He's never been one to admit he's scared. But Seeley Booth is scared. Scared of losing one of the most important people in his life because she's scared. (He thinks about that for a moment and shakes his head. Always complicated.)
So he's being slow. Careful. Cautious. Wary. He's all of that. Because he knows, he knows (like he knows he's supposed to be a father, knows he's supposed to be a cop), that, as incompatible as they may seem on paper, he and Bones are meant to be.
Everyone's known for ages (he suspects that he has too, but, it's easier to ignore these things) and they've been talking about it amongst themselves for years.
Now that he's accepted it (out loud, to his fogged up bathroom mirror), he's working as hard as he can to make sure he won't lose her. He just can't.
Things start slowly and, even though he doesn't say anything, the rest of their friends have caught on (and he's wondering when they all started to be able to read minds). It's in the way Sweets has this extra large dorky grin. The way Angela winks like a crack addict and how Cam just raises her eyebrows, asking God why it has to be her in this position.
It's tough, then again, anything regarding Bones is tough. She doesn't do emotions and that's how he functions. So now he's leaning on their years as partners, on how they know each other, on how he would do anything for her. She's Bones, and he knows her.
Of course, when she brings up (rather abruptly) his "change in behaviour", he chokes on his coffee and she's giving him raised eyebrows. He asks what the hell she's talking about. Which leads her to spout off something technical (which he should be listening to), but he's too busy watching her mouth. He asks her to repeat herself, which causes her to throw her hands up in frustration.
Two months since he and Gordon Gordon had their 'discussion'. Then three. The fourth month rolls around and there's a hand clenching around his heart and the air has stopped right outside his nose, his lungs won't work. The new guy in Bones's life causes him to use three sick days and a couple of favours and he doesn't see her the rest of month four.
He knows someone (at least) is worried when Angela drops by, a raised eyebrow beyond his screen door telling him what to expect. Three hours, four drinks (each), and five repeated promises and he's wondering why he started running and hiding in the first place.
He starts back at the Institute on Monday and the smile she gives him solidifies his coming back.
It takes two more months (five and six), but she's by herself (as in single) again. He's never realized how long sixty days could be and he doesn't want to go through that again. Ever.
So after Angela's reassuring smile and thumbs up and Hodgins's really not so reassuring pep talk, he asks her out for dinner. And she says yes (but probably because he didn't tell her it was a 'date'. He's still slightly scared.)
Month seven goes along awkwardly, strangely, oddly. Month eight starts to resume pace. Month nine sees him discovering exactly what makes that specific noise at the back of her throat, while months ten and eleven have her learning this kid thing, emotion thing, and humour thing (more clearly, at least).
Month twelve rolls along and he's setting outside when she comes to join him. He asks if she wants to hear a story. A slightly irrational, yet highly truthful story, of course. Curious, she nods.
"And when he woke up, he knew his dream was right and he had to have the girl," he finishes. She tells him that that was a terrible story, shaking her head and smiling.
He looks her in the eyes, shaking his head slightly, "No. It's not. Because that's when I let myself realize that I love you."
And for once, she doesn't have anything to shoot it down.