I was a little disheartened by the lack of the reviews from last chapter, thank you to the 3 people who did review. I would hope this hasn't lost its spark, because I really do enjoy writing this. It's my most inspirational fic, thus far. This chapter has Brennan and Booth's in depth talk and I enjoyed writing it.

Please drop a review before you leave, it will make me a very happy girl in the sad time I'm going through.

This chapter is dedicated to my Nan, who sadly passed away on Monday. I will love you Forever and Always Nan. xo

Fingers and Toes

Brennan and Booth spent most of the afternoon getting settled into the cabin for their weekend stay. Booth took Brennan down to the lake, where they dipped their toes into the cold water, and Brennan explained about the poison ivy just off the track, in case they went exploring through the shrubs. As the evening rolled around Booth cooked them pasta for dinner and they enjoyed the meal out on the back veranda where it widened to fit a BBQ, a ten seat oblong table and benches and a Jacuzzi in the corner. By 8:30pm, both were exhausted as they lay out on the front veranda on two deck chairs, sipping on non-alcoholic cocktails that Booth had made.

"We haven't chosen bedroom yet," Brennan commented as she sipped at her drink, her eyes wandering off into the distance as the last ray of sunlight broke out against the horizon, the sky quickly turned from the haze of purples and pinks to the black of the night sky.

"I put your bag in the master bedroom," Rolling his head on his shoulders, Booth too sipped at the drink, his eyes focused on the rise and fall of Brennan's chest.

A silence fell upon them, as Brennan continued to watch the sun set over the horizon and Booth kept a steady eye on her rhythmic breaths. As the seconds turned into minutes, the silence which surrounded the pair was comfortable, though both knew about the underlying reason they were sitting there for.

Brennan was the first to speak and when she did her voice sounded broken and hoarse, "What do we talk about?"

"Everything and nothing," Shrugging, Booth picked up his drink and took a small sip before returning it to the table between the two chairs.

"I don't know what that means."

Sighing Booth brought a faint smile to his lips, "It means to just let the conversation flow."

"Although your logic is grounded by nonsense, I understand." Her smile was genuine and so too was his hearty chuckle. Raising their drinks in their hands, they clinked glasses and sipped at the liquid, relishing the way it eased down their throats.

They again fell into a silence; however the silence which fell upon them was awkward, neither knowing quite where to start.

"What do we talk about Booth?" A flash of concern rushed across Brennan's features as she turned her head to face Booth, his own face looking grim and uncertain.

"How about what's on your mind. I can see the wheels ticking over in the genius brain of yours," His stab of lightheartedness didn't come across the way he intended and with a sigh, he picked up his non-alcoholic cocktail and drained the liquid, breeching eye contact with Brennan.

Heaving a sigh and wriggling in her seat, Brennan addressed the issue that was and had been playing on her mind since the first time Booth visited her in hospital, "I was thinking about…I was thinking about how much you would have had to give up to come help me recover. You have a job and a life in Philadelphia and a single phone call bought you back to DC, but when I desperately rang you, you wouldn't answer."

"I was angry at you Bones, for nearly two years I was angry…at you and at myself. From the day you told me you were pregnant, you stated you didn't want our child, so I was angry. We shared many moments together where I felt as if we were in a family and then you would push me away. So the moment Amelia was born, I left. I was angry at you that you didn't get to share any of Amelia's first - her first smile, her first time sleeping through the night, her first haircut and her first birthday. Then Angela called…she told me you were in hospital and…" Feeling the glint of tears at the back of his eyes, Booth tried to sniff them away, but it only made them worse, so he let the single tear roll down his cheek and let it rest at the bottom of his chin, "And, all my anger and hate towards you dissolved. I went into protective mode; then as I was driving back to DC I realised…I realised I still loved you. I realised I never stopped loving you, but it was just easier to hate you."

Her words were choked by tears she hadn't realised were falling down her cheeks until a salty droplet rolled into the corner of her lips, "I…I'm sorry Booth."

"It's okay Bones. I'm where I should be," Reaching over Booth clasped his hand in Brennan's giving a tight squeeze and a weak smile.

"But-"

"I never felt at home in Philly. This is my home; here, with you. " His confession was from his heart, the way the sadness washed in his warm brown eyes told the truth, even if the weakness in his smile didn't.

"Can we change the subject now?" Feeling a blush creep onto her cheeks from his declaration, Brennan felt the need to change the somber mood to something more optimistic and enjoyable.

"Yeah, we can change the subject," Booth felt as if a weight had been lifted off his shoulders, although their progress was small, he saw a glimmer of hope and fear travelling through Brennan's eyes and throughout the rest of the weekend he was going to have to keep telling her that he'd never leave, and if after the weekend she still didn't believe he was going to stay…then he would make love to her life she asked. But first they would talk.

o0o

Suppressing a yawn, Booth glanced at his watched and noted they'd been talking about everything and nothing for a good couple of hours, sipping on their cocktails and enjoying the sounds of nature as they talked.

Noticing that Booth had looked at his watch for the third time in as many minutes, Brennan started to grow curious, "Got a hot date lined up or something?"

Her pinch of humour made Booth laugh, as he rolled his eyes and shook his head, "Got one right Bones…And no, I was just wondering how Max was going with Amelia."

"I still don't know why you didn't let Angela look after her," Scolding, Brennan filled her cocktail glass up with the red strawberry liquid, watching as Booth's eye waggled as he held his own empty glass out to be refilled.

"Because Angela is 35 weeks pregnant," Scoffing the words with a raised brow at his denied refill, Booth couldn't help the mischievous grin crack upon his lips at her little school girl giggle and matching beaming smile which spread far and wide across her lips.

Sighing, Brennan had to agree, although Angela would want to look after Amelia there was no way she could. Definitely not with her off-centered balance and her limited capability of waddling around Hodgins' larger than usual mansion, chasing after a fifteen month old child.

"That doesn't tell me why my father is looking after her," Raising a sculpted eyebrow towards him, Brennan stifled a yawn only to regret having so when her eyes started to water.

"Because he wanted to," Booth thought the reasons behind Max wanting to spent time was pretty simple, but apparently it wasn't to the quizzical looking Brennan.

"I suppose the reason is valid," Shrugging, Brennan just took another sip from her drink and focused on the nights sky in particular the full illuminating moon giving the everything an enlightening glow as the trees and shrubs danced in the silver light.

o0o

"Come here," Booth urged as another shiver ripped through Brennan; even though she was wearing a cardigan, the cotton material did nothing to protect her from the cold wind which whipped past their faces and echoed into the darkness of the night. Booth on the other hand had grabbed a jumper and pulled it on when he ducked inside the cabin to relieve his bladder.

"I'm fine," The shiver made her teeth chatter as she hugged her body for dear life trying to stay warm. It was a losing battle, but she had to keep fighting.

Rolling his eyes, Booth reached across and tugged at her hand, "Come here."

His voice was stern, but comforting to Brennan's ears as she gave in. Pulling herself from the deckchair, she grabbed her cocktail glass and stepped across to Booth where he pulled her onto his lap, her head resting in the crook of his neck, and she instantly felt the heat radiating from his body, his warmth starting to overcome her lack.

"Better? He asked, pressing circles onto her back to spread some heat throughout her body.

"A little," She replied, snuggling further into the crook of Booth's neck, a faint smile coming across her lips as she sucked in a lungful of cold air; her eyes starting to slowly flutter closed.

"Why do you like strawberries so much?" Pressing his lips to her hair, Booth let her strawberry shampoo and conditioner drift through his senses as he relished in her soft scent.

Brennan began to toy with the edge of her cardigan sleeve, her teeth chewing on the inside of her cheek, unsure of how she wanted to answer the question. Sighing heavily, she decided to be upfront, speak the truth and lay herself on the line.

"My mother loved strawberries and I was close to her as a child. One year, I helped her plant a strawberry bed in the backyard, so she could make strawberry jam and have fresh strawberries to pick and eat. It was something we shared. I just suppose over the years I grew accustomed to having strawberries in my life, thus always having a punnet in the fridge or using strawberry scented hair products."

"It's nice, feminine." Brennan lifted her head to face Booth, appreciating the kind words he'd just spoken; she felt as if those three words had lifted a deadweight from her shoulders.

"You're the first person to ask or notice."

Giving a half-laugh, Booth pecked at her nose, "I noticed all those years ago. It's something that wafts around long after you've left the room. Admittedly, I've dated numerous women…"

Hearing her indignant chuff at the understatement, Booth couldn't help but nudge Brennan in the ribs.

"As I was saying…" He was only half focused on the words, the other half was focused on the rumbling laughter from Brennan returning the poke on the ribs, hers little more forced than his, "As I was saying, I've dated many women, most in my teen years, but never had the scent of you. Overused perfume, yes. But never an everlasting scent that enriches my senses and leaves me still smelling strawberries in my apartment the next day."

"Your scent is very unique; the mix of old spice and leather is very…comforting." She smiled into his chest, as his circles on her back came to a complete halt.

Booth pulled back Brennan's shoulders, forcing their eyes to meet and their lips to be just inches apart, that when he spoke, his breath tingled her lips, "Did you just compliment me?"

Brennan pulled herself off of Booth and moved to by the cabin door, her hand on the handle, "You better believe it."

Pulling the door open, Brennan stepped foot in the cabin before turning back around to Booth who was laughing lightly on the deckchair, "Goodnight Booth." With that she ducked into the cabin as her words drifted out into the night's air.

Picking up the cocktail shaker and two glasses, Booth hauled himself from the chair and stepped into the cabin, his eyes starting to drift closed in need of sleep. He was going to sleep well – they'd made even more progress.