A/N: Happy Sunday! First of thank you Kareneb and Guest for reviewing. Guest, you are more than correct. Though, for me, it is more like I want to share my enthusiasm for the Bones fandom. I don't think I would stop writing the stories, even when then there for sure would be no one to read them, but I wouldn't post them if there isn't anyone interested in reading them :). I also would like to thank the readers that put my story on alert during this week, I am glad to know that there are still people reading.

For this chapter, there are no special warnings. The last chapter ended a bit on a cliffy, this chapter does not resolve that specific cliffhanger, but the events of this chapter do happen on the same night as the previous chapter. So: it is still Friday evening. Nevertheless, I am hoping you'll enjoy this chapter. As promised, it is very B&B heavy.

Okay, enough rambling, let's continue!

Pretty much as soon as Lilly had left his office earlier that week, he had decided that she had been right. He couldn't and shouldn't keep himself coupled up in his apartment all alone or just working late at the Hoover. He should do something fun, relaxing, something normal. Lilly had mentioned hanging out with a friend. Bones was his friend and he needed to stop shutting her out. Ever since he had told her he was angry after Hannah had left, Bones had kept her distance and he had let her. It was time to change that, he missed hanging out with his best friend. After coming to that conclusion, it didn't take long before he was speed dialing his best friend and partner. "Heya Bones, you think the lab can miss you later this week for a movie night?" After not spending time with his partner socially for over two months, he was a little anxious that she would turn him down. After all, lately he hadn't been the best friend that she deserved.

He was glad and more than a little relieved that his partner had immediately agreed to a night at the movies, preceded by a nice dinner at a quiet place. The week had passed quite quickly, the prospect of spending time and reconnecting with Bones did really brighten his mood and finishing the case earlier today was just the cherry on top of the happy Booth cake. Thank God It was Friday.

Booth had never been to this particular restaurant, but apparently, Lilly had suggested it to Bones for the many vegetarian options. How could a student/intern like her eat out so much that she knew about new places almost instantly? But now, as he was waiting at the table for his partner to show up, he had to agree with the recommendation.

It was a private restaurant and the food options seemed perfect for both him and Bones. When Bones had told him about all the vegetarian options, he had been worried he was going to have to eat like an herbivore as well, but thankfully the menu also offered a broad variety of meat options. That is good because I think otherwise, I would starve.

Naturally, Bones had decided to meet him at the restaurant, because taking a night off from work meant that she was going to work as late as possible before having the second most important meal of the day. Closing the case during the day, which meant Bones would be in Limbo trying to identify a forgotten set of remains.

So that was where he was, sitting at their table waiting for Bones to show up. He looked around. The atmosphere was more romantic than he had expected, but he knew Bones probably wouldn't even notice. If he still dared to dream like before he had gone back to the Army, he would – oh so cockily - say Bones would be too busy listening and laughing with him to notice her surroundings. With the two of them, they could be standing in the middle of a sports game and still only notice each other.

His musings got interrupted by his arriving partner. "I hope I am not late", Bones said as she sat down, escorted by a waiter.

"What? No, of course not! We could have a five-course dinner and still get to the movies in time."

Bones smiled, proud of herself that she got that it was a humorous comment. "I am sure I can't eat that much. And that wouldn't be healthy also. A traditional part of seeing a movie is popcorn, isn't it? So, we need to save space for that."

Booth smiled at her lecture of his food choices. Feels like a warm blanket. "Does that mean I can get away with fewer vegetables, if we're having popcorn at the movies and popcorn is made from corn?" He threw in his characteristic smile, already knowing that Bones wasn't going to agree with him.

"No. Popcorn is covered with butter and extremely salty, therefore it is not really healthy, it should be considered a snack and not a substitute for vegetables. I hope you aren't feeding Parker popcorn instead of corn.

Shaking his head, Booth reassured Bones that he only served Parker popcorn with a teeny-tiny bit of salted butter.

They soon placed their orders. After the waitress left the partners sat silently as the conversation naturally had ended. It was Dr. Brennan who broke the silence.

"I was, am," she corrected herself, "very glad you asked me to spend time together, however, I find I am anxious to ask but are you still angry with me? Because if you are... why would you invite me for a filmy night?"

Booth took a chug of his beer. The way her voice sounded made him feel guilty. He really had neglected his partner and their friendship over the past couple of months. The uncertainty in her voice was more than a little upsetting. "It is a movie night, Bones, and I am not angry with you." He stopped talking to gather his thoughts, trying to think of a way to explain to her how he had felt and felt at the moment. "My anger is, or rather was, larger than that. I am angry at Hannah, sad that it didn't work out. That we didn't work out. Even when I am angry, I'll always love to spend time with you. I am sorry we didn't lately."

Bones nodded taking in his explanation. "But It's been months since you broke up with Hannah." She carefully mentioned the name, because he usually got angry when someone dropped the name. "From what I've observed through the years, you've usually moved on within three or four weeks after an ended relationship. It has never taken you over two, three months, to move over."

Booth smiled, knowing she meant the string of 'temporary woman' with the marine biologist being the gate closer of the I-saw-I-conquered-I-came-brigade. "I can't deny that. Though, this was bigger than just moving on after Hannah left. It was not just a relationship going bad and ending all of a sudden. It was like a dream that I've been chasing my whole life, got shattered by a wrecking ball."

His explanation made sense, even though it was riddled with metaphors. "Have you had the casual after the bad relationship sex yet?" Bones asked, frowning as she struggled to remember the term Angela had told her about after she herself ended it with Sully.

Booth smiled. His sex life never seemed to too far from his partner's mind. Of course, his sex life after Hannah would be of interest to his partner. He was just glad he had already had this and that other much-needed talk with Lilly. So at least he knew how to answer those questions for himself - and maybe for Bones. "It is sweet that you're worried about my well-being, but you know I don't really like discussing my sex life."

Bones nodded chastised. "I know, but it is important. I wouldn't have brought it up otherwise. Not having a sexual outlet for more than three weeks could potentially impact your reproductive capabilities." She explained. "And I know that you want to have more children in the future. And it is not only that. There is an anthropological theory that a man needs to re-establish his worth in the pecking order. There have been studies that when a man doesn't re-establish his status, it can have negative effects on said man's mental health, including depression."

"Ah Bones, not the boiling me down to anthropologic inevitabilities again.

His partner looked a little hurt. "I am sorry Booth. You know I mean well, even if I can't word it perfectly. Anthropology is what comes most natural to me. I am well aware that you are more than an accumulation of anthropologic facts. I am just worried about you, your well-being and your happiness. I've recently been told that is a part of love as well." She added softly.

The pained look on his partner's delicate features convinced him. She did truly care about him and if she was using the word love, that meant something right? She really had come along way through the years. From just seeing interpersonal relationships as a short-term necessity to conceding that love might be more than the result of a chemical imbalance to learning that love has many facets. It had to mean something. "Okay, if it means so much to you to know. Yes, I've had sex, but it is more complicated than it was with Catherine or her predecessors."

There really hadn't been anything complicated about seeing her for only a couple of dates. She had known exactly what she had wanted and it wasn't something long-term.

"I am sorry", Bones said. "It wasn't my intention to add to your anger."

Booth shrugged. "I am not angry, Bones. It is okay. An apology isn't necessary, I just get uncomfortable talking about my sex life. I am sorry I sounded snappy, I shouldn't have, because I do know and appreciate that you care about my … health."

Thinking that she was probably pushing it, but not being able to withstand the need to know if he was dating, she continued. "So, if you had sex, does that mean you are dating again?"

"No, I'm not. We have decided not to."

"I am not dating either", Bones casually added. Knowing that was all he was going to tell her about it.

He smiled, he had come here tonight to renew their friendship, but maybe the timing to try for something more. Maybe the timing was finally right. Last year at the Hoover he had made his move, then Bones had made hers after he had saved her from getting run over by a cab.

His pops had once told him seducing a woman was like playing chess. You had to keep your head in the game, think ahead as far as you could, plan for the possible obstacles in the way and sometimes you won sometimes you lost, but eventually, you'd have enough experience to get the queen. So, following that logic, that meant it was his time to make a move and influence the game, hopefully in his favor.

"Bones, are you trying to tell me something?"

Temperance took a sip of her wine to get some liquidated courage. "Yes." She took a deep breath in, this was it, after this, there was no backing out of it. It was a situation of win or lose and with losing came the breaking her hearth. "I meant what I told you in the car when you saved me from getting run over."

Booth fell silent. He wasn't sure what to say and then the waiter killed the moment by bringing their main dish. Too wonderfully surprised by Bones' revelation, she got to checkmate before he did. Booth needed to calm himself before he would cause Bones to run away from him again. Although... it was sounding like Bones was ready to take the risk and wasn't going to flee at all.

The rest of the meal was used to catch up. Bones had been busy writing a new Kathy and Andy book, going to new gallery openings and identifying limbo cases, with Wendell's help. Apparently, she was considering going on a dig, just a short one, minimum of a week and with a maximum duration of a month. It was her way of using up her vacation days without being forced to not work.

On his end, there wasn't much to tell. His days were filled with sports, work, Parker, and church. Although there was plenty to tell about Parker. His son was learning everything that he could get a hold of and it was beautiful to see how smart his kid was.

After the movies, they walked back to the restaurant where Booth had parked his car. As they passed the coffee cart by the reflecting pool in the National Mall Booth stopped. "Wait, Bones, do you think you have time for a cup of coffee?"

"Booth, it is late, caffeine will make it harder to fall asleep."

"Fine, I'll take a decaf. So, you want one too?" He shot her his patented smile. "Come one, you know that even if it is decaf, this is still the best cup of Joe in the DC area."

Their little bantering about something as trivial as a cup of coffee felt like coming home. The night had been a lot of fun, she had missed spending their off time together and truth be told she was reluctant to let their night together end. "Yes", Bones said, returning his smile.

After receiving their warm beverages Booth handed Bones one of the cups. without thinking about it they sat down on the steps in front of the Lincoln Memorial monument. Taking in the view for a moment, Booth spoke up. "I've always loved this place."

Bones hummed. He had once told her it was the one place in the city where his mind was always clear or would become clear really fast. "I know, it is rather quiet considering it is in the center of the city. Remember when we were here for the last time?"

"You mean last month?"

Bones shook her head. "No, I meant when it was dark out, like it is now."

Booth smiled uncomfortably. He had mixed feelings about the conversation Bones and he had shared here after coming back from their international travels. "Yeah, what about it, Bones?" He asked softly. He wasn't sure he could trust the signals he was picking up on and he didn't want to mess things up, especially not after the best night he had in months.

Bones swallowed. Now that she had brought it up, she wasn't sure she could go through with it. Maybe he was still too angry about everything. He also hadn't responded to her comment about their car conversation in the restaurant earlier as she had expected. Doubt started to set in. "Do... Do you think it is a coincidence we have our most difficult conversations on the steps to buildings or memorials?"

Her discomfort was unarming. He knew her too well to not see that she was trying to back out of whatever it was she had wanted to discuss with him. He took a chug of his coffee. "We had a difficult conversation here?"

"You were happy with Hannah. at the time." She explained. "And that didn't turn out as you wanted. I just wished our reunion, here, would have turned out differently. When we met here, I wanted to tell you that I reconsidered and worked through what Dr. sweets had told us." She swallowed. "But... When you told me about Hannah and you looked so happy, I thought I had misunderstood yet another side of love..."

"So, in the end, you didn't tell me", Booth filled in, coming to her aid.

Bones nodded, sad with how it had worked out. She was a firm believer in causation, so every choice could potentially lead or have led to a different outcome. A better outcome, but also the not so great outcome they were stuck with now. She had been beating herself up for ages now whether or not her choices had made it permanently impossible to have a romantic relationship with Booth. If not, at the very least their happiness could have happened much earlier. Booth, however, had a different belief system. She knew Booth believed in faith; everything happens for a reason, but she also knew he believed in making your own luck. What if his happiness didn't involve her in more than a professional capacity? She needed to know, never minding how hard it would be to hear him tell her exactly that.

"Booth", she started again. "I am not sure this is the right moment, but then again you are the one who told me there isn't always time to wait for a good moment: I love you." Bones said. There, after years of denying love even existed, she had said it out loud, for the first time ever. Told it to the man who needed to hear it the most coming from her lips. "And not in an attaboy way." She clarified as Booth just sat there, surprised by hearing the three words he had dreamed about for so long. "I love you, because I care for you and I don't want to imagine not having you in my life. Bones rambled on.

"Wow, Bones", Booth said breathlessly. The last time in his car when she had opened up, he had been conflicted. He was with Hannah and his partner had declared she had wanted to give him and get together another shot. His response had made her cry and he had felt like crap. But at that point he had been going steady with Hannah and 'not wanting to have regrets' hadn't seemed like a good enough reason to ruin that. Gosh, that sounded harsh, but at that moment it had been his reality. "You know I love you too." Leaving statue-mode, he put his coffee down and pulled her into a hug.

Enjoying the heat radiating from their bodies in the cool night they just sat there in silence.

"What changed that you now believe in love?" He asked softly.

"I had an enlightening conversation with someone who challenged my view of love with rational arguments. There is more to love than that is sung in music or written about in poetry. Love also is deeply caring for someone."

"Who was that person? I think I'll need to send that person flowers or something." Booth said, curious to know more about this mystery person who apparently was capable of influencing one of the most determined women he had ever met. "Another anthropology professor or something?"

"No, not really", Bones said. "It was miss Johnson." Bones felt a blush coming up her cheeks. "She also had some interesting insights about social economic reasons why people tend to get married. Though I am not entirely sure I agree with her on those insights, I can get behind her theory about love."

Booth chuckled. From spending time with Lilly, he knew she was about an as hopeless romantic as he was himself.

Not even noticing his chuckle Bones continued. "So, after talking to her and thinking things through I came to the conclusion that in her definition I do truly love you. So, when you think you're ready to give love another chance, I think I am ready too." No backing out, right.

Booth fell silent. Amazed that this woman kept amazing him.

Feeling uncertain about his silence Bones felt the need to fill up the silence. "I am sorry if this isn't as romantic as these type of courting moments should be. That I am ready doesn't mean I won't make mistakes about how to act on love, to be in love in practice."

Booth smiled. "Don't worry about that Bones. It is a lot to take in, I am surprised, pleasantly surprised that is, but don't worry, I am not thinking poorly of you ever. I really appreciate you telling me. I just..." He hugged her tighter fearing that he was dreaming and if he didn't hold her right enough she would slip away like sand filling up a sinkhole. "You telling me you love me is what I've been hoping to hear for ages. I love you too, so much more than I can explain. I feel sorry for being so out of touch with you for the past couple of months. It was a tough time after Hannah left and I shouldn't have shut you out."

This time it was Bones interrupting Booth. "You don't need to explain, I understand Booth, I really do. We see each other nearly every day at work so I knew your general health was okay. Truth be told, I didn't know what I could do for you since you didn't want to talk about it. Angela told me to give you some space, she is usually right in this type of situation."

With a smile, he silently agreed with his partner. "Yeah. I am not sure you could have done anything. I am the only person who can change my life, I've learned that much from Gambler Anonymous."

Bones nodded. "I think we should go back. It is getting colder and I need to get up early tomorrow to check Wendell's results for the recently identified Limbo cases."

Booth smiled as he got up from the stairs, tossing away their empty coffee cups. "No rest for the living, right?"

"I don't know what that means." Bones instantly responded as she waited for him to walk back from the dumpster.

Placing an arm around his partner he pulled her closer as they walked back to his car. "Ah that is okay, Bones, that is more than okay."

A/N: Thank you for reading!