"Bones, we have a case. The remains should be here in an hour."

It was late Monday morning. He'd left her at the door of her apartment long after midnight on Saturday. Or early Sunday. After leaving the party, they'd spent an hour or two driving around the city and just talking. About the time they'd spent apart and the things they'd missed during their year of separation. It was the best date, the best evening out, he'd ever had in his life.

She'd tossed her shoes in the backseat with his coat. Tucking her feet beneath her dress, she'd turned sideways in the passenger seat and watched him while he drove. They stopped at a drive-through for terrible coffee and her lipstick was smudged from their kiss on the dance floor. And a kiss or two after that.

They were just a normal couple returning home from an evening out on the town.

The goodbye at her door had been sweet and one step away from turning into something he wasn't sure they were quite ready for.

"What do you mean the bones will be here in an hour?" she asked darkly.

Immediately, both hands went up. Not a normal couple anymore. She'd returned to the scientist who hated when her remains were touched. "Not my fault. Don't blame this one on me," he said, tossing in a charm smile.

Arms crossed, foot tapping, she waited for an explanation. But she couldn't quite smother her smile.

Coming in and sitting on her couch, he leaned back and crossed his legs at the ankles. "The bones were found six months ago in Chimney Rock Park. The state boys took possession, sure they were the remains of a hiker who'd gone missing a couple of years ago in the area. Besides, it's not a federal park, so not our jurisdiction."

"They weren't the hiker?"

Booth shook his head. "Now I guess they aren't even sure how old they are or how long they were out there to begin with. They were hoping we could help with that." This time his smile was smug. "They must really be stuck if they are willing to ask for federal help."

"This isn't the kind of case I was expecting," she admitted. "Though it will give me something to work on."

"They've already run through all the local missing person cases. I think they're hoping we might be able to narrow down the timeline." He smoothed his tie before reaching into the pocket of his suit and pulling out a box. "While we wait," he said, offering the gift.

"I don't have yours with me." But she came forward to sit next to him before removing it from his hand.

"Maybe this time, you could just rip the paper off. You know, get a little crazy," he suggested, wiggling his eyebrows.

"I save it." Removing it in one piece as she always did, it was placed next to her. She kept her eyes on the package, slightly uncomfortable with her admission.

"You save it?" She saved wrapping paper. There was probably enough money in her bank account to buy a million rolls of it. "What do you do with it?"

"Put it in a box with the rest." She gasped softly. "This is beautiful." A colorful bracelet appeared in her hand. "Tourmaline," she said, naming the stone. A single finger, nail still painted from the party, traced the delicate work.

"They came from Afghanistan," he explained, letting the wrapping paper conversation go. Though he was still curious about it. "It's pretty easy to come by over there."

No letters or phone calls between them, yet she'd still been the first person he thought of when he saw them. The clues about his continued feelings for her couldn't have been more obvious. Except, it seemed, to him.

Made of stones the color of bubble gum pink, green and blue, Brennan wasn't sure she owned anything as stunning. "Help me put it on."

His larger hands made securing the delicate clasp difficult, but he managed. "I brought the stones back with me. Had them turned into this. It looks nice."

"You had this made specifically for me? When?" It didn't make any sense. Not with the way their relationship had been during the last year.

"Not long after Hannah left." He still held her hand though the bracelet was securely fastened on her wrist. "When I wanted to talk to you and couldn't figure out how."

"And you planned to give me this bracelet as an excuse to talk to me?" One of them should have just picked up a phone.

He shrugged. "I had no plans and a thousand plans depending on the day. This was only one of them. No deep, hidden meaning with this one. It was pretty and I wanted you to have it. And to find a way to fix our relationship. Even if we only went back to being friends. Though I'm happy we're more than that now." Her clear appreciation for the gift made him want to shove his hands into her hair and kiss her senseless. Unable to do so, he tried to focus on something else. "Do you mind if I stop over tonight?"

Freeing her arm, she turned it back and forth in the light to see how the stones sparkled. "You know I don't."

"I read through your presentation. It sounds great, but I have a couple of suggestions, if you want to hear them." A couple of phrases she could soften to ensure it went over well with her audience.

"I want them. Does seven work? I'll pick up pizza on the way back to my apartment."

"It's a date. You know if you don't take that back off, Angela is going to ask about it." While their relationship wasn't really a secret after Saturday night, it also wasn't public yet either.

"I know. She'll find out eventually. Today is as good of a day as any of them. And I want her to hear it from me."

~OOOOOO~

She was on the platform several hours later when Angela and Hodgins joined her. The partial skeleton was in front of her and she was studying one of the ribs.

"Do we have a case?" Hodgins asked, not trying to conceal his excitement. The Lab had been too quiet lately. It made him antsy.

"Not really," Brennan said, ignoring the way her colleague deflated. "But they do want us to try and figure out how long this skeleton has been outside to aid in identification. Unfortunately, there are no remains of insects that would allow you to assist. There are some photographs, though." She raised her hand and waved it toward the file next to the computer.

"Woah," Angela said, reaching out to grab her gloved hand. "What are you wearing?"

"A bracelet," Brennan said. She removed her gloves and moved to grab a fresh pair. "Do you think there is enough of the skull to work on a reconstruction?"

She didn't reach for her camera. "Nope. Don't even try it, Bren. Explain the rocks on your wrist."

In the Lab, she would always be the scientist that took everything literally. "They are tourmaline. It is a semi-precious stone found in a wide variety of colors."

"I know what they are." Exasperated, Angela moved around the table to step between Brennan and the partial skeleton. "Where did they come from?"

"Afghanistan," Brennan answered. Realizing Angela had no intention of moving, Brennan moved to the other side of the table. "I see some injuries that indicate our victim fell from a significant height. Which doesn't rule out anything."

"Brennan. Stop." Angela's voice was sharp enough that even Hodgins froze. "I'd think you were playing with me right now, but you don't do that sort of thing. If the stones came from Afghanistan, then they also came from Booth. Correct?"

"That is factual. Can I get back to work now?"

"No. Booth gave you a gorgeous bracelet?"

Eyes softening as she gazed down at it, Brennan smiled. "Yes."

"You told me he gave you notebooks and pens," Angela sputtered. "A package of highlighters in your favorite color."

Brennan pinned her with a glare. "I told you my Secret Santa gave me that. This gift was not part of that exchange. How would you know who my Secret Santa is?"

She knew she'd been busted. Behind her, it sounded like Hodgins was choking on suppressed laughter. "I don't," but the lie was delivered so poorly, there was no chance of not seeing through it. Angela sighed. "Fine. I might have had something to do with that." Her eyes shifted to Brennan's wrist and back up again. "The bracelet is beautiful."

It is," Brennan agreed. Then put her friend out of her misery. "We are dating. Booth and I. We went to the FBI Gala Saturday night. He kissed me on the dance floor. Now, can I get back to work?"

Hodgins dropped the file he was flipping through. "Congratulations, Dr. B," he said, bending down to pick up the scattered papers. It also put him closer to the floor when his wife exploded.

"Oh, Sweetie, we so need to talk." Not the explosion Hodgins was expecting. Which meant all that emotion was coming his way when they went home that night.

Angela should have been upset they'd played her. But she was so happy fate had won and Booth and Brennan were more than partners, she couldn't find the desire to be anything but thrilled for them.

"No." Brennan's voice was firm. "We don't need to talk. Right now, this is between Booth and I. It will stay that way. But," she said, not wanting to upset her friend. "If I need something, I know where to find you. Right now," she said, allowing for just one moment the emotion she felt for him to shine through, "we are good."

Angela smiled, recognizing that pushing Brennan right now wasn't going to get her anywhere. And given the look that just flashed across her friend's face, no more interference was needed. "Okay," she said, giving in as gracefully as she could. "Congratulations."

"Congratulations for what?" Cam asked, joining the trio.

Brennan sighed. "Booth and I are dating. He gave me a bracelet." She waved her arm in the air in front of the woman who was technically her boss. "We are very happy. That is all I wish to share right now."

Cam blinked and kept her relief private. As long as the two of them were in a committed relationship, she had a better chance of keeping her team intact. "I'm happy you are both happy. You aren't required to share anything," she said, shooting a pointed look at Angela. "Now, what can you tell me about this skeleton? Booth has already called twice."

~OOOOOOO~

"You were right about Angela," Brennan said. She was tucked against him on the couch, her feet curled up next to her. There was a black and white movie playing on her television but she hadn't been watching it. The sound of Booth's heartbeat had almost lulled her to sleep.

They'd gone over her presentation and eaten too much pizza. Argued over religion and magic before figuring out a way to word things that made both of them happy.

The suggestions he gave were good ones and she argued some of them because it wasn't in her to give in easily. He'd done enough that Brennan planned to give him credit for his work though she hadn't shared that information.

Booth knew if he stayed where he was, he wouldn't be able to move in the morning. But he hated to end the evening. "Was I?" Most of the lights in the apartment were off and they were cocooned in darkness.

"Yes. I told her we were dating. After she saw the bracelet. She handled it better than I thought she would."

"I wonder how Hodgins is doing tonight?" he mumbled with a chuckle. When she yawned, he sat forward, ignoring her groan as he untangled himself. "You need to go to bed, Bones." Rising, he reached down to help her up.

Her eyes were half closed as she looked at him and ignored his outstretched hand. "You don't have to leave."

He pulled his hand back and froze. "Yes, I do. It's late and you're tired. I can't stay."

She was significantly more awake now. "Why?" she asked, sounding more curious than upset.

"There aren't enough saints for me to recite if I go to bed with you, Bones. And as much as I want you, and trust me I do, it's just not tonight. It doesn't make sense. But tonight isn't our night."

Nodding to indicate she accepted his answer, she also rose. "You haven't opened your gift."

"I'll open it tomorrow." He put a hand on each arm and pulled her in to press a kiss to her forehead. "You aren't angry?"

"No. You want something special. And while I don't always understand your feelings about a natural human function, I respect your decision. You can go home, Booth." Pressing a hand against his cheek, she smiled. "I'm not upset. I promise."

His head shook in disagreement. "Every moment with you is special. What I want is time. Time to linger and time to experience. Time when you're not half asleep. I want it all when the moment is right."

When she opened the door and stepped back to allow him to leave, the kiss he gave her this time wasn't on her forehead. It was full of heat and hunger and promises he planned to keep. "I'll see you tomorrow, Bones." Confident with where they were going, he waited to hear the door lock behind him before heading toward the elevator that would start him on his journey home.