Hey everybody! Thanks for choosing to read this. I wanted to get in on the action of the infamous 100th episode frenzy. I totally cried my heart out at the end. (I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one.) But all in all it was a great episode and probably the best episode of the series. In the middle of the story I added a little bit more dialogue to make it more let me know what you think, and as always, review! Thanks!

Disclaimer: Do I even have to say it? I obviously don't own Bones or any of the characters. They all belong to Hart Hanson and Fox. Thanks!

***

"I'm the gambler. I believe in giving this a chance. Look, I wanna give this a shot."

"You mean us? No, the FBI won't let us work together."

"Don't do that. That is no reason."

He kissed her. He poured his whole heart and soul out into that kiss. And for a second, so did she. But just as quickly as it began, it ended, with her pushing him away.

"No! No!" she exclaimed, slapping his chest.

"Why? Why?" he asked with a quizzical look on his face.

"You, you thought you were protecting me, but you're the one that needs protected."

"Protecting? From what?"

"From me. I, I don't have your kind of open heart."

"Please just give it a chance. That's all I'm asking."

"No, you said it yourself. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different outcome."

"Well then lets go for a different outcome here. Alright, lets just…hear me out alright? You know when you talk to older couples who, you know, have been in love for 30 or 40 or 50 years, alright, it's always the guy who says, 'I knew.' I knew. Right from the beginning."

"Your evidence is anecdotal."

"I'm that guy. Bones, I'm that guy. I know."

"I, I am not a gambler. I'm a scientist. I can't change. I don't know how. I don't know how."

"I didn't ask you to change! I love you, just the way you are. Ok? You don't realize it, but you have changed so much after all these years. You have grown into an amazing woman and I couldn't ask you to change now. Or ever. Please Bones, just…give this a shot."

She looked down.

"Booth." she mumbled.

She wished he would just give up. That he could see how much this was hurting her and how much she wanted to say yes, but couldn't.

"Bones? Please look at me."

Her head stayed put.

"Please?"

She heard the plead in his voice. How sad he was. She finally looked up, tears streaming down her face. This was worse than the time when she thought she had to explain who she was to him because of that pig farmer.

"Babe, I mean...Bones."

He wiped the tears off her face, as she jumped. He looked at her in astonishment. Was she really that upset that he couldn't merely touch her? His heart wrenched of the thought of not being able to touch her again because he gambled and lost.

"I'm sorry Booth, but how can you love me? You deserve so much better than me. You need someone who can love you for 30 or 40 or 50 years down the road. I can't. You should've never fallen in love with me. Because all I'm going to do is cause you harm."

"You think I wanted to fall in love with you?! Don't you think I'd much rather be in a successful marriage with kids then chasing after someone who doesn't want to give this a chance? I'd rather be doing anything but loving you! But here I am, pouring my whole heart and soul out to you. And after all these years you think you're going to hurt me? Its bullshit Bones! Just..."

The shock and hurt in her eyes made him want to kill himself for saying what he just said.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean that. Its just...Bones. There is no possible way for you to hurt me."

"I'm hurting you right now! I saw your eyes. And after what you just said...you don't want to love me. You dont deserve me."

He leaned up against the pole, as she followed him.

"You asked me how I could love you?"

He turned to face her.

"You want to know how I can love you? Here it goes. Your beautiful, smart, caring, determined, tough. You know what you want and how to get it. You were broken. Just like me. But over time, we have put each other back together. Well, at least that's what you've done for me. You're the only woman I could ever love. Some people may not understand our relationship, or how we get along. But we do. We know what we're capable of. And there is no chance in hell I am ever going to stop loving you. And theres no way I'm giving up on you. I don't want you to change. I love you for you. I don't know what else I can do to get you to understand that."

"Booth. I'm scared okay!"

"Scared about what? Because I'm scared too. And maybe we can help each other get over our fears."

"I'm scared of being abandoned! I'm scared that 10 years later, you will grow bored with me and not love me. I'm scared that if something happens and we break up, I won't have you in my life anymore. And if the only way I can keep you in my life is to deny our only chance at a good, healthy relationship, then so be it. Because I'd rather have you in my life, as my friend and partner, than as nothing at all."

He sighed. "You're right. You're right. I'm sorry."

"Can we still work together?"

The answer didn't come as quickly as she hoped. It took him a while to respond, but when he did, her heart jumped with joy.

"Yeah." he said softly, barely audible.

She could see the hurt in his eyes. And this is what she wanted to protect him from.

"Thank you."

"But I have to move on." He said quickly, looking her in the eyes.

And when he did, her heart sank. She had never seen his eyes look like that before. It made her feel as if a knife just went through her stomach.

"I got to find someone whos gonna love me 30 years, or 40 or 50."

And she knew what had to be said. Because she knew it was inevitable. And she wanted him to be happy.

"I know."

She wiped a tear from her eye and started walking away as he followed her. She put her arm through his as they walked down the walkway. She layed her head on his shoulder.

She knew she broke his heart that night. She knew that he would move on and find someone to love and marry and have children with. And she would watch. But only from the sidelines. Because at least she would still have him in her life.

***

Shall I continue? I'm thinking about making this go about how the rest of the season will go. But only if you want me to. So please let me know what you thought. Review!