This little drabble is pure fiction, set somewhere between them moving into their home and before Brennan proposed.


"Booth, I'm sorry. I've said I'm sorry multiple times. I've even said sorry in three different languages, although you don't seem to appreciate that either!" Brennan said, her arms folded across her chest, her voice clipped.

She turned to look at Booth who was staring straight ahead, his hands gripping the steering wheel so tightly that his knuckles were turning white.

"I don't really understand what the problem was. He asked who you were. I responded with the truth." Brennan said.

Booth's eyes flicked towards her then focused back on the road ahead.

"What?" she said, her voice perplexed.

"I'm not just your partner Bones. I'm your. I'm your" he grappled to think what to call himself. "We have a child. We share a home." He said, then turned towards her, "Dammit Bones, why is it when we meet your exes, you wait until they ask and you say, oh, this is my partner."

"Well, you are!" Brennan said, confusion in her eyes.

Booth turned his eyes back to the road, his head nodding. "You're right. That's what I am."

He suddenly pulled over and turned to face her "Look, I know we're not bound by marriage. Yet. Notice I said yet? You know I want to. It's just finding the right time to make it legal."

"I know, but when people ask, or assume things" her voice trailed off.

"I get that Bones" Booth said, his voice softening "But you have no reason to be worried. You're beautiful and successful and world renowned".

Brennan let a smile creep around her mouth "Well, yes. I know that" she said, agreeing with him.

Booth smiled "And you're living with a devilishly handsome FBI Agent, and you have an adorable child." he continued.

"Thank you for reminding me" she said. "Booth. When I say, you're my partner. I don't just mean for work. But we're not married, so what am I supposed to say? This is my live in lover?"

Booth frowned, "Well, no. Of course not" he stammered.

"So I say, this is my partner, Booth." she said, shrugging.

Booth remained silent for a moment, then nodded "I'm going to have to do something about that, sooner rather than later" he said grinning.

"I don't know what that means" Brennan said.

"I know" he said, smiling widely "but you soon will"