"It don't matter to the sun if you go or if you stay.
No, the sun is gonna rise, shine down on another day.
There will be a tomorrow, even if you choose to leave.
No, it don't matter to the sun. But it matters to me…
Guess who's in makes no difference, it'll keep on keeping time,
It ain't gonna stop the world, but it would be the end of mine."
'It Don't Matter To The Sun', Rosie Thomas
oo00oo
Temperance Brennan woke slowly, her eyes opening above the broad smile still plastered across her features. She felt warm and safe, a security she now realised she had been looking for ever since her parents disappeared so many years before.
Hang on… This isn't my room…
Confused, Brennan's eyes darted wildly about the place.
Wait, I'm at Booth's. In Booth's bed…
She turned her head slightly, realising her feeling of warmth and security was due to the body pressed against her, his arm wrapped loosely around her shoulders.
I'm in Booth's bed. Beside Booth. Who's naked, as am I…
The memory of the night before began to crystallise in her mind as sleep drifted away, revealing a passion that sent a blush to heat her cheeks. The memory of his touch, the whisper of his voice, the scent of his aftershave, the heat of his gaze, all sent a shiver coursing down her spine.
Shifting in his arms, Brennan laid her head against her partner's chest, snuggling closer as she looked down at the sheets wrapped around their tangled legs. She felt her smile grow even wider as her eyes fluttered up to examine his face.
"Seeley…"
Her only answer was the sound of his heavy breathing and a slight flicker of his eyelids. She smiled at the softness of his features in the muted morning light filtering through the curtains.
Draping an arm across his chest, Brennan closed her eyes and prayed to whatever God Booth believed in that she would never forget how she felt in that moment.
Don't ever forget what it feels like to wake up in the arms of your perfect man, what it feels like to love. And to be loved…
oo00oo
Seeley Booth's eyes fluttered open, blinking at the shaft of light lying directly across his face. Attempting to shuffle out of the dawn's way, he felt a strange weight pressing on his chest. Confused and sleepy, he turned his head to find Temperance Brennan lying across him, her skin glowing in the dim light as she dozed.
Seeing her there, her auburn hair splayed out across his skin to create a red-tinted halo about her peaceful face, Booth couldn't keep the grin from bursting through the remnants of his sleep.
He shifted slightly to get a better look at her, using the back of his fingers to gently stroke her cheek, loving the sensation of her skin beneath his touch. Right then, he sent up a silent prayer.
Dear God, don't ever let me forget this moment, don't ever let me forget just how good it feels to wake up in the arms of the woman I love and who loves me.
He tore his eyes from her face, glancing up at the clock beside the bed and felt his stomach tighten.
I have to leave her soon, I have to go. As quickly as I've found her, I have to lose her again, and I don't even know for how long.
He shuffled closer to her, unconsciously wanting to feel the warmth of her body against his own, wrapping his arms tightly around her as he pretended he had all the time in the world. His eyes screwed shut, he pretended that he was just a normal guy waking up in the arms of the woman he loves, pretended that he could spend the rest of his life living morning after morning like this one, pretended that he was never going to leave.
And then, lying there with his Temperance in his arms, Booth felt a tinge of fear invade his chest not for himself, but for her.
Everyone's left her, deserted her. I don't want to be that man. I can't be that man. I love her too much. Please Temperance, don't shut down when I go. I'm coming back to you. Don't build those walls up again, don't lose hope and put your heart back in a box.
He sighed heavily.
Please, don't go back there again. Even if I die, don't let yourself go back to how things were. You're loved, and not just by me, and you love too. I don't want to lose you. Not now. Not ever.
His eyes still screwed tightly shut, Booth clutched her closer to him and, in the silence between her steady breaths, he thought he heard his heart break a little.
oo00oo
Brennan slowly began to stir again, her eyes flickering open as she smiled. Loving where she was and the man she was with, she began to trace small circles across his chest, following the lines of his impressive pectoral muscles as she listened to the beat of his heart and watched the rise and fall of his chest.
She had finally found the man capable of scaling her supposedly impenetrable walls, the man who respected her, honoured her, challenged her, infuriated her beyond belief at times, could make her laugh with just one look, could explain a thousand emotions in just one touch. She had finally found the man who did not need to dominate or be dominated, simply wanting to be her equal, who stood by her side come hell or high water.
I've finally found the man I've always wanted… I've finally found my Booth.
She felt him shift beneath her, felt him begin to stir, and her heart seemed to swell so much she feared it might burst.
And he actually loves me, he actually wants me. He loves me as much as I love him. Things are just…perfect.
Her eyes locked with his, a smile spreading quickly across his thin lips as he blinked rapidly.
"Hey."
She grinned back at him, running a self conscious hand through her dishevelled hair.
"Hey."
He reached up, staying her hand and letting his fingers trace the line of her jaw before bringing her face closer to his, laying a gentle kiss on her lips. She smiled against him, a giggle burbling up her throat. Booth pulled back a little, his eyes narrowing to look at her closely, his voice suspicious.
"What…?"
Her grin became slightly sheepish as she winked at him.
"I think we should brush our teeth before we… before we start anything like a repeat performance of last night."
Booth's hand immediately flew up to cover his mouth, his cheeks turning a mild shade of crimson.
"Ah yes, the perils of morning breath… Problem is, I don't think I can make it to the bathroom to do anything about it. You see, all I want to do is stay here with you…"
Her smile widened as she laid kisses across his chest, her eyes never leaving his. Trembling slightly, he cupped her face with his hand.
"Temperance Brennan, what did I ever do to deserve a woman like you?"
She smiled, wriggling up his body to kiss him full on the lips, damn the morning breath.
"I honestly don't know, but whatever it was, it can't have been good."
He grinned, pulling her deeper into the kiss, his hands exploring the feel of skin still new to him despite his thorough explorations only hours before. She returned the embrace with an urgency that surprised him, her fingers clawing at him as he rolled over on top of her.
The shrill ring of his cell phone on the nightstand stopped them both in their tracks as they both stared at the source of the sound, silently cursing the interruption. Offering up a sheepish grin, Booth rolled back over to his side of the bed and answered the phone.
"Booth."
"Hey, it's Rebecca. I'm just wondering what time you wanted to come round and say goodbye to Parker before you, you know, leave…"
Watching his partner stretching out her limbs in languid motions, Booth felt as if he'd just been punched in the stomach, all air being sucked out of him as his eyes settled on the ready packed duffle by his wardrobe.
It's all real. I have to go. I have to leave her, and Parker.
"Erm, I'm not sure. I've literally just woken up. Can I give you a ring back in about ten minutes?"
He could practically hear the grin spreading across Rebecca's face and he knew she knew who he was with.
"No problem. Speak to you soon."
He hung up and turned to his partner who was examining his face with those sharp blue eyes. He sighed heavily.
"I need to go round to Rebecca's and say goodbye to Parker."
She nodded slowly, pulling the sheets up to her chest in an unconscious effort to protect herself from the hurt she knew was coming.
"Of course. Could you drop me off at mine though? I don't really fancy taking a cab at this time of a morning in that dress."
He smiled, curling her hair round his fingers.
"Sure. But how about I drop you off so you can shower and all that, then when I've picked up Parker, I take you both out to breakfast?"
Brennan raised an eyebrow at him quizzically.
"Are you sure you want to do that? I mean, Parker's your son. Don't you just want to say goodbye to him on your own?"
Booth leant in close, his eyes locked with hers.
"Bones, I want to say goodbye to the two most important people in my life, the people that I love. That means Parker and you, ok?"
She smiled as she offered up a lingering kiss in thanks.
"I love you too, Seeley. Now go get showered so I can go home and change."
He grinned as he moved away, his hand gripping hers as he pulled her with him towards the shower. With a sly smile, she followed, not wanting to spend a second without him beside her.
oo00oo
Breakfast passed way too quickly for both their liking. Brennan had to avoid choking on her cereal from laughter multiple times as Parker bounced around the diner, demonstrating numerous zoo animals with the help of maple syrup coffered waffles. Booth just watched them both, his smile wide but not quite reaching his eyes, his thoughts constantly dragging back to the carefully packed duffle in the trunk of his SUV.
All too soon, Booth practically dragged Parker away from his stool to drop him off at school. Brennan joined the father son team at the school gates to wave the little boy off, surprised when he wrapped his tiny arms around her neck and pulled her in to a tight embrace.
"Bye bye Doctor Benan. See ya soon!"
He practically sprinted in to school and Temperance straightened up, a smile pulling at her lips as she turned to her partner. He was watching her with a look in his eye she had never seen before, a look of longing and love, of being family. Her smile widened as she laced her fingers with his, resting her head on his shoulder as they wandered back towards the car.
Twenty minutes later, Booth shut off the engine to the SUV in the Jeffersonian parking lot. Both partners stared straight ahead, looking up through the windscreen at the imposing building, too scared to turn to one another and start their final goodbyes.
Eventually, Booth sighed heavily and turned to her, laying his hands over her own which were clasped tightly in her lap. When she finally raised her eyes to his, he saw they were swimming with tears and her smile was weak.
"Do you want to come inside and say goodbye to everyone?"
He glanced at the clock set in the dashboard and felt himself grimace slightly.
"I'm going to be late as it is. Could you just tell them all that I'll see them soon?"
She nodded, turning away from him slightly. He gently cupped her face, forcing her to look at him.
"Temperance, it's not for long, I promise. I'm coming back to you."
She smiled slightly though it didn't reach her eyes.
"I know that, I just… I don't want you to go."
He lightly kissed her on the forehead.
"And I don't want to either, but you know I have to."
She nodded again, attempting to blink back the tears as she swallowed hard.
"But you'll call me as soon as you can?"
He grinned at her and nodded, knowing her fierce independence made it hard to show her vulnerable side and the fact she needed him. He pulled her in to a kiss, relishing the taste of her.
I'll never look at strawberries the same way again…
Slowly, they broke apart, their eyes still locked together as he felt her press something cool in to his palm. Looking down, he found a tiny silver dolphin in his hand. His eyes flicked back to hers, a look of surprise on his face as she just smiled at him sadly.
"Bones, I can't take this. Your father left this for your mother, it's yours."
She shook her head, closing his fingers tight around the metal.
"And now it's yours. This way, you have to come back if only to give this to me."
He smiled, his lips brushing against hers.
"That won't be the only reason I'm coming back to you."
She smiled against him.
"I know. I'm just making sure of it."
"Temperance, I love you."
The kiss he received was deep and frantic, a sense of urgency in it which they both felt and hated. Neither wanted the other to go, neither wanted to spend the next few months alone, neither thought they could make it without the other. But eventually they broke apart, knowing that they had no choice.
"I love you too, Seeley. Take care of yourself out there."
He just nodded sadly.
"Yeah… God, I'm going to miss you."
"I'll miss you too. And this time, I'll miss you more than Zach does."
She kissed his cheek and slipped out of the SUV with a wry smile that quickly faded as she marched across the parking lot, not daring to look back in case she lost the last of her resolve. She just let her feet carry her along the familiar path to her office, not seeing a single one of her co-workers along the way, not registering the looks of concern on their faces at the sight of her.
Reaching her office, Brennan stopped in the middle of the room. It suddenly felt far too empty now she knew Booth wouldn't just be dropping by, wouldn't tease her or lure her out with a new case. Without him there, everything seemed colder.
The hand on her arm made her jump as someone spun her round. She barely had time to register it was Booth before his lips were pressed against hers, his hands pulling her tight against him. Hungry for every last drop of him, Brennan wrapped her arms tight around his neck, clutching to him as if her very life depended on it.
For once in her life, she didn't care who could see her, she didn't care what people thought. All that mattered was that Booth was still there, for a precious few minutes, he was still there.
Slowly, he pulled away from her with a sheepish grin.
"Sorry, I just couldn't resist."
Somewhere out in the lab came the distinct sound of wolf whistling and low chuckles.
Brennan rolled her eyes.
"I take it Hodgins is here."
Booth kissed her hand before clutching it in his own and squeezing it reassuringly.
"Just ignore them, Bones."
He kissed her on the forehead.
"I'll call you as soon as I can."
She nodded, the tears prickling her eyes again.
"I'll miss you."
He smiled, gently caressing her cheek.
"And I already miss you. I love you, Temperance."
And with that he was gone, her office empty. Brennan felt her stomach clench tight with fear as everything seemed to get cold. Wobbling slightly on her feet, she collapsed on to the sofa, unable to stop the tears that poured from her face.
She barely noticed Angela enter, closing the door quietly behind her before taking her place beside her friend, gently pulling her into a tight embrace as they rocked together with the force of Brennan's sobs.
Screwing her eyes shut, the anthropologist knew it was ridiculous. She knew that Booth leaving was not the end of the world and that she was strong enough to cope during the time that he was away. She knew that all the emotions she was feeling were utterly pointless and that they wouldn't bring him back to her any quicker. But then, cradled in the arms of her best friend, Brennan didn't care.
So what if emotions don't matter a great deal to anthropology? They matter to me. He matters to me.
The sobs that wracked her chest increased as Brennan let herself cry so much that she thought she might drown in the flood of her own tears. And then she cried some more.
A/N: Oh, the melodrama! Should hopefully have the next chapter up by tomorrow. Don't worry, there's only a couple left and then it's all over and I can go back to planning the sequel for The Man In The Lecture Hall. Adios amigos!