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"It is impossible to love and to be wise." - Francis Bacon.

"Booth? Where are you? I can't see anything!"

The storm had intensified immensely in a matter of minutes. Booth had advised for Temperance to stay the night at his apartment and she reluctantly agreed. She was in his bedroom changing into a pair of his sweatpants, long-sleeved t-shirts, and of course, a pair of his Looney Toons socks when the electricity shut down.

"I'm by the TV!"

"Keep talking and I'll follow the sound of your voice. Do you have a flashli-" Bang! "Dammit!"

"Bones, are you okay?" Pure concern was evident in his voice.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I just hit my head on the wall." She could have sworn she heard him laugh. She staggered slightly and placed her hand to her forehead. "It isn't funny, Booth." She felt along the wall until she found the opened door. After taking a few more steps, she collided directly with Booth's hard chest.

"Easy there," he said. His smile could be clearly heard in his voice.

"We need a flashlight."

"There's one in the kitchen. Wait here." Her eyes were beginning to adjust to the darkness as he left her standing alone momentarily. Seconds later, a small light illuminated a portion of his apartment. In a deep, Godly voice, he said: "Come to the light." This emitted a laugh from the scientist as she carefully approached her dear partner. He shined the flashlight up and down her body, causing her to squint her eyes. "Nice socks, Bones." Smirking, she looked down at her feet. "I figured you'd approve. Could you please not shine that in my eyes?" Politely, he lowered the light.

"It's freezing," she stated as he casually wrapped his arm around her shoulders and began to lead her to the couch.

"Then let's get you warm," he replied. When they reached the couch, Booth dropped his arm but they remained standing as Temperance turned to face him. He placed the flashlight on the coffee table and ran his fingers through the side of his hair. The note she had written in his copy of her book continued to repeat through his mind. Why couldn't he stop wanting her? Why couldn't he just move on?

"What's happened to us, Booth?"

"What do you mean?"

"We aren't the same around each other anymore. I mean, when we're working it's as if nothing's changed, but I feel like... I don't know."

"Like we've damaged our friendship by trying to force away our deeper emotions? And our balance has been disrupted?"

"I-I'm not quite sure what you mean."

"Yes you do."

"I do?"

"I'm in love with you, Temperance." Silence. Shock. Frozen heartbeats.

The words shocked each of them. Booth didn't realize he'd said that until after the phrase left his mouth. He'd spoken what they'd both been denying for far too many years.

"Booth, I-"

"Don't." Without any further explanation, Booth's hands moved to cup her face while he collided his lips with hers. She didn't fight back at all. Instead, her fingers threaded through his hair and she pressed her body against his. Fervently, their lips engaged in a stupendous kiss. It was as if they were trying to express their hidden emotions in one simple gesture. She felt his tongue trace her bottom lip and she instantly opened her mouth. Their tongues then met and the contact was electrifying. His arms wrapped around her body and ran up and down her back. He wanted to hold her as tightly to him as he could without hurting her. He wanted to memorize the feel of her every curve connecting with his defined muscles, like missing puzzle pieces finally finding their fateful place.

Neither of them could believe what was happening. Why now? Why this moment? Why didn't Temperance resist? What lead Booth to try again when for the past year he'd been vowing to move on?

When they pulled away from the kiss, their breathing was ragged. He kept her forehead pressed against hers while his thumb traced along her jawline.

"What was that?" he asked, his voice soft and tentative.

"A kiss."

"Why didn't you pull away?"

"Because I didn't want to." His arms, which were still wrapped around her, gave her body a slight squeeze. Silence fell over them for a moment before she spoke again, her voice barely above a whisper. "Booth?"

"Yes?"

"Say it again."

"I'm in love with you, Temperance." Never before had he seen his partner so vulnerable. She buried her face into his shoulder and refused to remove herself from his embrace.