Disclaimer: They are not mine but I am having a wonderful time with them.

This chapter is rated T.

A/N: I just can't seem to stop this story, I have so many things I want to see happen between them…I'm going to go a little longer with it so hang on there with me.

By the way B 3B(), I couldn't respond to your review but I really wanted to say thank you so much, your words were very much appreciated.

"Bones are you almost ready?" He was sitting on a stool in the kitchen, drinking coffee and waiting. He saw her coming down the hall in jeans and her bra and he could tell by her expression that she was frustrated about something. She came straight to him and punched him in the arm. "Ouch! What did I do?" His lips went to a pout and he rubbed the injured shoulder.

"I told you not to rush me, it just annoys me and I'm having trouble finding something to wear AND it's your fault. Do you still think I'm beautiful when I'm angry?"

"When you're angry, yes, when you're punching me, well, yes." He was laughing now, and given her look it felt dangerous but he couldn't help himself. "Why is this my fault?"

"Look at me." She gestured down her body.

"I love looking at you." His eyes dropped, moving over her with that lazy smoky gaze that she felt like an actual stroke against her skin. He slid one finger along the edge of her jeans, moving up to slowly circle her navel. Her skin tightened under his touch, her muscles twitching as he dipped his finger in and back around. He watched in fascination as her body drew in a shaky breath, his finger moving over her diaphragm, tracing the line of her bra. Her nipples tightened in anticipation as he moved to her cleavage.

"This is more than looking." Her voice had lost its edge, "and this is what led to all the marks on my body, which is why I can't find anything to wear."

"Do you want me to stop doing the things that left those marks?" His voice feigned the sound of being hurt and his finger crested the swell of her breast.

She thought about their morning of love making, the memory of him flushing her cheeks, furthering his current cause. It's all they had done since their nap at dawn, exploring, learning, spending the endless desire. The flush spread down the front of her.

"No, I just want it to be winter so I can wear a turtle neck." She gasped as his palm slid over her, cupping her, feeling the weight in his hand, the nub hardening in response. He was laughing, so often surprised by her. "We have to get ready to go, Angela will call if we're late." She leaned forward and kissed him, her tongue sliding across his and away much too soon. "We'll finish this later, I promise."

"I'm ready, I was waiting for you." He immediately put his hand over his arm where she had previously struck him and smiled at her. She smiled and shaking her head walked down the hallway to figure out a shirt. He watched her retreat, her shoulder blades moving in her muscled back framing the long line of her spine to where it disappeared. He sighed, resisting the urge to follow her to the bedroom and convince her they could be late. He knew she wouldn't take much convincing but they did need to be able to leave the house and act like other people for a short while.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

They both hesitated at the door of the Jeffersonian, Temperance recalling the shock she felt at seeing David in that uniform and then realizing too late what was happening. Booth squeezed her hand as they passed through the doors, in his minds eye the video of her smiling and waving to him before going inside played on an endless feed. He thought for a while that might have been the last moment he would ever see her. Neither one of them spoke but they slowed their pace and let the memories wash over them, behind them and into the past.

"Hi Sweetie," Angela pulled her in for a crushing hug and was a little surprised at how tightly Brennan responded. She walked up to Booth and put her arms around him, "I've earned hugging rights of this man." He returned the affection and acknowledged within himself how genuinely happy he was to see them all. He reached out and shook Zach and Jack's hands while they all commented on how good they both looked.

Watching her glance around the lab with a certain look of longing in her eyes, Zach took the opportunity to ease her mind. "Dr. Brennan, I have made duplications of all case files and tracked our progress on current cases for your review when you return. It's all on your desk along with dvd logs of the examinations and all the bodies. If I have missed anything please let me know." He smiled shyly at her, "not that there is any rush, I'll keep track of things until your return, whenever that is." She smiled, noting that less than a minute in the door he was seeking her approval. She made a mental note to speak to Goodman and remind him that Zach functions much better if you take a moment to tell him he's doing a good job.

"Thank you Zach, I'm sure it's all in perfect order, I've heard you have been doing a very thorough job in my absence." His smile and slight blush satisfied her.

Hodgins was next, "when are you coming back because if I have to continue to work with that over educated pompous arrogant narrow minded stuff shirt, I will lose my mind. The man has a catastrophic inability to commit to an opinion and absolutely no idea about the functioning of the real world."

"Jack! Give her a minute to breathe, she'll be back when the doctors have cleared her, now down boy." Angela, turned to her favorite couple, noting that Booth had taken her hand and that Brennan hadn't even noticed.

Booth held up his free hand, "hey, how about I go pick up Wong Fu's for everybody and in twenty minutes we can all sit down and eat and get caught up?" He felt her squeeze his hand and couldn't suppress the smile.

"Bones, if I could see you in your office for just a moment and then, Angela she's all yours until I get back. Zach and Jack why don't you two see if you can scrounge up drinks and get us set up in the small conference room." They all nodded their approval of the plan and moved to follow his directions, including Brennan who walked him to her office where he pulled her inside and closed the door.

He pressed her against the wall, his body flush against hers. "Are you okay with me leaving you to go get the food or do you want to ride with me?" She knew why he was asking and was also aware that he didn't want to do so in front of the others.

"Thank you for being discreet and it's okay, I'm okay here with Angela while you're gone. I'll wait until after we eat to give her the gift so we can both be here with her, okay?" His mouth was moving over her neck and he lifted his lips to tell her that it was a good idea. He moved up to her mouth, kissing her with slow smoldering passion. She tilted her head and let her whole body sink into him, the subtle act of surrender stirred his arousal. He broke away from her, stepping back slightly.

"Okay, if we continue for much longer I won't be able to walk out of here." He placed a finger under her chin and a chaste kiss on her lips, "I love you, I'll be right back." He knew she needed to hear it and that their anxiety about harm coming to each other would dissipate over time.

"I love you too, and be careful." She hugged him tightly to her and then released him, opening the door as she heard the tell tale click of Angela's steps approaching. He walked away from her and she pushed at the urge to call him back, suppressed the irrational panic inside her that harm was bound to come to him as soon as he was out of her sight. She took a deep breath and mustered a smile at Ange as she entered the office.

"Honey there's a button undone on your shirt, try to pull yourself together. Now this is the first time we have been alone so talk to me, he has obviously been good for you because I have never seen you so relaxed and comfortable in your own skin." Temperance was listening but reached to fix her shirt when she noticed the button was hanging by a thread.

"Damn it my button is falling off, do you have a needle and thread in your office? I can't just leave it open all the way down the front."

"Of course I do, I'll be right back but don't think you're changing the subject. Be prepared to talk to me when I get back, with details!" She was gone in a flash and true to her word back just as quickly.

"Angela shut the door so I can take my shirt off for a minute and fix this." She quickly shut the blinds and the door, turning the lock and then turning back around. She gasped loudly when her eyes landed on Brennan.

"Jesus Bren, you look like you lost a fight, is that a handprint bruised onto your hip? I am actually jealous. Does he look this bad?" Temperance was frozen, caught like a deer in headlights and cursing herself for not thinking before she stripped off the top. Angela stood, staring at her.

"Yes, it's a handprint, no you're not getting any details and I don't know which one of us looks worse I suppose it's a matter of opinion. Although that reminds me I do have to cut my nails." Angela burst out laughing as she realized just how much she had missed her friends' blunt conversation.

Temperance was grinning because despite everything, thinking of him made her do that and she understood, even without Angela's proclamation of jealousy that what they had was not commonplace, it was the kind of thing you waited a lifetime to find.

Temperance stitched quickly, "Ange, stop staring at me."

"I can't help it, your body tells a story, and he's been all over you, you can't even stop smiling. Oh, honey you really do love him don't you?"

As Temperance knotted off the thread she looked up at Angela, "yes but Ange, it's scary, it's so much bigger than anything I've ever felt before and I'm still learning to deal with it. I've had a lot going on actually and he's been so understanding, so patient and gentle. It's good, better than good, it's amazing." She was putting her shirt back on, buttoning up and arranging herself for comfort, the smile still curled across her face.

"Bren I'm so happy for you and I hate to say it but I told you so, that man just had magic chemistry with you. I have to tell you though if this is him being gentle, you two are going to kill one another." She was very amused by her own comment.

Tempe was blushing deeply, "and another thing, don't mention the handprint to Booth, he felt terrible when he saw it."

"You know Bren I've been meaning to ask you, I know when you and Booth got together because he had to tell us when he read the e-mail, but how did that come about?" Temperance paused, recalling the events took her back to the day David was in her home but the part that was dear to her was her beginning with Seeley. She started with the dream and David being there and Angela reached over and took her hand. Once she passed that initial event it was easier to recount the rest of it, editing as she went for the sake of her own privacy.

When she finished Angela was beaming at her, "that's so romantic Bren, that will always be your 'how we got together story', the dream exchange, you don't even have to mention David by name, just wipe him out of it. Your dream would make a remarkable painting, I may borrow the image one day, if that's okay with you." Angela notice that her friend was suddenly distracted, fidgeting in her seat. "Bren, is it okay with you?"

"Is what okay?"

"My using the image from your dream as the basis for a painting? Sweetie, are you alright?"

"Yeah Ange you can use it, I don't mind. Do you think Booth has been gone a long time? Shouldn't he have been back by now?" Temperance rose and walked to the door, unlocking and opening it, followed by the blinds. She had a need to see so she would know as soon as he appeared.

Angela knew it was trauma behavior but she wasn't used to seeing Bren so anxious without reason. It was going to take time for her to relax and believe that he was safe. "I'm sure he'll be here, you know how unpredictable traffic can be." Even as she finished speaking Tempe's cell phone rang.

"Brennan." Her heart was racing, even though she knew it wasn't rational, she hated this feeling. She sighed heavily immediately after answering and then a smile crept across her face and into her eyes as she listened. She was off a moment later, far more relaxed. "So, where were we?"

"Is he on his way?" Angela was smiling knowingly, already aware of the answer to her question before she asked.

"Yes. Ange I know it doesn't make sense, even in my own head I know he's safe but I just get really nervous when he's gone and what's worse is that I hate it because it makes me feel like some needy codependent weak emotional cripple. It's so frustrating."

"Whoa there, needy codependent weak emotional cripple? That's pretty harsh, you're having some post traumatic stress symptoms. Bren, you saw the man you love die, killed by an old boyfriend gone psycho freak on you. There is going to be a little emotional fall out from that, it's perfectly normal. How many times have you told me about women in all different kinds of traumatic circumstances all over the world and how slow their thinking and behavior is to change even after the threatening circumstances not longer exist for them? Why would you be any different? Sweetie you need to cut yourself some slack, give yourself some time. The more often he comes back to you without harm the smaller that feeling will become until one day it just isn't there anymore."

"I didn't think you were listening when I was talking about all those women."

"I wasn't, most of the time I tune it out but I hear enough to know what you're saying." She smiled endearingly at her friend.

"Thanks Ange."

"You're welcome, it's nice to know that now and then I can help you with something other than what to wear on a date." She laughed and noticed how, as though some radar had gone off, Temperance turned toward the window to watch Booth round the corner toward them carrying three rather large bags.

"A little help here please." He leaned forward and let Angela take a bag from him and then turned and handed one to Temperance along with a brief but intimate kiss.

"Booth! You're going to embarrass Angela."

"We would both have to be naked to embarrass Angela." They all started laughing as soon as the sentence was out of his mouth. "Okay, that being said, lets go find the rest of the squint squad and eat."

"Booth did you just imply that you're part of the squint squad?" Angela's eyes went wide as she spoke.

"Maybe as an adoptee but certainly not as a founding member." He flashed his smile and led the way out of the room.

Hodgins and Zach were in the small conference room. They had set the table with paper plates and silverware and had pulled out all the needed condiments. They smiled as the trio approached, Hodgins was rubbing his hands together.

"I can't wait to see what Sid sent for me today. Oh and Dr. Brennan, there was only one iced tea left so you and Booth are going to have to fight over it."

Temperance set her bag on the table and smiled at Seeley, she tapped her fist to her palm and he quickly positioned his own hands. In a matter of seconds they ran through the three rounds of Rock-Paper-Scissors. It took them a second to realize that the rest of the group had frozen and were watching them with something between amazement and curiosity.

"I get the tea, Booth what do you want to drink? Why are you all staring at us?" Brennan was genuinely confused.

"Booth, you taught Dr. Brennan Rock-Paper-Scissors?" Hodgins left his mouth hanging open after he spoke.

It was Brennan that answered, "yes, why is that so strange, obviously you all know the game and it's a remarkably simple way to make a quick decision."

Angela was smiling broadly. "sweetie, I just think everyone is a little startled to see you playing a game. We always see you in work mode so it's just a little startling, but I think it's good. Obviously Booth is a good influence on you." The agent beamed.

Brennan rolled her eyes, "Angela I'll never get his head back into the car."

Hodgins was digging cartons out of the bags and handing them out to everyone.

Zach looked up, "I never understood the 'paper covers rock' scenario. I mean scissors cut paper and rock crushes scissors are both acts of destruction and therefore a clear win but the paper covering the rock really doesn't bode a clear winner. Symbolically I understand it but it's a flaw in the consistency of the game."

Booth shook his head, "it's not supposed to be analyzed. Is there anything you guys do that you don't stop to analyze first?"

Zach and Hodgins immediately said no at the same time, a second later Jack suggestively amended that there were a few things he did without analyzing. Angela was beginning a lecture on the value of living a spontaneous life and Zach was asking why you would do anything without some level of analyzing. Temperance watched them as she stuck her chopsticks in her container, opting to eat her noodles directly from the box. She was happy, listening to them, being around them, watching them in a way she rarely took time to do, really seeing them.

She realized Zach had spoken to her, "I'm sorry Zach, what did you say?"

"Dr. Brennan, don't you feel that it's necessary to analyze as you go, to prepare yourself in life?" He was desperate for an ally.

Suddenly all eyes turned to her, "Zach I have analyzed everything all my life and although it works well as a security system I'm not sure it actually improves your living. I have recently been exposed to the advantages of being spontaneous and I have to tell you, the greater the risk, the greater the reward. They are definitely on to something." She couldn't stop smiling as she spoke. Angela burst out laughing and Booth couldn't look at her, he was actually blushing a little. Hodgins shook his head muttering 'oh man' over and over and Zach looked perplexed as he tried to process the information.

They moved on to other topics, eating and laughing, the warm affection amongst them obvious to anyone wandering by the room. When they had finished Zach and Jack went back to work, discussing how good it was to see the new relaxed version of Dr. Brennan and contemplating if her return to work would cause the return of her more guarded self. The rest of them cleaned up the room, Brennan was wiping the table when she spoke.

"Angela, Booth and I would like to see you in my office for a few moments, we would like to talk to you about something."

"Okay, first of all, the use of 'we', I just have to say is so cute I could scream and secondly why would you have to take me to your office, you're right here? Is it a surprise? You know how I love surprises. Did you two elope?" She paused long enough to take a breath and Booth jumped in to speak.

"Angela slow down, just come to the office with us and find out what's happening. I will tell you this though, we didn't elope, you're getting a little ahead of us."

"Okay, I have to go talk to Dr. Goodman, I said I could see him after lunch so I'll meet you in there, hopefully it won't be long."

After Angela left they walked back to Brennan's office, he closed the door and turned to her. "You've been quiet, what's the matter?"

"It's just strange to be here and not be in the middle of a case, to have everyone working and not know on what when I'm usually the one instructing them. It just feels strange that's all."

She had turned and was looking through the slats of her blinds, carefully watching the floor of the lab as though it held some secret she was waiting to hear. He came up behind her and slid his arms around her waist and she sank back against him, loving the solid feel of him behind her. He thought back to when he had first met her, how her spine used to stiffen at his touch. He leaned his head down, kissing the creamy column of her neck, sliding his lips up to her ear.

"Temperance, in another week you'll be back to work and one day after that this place will consume you again. I don't harbor any illusions that your passion for your job will change just because you have another passion now." He paused, running his lips and tongue around the ridge of her ear, his warm breath sending a chill down her arms. "Let's enjoy these last days together, before our jobs take us back over and we no longer have time for a leisurely game of chess, or a leisurely game of anything." His arms moved up her body, his thumbs grazing the bottom curve of her breasts. He wanted to take her here, in this place that would soon steal time from them, a place that would draw half her thoughts and call to her, dividing her attention. He had grown accustomed to having her focus on him, and only him. Even giving her up to the obsession they shared would be difficult and he understood it so completely. He felt his erection rise between them and she pressed herself more firmly against him. He groaned softly against her ear, stirring her hair and sending a shiver slipping down her spine.

It made her sad to think they wouldn't have time for one another, for this, but she felt the truth of it move through her thoughts like a stone sinking in dark waters.

Even through her clothing her body responded to his touch. She tipped her head to the side and he brought down his mouth to accept the offering, opening his lips against the sensitive dip where her pulse fluttered just beneath the skin, a sensation that made her feel somehow more alive to him. She reached back, grasping his hips and pulling him tightly against her. He smoothed his hand down her abdomen and under the edge of her jeans, snuggling down between her legs and pressing two of his fingers into the slick heat of her. Just as she started to rock her hips against him he heard Angela's footsteps growing louder. He immediately her released her, walking quickly behind her desk and sitting down to hide his current state of arousal.

Temperance stood as though in shock from his rapid withdrawal, staring straight ahead.

"Temperance, sit down on the sofa and look at me, the door isn't locked." She moved slowly and her eyes came to his just as Angela burst into the room.

He smiled up at Angela, "well, that didn't take long, you must not be in trouble."

She grinned back at him, "no, I'm not in trouble. He just needed some files that I was working on for him."

Booth folded his hands and rested his chin against them. Temperance watched him breath deeply, taking in the scent of her from his fingers. She peeled her gaze off of him to look at Angela.

"Bren, what's the matter with you? You're gripping the edge of the sofa cushion like you're really nervous about something." Her brows pinched in confusion. Temperance got up and walked to her bag, retrieving a plain white envelope.

"I am a little nervous. Booth and I just wanted to say thank you for everything you've done for us. We got you a gift, a weekend away to New York. We included tickets to the museum, a shopping spree and two appointments with gallery owners about possibly showing your work. We made it for two because we thought there might be a certain bartender that would enjoy going with you and we figured you would have a better time if you weren't alone."

Angela's mouth was hanging open, her eyes round in surprise. "I can't accept that, it's too much and you didn't have to get me anything, I wanted to help."

Booth's voice drew Angela's attention, "Angela, please take it, it would mean a lot to us."

"Come on Ange, you deserve this, can you imagine how stubborn the two of us together can be?"

Booth started to laugh, "she's right there, you could fight one of us, but not both of us, not a chance."

Angela smile, taking the envelope in her hand, "you two can't make a habit of this, teaming up on me. I don't want to regret all the matchmaking I did to get you two together. I don't know what to say about this, just thank you, thank you both." Her eyes were shining with tears as she moved to hug each of them.

Temperance eyed the files on her desk, stacked neatly with several disc cases on top. The urge to pack then up and take them home was rearing its head within her. She could walk in the door and basically be caught up on every case. Booth's words came back to her and she thought about how she really wanted to spend these last days with him before they were flooded with responsibilities from the outside world. She decided they could wait, her team had already worked them, their sense of need had been satisfied and didn't require her stamp of approval to be valid. She thought about all the things she could learn from a skeleton, a persons life history, but not who loved them or how much, or if they had know how little time they had left.

"Earth to Temperance", Angela had spoken but both of them were looking at her.

"Sorry, I wasn't listening, I was thinking about the files." Angela rolled her eyes. Booth glanced at the desk.

"Would you like me to find a box to pack those in so we can take them with us?" He stood, expecting her to direct him to a place where file boxes were kept.

"No, that's okay, they can wait until I get back, it's not like they haven't been analyzed, I'm sure the team did an excellent job. I'll review them later." She spoke casually as though her dismissal of any work related task was a common event, her voice betraying nothing of the emotion spent to come to this conclusion.

"Wow, Bren, I'm impressed. You choosing the land of the living over communicating with the dead is big news. I have to tell you, I'm all for it, you're way behind on living. Take this hunky FBI guy home now and enjoy the rest of your day, hell the rest of your week. Talk about somebody who deserves it, you've probably already logged enough hours in this place to qualify for retirement." She turned to Booth, "get her out of here before she changes her mind." They were all smiling, gathering their things and making their way out of the office.

As they were walking out the main doors he turned to her, "you know if you want me to go back and get them, I will, at any time. I won't be disappointed; I know you're trying to balance everything. I don't expect you to change who you are, and I understand that your work is a big part of it." She kissed him softly on the lips, rubbing her hand along his jaw.

"Thank you, and I can't promise I won't want them before the week is over but right now I am completely distracted by wanting you." There it was again, her ability to catch him off guard, to lay a simple statement in his hands like a gift, unaware of how it would explode when opened. Her desire mentioned so casually that his penis was answering before his brain could respond.

He was smiling but he quickened his pace to the car, "I take it we're going straight home then?" When did he start calling her place home?

She waited for them both to be seated and reached over, squeezing his erection lightly through his jeans and drawing her hand back, "I'm thinking yes, it seems like straight home is a good idea."

He had gasped when she touched him and was now laughing, "you are a very surprising woman Temperance Brennan, very surprising."

She was laughing, amused more by his shock than anything. "Drive, Seeley." Her voice had thickened.

"Later I'll need to go back by my apartment again, there are some things I need to pick up, especially if I'm picking up Parker on Friday. You know at some point we will need to discuss this living arrangement. It's like we went on a date and just kept on going."

"Do you want to go home? Would you like some alone time? Some time for just you and Parker to spend together?" She wondered if he could hear her heart pounding as she spoke.

"No, no I don't want to go. I don't need anything but what I have right now. It's your space and privacy that I worry about feeling invaded."

"If you want me to say it I will, I don't want you to go. Maybe we should talk about some type of permanent arrangement after dinner tonight."

"Temperance, are you suggesting we move in together?" He was picking up speed, wanting to be where he could hold her, touch her, look at her without breaking his gaze to the road. He waited for her to answer…