A/N: As one reviewer commented, I hadn't written any ficlets from Booth's POV yet. Actually I had attempted to, but they kept turning into long oneshots (see "Distracted" and "Perfect"). Personally, I think Booth knows he's in love with Brennan, but isn't sure he wants to be in love with her. This was written with the idea that he's trying to talk himself out of it. Let me know what you think!
…
That's Why
There are many, many days I wonder just how the hell this woman has come into my life. She's the most maddening, frustrating, irritating person I've ever known. She manages to push every single one of my buttons on a daily basis. I lost track of how many times I've wanted to strangle her. She drives me insane!
And I've never been more in love with a woman in all my life.
I have no idea how it happened. Somewhere in the middle of arguing and butting heads with her, I discovered that I actually like her. Somehow, I managed to catch a glimpse of the woman behind her abrasive façade. Life has kicked the shit out of her and, like me, she's just trying to fight her way through it all. I understand her more than anyone else.
Still, she can really piss me off!
She mocks my religious beliefs. She scoffs at my views on love, sex, marriage, and parenthood. She thinks my "cosmic balance sheet" is ridiculous. She doesn't trust my "gut." She corrects me. She pokes and prods, nags and annoys and contradicts me. And picks and picks and picks and picks…
One day I would like a loving wife, a house with a white picket fence, 2.5 kids, and a dog running in the yard. I want to settle down… get a safe job, take my family to church on Sundays, enjoy an evening walk with my wife, help my kids with their homework. I don't want to chase murderers forever. This is the exact opposite of what she wants in life. So why the hell am I waiting around for her to finally see me?
"Booth."
I turn my head, meeting her pale blue eyes. They're sparkling with some unreadable emotion. My heart flutters and my breath catches… Oh, that's why.