Just a quick random one-shot that I had to get out of my system. As sweet as they come!
"You knew, Doctor Brennan, didn't you?"
Brennan leaned back, stretching her back and shoulders against the back of the couch. Booth watched her, his eyes focused on hers, as curious as Sweets.
"I'm sorry," she said slowly. "What exactly was the question?"
"You knew. You knew, didn't you, that he loved you? You loved him too?"
Brennan raised her eyebrows. "Yes, I know."
"Knew, as in, past tense," Booth whispered teasingly.
"Oh. Depends. What exactly is the time frame we are talking about?"
Sweets cleared his throat. "How long ago did you figure it out?"
Brennan closed her eyes and leaned her head back, thinking. A hand drifted down to her belly.
She'd known that night, when she'd crawled into his bed, when she'd sobbed over the loss of Vincent Nigel Murray.
She'd known in the way his hands had touched her, as if she was the most delicate, fragile ornament in the world.
She'd known before that, too. She'd known that night in his SUV, when she'd confessed that she wanted to give them a try, that it was tearing him apart. She'd known that he thought he loved Hannah, but she'd also known that he was still in love with her.
She'd known the day she left, when he'd intertwined his fingers with hers, pulling them just a little closer to prepare before they had to both leave on their own separate paths, both go their own ways.
She'd known when he'd confessed. It was hard not to know, then. She'd known when he kissed her, putting every little bit of love he'd ever felt into that kiss. She'd known even before that, in Sweets' office, in the way he'd spoken about their first case, their first kiss.
She'd known in every moment after that first case, actually. Every moment after they'd become best friends again, become partners again. She'd known every moment he comforted her, every moment he brushed against her, every time he looked into her eyes.
Had she known, since that first case? Had she known, ever since they first kissed, ever since he first drove her crazy?
She smiled. Because you can't lie about these things.
Of course she'd known. She'd known forever.
His hand caressed her pregnant belly, his fingers ran through her hair. She pulled herself closer, pressing her ear to his chest, breathing rhythmically to the sound of his heartbeat.
"I love you," he murmured. "I love you, I've always loved you, I will always love you."
She knew.
