Disclaimer: As usual not mine.

A/N: Sorry for the delay. Musie, as A calls her, was NOT cooperating. Thanks for sticking with this. Also, consider this my homage to Velveeta. You've been warned. As usual, thanks to A for keeping on me as well as offering invaluable insights…

Booth held the heavy wooden door to the Folger's Shakespeare Library open for Brennan. Dusk was just settling over the capital's skyline as she walked out into the garden surrounding the building. She took a moment to just savor the feeling of the light evening breeze on her face as she reflected on the day. It had been nearly perfect from the start. Waking up next to Booth hadn't been awkward---it had felt surprisingly normal. And while Angela's interruption had been frustrating, her engagement news had been worth it. Her friend had been radiant. Brennan couldn't begrudge Angela a moment of happiness now that she had finally found someone she could love and who loved her. She might not be convinced about the existence of love, but she wasn't willing to discount her friend's beliefs as they directly impacted her sense of well-being. And despite Booth's attempts to get out of going to the exhibit, they had spent the last few hours wandering through the library together.

She expected him to hurry her through the displays, but he had been patient. Giving her time to read the captions and even asking a few questions along the way. He had been particularly taken with the Shakespeare in War section. The display had described how Shakespeare's plays had been distributed along side the Bible to the troops and how the term "band of brothers" had been coined by the Bard in Henry V. Booth had not said much, but she could tell he was thinking about his own time in the service. Offering the only comfort she could, she had laced her fingers with his, letting him know she was there. His mere presence was enough when she was accosted by memories from the past that caught her unaware. She was surprised at how easy it was to lean on him, literally and figuratively, now that she had the freedom to do so. Brennan checked that thought. She knew he had always been there for her, she just hadn't allowed herself to do so. The thought of him made her instinctively seek him out. Turning her head she found him standing watching her.

He had followed Brennan out of the library and saw her stop in the garden. Closing her eyes she had tilted her head and let the light wind play with her hair. The sight had stopped Booth in his tracks. He was captivated by her and couldn't tear his eyes away. He wasn't sure how long they had stood there, but when her head turned and her shining hazel eyes met his, he was overcome with emotion for the brilliant woman in front of him. Reverently, he shot a "thank you" skyward as he continued to watch her with what he knew was an unabashedly goofy grin plastered on his face. He didn't care.

Brennan turned to fully face Booth. His eyes captured her every movement like they normally did. She'd always been aware of his scrutiny, but had determinedly ignored it. Now that she didn't have to, she reveled in it. Booth, for all of his alpha male tendencies, wore his heart on his sleeve or, in this case, in his eyes. The emotions swirling in his eyes spoke to her, despite his never uttering the words---he loved her. The revelation didn't surprise her, but she was willing to admit, if only to herself, that it scared her. She knew the words would follow and she wasn't sure what to do with them. Part of her wanted to wrap them around her, like Booth's arms, and lose herself in them and the promise they offered. Another part of her questioned whether she could ever return the words, and if she couldn't, would her inability ultimately be the undoing of them? She wasn't sure where her hesitancy came from. They were just words. Words that promised more, but in her experience only led to loss. She realized she might have been hiding behind science when she said she didn't believe in love---what she didn't believe in was forever. Looking at Booth standing on the steps of the Folger's, she realized even if she didn't believe in forever, it didn't stop her from wanting it…with him. She wondered if that would be enough.

Booth watched the play of emotions across Brennan's face and wasn't sure what to make of it. He knew the exhibit had brought up memories from her past, but she had seemed relieved to share them with him. It was yet another side of her that he loved. He closed the distance between them and pulled her close. Her arms slipped around him and he was caught of guard by the intensity of her embrace. She was clinging to him---molding their bodies together. He returned the pressure, offering reassurance to whatever what troubling her. He whispered in her ear, "You ok?"

So quietly he almost missed it, she answered, "I am now." After another moment, she pulled back from him, leaving her arms linked around his neck. His hands rested on her hips. "Thank you for coming with me."

Squinting at her through the dusky sunlight, he said, "All you have to do is ask, Bones. I'll be there."

Though his words were light, she answered seriously, "I know." She pulled his head down to hers and met his lips in a kiss packed with all the words she didn't know how to say. They lost themselves in the moment---in each other. Only the sound of a car honking and a teenager's taunting call to "get a room" caused them to pull apart. "We should listen to them."

Her words made him do a double take. "What?"

"We should get a room. Although technically, we both have apartments, so I guess the question is really your place or mine?" She arched an eyebrow waiting for him to respond. She might not know how to tell him what she was feeling, but showing him she could do.

Her candor didn't surprise him, but the timing felt abrupt. "Just like that?" Booth knew he was insane to question her, but she meant too much to him to rush this.

"You told me when it happened, you wanted me to be sure. I'm sure. Sure about you. Sure about us." She met his questioning gaze head on.

In her eyes, he saw the truth of her words. She was ready for the next step and all that it meant. His eyes lit up and he grabbed her hand and started to head for the car.

"Just like that?" she tossed his words back at him.

Shooting her his patented grin, he answered, "Bones, you're usually right. Who am I to argue?"