Dear readers,

Sorry for the long wait!

Enjoy!

"Bones?" he grumbled sleepily. "What's wrong?"

"I know there is a lot that I don't know and I accept my own ignorance. My heart has been very clear though," she whispered softly. "I love you. I don't know what happened in the past and why I didn't love you then. But you loved me. Let me love you back," she whispered bravely. "No more hiding. I think we need to talk."

That certainly got his attention and Booth sat up slowly. "I don't quite understand what you're saying, Joy," Booth spoke up softly and very confused. "Did you remember something?" he asked hopefully. "Did something return?" He reached for her and when she sat down next to him on the couch, their fingers intertwined instantly, almost as if they had a mind of their own.

She shook her head as she gently squeezed his warm, dry hand, covering his with her own, "No, Booth, I haven't remembered anything else. I fear Dr Sweets may be right and that I will never remember anything from my past life. The life with you. And that makes me a little sad but..." she paused, hoping he wouldn't take this the wrong way. "It also brings me hope. For us. For this you and this me. I trust you. I can feel you're mine and that I'm yours. And I know that there is a lot of history between us, but since I can't remember that and you can't bring it back to life for me, I was hoping that we could maybe share a future instead?"

Her voice was soft and gentle and every single one of her words wormed it's way into his heart, where they sniffed around, poked and prodded a bit at old and fresh wounds, before they settled as what they were. The truth. He nodded. "I'd like that, Joy," he smiled. It was hard for him, he had to admit it, even if he only admitted it to himself. Calling her Joy was painful, seeing their entire past in her eyes was even worse, but the promise of a future.. that made the ache bearable. He was still reeling from her first emotional reveal when her second request hit him like a ton of bricks.

He understood and seemed inclined to agree with her. To try and create a future with her. That would make her next request all the more easier to acquiesce to for him then, shouldn't it? So she cleared her throat and put everything back on thin ice. "I want to go back home now. Back to Washington DC."

His heart skipped a beat as he looked up, alarmed by her casual tone. He knew that casual tone all too well, it usually meant she knew she was holding a winning hand and would play it to perfection. "What? No! It is still dangerous for you out there!"

She sighed when he resisted and gently pulled her hand free as she stood and started to pace. "Why not? I am not going to get my memory back, but I'll damn well get my family back. I've been having dreams about Angela and conversations we might have. Or maybe we've already had them, I don't know! I've been cooped up here for months on end and I will no longer stay here when there is no chance of me getting my memory back like this." She stopped and whirled around to face him. "And what about you? Huh? Parker? Your job? He is a part of who you are, he is your son and he needs you. The same way you need your job. You are miserable here with me. We can't keep dwelling in the past if we are willing to move on into the future."

And she had him there. Cause months had passed since he'd gone to her funeral. The FBI was no closer to finding the active gang member responsible for this and his paid leave would be ending soon. The truth was, they had been at this stalemate for too long already. It was time to get moving again. One slow, painful step at a time. "This might not be as easy as you think. Your appartment was sold, the vacancy you left at the Jeffersonian has been filled and our friends and family are going to be furious with us when they find out," he warned her.

Taking a deep breath, she approached him again and tenderly cupped his cheeks. "Yes, but aren't you happier knowing the truth? That I'm alive? That you can talk to me? See me? Hold me? Love me?"

Booth tried to swallow down the lump in his throat and only barely succeeded. "Of course I am, darling, don't doubt that." He whispered as he pulled her closer to him, encircling her waist with his arms, holding her close.

"Then give our friends and family a chance to decide whether they can forgive my father for his schemes. I'll always be home with you Booth, but this," she gestured to the small cabin, "This isn't home."

Booth nodded and leaned towards her. When she didn't pull away, he kissed her, pouring all of his love, desperation, hope and gratitude into their union as he held her tightly to his chest. When their lips finally separated, he rested his forehead against hers. "Pack your things," he panted softly, "We're going home."

Hey lovely readers! Next one... the reunion!

Hope you enjoyed it!

WHAK

AbsyntheFather