Wow this month as been crazy. I hope everyone is doing well and staying safe! I have some big news: I was recently accepted into graduate school! I got my undergrad in 2015, so going back to school is a big thing for me, but I'm really excited. I start school in January, but that doesn't mean I'm going to stop writing. :)

As always, thank you for your reviews!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything. This chapter title comes from the song "Arms" by Christina Perri.

"DAD! BONES!"

Brennan and Booth managed to set aside their full cups of coffee just in time as Parker Booth launched himself onto the couch to eagerly hug his father and his girlfriend. Parker very nearly kneed Booth in the goods, and he managed to shift just in time. Parker's bony little knee hit his thigh rather uncomfortably anyway, and he practically elbowed Brennan in the stomach.

Still, that didn't make Booth and Brennan any less excited, and they returned Parker's embrace just as eagerly. Over by the door, Rebecca pinched the bridge of her nose and shook her head even as she smiled. Brett just chuckled and didn't bother to hide his grin. He had been with the poor little guy during their time in the safe house after all, and he knew just how much his stepson had missed his father and Brennan.

Brett had been the one to text Booth around seven o'clock in the morning, asking if he and Brennan were awake and if they would mind if they dropped Parker off. After double checking with Brennan—who of course answered without hesitation that she would love to see Parker—Booth had texted Brett back, saying that they would be more than happy to take Parker for the weekend. Given all the time that Rebecca and Brett had spent with Parker and several FBI agents in a safe house, anyway, Booth figured they were due for a weekend to themselves, not that the danger had passed.

After hugging Booth and Brennan several times in a row, Parker had scrambled off of the couch and was now excitedly bouncing around the room, talking a mile a minute about everything he did and saw during his time at the safe house. Brennan, for her part, was listening intently to every word the little boy told them. Booth, who was used to his chattering son and his still-developing verbal skills, grinned at Brett and Rebecca.

"Was it like this the whole time, or…?" Booth joked, knowing full well that it was.

"We can take him until you guys have a little more time to wake up," Rebecca said with an apologetic smile of her own. She loved her son dearly, but she knew that when he got excited like this, he could be a bit of handful. Sully had given them a reader's digest version of what went down with Brennan and her family. Even with just those basic details, Rebecca didn't want to overwhelm the couple with taking care of a rambunctious, almost four year old little boy.

"It's really no trouble at all," Brennan was quick to assure Rebecca. "We'll have breakfast here, and then we'll all meet in a few hours for Parker's soccer game."

Brennan had been absolutely fascinated when Booth had explained that Parker had a soccer game later that day. It was a children's league, and it was more about teaching the kids the skills and techniques that they needed to play soccer, as opposed to actually winning the game, but it was still a big deal for the kids nonetheless. It was all about learning how to work with other kids while still at a young age, Booth explained.

Despite everything they had been through already, Booth had somewhat shyly invited Brennan to the game. It was almost as if he had expected her to say that she had another way to spend her Saturday. And maybe once upon a time, she had. Of course, Brennan had gone to see Hayley and Emma at various gymnastic meets and dance recitals, but this was different. Brennan was thrilled to have the opportunity to go and be a part of Parker's family at such an important even in his life.

"I'm sure you and Brett could use some time along together," Booth added.

Rebecca and Brett exchanged a meaningful look and quickly agreed. They hugged and kissed Parker goodbye and left, leaving Parker to run around the room and ask if they could have chocolate chip pancakes.

"Whoa, whoa, little man!" Booth exclaimed as he caught Parker in his arms. He gathered his son close to his chest and blew a raspberry on his cheek, causing Parker to giggle loudly. "We gotta make sure that Bones likes chocolate chip pancakes too, okay?"

"Bones!" Parker exclaimed as he launched himself at Brennan for the second time that morning. "Bones, Bones, Bones! Do you like chocolate chips in your pancakes? I looooove chocolate chips in my pancakes!"

Laughing, Brennan hugged Parker tightly. She truly was so happy to see the little boy, and was very much looking forward to spending her Saturday with him. "Chocolate chip pancakes sound amazing, Parker."

"YES!" Parker did a little victory fist pump maneuver—which he surely learned from his father—and ran into the kitchen. Brennan laughed in delight, thoroughly amused by Parker and his antics, and turned to find Booth watching her with eyes that made her stomach swoop. His warm, chocolate eyes were full of heat, but there was a tenderness there as well… something that touched deep inside Brennan.

"What?" Brennan asked, somewhat self-consciously. She remembered Booth watching her with those eyes when she had held baby Lucas for the first time, and that had been right before Booth had told her he loved her. One look from Booth could make her feel so much, and it was one of the things she loved most about him.

Reaching out, Booth slid his hand over the curve of Brennan's cheek. "You're amazing, you know that?" he murmured. "Bones, the way you are with Parker… it makes me happy." He grinned at her in that way that always made Brennan's heart skip a beat, his eyes bright. "You make me happy."

Leaning forward, Brennan rested her forehead against Booth's. "You make me happy too, Booth," she whispered. She kissed him once, tenderly. Then Booth's hand slipped behind the nape of her neck, kissing her again, deeply.

"Dad! Bones!" Parker yelled from the kitchen. "Where are you? I'm hungry!"

Brennan dissolved into giggles as she broke the kiss. "He is truly your son," she said.

Booth rolled his eyes at that, but he knew she was right. Parker Booth had definitely inherited his father's appetite, and he wasn't afraid to let people know it. "Well let's go, then. We've got to feed the boy before he starts to riot." Standing, Booth offered Brennan his hand.

With a smile, Brennan slipped her hand into Booth's. Warmth spread from where her fingers wrapped around his, all the way up her arm and through her whole body. "Let's go."

Once they had stuffed Parker with all of the chocolate chip pancakes his little heart desired, Booth and Brennan had gotten ready for Parker's soccer game. Rebecca had left an overnight bag with Parker's uniform, and he looked absolutely adorable in the green and white ensemble.

They were both dressed casually, in jeans and light sweaters. Brennan pulled her hair up into a quick messy bun and was unable to keep the smile off of her face as Booth slipped his feet into green and white striped socks. Booth had clearly chosen them to match Parker's soccer uniform, and Brennan thought it was quite possibly the sweetest thing she had ever seen.

Booth caught sight of the dopey grin on Brennan's face and quirked an eyebrow. "Not that I don't love seeing you smile, Bones, but what's with that look?"

"It's just…" Brennan shook her head, well aware that she was suddenly very sentimental. She attributed it to the fact that she was finally, truly happy, and the worse of what was going on with their family was finally behind them. "I like your socks."

Her words were simple, but there was a deeper meaning in the tone of her voice. Booth didn't say anything, but from the look in his eyes, he understood. Standing, he slipped an arm around Brennan's waist and pulled her close to him, pressing an affectionate kiss to her cheek. "Thanks, Bones."

"Dad? Bones? Can we go already?"

Laughing, Brennan tugged on a pair of ankle boots over her own, sedate white socks. "Parker really is very excited for his soccer game. I feel bad that he missed out on a few of them while he was in the safe house."

Unable to help the sudden rush of emotion, Brennan's face fell at the reminder that her family's problems had put that sweet little boy's life in danger. His whole life had been disrupted. Luckily, he seemed none the worse for wear, and had kind of viewed the whole thing as an adventure.

"Hey, come on." Booth wrapped both of his arms around Brennan this time, hugging her to him tightly. He knew exactly what she was thinking, and he wouldn't stand for it. He was well aware of what it was like to shoulder the weight of the world—he was often guilty of doing it himself. "Parker is just eager to show you off to everyone on his team. You're the coolest person he knows, you know."

"He is not!" Brennan exclaimed with a laugh as she pushed playfully at Booth's chest. As always, he put her at ease with a few words and one of his sweet smiles.

Taking Brennan's hand, Booth led her out of the bedroom. "I'm serious, Bones. My kid adores you. He's got good taste, obviously." The charm smile of Booth's widened, and Brennan rolled her eyes even as her stomach swooped in reaction.

"Coach Ryan! Coach Ryan!" Parker was jumping up and down, excitedly waving his arms over his head as he tried to catch his soccer coach's attention. The young man came over, bending down to give Parker a high five.

"Glad to have you back, Parker," Coach Ryan greeted. "We missed you!" Standing, Coach Ryan offered his hand to Booth to shake. "It's good to see you again, Mr. Booth. And…" He trailed off, waiting for an introduction to the woman standing beside Booth.

Before Booth could say anything, Parker proudly announced, "This is my Bones."

Coach Ryan's brow furrowed and he sent a confused look towards Brennan and Booth. "You're… Bones?" It was obviously a nickname of some sort, but it wasn't like any he had ever heard before.

Booth, for his part, was laughing at the proud way Parker had announced Brennan's nickname. Brennan's cheeks had flushed a light pink as she tried to glare at Booth. Sure, he had used her nickname at different crime scenes, but the people they came in contact with in their line of work were used to Booth's rather unorthodox nickname for Brennan. No one had ever questioned it before, like Parker's soccer coach was doing.

"Bones is what I call her," Booth explained as he ruffled his son's hair. "It has to do with her job."

The simple explanation satisfied the coach, and he gestured for Parker to join the rest of his teammates. Parker hugged his father and his Bones before he ran off to get ready for the game, and that was when Brennan turned to Booth with an arched eyebrow.

"You told me that you like it when I call you Bones," Booth reminded her. "You said it makes you feel special."

Rolling her eyes, Brennan huffed dramatically and had to fight to keep the smile from forming on her face. "I regret ever telling you that," she stated. There was too much affection in her voice for her words to have any real effect, though.

He took her hand and squeezed. "You heard him though, right?" Booth asked. "He called you his Bones."

Brennan had never been one to think of people as possessions, but a warm feeling spread through her chest at the thought of belonging to Parker and Booth. She was a part of their family now, just as much as she was part of her own. And they were a part of her family, too.

"I did," Brennan confirmed, her eyes wide and blue. She squeezed Booth's hand in return, and looked at the way his tan, strong fingers linked with her own paler ones.

Grinning, Booth pressed a sweet kiss to Brennan's lips. He wished that he could give her a deeper kiss, but they were standing in the middle of a soccer field, surrounded by kids and their parents. "And you're right, Bones. You are special," Booth reminded her. "You're extraordinary."

Brennan finally let her smile escape, and she hugged Booth tightly. "I love you," she murmured in his ear.

Closing his eyes, Booth returned her embrace. He knew that she loved him, of course. But there was something about hearing the words from her that really struck something within Booth. "I love you too, Bones."

They slammed into the wall in Booth's bedroom, both of them letting out moans of pleasure when their lower halves came in intimate contact. It was Brennan who had pushed Booth into the wall first, molding her body to his as she kissed him hard, twining her fingers in his hair. Booth gripped her hips and returned her kiss with just as much hunger before he easily spun her, pressing her against that same wall in turn.

Parker's team had won the soccer game, and they had all gone out for burgers and milkshakes to celebrate. Booth had started the teasing, by sliding his hand over Brennan's knee when she had been halfway through eating her veggie burger. Every few minutes, his hand would slide just a little higher up her thigh under the table, getting dangerously close to where she wanted him the most. Well aware of their surroundings and who they were with, though, Booth had been careful not to actually touch her anywhere too inappropriate. He pushed the boundaries just enough, his rough fingertips whispering promises of pleasure to come. Brennan couldn't believe that he had gotten her so worked up with just his hand on her thigh.

When Brennan had completely missed her mouth when she had been trying to take a drink of water, Booth had slid his hand to much safer territory, but still kept it high on her thigh. When they got into the car, Brennan couldn't even properly take her revenge on Booth, since Parker was in the backseat, still chattering about his soccer game and how happy he was that Booth and Brennan had been there.

Once they had actually gotten into the apartment, it was only about fifteen minutes later that Parker had crashed from the excitement and the sugar high, and they had put him to bed. Parker also used a white noise machine when he slept, so Booth and Brennan didn't have a need to keep things especially quiet.

When they had left Parker's bedroom, Brennan had pushed Booth against the wall, kissed him hotly, and slipped her hand into his jeans, wrapping her fingers around him. Booth had hardened instantly and had tried to thrust into her hand, but she had kept her grip light and her fingers teasing. Kissing him again, Brennan had spun away from Booth and raced to the bedroom. She was laughing the whole time, and she heard Booth chuckle behind her.

He had caught up to her easily of course, still laughing. He had nuzzled against her and Brennan had giggled before taking him into her arms. Now here they were, pressed against the wall and panting for one another. Reaching down, Booth hitched Brennan's legs around his hips and ground against her, pressing her harder into the wall. Tilting her head back, Brennan moaned as Booth's lips made their way down her neck. She arched her back, rolling her hips into his as she panted his name.

Booth's lips fastened to her pulse point, and he scraped his teeth gently against it before he sucked lightly. Brennan's hips bucked against Booth's again, and she tugged at his hair in response, making Booth groan.

"Too many clothes," Brennan breathed as she tugged at his gray sweater. She wanted to feel him, all naked and hard and pressed against her. Brennan was convinced that one of the best feelings in the world was having Seeley Booth cover her.

Keeping her pinned to the wall with only his own body weight, Booth raised his arms over his head, allowing Brennan to tug his sweater off. She threw it to the side and ran her hands over his strong, broad chest and his perfect shoulders with relish. Locking her legs even more tightly around his hips, she leaned forward and pressed her lips over his heart. She heard his sharp intake of breath before she moved her lips across his chest, using her tongue and sucking kisses. This time, Booth's gasp was for a different reason.

Then Booth was tugging at her sweater, whipping it off of her so fast that Brennan's head spun. Her bra was gone just as quickly, and then Booth's hands were on her breasts, cupping their fullness in his large palms. His calloused thumbs rubbed in circular motions on her nipples, and Brennan let out a long, low moan.

"Oh, yes, Booth," she breathed as she pressed herself into his capable hands. He kissed her again as he massaged her breasts, and it wasn't long before Brennan was begging against his lips.

"More," she pleaded as she rotated her hips against his. "Please, Booth, I need… more… oh my god…" Brennan trialed off on a cry of pleasure when Booth's hot mouth descended on her left nipple. His lips closed around the peak as he sucked with long pulls of his mouth. Brennan's hands were in his hair again, holding on to him as she chanted his name.

He released her left nipple with an audible "pop" and then just hovered above her breast as he rocked his hips into hers. His tongue snaked out, licking at her, and he looked up at her with hot eyes. "Tell me what you want," he murmured.

"Oh god," Brennan panted. Of course he had figured out that dirty words made her hot. They hadn't ever really talked about it, but he had certainly taken her cues before, and had been very receptive to her reactions when he had talked to her during sex before. Now he was asking for it, and… god, it made Brennan so hot for him.

He lifted his face just enough to lay a deep, passionate kiss on her lips. It was all tongue and teeth, and it made Brennan quiver. "Tell me," Booth repeated.

"Suck me," Brennan gasped. "Oh, please, put your mouth on me and… Ooooh…" Booth's mouth moved over to her other nipple then, pulling it into his hot, wet mouth and using just the right amount of teeth and suction. They were both still wearing their jeans, but that didn't stop the movement of their hips as they rocked against one another with increasing pressure.

"Yes, Booth, yes," Brennan called out as her hips rotated against the hard ridge of his erection. "Oh my god, I'm going to…" Booth was the only one who had ever been able to make her come through layers of clothing, and he was about to do it again.

"You're going to what, baby?" Booth murmured against her breast. He raked his teeth over her nipple and then lifted his head, sucking her bottom lip between his as he claimed her mouth yet again. "You're going to come? You gonna come for me, Bones?"

He pressed harder against her, grinding her completely against the wall of his bedroom as he moved his mouth back down to her breasts. Brennan tightened her grip in his hair as the pressure built between her legs and then suddenly spilled over, making her whole body tremble.

When she came back down, Booth was kissing her gently. He slid his hands under her bottom, supporting her easily, and then spun her towards the bed. He set Brennan down on the mattress and then stepped back to shuck his jeans and boxer shorts off. God, he was so hard that it would barely take one touch from Brennan before he exploded.

Brennan unbuttoned her own jeans and shimmied them down her hips, along with her underwear. She spread her thighs in invitation, and Booth could only watch her as his heart filled with love for the woman that was offering herself to him so trustingly.

"God, Bones," Booth muttered as he crawled on to the bed, covering her body with his. "I love you so much."

With their bodies pressed intimately together, Brennan paused and stared into Booth's eyes. Just as she had after Angela and Hodgins' wedding, Brennan was suddenly struck with just how much Booth meant to her. It was the same feeling, that fullness she always felt in her heart whenever she looked at Booth. He was… he was everything. And she loved him.

"Love you, Booth," Brennan breathed as she wrapped her arms around his neck and tugged him down to her. Her legs parted further, allowing Booth to settle comfortably between her thighs. As she kissed him, Booth rocked forward the slightest bit, allowing the perfect angle so that he could slide easily into Brennan.

They both cried out at the incredible, perfect fit. "Made for me…" Booth gasped as he pressed his hands into the mattress on either side of her body.

"Yes, yes," Brennan whispered in agreement as she rocked up. Her thighs pressed into his sides, and she rolled, effectively putting Booth on his back. He chuckled as she settled over him, pressing her hands to his chest.

"You're amazing, Bones," Booth grunted. His hands griped her hips and he thrust up, overcome with the feel of how wet and tight she was. "God, amazing. You feel… Oh, shit, Bones…"

"How do I feel, Booth?" Brennan asked as she teasingly raised her hips before slowly lowering herself over him once again. His hands spasmed on her hips, holding her tightly against him for a long moment.

"Like heaven," Booth answered, surprising Brennan. He grunted again as he rocked into her, arching his back as his head fell back against the pillows. "Perfect. Oh, God, Bones, you… you feel so perfect…"

Brennan rotated her hips slowly, clenching her inner muscles against his hard length. "I need you, Booth," she panted. She ducked down and pressed her lips to his, kissing him deeply while she crushed her breasts to his chest. Feeling her hard nipples scrape against his broad chest was intoxicating, and Brennan moved against Booth once again.

"Fuck, Bones, yes," Booth hissed between his teeth before he gripped Brennan's hips and flipped her beneath him once again. Brennan gasped in surprise but parted her legs even further, welcoming his weight pressed against her.

And then she was wrapping her arms and legs around him, holding him tightly and deeply against her, in her. "Everything, Booth," Brennan moaned against his lips as she kissed him savagely. Her hips rose up to meet his as he thrust in to her, hard and fast, full of passion and need. "Everything, it's everything…"

Brennan's moans were half-thoughts more than anything else, but as always, Booth understood her perfectly. He gasped the words "yes" over and over again as he moved in her willing body and she rose to meet him. She gave everything to him, just as he did for her. And he was everything for her, just as she was for him.

"You with me, Bones?" Booth murmured against his neck. He was holding on, but just barely. More than anything else, he wanted her with him.

Brennan's eyes flashed, bright and blue, before they darkened to that hue that signaled her release. "With you," she gasped as she began to clench around him. "Always."

With a hoarse shout, Booth lost the last threads of his control and began to piston his hips faster. He tilted against her, rubbing in the most perfect spot. Brennan cried his name out, arms and legs tightening around him as she tumbled over the edge. Her body shook with pleasure, her orgasm going even longer with the feel of Booth coming inside of her.

By the time she had recovered, Booth had already rolled to his back and had pulled Brennan with him. She was sprawled on his chest, the sweat cooling their bodies down. Reaching down, Brennan managed to pull the blankets up to cover them both.

Smiling, Brennan traced her fingers over his chest. Ever since the small explosion in her kitchen, their love making had been intense, filled with meaning. Their connection then had always been amazing, and they had both always felt incredible pleasure, but this was the first time in months that it had been spontaneous and started with laughter. Brennan was looking forward to more moments like that.

Thinking of her apartment made Brennan think of something else. "Booth?"

His hand had been moving languidly over her back, his calloused fingertips tracing soothing patterns. "Hmmm?"

"The contractor called me while you were in the shower today. They said it should take about a month for the repairs."

Booth's hand stilled. "Oh."

While they were still dealing with the investigation with McVicar and Barlow, Brennan's apartment had still been officially designated as a crime scene. Now that the case was over, the FBI had released the apartment to Brennan's landlord, who had begun the repairs. The small bomb had done quite a bit of damage to the structure and the wiring of the wall behind the refrigerator, so the repairs were taking longer than planned.

"Did you… I mean, do you want to…" Trailing off, Booth shifted underneath Brennan. Sensing his tension, she sat up, pulling the blanket up and over her chest. Booth sat up as well, rubbing the back of his neck. With everything going on, he hadn't quite thought about this conversation, or how to have it.

They had essentially been living together since Max and Ruth had received those pictures. Other than a few arguments over Booth leaving wet towels on the bathroom floor, Brennan hogging all of the blankets in bed, or whose job it was to make the coffee in the morning, they had managed their cohabitation pretty seamlessly. Booth thought it had something to do with the fact that they had already spent a good bit of time working together, so they already knew they could compromise.

Taking a deep breath, Booth finally said, "We've pretty much been living together for a few months now."

Eyeing him curiously, Brennan agreed. "We have."

"So… maybe you'd consider just… continuing this living arrangement?"

Booth was trying to remain casual, but there was a bright hopefulness to his eyes that he couldn't hide. Brennan was trying her hardest to hide her smile, sensing that this was actually a rather important moment for them. Booth was just too adorable, and Brennan wanted to throw her arms around his neck and laugh in happiness.

With Brennan's hesitation, Booth began to babble a little. "We don't have to live here, of course. We could live in your apartment. Or we could find an entirely new place, too. I just…" Booth dragged his hand through his hair, making it stand on end. It was even more endearing to see him so disheveled. "I love you, Bones. I want to spend the rest of my life with you."

Suddenly, Brennan launched herself at Booth, sending them both toppling back on the bed. She was laughing, and when she lifted her face from his chest, Booth could see that she was smiling. Hope filled him, and he couldn't hold back his own grin.

"Of course I want to continue living with you, Booth." Leaning forward, Brennan kissed him deeply. Booth got very into it, of course, running his hands down her back and molding her bottom with his hands as he pulled her hips tightly against his. Suddenly, though, Brennan sat up, pressing her hands to Booth's chest as she pulled her lips from his.

"Whoa." Booth blinked at the disappearance of Brennan from his arms. "Where'd you go, Bones?"

"I should move in with you," Brennan said decisively. "You already have everything you need here for Parker, and it makes no sense to disrupt his routine. Then, when we're ready, we can find our own place." She looked very proud of her little plan as she sat up, allowing the sheet to fall down around her waist. She waited expectantly for Booth's response.

"Not saying that I don't like your plan, Bones, but that's what you were thinking about just now? We are naked."

"I know." Grinning, Brennan slowly lowered her body over Booth's once again. His hands were at her hips, and she rocked against him suggestively. "But I've always been excellent at multi-tasking."

With a chuckle, Booth rolled Brennan underneath him. "Let's see what we can do about that, then," he murmured before his lips came down over hers.

Booth generally wasn't one to sleep in. In fact, that was what Brennan did. She didn't really wake up early for work, unless it was absolutely necessary. More often than not, she worked so late that she didn't really have time to sleep before she was up again to work.

So he was surprised to wake up at eight o'clock in the morning with the sun streaming through windows. There was no warm, naked Bones curled up beside him, hogging all of the blankets and taking up a good chunk of space on his side of the bed. He sat up, peering around the bedroom, wondering where Brennan had disappeared to.

He didn't have to wonder long. Booth heard a childish giggle come from somewhere out in the apartment, followed by the sound of Brennan's laughter. A smile began to form on Booth's face as he got out of bed and quickly got dressed. He tugged some socks on to his feet (with red, white, and blue stripes), and made his way out to the kitchen. When he caught sight of his partner and his son, he burst into laughter.

Brennan and Parker looked up at Booth, both with matching "oh, we are so busted" looks on their faces. What really completed the picture, though, was the fact that they were both covered in flour.

"So." Crossing his arms over his chest and smiling, Booth leaned casually against the doorframe. "What'cha guys doing?"

Parker grinned and threw his hands up in the air, causing little clouds of dust to float up in the air. "We're making pie, Daddy!"

"Well, we're trying to, anyway," Brennan added with a sheepish shrug. She brushed some unruly strands of hair out of her face, adding another streak of flour to her hair.

Making his way into the kitchen, Booth ruffled Parker's hair and kissed a clean spot on his forehead. He slung his other arm around Brennan's waist, pulling her close so he could drop a kiss to her lips. She hummed happily, leaning further into his arms.

"Pie for breakfast, Bones?" Booth teased. "I thought you were all about nutritious and complete meals."

"We had breakfast already, Daddy!" Parker exclaimed. He was perched on the counter, sitting cross-legged. He had obviously been helping Brennan measure the dry ingredients, and was clearly having the time of his life doing it.

"We had eggs, toast, and fruit. I made some bacon for Parker, as well," Brennan pointed out primly. She nodded her head towards the oven, which had been set to warm. "We saved some for you."

"So the pie…?"

"Was supposed to be a surprise," Brennan finished. "We were making blueberry pie." Before Booth could tease her about how she didn't like her fruit being cooked, she added, "And the vanilla ice cream would be for me."

Getting an idea, Booth saw that the mess in the kitchen could easily be salvaged. "Hey, why don't we finish making this pie, and then we can have a cookout? We can invite everyone over, go up to the roof, and we'll… well, we can celebrate."

Parker, of course, was quick to agree. "Let's have a party!" he cheered.

With both of the Booth boys grinning at her and looking so excited, there was no possible way Brennan could protest this plan, and she didn't even want to try. Truthfully, getting everyone together to celebrate the end of her family's trying case sounded pretty wonderful.

"Let's do it," Brennan agreed.

By four o'clock that afternoon, the rooftop of Booth's (and now Brennan's, as well) apartment building was full of their friends and family. It was a nice little set up, available for any of the tenants of the building to use: there was a grill, along with a fire pit and several outdoor couches. Someone had set up a little garden, and white lights were strung around the railings of the roof. A corner of the roof was set up for cornhole and giant outdoor jenga, and there were speakers wired for Bluetooth.

Booth and Brennan had invited everyone: Max and Ruth, Amy and Russ and the kids, Angela and Hodgins, Cam and Danny, Wendell and a few other interns, and Aubrey. Sweets was there as well, and everyone was fairly amused to find that he had brought Daisy along as his guest. Rebecca and Brett showed up and had quickly become friends with Russ and Amy. Sully and Perotta had been invited, given how attached they had become to the families they had protected. Amy and Rebecca had immediately started trying to play matchmaker between Perotta and Sully, and it seemed that it was actually working. They were surprised when Cullen and his wife stopped by. Even Brennan had to admit that it was pretty funny to see the deputy director telling old war stories with Max Keenan, the somewhat reformed criminal.

Booth was over at the grill, flipping burgers and hotdogs and salmon and veggies. Danny, Hodgins, and Aubrey were gathered around the grill as well, and all four men were holding beer bottles and talking about the latest Phillies versus Nationals game. Sweets was hovering around them, trying to insert himself in the conversation without being awkward, but failing miserably. Eventually, Aubrey took pity on him and asked Sweets about a video game they both liked.

Over on the other side of the roof with beers of their own in their hands, Cam, Angela, and Brennan watched in amusement. This was the first time that they were all together since the night that Ruth had turned herself over, and they were thrilled with the chance to be able to catch up.

"So are we going to just ignore the fact that you came here with Danny, Cam?" Angela asked without preamble.

Cam wrinkled her nose and took a sip of her beer. "Well, you're certainly not going to ignore it."

"The two of you are looking rather cozy," Brennan added. When Cam shot a glare at her, Brennan smiled unapologetically. For once, it wasn't her relationship with Booth that was being discussed.

"Spill the beans," Angela ordered. "After all that hard work that Bren I did, trying to get you and Danny together during my engagement party, the least you can do is give us a few details."

"You already know that we spent the night together after that," Cam pointed out. "What more could you want to know?" At this point, she was really just teasing. The truth was, Cam was blissfully happy with Danny now, and she glad that her friends had pushed her to go after him.

"Cam, seriously!" Angela whined while Brennan laughed.

"Alright, alright. The truth is, we haven't spent a night apart since your engagement party. With everything that's happened with your family…" Cam turned suddenly serious eyes on Brennan. "Well… we've pretty much decided that life is too short not to go after what you want. Danny and I already tried to stay separated, and we're just not very good at it. No thanks to our meddling friends," she finished with a wry look.

Booth suddenly appeared, and he wrapped his arms around Brennan's waist and pulled her back against his chest. He had caught the end of their conversation and said, "You're welcome, Camille."

"Don't call me Camille, Seeley," Cam sniped, even though she did it with a smile. Brennan and Angela might have pushed her to be with Danny, but it was Booth who had introduced them in the first place.

"Don't call me Seeley," Booth returned immediately.

"Bren, do you ever call Booth Seeley?" Angela suddenly asked. She waggled her eyebrows suggestively. "I mean, you could do it in your more intimate moments…"

Brennan thought seriously for a moment about what it would be like to call out the name Seeley in the throes of passion. It just didn't seem… right to her. She had nothing against Booth's given name, of course, but he was just… Booth to her. Brennan thought about the way that Booth moaned his own given nickname for her, and a shiver danced up her spine. She loved the way he called her Bones, and she loved the way he said it to her, in whatever way he said it. She couldn't ever imagine him calling her Temperance in bed, and frankly, she didn't want him to.

Booth shuddered dramatically. "No thank you," he muttered. He didn't hate his name, but once he had heard Brennan moan Booth in her husky voice for the first time, there was no way he was going to go back.

"He's just Booth to me," Brennan explained as she reached up and patted his cheek affectionately. Then, winking, she said, "I only call him Seeley Booth when I'm angry."

Aubrey appeared too, slinging his arm around Booth's shoulders. "What are we mad at Seeley Booth for?" he asked. "Is it because the burgers aren't done yet?"

Booth narrowed his eyes in a glare and shoved Aubrey with one arm, the way an older sibling would do to a younger one. "Call me Seeley one more time," he threatened while Angela, Cam, and Brennan laughed. Booth's glare turned into a pout as he turned towards his partner. "Come on, Bones! You're supposed to back me up here!"

Even as she tried to look serious, Brennan was unable to hold her laughter back. "I already told them that I only like to call you Booth. What more do you want from me?"

Booth rolled his eyes but ducked down to kiss Brennan anyway. Now both of them were smiling against each other's lips as they kissed.

Another ten days passed quietly, most of which Brennan and Booth spent with Parker. They spent two days with Russ, Amy, the kids, and Max and Ruth before they spent the last three days having a long weekend to themselves.

Parker had pretty much figured that his dad was living with his Bones anyway, so he was thrilled when they announced that they would be looking for a bigger place soon, and he'd be getting a new room. The two days spent with the Keenan/Brennan family were equally as lovely, and it went a long way in healing the lingering tension between Max and Ruth and their children. Brennan had told Max that she had kept the stuffed dolphin that he had returned to her, and that it was currently in her office, perched on one of the bookshelves that typically housed priceless artifacts. Ruth had even taken the opportunity to finally pass down the dolphin ring to her daughter.

Brennan had felt a small bit of shame as she remembered the conversation with her father just days before, when she had refused to accept the ring. The shame increased when she thought about the fact that she was supposed to have inherited that ring when she was eighteen, but she had been too angry then, too.

"Mom," Brennan had whispered as Ruth placed the ring in her daughter's right palm and folded her fingers around it. "Are you sure you want me to have this?"

"Of course I want you to have it," Ruth had responded with a motherly, gentle smile. "I've wanted you to have this ring since the day you turned eighteen, and every day after that. And now… now you can pass it on to your own daughter, whenever you're ready."

Finally accepting the ring, Brennan had slipped it onto the third finger of her right hand and then hugged her mother tightly. Max had watched them with tears in his eyes, while Booth was proud.

Then Booth and Brennan had their long weekend together, where they made love often and talked about their future. They discussed continuing the work they had started as partners, each agreeing that they could really make a difference in the world if they combined their talents. They had even discussed marriage.

It wasn't as if Brennan had ever been explicitly against marriage, exactly. She had just always been afraid of giving that much of herself to another person, the way her mother had to her father. Ruth had been so devoted to Max that she had been willing to break the law for him. For thirty years, their whole family had been in danger because of those choices. And through it all, Ruth still loved Max with everything in her. Brennan had always wondered what it would be like to give so much of herself to another person. Would she have made the same choices her mother had, or would she take a different route?

It wasn't long before Brennan came to terms with the fact that those hypothetical questions didn't matter. Brennan very easily realized that she already was that devoted to Booth. There was absolutely nothing that she wouldn't do for him. She would fight with him, for him, would lay her life down for his and would love him with everything in her. Hell, she would break the law for him if she needed to. Seeley Booth owned her, which was fine, since she knew that she owned him as well.

And he would do all those same things for her.

In the end, Booth had pulled Brennan close and said, "It doesn't matter to me, Bones, as long as we're together. If you want to get married tomorrow, I'm there. If you want to get married twenty years from now, I'm there. And even if you don't…" He had taken a deep breath. "We'd be together anyway."

Brennan's brow had furrowed. "You'd be okay with that?" she whispered as she touched his cheek. She didn't truly believe that she would absolutely never want to be married, but she still wanted to know. Just in case.

"I really would," Booth confirmed. He kissed her then, sweetly. "I love you, Bones. I'd never ask you to change. I don't want you to change."

Finding herself at a loss for words, Brennan had kissed him deeply, and then they had gotten otherwise distracted when both of their hands had traveled along one another's bodies. All serious conversation had been forgotten in favor of more pleasurable pursuits.

Later, Brennan had been trying to catch her breath as she rested sprawled against Booth's chest. He had stroked his hands over her back as he jokingly said, "Besides, I think you're going to ask me to marry you, anyway."

For now, that was enough for both of them. Then that following Monday, Brennan had only been at the Jeffersonian for an hour before Booth had strolled into her office, fully dressed in her favorite gray charcoal suit. He was grinning at her as he tucked his hands into his pockets and rocked back on his heels. Then, his eyes narrowed.

"How's your arm?" he asked by way of greeting.

Brennan rolled her eyes dramatically. "As I've told you quite a few times before, Booth, it's fine. It hardly even twinges anymore." She was fibbing and he knew it, but Brennan was tired of Booth asking about her minor wound. He asked her about it every day and insisted on checking the progression of healing. For the most part, Brennan thought it was sweet. Right now, though, it was annoying.

Booth was grinning at her again, after having decided to take her at her word. "We've got a case, Bones."

This was it, then. This was the true start to their partnership, now that they didn't have to worry about her parents' case on top of their work. "A case? Where?"

"In the woods out in Virginia," Booth told her. "So I hope you've got some boots to go along with that fancy Jeffersonian jumpsuit of yours."

"I'm always prepared, Booth," Brennan told him in that clinical voice she got. She scooped up her bag and followed Booth out of the lab and to his SUV.

"I've got a tech team out there already," Booth began, and when he saw the look on Brennan's face, he held a hand up. "Don't worry, they haven't touched your remains. I figured you could take a look at the scene first, and then we'll call the rest of your squint squad out there."

Brennan wrinkled her nose. "We can't just bring them with us now?"

"It's pretty deep in the woods," Booth explained. "And we already had half the tech team get lost trying to find the site. The less people we have out there right now, the better. We'll be able to get markers for a trail set up by the time we're ready for your squints."

"How deep in the woods is it, exactly?" Brennan asked, curious.

"You'll see," Booth said. He opened the passenger door for Brennan and waited as she settled herself inside. "And guess what? Apparently these woods are haunted."

"Haunted?" Now Brennan laughed outright as she buckled her seatbelt. "Booth, there is no such thing as ghosts."

"I don't know, Bones," he teased. Leaning forward, he kissed her quickly before he shut the car door and went around to the driver's side. "You ever hear the story about Maggie Cinders?"

Brennan's brow furrowed. "I don't know what that means."

Chuckling, Booth turned the car on and pulled out onto the road. Working cases with Brennan was sure going to be interesting.

Five days later, they had solved the case. The victim had been a young film student named Graham Hastings, who had done a project with several friends in the woods that was reminiscent of The Blair Witch Project. They had found footage of the unfinished film to go through, and Angela had not been thrilled, to say the least.

Their suspects had been the film teacher, one of the victim's friends, and the victim's brother, Will. Booth had had a bad feeling about the brother from the start, and his gut feeling was only proven when he watched the older brother of Graham flirt shamelessly with Brennan. Brennan, for her part, had been oblivious to the flirting—at least until Cam and Angela had pointed it out to her. Brennan explained to Booth that she felt there was something off about Will, and Booth agreed with her. In the end, it had been Will that had killed Graham, and then he had made the incident look like the legend of Maggie Cinders. The guy had truly gone insane and claimed that Maggie Cinders had really done it, was the one that made Will kill Graham, and was after him too.

The night they solved the case, Booth and Brennan entered their apartment. They made quite the successful pair, and they already had a reputation for being professional while on the job. Cullen had explained to them that as long they kept attending sessions with Sweets—at least in the beginning—Booth and Brennan could continue to work together while they maintained their romantic relationship.

"I knew it," Booth said as he put his service piece into the safe behind his bookshelf. "See, Bones? I told you that it was the creepy older brother. I didn't like him from the start."

Heading into the kitchen, Brennan grabbed a beer from the fridge for both her and Booth. "I didn't like him either," Brennan reminded Booth. "And the advances he made towards me while we were investigating his brother's murder made me rather uncomfortable."

Booth grunted in response, but otherwise didn't comment. It had been a long five days for all of them. They'd had to watch that rather terrifying video more than once, had to go hiking in the woods with all those creepy little eye figurines hanging in the trees, and had to listen to Graham Hastings' sociopathic older brother hit on Brennan.

Pressing her lips together, Brennan tried to hide her smile. Booth had displayed his alpha male tendencies more than once while around Will Hastings, and while Brennan felt that there was no need for it, she couldn't deny that she had also been rather aroused by it. Now that they were home and the case was over, she could finally act on it.

"Your alpha male displays were unnecessary," Brennan began as she slowly crossed the kitchen towards Booth. He had been leaning against the kitchen counter, and Brennan pressed her body to his as she slipped her arms around his neck. "You're the only one I want, you know."

"I know," Booth grumbled, though his eyes had darkened considerably at Brennan's admission. True, he had known it all along, but it was still nice to hear Brennan say it out loud. He kissed her lightly, his lips briefly skating against hers. "Do you want me to prove it to you?"

A slow smile spread across Brennan's lips as she remembered Booth saying those exact words to her almost four months ago, when he was injured and trying to prove to her that no matter what, he would always be by her side. It had worked then, so it was no surprise that it would work now.

"If you're not too tired," Brennan teased as she slid her hands up his broad chest. She pushed his suit jacket off of his shoulders, allowing it to fall to the floor of the kitchen. With a smirk, Booth took her hands and led her into the bedroom. He kicked the door shut before he turned to face her, and he was surprised by the look of complete and utter desire in her eyes.

"Bones?" Booth questioned. He wasn't sure he had ever seen that look of naked hunger in her eyes before. Frankly, it made him instantly hard. He put his hands on his hips, but he noticed that her stormy eyes were trained on his shoulders.

"Have you been wearing that all day?" Brennan asked. Her voice was a slow and husky murmur, and she slowly crossed the bedroom until she was standing right in front of him. She was close enough that every time she exhaled, her chest brushed against his.

Confused, Booth asked, "Wearing what?" It wasn't like she had never seen him wear a suit for work before.

"That." Lifting one hand, Brennan traced her fingers over the brown leather of his shoulder holster. Her eyes darkened, and she licked her lips.

"Oh. Yeah." Booth supposed that in all the months they lived together, he hadn't worn his shoulder holster. He went through his different holsters every few months or so, just to change things up. Although given the way Brennan was looking at him, Booth was seriously considering switching to the shoulder holster entirely.

"It's… God, Booth." Brennan lifted her other hand, gripped the straps of the holster, and hauled Booth forward until his body was pressed against the length of hers. "It's so hot."

Even as he rocked into her, Booth couldn't help but laugh. "Did you just say that I'm hot, Bones?" He slid his hands down her back, palming her bottom and drawing her even closer to him. "I thought that such basic descriptors were beneath you."

"I can appreciate the vernacular," Brennan said on a moan. God, feeling Booth all hard and read against her was enough to drive her insane. "Especially when it's true."

Booth tried to duck his head down to kiss her, but was surprised when Brennan pushed on his chest and sent him sprawling back on the bed. He sat up and tried to reach for her, but Brennan put a hand to his chest, shook her head once, and then stepped back just out of his reach. The indication was clear: Booth needed to stay still, with his hands to himself.

She moved slowly, deliberately, with her eyes never leaving his. First, she pulled her blouse over her head and let it drop to the floor. Booth's lips parted as he took in her jet black lace bra, his own eyes going nearly black as she skimmed her fingers over her breasts, down her stomach, and to the waistband of her jeans.

Brennan paused for half a second before she undid the buttons on her jeans and slid them down her legs. Booth licked his lips when he saw the matching, lacy black panties, and a smile formed on Brennan's lips. She stepped forward and Booth's legs parted, creating a space for her to get close to him. Unable to help himself, Booth brought his hands up to rest them on Brennan's hips. She gave him a look, and he quickly got the message: keep his hands there until she told him otherwise.

She went for his pants first, undoing his belt buckle, then the button and the zipper. Booth lifted his hips to help Brennan guide them down his legs, along with his boxer briefs. Booth kicked them off and out of the way, noticing that Brennan's eyes were still trained on his shoulder holster.

Brennan's nimble fingers slowly began undoing the buttons on his white dress shirt. Each time her fingers brushed against his skin, Booth swore he got harder. It was taking everything in him to be still, only touching her hips. Booth could see the swirling blues of her eyes, and knew how much this was turning her on.

Brennan parted Booth's shirt then, exposing the broad expanse of his chest. She didn't try to push the shirt off of his shoulders, and she didn't try to push the holster off either. Brennan was obviously keeping them on for a reason, and Booth groaned when she ran her hands over his bare chest.

They moved together, until Booth was fully reclined on the bed. Brennan straddled his hips, rubbing against the delicious hardness she could feel beneath her. Her hands continued to stroke over the planes of his chest and his defined abdomen, and then she was falling forward so that she could kiss him.

Groaning in delight, Booth ran his hands over her back and tangled them in Brennan's hair. He crushed her mouth to his, stroking her tongue hungrily with his own. Then Brennan's mouth left his, skated quickly down his neck, and landed on his chest. She placed deep, sucking kisses all over his golden skin, all the while keeping up a subtle rocking motion with her hips.

"Shit, Bones," Booth grunted. He rocked up and his hands were at her back again, quickly undoing the clasp of her bra. Brennan sat up enough to allow him to slide it down her arms, and then she moaned in appreciation when he cupped her breasts.

Booth's thumbs rubbed over her nipples, and Brennan threw her head back, crying his name out. She pressed harder down against him, wetness pooling mindlessly between her legs. Booth lifted his head, attaching his lips to one nipple as his hands fell to her waist once again. This time, he didn't waste any time—he ripped the delicate lace of her panties and tossed it away. They both moaned in ecstasy as her soft center came in contact with his hard length.

"Bones, please," Booth pleaded. He wasn't sure how much longer he could take this. Luckily, she was on the same page as him, and she lifted her hips, positioned him at her entrance, and sank down.

"Oh, yes!" Brennan gasped out as her hips began to swivel. She ran her hands up Booth's chest again, and then over the starched material of his dress shirt. Then, her fingers were hooking through the leather of his shoulder holster, and she was using it as leverage to lift her hips up and down. She moaned his name repeatedly, gasping "Yes!" and "Oh, oh, oh!" in between.

Booth could only hold on to Brennan's hips as she moved over him, and he rocked in to her as he chanted her name over and over again. Her thighs pressed tighter on either side of his hips, and Booth groaned throatily. "Yes, Bones," he panted. "Fuck me, baby."

Brennan, for her part, was completely enthralled with the way Booth was spread underneath her, still with his shirt and holster on. She was in awe with the way he had given her complete control without asking any questions, and she could feel a spectacular release quickly approaching. She gasped at his words, pressing down harder against him, moving her hips that much faster. Booth shouted her name in encouragement, moving his body in perfect time with hers.

He tilted her hips, adjusting her in just the right way. Brennan's release slammed into her, and she screamed Booth's name as she held on tightly to his holster. Booth was helpless to follow her over the edge, his fingers digging into her hips as he jerked up into her.

When Brennan finally came back to herself, she was sprawled across Booth's chest. Her fingers were still locked in his holster, and she loosened them with a slightly sheepish—but mostly unapologetic—smile.

"I really like this holster," she finally admitted with a pink flush to her cheeks.

Booth just watched her for a moment, his eyes warm and bright. And then he began to laugh. Once he started, he didn't seem to be able to stop. He just kept going, with the sound of his full, happy laughter rumbling under Brennan's ear. His arms tightened around her, squeezing her sweetly to his chest.

"Oh, Bones," he murmured when he finally caught his breath. He tapped the tip of Brennan's nose with his finger. "You're cute."

Before Brennan could admonish him for calling her cute once again, she yawned in a rather huge and somewhat embarrassing manner. Booth smiled indulgently at his partner and tapped her nose with the tip of his finger.

"Let's take a nap," he suggested.

"A nap?" Brennan repeated incredulously, even as she yawned again. "Booth, we haven't even had dinner yet!"

"So? It's Friday," Booth pointed out. "Let's take a nap, and then we can order some takeout. By the way, we really need to go food shopping." Trips to the grocery store always tended to fall by the wayside when they were working a case, and they basically lived on takeout.

Brennan smiled at the way Booth casually mentioned they had to go food shopping. It was so simple, so domestic. Food shopping with Booth was equal parts exasperating and fun, as well—he always managed to distract her and sneak things in the cart that they didn't need, and while she was partly annoyed, Brennan always ended up laughing in the end.

Booth's warm hands stroked over her back, and the lazy caresses made Brennan's eyes droop sleepily. "Alright," she murmured as she allowed her eyes to flutter shut. "But just a short nap."

Booth chuckled again, and his arms tightened around her as he promised to wake her up in a reasonable amount of time. Sure enough, an hour and a half later, Brennan woke to sweet kisses pressed to her cheek and jaw. She wrinkled her nose playfully as her mind slowly came awake, and she pretended to push Booth away.

He laughed, burying his face in her neck while he teasingly nipped at the soft skin there. Brennan giggled when the day's worth of stubble on his jaw tickled her, and after a few moments, Booth let up enough so that she could roll away from him. Brennan pulled on a pair of cotton boy shorts and one of Booth's Eagles t-shirts. When she turned around, she was surprised to find that Booth was watching her with a rather adoring look on his face.

"What?" Brennan asked as she smoothed her hands down the shirt.

Booth's gaze suddenly grew serious. "I always knew."

Brennan's brow furrowed in that way that Booth had fallen in love with. "Knew what?"

He reached up and tenderly stroked some of her hair back from her face. "You know when you talk to older couples who have been together for thirty or forty or fifty years? It's always the guy who said, 'I knew.' I knew, Bones. Right from the beginning."

For just a moment, Brennan thought about her parents. She thought about her father, and how he always seemed to know that no matter what, Ruth would always be by his side. She thought about her mother, and how she loved Max in that unconditional way Brennan had always secretly hoped to love someone. And then she smiled, because… well, she did love someone like that.

"From the beginning?" Brennan questioned. She remembered that day almost as if it were yesterday. Really, though, months have passed between now and then. That day that she had received the phone call that her father had been arrested… it had changed her life.

Booth's lips feathered over Brennan's in the kind of kiss lovers had been sharing for years. "I'm that guy, Bones. I'm that guy." He smiled fondly. "That day you stomped into the Hoover, all pissy, insisting that I was so wrong for arresting your father—"

"Well, you were wrong!" Brennan insisted stubbornly. Her chin jutted out, and Booth kissed it.

"I didn't actually arrest your dad, you know," Booth reminded her patiently. "Anyway, the pointed I'm trying to make… I knew. From that very first moment."

Reaching up, Brennan touched Booth's cheek. She looked into those eyes she loved so much and said, "You know, at the beginning… I wasn't sure that I had your kind of open heart."

"Oh, Bones. You do have an open heart. You have such a big heart, and sometimes I think that you don't even realize it."

Brennan knew that Booth was telling her truth. He would never lie to her, especially not about something as important as this. She trailed her fingers down the curve of his cheek, over the column of his throat, across his chest, and settled over where his heart beat. "I was always a little afraid," Brennan admitted quietly. "I wasn't sure…" Trailing off, she sighed and shook her head. "You are my home, Booth."

The smile that Booth gave her was devastating. He rolled Brennan underneath him, blanketing her body completely with his. "You're my home too, Bones."

This chapter was really hard to write for some reason. Either way, this will lead into the epilogue… which, fair warning, will be fairly fluffy. I'm a firm believer in happy endings! The epilogue will likely be long, with a time jump. But don't worry, I'll put plenty of flashbacks in there.

Also, I almost put the whole suspenders thing in the next chapter. But I kind of liked it here, yes? :)