It's been awhile. Thanks for waiting. RobinAngelena, FaithinBones (yes agree, a shortened arc would have been better), Smooth Doggie (yes they belong together), ZinaR, bookwormlady (hmm you do know me pretty well :), 554Laura(agree, she wasn't all that bad, it's just unlucky for her, the timing was wrong, but we all knew B&B were meant to be eventually anyway), GalaxieGurl(similar to Laura, yours is very astute assessment of Hannah, just bad timing, and like you said, interloper was needed, it was just painful to watch though), mphs95 (yes that was something I believed too as to why Booth proposed), kareneb (I think Booth wasn't that big of a jerk, he was just very messed up in the heart department), mendenbar (lol yes he saved on splurging on a ring), gatewatcher, aadams00 (I loved brutally honest Brennan too), Felinxx(didn't want to drag out the angst), Ellen1983and other guests. Thank you all for your continued support.

Booth stood outside the door to Brennan's apartment for a long time that night. Internally, he fought feelings of anger and disappointment at yet another failed relationship, and along with that feelings of nervousness and guilt. Not a good frame of mind to start a new relationship, he thought to himself. He lifted his hand, his finger about to make contact with her doorbell when he hesitated.

What am I doing?

He knew he had no right to be there. He had hurt her and now there he was crawling back to her, like a puppy with its tail between its legs. He needed to stop. To take a breath and re-think what he was going to say to her. He wasn't about to screw things up. He knew he only had one shot at getting this right.

What's it with me and staring at doors? He shook his head, his gaze dropping to the floor. Not tonight. He would come back. They would talk but not that night. Not right after a break up. He turned to leave when he heard her door open.

"Booth."

"Bones."

"Are you okay? Hannah called."

"She did?"

"Yes. She informed me of your break up."

"Right." Booth sighed.

"She said you might need some company."

"Uh… yeah. That sounds good, but it's late."

"No, it's not a problem. You're upset. I'm your partner. Who else would you talk to?" Brennan opened the door wider, stepping back to allow Booth in.

"Look Bones I appreciate what you're doing here but… I think I'm gonna need some time."

"You would like some space and time. To be alone."

He wanted her company then but felt as if he didn't have the right to ask for it. So he lied. "Yeah."

"Would you like to drink? If that's what you were intending to do. I do have some strong liquor here. It is safer than getting drunk at a bar. At least you can fall asleep here on my couch or the bed in my guest bedroom. It might be better for your back. I can confine myself to my room if you'd like to be alone."

Booth couldn't help but chuckle. She was being so nice and considerate again. He found it endearingly cute. At the same time, a condemning voice in his head admonished him for his past treatment of his loyal partner.

"I wasn't gonna get dead drunk Bones. But thanks." It didn't feel right still. He wanted to get his head in the right space. "But I'll take you up on the offer for someone to talk to. Just… not right now."

"You'll tell me when?"

"Yeah. I guess I better go now."

"If you need anything Booth…"

"I know, thanks."

Brennan watched as Booth turned, walking down the hallway. She closed her door after she had watched him enter the elevator.

She closed her eyes leaning back against the door. Her heart had inexplicably leapt when Hannah called. Her first concern was for Booth. She knew he would be upset. She was glad to have ascertained that he didn't seem overly dismayed. Perhaps she wouldn't have to live with regrets after all. Yet she felt guilty. She knew her admission to Booth had played a part in his failed relationship with Hannah. All she wanted was for Booth to be happy. She felt confused. Booth had made it clear he wasn't leaving Hannah for her and yet his relationship with Hannah had ended. After that night, she had adjusted, like she had told him she would. She had come to accept that she was to spend the rest of her life alone. She had her share of wasted chances and knew this would be the one she would regret the most.

If she believed in luck, she would have thought luck was on her side. Booth would have reminded her that it was fate. She didn't believe in that either. Whatever the reason, the man she wanted to be with was available again. She was the last person to truly understand romantic relationships in the way her partner had always said it would be. But she trusted him and resolved that she would wait. She would clarify things with him and she would be patient. Hopefully they would finally get that chance that Booth had talked about more than a year ago.

…

Monday morning came and there was a set of human remains that needed FBI and Jeffersonian attention. Booth appeared at her door that morning, his finger this time having successfully made contact with her doorbell. He greeted her, coffee in hand.

"Mornin' Bones."

"You seem to be in better spirits than last night."

"I didn't get drunk and I didn't go to some pool hall to gamble if that's what you're worried about."

"I wasn't worried." Brennan smiled, accepting his offer of coffee.

"So you got the text?"

"Yes from Cam."

"Let's go then."

The journey to the crime scene in his SUV felt surreal. Since Hannah had appeared in DC, there had always been an inexplicable air of tension hanging over them but this morning, it's presence seemed to have vanished.

"Listen Bones, before we get there…"

"Oh I know. You like to keep your private life private so I won't mention anything about your relationship with Hannah ending."

"I wasn't going to say that but thanks. It's not something I'm ashamed of." Booth glanced over at her. "What I was going to say was… maybe tonight, I'd come over. Talk things out?"

"Of course."

Booth pulled over. They had arrived at the crime scene. He lifted the yellow crime scene tape, allowing Brennan, then himself to duck under.

As they approached the mangled set of human remains on the ground, Brennan spoke, addressing the team at the scene. "If I could have a moment?"

Cam and Hodgins stopped work, looking at her questioningly. Booth shrugged when Cam quirked an eyebrow at him.

"Booth's relationship with Hannah has just ended."

"Bones!" Booth sputtered.

"What? You said you weren't ashamed."

"Yeah but you didn't have to announce it!"

"Under no circumstances should anyone question him regarding his break up. It would be wise to give him the time and space he needs to adjust to being single again."

"Right, thanks Bones." Booth offered an embarrassed smile. He understood her intentions to protect him but did not appreciate the publicity into his private life.

"About time," Cam remarked, casting a sly grin at her long-time friend.

"Wait till I tell Ange." Hodgins grinned excitedly.

"Like Bones said, nothing to talk about, so let's get back to work okay? You got something for me bug boy?" Booth asked, irritated, nodding at the remains on the ground.

…

That night, after work on the case had ceased for the day, Booth reappeared at Brennan's apartment. She answered quickly, ushering him in. He plopped himself down on her couch, letting out a sigh. Brennan moved to her fridge, retrieving a beer for him and herself, then settling herself next to him on the couch. The partners sat in silence.

Booth had spent the previous night nursing what he thought was a broken but confused and guilty heart. He hadn't been fair to all parties involved, himself included. He was glad to be able to be alone with Brennan again without the nagging thought of Hannah at the back of his mind.

"I'm sorry." She spoke first.

"What the hell for Bones?"

"I came between you and Hannah."

Booth shook his head. "Nah. This break up was a long time coming anyway."

"Are you sure? Because you both looked very happy together."

"I guess. But I would be happier with you."

"You would?"

"Yeah. Why wouldn't I? Listen Bones, about what I said, that night, in my truck…"

"You did say you loved her."

"Right. I said a lot of things okay? I was angry. I thought I'd finally gotten over you and was happily in a relationship with Hannah… it was the worst timing in the world you know?"

"You've gotten over me?" Her voice sounded small and unsure.

"Remember when I told you that you could love a lot of people in this world…"

"But there's only one person you love the most."

Booth smiled. "Yeah."

"So you're in love with both Hannah and myself?"

"No… maybe, yeah… I fooled myself for a time that I loved her, and maybe I did. But for me, you're the one. The one person I love the most. The one and only person I'll ever love from now on."

Brennan smiled to herself. "I understood what you were trying to tell me that night at the Founding Fathers. You assured me you weren't going anywhere. But what you told me about how you love Hannah, it confused me. I'm not very good at reading into what people say Booth."

"I didn't mean to confuse you. I made a mistake. But I'll prove it to you, show you that you're the one and only woman for me. The one I've always loved."

"It is confusing and it frightens me. How you could say you love Hannah then within the span of a few days tell me you're also in love with me? However, I trust you Booth. I'm willing to allow you to show me."

"Atta girl." Booth nudged her shoulder playfully. Booth took a swig out of his beer bottle. His tone grew serious. "What you said that night… about not wanting any regrets… you meant it right?"

"I always mean what I say Booth."

"So you're sure about this, about us?"

"I'm sure about wanting to try being together. I'm sure about not wanting regrets. I'm sure about not wanting to spend the rest of my life the way I always have. Alone."

Booth nodded, taking her hand in his. "I don't want you to take this the wrong way but I don't think now's the right time for us Bones."

"It's not?"

Noticing the hurt look on her face, Booth moved to scoot closer to her on the couch, their knees touching. "Hey, don't look like. Hear me out all right? I just got outta a relationship with Hannah. I need some time to kinda recover, to find myself again. I need to try figure out why I did the things I did. I mean I owe you the best of me. I wanna get this, us, right. You know today, I did a whole lot of thinking. I need you to know that I broke up with Hannah because I'm still in love with you. And I don't want you to think that it was your fault. You need to know you're not second best. You're the one Bones. You've always been."

"I believe you."

"I gotta make sure I'm in the right head space before we start something okay? Cause right now, I'm just angry and maybe a little confused, and scared."

"Angry, confused and scared about us?"

"Yeah, but mostly about myself. I wanted to dump Hannah, but she beat me to it, and that kinda hurt. I need to find my mojo back."

"Mojo?"

"Confidence."

"I understand now."

"In Afghanistan, I made a mistake by starting something I shouldn't have. We just rushed into things and they didn't turn out so well. I was hurting and I missed you but, I should've just been patient. Should've waited for you. So what I'm asking is… and I know it's asking a lot but would you wait for me now?"

"Of course I would Booth. I'll do anything for you." Brennan's confused heart was somewhat put at ease by his words. He still loved her. He had made it clear he wanted only to be with her. That was good enough for now.

Booth's bruised heart felt like it would burst with joy. "Someday soon Bones, you'll see. I'd do anything for you too. I'll make things right. I promise."

Okay this chapter was for some reason hard to write and had many re-writes. So I'm anxious to know what you all think.