This is just sweet fluff I wrote in the night before New Year's Eve. Many thanks to mellybee101 who did a wonderful spontaneous beta job. Love you!
Wonderful Tonight
I. Something Old
It was the last night of the year. New Year's Eve. A few hours from now everything would come to full circle. Temperance Brennan was standing in a festively decorated ballroom, a long glass full of exquisite champagne in her slender hand.
She wore a long black dress that emphasized her perfect body, a low V-neck revealing creamy skin, the lace-trimmed hem playing around her ankles. Her silky auburn hair was pinned up, only a few loose curls falling freely into her face.
Soft tunes and light conversation were flowing in the air, but Brennan was slightly bored. She had never been able to understand the necessity of small talk, even though Booth had tried to explain it to her on a regular bare. Easy topics. Connect with others. Just because.
Shifting from one food to the other, she let her eyes wander over the room. Everything seamed to sparkle – people, glasses, candles – as if every animated or inanimate object in the room was awaiting midnight eagerly.
For Temperance Brennan it was just a night like all the other ones, the meaning people had given to it artificial and shallow. The magic of New Year's Eve had never grown on her.
Suddenly the hair on her nape was tingling and she straightened her back. Searching for the source of her agitation, she heard a raspy voice behind her back.
"Hi Cinderella."
A smile brightened her face. Booth. Tilting her head slightly, her curls brushed his nose.
"Why are you calling me like a fairytale princess?"
"Dunno. Maybe because you look like one, and I'm afraid that you'll disappear at midnight? Whom should I kiss, then?"
"What makes you assume I would let you kiss me?"
She felt the shrug of his shoulders.
"Logic? All the other options seem to be worse to me."
Brennan pondered his words for a moment. Would she kiss him? Of late their flirting had gotten bolder and bolder, was slowly spiraling out of control. Somehow it seemed as if inviting her partner into her bed had become almost inevitable. Still, there were reasons why she shouldn't sleep with Booth. A few of them were actually good ones.
Turning around fully, she took him in for the first time. The black tux hugged his muscular body perfectly, the white shirt an alluring contrast to his bronze skin. His face was smooth, and she could smell traces of his shaving cream.
He looked like the picture of a man right out of a catalog, and something inside of her shifted.
Lifting her hand to his face, she traced the outline of his tempting mouth with her fingertip.
"Booth, we are playing with fire."
"I know."
His lips moved as he spoke, and for the fraction of a second she could feel his tongue flickering over her finger.
Sucking in a breath, she looked at him with wide eyes. Then she removed her hand while bowing her head, breaking the gaze and the spell, her long lashes casting a shadow on her pink cheeks. Booth wondered how someone could look so sensual and so innocent at the same time.
Temperance Brennan was one of a kind. She challenged him like no one else, complemented him as a partner. He would save her ass just as much as she would save his, but tonight she was just a woman, and all he wanted to do was to treat her like one.
He was a full-grown man in his mid-thirties, no romantic fool, but in these last hours of the year he felt like a teenager again who wanted to climb up to the sky and pluck every single star from the firmament to shower a beautiful woman with the magic of it.
Cupping her chin between two fingers, he tilted her head to look into her eyes.
"Any last words about the passing year?"
She narrowed her eyes, and he knew that she was thinking. That little frown appeared on her brow, and for a moment he felt the urge to kiss it away. His heart skipped a beat – and then the moment was gone, and he awaited her eloquent answer.
"We were successful. A good team. We brought closure to a lot of families, and I'm thankful for that."
He nodded, completely in agreement with her. Still, something more personal would have been nice as well, and with sudden boldness he decided to challenge her.
"I'm glad for the opportunity to spend the last hours of the year in the company of the most beautiful and inspiring woman I know."
For a second her eyes flickered away, as if searching for the woman he had mentioned. Then it dawned on her.
Oh! Oh...
A flush covered her high cheekbones, adding a shade of vulnerability to her beauty that took his breath away.
"Well... thanks. I enjoy your company as well. You look very handsome tonight."
'Great, Temperance, what a well-spoken reply. Nonchalant and worldly. Or not.᾽
Much to her surprise he took her hand, whirling her around in a slow circle.
"And you look simply stunning. As if you actually believed in the magic of this special night."
Noticing her blush, he smirked.
"Relax, your secret is safe with me. I won't tell anyone that you are the New Year's Eve equivalent of the Grinch."
Puzzlement washed over her face, and he placed his forefinger over her rose petal lips before she could say it.
"You don't know what that means, I get it."
He had made her speechless, but still his finger lingered on her lips, and the contact sent warmth through her whole body.
"You want another glass of champagne?"
Brennan nodded. She wasn't sure if she really needed more alcohol right now, but she was positive that a break from this might be a good idea – whatever this was. Despite the party around them, she felt as if she was alone with Booth, all her senses focused on her partner.
She exhaled in relief as she saw him walk away with their glasses, her gaze falling to his midsection. Whenever she was near Booth, it seemed as if she was captivated by his dark coal eyes, but she had to admit that his backside was a pretty nice view as well.
Twisting her empty hands, Brennan looked around, taking in her surroundings. People were laughing, drinking, dancing, and since it was the annual Jeffersonian New Year's Eve party, their friends should be somewhere as well. Nevertheless, she hadn't spotted them, yet.
Brennan didn't know that Angela and Cam had observed her interaction with Booth with deep interest. No detail went by unnoticed; her finger tracing his lips as little as the movement of dark satin over narrow hips as he whirled her around to appreciate her look.
Sharing the smile of conspirators, the artist and the pathologist vowed not to intrude on the the sweet intimacy that surrounded the two partners like an invisible shield. New Year's Eve was a pretty good opportunity to live a little – or a little bit more – and the two women agreed that it was about time for Seeley Booth and Temperance Brennan to realize how damned perfect they were for each other.
Toasting at each other with their own glasses of bubbly drinks, they watched how Booth approached his partner with two fresh glasses in his hands. Their lips formed a simultaneous "Aw" as he handed one glass over to her, his fingers brushing hers and lingering for a moment longer than necessary. They noticed the rosy color on the anthropologist's cheeks, the flutter of her heavy eyelids.
'How does he do it?᾽ She was a world-renowned professional in her field and a best-selling author, but tonight Brennan felt herself respond like her sixteen-years old self if ever given the opportunity.
Raising his glass at her, Booth spoke,
"To old endings and new beginnings."
Murmuring something in response, she touched his glass with hers, the chinking noise vibrating between them. The lyrics of Eric Clapton's "Wonderful Tonight" filled the air, and Booth felt something tug at his heart.
We go to a party and everyone turns to see this beautiful lady that's walking around with me. And then she asks me, "Do you feel all right?" And I say, "Yes, I feel wonderful tonight."
"Dance with me, Bones."
Her eyebrows arched, and she wondered about the wisdom of touching him in the intimate embrace of a dance.
"You're sure about this? I can be quite clumsy," she tried to joke, but he just looked at her in earnest.
"I'll take the risk."
Removing the glass from her, he took her small hand into his big one. It felt almost fragile, and he thought about the miracles she could perform with those hands.
'Not tonight, though,᾽ he decided, tonight there was nothing than touching and feeling for her talented hands. Warm, living flesh underneath her long fingers, no rotten bones. He traced the outline of her dolphin ring with his thumb, and the gesture sent a rush of affection to her core.
Her mother's ring. The one her father had given to her. A father who would have been lost if it hadn't been for Booth. It was his achievement that she had a family now; his faith that had made her strong enough to accept the love of those ones who had hurt her so deeply. And her life was richer now. Because of him.
Something inside of her crumbled, corroded like a long-burned tree at the first wisp of wind, and when they reached the dance floor, he opened his arms for her.
Without much ado she accepted the invitation, curling into his embrace. One arm snaked around her waist, the palm resting on the small of her back like it had so many times before. His other hand didn't let go of hers, clasping it completely and holding it close to his strong heartbeat.
It felt right, and without hesitation Brennan wrapped her free arm around his neck, burying her hand in the soft hair on his nape, running it through her fingers.
I feel wonderful because I see the love light in your eyes. And the wonder of it all is that you just don't realize how much I love you.
She felt his soft sigh more than she heard it, and her head found its place on his shoulder, inhaling deeply. Contentment lowered her guard, and she was surprised by her own words.
"Booth, out of all the ways one could do to mark the end of a year and the beginning of a new one, this is the best."
He lowered his head and whispered the hint of a kiss over her cheekbone, so feather-light that she might have imagined it.
"This is close to perfect, but I could think of some things even better."
She lifted her head and found his deep, dark orbs so close to her own. It was a moment of truth, nothing left to hide.
"Are you positive we should go there?"
He regarded her silently for a moment, gently swaying her to the music that was still telling about beauty and longing.
"It depends what 'there᾽ is. What do you see at the end of this road, Temperance?"
Her first name spoken in this husky voice of his, so rarely heard, caressed her like a warm summer breeze and sent languorous shivers down her spine.
She bowed her head, buried it in the safety of his shoulder one more time, and he caressed her back tenderly.
"If we can't name it, we probably shouldn't go there, honey."
She panted, this name creating even stronger tingles of warmth.
"What do you see at the end of this path, Booth?"
Standing at a crossroads, Booth looked into both directions thoroughly before giving his answer.
"I see you. No matter where I look."
She snuggled deeper into his arms.
"You see me?"
"Yes. Somehow you are every path I want to choose. I see my brilliant partner in a blue lab coat, arguing with me. I see a wonderful woman in a long black dress who feels so soft in my arms. I see you... in my home. And every single image feels right."
Taking in his words, she sought comfort in his familiar scent, rubbing her nose against the starchy collar of his shirt.
"But which one would you choose?"
His lips touched the crown of her hair, and this time she could actually feel the kiss.
"If it's up to me... All of them. It's greedy and probably asked for too much, but I want it all. The partner, the woman... the home."
They danced in silence for a while, Eric Clapton making way for Bob Dylan.
"But if it's asked for too much, Bones, let's just enjoy this dance, say goodbye to each other at the end of the night and meet again on Monday. As partners, friends and nothing more."
She didn't respond for a long while, and Booth wondered if he had said something wrong, gambled too high.
Finally she lifted her head, and he was taken aback by the depth in her iris blue eyes.
"Booth, I could see it as well. You..."
He loosened his hold on her hand to cup her cheek with his palm, and immediately she leaned into his touch, so trusting.
"But is it what you want?"
"I don't want to drift anymore, fully aware of the possibilities but not brave enough to take a chance. But I don't want to lose you, either, jeopardize what we have. It's too important. You are too important to me, Booth."
Drawing her into both arms, flush to his body, he rested his chin on top of her head, enjoying her height in the unusual flat shoes she wore tonight.
"There's still one hour of the old year left, Bones, maybe we should use the time to talk about the things we both don't want."
"I don't want to lose you," tumbled out of her mouth.
"That's settled. I would never risk that, either."
Relief flooded her, and she wrapped her arms around his midsection, barely noticing the music or their surroundings anymore.
"I don't want to have crappy sex with you, Booth."
He chuckled at this ridiculous concern of her, remembering a conversation.
"I'm pretty sure we could never have crappy sex, Bones. We have the spark. But I'm awfully glad that this is only your second biggest concern."
"Don't make fun of me, Booth," she whispered seriously, and he kissed her head one more time.
"Sorry, Babe. I don't want to have an elephant in the room, awkwardness we can't work around."
Taking her time to understand the metaphor, she nodded.
"No awkwardness. I don't want to disappoint you, Booth."
Truly surprised, he wondered,
"How could you ever think I'd be disappointed by you?"
"You have your morals, and your beliefs are so strong. You're a family man. You have so much faith."
"And most of all I have faith in you. Temperance, I know you. I know who you are. I don't harbor secret picket-fences dreams that center around you. I would never press you into a life you don't want to. You're so wonderful."
"I'm not good at relationships, Booth."
"But you are good with me. And you're stubborn. If you decide to be with me, I have full faith in this stubbornness of yours to make it work."
"I can't promise you forever. I don't believe in forever."
He had to admit that this was a big one to work around, and he processed her sentence for a minute.
"Forever is nothing more than a succession of moments. One step after another. Can you give me one step?"
Pondering his logic, she nodded.
"I can. And I can already promise you the next one. Putting it that way, forever doesn't seem so awfully scary anymore."
"Monogamy. If we don't say goodbye to each other at the end of this night, Bones, I need to awake next to you, knowing that you won't flinch when I reach out to touch you. And that there wouldn't be anybody else to touch you."
"I can accept this. I don't want to picture you with another woman either. And I promise not to flinch."
"I don't want to eat salad for the rest of my life."
She almost laughed, but lifting her head, she found his eyes deadly serious.
"Oh, don't worry. You can eat what you want. Although the nutrition value of burgers and fries is highly doubtful."
"That's interesting because you use to eat most of my fries whenever I order them."
She shrugged, deciding wisely to let him have that one.
"I don't want to be consumed by feelings. I need a clear head for my work, and I can't allow myself the luxury to be distracted all the time."
He looked at her incredulously.
"Seriously? Then we have our first real problem because I have every intention to make you feel as much as possible as soon as I'm alone with you. Feelings you won't be able to compartmentalize. I don't want to have a lukewarm fling with you, Bones, I want the real thing. Complicated, sexy, sentimental passion and everything else."
He was speaking with intensity that made her weak in her knees, and Brennan realized how big she had missed out so far because she had no idea what he was talking about. However, her stomach was doing somersaults; at least one part of her being seemed to be perfectly fine with the scenario he had created.
She thought of her weakness tonight, her unusual shyness. Was that what he wanted from her? Unsure if she could stand those intense emotions for more than one night, she bowed her head to avoid his gaze.
"Maybe we should just say 'goodbye᾽ to each other at the end of the night," she whispered.
He pulled her even tighter into his arms, reluctant to let her go in every sense of the word.
"One feeling you cannot label, and you're already flinching?"
Her head was spinning, and resting her brow right next to his smooth cheek, she tried to gather her thoughts.
'He's right,᾽ she had to admit. She was flinching. Her own words were echoing in her mind. She didn't want to drift with eyes wide close anymore because of cowardice. She had already missed so much. Taking a deep breath, she weighted her faith in him. Could she allow herself to fall freely? She didn't know. Would he catch her? He would. Could it hurt her? It could. Would it be worth it? It might.
"I can live with complicated and passionate, I think," she finally stated. After all, she had never gotten a B and she never would.
Her reward was a gentle brush of his lips right next to her ear.
"That's my girl."
Turmoil around them indicated the very end of the year, and when the band started to play the unavoidable tunes of "Auld Lang Syne", Brennan tilted her head, giving the man in her arms a honest smile. It seemed to be contagious somehow, and soon he was smiling right back at her, his whole face beaming with the possibilities they just had created.
His hand tangled in her hair, pulling her closer.
Around them, people were shouting the countdown.
Ten.
Nine.
Eight.
Seven.
Six.
Arching her back, she looked up to him, and simultaneously to his lowering head she lifted herself onto her tiptoes.
Five.
Four.
Three.
Two.
One.
"Happy new year, Bones."
"Happy new year, Booth."
She could feel his breath against her lips, and the second right before they connected, she allowed herself to see him with undisguised clarity.
Her partner who had saved her a millions times over, both her life and her heart. Something almighty and invisible crushed her soul for a moment, before being lifted completely, the expansion in her chest almost too much to bear.
Then his lips were on hers, so warm. She could still stop him, limit it to a simple peck to welcome the new year. She could. But she didn't. Her lips parted on their own volition, but every cell of her being was humming in agreement. His soft tongue sought entrance into her mouth, and she granted it willingly, reveling in the pure and sweet intimacy of this kiss.
His hands left her head to slide down her sides, his rough palms causing pleasant friction on the silky texture of her dress.
Her own fingers were tracing his face, feeling the hollow of his cheeks as he kissed and caressed and worshipped her. It was a kiss that reduced everything else to mere pettiness; the kind of kiss young girls dream about and elderly women remember with glassy eyes. The kind of kiss that opened the door to another path for Temperance Brennan and Seeley Booth.
He was kissing her with lips, tongue, hands and heart, and Booth felt a curtain of moisture in his eyes faced with her unrestrained response. She was pouring herself into the kiss, not holding back anything, and his faith in her throbbed brighter than ever.
Her mind didn't believe in forever? He could live with that because her kiss betrayed her words without shame.
When they finally had to break apart, both of them were panting heavily, and he reached out to her, crushing her against his body. Murmuring soft nonsense into her ear, Booth held her tightly to his form, and her warmth caressed every inch of skin and every fiber of heart muscle he possessed.
"Are you ready to take your chance?"
He searched her eyes, and his heart almost stopped at the myriad of emotions he found in them.
"Yes."
"Come home with me."
"Yes."
Unbeknownst to the two of them, an artist and a pathologist were celebrating a happy dance, congratulating themselves on the clear observation spot they had found. The beginning of the new year had provided them with emotions one could only find in old movies or smoky bar's piano men. Both of them were deeply touched at the sight of Seeley Booth and Temperance Brennan so lost in each other, and both of them felt a sharp tug of envy born out of loneliness.
Smart as they were, they knew the chances about experiencing a love like this by themselves, but this particular love story was so big, so overwhelming, that they felt an extension of the light which was surrounding their friends warming their own hearts.
Going with the moment, Cam and Angela hugged each other affectionately, desperate to share the intensity of what they had witnessed with another human being, smiling at each other awkwardly afterwards.
Temperance Brennan and Seeley Booth – their love was beautiful.