36-Ice, Ice, Baby
Booth woke up with his arm slung around Brennan's waist. The bed in the guest room was unbelievably comfortable, and Booth never wanted to get up. He started to wonder what it would be like to make love to Brennan in that bed, but he stopped himself. Instead, he got up and looked out the window. "Booth," Brennan called softly, having woken up to find the bed empty.
Booth walked over and lifted Brennan into his arms, carrying her to the window. She squirmed and laughed, enjoying being lifted up by Booth. It always made her feel safe. When he rescued her from the Gravedigger, he pulled her into his arms. When their cab crashed, he pulled her into his arms. When she saw what she thought might have been Russ' blood on her floor, he pulled her into his arms. When she confronted her mother's killer, he pulled her into his arms. And when her dad's trial was over, he pulled her into his arms. "It's really snowing out there," Booth remarked.
Brennan sighed her agreement as she followed his gaze out the window. "Booth," she said, suddenly excited and shaking his shoulder.
"What is it, Bones?" he asked.
"The Reflecting Pool…it's frozen!"
"Yeah, Bones, that's what happens when it gets cold," Booth said, puzzled by her reaction.
Brennan rolled her eyes. "No, Booth," she said. "Could we…I mean…." She was hesitating.
Booth hiked her up a little more around his waist. "What, Bones?" he asked, bringing his face close to hers and talking softly against her hair.
"Could we ice skate?" she asked.
Booth pulled back. "Bones," he exclaimed, "that's a great idea! Just you and me or everyone?"
"Eh, I guess they can come too," Brennan said, pretending to be indifferent.
Everyone else thought the idea was great too, so after bundling up everyone headed over to the Washington Monument. Angela skated gracefully across the ice while Wendell went slowly with Hodgins, who was constantly on the verge of falling. "You see, Bones, you have to tie your skates up tight, but not too tight, or else you'll get skate bite," Booth said. Brennan was sitting on the ground with her legs out as Booth crouched in front of her and tied up her skates.
"Did you ever get skate bite?" Brennan asked.
"Yeah, it hurts like hell. Nasty stuff. Come on," he said, pulling her up, "let's go."
Brennan was unsteady on skates, but Booth had previously promised her that he'd never let her fall. He skated behind her as he held her around the waist. "Relax, Bones," he said. "Lean forward a little more." He pressed his hips into her a little more.
"Booth!"
"Come on, Bones," he joked. "You know I can't resist," he mumbled in her ear. "Now bend your knees," he advised. She did so and found it easier to keep her balance. Slowly, Booth let Brennan go and watched her glide along the ice.
"You know," Brennan started, looking back to talk to Booth, then realizing he wasn't there. "Booth!" she screamed and started flailing her arms.
"Keep your balance, Bones!" Booth called from across the ice.
Breath, Temperance, she told herself. She held her arms out and straightened her back. She screamed in delight as she glided across the ice. "Booth!" she called happily.
He skated quickly over to her and grasped her hands. "I think you're ready to skate backwards," he said. He turned them both and grabbed her hand in his, propelling them both backwards.
"Booth, don't let go," she said while laughing. Booth chuckled and twirled them around.
"Hey, sweetie," Angela said as she skated next to them, also turning backwards.
"Ange, I had no idea you knew how to ice skate so well," Booth commented as they drifted along.
"Yeah, I did competitions for a few years when I was a kid." Booth was surprised, but not that surprised. Ice skating seemed like a great fit for Angela. So did everything else. She was so free and talented that he didn't have a hard time believing anything she told him about her childhood. "Come on, sweetie, skate with me," she said to Brennan, holding out her hand. "That is, if you don't mind, Studly."
Booth smiled. "Of course not, Ange."
"So," Angela started when she and Brennan were alone, "you and Booth." Brennan nodded. "Finally! God, I can't tell you how good this makes me feel."
Brennan chuckled. "Ange, you can't seriously have that much emotion invested in our relationship."
"Oh, but I do. Oh, God, what are they doing now?" Angela asked. Brennan followed her friend's gaze to see Booth and Wendell standing face to face, fists up, both talking to Hodgins. They began to throw simulated punches, which turned into playful tackling, which turned into a wrestling match. "Ugh, boys are so weird," Angela said.
"Yeah, us girls are way more sophisticated," Brennan said before she and Angela started to wrestle each other.