Hey now. No dissin'. I've been gone a while. Life got in the way, okay? Just started a new school year and I'm the new kid. Joy. But, anywayss. Here's a new story for you all.

Booth held the ring in his hand, tucked safely away in his pocket. He was unsure why he had bought it. She had been very elaborate on the fact that she would not marry him. It had hurt, certainly, to hear that come from her. Perhaps he had just thought that, presented with an actual, tangible ring, she would reconsider. He was scared. They'd been together for years, and friends for so much longer. And this was where it all came down to. This was the deciding moment.

He flipped the box over in his hand again. Looking across the table, he was captured by the ocean of her eyes. He swam through them, desperate for land and at the same time more than content to simply drown in her.

The gaze they shared was intimate, familiar. It was the answer. The answer to whatever insecurities and fears had been massacring his psyche. He needed to ask her. Even if she refused, which was a very real and painful possibility, he would have taken the chance. He wanted the chance. Even if it broke him. Even if it murdered him. He wanted it. So bad.

He wanted to begin somewhere special. But the only thing he could think of was... "Bones. I, uh, I'm going to ask you something. And I don't know whether you're going to like it or not. But…"

"Well, cough it out, Booth."

Booth chuckled. "Spit it out, Bones. It's 'spit it out'." He took the box out and put it in front of her. He wanted the chance, of that he was certain. But, when considering the chance, he hadn't predicted how utterly vulnerable he would feel, having her holding the navy, velvet box in her hands. He hadn't wanted to get down on one knee, for two reasons. The first being that he didn't know if that would be too much tradition for her. The second being…Well, he was vulnerable enough, as it was. Being on the ground would only heighten that. He looked down at his hands as he spoke. "Look, Bones, I know that you said no. But…Just…If you ever want it. If you ever even think about wanting it. I just want you to know that I want it, too."

Brennan stroked the ring gently with two, pale fingers. And Booth would have given anything to know her thoughts. Until she spoke them, that was. "Booth, over half of marriages end in divorce."

Booth gulped. "Ours won't."

"How do you know?"

Booth decided to take a different approach. "Do you want to stay with me for the rest of your life?"

"Yes."

"Then why should it matter whether we're married or not? If we're going to be together anyway, why won't you marry me?"

"Booth, marriage is an archaic institution left over from-"

"Spare me the lecture, Bones. Please. Just tell me. Without the anthropological mumbo jumbo." He waited a long time. He waited until his entire being burned with the acid of the rejection he felt he knew would be served.

"I don't know if I'm capable of marriage, Booth. I can't do what you're asking."

Booth's heart dropped a hundred floors to the soles of his feet. "What am I asking, Bones?"

This seemed to stump her. "You...Marriage implies that I would quit my job. Make you dinner. Have children. And while I'll willingly do the last two, I will not quit the Jeffersonian. I am a woman with a successful career and that simply does not fit into marriage."

"Bones..." He gave a humorless chuckle. "Bones, that's not what marriage is."

"Yes it is! That is exactly what marriage is. In the Catholic faith especially, which you are a member of."

"Yeah, Bones, I'm Catholic. But that doesn't mean I want you to quit your job and pop out a hundred kids! I mean, do I want a baby girl with your blue eyes and auburn curls and both of our hard heads combined? Yes. Of course I do. But that's not what marriage is about. Marriage is about two people vowing to always have each others back. Marriage is...Marriage is about love, Bones. We can make our marriage into anything we want it to be."

Brennan bit her lip in concentration. "Booth...don't we already have that?"

"Don't we already have what?"

"The vow to protect and love."

Booth smiled for the first time since he'd asked her. "Yeah, Bones. 'Course we do."

Brennan returned his smile and heard his gasp as she slid the very pretty diamond onto her finger.

What do you think? I'll probably do about ten of these...unless I get feedback asking for more. Drop me a review. I might need some suggestions for how these are going to go. This one wasn't very unique. But maybe the others might be. Your thoughts and questions are always appreciated. Love Always, Mirder :]