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Sitting near the coffee cart, Booth sipped his coffee and watched a couple walk by, holding hands and whispering to each other. Glancing at Brennan, Booth leaned back on the bench and stared straight ahead, "This is nice, you and me, just enjoying each other's company."

Smiling, Brennan sipped her coffee, "Yes, it is nice. I've missed your companionship."

Glancing at the ground, Booth sighed, "Yeah, I've missed you too. I never realized how much I missed just sitting around, just the two of us watching a movie or just talking. I've been on a crazy carnival ride for months and I'm glad I got off of it. I miss just being, I don't know, I miss being with someone that knows me and doesn't care if I'm not some perfect guy. No one is perfect and believe me I'd be the first one to admit that I'm not in the same room as the list of people who are perfect and it's tough trying to pretend to be one of those people." Laughing quietly, Booth shook his head, "If Hannah had known half of the stuff I've done, the life I've led, she'd have run as far and as fast from me as she could. Still, it was what it was."

Moving his gaze to Brennan, Booth smiled, "Tell me about Maluku. Did you find what you were looking for? Do I get to sit in an audience and see you get some award in the future?"

Shaking her head, Brennan smiled, "No, the dig didn't produce the results I was looking for. It had been a promising site; but, in the end, it turned out to just be another homo erectus site. It's very disappointing; but, not a complete surprise. The anthropologist in charge of the site mistook a genetic mutation for something new. We were able to run tests to prove that the anomaly was just that."

Nodding his head, Booth reached out and patted Brennan's knee, "I'm sorry, Bones. I know you were really excited about going. I'm sorry it wasn't what you were hoping for."

Placing her hand over his, Brennan smiled, "Thank you. It's not the first disappointment I've had at a dig and it won't be the last. Part of being an anthropologist is being prepared for new discoveries and also finding out that new discoveries aren't new at all. It's all part of the profession."

Staring at their hands touching, Booth frowned, "Still, I would have loved for you to have found what you were looking for."

Sipping her coffee, Brennan asked, "What was it like in Afghanistan?"

Shrugging his shoulders, Booth's gaze shifted to the bench across the path, "What can I say? We're there trying to help; but, all we are, are band aids." Shrugging his shoulders, he studied a bird sitting on the bench, "I'm probably wrong about it. I'm just tired of war and maybe that's influencing my opinion. If I was twenty years younger then I probably would have a different opinion, in fact I know I would. War is a young man's game and I'm not young anymore."

Shaking her head, Brennan responded, "You're not old Booth."

Moving his gaze to the night sky above them, Booth sighed, "I'm not a kid either. I have a son of my own and I've seen too much. I'm too cynical for war, Bones. I don't have it in me anymore. It was a mistake to go. I should have never gone." Still staring at the stars, Booth frowned, "I guess we both should have stayed. It would have saved us a lot of . . . Well, anyways, it's done and we can't change it."

Turning to look at Brennan, Booth smiled, "I missed you, Bones. I missed you and I just wish I had done a lot of things differently this past year."

Nodding her head, Brennan sipped her cooling coffee, "Yes, I have some of the same regrets; but, they don't include going to Maluku. I think it was necessary for me to go. I had a lot of emotional turmoil after the Taffet trial and I needed time and space to come to grips with . . . I needed time and space to understand my thoughts better. Before I went to Maluku I developed a sudden fear that you were going to be killed. I suppose the trial forced me to consider the fact that you had a very close call when she kidnapped you. The difference between life and death was mere minutes. Just a few minutes late getting to the ship would have been enough to see you die. It was so close. Your kidnapping, my kidnapping, Hodgins kidnapping invaded my sleep. I was so tired after the trial I just felt hopeless. I didn't see a happy future for any of us. That's why I went to Maluku. I needed to be away from you and Hodgins and the Jeffersonian. I needed to work on ancient remains not recently deceased. I needed perspective and the separation from you helped me a great deal. It allowed me to understand that none of us has control of our future, try as we might. We can try to control our environment; but, there will always be outside forces manipulating us. It's how we handle those outside forces that count. I realized that being afraid of what might be can keep us from enjoying what is. I don't think staying here would have allowed me to make that discovery on my own. Afghanistan was a mistake for you; but, Maluku was essential for me."

Nodding his head, Booth smiled, "I'm glad you found your answers, Bones. I'm still looking for mine. I don't know where to look; but, I know it isn't in some foreign country. It isn't running away from you either. I should have stayed and waited for you to come back. I just didn't. Still, we're back together and I think over time I'll get the answer to the question I'm looking for. It'll just take patience and a lot of . . . Any way, I'm not going anywhere. I'm here to stay."

Moving her lips between her teeth, Brennan studied Booth's hand which was still resting on her knee. "What is your question?"

Glancing down at his hand, Booth smiled, "My question is pretty complex and yet it's simple at the same time. That's why I'm sure it's going to take me awhile to get an answer."

Puzzled, Brennan asked again, "But what is the question?"

Scratching the side of his nose, Booth swallowed and moved his gaze back to the bench across the path, "My question is how do I get Temperance Brennan to love me? How do I get her to take a chance on me, on us?"

Shifting on the bench, Booth turned to face Brennan, "Do you know the answer to that question, Bones? Is that something that will ever be answered or is it a question that will be unanswered until the day I die? Should I just wait or do you have an answer for me now? I'm prepared for what ever answer you have for me. The first time, I asked you I wasn't prepared for your answer; but, this time I am. I just want to know if there is an answer or do I need to wait and let you think about it? You don't have to answer right now. You can take as long as you want. I just want to know if there will ever be an answer to the question."

Placing her coffee cup down on the ground at her feet, Brennan studied her hands and then looked up, "I have the answer to your question Booth. I've just been waiting to see if you would ask your question or if I would have to ask mine."

Puzzled, Booth shook his head, "I don't understand."

Nodding her head, Brennan smiled, "My answer to your question is, I already love you Booth. I've just been waiting to see if you'd notice. You were with Hannah when I came to realize that I wanted you; but, I was too late. Then you broke up with Hannah and you said you wanted to change your life. You wanted to change the way you do things and I wasn't sure if those changes included me. I talked to Angela about the changes you wanted to make and she told me that you were a fatalist and she didn't think you would ever be able to ask me again what you asked me to do outside the Hoover. I thought that she was right; so, I was quite surprised that you just asked me the question you just asked me. I was sure I was going to have ask my question instead."

Leaning forward, Booth barely breathed, "What's your question?"

Smiling, Brennan responded, "How do I get Seeley Joseph Booth to love me? How do I get him to take a chance on us, on me?"

Laughing, Booth slid closer to Brennan and put his arms around her, "The answer is easy Bones. I already love you and God, I want us to take a chance, I so want us to take that chance."

Laughing quietly, Brennan returned Booth's hug, "Then we both have the answer we want."

Smiling, Booth placed his hands on each side of Brennan's face and kissed her. "I love you Bones. I love you."

Returning his kiss, Brennan smiled, "I love you too."

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See, you worried too much. Let me know what you think of my story. Thanks. One more chapter to go.

A/N: Mary Astorga I couldn't PM you because you didn't log in and FFN will not display email addresses. Log in to fanfiction and I will PM you. Thanks.