So for once in my life I found myself not torn apart by the Bones finale. Especially compared to last year, this little problem isn't even a bump in the road where B&B are concerned. So immediately after the episode, my brain started turning, and I thought there is absolutely no way that Booth will go months without telling Brennan what's really going on. There are so many ways they can communicate that Pelant has no access to. So I thought, why not stop my creepy lurking and write a story of one shots, showing all the ways Booth could convince Brennan he didn't mean his rejection without actually saying it outright. I have no idea how many of these I can come up with, but I've got a list of about 6 right now, some of which are more plausible than others. I'd love to hear suggestions if you have them. When I do run out of plausible ideas, I'll add in 2-3 chapters giving B&B the happy ending we're all dying to see after the finale. So without further ado…

The Reason in the Rejection

Chapter 1: Knowing

It is clear to her that she has misinterpreted the signs yet again.

She thought he'd wanted it—was so sure that he'd say yes, that she never even considered the possibility of rejection. Of course, he had said yes, and for a few brief hours, she had been blissfully happy—more happy than she could ever remember being. She knew they were right together. She knew that he had been right when he said that they were meant to spend 30 or 40 or 50 years together. Of that, she had never been more certain. She thought he was still certain, too. Thought he was blissfully happy as well. But, as usual when it came to feelings, she had been wrong.

If her brain had been working in its typical, rational manner, she probably would have realized much sooner that the last thing he wanted to do was break off their brief engagement. He had been so overjoyed, so excited… and then, all the sudden, he wasn't. Something had to have changed drastically in the couple hours since they'd left the park. But her brain wasn't working rationally, and had not been for days. She finally took the chance, letting herself open up to the possibility of happiness, and, as usual, all it had gotten her was a seizing pain in her chest that meant, once again, she had been wrong.

But she meant what she'd said. She loved him (still loves him) and wants him to be happy. And if he's happy without marriage, well then she can sacrifice that. After all, he would do (had done) the same for her. But she can't let go of the nagging pain of knowing that she was the one he wouldn't marry.

She refuses to let him see her cry, so rather than retreating to their own room she locks herself in Christine's. The soft breathing of her sleeping child is both comforting and disconcerting to her. Not for the first time, she finds herself wondering if Christine is the reason he stays with her. She'd confided in him once that she would love him even if Christine hadn't been conceived that fateful night, but she realized painfully that he'd never really replied to the sentiment. She'd thought, at the time, it was because he didn't have time. She'd convinced herself that of course he loved her. There was nothing in their lives to make her think otherwise. He's said he loves her many times since she returned with their daughter. But it still bothers her that, tonight of all nights, he didn't.

She stays in her daughter's room for nearly an hour, silently rocking in the chair beside the crib, watching Christine slumber as though nothing were wrong. She wonders what Booth is doing. He hasn't come to check on her, and she can't figure out if she prefers it that way. Years ago, she would have wanted to be alone. But tonight, she's irrational enough to admit that wants comfort. She wants to know that he didn't mean what he said. That he had some kind of reason that he couldn't speak out loud. But the fact that he hadn't even come looking probably means her desire is in vain. She wonders if he's already gone to bed. Or if he'll even sleep beside her tonight. Again, she's not sure which would be worse.

But she can't ignore him forever, and she figures she might as well pretend to sleep. She wants him to be happy, and if pretending his decision hadn't devastated her was what he needed, then she would give that to him. But it was far easier to feign acceptance when she didn't have to look him in the eye.

She quietly walks into the hall and slides the nursery door noiselessly shut behind her, wiping the final few stray tears from her eyes and steeling her resolve. If he was in their room already—and she sincerely hopes he isn't—she doesn't want him to see the pain in her eyes. But it seemed as though luck was not with her tonight.

He was sitting up in bed, glancing absentmindedly through the sports magazine he kept there. She could tell he wasn't actually reading, but he doesn't look up when she entered, and she doesn't say anything. Instead, she quickly and silently readies for bed and slips carefully under the covers, keeping her distance from the one person she always sought comfort from—the one person who she can't bear to break in front of tonight.

"I thought you said we were alright."

His voice cuts through the stillness of their bedroom, breaking the awkward tension that had been radiating from both of them.

"We will be." She whispers. "I just need time. I'll figure it out."

"You know I don't want to hurt you." She can feel his gaze on her face, begging her to look at him. But she doesn't. She can't.

"It's not your fault. I just…shouldn't have assumed. I should have been prepared. Because we're not ever on the same page, are we." It isn't a question. "Something always happens, and just when I think I have it figured out… well, I suppose that's irrelevant."

"Bones…" He interrupts, but she keeps going.

"I just need time. I should have known that it was out of the question. I'm sorry I brought it up. But it's my fault, so it's my problem. The world will turn right side up again soon. It did before."

She wants that to be it. She doesn't want a discussion, or an argument, or any kind of pacification. She just wants to pretend to sleep so that he will sleep. He will be fine in the morning, and she will bear the brunt of her heartache alone, just as she had before he entered her life. So she lays down and rolls away from him. But she should have known it wouldn't be that easy.

"Bones, look at me." She remains where she is. "Bones, come on. I want to say something and I need you to know I mean it. Look at me." Still, she ignores him.

"Temperance." She stiffens at the use of her first name, but still doesn't move, so he does instead. He rolls out of bed and walks over to her side, crouching down in front of her. She squeezes her eyes shut.

"Just let it go, Booth. Please. We can speak rationally in the morning."

"No."

His defiance surprises her, and she considers opening her eyes, but decides against it. "What do you mean, no?"

"I mean, I can see those walls slamming back up, and I want to explain myself before you lock up your heart again."

"There's nothing to explain. I get it. You used my own logic on me, Booth. You don't need to spell it out for me again, because you made it perfectly clear what you want so please, just-"

"No." He interrupts her again. "No, I won't let it go, because I don't think you understand. Not really, anyway, and no way in hell I let you go to sleep thinking that I don't want to spend my life with you. Now please, Bones," his hand reached out, tentatively brushing her bangs off her face, "look at me."

Finally, she does as he asks. She's helpless not to, driven by his touch and the brief flicker of hope behind his sentiment that she can't quite squash no matter how much she wants to. Her gaze falls on his eyes, deadly serious and glowing in the pale light of his bedside lamp.

"I love you." He says, and she knows it is true. "I want you to know that. This has nothing to do with who you are or anything that you've done. It's not that I don't believe you, and it's not that I don't love you. I'm not walking out on us, and I'm sure as hell not letting you walk out. We'll get through this."

She is captivated by his words, and she can't quite look away, even after he stops speaking. His eyes are shining, begging her to understand, begging her to look inside him, beyond what he was saying. And for once, she does. And she understands. He does want her. He does want to marry her. He doesn't want her to ever doubt that. But something has happened, and he can't talk about it. Can't tell her out loud what the problem is. But she knows it's there, and it has nothing to do with either of them, and everything to do with someone else—probably the same someone who they already know is watching their every move.

So she does the only thing she can. She speaks. "I know." And, as an afterthought, "I love you, too." And in that moment, he knows that she understands. Everything will be okay.

To an outsider, it would look like any conversation. If Pelant were watching them at that very moment—which Booth had a sneaking suspicion that he was—nothing about the exchange would tip him off to the real conversation happening. Booth had known that she would understand; they'd always been able to communicate without saying anything. They know each other in ways that Pelant will never have access to. And no one will ever succeed in breaking them apart. Pelant will learn that soon enough, if he hasn't already figured it out. Nothing Pelant could ever do would turn them against each other.

Booth smiles softly at her, and leaves her side just long enough to return to his spot on the bed. He pats the sheets under the comforter and she rolls over into his arms. Neither of them says anything else that night, but both drift off to sleep knowing that their happily ever after will still happen eventually. For now, it is enough.

A/N: I'd like to let you know that this chapter has not been reviewed by anyone, so any mistakes are mine alone. You can blame them on the fact that the finale ended about 3 hours ago and I had the major urge to write and upload immediately.

Please let me know what you think and whether you think this is worth continuing or not. I've been lurking in this fandom for years, and have never actually written anything for Bones, so suggestions, comments, feedback, etc. are all completely welcome!