By the following week, Seeley had made up his mind: Temperance Brennan would be his date to the senior prom. Now, all he had to do was ask her and hope for the best. He had a hunch she had never attended any social event before, especially not with a date. These notions were confirmed by Angela. The girls were quickly becoming friends, due mostly to Angela's initiative. She wholeheartedly supported Seeley's decision and even promised to guide Temperance on a dress hunt, an area of feminine life in which she was certain Temperance had critically limited experience.

Most senior boys were using grand, pre-planned schemes to cleverly pop the question to their desired date. Seeley, while he knew Temperance was deserving of the grandest gestures, also knew this would most likely take her too far out of her element for her comfort. He could too easily see her retreating into her thick shell, so he decided to keep it simple. He knew of a pretty spot by the lake…yes, that's it, he thought. Ask her under the moon by the lake. That's sweet, right? It seemed almost a bit too romantic for Temperance, but then again, it was her girly, romantic side he was trying to coax out. He was still trying to squelch his doubts when he pulled the truck up in front of her house. He'd told her earlier that he would be by later to take her for a drive, and to his relief he saw quite a few windows still illuminated. After one steadying breath, he rang the doorbell, praying to God she answered and not her creepy foster parents. Finally, the door creaked open and she appeared, eyes downcast. Her face was deep in shadow, since the porch light wasn't on.

"Hey, Temperance," he said quietly. Somehow, he felt uncomfortable speaking too loudly on her dark, pristine porch.

"Hello," she responded, in an equally low tone. The two proceeded down the lengthy brick driveway, passing the monstrous oak trees and rather lonely looking swing until they reached the truck and Seeley made to open her door. For once, she didn't protest. He opened his mouth to make a teasing comment, but stopped cold when he saw her face, finally illuminated by the harsh light of a streetlamp. Across her cheek stretched the ghost of a human hand, a mark he knew all too well. Somehow, his blood managed to freeze while his heart exploded in fire. She had seated herself in the seconds it took for him to process what he saw.

"Oh, Temperance." His throat felt full of gravel. She looked up at him, slightly alarmed by the sudden shift in his demeanor.

"What?" He couldn't quite find the words, but she saw his eyes flicker to her cheek and knew. "Oh… is it so obvious?" She gingerly touched the mark with her fingertips. "I didn't even think it was visible. Its very observant of you to notice an impression so faint."

"No, don't… don't do that." Overwhelmed, he suddenly wrapped his arms around her and sighed heartily. For a moment, she tensed, and he knew she wanted to pull away. He also knew that in a few seconds, her wariness would break down, and sure enough, she turned in the seat so she was facing him and buried her face in his chest, her hands resting near his collar. He racked his mind for the right words, but they weren't coming easily. She felt so small all wrapped up in his arms, and even though he despised the circumstances, he felt a trickle of happiness at the fact she was letting down her guard for him, if only for a moment. "That should never happen to you Temperance. Never. That's just… it's so wrong. I am so sorry."

She pulled back slightly to make an attempt at deciphering his face, backlit in yellow light from the streetlamp, and was overcome with déjà vu. She offered a half- smile.

"Is this familiar at all?" He understood immediately, but couldn't quite manage a returning smile.

"Yea." Just last week they had also been illuminated by a cone of yellow streetlamp light, having a very similar conversation, roles reversed. He let out another shaky sigh, and brought his hand up to lightly trace the mark. It seemed to be darkening, not fading. "God…what do you say we get out of here for a while, huh? Out to the lake?"

She nodded slightly. "Okay"

"Okay." He couldn't resist the reflexive, chaste kiss to her forehead before unwrapping his arms and softly closing her passenger door, moving around to the driver's seat.

"So where exactly are we going?"

"Theres a little lake about fifteen minutes away, and since the moon is full, it'll be an awesome sight. I brought blankets and stuff, so we can sit in the truck bed if you want."

When they arrived at the lake, the moon had risen, full and white, over the lake. It was reflected so clearly Temperance would have thought there were two moons in front of her, though she knew this to be merely a fanciful notion. She and Seeley spread out a fluffy blanket in the trucks bed, and as he lay next to her, she felt the slightest twinge of unease. Logically, she knew she was putting herself in a vulnerable position being so completely alone with a person who could so easily overpower her. And yet, when she looked into his face, full of innocence, any tension she felt instantly dissipated. They lay close, but not touching, staring up at the looming, pearlescent moon. She worked up the courage to ask the question that had been nagging her for a while now.

"I have a question," she prefaced, flipping onto her side to face him. He smirked and chuckled faintly at a joke unknown to her.

"Me too," he said. "You first."

"Well…why do you stay? With your father, I mean."

"Oh." He turned to face her, propping his head up with his arm so he could gaze down at her. "Because of Jared. If I left, there would be no one around to protect him. And also because, well, he's already been abandoned before, by my mom. I cant just leave him alone like that. I cant just abandon him."

His words struck Temperance far too close to her heart. She bit her lip to keep down her reaction. As to what her reaction was, she had no idea, but she wanted to laugh and cry and kiss him all at the same time. Instead, she bit down and returned her gaze to the moon.

"Good reason," she muttered. After a moment, she remembered. "Oh, sorry, what is your question for me?"

His eyes were locked on hers, and despite her discomfort, she held hers in place as well, blinking slowly in hopes of diluting the effects of his soft yet piercing stare.

"Well you've seen all the posters and stuff around about senior prom, right?"

"Yes," she answered in a tiny voice.

"I was wondering if you'd like me to be your date. Or you to be my date. Both. Whatever." Even she could tell he was nervous, a condition very uncommon in him. He was trying to cover his flustered words with an increasingly nonchalant tone. Temperance held her breath, processing. Shed never been to a dance. Shed never had a date. She didn't know how to either dance or date.

"Oh. Seeley, Im…im not that girl. You deserve to be with the head cheerleader, or Angela, someone who knows how to dance and be a good date. Someone you wont have to watch out for."

"I don't want Angela to be my date, and I definitely don't want the head cheerleader. I want you, Temperance."

"I cant dance. I don't know how."

"Well lucky thing I do, huh? Ill teach you. What do you say?" A maximum strength charm-smile spread over his face. She didn't answer right away, so she was startled when all of a sudden he sprang up and out of the truck bed, hopping in to the driver's seat. For one wild moment, she was hurt and confused, assuming he was going to drive away with her still in the truck bed. She hung on to the sides for dear life and shut her eyes in anticipation of the jolting lurch forward. But then she heard music floating out of the cab: Fly Me to the Moon, by Frank Sinatra. Seeley leant against the truck bed, smirking at her confused death grip.

"What are you doing?" he laughed, "Come on. Ill teach you." He held out his hand for her to take.

"Oh…" She placed her hand on his gingerly and hopped down from the truck bed. Instantly, he sent her for a twirl and she stumbled slightly.

"So we try again," he said with a smirk, and twirled her again. This time, she landed smoothly in front of him, smiling. He pulled her close and they swayed together for a moment.

"Ready?" he said, a split second before sending her out with one arm. "Now spin back towards me." She did, laughing hesitantly, taking his arm with her so that by the time she finished her twirl, her back was to his chest and his arm was all wrapped up around her. "Perfect," he muttered into her ear, breath grazing her neck. She felt a shiver down her spine as she broke out in goosebumps.

"You're a very good teacher, Seeley Booth," she whispered.

"Well, you're a very fast learner, Temperance Brennan." She almost wished he would take his mouth further away, so that she could think clearly. Almost, but didn't.

"I suppose that means you have your date." He spun her again so she faced him. The smile on his face was not one meant to charm, but one stemming from joy.

"Sweet."

They were close, and as soon as she saw his eyes, his lips, the set of his jaw, she knew what was coming. She knew his intentions, for once.

Too close.

She looked down and away, breaking the spell. Frank finished singing, but Seeley pulled her in for a hug. "Sweet indeed," he said softly.

Temperance smiled into his chest, swirling and bubbling inside in wildly unfamiliar ways. Eventually, they returned to the truck bed and this time Temperance laid her head against his chest as they talked late into the night, with only the double moon as witness.