Random Kisses

Hey gals! Sooo, while discussing that possibility on my fav' Bones boards, I remembered a fiction I liked where BB would kiss for no reason and I thought I could develop it into the actual theme of a fiction. Hence the title. So, that'll be a series of one shots, where when kisses will be necessary, kisses there will be. Nothing more, nothing less. Because they are noooot in a relationship, they're just "partners", yeah, sure. Anyways, if they like to think so, why not?
Disclaimer: Not mine, although I study it, AH! Some tiny things here and there from episodes you will recognize too!

They were sitting on Booth's couch, he had invited her for the evening, on his Grandfather's advice. He had no idea why he was so adamant to see him "do what he had to do" with Bones, but Hank Booth surely had set his mind on the idea, and he would not let go. Maybe because he had seen that he was desperately in love. Or maybe because he had seen something else... Could it be that he and Bones had talked? No. Booth pushed aside this possibility when he heard Bones commenting upon one of the childhood pictures he had decided to show her.

- "Parker's skeletal structure resembles yours greatly. There is a high probability for him to develop the same facial features when adult. He has the same zygomatic and mandible definition than you do. A prominent zygomatic for example, symbolizes masculinity in the Caucasian structure."

- "So my kid is going to be as handsome as his dad, right?"

She smiled, thinking that indeed, his son would probably share the becoming appearance of his father. While watching him, she wondered why he was doing this, showing her these pictures. In the five years they had spent working together, he had never opened the door to his past as widely as he was now. Why? Was it because of Hank? Did Booth know she had talked with him about his childhood? Would he be mad at her for it? No. If he was, he would not have asked her to share memories with him. And she was glad he did.

- "Your son is going to be very handsome, yes. At least, following occidental standards. For instance, Asians favor..."

Surprised that he was not listening -not that he would always listen when she let herself get carried away by lengthy anthropological explanations- she looked up at him to see he was focused on another picture. A picture he did not seem to have planned to see then, not with her. When he saw her watching him, he smiled weakly.

- "I'm sorry Bones, you were saying?"

- "Who is on that picture? It's your father?"

It was. One of the rare pictures he had kept. It was his father holding proudly what happened to be a trout, his older son by his side, smiling genuinely. It looked like a happy memory. A typical Sunday spent fishing, father and son. Or was it really?

- "Yes. That's him."

Booth's tone let show that maybe that memory was not that happy. Overwhelmed by his sudden sadness, Bones felt useless, inadequate. She never was the type to let things pass, she had to do something. But what? Ask him what it was about?She felt it would be out of place. She did not know why, but she could feel she should not ask. It was probably the first time she knew when to stop talking. When to prevent further discomfort. So instead she did what Angela had taught her, years before. She placed her hand on his forearm, giving him the most reassuring smile she could. Would it work? It had in the past. Yet she feared it would not be enough this time. He smiled back, took her hand in his and kissed it.

- "I'm okay Bones. No worries. I was just surprised to see that here."

She nodded. Slowly she took the photo album from him and put it on the coffee table. She wanted to hug him but seeing their position on the couch, she feared it would be awkward. Yet it was too late. He was watching her, wondering what she was about to do. She had never taken initiatives of any sorts and that one puzzled him. Once more, he wondered if Hank had said anything. Now he was not so positive he had not. He could see in her eyes that she knew more than he'd like her to. When she decided what she would do she felt that the thrill of apprehension had replaced inadequacy. She would be there for him, in the way she considered the most appropriate at that moment. Maybe she would regret it later, but she was certain that he needed something she could give him. Was that love? She had no idea, she refused to analyze the matter as such. It is just that, there was nothing she would not do for him. So she leaned towards him and she placed her lips upon his. It was a matter of seconds, but she felt his smile return against her own. She had done the right thing. Yes, she was afraid to look into his eyes now, but she did not regret it. Not yet.

- "What was it for?"

His tone was playful again. His sadness was gone. Why had she done that? Maybe to make things simpler. To remind him that the past was the past, and that she was there now. There with him, there for him. That was enough, even if he hoped for more.

- "I think you needed it. It's like a guy hug, except... not really a guy hug."

- "What, you mean it's like a guy kiss? Because I'm not really into that kind of things."

He loved to make her smile. It reminded him that no matter how pathetic life could get, there was something to look forward to. Hope and patience. In the midst of death, treason, murders, dysfunctions, fear, there was still hope. This is what he had always believed. What his grandfather had taught him. And what had made him the man he was. Then it felt like he had become the man he was only to make her happy. That was his purpose in life, he was sure.

- "Well, I am not a man, so you don't have to fear for your masculinity. But you can consider it like an extension of the guy hug. A display of affection and comfort. If you're alright with the concept, of course. Otherwise we can..."

- "No it's okay. I like that concept."

They smiled. It reminded her that before him she had forgotten how to smile. She had trapped herself in an idea of the past like he had. She had built herself through it, for it, forever the perfect little daughter of the suburban science teacher who would make him proud some day. Somehow, although the possibility was highly doubtful, she felt Booth had made her an adult. This is how she felt with him, grown up. She was able to be the one providing comfort and hope. Even with something as improbable and immature as giving random kisses. But she liked that concept, too.

To be continued...