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Chapter 29
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Temperance turned the handle slowly and walked quietly into the room. Booth didn't notice her at first. She watched him in silence. He was sitting near the bed, his chest leaning against it. His fingers swirled Samuel's hair gently and he spoke in a low tone.
"We're so happy to have you back, Sammy. Mommy and Daddy really missed you. We love you so much. You know, I don't know if your mom would have recovered if we never got you back. I don't know what I'd do if I'd lost you both."
Temperance reached back and opened and closed the door again so Booth knew she was there. He looked up and smiled. "Hey, Bones." What is that look on her face? She walked beside the bed and sat in a chair beside Seeley. She intertwined her fingers with his. He lifted her hand and pressed her soft fingers to his lips. That look still remained in her eyes. "What?" He asked softly, the corner of his lip pulled into a half smile.
"I..." She took in a shaky breath. "I love you."
"I love you, too." He never heard that too often.
"No... I, uh--" She looked down and then up again. "I love you, Seeley Booth."
Booth didn't reply. He knew that she was trying to say something important.
"You..." She blinked away a tear. "You've always been here for me. And now you're here for us. I'm sorry..."
Booth squeezed her hand. "Why are you sorry?"
"I owe you an apology. I've always been afraid of getting too close, you know?" She spoke softly and thoughtfully. "I've pushed you away and drawn you close over and over. You should hate me." She laughed humorlessly when she spoke that last sentence.
Booth was quick to raise her chin with his finger. "I'd never hate you, Temperance. I love you. I always have. And don't you forget it."
"I shouldn't be afraid to draw close to you. You've never failed me. You're my family, Booth."
"Always will be..."
"You and Samuel and me. We're a family... What I'm trying to say is, this experience with Samuel being taken away from us... I realize he was taken from us, not me. He's ours and you're mine and I'm yours and..."
Booth looked into her eyes in that mesmerizing way that he often does, "What are you saying, Bones?"
"I'm saying... will you marry me? I know this isn't the way you wanted--I'm just--"
"Bones," He slowed her rambling. "Of course I'll marry you. But I thought you thought was just a piece of paper?"
"It's more than that. It tells the world that you and I belong together... more importantly, it tells the world that we're a family. The three of us. We're a family. We're Booths." She couldn't help but to smile with that.
Seeley pulled her close and kissed her. Then he looked back and smiled in his usual teasing manner, "I love you, Mrs. Booth."
"That's Doctor Mrs. Booth to you."
