there."

"You look like a big rubber ducky," Cam observed as she sat down and was immediately served her usual coffee.

"The winter is one of the coldest on record. So much for global warming," Sweets observed, then placed his order for pancakes.

Everyone was shocked when Hodgins replied with a simple nod of his head. That comment seemed to be perfect for the conspiracy buff that he was.

"I would love to be Dr. Brennan and Booth right now. They're off to Texas, or Oklahoma, they're not sure exactly which side of the border the remains are on," Cam explained.

"Meaning jurisdictional battles galore," Hodgins interpreted.

"Yeah," Cam agreed.

"After the hours they spend together on and off cases, you would think they would already be going at it already," Caroline observed.

"I asked Booth flat out, and he said they're not sleeping together. The only explanation is that they haven't realized themselves just how perfect they are for one another," Max explained. Everyone took a moment to marvel at Max's bluntness.

Ever ready for just this sort of opportunity, Angela removed her notebook. "Unless you all want to take this party to the psych ward, I think we could allow Max to take Zach's place," Angela stated.

"He always complained about it anyway. I say go for it," Hodgins agreed.

With the rest of the gang's permission, Angela proceeded to explain the terms of the pool to Max. "You have to pay each year to stay in the pool, until a category is completed that is."

"And the first date is gone. They had the ceramics class with me back in April," Sweets said, a smile emerging. He thought of the things he could do with all that money, an extravagant date with Daisy topping the list.

"No manipulations. We made that rule last year after Caroline's blackmail induced kiss," Angela explained shortly.

"But… I wasn't there when you explained that rule," Sweets argued.

"Doesn't matter. Manipulating them into bed together is not going to make them confess their true feelings," Hodgins explained, revealing a bit of the true romantic that he was.

"Fine. But I want August for the first kiss, October for the date, and November for sleeping together," Sweets countered.

"You know, I think we need another category, to keep things fresh," Angela mused. "We always talk about how quickly they're going to act once they're finally together. What are the chances we could get a commitment from them before the year's over?"

"Like getting married?" Hodgins asked, a bit skeptical about the new category.

"Well, knowing Brennan, not that. Booth could possibly propose, but moving in together is a definite option," Angela clarified.

"I'm game. How much chérie?" Caroline asked.

"A hundred sounds good. How 'bout it?" Everyone quickly agreed.

"I say they'll commit in December, sleep together in October, date in August, and kiss in June," Cam said.

"March for kiss, date in May, sleep together in June, and commit in July," Max predicted, liking the idea of how much money he could make if everything was correct.

"January for kiss and date, February for sleeping together, and April for committing," Hodgins placed his bet.

"Everything but commitment in April. That will happen in June," Angela said, recording her own wager.

"Commit in October," Sweets added his last category.

"Kiss in May, date in June, and sleep together and commit in August," Caroline provided the last of the first round.

Angela put the page where it would be visible by everyone so they could see what months were still available.

"Max, since you have known Brennan the longest, you can be first for the second round," Angela determined.

"How is that a fair determination?" Sweets questioned.

"Those who know our victims best deserve the chance to predict their futures. Cam, you're next, having known Booth the longest," Angela explained.

"How about…everything in July, except committing in May," Max looked carefully at the list.

"They could totally sleep together in January. I say kiss and date in February, and commit in February as well," Cam predicted.

"Committing in November, all else in September," Angela wrote as she spoke.

"December for kiss and sleepover, date in November, and commit in September," Hodgins said, deciding to go for fairly random dates. He didn't think that all four would be correct, but he was confident that they were at least close.

"I think they could commit this month. Sleep together in March, date in December, and kiss in November," Caroline chose some of the few remaining dates.

"So I guess I've got October for a kiss, March for a date, May for sleeping together, and March again for committing?" Sweets saw the remaining spots left.

"Yep. I really think this is our year guys," Angela said triumphantly.

Chapter Five:

Greenwenvy's Author's Note: My sister, Dolphingurl88, is out of the country until August and is WAY too busy to write. She gave me permission ahead of time to write this chapter and I promise I will do it justice.