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Disclaimer: I don't own any characters or song lyrics here. But the characters and the non-couple romance both inspire and frustrate me!

This is a new story but a continuation of the same tale. If you'd like to read the entire story you should start with "Merry Christmas, Bones" for chapters 1-7. In between chapters 7 and 8 there is an 'M' rated story "Merry Christmas, Booth", but either can be read alone and still make sense. This story picks up after Chapter 8.

This is somewhat of a short chapter but there will be more to come.

Navigating to their table, Seeley could feel her eyes boring into his back. Why did I spill all that? He saw that her eyes were sparkling as they sat down and waited for her to speak. It didn't take long.

"So, you actually threatened the leader of a violent gang for my sake?"

Sheepishly grinning at her, he nodded. "Yes, I did."

"Why in the world would you do that?"

"Well, he pissed me off. How dare he threaten you. I didn't even think about it and I meant what I told him; if anything happened to you I would, uh hmm, drill him between the eyes." He choked on that last part, hoping she missed it. Wide eyes dashed that foolish hope. Temperance had excellent hearing.

"And in New Orleans? I knew something didn't add up when you gave me that second earring but lacking any rational explanation I just accepted I would never know. So when you told me down there you had already staked your career..." he nodded. "Wow. I just can't believe you did that. Why?"

"It's psychology, babe." If she didn't understand how far he'd go to protect her he wasn't going to point it out again. At least not yet. Smiling, he said instead, "So, you've heard my confessions. Now I want some of yours. When did you know?"

Her eyes went wide, "Booth! Not going to work up to that one?"

Unable to hold her mock anger looking at that impish grin she answered him, "Well. You probably won't like the answer. I'm really good at compartmentalizing my emotions away from my work. I have to be able to do that in order to do what I do. So while I was attracted to you early on, we had work. Then you had Tessa, then Cam, then I had Sully. I got really used to being your partner and I accepted that was probably all we'd ever be. I once told Zack he needed to put his heart in a box. And that's what I did. Only...I used a book instead."

"A book?" She watched the realization spread across his face. "I knew it! You did base Andy Lister off me!"

Blushing, she buried her face in her hands. He could see her shoulders shaking with laughter. "You were never supposed to know that!"

"Oh but now I do and whew do I have something to live up to now. There was that one time he took her to Paris and he said it was for a case but really he had this great romantic weekend planned and wowee the stuff they did that weekend, both in and out of the hotel. You make a guy nervous, Temperance."

"Andy doesn't have anything on you, Seeley." The look she gave him across the table made his heart lurch. Unspoken memories of the past week flowed between them and the room suddenly seemed too small and too hot. They had been done with dinner for some time, just chatting over wine. Paying, he escorted her outside, her hand warm in his.

He hesitated behind the wheel. "I bought us show tickets. But we don't, you know, don't have to ..."

Staring at him, she considered the options. It was obvious Seeley had gone to a lot of trouble to plan this night. He was showing her commitment and restraint. He was showing her that this was more than just a physical milestone in their relationship. She appreciated the thought, she understood it. But she also didn't need it. She may hate psychology but she wasn't completely ignorant of it. His surprise confessions tonight showed her that he had committed to her a very long time ago, long before she herself had committed to him. They really did this all terribly out of order but it worked for them. She didn't want to take things slow and easy now though. Three years is plenty slow and plenty easy.

Giving him a bright smile she leaned over and kissed him passionately, making both their heads spin. "Take me home Seeley."

"But my place..."

"Home is with you. It has been for a long time. I have a physical place I customarily lay my head at night and that's all I had for a very long time. Until I met you. Take me home, Seeley."