AN: Sorry, had this finished for a few days and just realised hadn't actually posted it, anyway, enjoy and don't forget to leave lots of feedback.

Chapter 9

She knew she was pacing but she couldn't help it, Booth would be there soon and he'd want to know her decision. It had only been while she was grabbing out some plates for their Thai, more for something to do than because they would use them. She realised that in all her thinking and decision making that afternoon she hadn't once thought about what Booth wanted. She wanted to call Angela and ask her but there simply wasn't time, Booth would be there any moment. She wondered if she was a bad person, for being so self centred, how could Booth want to be with her if she couldn't even consider his feelings about their relationship.

But suddenly he was knocking at the door, her doorman always let him straight up. When she opened the door he had a huge box of Thai food and she was sure they couldn't possibly eat it all, even though she suddenly realised she was starving.

"Hey Bones" he greeted, showing none of the discomfort she was feeling. He'd decided he'd let the pace be up to her, he wouldn't leave until they'd talked but how long that took would be up to her.

"You want to eat first?" he asked leaving the rest of his question unspoken.

"I'm starving Booth" The tone of her voice told him it was true and he nodded following her straight into the living room. When Booth passed her the fried rice she noticed that he wasn't as immune to the tension between them as she'd thought, it seemed that suddenly the whole room was heavy with it like a dense snowstorm. Maybe they should have that talk sooner rather than later. She ate quickly until her initial starvation had disappeared before setting her chopsticks and the container down on the coffee table. Booth noticed and mimicked her.

"You're ready to talk?" it was more of a statement than a question but she answered anyway.

"I think so" he nodded for her to continue knowing that whatever she decided he would still be there because they were the centre and the centre must hold.

"We kissed"

"Yes we did" Booth agreed, trying not to smile "How do you feel about that?"

"I hate psychology" she replied ignoring his question.

"I know" Booth agreed chuckling slightly. He knew she was putting off the inevitable, because they were both nervous, they knew that her decision would likely change everything between them, no matter what she had decided.

"It was a good kiss, very stimulating" she added grinning slightly.

"Definitely" Booth agreed "But a kiss is just a kiss right?" He couldn't help but smile wryly.

"That's only logical Booth, I don't know why needed to say that. It doesn't even make sense, what else could a kiss be?"

"Nothing Bones, don't worry about it"

"Okay" she furrowed her brow trying to figure out what he was talking about but seeing nothing in his eyes she continued "I've been thinking about what happened, Angela helped me look at the evidence and that helped me come to some conclusions." Booth groaned, if Angela knew then everybody would, but he didn't have time to worry about that, he needed to know what she'd decided.

"You're my friend" Brennan told him and he could guess where she was heading, 'we're friends, but I don't want to risk that in case things don't work out'.

"Angela made me understand that there's not a lot of difference between a friendship and a romantic relationship, a lot of the same qualities are important. She said that if we had a romantic relationship nothing would really change, because we're already such good friends. She also said that I should stop being scared, because you won't hurt me" Booth had been trying not to listen too closely, hoping that it would lessen the sting of rejection, so it took a few moments for Booth to comprehend what she was saying, or not saying more specifically.

"She's right. I won't hurt you" Brennan smiled then.

"I know, I trust you"

He knew he could potentially lose her with what he was about to say, but he had to say it "Are you trying to tell me that you'd like for us to start a relationship?"

Brennan was silent for a long time, Booth could almost feel her shrinking away from him "Yes" she finally answered seriously, no hint of emotion in her voice. Booth knew they were starting down a difficult path, how difficult he was sure they would find out soon. He knew the baby would complicate things, but he didn't care, he would love that child as if it was his, and for the chance to stand by while she carried and raised that child with his help, he would sacrifice almost anything.

"Okay, well maybe we could finish eating now, because I'm still kind of hungry" Booth said casually a wide grin spreading across his face. Brennan smiled back weakly when he picked up his container again and began to eat. Once again she mimicked him, wondering what precisely had just happened, because it seemed that nothing had changed between them.

"What about you?" Booth froze, the chopsticks half way to his mouth.

"What?"

"What do you want? You never said" He'd always thought Brennan knew what he wanted, knew that he would do anything for her, that he cared more for her than himself. He supposed he should have told her, made sure she knew.

"I want this, I want you Temperance. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, I want to help raise your child, and maybe even have one of our own" If they were doing this he wanted her to know from the very start where he stood, what he hoped could happen.

"I don't know if I can do that Booth" She seemed suddenly unsure of herself as if hearing it all out loud was too much and it probably was.

Booth smiled though, he'd expected it, despite her strength Brennan was incredibly insecure in her emotions and her ability to form connections.

"You can try, I can't ask more than that" His voice was gentle and he reached out to caress her cheek softly with the pad of his thumb "Besides, I have faith in you, in us. You know that don't you" She nodded leaning into his touch.

"I'm no good at relationships though" Suddenly there were tears rolling down her cheeks and Booth dropped his food back on the coffee table before taking hers too and wrapping his arms around her shoulders until she relaxed against his chest.

"Hey" he whispered "We've done okay haven't we? Relationships aren't easy for anyone" he soothed his hand rubbing up and down her back while she clung to him as if her life depended on it.

When she'd calmed down Booth began speaking again "Look Bones, before we start this I think we need to decide a few ground rules, because I know you like structure" she smiled weakly, he really was thoughtful.

Brennan nodded "Okay, go ahead"

"Right, well you have to agree too, so at the moment these are just ideas. If you don't agree with me, or you've got anything to add then go for it. First off, I would like for us to be able to talk about our problems, calmly and rationally, no breaking into my apartment and storming into my bathroom" Brennan laughed, but agreed they needed to be able to talk because there would undoubtedly be problems between them, there had been in the past and she didn't expect that to change.

"Second, I think we need to agree to disagree, to form compromises. Because we're both stubborn and neither of us will back down without a fight and I would like to avoid that, so Bones, we both back down and walk away until we can compromise" Brennan nodded, she wasn't sure about that one but Booth explained that sometimes things would go her way, sometimes his, just as always and that whatever they decided, it would be done together and eventually she agreed.

"Those are really the two main ones, I think we can sort everything else out as we go" Booth told her satisfied with their progress.

"Actually Booth, I have something to add" he was surprised but he nodded easily "I think we need to agree to compartmentalise, we keep work and personal separate, whatever's happening with a case shouldn't affect us at home, and whatever's happening at home won't affect work" Booth knew that what she was asking was harder than she realised and he wondered if she realised she'd referred to their relationship as 'home'. But he understood the basic premise, if there was something they disagreed about at work it wouldn't come home with them.

"Bones, do you think we can stop talking now?" Booth asked "Because I would really like to try that kissing thing again"

Brennan smiled "I wouldn't be opposed to that" Booth was in no rush though, his lips slowly descending towards her, His breath was warm on her lips and his hand had reached out for hers, the other resting on her shoulder. The kiss was slow and exploratory and Brennan couldn't remember when she'd ever been kissed so thoroughly. Their tongues explored and duelled for dominance, they nipped and sucked at each other's lips. Their fingers caressed each other innocently, their touch wasn't sexual, but reassuring, safe but still new. Nobody had ever kissed Brennan and not asked her to offer her body in return.

It was Booth who pulled away first to find Brennan smiling at him, he reached up a hand caressing her reddened lips before leaning back on the couch and inviting her to lean into his chest. Neither of them spoke for a long time, but their bodies never stopped talking a silent conversation continuing between them even in her almost silent apartment. The only sound was the soft jazz music that Brennan had playing in the background, Booth let the music wash over him and the feel of her in his arms of her fingers trailing back and forth over his chest.

He was on the verge of falling into a peaceful slumber when Brennan spoke, so quietly that he almost missed it "Will you stay?"

He hadn't expected that, he hadn't gone to her apartment expecting sex, that night or ever. But the tone of her voice told him that she wasn't thinking about sex either and the knowledge that sex would come eventually gave him the strength he needed to wait. He would wait as long as she wanted and in the mean time he would certainly prefer to sleep next to her than alone in his own bed.

"Of course" he agreed without hesitating, glad that she already trusted him enough to let him see her so vulnerable. She smiled shyly, his unconditional acceptance of everything about her was something she'd never experienced with a man before.

It wasn't late but all either of them could think about was climbing into bed and falling into a peaceful sleep, they both felt suddenly emotionally drained, but it was Brennan who eventually made the first move. Suddenly she pushed herself up and told him she was going to get changed. She stood awkwardly in the centre of the living room, suddenly unsure she didn't want to be parted from Booth but she knew it was hard for him not to touch her and that was not what either of them wanted that night. She knew that he wouldn't be able to stand watching her get changed but she wasn't quite sure how to excuse herself, but as usual Booth came to her rescue.

"Okay, I'll just put these leftovers in the fridge for you" he said gesturing to the remains of their meal still on the coffee table. She smiled, how could Booth always know what she needed, he smiled back. For a moment they seemed frozen until suddenly the music that had been playing softly stopped and the whole apartment was left in silence and they remembered where they were and Brennan disappeared into the bedroom.

When she returned Booth's breath hitched at the sight of her in a pair of tiny green cotton shorts and a white singlet. He'd expected an awkward moment as they headed towards the bed and danced around each other trying to get comfortable. But he'd underestimated them because upon exiting the bedroom Brennan explained she wanted a glass of water but urged Booth to go on without her. He was given a few minutes to examine her bedroom while he waited for her, first taking in the huge king size bed and burgundy comforter and then the huge walk-in closet where he caught glimpses of her favourite skirts and boots. Most of the clothes he'd seen before but there were a few he hadn't, but hoped to see. There were dresses in every colour and style and he wanted to see her in all of them.

He'd just climbed into the huge bed snuggling into the plush pillows, he felt as if he was in a hotel. He'd used his detective skills to conclude that she usually slept on the side of the bed furthest from the door, as there was a novel and a notebook and pen sitting on that side of the bed. He guessed that she liked to read in bed and occasionally write when inspiration struck late at night, he filed these facts away along with everything else he'd come to know about the enigma that was Temperance Brennan.

When she came in they couldn't help but grin at each other, she noted how right Booth looked surrounded by her ridiculously expensive bedding, he raised his eyebrows seeming to realised what she was thinking.

"You coming Bones?" It was then she noticed that she was still standing frozen in the doorway, as if she was an observer in her own life. She nodded and suddenly feeling slightly uncomfortable, approached the bed. She had to remind herself that this was her apartment, her bed, and it was Booth, not some man that she barely knew, but her partner and friend. He sensed her unease and patted his hand on the space next to him, and finally it was just Booth and she crawled in next to him. She didn't flinch away when he wrapped his arm around her but snuggled closer to him and she realised it felt good to have someone's arms around her. Someone who knew her and who she trusted, someone who she knew cared about her and wouldn't leave just because things got hard. She'd never slept next to a man she hadn't had sex with, and the fact that someone was willing to hold her and be there for her without sex as a precursor meant more than anything else to her. She was damaged goods but Seeley Booth didn't care.