Several weeks later:
Brennan stared at her reflection in the mirror, examining herself critically. She was usually supremely confident in her skin, but tonight she was uncharacteristically nervous. Tonight was the night, the night that she was going to tell Booth how she felt about him. He was coming over for dinner, after which she hoped to explain her feelings, profess her love, and if all went well, seduce him. If only she had any confidence in her ability to express herself properly.
Toying with the mobile in her hand Temperance paced around the apartment. She straightened an errant book, swiped a small amount of dust off an ornament and readjusted the blinds by a fraction of an inch.
"Oh for goodness sake" she hissed. Brennan loathed feeling nervous. "Get yourself under control, Temperance Brennan". She took several deep, centering breaths and ran the periodic table in her head. The next moment she nearly jumped out of her skin as the phone shrilled in her hand.
"Brennan".
"Sweetie, hi! Listen, are you free tonight? Glug glug woohoo? Well, maybe one glug and a tiny woohoo."
"Ange, I can't. Booth is coming over. I've decided to inform him of my change in feelings." The screech she received in return had her wincing and holding the phone away from her ear. "Ok, I'm gone like the wind, sweetie. Good luck, I want all the juicy details tomorrow! Love you, Bren"
Brennan heard the click of the phone being disconnected at the same moment as the doorbell rang. Taking another deep breath, she braced herself. Ok Temperance, it's now or never.
Hours later, Brennan was feeling much braver. She and Booth had enjoyed an easy, comfortable meal and she was confident that her confession would be well received. Sitting on the sofa with their ice cream and some wine, she gathered her courage.
"Booth?" He responded instantly to the sudden seriousness in her tone.
"Yeah Bones?"
"Can I tell you something?"
"Sure Bones, always. You know that". Booth frowned slightly. Truth be told, he was worried. His gut had been telling him that something was hinkey all night.
"This is somewhat difficult for me, so I would appreciate it if you would allow me to finish before making any comments."
"Ok Bones, now I'm really worried. What's up?" Booth shifted closer and set his glass down on the table.
"I have been reflecting, for some time now, on our relationship" Booth opened his mouth, but Brennnan held up a hand. "No, please Booth, let me finish. For some time now I have been examining our relationship in an attempt to understand my own feelings. My time in Maluku also gave me time to reflect. I have come to the conclusion, based on the evidence I have collected, that I am in love with you."
Brennan sat back triumphantly, relieved at having finally managed to verbalise her feelings, and took a large gulp of wine. She looked with amusement at Booth, who was sitting with his mouth open, gaping like a fish.
"Wow, Bones! Run that by me again."
"I have concluded, based on the evidence, that I love you."
Booth beamed, and swooped forwards, cupping her cheek in his hand and capturing Bones' lips with his own. Electricity arced between them, as the passion flared. Swollen lips slid together, tongues demanded entrance. Booth tangled one hand in Bones' hair and slid the other down her back, before easing her back, covering her body with his. He whispered against her lips.
"God, Bones, you know I love you too, right?" He laughed against her mouth. "I've dreamed of hearing you say that. I knew one day your heart would win out over your brain". He leaned down to kiss her again.
"Wait, Booth, stop". Brennan braced her hands against his chest and pushed, hard enough to make him sit up. "What do mean, my heart would win out over my brain?"
"Well, Bones, come on. Love comes from the heart, not the brain.2
"That's not true! I have quantified my feelings, and concluded – logically – that I love you. Using my brain, not some metaphorical 'thinking' muscle." She stood up, angrily clearing the glasses from the table.
"Bones, hey, don't be offended. I just meant, y'know, it's a feeling, not a conclusion."
"Why can't it be both? I have concluded that I have a certain feeling through observation of physiological effects and logical deductions from other feelings. I observed that my pulse quickens when I am around you, my pupils dilate and my breath shortens. I feel jealousy and possessiveness when you are with other people, and feel excitement when I think about you. I miss you when we are apart, even for a few hours. The logical conclusion is that I love you. Why are you upset, Booth?"
"Because, Bones". Booth ran his hands through his hair in exasperation. "Because, love isn't some science experiment that you can wrap up in reports and results. It's a feeling, you shouldn't explain it, you should just feel it." He grabbed his coat from the back of the chair. "Sorry Bones, I can't do it like that."
Brennan gasped as the front door slammed, the sound reverberating round the empty apartment.
A/N Yeah, Booth's being a bit of an ass. He's just too passionate, you know?
Anyway, I'd really appreciate it if you could let me know whether you think I've got their voices right. I was very unsure about even doing this story, but I couldn't get it out of my head. Thanks, Aileanor.
