The drive toward Brennan's apartment was mostly in silence, and their hands hovered slightly over their leg as if they wanted to bridge that distance. There was a sense of nervous electricity between them, a tension that was typically there, but more comfortable and exciting. She could sense his eyes on her now and then, and was happy for the darkness of the car as the blush reached her cheeks just slightly, sending a warm feeling through her, despite the frigid February cold outside.

When he finally did speak, it was when they were pulling the car to the front of the apartment, and he finally reached across the gap and took her hand in his. "Thank you for inviting me to dinner." He said softly.

She smiled, feeling the gentle squeeze of his hand on hers. "Thank you for accompanying me." She replied as she unlatched her seatbelt and squeezed his hand, she watched him with a humored glance. "Aren't you going to walk me to my door?"

"Oh… yeah, of course." He said with a smile, reluctantly letting her hand from his grasp, he turned the SUV off, and pocketed the keys, climbing quickly from his seat, he walked around to the other side of the car as he watched the door open, grabbing it with his hand, he pulled it the rest of the way and held his hand out to her.

She smiled, her eyebrows raised in an obviously humored manner as she let out a laugh. "You don't have to help me from my seat, Booth."

"Hey, you want all of the perks of a first date. Take my hand." He said, watching her smile soften a bit, she nodded as she set her hand in his. "Well thank you then, sir."

"It is my pleasure." He said, bringing her hand to his lips, he dropped a tender kiss on her skin, not missing her reaction as she slipped her lower lip into her mouth and bit down just slightly. He helped her from the car, and she looped her arm in his, as he closed the car door behind them, and walked her down the sidewalk toward the door of her building.

They walked silently to the elevator together, her eyes sneaking a glance at him now and then as she smiled smugly into the mirrored reflection of themselves in the doors, her eyes flickering up to his as he raised his eyebrows, eliciting a giggle. The doors opened and she let out a laugh as she pulled him along. "This is ridiculous!" She said as she pulled him along toward her door, stopping as they approached it, she pulled her keys out and put the key in the lock, turning around to find that he had invaded her space once again. Her breath sucked in a gasp as she caught his eyes, and held them.

Before she could speak, he lifted his index finger to her lips, and took her hand in his. "I'm onto you, Temperance Brennan." He said, leaning down to kiss her cheek, he watched her eyes sparkle as he let his finger slide over her cheek, before dropping his hand to his side. "Thank you for a wonderful evening." He said, taking a step backwards, he watched her eyes follow him as she tipped her head. "Goodnight." He said, stepping into the open elevator, he watched her stare after him, as the doors closed, blocking her view of his retreating form.

The moment the elevator doors closed, he could feel his breath holding, the elevator sending him back to the car, he could think of nothing but the woman he left standing beside her door. Her eyes remained in his memory far longer than they had ever before, and as he stepped off the elevator on the ground floor, he felt the rush of air from his held breath release in a sense of pent up energy that he needed to get out.

He stepped outside into the brisk winter air, and walked toward his car, the scent of her perfume still lingering on him, as if he needed a reminder of how beautiful she was. He smiled to himself as he pictured her spellbound stare, watching him with rapt awareness, and he climbed into the car, satisfied that the evening was a success.

Still standing by the closed door of her apartment, Brennan listened to the gentle chime of the elevator as it descended, her breath sucked from her, she breathed in sharply as she turned around, nearly running into the closed door as she grabbed hold of the doorknob. She giggled in an almost giddy excitement, closing her eyes as she rested her head on the door, she looked up at the door frame and let out a laugh, finally turning the knob and pushing the door open.

She stepped into her apartment and pulled the key from the lock, and closed the door behind her, locking it securely. She surveyed her apartment for a moment, her back resting against the door, and she smiled self satisfactorily in spite of herself. She pushed herself off the door and walked through the living room, setting her purse on the couch, she pulled her coat off and hung it on a hook in the hallway as she made her way toward her bedroom, to prepare for bed.

When he made it to his apartment, he felt a sense of relief that seemed odd to him, the memory of the evening seemed to skitter across his mind. It felt different to him, to think of an evening with his partner as anything more than two friends having drinks, it felt nice. He could hear her laugh in his mind, a sound that he always loved to hear, but didn't realize the effect it had on him. He could still smell her perfume on his jacket as he pulled it from his shoulders and tossed it on the couch, turning toward his bedroom, he paused for a moment as his eyes flickered to the phone.

Without a pause for second thought, he reached for the receiver and quickly dialed that familiar number, needing or wanting to hear her voice just one more time before he went to bed. The phone rang once, twice, three times before the machine picked up, and he wondered if he should leave a message. He was about to decide when he heard a fumbling on the other line as the recording was cut off.

"Hello?"

"Bones." His voice was strong and tender, and he could hear a bit of surprise in her breath as he let out a nervous laugh. "I just… I wanted to say thank you for tonight."

"Oh." She said softly. "You're welcome." She said, though it sounded a bit awkward, as if she wasn't sure that it was the correct response. "Thank you."

"I had a really great time." He replied.

"I did too." She paused. "I look forward to our next date."

He paused for a moment and let out another nervous laugh. "It sounds silly, but I just wanted to call and let you know I made it home okay, and to let you know again that I had a good time."

"You said great time first… then good…" She said, a teasing tone in her voice. "Which was it?"

"It was… mysterious…" he replied with a smile. "Mystifying." He said, listening to her laugh on the other end of the line. "Goodnight, Bones."

"Goodnight, Booth." She paused. "Sweet dreams."

"You bet." He replied. "Maybe I'll see you tomorrow."

"Yeah. Maybe."

"Sweet dreams."

"Goodnight."