Note: I started this ages ago (the same week as Threesome, in fact), but it took a while to work out.
Also, I'll apologize in advance. Remember this is AU, so I am explicitly saying this is not the way it's going to be. (Thanks, Hannah, for your "I'm not going to have kids" comment making this officially AU.)
Title: Yesterday
Disclaimer: I don't own them
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Booth did a double-take when he saw the poster advertising the book signing in the window of the book store. A quick glance at his watch showed him that only 15 minutes remained. He peered through the window and noticed that there were only a few people left in line.
Making a snap decision, he pushed open the door and joined the back of the line, waiting patiently behind a red-headed woman in a green jacket.
When the author finished signing the woman in green's book and looked up, the man smiled his most charming smile. "Call me old-fashioned, but I still like your early books best. You know, the ones with Andy Lister."
The woman smiled and he was instantly transported back in time fifteen years. "Booth", she said.
He walked around the folding table and pulled her into a hug. "Bones", he answered. "I couldn't believe it when I saw the posters. How have you been?"
"Good", she replied. "Busy. How are you?"
"Fine. Look, Bones, it looks like you're done here. Do you want to go get some dinner and catch up?"
"You don't have to get home?"
Booth shook his head. "Not tonight."
Brennan looked over at her publicist, who was busy chatting with the manager of the bookstore. "I think I can do that. Let me just tell Maureen I've leaving and we can go."
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They ended up at a corner table in the small restaurant three doors down. As they waited for their food, they chatted lightly about inconsequential subjects. Brennan told Booth about her latest dig. Booth talked about the political situation at the FBI. They laughed over Brennan's story about visiting Angela and Hodgins in Paris.
It felt in some ways as if they had never been apart, and yet occasionally there would be an awkwardness that hadn't existed when they saw each other every day.
Finally, Brennan put down her fork and asked, "How's Hannah?"
"We're divorced. Two years now."
"I'm sorry."
Booth shrugged. "These things happen. I guess I'm just not the forever type."
Brennan looked at him with the appraising gaze he had seen her use on human remains more times than he could count. "You know I don't believe in forever, but I do believe that people need to nurture relationships. You, Booth, are the nurturing type. Maybe this one didn't work out, but you'll find someone else."
Booth examined the tablecloth, unable to meet her eyes. "Maybe."
"Booth." Her voice pulled at his heart, and he raised his head. "You will." Her tone brisk, she changed the subject. "How are the kids?"
Booth reached for his wallet and pulled out three pictures. Handing them to Brennan, he said, "Good! Parker is in New York. There's this woman – I think it's pretty serious – and he's just started a new job. Christopher is in ninth grade. He went out for football, but didn't make it. He'll get there next year – he's been training every night since July. Joy is in seventh grade. She's a total bookworm – political junkie, like her mom. Hannah and I share custody. This week, they're with Hannah."
Brennan looked up from the pictures. "You called her Joy?"
Booth smiled. "Yes. She's named after someone very special to me."
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They lingered at the table until closing time. When they finally stumbled out into the cool night air, Booth asked, "Can I drop you somewhere?"
Brennan pointed up the street at a local hotel. "I"m staying there."
"I'll walk you to your hotel, then."
Brennan rolled her eyes. "You don't need to do that. I can take care of myself."
Booth threw his arm over her shoulders. "I know, Bones, I know. But it's a good excuse to spend another five minutes with you."
The night air was too cool to linger, so they walked briskly until they were safely inside the warm hotel lobby. Brennan fumbled for her key, which had disappeared in the depths of her bag. When she finally found it, she hesitated briefly before holding out her hand to Booth. "It was good to see you, Booth."
He ignored her hand and pulled her into a hug. "It was good to see you too, Bones."
He pulled away and they stood there awkwardly for a moment before Booth asked, "How long are you in town?"
"I'm here all day tomorrow. I have an interview in the morning and I'm meeting Russ and Amy at 7 for dinner. I leave the next morning."
"So you're free for lunch?"
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They ate at the diner. They were overdressed – Booth in the suit he'd worn to work, Brennan in the dress she'd worn for her interview – but it seemed right to come back to the place that held so many memories. The tables and chairs were more worn and the menus were new, but it felt the same as it had fifteen years before. They didn't recognize their server, but she had the same brisk efficiency and no-nonsense exterior as the ones who had come before her, and they waited only a minute before she walked over and offered them coffee.
When they finished their meals, Brennan smiled wistfully. "I've missed this."
"Yes", Booth agreed. "Me too. I don't know how I ever let you walk out of my life."
"You were with Hannah", Brennan replied, her tone calm and serious. "You were happy. You didn't need me."
Her hands were on the table, and he reached out and covered one of them with his. "I needed you, Bones. I just … it hurt to think that we'd never have more than our friendship. It was easier to keep a distance between us, you know?"
She nodded. "I know."
They threw some bills on the table and walked out into the mid-afternoon sun. Booth had parked a block away, and they automatically to walk towards the car. They walked in a companionable silence, Booth's arm wrapped around her shoulders. When they reached the car, they stopped and Booth dipped his head to kiss her.
"I wanted to do that every day … you know, before."
Brennan raised her hand to her lips, wondering how she could still feel the pressure of his lips on hers. "Why didn't you?"
Booth pressed the button on his keys and the doors unlocked. "I was scared of losing you. It's ironic – after all, I lost you anyway."
It didn't take long to get back to her hotel and before they were ready to say goodbye, Booth was pulling to a stop in front of the hotel.
Brennan reached for the door latch and stepped out. Before she closed the door, she leaned down and asked, "Do you need to get back to work?"
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She waited on the sidewalk as Booth parked the car. Together, they walked into the hotel, shooting each other nervous looks as they waited for the elevator.
Brennan slid her key card through the door lock and Booth whistled. "A suite, Bones? Pretty fancy."
Brennan looked at the room through new eyes, suddenly self-conscious. "Oh! It's just … Maureen arranged it. I didn't think anything of it."
Booth smiled reassuringly. "It's amazing. You know the dumps I end up staying in. You always did get nicer hotel rooms."
Brennan grinned. "I have a rare and valuable skill, Booth."
Booth couldn't remember the last time he had been so comfortable with someone else. She knew him – his faults, his past, his idiosyncrasies – and yet here they were, after so many years apart.
He stepped towards her and her smile faded as electricity crackled between them.
When their lips met again, the metaphorical dam that they had used to hide their feelings broke for good. His suit jacket hit the floor, followed shortly by her dress. She tugged at his tie, only stopping when he broke the kiss to say "You're choking me, Bones." and pull it off himself.
By the time he asked, "Bedroom?", most of their clothing had joined the pile on the floor. She led the way, unclasping her bra and dropping it to the floor as he followed her.
They kissed as he backed her toward the bed. When her legs hit the mattress, she stopped and stepped away from him. He watched in disbelief as she pulled the covers off the bed.
"Bones?", he said, "What are you doing?"
She stopped and looked at him quizzically. "Hotels don't wash their bedspreads often. It's better to pull them off the bed ..." She trailed off as she saw the grin on his face. "You think I'm being silly."
He tried his best to contain his laughter but failed miserably. "No", he answered, "I think you're being Bones." His laughter overtook him and he sat down on the bed, pulling her into his lap. "I'm missed you."
She put her arms around him and looked at him, her expression solemn. "I've missed you, too."
Their lips met again, this kiss a silent affirmation of the caring that remained even after so many years apart. When the kiss ended, Brennan swung around so that she had one knee on each side of him. She positioned herself carefully and sank down.
Booth groaned as he felt her body around his for the first time. She grinned mischeviously and lifted herself up on her knees, setting a steady pace. His arms went around her as she moved. She could hear his breathing, and when it started to get more shallow, she stopped. She tilted her head up and kissed him, clenching her inner muscles in an irregular rhythm.
"Bones", he gasped, and she stilled.
"Yes?"
Before she knew what had happened, she was on the bed, the sheets cool against her overheated skin, Booth still embedded inside of her. "Stop teasing", he growled.
Her legs wrapped around his hips as he started to move. "You just like being in charge", she said.
He laughed. "And you don't?"
She moved one of her legs to the bed and used the leverage to flip him onto his back. She grinned down at him. "Oh, I like being in charge." She rocked her hips as his hands went to her breasts.
He laughed. "I've told you, Bones. You can be very bossy."
She laughed, exhilarated by how much fun it was to argue with him again. "Good thing you like bossy women."
He thrust his hips up to meet hers. "I like you, Bones. I always have."
"I like you too, Booth", she answered, moving faster as she felt her orgasm getting closer. "I think I probably always will."
His hands moved to her hips as he pushed himself deeper within her. "I'll always like you too, Bones."
His steady gaze on hers was enough to push her over the edge, and she gasped as her body shuddered around his. Her orgasm triggered his, and he pulsed into her as she collapsed onto him. He pulled the sheet over their rapidly-cooling bodies and they lay together, soaking up the closeness of the moment.
Eventually, Brennan lifted her head and looked at the clock. "I should get moving", she said. "I don't want to be late for dinner."
They reluctantly untangled themselves. "Do you really have to leave tomorrow?", Booth asked.
Brennan worried her lip with her teeth. "Yes", she answered. "But my book tour ends next Friday. I could come to D.C. for the weekend."
Booth smiled. "It's a date."
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Suggestions for Z? Also, should it be mildly AU (like Victim or Kiss) or wildly AU (like Witch or Queen)? Which one has been your favourite so far?