Booth and Brennan may start off Bones‘ ninth season in a hopeless place, but their portrayers, David Boreanaz and Emily Deschanel, were all smiles at the Fox hit’s recent gallery shoot — and the proof is below.

VIDEO | First Bones Season 9 Footage Tees Up Tension for Booth and Brennan (and a New Gig for Sweets)

Scroll down for an exclusive first look at the longtime co-stars putting their best face forward amid a sea of super-sized skeleton balloons, and then promptly save this date: Bones returns Monday, Sept. 16 on Fox.