Major 'Awwwwww' warning for this chap, maybe even a tissue warning for those of you who tear up easily. Happy reading...

Hours passed like days in the hospital, but somehow three weeks had managed to crawl by.

Three weeks and still very little improvement in Booth's condition. Though he remembered everything since he'd woken up from surgery, all he knew of his past life were sporadic faces and incomplete scenes that played out while he slept.

It was because of these dreams that Brennan had taken to spending the night in the hospital, not wanting him to be alone. She curled up in a chair in the corner with her lap top or a file from the lab and watched over him at night, hoping he wouldn't suddenly open his eyes and see her.

Angela came everyday like clockwork, bringing Booth gossip from the lab and even bits and peices of things she heard from friends at the FBI, all the while flirting shamelessly. She also felt obliged to bring in different pieces of art and dozens of flowers because she decided "no one could possibly heal in a room as depressing as this".

Zach stopped by everyday at lunch with Dr. Brennan, but never said much. He often felt uncomfortable, afraid he would say something wrong since he was all too aware of the seriousness of cranial trauma.

Cam came by one last time before relocating to Egypt, but didn't get much response from Booth, who was confused about why the woman seemed so intent on bidding him farewell when he clearly had no idea who she was. She left after only a few minutes.

Hodgins was the only person who saw a bright side to Booth's amnesia, that being Booth wasn't nearly as protective of his pudding. He silently hoped though, every time he swiped one of the plastic cups off the tray, that Booth would look up at him and glare the way he used to. He might never admit it out loud, but he missed the guy terribly.

There was one person who was loyally by Booth's bedside everyday, only leaving the room to go to the bathroom or talk to doctors, afraid she wouldn't be there when Booth's memory finally returned. Despite cautions from the doctors, she refused to believe anything other than that would happen.

Laura Booth sat crocheting by his side all day long, often talking to him about his childhood or his family, hoping to jog his memory. Booth pretended to be engrossed in the TV, but in reality was in deep concentration over every word his mother said, hoping something would eventually sound familiar.

Booth's father spent a lot of time talking to his son while he slept, never having been one to publicly display emotion very easily.

And that was how the three weeks passed, everyone trying to make the best of a bad situation and help a friend in need. But only one person noticed when Brennan's late night visits suddenly stopped. And that person was relived to hear the anthropologist sneaking into her son's hospital room late one Tuesday night.

She'd just left the lab and was dead tired as she made her way toward her chair in the corner near Booth's bed.

"Haven't seen you in a few days."

The voice almost made her jump clear out of her skin and she whirled around to find Laura stepping out of the shadows, smiling at her.

"Oh, Hi Mrs. Booth." Brennan tried to catch up with her breath.

"Call me Laura." She sat down next to Brennan's chair, motioning for her to do the same.

"I haven't seen you in a while." She repeated.

Brennan sat down slowly and nodded, feeling guilt start to creep into the pit of her stomach.

"I've, um, been busy. Had to eat lunch at work." It was true, she had been busy, but she also hadn't eaten more than a bagel and a cup of coffee in two days.

Booth would be pissed if he knew that...well...my Booth would be.

"That's not what I meant dear. I meant, you haven't come in at night for three days now."

Brennan tilted her head.

"How did you know about that?"

Laura shrugged. "I couldn't sleep one night so I came to see him, and you were here," she patted the armrest of Brennan's chair, "Asleep. I'd been so worried about him being here alone, knowing you were here helped a little." She frowned, "Come to think of it, how is it you were allowed to stay overnight?"

Brennan looked away, "I can be very persuasive."

When scientific terms and threatening bodily injury fails, tears are hard to resist, even if they aren't intentional.

"Yeah, I believe Seeley mentioned that," Her face brightened momentarily with amusment, but quickly went serious again.

"So what happened?"

Brennan's gaze had fallen on Booth. He looked so peaceful when he slept, almost like an angel. She took another deep breath of the clean hospital air.

She felt Laura's hand lay on her shoulder and she smiled.

"Why does it feel like it's okay to tell you everything?" She questioned, though she resented the way her voice cracked when she did so.

Laura smiled knowingly.

"Because I'm a mother Sweatheart, we listen. It's what we do."

Brennan nodded, clasping her hands tighter so they wouldn't shake. In the past few weeks, she truly had started to feel like Laura was something of a mother to her.

It was part of the reason she tried to run.

"I got scared." She sad finally.

"Of what?"

Brennan took a deep breath, swallowing threatening sobs.

"Of family. Of losing you and Michael, losing him." she gestured widly between Booth and his mother. "All the family I've ever had has left me. You come, and you're…everything a mother should be. I was starting to get attached."

She held her gaze on the immaculate hospital floor.

"And as for Booth…I know he's not dead but…what if he never gets his memory back? What if…what if he…I mean, I finally figured out what I want…and I can't even tell him…because he doesn't know who I am."

Laura squeezed her shoulder, which caused Brennan's tough front to almost completely dissolve and she had to close her eyes to stop the tears.

"What if this is all there is? What if I've lost him forever?" She whispered.

Laura suddenly realized what her husband had been suspecting for weeks. Longer even, ever since Seeley's phone calls had become no more than excited tales of 'Bones did this' and 'Bones said that'.

"Temperance," she said softly, "are you in love with my son?"

Brennan caught her breath and bit her lip. Neither woman spoke for an eternity.

Finally, she was able to bring her eyes to Laura's, but still spoke no higher than a whisper.

"Most people push me to be a better scientist. A better writer or anthropologist. Booth…Booth pushes me to be a better person. He sees my flaws, accepts them, and tries to help me get past them without loving me any less."

Laura leaned forward to hear her better over the soft patter of rain outside.

"When he isn't around, I feel like part of me is missing." Brennan's heart beat in her throat making both breathing and speaking quite difficult.

"When he's near me, I feel safe. If I'm sad, he's there to comfort me. If I'm happy," she shrugged, a smile in her eyes, "he's the reason."

"He would do anything for me, and I for him." she began nodding slowly, "So yes…I love your son."

Brennan held her breath, but it didn't help. She'd never said those words out loud before and she could feel her chest tighten with sobs.

"I love him. I love him." She repeated softly her voice shaking noticably, her control all but lost. Laura pulled her into a hug.

"Oh sweetheart." Laura rubbed her back as Brennan clutched her cable-knit sweater for dear life. The smell of lavender and talcum powder that lingered on her clothes reminded Brennan of the way her mother smelt when she would comfort her as a child. One of the best smells in the world.

"Bones."

Brennan gasped and closed her eyes, sure her mind was now playing tricks on her.

"Bones, please don't cry."

Brennan opened her eyes. She was definitely not dreaming.

She looked over at Booth, who's head was turned, facing her, looking exhausted.

"Seeley!" Laura said a little louder than she should have before she abandoned the hug she'd been giving Brennan and went to her son.

"Hi mom." He said softly, wrapping his arms around his mother's shaking frame. He spoke to her gently, but couldn't bring himself to tear his eyes away from Brennan. She stood, her hands folded across her chest as her glistening eyes took stock of him.

Booth? Could it really be you?

As if he read her thoughts, he gave her a charm smile, a weak one, but a charm smile none the less.

She smiled back at him and started to move for the door.

"I'll go find Michael."

Booth's smile immediately faded.

"No. Don't go."

Brennan looked at his mother, who'd pulled back and was grasping Booth's hand with one of hers, while smoothing his hair with the other, a dreamy smile all over her face.

"But Booth…"

"No. It's okay," Laura piped up, "I'll go find him. You stay with Seeley."

With that, she leaned over, placed a kiss on her son's forehead and practically ran out the door.

The room fell silent and neither person dared move.

Booth knew exactly what she'd said to his mother, but now couldn't seem to find the words to say he felt the exact same way.

He motioned for her to come closer. She hesitated, but found herself next to his bed within seconds.

"You're back?" She asked quietly, her eyes not willing to meet his.

Booth reached up and guided her face to his with his hand. "Yes. I'm right here Bones."

The relief she'd fought off since first hearing his voice a few seconds before suddenly washed over her and Brennan smiled genuinely for the first time.

"Say it again."

"I'm right here." He quickly obliged, her smile sending surges of energy through his body.

She shook her head. "My name…say my name."

"Temperance…"

Again she shook her head and a boyish grin spread across Booth's face.

"Bones?"

Brennan closed her eyes and sighed, relishing in the sound of that word rolling off his tongue.

"I thought I'd never hear that again."

Booth reached for her hand. "Bones I…"

She withdrew her hand from his and leaned over, placing both her hands on either side of his face, she kissed him deeply.

Not a 'moment of weakness' kiss. Not a 'natural reaction to a sudden ouburst of emotions' kiss. Nothing Brennan's rational mind was trying to tell her made any sense right then.

No. She was kissing him because it was what she'd wanted to do for three weeks. For two months. For as long as she'd known him...and she was no longer willing to wait.

Booth put his hands on her waist and pulled her down on to the bed next to him so he wouldn't have to reach so far to her lips.

Brennan pulled away slightly, resting her head on his neck and allowing tears of relief to fall down her face.

"I missed you." She whispered, pulling her arms down and wrapping them around him tightly.

Booth nodded, holding one hand on the base of her head and the other on her back.

"I know Bones. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

She heard the tears in his voice and looked up at him. Smiling, she brushed his wet cheeks.

"Don't cry, it's time to be happy."

"That goes for you too then. Be happy." Booth brushed his thumb along her cheek and let it linger there, tucking some unkempt hair behind her ear.

Brennan laid her head back down on his shoulder and smiled.

"Okay Booth. If you're back, I'm happy."

By the time Laura returned with her husband, Brennan and Booth were fast asleep. His arm wrapped protectively around her waist, her body pressed up against him as if she couldn't get close enough. A smile playing softly on both their lips.

"See." Michael Booth put a hand around his wife's shoulders and pressed a kiss to her temple. "I told you so."

There you go...tell me what you thought...