Thank you so much for all of your reviews thus far...*permanent hanger face*. I hope you enjoy this chapter as much as all of you enjoyed the last one. Please enjoy chapter 6: Preparation for Perfection.
What do you get them most awesome beta ever known? I only ask because MoonlightGardenias is so fabulous that I am going to have to better than a pony (I mean how do you top a pony?!...two ponies)
Oh and I don't own Bones *insert witty comment about me not owning Bones here*
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
"Sweetie? Are you ok in there?"
"I am in the same state that I was in five minutes ago when you asked me that question."
Angela rolled her eyes, "So does it fit?"
"Yes."
"Then get your hot little ass out here...and don't think I can't hear you sighing from this side of the door." Angela added, knowing that Brennan was struggling.
Brennan stood and stared at herself in the mirror. The dress was gorgeous, and she was, overall, very satisfied with her appearance, but something felt a little off. All this prepping, all this pomp for one night just did not make any sense. She knew that Booth was thrilled, and seeing him that giddy had placed a smile on her face, but she ever since she had agreed to date him she had pictured their date a little differently.
She thought she would cook his favourite Mac and Cheese dish for him, and then they would just watch a movie. She rarely watched movies, so they could watch old black and whites, or some of his favourites. It would be just the two of them, in their comfy attire, rather than dressing up to be spectacles on display. The simplicity of her perfect date was now being overshadowed by something else.
She had not dated in the same capacity as most women have done in their lifetimes. She valued her work above her social life, and this has always suited her. She was not adept enough in social situations whereas Booth seemed to master it. He could read people, know how to comfort them, interact with them, but Brennan knew she did not have that talent. She tried to learn and master the technique, but it was not inherent within her.
Brennan knew that Booth had something she didn't, he would be better suited for the whole dating environment than she was. She did not know how to have mundane social conversations, or to even know what conversations were allowed. They had always discussed a wide variety of topics, but she was certain that on a date people generally stayed away from murder, death, bones, and anything that would be uncouth in nature. Was it different for them? Could it be different for them?
The murky waters of emotion and irrational thought processes started to rear their ugly heads again. There was no real formula for dating, and no real scientific experiment that could be conducted within the confines of her lab that could tell her how all this would end, or more importantly, how she would be able to take care of his heart, in the metaphorical sense that is.
Booth was in love with her, and according to Sweets, this meant that she had a responsibility to take care of that love. The problem was that she had never been responsible to someone like that before; she had never been a source of someone's happiness for a very long time, not since she was a little girl.
Brennan wanted this date to go well for him, so he could be happy, but in the process she was losing her objectivity and maybe a bit of herself. The more she entered into Booth's world, the more she felt that her scientific outlook on relationships was no longer a comfort. She knew deep down Booth was now part of the reason why she was happy. If Sweets was right and dating was a way to test a relationship, did it mean that if it went wrong then the relationship should be ended? Was all of this really worth it?
She looked at the mirror again. Dating was an antiquated ritual, it made no real logical sense, but being in a relationship was about compromise. She would do this for him...she just had to focus on the task at hand. Break the date into its component parts and analyze...
"Stop over analyzing, Brennan, and get out here."
She sighed and opened the door, and what awaited her was a squeal.
"Oh Sweetie...there is a high chance that I outdid myself this time."
Brennan's eyes scoured the apartment, "Booth isn't here yet?"
"Oh, he is just over analyzing on the other side of your front door."
"You mean he is just standing there?" Angela ran over to look through the peep hole again.
"Yes, but he looks hot doing it. He is in a tux and everything...he is so taking you someplace fancy."
"My attire is appropriate then." Brennan asked as she spotted a news paper on the table. She had almost forgotten all about the topic of sports, so she quickly flipped to the sport section, trying to make sense of all the sports jargon and highlights.
"Don't worry, you are dressed perfectly...I should know...I dressed you." Her friend replied with a mild eye roll and then returned back to her paper.
"Bren, your hunk is on the other side of that door and you are reading the news paper?"
"Yes, I need to do some research for..."
"Oh no...we talked about this, no anthropological study tonight..."
"But I need to read the sports section..."
"Is this some weird nervous thing? You don't even like sports."
"But Booth does."
It finally dawned on Angela on what was happening, "Dating is not that big of deal and..."
"I am not very proficient at it. I have dated in the past, but not this kind of dating with this type of emotional investment. There are obvious expectations that I may not be able to fulfill."
"What exactly aren't you good at?"
"I have been told that while I am very skilful at sexual intercourse, my conversational skills are severely lacking and science oriented."
"Oh...that's not too bad...just talk about his family, work, well not so much about work...oh! Ask him about Parker...Booth loves talking about him."
"Parker? I haven't interacted much with him, what do I ask?"
"About his school, what he likes...I mean Parker will be a big part of your life too, so anything Parker is a good topic."
"Ok, I can do that." Topics to bring up on the date include the following: family, Parker, and sports.
"Ok, let's quickly go through the checklist again."
"No, we already went through it once."
"Humour me, Sweetie." Brennan exhaled, puffing out her lips and cheeks slightly, "Sexy, dark blue laced, push 'em up to the rafters bra with a thong to match?"
"Check, and I still cannot believe I bought ten sets of lingerie today."
"You were seriously lacking in that department."
"I never saw the need. Why spend money on special bras and undergarments when the ultimate goal is to be naked."
"Well, I am sure Booth will find a use for them." Angela responded with an eyebrow wiggle.
"Are you implying that Booth is cross dresser?"
"Oh, Sweetie, you are so completely unaware of how hilarious you are." She smiled contently at her friend, who just shrugged her shoulders.
"Ok, ok...hair and makeup perfectly coiffed?"
"Check."
"Shaved your legs?"
"You should know, you shoved the razor in my hand."
"I didn't hear a check." Angela teased.
"Check."
"Smokin' hot, deep blue, thigh high, low in the front, low in the back dress that will have your man man take you here right on this counter."
"Check."
"Killer stiletto shoes that make your legs reach the high heavens."
"Yes...I mean check. They are horribly uncomfortable though." Brennan commented as she shifted slightly from one foot to another.
"Pain is beauty."
"I might not be able to walk after this."
"That's ok, Booth can carry you around...he would love that." Brennan started to fidget slightly with her fingers and scrunched her face slightly.
Angela walked over and enveloped Brennan's fidgeting fingers in her hands, "Everything will be fine."
"I know. I'm just secreting adrenaline because this is a new situation and I am very sexually attracted to Booth, so I am also anticipating having sexual intercourse with him as well."
"Well, that's perfectly natural. I did the same thing on my first date with Hodgins." Angela smiled at the memory.
"Why was that date so memorable for you? Aside from it being your first date?"
"Oh, I guess it was because it was just me and him, and that swing set. It was the fact that he listened to my conversations and things I said, and he just followed his heart. Why do you ask?"
Brennan looked down at her attire and then at Angela again, "I guess I just thought about our first date a little differently."
"You actually thought about what your date would be like?" Angela's eyes went wide in surprise.
"Yes, after accepting the reality that it was going to happen, I started to wonder what I would like."
"And this isn't it?"
"Well, it has one of the major components, Booth."
Angela smiled, "Did you mention this to him?"
"No, because you and Cam said that I should let him take that lead on this and..."
"That was because we thought you didn't really care. I thought you just wanted to get it over with."
"I do, I just...being with Booth makes me see the world around me a little differently."
Angela gazed at her friend, seeing how truly vulnerable she was. This was huge for Brennan, and Angela could see that Brennan was far more emotionally invested in this situation than Angela could have ever imagined. She gazed upon her friend and realized that Brennan needed to gain some equal footing in regards to Booth.
"Sweetie, have you told him yet?"
"Told him what?"
"Have you actually said those three little words that we all like hearing from time to time?"
"I am not following..."
"Those three little words that convey the deepest desires of your heart, and that are plastered everywhere on Valentine's Day?"
"Oh... no I haven't."
"Why not?"
"They are just words, Angela."
"How did it feel when he said them to you?"
"I was shocked. At the time I was only starting to view Booth as more than just a partner, so I was not expecting him to say them."
"What about the second time?"
"He said it to me as he was chasing me down the street after I took his SUV." Angela laughed.
"And the last time?"
"He says it so casually now; every time we talk on the phone he ends the conversation with them."
"Sweetie, Booth says it so casually because he has spent about three and a half years saying them in his head. Now he gets to verbalize them, and it makes him feel wonderful. You know...I bet if you said those three little words, you would feel better."
"I feel fine."
"You would feel that you have equal footing in this relationship." Brennan's eyes went wide, she never expected Angela to understand.
"If I know how I feel, then it really doesn't matter."
"Yes it does, because Booth is the type of person who needs to hear those words from time to time. I don't think he has heard them enough or at all in his past relationships."
"I am not being fair to him, am I?"
"Honestly, he probably would be fine with not hearing you say it for the rest of his life; just as long as he could spend his life with you, but I think that you are just as emotionally invested in this relationship as he is. You should tell him. It is not about being fair, it is about reaching deep down and finding that your heart can have more than one home...and one of those homes is with him."
"A person would die if their heart was extracted..."
"Metaphorical heart, Sweetie."
"Oh." Brennan paused then took the time to really look into her friends' eyes. Here was a woman who was there for her in every aspect of her life, before there even was a Booth, and she never asked for anything in return. Brennan did not know how, but along the way Angela had become much more than a friend.
"You're very good at that, you know?"
"At what?"
"You are exceedingly empathetic, and you are good with people...good with me."
"That is one of the nicest things anyone has ever said to me. Thank you."
"I should be thanking you, for everything that you have done." Brennan walked over to Angela and awkwardly brought her into an embrace. Once Brennan started to relax she whispered those three little words in Angela's ear.
Angela pulled back, shocked that she actually heard those words, "I..."
"Is it ok that my metaphorical heart has a home with you too, right? I mean I don't care for you in the same way as Booth, not that you aren't physically attractive, I just don't desire you sexually..."
"I get it, Sweetie ..."
"But I would be just as upset if something happened to you. Though we are not biologically related, I do believe that our relationship could be seen as sisterly in some cultures."
Angela brought her dearest friend into her arms for another embrace, "You are more empathetic than you give yourself credit for...and yes I will take care of your heart and so will Booth if you will let him." They pulled apart and Brennan managed to look at Angela's watch.
"We are going to be late, he said that the reservation was for seven and it is already six thirty."
"Ok, ok...I am leaving and I will push him in here." Angela caught the worried expression settling on Brennan's face, "He is just nervous, he wants this night to be perfect for you."
"There are too many variables for this situation to attain that status."
"That's the spirit." Angela dead-panned, "Ok, love you and have fun...and for God sakes Bren, do everything I would do and more. In fact here," Angela dug in her purse and pulled a couple of strings of different sized condoms.
"Angela!"
"What? Not enough?" She went searching in her purse for more, "I didn't know what size to get, but I am guessing that Booth is definitely towards the, uh, large end."
"I have enough prophylactics of my own, and I am on birth control."
"Not always fool-proof, but keep them anyway."
Knock, Knock.
"He's here!" Angela jumped up and down slightly.
"We already knew that."
"Well, answer it...oh no wait, let me get my camera."
"No pictures."
"But..."
"Angela..." Angela placed the camera down, but gave no verbal agreement. Brennan reached for the door handle, her hand shook slightly. It is just Booth, calm down. She took a deep breath and straightened her shoulders before she opened the door.
Two sets of breaths hitched, two sets of eyes roamed over each other's bodies, taking in the delicious sites that were presented before them.
She had seen him in a tux before, but it was the intention that it was for her benefit that made her pulse race. Dapper, handsome, robust...these words didn't quite cover what Seeley Booth looked like at this moment in time.
His gaze roamed down her body to the tips of her toes sticking out of her high-heeled shoes, all the way to the top of her head. Her face was flawless, her dress was exquisite, and those legs...Good Lord have mercy.
Click, click, click.
"Angela!" Booth and Brennan yelled at the same time.
"Don't worry; I will get each of you copies, or put them on banners and hang them in the Jeffersonian."
"Don't you even think..." Booth started.
"Bye, love you." She scurried out of the apartment.
"She probably won't make them that big." Brennan stated.
"That is so not the point." His gaze returned to her, suddenly realizing that they were alone.
They stood there left like nervous teenagers, expectations were flying, and so were their rampant sexual desires. Booth started to run his hands on the back of his neck, as she started to fiddle with her hands. He gazed over at the counter and saw a pile of condoms.
"Bones!"
"What?"
"What exactly do you have planned for after our date?" Brennan gaze followed his towards the counter.
"Oh, Angela got a little carried away....besides with our physical stamina and competitive nature we may need them." His eyes flew to hers. "It's not like I laid out whips and chains, Booth...or bits and chaps."
"Oh, you had to bring that up didn't you?" She laughed and smacked his ass, "What has gotten into you?"
"I thought it was obvious. I desire you sexually." Her eyes clouded over with a carnal shroud. It was instant, rampant; it was a complete turn on.
"Bones...I..."
"What? Do you not desire me in the same way?" She started to glide towards him.
Hell yes!
He forcefully brought her between him and the counter. His eyes roamed her body, taking in what was displayed before him. The creamy swells of her breasts pushed against his chest as the neck line of her dress seemed to plunge deeper.
His hands started to roam where his eyes couldn't quite see. They ended up at her hips, pulling up slightly. She took the hint and she jumped up until her posterior was on the counter and her legs were now accessible.
His hand ran all the way down her freshly shaven leg, then travelled back up, staying underneath the fabric this time. His hand expanded on her the outside of her thigh, and his lips finally found the way to the crook of her neck.
"You are too sexy for your own good. "
"I know." She whispered. He chuckled at her straight forward answer.
He left the crook of her neck and gazed in her eyes, "You are absolutely beautiful."
"You look pretty good yourself." She trailed her fingers down the front of his dress shirt, then back up again until he reached his bow tie. She straightened it slightly, before resigning her hands on his lapels.
Both hands were now trying to lift up the dress and it was almost all the way up to her hips until he felt the lace of her thong. He looped his fingers in it as she wrapped her legs around his waist. Their lips smashed together, and she pulled herself closer by placing her hands around his next.
Minutes or maybe even hours passed, and he was slowly losing his composure completely. He ripped away from her mouth, breathing heavily.
"Why did you stop?"
"If we don't leave now, we won't be able to."
"Fine with me." She stated, as his hand found its way to her cheek, rubbing it slightly with his thumb.
"I want you to enjoy the date tonight, Temperance."
"I will try my best, Booth."
He smiled slightly, "Are you ready to go?"
"I need you to remove your hands from underneath my dress so I can get down, then yes I am." He groaned as he relinquished his hands and she reluctantly pulled out of his embrace, and hopped off the counter. She fixed her dress then grabbed her dress coat and purse.
As he followed her out of the door, placing his hand on her lower back, he could almost feel that he could obtain it. All the preparations, everything was building up to this: true perfection.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
So Brennan said those three little words to someone and it wasn't to Booth first...hmmm gotta let me know what you think about that one. So the 'perfect' date will be split into two parts over the next two chapters. Their date will be in true Brennan and Booth fashion, but in the end in their own way they will figure things out. See that button, the one pretty much right beneath this story...yeah that is call a review button. Abuse it, hit it again and again...go nuts and when you do write some nice words down as well. Cheers :D
