A/N: LAST CHAPTER! Are you really shocked, it's me, I am NOT surprising, I am predictable… no that's not true. People are usually eager to see what I do or say next… BOO… did you see that comin' hahahaha. Still smokin' it, I think. =)
FLUFFY ending!
Booth approached Bones' apartment with a tightness in his chest. He was half expecting her to answer the door with a gun aimed at his head, and he wouldn't have blamed her, after the way he treated her. He knocked on the door and stood back, waiting to hear the sound of footsteps approaching, but when he heard nothing, he stepped forward a knocked again, louder this time.
He checked his watch. It wasn't particularly late. He assumed, she was writing in her office, working on one of her novels.
Maybe Kathy just shot Ryan, he thought. Ryan would have deserved it.
He sighed heavily, when nobody came to answer the door, and he turned to leave, only to see her standing on the bottom of the stairs, looking up at him.
"Bones," he breathed. "Hey…"
Bones stared at him.
"How you are you, Bones?" Geez, Seeley, you can do better than that!
"I'm fine," she shrugged. "What do you want Booth?"
"Can we talk?"
Bones shook her head. "I don't think so," she said. "I think I heard everything I needed to hear in the car, thank you."
His chest tightened at the mention of what he had done to her.
"Please," he winced in pain.
Bones shook her head, more to herself than to him, before she made her way up the stairs, and opened the door. She swung it open and stepped aside, gesturing for Booth to go through.
"Thanks," he muttered as he passed her, stepping into the hallway.
Bones closed the door behind her, still saying nothing. She led him into the loungeroom, and flopped down on her leather couch. Booth took up residence beside her, careful not to move too invade her personal space.
"I'm really sorry," he started. "For everything I said in the car the other week, I was a jerk…"
"Yeah, you were," she agreed readily.
"Bones come on…" he pleaded.
"I'm not going to pretend that your words didn't affect me, Booth. Your behavior was inexcusable," she stated in that matter-of-fact way she did.
"I know," he nodded.
"You don't know," she snapped. "You hurt me…"
"I know…"
"Stop saying that!" she warned.
"I'm sorry."
"And don't say that either," she barked standing up from the couch, and pacing the room. "There's no excuse for what you did, you can't justify it. I'll never forget what you said, Booth, as much as I want to…" and she did want to forget, it was written all over her face.
Booth nodded, afraid to say anything. Finally, he found his voice. "I understand that. I have to earn back the trust I broke. But will you listen first…" he pleaded. He had something to say, and he needed her to keep an open mind.
"Fine, what?" she shrugged.
He looked away from her, as he told his story, and he stood pacing the room, as she took her seat back on the couch. "We'd been gazing at stars on the bonnet of the car, and I don't know if we were talking about the future, or if I was just thinking about it. But I pictured you, Bones… you and me, the way it should be, and I don't know why, but I brought you a ring, and before I knew it, I was in Afghanistan wondering what the hell had happened to my life," he finished quietly.
It took Bones a moment to respond.
"I don't know what that means."
"Hannah found the ring… I couldn't lie to her anymore, I didn't want to."
"You really had a ring?" she asked meeting his eyes, hers filled with tears.
He fished in his pocket and pulled out the velvet box, snapping the lid open to reveal the engagement ring. "I really did, Bones."
With his free hand, he reached out and gently stroked her cheek. She flinched evidently, and pulled away. Booth dropped his hand into his lap. "You bastard," she whispered angrily.
"I love you, Bones," he said. "Always have… always will."
Her heart seemed to break with his words, as the tears spilled from her eyes. "How am I supposed to trust you now?" she asked.
Booth thought about it. "Despite my behavior I never left you, Bones. I was always here, watching over you from a distance."
"I didn't need you for that," she stated. Bones had always been able to take care of herself, she was stronger than any other woman he knew, she had a black belt, among that wall of protection she had built for herself, the one he had managed to break down.
"How did you need me then?" he challenged forcing her chin up with his finger, his eyes locking on hers in a desperation to break down her barrier yet again.
"I just did," she shrugged unable to form the words to explain it.
"I'm here…" he assured her. "I'm really here this time. You have me, Bones, you always have."
Bones hesitated.
"What?" he asked desperate to know what she was thinking.
"What if you change your mind again?" she questioned.
"I never changed my mind, Bones, just my attitude. I ain't goin' anywhere, ever again… here," he placed the velvet box in the palm of her hand. "I know your views on marriage, but if I can get you to believe in love, then hopes not lost yet, and you can hold on to that until you say yes."
"Who said I loved you…" she smiled.
"You did," he grinned.
"When?" she frowned.
"Just now…" he laughed pulling at her shirt and guiding her to him for a kiss.
Fluffiness… LOVE… awwwww moments… I don't know about you, but I thought that was rather sweet… =) xo
Thank you very much for reading… I hope it was worth it. HH… TAKE A HINT!
