Authors Note – I know it's been a while but I went on holiday. I actually thought I would get loads of writing done while I was away but ended up with a complete mental block. The second I came back I can't write fast enough. Go figure!

We are back down to a T rating for this chapter as promised. However there is a good chance a few more smutty chapters might pop up at a later date. (If you want them!)

The song is by the Sugababes (yet again), Denial.

Thanks to Moonlight Gardenias for checking the following actually makes sense, and everyone who reviewed the last chapter. They feed my imagination.

Disclaimer – Not mine

Enjoy

Temperance Brennan stood in her bathroom and splashed cold water on her face as the tap ran into the bowl. Standing up straight, blotting her face with the towel, she felt warm. The bathroom itself was freezing. It was, after all, December.

She smiled. The warm feeling had a lot to do with the perfect specimen of a man currently sprawled across her bed. Through the large mirror that overhung the basin she could see the reflection of him, tangled in the crisp white sheets. And how she longed to be back there with him. But she was due in work, and she detested being late.

She caught her own reflection and stopped dead. There was something very different this morning. Was she?.. She was!... Temperance Brennan was;

Glowing.

somewhere in the back of my mind
secretly i know you will find
me amongst the blusher and glow
deep beyond the things i don't show

She had been patiently waiting for a long time. Keeping her feelings for Booth hidden had most definatly been a challenge. Their work was important to them. Justice must prevail. So jumping into bed with her partner was a crazy idea. He had seen that too. That was why he drew the line.

Here everything was different.

The line was not crossed because here, it did not even exist. Her father was right when he'd told her she would enjoy her new lifestyle. She suppressed a laugh. This probably wasn't exactly what he had meant. Her eyes bore into him through the reflection and she watched as he shuffled about under the sheets. Last night he had given her the best sleep she'd experienced in a long time. Plus a few other essential basic human needs.

mystery's a beautiful thing
what a gift a woman can bring
never let it out just like that
let him slowly figure it out

It was hard to believe that it had been over a year since Caroline's puckishness had allowed her the opportunity to press her lips onto his. He had offered to talk to Caroline, to make her see sense. It was hardly ethical, asking them to kiss for her amusement. She was damned if he was going to do that to her. The opportunity to taste him might not pass them by again.

Except it had. And the more she did the more she craved. She knew they had been gradually getting closer. You don't eat almost every evening with someone who's just a colleague. Sweets had told them that they complemented each other, and together they made a whole. It struck her then that it was not that different from Booths 'defying the laws of physics' analogy. Ultimately it was all about knowing someone so well you can anticipate their every action.

The blooms, the daisies Booth knew she loved so much, that he had brought her were in a vase on the dressing table. Sometimes it scared her to know how well he knew her. That had been made obviously clear when he made love to her.

how can a flower bloom
just over a day?
and at night
you gotta let the water drain in

It may have taken them a long time to reach this point, but it was not wasted. Four years of learning each others likes and dislikes, habits and hobbies, past and present.

Hopes and fears.

To her, Booth was like a book she had gradually learned to read easily, where every turn of the page reveled a little more about him, and the ending would be unknown until she turned the final page. She hoped that page was far into their future. The two weeks she had believed him dead were hell.

i didn't wanna fall in love with you
i didn't wanna know the things i knew
it wasn't till i looked into the mirror

denial

She felt a strong pair of arms slide around her waist as his hot breath nuzzled against her neck. "Good morning to you too."

"Come back to bed," he murmured into her skin.

"Got to go to work." She saw his disappointment in the reflection and sighed. "Maybe you could join me in the shower. But if I am late - " she threatened jokingly.

"Mmm baby, sounds good."

"Quit with the baby name. I don't appreciate infantile comparisons."

"You didn't complain last night when I said it over and over." He smirked at her through the glass. "And over again." She scowled back. "Well it's not like I can call you Bo..." She interrupted his train of thought by placing her finger over his lips. He planted a soft kiss on the flesh she offered.

"You did say another name last night though. Rather loudly actually. Preceded by holy fu.." Booth pressed his finger to her lips which she, not to be outdone, sucked sensuously.

"Oh yeah," Booth smiled weakly. "Won't happen again. So are we gonna continue this in the shower."

"Of course. Because that's the kind of girl Roxy is." She emphasized her alter ego.

Booth slapped her ass playfully. "And I'm still gonna call you baby. Because that's the kind of guy Tony is." Echoing her statement Booth was grateful for the hot water that would soon be pounding down on his skin. It would distract him from the stinging pain where she had just elbowed him in the ribs.

you were like a power of nature
telepathic beautiful creature
understanding all of my weakness
patient, loving, knowing you'd reach it

Drying off, Temperance found herself looking forward to the day ahead. This was not a purposeless existence. They were going to put more major criminals behind bars. And she was able to study aspects of American society alien to her. She could probably write a series of articles based on her observations. Besides, she kind of liked the way Booth looked at her in her uniform. Like he wanted to do certain things to – wait. She had seen him look at her that way before. Admittedly, the underlying meaning had not registered until now. But, she recalled, it was usually when she wore her lab-coat. 'Oh Booth, I will remember that when we get back to DC.'

cynical and hurt was just me
you were never supposed to be
part of what i would call amazing
took so long to finally see

Finally, she wandered through to the kitchen where Booth was making fresh coffee. He looked up, blissfully drinking all of her in. As Roxy she wore her make-up heavier and her clothes more revealing. She was incredibly beautiful by anyone's standards. But this was not her. No lab coat. No sensible shoes. No clunky ethnic jewelry.

"Take it off." He instructed.

"What?"

"Your necklace. You can't wear it for work." The diamond set pendant he had chosen hung perfectly against her pale skin.

"Why?"

"You said yourself, yesterday, about the TV. It doesn't suit your character. We aren't supposed to be affluent in any way." 'Not that I am now I bought that' he added silently to himself. "You want to be explaining yourself all day?"

Reluctantly she reached under her hair to find the delicate clasp.

"Here, let me," Booth sidled over quickly and unclasped the chain, before planting a tender kiss at the nape of her neck that quickly turned into teeth grazing and nipping against her skin.

Temperance melted into his touch, knowing she would end up being late for work if she allowed this to continue. He was hard to resist, especially after she had waited so long. And last night had been so good.

how can a flower bloom
just over a day?
and at night
you gotta let the water drain in

Booth's phone ringing on the counter was distraction enough and the warm assault on her skin ceased as he checked the caller ID.

"Jase. How ya doin?... No, I'm surprised to hear from you today, thought you might have family stuff... Sure... Yeah I can do that..."

Listening to the conversation, Temperance poured herself a coffee from the pot Booth had prepared and moved across the room, standing up the photo of Parker she had lay flat during last night antics and sat down at the table.

"No, I'm not home right now... My girlfriend's place... "

She was used to being addressed as his partner. Girlfriend sounded strange. Nice, but strange.

"Actually, can I come to you instead? She's about to kick me out anyhow, while she goes to work... Yeah?... 'Bout an hour?... OK!" Booth hung up the phone and looked across to his now official Girlfriend, who looked bemused by his conversation.

"Girlfriend huh?" Her eyebrows arched at him.

"I believe that is your official remit, Baby. With regard to the task at hand." He flashed her that smile, pouring himself a mug of coffee.

"Why would you assume I'm about to kick you out? Max said your place is pretty, um..."

"Crappy?" Booth finished.

"Yeah." She confirmed. "So?"

"Well, officially we have only just met a few days ago. Would you normally leave strange men in your home alone?"

"No."

"Plus he was implying that we could meet up here, which is not going to happen. We need to try and keep this a safe haven." A grin spread across his face. "If only for the TV, Baby!"

Flatly she responded between sips. "You want a matching bruise on your other ribs?"

i see the way the wind blows,
like open minds for hurt.
no complicated barriers,
to hold us back.

They sat across from each other, a picture of domesticity, reflecting on what had been, what they had become, and what the future would make them. Finally, Temperance stood and took her coat from the closet. Buttoning it up tight she moved back to Booth, pulling a key out of her pocket.

"I certainly wouldn't give someone I just met a key to my apartment" she smiled, placing the key down next to his coffee cup.

Booth stood and wrapped his arms around her, kissing her deeply, somehow making it passionate yet tender at the same time.

"I really have to go," she asserted, licking her lips, savoring the taste he left. "Good luck with Jase."

"Thanks, you go have a great time watching people whose lives are so empty they go to diners on December 26th."

"I'll see you at lunch time then!"

"True." Booth winced at the implication.

"See you later."

"I love you."

"I... I'll make sure I save you some pie." Inside, her brain was screaming at her to just say it.

"Thanks" He glanced down at his feet to avoid eye contact. Where Temperance Brennan was concerned he had the patience of a saint. Booth knew those words would not come easily.

A final kiss and she was out the door, making her way through the cold wind, alone with her thoughts. She had never believed in the concept of love. It was a cocktail of chemical reactions in the brain, like fear and sorrow. Irrational. A throwback to ensure survival of the species.

What if she was wrong?

What if, the multiple doctorate, world renowned, best selling Dr. Temperance Brennan was actually completely missing the point of love? Booth had been right about sex. She had conceded to his argument after the pony play case. And he had been able to prove his theory last night. It had truly been amazing. She smiled, remembering.

So was his understanding of love more accurate than hers? Had she disregarded something so important too quickly? Was she too hasty to pass over the rites of passage that modern society held with such high regard? Marriage? Children? Her head was spinning. This was going to take some time to figure out.

Good thing she had plenty.

i didn't wanna fall in love with you
i didn't wanna know the things i knew
it wasn't till i looked into the mirror
denial

Authors Note – Did you know that this little box down here offers you so much more than simply the chance to offer your wonderful opinions. Why not explore a little while your here. Although if you did want to send me a quick message I would be quite delighted. Cheer me up after a pretty crappy holiday, where it rained everyday and I only had 4 TV channels that all had really bad reception. At least I wasn't camping.