Are you guys ready for the payoff!? I hope you're ready for the payoff... Cause its here.
Its time these two did some talking...
By the time Booth returned back to the hospital, a baby had been born.
He could see the group of them huddled around Hodgins as he approached; everyone too transfixed on the new life in front of them to even notice his approach. He, however, was hooked on the face of the woman he had arrived with and the look of pure joy on her face. It had been so long since he'd seen her like that, and if he really took the time to think about it, he wouldn't be able to recall the last time she looked so utterly happy. Her eyes came up to meet his and for a split moment he wondered if she'd waver, but her smile only seemed to grow.
Silently, he handed her the bunny and watched as she disappeared past the double doors.
... ... . ... ... .. ... . . . . . ... ... ...
"You made it!" The new mother was both exhausted and equally excited. "I was so worried your flight would get delayed."
She nodded and took in the sight. It wasn't often she visited hospital rooms for happy reasons. "Here," she handed over the small stuffed bunny. "This is from me... and Booth."
Angela could only respond with a knowing grin. After the last couple hours, she couldn't have cared less what that status of their relationship was. "Thank you."
"What was it like?"
"It was a dream."
... . ... ... ... ... ... ... .. . ... ... ... ... . ...
When she returned to the waiting room, she discovered it empty. All seemed to have gone home for the night, and for a second she wondered if Booth had left her, too. Not that she wasn't capable of ordering herself a taxi, but she did find herself relieved when she turned to corner to find him staring into the window of the nursery.
"Hi," she came up and joined.
"Hey!" It was like she had just broken him from a trance. "How's Angela doing?"
"Very well. She's tired, but she's very well."
He brought his finger up to the glass, "There he is."
"Which one?"
She felt Booth's had come to rest on her lower back has he leaned in close, "Second on the left."
"He's beautiful."
Booth hand left her back. "Healthy, too. They're very lucky."
They stood quietly like that for a while. Saying nothing but thinking a thousand things as they looked over the room of newborns. It was odd to remember that they'd almost come so close to this moment before. Even recalling back to it felt like a completely other life at this point since they'd actually never spoke about it again after it passed. It was just one of the many times they'd put the past away together.
But he was still the gambler.
"Do you remember when we almost did this?"
She looked at him shocked, and slightly nervous that was unknowingly speaking her thoughts out loud. "You mean when I almost had myself inseminated?"
He would have never put it like that but, "Yeah."
"Of course I remember. It was a very important decision." Her gaze returned to the window.
"Do you, you know..." How could he put this casually? "Do you ever wonder what would have happened if we'd have done it? Not done it... I mean-"
"Had me inseminated?"
"Yeah. Do you ever wonder if maybe I hadn't had the tumor, and all."
Her brow furrowed, "Before we even knew about the tumor we decided not to go through with it."
"I know, I'm just saying... Don't you ever wonder?"
This time her look was one of horror. "No, Booth. Because in that situation you wouldn't have woken up from your coma. You would be dead-"
"No. What I mean is... Do you ever wonder what would have happened if there was no tumor and we'd have gone through with it? Do you ever wonder about what kind of life that would have been?"
"Oh." She soaked in his eyes, and was reminded of the child she had once imagined with the very same ones. "I would have never gone to, Maluku."
He nodded back, "And I wouldn't have gone to Afghanistan."
She was surprised, "You wouldn't have?"
"You would have just had a baby. I was stuck in the Rangers when Parker was born, but I wouldn't leave my family like that. Not voluntarily."
"I told you that you didn't I have to be..."
"I know what you told me, Bones."
There was now a picture forming in her head of this other life and family. "You and I would have a year and a half year old now. Assuming, that we... That the procedure was successful." She corrected.
He laughed a little. "Can you imagine us with a one year old? Like we haven't found enough things to fight about..."
"Clearly, I should have thought it through more..."
"No, Bones," he could tell he hit a tender spot. "You would be an amazing mother. You would... I'd like to see you be one someday."
She smiled if not politely than sadly, it was something she'd pretty much given up on. "Thank you for bringing me the bunny, Booth."
"Yea, well, we'll see if you're still grateful when you see your suitcase after we get home."
Home? His home. Not their home. It was just the talk of babies and families because they don't have a..
"Hey you guys!" Sweets came running up behind them. "Where did everybody go? I just went out to grab a drink and everyone was gone when I got back." He sipped on what looked like neon green slush with whip cream on top.
"What the hell is that?"
"Its a Lime n' Coconut frappacino."
"A what?"
"That is not a real word"
"Its really good. You want a sip?"
"It looks radioactive."
"If it we're radio active, Sweets would most certainly be dying right now."
"Well its a good thing we're in a hospital. Come on, Bones, lets go."
"Hey you guys, wait!"
"Goodbye, Dr. Sweets!"
... .. . ... . ... .. .. . . . ... . . ... . .
He decided to take her lead when they returned back to his apartment. Was she going to jump him again the moment they walked in the door or would she maybe just gather up her things and head to her hotel? Actually, though, she didn't do either of these things and instead she made her way to his couch just like she'd done a million times before. It was amazing how quickly they were falling back into their normal roles; like the past year had never happened and this was just like any other day at the end of a case.
"Want something to drink? I got that beer you like."
She looked at him quizzically, "I thought you said it tasted like earwax."
"It does," he grabbed one from the untouched case in the fridge and then grabbed his own brand. "I just thought that since you were coming by all, I'd pick it up for you."
"Oh," She took the beer with a smile she couldn't fully hide. "Thank you."
"There's kale chips, too." Maybe he would get to unload those after all. "I thought you might get hungry."
"Thank you."
They settled back together on the couch and Booth wondered if she was wanting him to make the first move this time around. Despite the fact that they had already gone there, he was now having vivid flashback to so many night before when he'd sat with her like this. So wanting to move in, but so paralyzed.
She wasn't looking at him with the same unbridled need she had at the beginning of the night. No, now she was slumped back on the couch mindlessly picking at the beer bottle in her hand. "Has Cam found a replacement yet?"
It was the first time since the incident that she'd ever brought it up. "No. She hasn't."
She nodded solemnly, "I can give her a list of adequate replacements."
"Yeah. Yeah... I'm sure she'd appreciate that." No. This was absolutely not the time to make a move.
"How are the interns?"
"Fine, I think. I don't know. I don't really go to the lab much anymore."
"I would imagine it would be very difficult for you given what happened to Dr. Edison."
That among a million other reasons he thought. "Yeah and without you there..." He was struggling to find the words and to figure out just how much to say when he heard a sharp intake of breath. She was crying. "Bones? What's wrong?"
She shook her head; embarrassed to be doing this in front of him, but unable to stop. "It should have been me, Booth."
"What?" He hoped she wasn't thinking what he thought she was.
"It shouldn't have been Clark. It should have been me. If I hadn't left I would have picked up the phone, not him. He would still be alive."
His arms came up and wrapped around her; relieved when she didn't pull away. "Bones, no. I don't want to ever hear you say that again."
"Its true!" She protested.
"This is not your fault, Bones." He pulled her away to force her to look into his eyes. "Listen to me, Bones, okay? I am so glad you left. I thank God everyday that you left. Everyday. If you had been there and if I had handed that phone to you..." He could feel himself fighting back his own tears. "I'm glad I hurt you. I'm glad that Hannah came along and got in between us. And I'm glad that you had enough sense to leave when I was being a jerk. I'm glad I was a jerk. I don't regret any of it. None."
"Booth..."
"Because you're still here. I would do it all over again. And I'm sorry about Clark, he was a nice guy. But I will never be sorry it wasn't you."
So she kissed him. It wasn't hungry or desperate like what might have been expected. Soft. Sweet. Loving.
When she moved back it was clear that they didn't know what to make of it. They'd never shared a kiss like that. Ever.
"Its late, Booth." She whispered.
"Yeah..."
"Perhaps its time we..."
"Yeah..." His heart raced; sure that she meant to leave when she stood up. He'd gone to far. Said to much and now she was ready to call a cab to her hotel...
But her her hand came out and he accepted as she lead him back to his bedroom.
Ohh?
I'm afraid to give out the number of chapters left, cause then you'll have an idea of how its ending.
I apologize to those of you who wanted Booth to renounce Hannah as a total mistake. That's been done so much. Hell, I've done it (check out What We Didn't See chapter 10 or 11). I wanted a different situation. Where things came together because they were meant to be. Booth had to get that tumor. She had to go to Maluku. Booth had to drive her away.
More to come. Please drop me thoughts! I wish I was the kinda writer who knew how to write M so I could give you the next part. Cause its pretty good... Haha review review!
