Okay, this is the first half of the end. I keep hitting RL delays so you get half now and half at a point to be determined later.

Thnx

Gum


The Beginning (Part A)

The world around them did indeed keep on turning to their surprise and in much the same way that it always had. They still debated the existence of Booth's "invisible friend" while discussing the origins of Thanksgiving, Booth still didn't see the point in spending and arm and a leg on food just because the label said it was organic, and Brennan still refused to try a bite of apple pie when they stopped at the diner for a quick lunch.

It was the moments in between- the long looks that conveyed feelings without words, the hands that sought each other out of their own accord- where things began shifting more dramatically. He was amused to find he could curtail any lengthy lecture or argument with a good, solid kiss and she was secretly thrilled that his hesitance to discuss sex had dissipated; though apparently masturbation was still an uncomfortable topic for him and according to him, physical intimacy was not something to be rushed.

"I want to get this right," he said as they sat down to rest on his couch after unloading all of their groceries from the SUV.

"Right?" she met his gaze questioningly.

"Yeah," he nodded, giving her a lopsided grin, putting his finger on her lips to stem any interruption. "This thing between us goes way beyond sex, Bones."

"Is this part of your 'making love' theory?" she leaned her head on his shoulder.

"Sort of, but it involves more than that too. Don't get me wrong, Bones, I'm very much looking forward to the physical side of things," he stroked her hair and pulled her closer for effect, "but you and I are worth way more than just a romp in the sack."

"It's not as if we're complete strangers, Booth," she scoffed, not quite following his reasoning.

"Nope, we're not," he agreed. "We're friends- best friends even- but like you pointed out last night, there's a huge part of our relationship that we've swept under the carpet the last few years and we need to honor that."

"How long are you suggesting we abstain?" she tried to remember the last time the sex was NOT almost an instant factor in any of her previous relationships and failed.

"No dates, Bones," he shook his head, "no pressure one way or the other. Let's just let this thing unfold naturally, okay?"

"In a 'natural' setting, we would have already slept together," she said succinctly.

"Bones, have you ever dated a close friend before?" he asked.

She shook her head.

"Me neither," he chuckled softly, "but do you realize that you know more about me now than most of my girlfriends knew when we broke up? I don't know about you, but there's a part of me that's intimidated by that fact."

"You know me better than anyone," Brennan realized, taking a moment to process that thought. "Yes, I see how that could be intimidating."

"It could also be great." He halted his thought and pulled her up to meet her eyes. "Bones you know that once we cross that line, there's no going back?"

"To being just partners?" she asked innocently.

"To being 'just' anything," his face was stoic. "Do you know what I'm saying?"

"That once we copu-make love," she corrected herself, "we will be in a monogamous, romantic relationship. You want a long-term relationship."

"Temperance," he traced her jaw line tenderly, "I want to be the first and last man to ever make love to you."

She nodded. Given Booth's traditional values, she had come to reason that he would expect as much; though the thought still seemed a bit daunting to her. On the one hand, past experience had taught her that one can never predict the future; but on the other she knew that of all people, Booth was the only person to regain her full trust after her parents' abandonment.

From where Booth sat he wasn't sure if she was processing what he said or withdrawing on him. He wished that he didn't have to broach that topic with her yet, but she'd brought it up and he needed her to know what the stakes were for him. The last thing he needed was to get in over his head and have her cry "biological urges" on him. It would kill him more than he'd care to admit.

"I should go back to my apartment now," Brennan broke the silence, standing to her feet. "Wouldn't want you Booth boys to go without your mac 'n' cheese."

"Okay," Booth took it in stride, inwardly cursing himself for scaring her off. "Lemme get my keys."

"I'll just call a cab," she insisted, not wanting to put him out. "The turkey's in and you wouldn't want to have to buy another range."

She made the brief call to the cab company and began gathering her things, the shift in his mood not escaping her, though what caused it had. With a bag full of groceries she stood awkwardly at his front door, wondering what the appropriate thing to do was. He made no move toward her, but seemed to be regarding her very closely.

"Thank you for breakfast," she smiled.

"Any time," he smiled back, but it didn't reach all the way to his eyes.

On the street below a cab honked.

"I'd better go," she said.

"See ya soon," he replied automatically, opening the door for her.

And she left.