Beta credits to mellybee101 who has just submitted her thesis about very squinty prostate stuff. So proud, girl! Hugs and thanks!
The Village Series 3: Dreams Come True
I.
Snow began to melt away, unable to resist the March sun's tentative caresses. Green was sprouting – as luscious as it can only be found in the old maestro's paintings or during the very early days of the new season. When the first daffodils raised their heads out of the fresh earth, Seeley Booth asked Temperance Brennan to move in with him.
Their relationship was blooming just like the nature around them, and they were feeling the spring with every cell of their beings. Falling asleep with her soft body in his arms and awakening curled around her wasn't new to him anymore, but still Booth wanted to thank every higher might in this world for giving her to him. Every single day.
She, who had never been good at relationships, had filled his life with beauty, laughter and happiness.
He, who had always believed in two people becoming one, found out how much he had underestimated the whole concept so far.
The reality of sharing a life with Temperance Brennan was more dreamlike than any dream Booth had ever dared to have. Of course, she drove him crazy like nobody else ever could. But then again, she always had. They argued. They bickered. About work. About grocery shopping.
However, Booth relished his new-found way of silencing her whenever he couldn't withstand her reasoning anymore. A simple kiss generally did the deal. Leaving aside the fact that there was nothing simple about kissing Temperance Brennan.
Long ago he had fallen for her mind. Her sharp intellect, the way her thoughts whirled through her head, forming profound conclusions in a heartbeat. Without jumping to them of course, she would slap him for that assumption.
Not long after that he had fallen for her beauty. It would take a stronger man than Booth to not recognize how unbelievably stunning she was. How soft and silky her hair framed the elegant face. How graceful she moved on legs so long that they seemed to go on forever. How milky-white and flawless her skin shimmered, always tempting his hands to touch her.
In the end it had taken him years to follow the impulse to reach out to her. Not only an innocent guy hug or a palm on her back, no, really touch her. Hold her hand. Caress her face. Getting familiar with every delicate knuckle and dimple in her body. And kiss her.
Even after all those months it still amazed him how wholeheartedly she responded to him. When she wrapped her arms around him, tilting her head to give him better access, meeting his lips, a rush of liquid fire consumed him – fire that was burning with tenderness and affection he had never known could exist.
Ladies and gentlemen, he was in love with her. One hundred percent over the moon in love.
And the biggest miracle was: She seemed to feel just the same about him.
That didn't mean she had become predictable – just as little as kissing her had become simple – and when he uttered his proposition of cohabitation, he couldn't be sure that she wouldn't flee their tangled Sunday morning sheets. The mere fact that she was naked that very moment did nothing to improve his chances. He knew that, and his question took her by surprise just as much as himself.
Brushing a damp curl out of her flushed face, Brennan braced herself on her elbows and regarded the man next to her with big pale blue eyes, the hint of gray in them still reminding of the passing winter days.
For the quick thinker she was, it took her relatively long to answer, and Booth caught himself holding his breath. So much was at stake, and he had stopped gambling a long time ago.
Eventually the depths of her orbs became readable, and he knew her decision before she spoke.
"That would be acceptable."
Her answer was more than acceptable for Booth. With happy laughter he couldn't suppress, he reached out to her, rolling her under his body. And she was smiling back at him, as she embraced him with arms and legs. Her dark hair was splayed out on his pillow, a breathtaking contrast to the creamy tone of the sheets she was lying on.
When he lowered his head to her, she opened for him, inviting him into her mouth and everything else.
-BONES-
The trees were in buds, when Booth and Brennan began their struggle with the Washington D.C. real estate market. Being a world-renown forensic anthropologist and a bestselling author didn't do any harm in that matter, she supposed. However, his rejection to let her pay more than her fair share complicated things.
More than once Brennan rolled her eyes in frustration when another great offer passed by, but when she had committed herself to this relationship, she had known the man he was. He was proud, stubborn and old-fashioned when it came to letting his woman pay for him. It could freak her out at times, but, truth be told, mostly she adored him for it.
Since she had been fifteen years old, Temperance Brennan had been forced to look out for her own. She had been carrying her independence like a shield, and more than one man had given up breaking through to her. She had built herself a life based on the belief that she could only trust herself, that, eventually, everyone would abandon her.
Over the years, some people had been successful in ripping holes into that shield, holes through which light, warmth and friendship could shine in. Angela had been one of the first, and Brennan loved her best friend for her persistence and patience.
Anyway, right from the beginning his hole had been the biggest. His cockiness had tormented her mercilessly, and he had annoyed and irritated her beyond belief. Together with those feelings came the fascination; and it didn't take long until Brennan felt a strong grip around her heart whenever he was threatened or misjudged.
Fascination turned into friendship, and, eventually, friendship became love. The beginning of their relationship was as remarkable as everything else between the two of them. A psychologist and an experiment had gotten the ball rolling, but, truth be told, the ball itself had already been there for a while. Lingering between them, a witness of every gesture, every move.
Theory and practice can prove something, not create. It can only lead you so far to the real thing. With faith in him and faith in herself Brennan had taken the leap – and hadn't regretted it one second ever since.
Accepting his love and the own feelings she harbored for her partner had opened her shell further, had increased her vulnerability and the risk to be hurt. But, she didn't feel unprotected anymore. Or scared. She wasn't alone.
Somebody else was there, guarding her heart and her life.
She had learned to make love. Whenever he rolled down from her, the sweat on their exposed skin cooling in the air, Brennan could still feel their connection. He wasn't simply pleasuring her – oh boy, and how did he pleasure her! – he was stirring waves full of ecstasy and emotions. Her body felt satiated just as much as her mind – and that was a rare treat for a woman as scary smart as she was.
These days, Brennan could stand the pace of every girl talk session with Angela, and sometimes the artist had trouble not to grin too hard about the fact how sentimental her best friend had become. One time she even told her so, and Brennan almost blushed, babbling adorable squinty stuff about endorphins, pheromones and social contracts. Ending with a not-so-scientific remark about Booth's rear end.
Finally, Booth's and Brennan's attempts in finding an apartment paid off. Big windows, warm wooden floor, light-flooded rooms and more than enough space for the two of them. Plus Parker, of course, when he would spend the weekends at his Dad's.
Moving itself was a nerve-wracking exercise, and she almost despaired when faced with her partner's packing style, but when Brennan placed one of her artifacts next to Booth's old vintage model car on the shelf, her chest swelled with pride. Never before had she cohabited with someone who meant that much to her, and part of her found the situation still overly surreal, but another part – one she had learned to listen to – assured her that it was right.
Their house-warming party was quite a private event and consisted of the two of them making love in every single room. Except for Parker's of course, that would have been somehow weird.
By the time the leaves were fully green, whispering in the mild night air, she had gotten used to his untidiness, and he had gotten used to her early morning starts.
She had learned the football schedule, fully aware when there was an important match, ready to comfort him with a hug and his favorite beer when his team had lost.
He had found out that she was cranky a few days every month, but she allowed him to make tea and hot-water bottles for her. When he rubbed the small of her back in a certain way, usually the tension eased, making it possible for her to relax in his arms.
Still, she didn't believe in fate, but he did.
And still, she didn't believe in heaven, but he did.
Careless to everything that separated them, two plus two equaled four.
Booth and Brennan had figured out that it wasn't so important what the other one believed in. As long as you believe in something, and as long as this something is reassuring enough to build a life upon, everything would be just fine.
Like they had from day one, they believed in each other.