A/N: Hello there! I know it is a bit early for a Valentine's day like story, but nonetheless here is a lovey-dovey B&B chapter for this week's chapter. Sometimes the timing sort of fits XD. Figured you dear readers deserved that much for sticking to reading this story :).

I apologize if it is too corny XD.

He couldn't believe how lucky he was for having Bones back in his life. On that Sunday after fessing up on the couch they discussed how their relationship should develop. Bones had suggested going on a date and he'd been thrilled that she suggested it. Of course, she had made a whole study of the best activity for their first date, which he found adorable. She was everything he needed. When he had seen her eyes getting teary before, he had been ready to become a monk just for the sake of paying penance. So, when she told him she thought of them going out on dates his heart had almost jumped out of chest out of happiness.

Flashback

Turning in Booth's embrace, she found a comfortable way to look somewhat directly at him. "Do you think we could go out on a date within the next couple of weeks?"

Booth cracked a smile. "Are you asking me out?"

"Yes." Bones said. "I am aware that me asking you isn't according to tradition, but I've never heard that it would be inappropriate."

A chuckle left his throat. "It is very modern, very you Bones. So, if we're to go out on a date, what would you like to do?"

"I've been thinking about that."

"Naturally", Booth agreed.

"Traditionally a dinner date is the most common. But we have had dinner together so often, that I thought we should do something else. A couple of websites suggest the movies, a walk on the beach, haunted houses, concerts, and sports. Sports got me thinking about that time we went ice skating all night. So, at first, I thought maybe we can go ice skating again."

"That sounds great, Bones. We could definitely do that if you want."

Bones smiled, pleased that Booth agreed, as she thought back to that winter night in the deserted ice rink. "I am glad you think so, but I also came up with an alternative. Though, I am a little worried you will laugh."

Booth squeezed her shoulder encouraging, hoping he didn't look too insulted at the suggestion. "Come on Bones, you know I'll never laugh at you. What is the alternative you like better?"

Bones blushed as she thought about her secondary date idea. "Well, I've never gone to a carnival as a date. When I lived in foster care some of my classmates would talk about it for hours at a time, day in day out. Going to the carnival with their boyfriend was their first unsupervised trip. In most homes, we were allowed to go to the carnival for an afternoon... I never had anyone to share the experience with like my classmates had. As you know I didn't have many friends in my teens." Bones paused trying to stay present and not get lost in memories. "But as a child, the carnival was one of my favorite weeks a year. Max would get me the biggest cotton candy there was and I loved being exposed to the G-forces in the attractions. The first year in foster care, I went to the carnival. All my classmates went with a date, but I went alone. I had convinced myself that I would just go for the atmosphere, as a means to relive happier times. But that last time I went it only made me sad and it made me feel so alone."

Booth felt his heart break. It wasn't often that Bones shared insights into her foster care years. He always had thought that it was somewhere during those years that she had started to shield her heart with high walls. This little insight showed him that it definitely hadn't happened immediately.

"Homecoming had just been a week before, so a lot of the people in my class were in their childhood love relationships. I walked through all the stands just seeing all those people sharing their happiness with the person they were there with. I was always engrossed in my studies but somehow my walls weren't thick enough to shut off that loneliness. I experienced jealousy which made me envious. I ran back to the home without spending any of the money I was given. I locked myself in my room and cried the whole evening. I vowed to myself that one day I would be able to have that carnival experience myself."

Horrified he listened to his partner's recounts of going to the carnival that final time. "Oh, Bones, I... Don't even have the words, that is horrible... we're definitely going to the carnival." Booth said with determination. We'll save skating for another time." First with the dance, now with the carnival. Booth knew his partner hadn't had the best childhood, neither had he, but he was grateful that he had gotten the chance to make some wonderful childhood memories once he had gotten to live at his Pops house. He wondered how many more wonderful childhood memories Bones had missed out on. "We'll do the whole deal. Strolling from attraction to attraction, the bumper cars, cotton candy, the whole shebang."

Looking forward to their date she nodded, snuggling into Booth. "Thank you, Booth."

End of flashback

Thanks to that too lengthy meeting, Booth was barely going to make it to the carnival in time. Especially since he wanted, no needed, to go home to change out of his suit and into something more comfortable, more 'date' worthy. With his SUV he raced home, changing into his favorite pair of jeans, a black long-sleeved shirt, and his leather coat.

Since Booth had expected to be running late from the moment the meeting had popped up on his calendar, he had had the foresight to meet Bones at the carrousels. It was the only attraction he was sure if that would be at the carnival, since they always were. As he arrived the atmosphere reminded him of Buck and Wanda's undercover action as Boris and Natasha, the Russian knife throwers. The music made the scenery feel similar to a circus. He just hoped there wasn't going to be a clown here.

Making his way to the middle of the plot, to the carrousels, he thought about the last time he had gone to a carnival himself. Rebecca and he had found a way to stay civilized long enough to plow through an afternoon at the carnival for Parker's sake. He and Rebecca had been in rough patch/spot at that time and he was thankful they were able to get along better these days. The last time he had been at a carnival with a girl to try and court her, had been a much longer time ago.

Flashback

Jared and Seeley had only moved into their grandparents home a few months ago. Even before his grandfather had come that fateful day and saved him and his brother from their dad, Seeley had had a crush on Demi Hale, one of his classmates. Of course, within days, his grandfather had noticed, but Booth hadn't known that. So when the week that the carnival would be in town came closer, his Pops had been carefully been nudging Shrimp to go to the carnival and take that sweet cute girl from school with him. With having lived in what only could be accurately described as hell for the past few years, Seeley had grown shy and timid around pretty much everyone. The new living arrangements had been helping big time at regaining his self-esteem, but the process was slow.

Naturally, Pops had been able to say the right things and, in the end, Booth had dared to live a little and had taken Demi to the carnival. The time he went to the carnival before that was a lot more blurred...

End of flashback

"Booth! Bones screamed, trying to be louder than the music as she waved at her partner. He was looking especially satisfying today. She loved the tightness of that leather jacket around his shoulders.

Being thrown back into the present, Booth smiled and waved back. The excited look on Bones' face was contagious. "Hey-ya Bones, I am sorry I kept you waiting."

"No problem Booth, I understand that meetings can run late. Was it a productive meeting?"

"Not really no, but let's not talk shop. We both got an evening off and we're finally at our first official date. Where do you want to go first?"

"I don't know what talk shop means, but I think I understand. Well, I saw the X-Factory, maybe we can go there first."

"Sure", Booth said. "Whatever you want Bones". After buying the coins to get on the giant moving couch, Bones got giddy from excitement.

"You've never been on this one?" Booth asked.

"No, Bones", said. "I was never tall enough. Russ and my dad went on though."

Clasping her hand, he gave it a little squeeze as the line moved up. "Awh, always the onlooker and never the one having the fun huh? Thankfully we're changing that today."

"That was amazing!" Bones said as they wobbled off the platform. Booth placed his hand on the small of her back to help Bones make a steadier way down the iron stairs.

Chuckling as he listened to his partner explain the reasons for the funny feeling located in the stomach. "Yeah, that was fun. Hey, since you so enjoyed the defying gravity powers, how about we get into this giant slingshot next." Booth pointed towards the large thing away in a small distance.

Bones looked at the tall attraction. "Well... I am not sure. It looks sturdy enough, but this could be really bad for your back, Booth."

"Don't worry about that, I am sure this will be harmless. Or are you too scared?" His grin challenging her.

Indignantly Bones looked at him. "No, of course, I am not afraid."

"Good, so we'll go? We can go for the biggest cotton candy available afterward."

Walking around the square, Booth plucked a bit of fluffy pink sugar from the cotton candy. "Is this date going as you envisioned?"

"I think so. So far, we've done all the things I've seen my classmates do back then. Strolling around, going onto attractions, sharing a snack. Did I miss something?" She asked, trusting Booth to know the carnival date customs better than she did.

"You got it down pretty well. And aside from a few attractions left and right we also missed another big tradition, but it isn't weird that we missed that one."

"What did we miss?"

Booth leaned in, catching a whiff of her hair. "Kissing behind the bushes", he whispered.

A sly smile appeared. "Good to know. Do you want to do a game first? Bumper cars or shooting stand?"

Booth grinned. "Oh, definitely shooting stand. That way you can show me why I am still the one with the gun on the job."

"I still think that is stupid, I am an excellent shot and I'll show you."

"Do you want to go first?" Booth asked.

"Okay". Bones said. She decided to shoot the stationary fingers.

After knocking 5 down in a row, the man owning the stand shot a glance at Booth. "Wow, she is really good. Do you think you'll be able to beat her?"

Booth smiled at the man. "How do you know this is a challenge?"

The man shrugged. "I've been at carnivals for over 35 years. I know when a couple is betting against each other."

Booth chuckled. It had been a while since someone had called Bones and him a couple. The difference was that this time neither of them felt the need to correct the assumption. "Yeah, you're not wrong. We both like to win so this is to be expected."

Bones had emptied her clip, only having missed one. More than satisfied with herself she looked at Booth. "I told you I should be given a gun."

Booth grinned. "Come on, Bones, let's not ruin the night with that endless and old debate." Booth accepted the gun from the owner of the stand. "You did very well", he said. "And because of that, I'll shoot at the rotating sheep, as a means to even out the playing field."

The owner shook his head. He had seen this more times than he could count too. An overly cocky man that needed to show his date he was better than her. And here he had thought this was a decent guy that matched well with the somewhat quirky woman.

Showing off was what Booth did Indeed. As soon as the sheep came into view, Booth shot them, making each fall back from the metal grass. Finishing this round of blanks in record time, he placed the rifle down.

Bones didn't know why but she found watching Booth shoot in a none lethal situation very calming. Even now, at a carnival, he got this peaceful, focused look on his face as he shot his rounds.

The man of the shooting stand looked at Booth. "Well. I may have been doing this for 35 years, but I've never seen anyone finish the 24 set this fast and hitting all targets. Are you a firearms instructor or something?"

Booth smiled at the awe he saw on the owner's face. "No, but I am law enforcement."

"Yes, and before that he served in the army where he was extensively trained with all sorts of rifles." Bones said proudly.

Booth cringed as he hoped the man wouldn't start about snipers and killing people.

"Well, I'd tip my hat if I wore one. And thank you for your service, sir. These are the points the misses scored and these are yours. Maybe my wife and I should introduce a bonus for finishing in record times on top of the hitting all marks perfectly. If the two of you are watching the streets, I am sure we all are safe here. I'd like to offer the two of you whatever prize you like as my token of appreciation."

"That is very kind. What prize do you want Bones?" Booth asked her as he held up the points they had earned.

Bones looked at everything that stood in the stand and hung from the ceiling. The moment she saw a giant plush dolphin behind a huge teddy bear her face lit up. "I think I'd like that one."

A little later they walked away with the giant stuffed animal.

Booth smiled at his partner. He had offered to carry the dolphin but she wasn't having it. "You might need to get a bigger apartment Bones, I don't think he'll fit into your living room." Booth joked.

Bones rolled her eyes. "You're exasperating, Booth, it isn't that large. I really like the dolphin, it looks rather realistic for a toy."

He smiled. "I am glad you're happy with it. Do you want to do anything more or are you ready to call it a night?"

A disappointed look appeared on Bones face. "You want to go home? We haven't complied with all the traditional activities associated with going to a carnival as a gender-mixed couple."

A deep chuckle left Booth's throat. "Oh Bones, I promised we'll comply. Can't you trust me to fulfill that anthropologic obligation?"

She looked confused, trying to figure out what was happening. "I... once again don't understand your logic, but I do trust you."

Booth smiled. "Great. So, is there any carnival thing still on your wish list?"

"Not really", she said, still doubtful if Booth understood there really was only one thing, she really wanted to add to this carnival experience.

He knew it wasn't nice to tease Bones by being a tease, but the look of confusion was really adorable. "Alright, so let's go then." Taking a few steps, he looked back, seeing his partner staring at him, not following along. "Bones? You coming?"

Resigning she nodded and closed the distance. Had she misunderstood? Or would Booth have changed his mind? She really thought that he wanted to kiss her tonight as much as she was hoping they would. His last couple of weeks had been busy and there was the miss Johnson debatable. But she really had thought he was going to kiss her tonight. Why else would he have told her about that traditional part of carnival-ing...

Being so lost in thought she didn't notice that Booth halted her, by holding her hand and having stopped his slow-paced walk back to the car. Timing his movement careful in the little amount of time Booth had, he pulled her back, almost making Bones slam into his torso. The surprise of the impact made her drop the dolphin she been holding onto so dearly. Swiftly changing their inertia, he soon had Bones backed up against the community center building that always did great business as a bar during carnival week. Stepping closer he brushed away the strands of hair he had caused to get into Bones' face. "There aren't any bushes around here", he whispered huskily, drawing her attention to his lips. "So, we'll have to improvise", he added as he leaned in and kissed her.

Feeling safely locked between the brick wall and the strong wall made entirely of Seeley Booth, Bones gave herself to the moment. When Booth mentioned the lack bushes, she had felt an uncharacteristic tingle in her lower abdomen at the sparkle in his eyes. His soft whisper had drawn her gaze from his eyes to his slightly parted lips, but with his excellent psychical condition, it would be illogical for Booth to already be out of breath. Illogical and therefore untrue. His eyes had done his speaking for him until that diligent task had been dutifully delegated to his lips. When his lips touched hers, her last semi-rational thought was the realization that he had been teasing her.

Trying to reel his control of the situation back in, Booth regretfully broke the kiss. He really needed to stop doing things like this in public places, but then again, for a kiss with Bones, he would gladly suffer the charges of public indecency. Leaning back only just enough to see her deep blue eyes, he kept her pressed against the wall. "I am sorry I messed with you just now, but you looked really cute during. Traditionally the kiss on a first date happens at the end of the evening. So technically this is still a little early, but I hope that is okay, I couldn't let you suffer any longer."

Bones smiled, her smile turning up in wattage quickly. "You're forgiven but that means that we'll have to kiss at least twice more then. Booth wasn't the only one with quick moves as Bones pulled a krav maga method on him, making his back face the wall.

Pleasantly surprised with his partner holding no grudges he smiled. "I am glad you think so."

"Even though you don't really deserve that for making me think you weren't even going to kiss me at all tonight." Bones chastised him. Waiting just long enough to give Booth a chance to apologize, Bones attacked his lips when he opened his mouth to do so. Before deepening the kiss further, Bones spoke softly against his lips. "Just don't forget that you'll need to be able to handle what I can disk out as well.

The sound vibrating against his lips. Booth moaned. Kissing Bones was way more erotic than he even remembered and had imagined it to be. As they deepened the kiss Bones let her hands explore Booth's torso. After both sets of hands had done some exploring it was once more Booth breaking off the kiss. "We should get out of here before we can't stop anymore."

Bones nodded. "Yes, that is a good idea. Besides Angela told me sex is traditionally third date territory."

Booth looked at her. "You want to wait until the third date?"

The look of terror she thought she saw, looked very much like the one she had sported before the kiss. With a shrug that she hoped was as nonchalant as she needed it to be, she picked up the abandoned dolphin. "Well, you deserve a punishment for deceiving me and I've also never done a relationship by the textbook." Bones said, trying to prank Booth back.

With blood making it back to his brain, he smiled, clasping her free hand in his as he pulled her close for a hug. "We are not really a textbook case, but if you want to do this by the book, not by the textbook, we can and will do that. You still owe me a kiss when we say goodnight at your apartment though."

Bones smiled. "Or maybe you owe me one."

Squeezing hands as they continued their walk back to the car, they gave each other loving glances. "I am sorry I got your dolphin dirty."

A/N: I hope you enjoyed this. I left some plot 'mistakes' intact, because I thought they added to the sweetness of this chapter. I'd love to hear your thoughts!