Happy Valentine's Day!

When I started this Bonesology challenge I had no idea what a rough month was ahead of me. For those who've followed y writing for some time, my mom, who has struggled with her health for several years now and has given us more than a couple scares where we thought we were going to lose her, fell ill a couple weeks ago and passed away last Sunday at 86 years old. She was one of those strong willed people who always manage to bounce back, proving my theory, that even when you know it's coming, death of a loved one always seems a little shocking. We were so blessed in so many ways and I have felt such love and support from my Bones family on Twitter. I am so grateful for all the love, thoughts, and prayers.

Anyways, I intended to get this story all wrapped up and posted long before today. Instead, I had to split the story into two chapters and I only have one of them done and ready to post today.

Truth, my dear sweet Jazzyproz deserves much better than that! She is one of my favorite writers and, more importantly, she's one of my favorite people, always kind and loving and supportive. I was excited and honored to be given her to write for!

She requested: early relationship; a slow dance; a surprise

After a rather long internal debate over the definition of "early relationship" I decided I was indeed overthinking it and this story started to form.

Enjoy! Much love to all!

~DG

p.s. please leave a review and let me know what you think so far.

ooooo0ooooo

What She Never Knew She Wanted

It was the way he turned his key in the door. The sound his suit coat made as he wriggled out of it. The jingle of his keys, the solid sound of his lighter, the spinning of his poker chip as it settled in the bottom of the dish, dice, pens, index cards, each belonging placed carefully in the intricate Kashmiri copper bowl she reserved just for him on her large entryway hutch. It was the muted thud his dress shoes made as he toed them off one at a time and the way he walked softly across the floor.

It was Booth.

It was the sound of security and she relished it far more than she would ever admit. This was probably the most unexpected byproduct of her relationship with him, one that took her by surprise. She never expected how safe she would feel with him, how much she would long to have him home, to be cradled in his arms, to lay her head on his chest and listen to the rhythmic sounds of his heart pounding in her ear.

Snuggling down in bed, she pulled the covers up around her chin and waited, anticipating the dip in the bed his weight would bring as he crawled in under the sheets, next to her. She would feign sleep, betraying herself by the sweet, low hum that escaped when he wrapped his strong arms around her and pulled her back against his body. He would apologize for waking her as he continued to nuzzle into her neck, leaving a trail of small kisses, evoking the sweetest giggle. Sometimes they'd press and pull, twist and turn until they were sufficiently knotted together, then drift peacefully off to sleep. Other nights, it wasn't enough, one simple touch led to another until making love was the most natural end to their day,

"I didn't mean to wake you, Bones." Booth's hand drifted across her tummy, fiddling with the hem of her t-shirt before finding its way to her bare skin. It was cool against her warm skin, a beautiful dichotomy, stimulating and refreshing.

"You didn't." She admitted, rolling onto her back.

Booth pulled down the covers a bit, edging up her t-shirt so he could see just a little of her midriff. His hands tickled as they brushed along her sensitive skin. Tugging down the waistband of her yoga pants just enough to make room for a kiss. His scruffy five o'clock shadow brushed just below her bellybutton as his warm lips pressed a kiss to her skin. Her long slender fingers worked their way through his thick curly hair, holding him close.

"How's my baby tonight?" His voice was low and tender, filled with love. She found his devotion to their unborn child reaffirming, and although there was no logical reason it should make her feel more secure in the pregnancy, it did. "Is she treating her mama right, Bones?"

"Booth." That tone of hers said it all and he waited for the rebuke he knew was coming. Falling so easily into her scientist lingo she explained for the umpteenth time that this growing embryo within her was not even close to a baby, reaffirming there was no way of knowing the gender at this stage.

"I know, you say that all the time, but it's a girl, Bones. I feel it." Leaning down, he pressed another kiss low on her tummy, lingering, before pushing her t-shirt up just a little higher.

"In your gut?" She prodded. Booth nodded, yes, then spread out his hand giving her another string of kisses. The unshakable Dr. Temperance Brennan fought to keep her wits about her, taking a deep breath to refocus. "Gender isn't determined by gut feelings." She attempted to argue, but Booth knew exactly how to undo her.

Letting his hand travel down her hip and along her thigh, he hooked her leg behind the knee and spread it out wide so he could settle between her legs. He watched her eyes widen as they caught his, her breath quickened, her pulse wild and irregular. Sweeping her bangs away from her face, Booth held her there, then leaned in and kissed her.

One kiss was all it took, deep and open, the tip of his tongue dragging along her lip. One kiss and she could hardly think, much less argue.

"It's a Girl," that was his simple rebuttal, "my girl, strong and bold and beautiful and smart," each word emphasized by another passionate kiss as he towered over her. Each kiss more all-consuming than the last, "just like her mama."

Bones hummed, abandoning her argument, pulling him closer, kissing him deeper, until he pulled back, his hand traveling down her chest to pick up where it left off, sliding her t-shirt up just a little more.

It felt like torture, beautiful erotic torture. The anticipation, each tender stroke of his hand danced along her ribs, each dragged her t-shirt a little higher. She felt a chill run through her as the cool air met the bottom of her bare breast. He smiled against her skin, satisfied by her reaction, as she let out a little gasp and let her head roll to the side against her pillow. Her body seemed more sensitive pregnant, more alive and responsive to every touch. Reaching for his hand, she meant to guide it higher, impatient for more, unable to wait, but he resisted, distracting her instead.

"Come away with me, Bones." Booth whispered against her skin, his voice heavy with desire, his fingers playing with the bunched up fabric barely covering the top of her breast. "Just for the weekend, just us."

"Can't," she huffed out, breathy, unable to say anything more.

This side of her surprised him. His brilliant, often defiant partner, who was never short on words, big words, long scientific hoity-toity words, who never backed down from an argument, was easily reduced to not much more than a few one syllable words, with a simple kiss.

"We can. We can do anything we want." He countered, "a cabin in the woods, a night on the coast, a bed and breakfast in the Shenandoah Valley. Anything, anywhere, just us."

"Can't." Slapping his chest, she turned away from his kiss, trying desperately to regain some control. "You know we can't." She was definitely the anchor in their budding relationship. She kept them from floating off, chasing after Booth's playful diversions. They hadn't been "they" for very long and already she hated that role. Ever logical and practical, she wanted more than anything to let go, to take his hand and follow him in pursuit of all things romantic, allowing herself to get lost in him, completely lost. "I have to work Saturday morning, remember? We discussed this. I've missed too much lately and I'm sure Cam's starting to get suspicious. I will go to work, you will take Parker to see Hank. That would be a normal weekend for us. That will quell suspicion buying us a little more time before we tell everyone else."

He ignored her. Her breath shuddered, tiny gasps of pleasure escaped as his hand moved the soft fabric of her shirt the rest of the way up and out of the way, holding it there while his cheek lightly traced the silhouette of her breast, kissing his way to its peak.

"You're right." He conceded between kisses, everything momentarily forgotten as he pulled her into his mouth and they spun lazily out of control. But he wasn't done yet. Tugging on her shirt, he pulled it up and over her head letting their bare chests fall together. Her body arched against his and he grabbed for her, holding her close. "A date." He demanded, burying his face down in the crook of her neck. "A real, get dressed up, go out on the town, dinner and dancing, date."

His words vibrated through her, low and inviting. She wanted more than anything to say yes.

"No." It was pained, full of hurt and resignation. "Too risky." Closing her eyes, she took a long deep breath. "You know that," she reminded him.

Field agents, the DC field office was full of them. It was home to the largest number of agents in the United States, and just about every person from the janitor to the Director of the FBI knew them both. Same with the Jeffersonian. Add her fame as an author and there was no where they could go anywhere in the city and not be noticed. It was too hard to make sure they kept a completely professional distance. What if they slipped? What if someone saw? Instead of telling their respective employers on their own terms, they'd find out by word of mouth or worse, the press. It was easier to be home, at her apartment or his, where they could just be themselves.

Booth let his hands wander, finding the waistband of her pants, doing his best to push them down over her hips with one hand while he supported his weight with the other. Grateful for a faster pace, she helped, wiggling out of them as quickly as she could. She needed this, letting out a soft sigh of relief as their bare bodies met between the sheets, she clung to him. Holding him close, feeling the weight of him resting on her, soothed the ache he caused by pushing the issue.

"Okay, you're right, I get it, Bones, I understand." That was almost the end of it. "You will go to work and I will take Parker to see Pops on one condition. You come to my place when you're done with work, okay? I'll make you dinner and we can pretend we're on a real date, right?"

She nodded her answer, her mind lost in the absolutely divine pressure she felt, his body so close to becoming one with hers. Her hands drifted deliberately down, rounding his hips, cupping his ass, drawing him in, all in one fluid move. It stole her breath away as her whole being sunk deep into the satisfying connection she shared with him. Holding on, her grip tightening, he started to move, slow, deliberate, each stroke stitching them together into one being. He watched as her eyes fell shut, reveled as her pleasurable moans floated around him. With each push, each pull, they felt their bodies coil tighter, knowing the end was close, trying to resist it as long as possible. Overcome, he let his head fall to her shoulder for support. It was a dream, this life he was building with her, a beautiful dream he never wanted to wake up from.

They collapsed, letting the final waves of their coupling wash over them. In every way spent, he gathered her up in his arms and pulled her close. Bones, his Bones, his partner, his friend, his lover, the mother of his child, his everything. He would wrap her up in his body, tuck the blankets around her, and let her sleep in his arms. His heart still pounding, trying desperately to find its normal rhythm.

A few more deep breaths and he couldn't help the broad smile that spread across his face. He did it. Now his plan was set in motion and she was none the wiser for it. To her, it would seem like any other Saturday, which was his goal. In the midst of her routine, she would never suspect a thing. She would go to work dutifully keeping up appearances and he would go to visit Pops, but not with Parker. He would go alone. He'd already made the arrangements with his grandfather. They would spend some time together, just the two of them, they'd have a talk, man to man, just like Hank wanted. And when that talk was over, he had something for Booth, a special something he'd been saving.

"When you find her you'll know it, Seeley, that girl, that woman will change everything you think you know about love, that's what your Grams did for me."

Brushing her bangs back, tucking them tenderly behind her ear, Booth leaned in and pressed a soft kiss on her forehead. Bones was that girl, always had been, he was sure of it.

"I love you." He whispered. She stirred and hummed, mumbling back.

"I love you too, Booth."