I promised a longer chapter, well here ya go ;) Hope you like...

Angela walked through the front door of Brennan's new house and set two small boxes on top of a tower of much larger ones. "Well, that's the last of the boxes, Bren." She looked around, raising an eyebrow. "Sweetie?"

"In here!"

"Where exactly is 'here'?" Angela walked towards where she had heard her best friend calling from.

"The bathroom," Brennan called, looking around the small space.

Angela stepped into the room, almost bumping into her friend. She looked around, observing the brown and white mosaic glass tiles on the wall that housed an espresso stained floating counter, vessel sink with wall-mounted faucet, and a mirror. There was a toilet on the wall opposite the door and there was another espresso stained cabinet above it.

"A shower would fit nicely on that wall, don't you think?" Brennan asked, pointing to the wall opposite the sink. "The previous owners said they were going to put one in, but changed their minds at the last minute, so this room is already equipped to have a shower in it."

Angela smiled. "So Booth agreed to move in?"

Brennan nodded. "He has months to make his final decision and it may not even be necessary, but I want to be prepared. I have to do my research to find a reliable contractor and the renovation, itself, could take some time to complete." She walked out of the bathroom and turned her head back to Angela, who followed her. "Are all of the boxes are out of the truck?"

Angela nodded. "All the boxes are inside and Hodgins and Wendell are unloading the rest of the furniture as we speak. See? You didn't need to hire movers."

"No, I suppose I didn't. I'm going to go see if I can help them bring in some of the bigger pieces." Brennan started to walk towards the front door, but Angela grabbed her by the elbow.

"You only have one arm, Bren."

Brennan looked down at her casted arm and laughed. "Oh, right. I forget sometimes."

"Besides, men love to help women with these sorts of things. They like to go shirtless and show off by lifting heavy objects. And we, women, like to watch them and gawk at how damn sexy they look doing it."

"Those men believe women to be helpless and weak. I, for one, am neither helpless nor weak. If I did not have a fractured wrist, I would be out there with them."

"Okay, Sweetie. I'm still going out there to watch."

"Won't Hodgins be upset if he sees you gawking at Wendell? After all, you did have a sexual relationship with him while you and Hodgins were broken up."

"Just because your boyfriend is not here to be gawked at, doesn't mean you get to ruin my fun, Sweetie."

"Booth is not my boyfriend." Brennan sighed and after a moment of silence, she confessed, "Angela, I think I love Booth." It had been a couple days since their talk at the hospital and it was all she could think about.

Angela stopped and turned around. "That's old news, Bren."

Brennan shook her head. "I think I'm in love with him."

"Again, Sweetie, that's old news. For the last two years, you've been building a family around him. You've been in love with him for years. It's about time you caught up to your own reality."

"I kissed him," Brennan blurted out.

Angela's eyes widened and she let out a squeal. "What? When? Why didn't you tell me? I'm your best friend. You're supposed to tell me these things. Come on, spill, I need details. Was there tongue?" She guided her best friend over to the couch that was set up randomly in the otherwise empty living room.

Brennan sat down beside the artist and swallowed. "Two days ago. I asked him if he loved me and he admitted that he's in love with me. I did what you said. I didn't think. I just kissed him. It was—," she trialed off, glancing down and nibbling on her bottom lip..

"Did you tell him you love him back?"

"No."

"Brennan."

"I know it's customary to repeat the other person's sentiment back to them, but I—I don't know why I didn't say it back, Ange. He didn't seem to mind that I didn't, but I'm not very good at reading people."

Angela sighed.

"I told you. I'm no good at relationships. I already screwed it up." Brennan buried her face in her hands and leaned back against the cushions.

Angela pulled her best friend's hands away and shook her head. "You didn't screw anything up, Sweetie. He knows you. Actions speak louder than words. He knows. He knows you love him too."

Brennan looked at Angela and sniffled. "Look at me, Ange. I'm a mess. I've never been like this. I'm not sure I like it."

Angela laughed. "Love makes people crazy, Bren."

Just then, Hodgins and Wendell came in with a dresser. "Where do you want this, Dr. B.?" The latter asked, out of breath.

"I'll show you." Brennan stood up, abandoning the conversation she was in the middle of, and followed the two men upstairs.

Angela sighed and stood up. She took a small box labeled 'Kitchen' and headed in that direction. She might as well make herself useful.

Later that evening, Brennan walked into Booth's hospital room and gasped. His physical therapist, a tall, middle-aged man with graying brown hair and dark emerald green eyes, was in there. He was currently strapping Booth into a back brace.

Booth winced and swallowed. He didn't even notice Brennan was there.

Brennan approached the bed and looked between the men. "What's going on?"

Booth turned his head and his face lit up upon seeing her. "Hi, Bones."

"Hi." She looked at the therapist. "What's going on?"

"Ji—imbo, here, is h—elping me sit up."

Jim Perkins, also known as Jimbo, smiled at Brennan as he stepped back. "All right, Booth, we're all set." He paused. "Dr. Brennan, could you help me pull him up?"

Brennan nodded, setting her messenger bag down on the chair. She rested one hand on his shoulder and cupped his upper arm with the other.

"On the count of three."

"On three? Or one, two, three, and then go?"

"On three."

She nodded in understanding.

"One, two, three."

She lifted Booth's right side while Jim lifted Booth's left. Next the two of them, with some help from Booth, himself, moved his legs to the side so they were dangling off the edge of the bed. They held him upright for a couple minutes and then slowly let go.

It was a small victory, but a victory nonetheless. Booth looked up at Brennan and saw how proud of him she was. Still, it was embarrassing and more than a little frustrating that just sitting up warranted such a look.

Seeing a flash of pain and discomfort in his eyes, Brennan and the therapist helped him lie back down.

Jim removed the back brace and handed Booth his stress balls. "Good job today, Booth. I'll see you tomorrow." With that, he waved and left the room.

Booth shut his eyes and let out a breath. He was exhausted, not just physically either.

"I ran into Dr. Jurzik in the hallway. He says he's discharging you tomorrow. That's great, Booth."

"Hmm, yeah, g—gr—great," he mumbled.

"I thought you'd be happy."

"I—I am."

"You don't sound happy." She sat on the edge of the bed and placed a hand on his chest. "Something is upsetting you."

He nodded, unable to lie to her any further. "Yeah."

"What is it? Maybe I can help."

"You can't." He paused. "I-I can't do anythi—thing."

"That's not true. A week ago, you couldn't speak and you could barely move your hand. Now, you're talking more clearly, lifting your arms, and you just sat up by yourself."

"I—I'm a gro—own man, no—ot a six month old ba—aby."

"I'm well aware of that, Booth."

He grunted. "Th—anks for t—try—trying, Bones."

"You're welcome."

He glared at her.

"Are you mad at me?"

He sighed. "No."

"I'm sorry you're frustrated, but you're alive and making progress every day. That's what's important." She leaned over and pressed a sweet kiss to his lips. "Feel better?"

"No."

"Oh?" She raised an eyebrow and closed the gap between them again. She bit his bottom lip gently, snaking her hand behind him to cup the back of his neck.

He shivered, her hot breath brushing against his chin. A guttural moan escaped as her lips relaxed and enveloped his.

She broke the kiss too soon in his opinion and drew her arm back. "How about now?"

He swallowed and catching onto what she was doing, he responded wtih, "A l—little."

She leaned her body closer to his and dipped her head. She reestablished contact and licked his bottom lip before sliding her tongue slowly past, any ounce of sweetness was long gone.

There was a knock on the door and then it opened. Lisa stepped into the room and bit back a smile. She cleared her throat and then approached the bed.

Brennan jumped back and turned her head, brushing thumb across her wet, swollen lips. She swallowed and stood up. "Good evening, Lisa."

"Apparently it's a great evening," Lisa muttered under her breath. "Where's your Little Guy tonight?"

"RJ's with my father."

Lisa nodded and went about her business. "Is this new?"

"Is what new?" Brennan questioned, sitting down in the chair.

"You and Seeley."

"Oh." Brennan glanced at Booth and offered him a small smile. "We haven't discussed what this is yet or if there even is a this."

"But the kissing is new?"

Brennan nodded. "Technically we have kissed before, but I suppose you could say the kissing is new." She saw how uncomfortable Booth was getting so she opted to change the subject to something less personal. "I moved into the new house today. Angela, Hodgins, and Wendell helped and with them there, mostly everything is unpacked and set up. I still have a few small boxes to sort through."

He nodded. "I—is it nice?"

"It's beautiful. I have to go shopping, though, because this place has more square feet than my previous dwelling. I just don't have enough to fill it. I also need to call my cable service provider and research contractors to renovate the downstairs' bathroom. Angela is designing new murals for Parker's room and the nursery, so I also have to higher painters, since she's pregnant and cannot paint them herself. I'm going to be very busy."

"Too b—busy to v—visit me?" He teased.

Brennan quirked an eyebrow and let out a chuckle, shaking her head.

"Well, I'm finished here. Let me know if you need anything, Seeley." Lisa smiled, realizing Booth and Brennan seemed to forget she was even in the room. She waved and left, shutting the door behind her.

When she heard the door click shut, Brennan stood up and sat on the edge of Booth's bed. She leaned over and kissed him. She pulled back and absently ran her hand over his shoulder and down his chest, her eyes locked on his. "What does all this mean, Booth?"

"W—what do you want it to m—mean, Bones?"

She sighed. "Do you think we could make this work? I mean, you and me, us?"

He grinned. "I do."

"What if it doesn't?"

"It will."

"How can you be so sure?"

"I just kn—ow."

She gave him an incredulous glare.

He laughed. "You and me—it's f—ate."

"You know I don't believe in fate."

"W—what do you call it, then?"

"I don't know, but it's certainly not fate," she said with a smirk.

"S—s—ounds l—like fate to me."

She shook her head and took his hand, weaving her fingers through his. Her eyes met his and she smiled. After a few minutes of silence, she exhaled and whispered, "I—I love you too." She swallowed, her voice shaky.

His eyes brightened and his small lopsided grin turned into a full-blown smile. "Y—you do?" He asked, his voice cracking.

She hesitated for a second and then nodded. "Yes."

"A—and it's not just c—chemi—cals in the—the br—rain?"

She shook her head. "No, it's not." She stood up and grabbed her laptop from her bag. She raised his bed up slightly and sat back down. She opened her computer and pulled up her browser. "I need your help."

He tilted his head and raised an eyebrow. "M—my help?"

She nodded. "Your expertise."

He gave her a cocky grin and nodded. "Sure, Bones. W—with what?" He glanced at the screen as she typed, and he blinked in disbelief. "T—TVs?"

"Yes. I have one, but Parker complains that the picture isn't clear enough and that it is too small, so I was thinking of upgrading. I thought you could help me pick one out because I have no clue what I'm looking for."

He nodded. "Sure, Bones."

"Just nothing too large, Booth. A television that takes up an entire wall is not necessary nor is it practical."

He sighed. "Gotcha."

"I would also like your opinion on cable packages, but we can discuss that afterwards."

He just gave her a smile and focused on the screen.

She shifted and leaned in close, so she could see the screen without a glare. "What about that one?"

He shook his head. "No—ot big e—enough."

"Booth," she almost whined.

He laughed. "I—I'm the ex—pert here, Bones. I kn—ow what I'm d—doing."

She sighed and shrugged. "Fine. Enlighten me, Booth."

He nodded and animatedly began explaining everything he knew about TVs, including dimensions and pixels and special features as she manned the arrow keys and mouse.