She turned when Booth approached. She suddenly felt flushed and embarrassed.

"I wish I had gotten these a long time ago," he said.

"Why is that?"

"Because I would not have wasted the last eight months with someone else," he answered.

"You didn't know..."

"I know. That's why I said...nevermind. Bones, do you still feel the way you did when you wrote these?" he asked. She inhaled deeply.

"Yes," she answered. It was so quiet suddenly that a pin dropping could have been heard.

"Wow," he said.

"Do you?" she asked.

"Do I what?"

"Do you still...you know," she said. She felt awkward saying it just then.

"Bones, I have loved you since the day you slapped me," Booth said. "It never left. It never changed. I still love you."

"And I...I have come to the conclusion that what I feel for you must also be love," she told him. "I haven't really felt this way about anyone since...well, ever, I think. It's very new to me."

"I'll help," Booth said, coming closer.

"I'd appreciate that," she smiled. He reached out and tucked her hair behind her ear. She shivered.

"I'm sorry I wasted so much time," he whispered.

"I'm sorry I just didn't realize I loved you before we even went our separate ways," she said back.

"Onwards and upwards, eh?" he said. "What do you think?"

"I think I can manage that."

"Good."

"Are you going to kiss me or just keep staring at me?"

He pressed his lips against hers suddenly and fiercely. It was everything she had hoped for.

Chester/Bailey

Success! They were licking faces! Now Brennan was searching his mouth for food like Ethan's Hannah had always done. One time I had looked in there myself and didn't find anything. Humans were strange. I wagged my tail in happiness as they wrestled. Then it got interesting, and I got uncomfortable, so I went back to Brennan's office. I had this feeling they wanted to be alone although they were out in the middle of a room.

"Oh my word!" a voice shouted. I ran back out. Cam was standing there with her hand over her mouth, looking at Booth and Brennan who were disheveled.

"I'm so sorry," Brennan said. She was smiling though.

"Yea, Cam, we'll get out of your way," Booth said, shrugging his dress shirt back on.

"Are you...?" Cam started.

"I was examining him for..."

"Oh she was examining me all right," Booth cut in. Brennan play punched him in the shoulder.

"Just go," Cam said, pointing. Her eyes were shut as though she could pretend they weren't standing there half dressed. I trotted after them happily.

"My place?" Brennan asked.

"Oh yea," Booth answered.

Brennan

Sex with Booth was the best thing she had ever experienced. He had tried to bring her descriptive letter into bed with them but she had yanked it away and re-enacted it herself. Bailey had hid himself away in a different room, but Brennan shut the door behind her anyway just in case.

"I am regretting not doing this sooner," she said after, breathing heavily.

"You and me both," Booth agreed. He kissed her again for a while before they curled up together, talking.

"Tell me more about Chester," Brennan said.

"He was the best," Booth started. "He seemed to know when I was upset, and he had this thing he did with his tail."

"Like what Bailey did," Brennan said, remembering.

"Yea! Bones, you're gonna think I'm crazy, but I think...I think Chester might be Bailey."

"What? Booth that's the most hilarious thing you've ever said to me," Brennan laughed. Then she saw his face. "You're serious."

"I am. He has a few other things that he used to do, and Bailey did them too," he went on.

"Like what?"

"Like how he winks at me. How he barks when I say 'Boss dog,' and he barks when I call him Chester," Booth finished.

"I hardly think..."

"He found both my letters I wrote and yours," Booth interrupted. "And he raised his hackles at Hannah the same way Chester used to."

"Booth, Bailey isn't Chester," Brennan insisted. "It's impossible."

"Says who?"

"Says science," Brennan answered. Booth gave her a playful shove.

"Let's prove it, then," he said. He opened the door and called for Bailey, who came running.

"What are you going to do, interrogate him?" Brennan asked, teasing.

"You bet."

Chester/Bailey

I was being given a test. I knew it. Booth was trying to show her that I was Chester. Well, I'd prove it.

"I'm going to start by saying a bunch of different names," Booth said. "He'll bark at the right one."

"Booth, I doubt it," Brennan said. Oh, watch me.

"Dexter."

Nothing.

"Buddy."

Still nothing.

"Bear. Tyler. Baxter. Bandit."

Nothing, nothing, nope, and nada. Booth looked at Brennan.

"This doesn't prove..." she started.

"Chester."

I barked.

"See?" Booth said, nudging her. Brennan peered at me.

"I still don't..."

"Bandit, Jasper, Finn, Scout."

I didn't respond.

"Chester."

I barked.

"Okay," Brennan finally caved. "I'll give you that one." Booth grinned.

"Boss dog," he said. I barked. He rhymed off more statements that I didn't bark at until he repeated "boss dog."

"Fine," Brennan agreed.

"Do your trick," Booth told me. I got a hold of my tail and turned once before stopping and looking at them both.

"Huh," Brennan said.

"It's him. That is my Chester," Booth said.

"Do you have another brain tumor?" she asked.

"No," he laughed. "I'm not crazy. You saw the whole name thing too."

"It's just weird," Brennan said, reaching to pet me. "How could it even work?"

"Miracle," Booth answered. I wagged my tail. These two were great. They really were. I knew Brennan still doubted it, but that was okay. He asked her how she decided on my name, so she told him.

"He devoured hot dogs?" Booth asked, raising his eyebrows.

"Yea."

"Chester did the same thing over there with me. He acted crazed almost. You don't think..."

"No, Booth. There is no way that this dog is that dog from all those years ago. All dogs love hot dogs. Forget it."

"All right," Booth caved, but he still looked at me curiously. I knew he believed it. Now, if only I could see my boy again. I knew my purpose here was done. I just didn't know what was coming next.

Brennan

As much as she hated to admit it, the whole barking at Chester only game was odd to her. She tried not to think about it too much. It made her head want to explode. Booth was taking a shower while she made something to eat. They had spent the whole day in her bedroom, and she had to say, it was the best day of her life so far. Things had worked out for them. She only regretted not doing it sooner.

"Well, Bailey," she said, looking over at him. "We did it. We're in love." He thumped his tail.

"He understands you," Booth said, startling her. He wrapped his arms around her, looking at Bailey.

"It appears that way," Brennan agreed.

"Chester was the same."

"I'm glad I found him then," she smiled. He kissed her.

"So," he said after. "You and me. We're doing this."

"Yes," she nodded firmly, smiling. "We are doing this." He grinned.

"I love you."

"I love you too, Booth."

He swept her up in his arms and took her breath away. So much for dinner. But Brennan wouldn't have it any other way.


I know it's short. The final chapter is longer I promise, and it has a happy ending for everyone.