Booth heard her words as they echoed throughout his body. The world became still, as all of his senses became incredibly heightened. His whole world seemed to have one focus, her. Booth felt his heart beat throughout his body as he listened. He could hear her heartbeat and her familiar scent clouded his every pore.

Brennan was looking down, afraid to hear the words that she was certain that were going to come out of his mouth. Hearing no response, she slowly looked up into his eyes.

She noticed his eyes became incredibly dark and mysterious. Holding her breath, she slowly let it out and felt her stomach tighten. Looking at her hand, she realized her partner was clutching as tight as he could.

Brennan became concerned when she saw a single tear roll down Booth's cheek. Freeing one of her hands, she gently wiped it away.

The corner of Booth's mouth hitched, as his partners touch felt like hot needles on his face. For so long, all he ever wanted to hear from her was conformation, that his feelings weren't one sided. He knew it! Years and years of tormenting his soul, with two words, the pain began to erase. She wanted him, just as badly as he wanted her.

Booth shook his head and cleared his throat. He tried to speak, but his body had failed him. He took a couple of deep breaths and reached for her hand which was caressing his face.

"Why?" Booth wasn't sure why that was the first thing out of his mouth, but he went with it anyway. He didn't have the strength to say anything else.

Brennan was a little startled at his question, but took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

"Booth, listen. I know I don't deserve you. I know now, for years you kept this secret lock deep down inside of you. Every day, you saw me, you were patient and kind and-" Brennan's voice cracked and she cleared her throat, "-you stayed around. You opened my eyes and helped me see the world from a completely new perspective. You opened my damaged heart and let love in." Brennan let tears fall down her face.

Booth turned to completely face her and they both held each other's hands. Leaning in, he rested his forehead on hers. They sat like this, supporting each other.

"When you chose Hannah, over me," Brennan felt Booth wince, "I never thought things would be right again. I went home and cried. I cried myself to sleep. I woke up crying. I cried through my shower. I then I realized something." Brennan pulled back and held Booth's face in her trembling hands. "I felt."

Booth blinked and reached up. He tried to pull her into his body, but she resisted.

"No, Booth, please, wait." Brennan grabbed his hands again. "You don't understand. I can't remember the last time I truly felt. It felt so good to feel, even though it was terrible, it felt good. I went to work, I saw you every day, and I realized what you had been through." Brennan squeezed his hands. "You felt this way, for years, Booth? Loving me and getting nothing in return, I don't understand how you did it. I am not strong like you." Brennan nodded her head in shame.

"You are strong, Bones." Booth smiled. "You are the strongest person I know."

Brennan felt tears slide down her face. "You loved me every day and I took that for granitite. I am so sorry, Booth."

She barely finished her sentence when she felt his lips come crashing down on hers. His tongue swirled on her lips and she slowly parted them open. Instantly, they found a rhythm with their tongues, as they clutched to each other with all of their might. Just as both of their air supply had run out, they pulled away from each other, panting.

They stared into each other eyes with and intensity they had never felt before. They both slowed down their breathing. Booth reached up and brushed a stray hair off of his partner's face. She smiled warmly and bit her bottom lip.

"Bones, you know I love you." Booth's eyes glistened. "After everything I had been through in my life, I never thought I could have the feelings that I have for you." Booth leaned back on the couch and pulled her with him. Brennan nestled her head on his chest and drew lazy circles on his chest. Booth encircled his partner with his arms and rested his hand comfortably together. "I knew it. The second I pulled you away from the car in the rain, something had changed in you. My heart stopped and the fear crept in. Something I wanted to see for so long, and I wasn't ready for it."

Brennan nodded against his chest. She suddenly became very aware that he had not made his choice yet. They sat there in silence for awhile, enjoying the comfort of one another. Brennan went to get up and Booth allowed her, watching her every move.

Brennan walked over to the mirror and checked her face. She frowned when she saw her puffy eyes and red cheeks. She continued back into the kitchen, where she opened a Thai food container. Pulling out chop sticks, she dug in and took a huge bite.

Booth smiled when he saw his partner eat. He stood up and walked over to her. He raised his eyebrows and cocked his head.

"What?" Brennan said with a mouth full of food.

"That's attractive." Booth grinned.

"I'm hungry." Brennan looked down at the container and picked up another wad of food. She lifted the chop sticks up to her partner's mouth and smiled.

Booth leaned forward and slowly opened his mouth. He wrapped his lips gently around the chop sticks and let a small moan escape from his throat. Brennan's mouth went slack as she watched her partner slowly chew the Thai food in his mouth. She grabbed the container and nervously took some small bites.

Booth smiled at his partner. He knew she was nervous and afraid.

"Bones?" Booth said gently.

"Hmmm." She said with some food in her mouth.

"Will you look at me, please?" Booth walked around the counter and took away the Thai food. Brennan couldn't look him in the eyes. She reluctantly allowed him to take the food from her hand. Booth placed both of his hands on her arms with gentle but firm grasp.

Brennan held her breath with tears in her eyes. Slowly, she gazed up into her partner's eyes.

"Temperance." Booth smiled warmly. "I am so sorry."

Brennan thought this was it. She knew that she once had his heart, but now it was too late. He had moved on and she would have to deal with her emotions and broken heart as he had. Given time, she could once love again.

"I understand." Brennan stood up straight and shook herself loose. Booth stepped back with a confused look on his face.

"You…understand?"

"Yes," Brennan sighed, "You have moved on. It was unfair of me to ask you to make a choice, after all I have put you through."

Booth chuckled and reached for one of Brennan's hands. "Bones, I am apologizing for not giving you the time you needed. I gambled and I lost. Then I broke your trust." Booth took a step closer. "That's the one I could never forgive myself for. The one person in the whole wide world that means the most to me, is in pain because of me."

"Booth, I-" Brennan was silenced by a strong finger on her lips.

"I would go through it all again, if I knew that the end result would be you in my arms." Booth gently grazed his fingers across her lips.

Brennan looked Booth into his eyes and smiled. "It's illogical to think that you can ever know the outcome of any set of circumstances."

Booth chuckled and pressed his body into his partner. "I would agree, except for one thing."

"What's that?" Brennan grinned and brought her arms up around his neck.

"You."

For the first time in her life, although she thought her partner was wrong, Brennan didn't disagree. She leaned in and placed a gentle kiss upon his lips. Booth repositioned himself and this time took it slow. He worked his way down her neck and back up. He stopped just long enough to whisper in her ear.

"I love you, Temperance. This is where I've always wanted to be."

Brennan threw her head back with a grin and a moan. She stopped Booth long enough to get his attention.

"I love you, too." She smiled. "For the next thirty, forty, fifty-"

With that Booth swept her off of her feet and began carrying her back to the bedroom.

"Sixty, seventy-"

Brennan kept counting. Booth set her down in front of the bedroom door.

"I get it Bones. Forever."

He pushed the door open and they both fell into each other, into the bedroom.

The moans and words of passion could be heard throughout the night…

…and they would be for years to come.

THE END