(The Blackout in the Blizzard)

Thank you for all of the great reviews. You have been very kind to me and my story.

I don't own Bones.

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They'd been stuck in the elevator for hours and Booth was starting to get a little stir crazy. He'd strained his back and that made Brennan anxious. Not wanting to upset her anymore than she already was, Booth decided to pretend that his back wasn't hurting as much as it really was. Sweets, trying to be of help had borrowed a bag of frozen peas from Booth's neighbor so that Booth could use if it would help ease the pain.

Glumly, Booth sat on the floor and held the frozen peas against his back while Brennan sat next to him.

Sweets, seeing he had a captive audience that couldn't flee the minute he brought up something they didn't want to hear, decided to get them to talk to each to other about an important topic, "Have you talked about Hannah yet?"

Booth, sitting up straight, glared at Sweets, "Stop it. Stop right there. What Bones and I talk about and don't talk about is none of your business. "

Shaking his head, Sweets replied, "I disagree. If you want your relationship to heal and move forward then I think it's important that you talk about Hannah and . . ."

Outraged that Sweets was still talking about Hannah, Booth shouted, "Stop it!" Throwing the bag of peas at the younger man, all three watched as the bag burst open, the frozen peas cascaded down the bars and rolled out of the elevator. Breathing hard, Booth continued, "It's over. Don't ever mention her again. I mean it."

Sweets, a little angry and just a little afraid, stood up, stalked down the stairs and out of the lobby to the frozen outside world.

Feeling Brennan's eyes on him, Booth shrugged his shoulders, "We've talked about Hannah, Bones. I don't want to talk about her anymore, especially to Sweets. He's too damn nosey for his own good. I've had enough of his meddling."

Aware that he was very agitated, Brennan debated whether or not to say what needed to be said. Finally deciding that honesty was called for, she asked a burning question, "We have talked about her that's true, but I have a question about Hannah and I would like you to answer it if that would be alright."

Suddenly still and very wary, Booth slowly nodded his head, "Go ahead and ask your question, Bones."

Cautiously, Brennan stared at Booth's emotionless face and started, "You've told me in the past that you can love more than one person at a time, but you only love one the most."

Concerned where she was going, Booth nodded his head and continued to stare at Brennan without emotion.

Aware that Booth was almost emotionally shut down, she knew that her question could have volatile consequences, "Did you ever consider Hannah to be the one you loved the most?"

A look of incredulity on his face, Booth slowly shook his head, "Bones, Hannah was my effort to move on. I was trying to run away from the one I loved the most. When I was with her, I told myself that I loved her and maybe I did . . . I don't really know now, but Bones, never once did I ever consider her the one I loved the most . . . . I . . . You are the one I love the most. You have been for a long time . . . The fact is you always will be. No matter how this turns out for us, I will never love anyone as much as I love you right now."

Biting her bottom lip, Brennan knelt next to Booth and considered his words. Leaning towards him, she placed her hands around Booth's neck and leaned in to kiss him. Booth, stiff from the pain in his back, tried to put his hands on Brennan's waist only to catch his breath and cry out.

Brennan, realizing that Booth was in more pain than he had previously admitted, moved away from Booth and sat back on her heels, "Booth I need you to lie down for me."

Chuckling, Booth shook his head, "Sweets is going to be back any minute. We can't make out in here. It would give our secret away, plus . . . well it's pretty public and just a little to kinky."

Amused at his assumption, Brennan shook her head, "No Booth, I've been taking classes in Thai massage and I think I can fix your back problem. It is much better that trying to adjust your spine. You know that frightens you anyway."

A little relieved that she didn't want to have sex in an elevator, Booth chuckled, "Oh, sorry. I guess my mind was in the gutter."

Patting his knee, Brennan remarked, "I think it was in our bedroom, don't you?"

Winking at her, Booth grinned, "Yeah, definitely."

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Later that evening, after they had escaped from the elevator, after they had arrested an infectious murderer, after a trip to the hospital for Booth because of his close encounter with the murderer and after they had returned back to Booth's apartment building to move the Vet seats from the elevator into Booth's apartment, Booth and Brennan were sitting in Booth's apartment eating a late dinner.

Staring at the blue seats, Booth frowned and commented, "I put too much sentiment into stuff. My wanting those seats jeopardized our case and it was just a dumb thing to do. I'm sorry."

A sense of sadness washing through her for her lover, Brennan disagreed, "No, Booth. You love the past because that is who you are. I love the past and that's who I am. While it's true you are more interested in the recent past and I am more interested in the ancient past we still have the love of the past in common. There is nothing wrong in wanting to understand and honor the past. I think it's what makes us who we are."

He appreciated her kindness towards him, and realized that she was right. Nodding his head, Booth placed his right arm around her shoulders, "You know I'm a great believer that we can learn from the mistakes we make in the past . . . Whether it's the ancient past or twenty years ago or twenty days ago, I think that if you're willing to see the mistakes you make or others made and try to fix them or at least try not repeat them, then remembering the past can be a good thing . . . Hannah was a mistake Bones . . . I should have waited until you were ready to accept what I'd tried to tell you outside the Hoover. I heard no and I just lost hope. I wasn't really listening to you like I should have. I assumed a lot and I hurt you. I'm sorry."

Shaking her head, Brennan corrected him, "We have made mistakes Booth, not just you . . . Whereas I think it's nice to remember and study the past, I don't want to live in the past. Hannah is the past and we are the present. That's the most important thing for me right now . . . We are partners. We're work partners and we're intimate partners. You are my mate and I am happy. I don't want to dwell upon our past. That part of our life is over."

Grateful to have such a fantastic woman in his life, Booth pulled Brennan closer to him and leaned his head against hers, "Yeah, you're right. That crap is over and done with. I love you Bones . . . I love you and I'm happy too."

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Thanks for reading my story. I hope you're enjoying it.