Long list of thank yous. Bear with me. bookwormlady, JAG'ed Bones in the Casckett, Phyllis (no worries, glad you're all caught up), ZinaR, 554Laura (yup B&B's unique way of saying it), MstgSzy, RobinAngelena, GalaxieGurl (lol at least Brennan didn't turn out too badly injured), LoveShipper, FaithinBones, Vmf447 (probably won't happen in my stories so you don't have to worry about that), regbride12 (I just saw your review for Secrets, and now I'm adding to this story *wink*), kareneb, gatewatcher, yoshimi0701, mendenbar, adorkablesalad and guests, thank you so much for the very kind words.

Re-watched "Mayhem on the Cross" and remembered this line by Gordon Gordon to Sweets. I remember wondering who he was referring to. It could be either Booth or Brennan, but I'm more inclined to think that it's Booth. Brennan had grown so much through the seasons but back in Season 4, I think she wasn't self-aware enough for Gordon Gordon to say this, " Yes, one of them is acutely aware of that attraction. Struggles with it daily as a matter of fact." (Feel free to disagree with my interpretation of this)

So this is my one-shot, inspired by those two lines.

Hidden Attraction

Booth whistled as he worked, a reflection of his cheerful mood on a hot Saturday morning. Mindful that Hank was trying to be a big boy and help Daddy, Booth was careful to ensure that little hands were nowhere near before he hammered a nail into the board. Satisfied, he stood, wiping the sweat from his brow.

Hank looked up at him. "Done Daddy?"

Booth grinned down at his three-year-old son. "Yeah almost. I think we'll have the extension to the treehouse ready by next week."

"Can I go up to play?"

"Only if you do as you promised."

"Wait for Daddy?"

"Yeah. You're still too little to be climbing up that treehouse on your own."

"I promise."

"That's my boy." Booth reached down to ruffle Hank's hair with a gloved hand.

"I'm hungry."

"You know what? Me too." Booth removed his work gloves throwing them onto the ground next to his toolbox. He held out one hand to Hank.

"It's almost time for lunch anyway, let's go inside and see what the girls are up to."

As they approached the house Booth could already guess what his two favorite women were doing.

Inhaling exaggeratedly, he grinned down at Hank. "Smells good huh?"

"Cookies!" Hank exclaimed excitedly.

Booth and Hank entered the house. Brennan and Christine were busy in the kitchen.

"Smells awesome in here Pumpkin."

"Thanks Daddy."

"Cookie." Hank immediately said.

"These are for dessert Hank. We should have lunch first." Brennan explained.

"Hungry!" Hank whined.

"You can have just one cookie before lunch." Christine replied her brother.

"Christine…" Brennan warned as she slid the tray containing a second batch of chocolate chip cookies into the oven.

"One cookie's fine Bones. Besides it's gonna be a little while more before lunch is ready right?"

"Fine. But you've been helping Daddy. You need to go get cleaned up first. Christine you too. You've got flour all over you. Take your brother and go help him wash his hands and get changed into clean clothes. By the time you're both back, the first batch of cookies should have cooled enough to eat. But only one each."

"Okay Mommy. C'mon Hank."

Booth watched as his children disappeared down the hall. Finally alone, Booth approached Brennan who was preparing to stir-fry some vegetables for lunch. She already had a pot of pasta that was boiling on the hob next to the frying pan. He grabbed her hips pulling her away from the stove. He pushed her not so gently against the island counter, pressing a searing kiss to her lips.

"Booth!" She admonished as they broke the kiss, a little perplexed at his sudden show of passion. "I'm in the middle of cooking lunch."

"Sorry, I just find you so hot in Mommy-mode."

Brennan laughed. "You're not so bad yourself. Your shirt is damp from perspiration and showing your impressive musculature nicely."

"Yeah? Think we have time for a quickie?"

"I don't think it would take long for the children to be back clamouring for their lunch. Perhaps later tonight we can continue to explore these feelings."

"I'd like that."

Booth rested a hand playfully on her behind as she returned her attention to making lunch.

"I'm glad we finally got together Bones." He sighed contentedly, standing next to her as he reached a hand to stir the pot that the pasta was cooking in.

"Me too."

"You know there was a time way back in our partnership when I started to realize I was falling for you."

"And when was that?"

"I can't really put a finger on exactly when, but you know the first time we met, our first case?"

"Yes. The Gemma Arrington case."

"I thought you were hot back then already."

"You wanted to have sex with me."

"Hey you did too… until… you slapped me."

Brennan laughed. "I'm sorry I did."

Booth shrugged. "It was wrong of me to grab you. I didn't know you had issues with your Dad then and I mentioned him."

"Yes, the reminder of my father whom I had not seen in years certainly enraged me."

"After we started being partners again, I realized what an amazing person you were and I fell in love with you."

"But you didn't say anything."

"I couldn't. You weren't ready. You didn't believe in love. I was afraid if I said anything you'd run and I'd lose your friendship."

"You changed my mind about love."

"I did didn't I?" Booth grinned smugly at her. "Back then, every morning, I'd wake up wishing I could tell you, show you, how much I wanted to be with you, how much I loved you. But I couldn't. It was hard, keeping it all inside. Every case we worked together, I struggled. I had to keep everything I felt inside. Some days it felt as if I'd burst if I didn't tell you."

"Until your coma dream."

"Yeah. After you read me your book, I told myself you wanted to be with me too. I mean, why else would you write about us being a married couple right?"

"I didn't realize it at the time but you're right. I wanted us to be together, only didn't want to admit it. On hindsight, perhaps my book was an expression of my innermost desires that I was afraid to face."

"Then Sweets dared me…"

"And you told me how you felt outside the Hoover that night…"

"And the rest is history."

"Good history."

"And what you wrote came true. We're married now with two beautiful children. Looking back, I'm glad that now, I don't have to wake up every morning trying to stop myself from telling you how I feel. Don't have to keep all those feelings hidden anymore. I can tell you all the time now. I love you Bones."

"Aww… I love you too Booth."

The sound of laughter and running approached. Their children were back.

"Cookie! Hank demanded.

"You gotta be polite little man." Booth turned to face his little boy.

"Cookie please Daddy?" Hank asked, looking up at Booth with his large brown eyes.

"You know Bones with eyes like that I bet girls will find him hot when he grows up."

"Like you." Brennan teased as she handed Hank a cookie. "That's good asking Hank."

"Can I have one too?" Christine asked.

"Here." Booth handed her one, before popping one into his mouth. "These are good." Booth said as he munched on his cookie.

"That's all you're getting. Lunch would be ready soon. Why don't you two go play for a little while in the family room?"

"Okay Mommy!" Christine took Hank's hand, leading him to their toys.

"You know what Bones? Just looking at you, at them… everything's perfect. There's no other place I'd rather be than now, right here in the present with you three."

"Me too Booth. This present moment is very, very nice."

"Mine!"

"No Hank, we're supposed to share!"

"No mine!"

"Mommy! Daddy! Hank's being mean!"

Booth sighed, still smiling. "Well, I could do with less of that…"

Brennan laughed. "Hank's hungry and tired. I better get him fed then put him down for his nap."

"You're really hot in Mommy-mode." Booth said, leaning over to plant a kiss to her cheek.

"You already told me."

"Daddy!" Christine's distressed cries grew louder.

"Mommy!" Hank did not want to be outdone by his sister.

"I got this. You'd better finish makin' lunch before World War 3 starts."