Reality Check

Disclaimer: I do not own The song 'Nice n' Easy – it is actually wonderfully sung by Frank Sinatra, a great singer indeed – this probably makes me sound like an old fogie but you never get people that sing like him anymore :(

Author's Notes

This will be my favorite chapter to write! The idea came from a fanfiction called 20 months by Machine, I loved the dance that Buffy and Spike had to Nice 'n' Easy so I am using the same song but for a slightly different purpose (plus I love Frank Sinatra and that song particularly)

-I wrote another chapter that was going to go in the place of this one as a sad ending, I have to say thanx to Machine for the idea or I would not be writing this, and I really prefer it this way

This might not be the end, if it isn't there will be just 1 more chapter to wrap it up XD

Tempe was curled in an armchair, comfortable and as content as Birdie who purred softly from his position on her lap, things had been going well considering the mess her life had been not so long ago, Rebecca had called earlier to say how much fun Parker had had when he had been out with her and ask if Tempe could look after him again on Saturday because she had a double shift at work, Tempe of course had promptly accepted. It was strange how one little boy could make her feel so happy with herself again, maybe it was just a family trait. Parker had also not been wrong about getting a cat, Birdie had provided her with companionship for the past week and there was the added feeling of responsibility to something that wasn't dead which was always a bonus. She smiled as she set her book on the arm of the chair and tickled behind Birdie's soft ear, the cat's large green eyes closed in bliss, both pet and owner were warm and sleepy, Tempe had slight hunger gnawing at her but was much too comfortable to move, her limbs molded into the chair cushions, all relaxed apart from the hand which was now enjoying the soft sensation of fur against skin, her eyes drooped, just resting, she would have to get up in a minute, just a minute, just a rest…

Gentle music drew her towards an empty ballroom, large walls surrounded the wooden floor meeting at a decorative ceiling from which hung a sparkling glass chandelier, just ahead of her Frank Sinatra stood on the stage swaying to the notes of the band behind him, Tempe looked down to find herself dressed in an indigo ball gown patterned with explosions of glitter, the setting was breathtakingly beautiful, too much of a contrast from her usual nightly torture to not have a purpose, she span around in awe, trying to take in all her surroundings until

'You like the setting then?' she tripped and fell into the arms of…Booth

"Let's take it nice 'n' easy
It's gonna be so easy for us to fall in love
Hey, baby, what's your hurry?
Relax 'n' don't you worry, we're gonna fall in love"

She did not know what to say, she stared into the eyes of the man she loved – this was cruel, her mind luring her into false pretences and then hitting her in the heart with a look into the eyes she had lost, she remembered the conversation she had had with Angela; "Every night Angela, every night I save him, and then every morning I have to wake up to a world where he isn't there" she broke away and ran, tried to get away, escape from her mind, escape from Booth, she couldn't loose him again

'Bones, wait,' His smile fell as he ran after her, she stumbled and fell with a thud on the floor, there she lay not moving, just crying, not looking at him, trying to forget those eyes, that look

'What's wrong?' he came to her level and placed his arm softly on her shoulder, his touch was so real, she shied away

'This isn't fair, I can't loose you again, not again,' she sobbed, the music went on softly behind her but Frank did not sing

'Bones,' he hooked his finger below her chin and guided her face towards his, her eyes still did not look at him though 'You never lost me, I was always there and I always will be there,' her eyes locked back onto his, his face was serious, every detail exactly as she remembered

'Am I…Is this just a dream?' she whimpered, wanting so desperately to throw her arms around him, to hug him, to kiss him, feel his body against hers.

'Not quite, I am here…sort of, to give you the closure you need, to spend the night with you,' he held out his hand, she paused still not knowing what she wanted, his eyes were so inviting she just had to reach forward… she took his hand and he helped her up, into his arms

'There Bones, don't cry,' he brought his hand to her face and with his finger brushed away her tears, the touch sent electricity through her body and she could not longer resist, she threw her arms around him and took his break away with a passionate kiss which took both beyond the dream and in into each other, truly and deeply

'I missed you so much!' she choked once they had broken apart

"We're on the road to romance, that's safe to say
but let's make all the stops along the way"

'Would you like to dance Temperance?' his look and his body replied for him "I missed you too" as Frankie began to sing once more, she nodded, echoing his smile as they took position. She rested her head on his shoulder as they slow danced about the floor

"The problem now, of course is

to simply hold your horses
to rush would be a crime

'cause nice 'n' easy does it every time"

'What I said before…I meant it, I love you Temperance, more than I love anyone else in your world or mine,' she raised her head to look at him again

'I love you too Seeley,' the words she had held back that night rushed out with fiery enthusiasm

"We're on the road to romance,

That's safe to say
but let's make all the stops along the way"

The total calm that ensued that statement was bliss, they were lost in each other's eyes for what seemed like forever, nothing existed outside that moment.

" The problem now, of course is

To simply hold your horses
to rush would be a crime"

That is what love does though; it makes you as crazy as a rabid dog, craving flesh, a touch, a kiss…so much more

"'cause nice 'n' easy does it
Nice 'n' easy does it
Nice 'n' easy does it every time"

'I wished we had realized before, I wish we had been able to do all the things that lovers do, have that passion, that time…but all we have is tonight,' Tempe was addicted now, she did not want to go, life didn't matter to her, dying was a reasonable price to pay to be with him, Booth seemed to have sensed her thoughts or maybe he was just able to read them because he looked sharply at her

'You can't leave your life to be with me, we will be together I promise but you have to keep fighting for those innocent people, the children who have been taken out of this world before they have had the chance to have what we have had, for the men and women who like you have lost someone close. Most don't get what you have had tonight.' She made no movement for a while, thoughts rushed through her mind like they were travelling down the interstate, she didn't want to wake up but he was right she had to do this, had to live her life without him…

"Like the man says one more time"

She nodded

'The song has almost ended,' he looked at Frank who nodded, just a couple of seconds longer, that was all he needed 'don't forget me Temperance'

'No don't leave me!' she gasped, pulling him back as he tried to step away

'I won't, I know memories fade but you have to move on, I saw you with Parker the other day, one day you will make a great mom,'

"Nice 'n' easy does it

Nice 'n' easy does it
Nice 'n' easy does it every time"

He once more went to step away but returned to give her one last kiss

'Goodbye,' she whispered a tear for him staining her cheek for the last time

'Goodbye,'

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Hopefully that was short and sweet, I might do another chapter but I don't think so. There were a lot of things I didn't intend to happen in there but that is what I love about writing without a plan you write because you want to know what happens next, not just your readers.

I really enjoyed writing this, I hope you enjoyed reading it

I want to thank my beta Bubbles56 – she is amazing, spurred me to write a happy ending to what started out as a sad fic.

Last Minute Dedication: I would like to dedicate this fic to My friends Leanne and Jo who have been with me through a lot of bad stuff which has happened recently, thanx for giving me nothing but smiles and support xxx

I would also like to dedicate this fic to my head of year Darren Gale (wow that's weird typing his whole name! lol) who has also helped me through some difficult stuff. I will be sad to see him go to Dubai at the end of the school year he is a great teacher (although I never much liked languages myself) and a great person. The best of luck to him.