Spitfire303 prompt: for partners what if B&B are mistaken for a couple and play along with it as a joke leading to questions.

This story takes place sometime after "The Bones that Foam".

I don't own Bones.

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Booth had complained that he was hungry, so spying a place called the Dogfish Head Alehouse in Gaithersburg, Maryland he pulled into the parking lot. "Ok, you have to eat at a place called Dogfish Head Alehouse. Just have to, I mean wow."

Not sure his statement was based upon fact, Brennan stared at the building in wonder, "I suppose you do."

Amused at her expression, Booth exited the truck and walked around it to the passenger's side. Waiting for Brennan to exit the truck, he Googled the restaurant on his phone and studied the menu. Brennan staring over his arm at the small screen, pointed out, "Oh, they have a nice variety of salads."

Delighted at his find, Booth jabbed at the screen, "Hey mac and cheese. Hey, you can add chicken or steak too. This is awesome."

Rolling her eyes, Brennan responded, "I suppose we should go in."

His arm around her waist, Booth smiled, "Come on, you'll love it. When we get back we can tell everyone where we ate. They'll be green with envy that we found a place like this believe me."

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Approaching the restaurant, Booth noticed an elderly couple standing beside their car staring at a flat tire. Walking over to the car, he smiled, "Do you folks need any help?"

Not wanting to be a bother, the elderly man declined, "Nah, I'll call my son and he can come and get us. I'll have the car towed someplace."

Shaking his head, Booth smiled, "If you have a spare tire I'll be happy to change it for you."

Surprised at his generosity, the man's wife waved her hands. "Oh dear, we don't want to be any trouble to you. We'll manage." Watching Brennan step next to Booth, the lady continued, "I'm sure you have something better to do that mess with our old tires."

Certain he didn't want them stranded in a parking lot, Booth insisted he could help. "No, give me the keys to your trunk and I'll take care of it. It won't take too long and then you can be on your way."

Handing over the keys, the elderly man introduced himself and his wife. "My name is Bill and this is my wife Drew. Thanks for helping. We really appreciate it."

Booth, after he popped the trunk, started pulling out odd and ends and laid them on the ground to get access to the spare tire and the jack.

Drew turned towards Brennan and smiled in appreciation, "Your man is so sweet. You're such a lovely couple my dear."

Not sure if she should correct the woman, Brennan observed Booth remove his jacket and was struck with a playful thought. Stepping closer to him, she took the jacket from him and smiled. "I'll take this for you, Honey."

Startled, Booth stared at Brennan in wonder. "Is everything okay? What's going on?"

Amused with his reaction, Brennan took the jacket and draped it over her arm. "Sure Buck. Everything is fine. I just don't want your jacket to get dirty."

Catching on, Booth winked at her. "Okay, Wanda, this won't take long."

Drew, wrapping her arm around her husband's arm, admired Booth's efficiency as he took the old tire off and replaced it with the spare. Noticing the gun holster and the badge, she wondered why. "Is your man a policeman?"

Brennan shook her head. "No he's with the FBI."

Impressed, Drew smiled at the agent. "Oh my. I've never met an FBI agent before. Are all FBI agents so sweet and kind like your man?"

Brennan feeling very mischievous, assured her, "Oh, yes, its part of the FBI motto."

Snickering under his breath, Booth tightened the lug nuts on the replacement tire, stood up and carried the flat back to the trunk of the car.

Impressed that the FBI hired sweet men, Drew smiled in gratitude, "The FBI sure are different on the TV. I think it's a shame that Hollywood makes them seem so hard nose. I had no idea that they were so kind."

In agreement, Brennan nodded her head. "Yes, sometimes my husband just weeps over the terrible image the FBI has with the public because of TV and movies."

Rolling his eyes, Booth picked up the items that had previously been in the trunk and placed them back in. Arranging everything to make maximum room, he finally closed the trunk and handed the keys back to the couple. "There you go. Good as new. Might want to get a new spare though. I don't think this one will last very long."

Bill wanted to repay the kindness shown to him and his wife. "Oh, you have to let up buy you lunch. It's the least me and Drew can do for you."

Since he didn't think it was necessary, Booth shook his head. "Nah, that's okay. We aren't allowed to take money or gratuity from the public. It's a rule. It would be considered a bribe."

Disappointed, Bill sighed. "What a dumb rule. Still, we're going to eat lunch, do you want to join us for company?"

Checking with Brennan and he saw her nod her head. "Sure, of course we would." Retrieving his jacket from his partner he shrugged it back on and extended his arm. "Wanda."

Placing her arm around Booth's arm, Brennan informed Drew, "Buck loves mac and cheese and we heard they sell it here."

Delighted that the sweet FBI agent and his lady were dining with them, Drew gushed about the food. "It ain't like any you've ever eaten Honey. It's my favorite."

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Sitting in the restaurant, Booth sat close enough to Brennan to allow him to keep his arm around her shoulders. He decided it would be fun to stay in character, so he intermittently hugged her and once in a while he'd lean closer and kiss her on the cheek.

With each feathery kiss on her cheek Brennan felt her pulse to quicken, felt her skin flush and grow a little hotter as the lunch progressed.

Drew and Bill, awed at how cute Booth and Brennan looked together, smiled and appreciated that there were such fine people in the world. Drew, happy for the couple sitting across the table from her gushed her admiration. "You two are such a beautiful couple. I hope you're with each other forever. You are so cute I could just eat you up."

Laughing, Booth kissed Brennan and winked at his partner. "Wanda is my soul mate, Drew. She was made for me."

A little confused, Brennan stared at Booth and then down at her hands. Feeling a little uncomfortable, she noticed Drew staring at her.

Misunderstanding Brennan's expression, Drew smiled. "Men can be such hopeless romantics my dear. When you find one you like that make sure not to let him go. Love can be hard to find in this mean old world. When you do find love make sure you guard it well and nurture it. It might not come back around again."

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Lunch over, Booth and Brennan walked back to the SUV. A strange feeling in the pit of his stomach, Booth kept glancing back at Brennan as they crossed the parking lot. Finally stopping at the rear of his truck, Booth leaned against the tailgate. "That was fun Bones, thanks. I love undercover stuff even if it's a joke."

Not sure how to broach what was on her mind, Brennan decided to be blunt. "Am I your soul mate, Booth?"

Flustered, Booth swallowed before answering. "Uh, what are you talking about, Bones?"

Staring at her partner, Brennan watched his face carefully. "You told Drew and Bill that I was your soul mate. Were you making that up or do you really think I'm your soul mate?"

His face suddenly serious, Booth decided to be honest for once. "I'm not sure I should answer that one Bones. The last thing I want to do is scare you or make you angry with me."

Certain she needed the answer, Brennan tried to assure him. "I want to know the answer to my question, Booth. I promise not to be afraid or angry with your answer. I find myself to be quite brave lately. I'm not sure why. I think I've changed since you were kidnapped and almost killed on that boat. I almost lost you and it's made me rethink a few things in my life. It's made me face some fears that I've had since I was very young and I've decided that I'm tired of how those fears dictate how I live. I want to know if you really think I'm your soul mate or was that was just you acting like Buck."

Booth heard what his partner had said and it gave him some hope. He placed his hands on her upper arms and leaned closer. "Bones, Buck wouldn't know a soul mate if it came up to him and smacked him on the head. I on the other hand know exactly what a soul mate is and believe me, you are the one I've been looking for my whole life. You're the one who completes me. So, yes, you are my soul mate."

A little nervous, Brennan glanced down at Booth's chest and then back up at his worried face. "When I'm with you I feel like I can be me. I don't have to pretend to be anyone else. I don't have to worry that you will misunderstand me most of the time and that's rare, you know it is and well . . . I love you for that. I love that you know who I am and accept me for what I am."

Pulling her closer to him, Booth kissed her tenderly on the lips and pulled back. "We need to talk Bones. We need to talk about us."

In agreement, Brennan smiled shyly at her partner. "Yes, we need to talk about us."

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