Just a little something short and sweet. I'm toying with the idea of making it more than a one shot...but you let me know.

Slight spoilers for upcoming episodes.

Disclaimer: Nope, you're not looking for me....I don't own it.

Enjoy.

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Rules of the 'End of Date' Kiss

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It was late and it was cold outside. The wind was blowing softly against his apartment building, the trees outside bending in its wake, creating moving shadows in his apartment. Booth walked into his living room with two steaming cups of coffee, one for himself, and one for the other occupant of his lounge.

Neither one of them spoke. He wanted to ask her so much, but he knew that she wouldn't answer him honestly unless she was ready to speak. Right now, the truth trumped everything, so he waited in silence, sitting next to her.

Booth flicked through the channels a bit as they sat blindly watching the television. Neither of the partners cared at all about what was on. To be completely honest, neither really cared about the coffee in their hands. But they drank it silently, thankful for the minute distraction to what was fast becoming the biggest, fattest elephant in the smallest room.

His eyes drifted across the lounge to her face. She remained glued to the TV, her eyes wide with fatigue; she was looking, but not seeing. The colours from the moving pictures and the moving shadows all washed around her, but her eyes remained trained forward.

He had known that she would turn up tonight and yet, it didn't bother him like it should have. He had said goodbye to Catherine at her door, he had watched her go inside and waited until a light was on before he left. He had kissed her briefly on the lips and thought to himself that she was a person he'd like to see again. But as he had pulled away he had realised that Catherine Klein was not the woman for him.

He drove away with his stomach in knots after what had been an amazing date.

He had shaken off the bad thoughts before he reached his door, but he was assaulted once again upon entering his apartment.

It was subtle, but it was there, a reminder that he was definitely in love with his partner. Sitting just next to his lounge, on a table that was half hidden beneath this morning's cereal bowl and yesterday's paper, was a photo.

A photo that had been snapped by Angela at the Christmas dinner that Bones had hosted. He had been looking at her; she had been looking at him.

It was so subtle.

There was a knock at his door and he knew exactly who it was.

She had known he was on a date tonight and yet, it didn't bother him nearly as much as it should have that she had come over.

She hadn't said a word since walking in, just turned through the doorway and into his lounge room. He had put the TV on as a distraction and she had watched it since, her eyes constantly staring forward, never looking towards him.

As he made coffee, he let his mind wander, wondering about why she was here.

It wasn't often that she was this quiet, it worried him, and then it didn't. He took comfort in knowing that she was here with him and that she hadn't run the other way. However, he didn't know how long it would be before she did run.

With that thought in mind, he shuffled back into the lounge room, grateful that his partner was still situated on the couch, not so grateful that she was still so silent.

He watched her, knowing that she could sense him, but knowing that she wouldn't turn and break her silence until she was ready. In this light he was afforded a true look at her. She really was stunning, her hair loose and wavy around her face, obviously victim to the winds outside. Her cheeks were rosy; he could even tell in the dimly lit room, her jaw was set.

He reached forward and placed his mug on the coffee table and then leaned back in the couch. Not long after, she followed suit, pulling her legs up under her.

He heard her take a sharp breath and turned to face her, only to find that she was still looking at the TV. His heart sank a little. But then, she did speak. Softly letting the words tumble from her mouth she spoke 5 words that made his heart skip a beat and sink further all at once. With her eyes straight forward, she confused him beyond words.

"I want to love you."

He didn't know what to say so he sat, watching her a little longer, letting his heart beat return to resting pace.

"I want to love you and I want to be with you."

She still didn't look at him. He still didn't speak and she didn't expect him to.

She stood from her seat and walked to stand in front of her partner. He looked up at her, eyes wide, wondering why she was saying all this now, and at the same time, knowing exactly why.

She leant down and cupped his face with her hand, smoothing her thumb over his cheek, breathing softly onto his lips. She moved a little further into the warmth surrounding him and whispered, "Thanks for the coffee," before planting a soft kiss on his slightly parted lips. She let it linger for a moment and then turned to leave, closing the door behind her.

Booth sat back in his seat, shock still running its course through his body, his heart pounding, his head spinning and when he finally came to his senses he realised something.

That was how an end of the date kiss was supposed to feel.

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Review!!! :)

I will love you forever.

Em

x