Thanks again for the reviews, as promised here is a new chapter!

Hope everyone had a good Christmas/Holiday and Happy New Year to everyone as well!

People parted as the Princess stormed towards the surgeon's tent still fuming over the Duke.

The guard at the entrance summoned the Countess without being asked. She emerged from the flap and Temperance's face instantly softened.

"How is he?"

"Asleep, he woke briefly and asked for you. What of the Duke?"

"I've put him in the stocks for the time being."

Cam smiled, "Well he certainly deserves it."

"Can we move Booth to the castle yet?"

The Countess shook her head, "Not yet, he needs to rest for the night. We have to make sure there is no fever and that the wound doesn't fester or pus. I think he should stay here."

Temperance nodded, "Then we shall stay here," she reached past Cam to pull the tent flap back, "I'll see him now," she said, sliding inside.

Booth rested on the surgeons table covered from the waist down in furs. His chest was bare and Temperance admired his physique quietly. Tied across his chest were strips of sheets holding the bandage and poultice in place. She knew that beneath was a neatly stitched wound, hopefully healing without trouble.

Booth didn't stir as she took the chair at his side and gently stroked his cheek.

Despite the injured knight Temperance was called back to the stadium to give the other men their awards. Afterwards the Lady Angela approached her.

"Sweetie, maybe you should come back to the castle and rest for awhile."

"I'm not leaving, not till we can take him as well."

"Then eat something, you need to at least do that."

She had barely noticed her hunger and realized she had not eaten all day.

"Have some food sent to the royal tent, I'll have a small supper there."

Angela smiled, "It's already set up, your father is in there."

The ladies made their way to the tent where King Maxwell had already begun the meal. At the sight of his daughter he paused, "I would like a moment alone with my daughter."

Instantly the room cleared leaving Temperance to stare at the king.

"How is Sir Booth?" he asked.

"Asleep but he seems to be doing well."

"Good. He is a fine man but he did not warrant the attention you gave him today."

"Pardon?"

"Your behavior was not becoming of a Princess, rushing out to him and assisting with his care, Temperance, royalty does not do that."

"So I should have left him to die?" she was appalled.

"No, we have surgeons to help him."

"The resident surgeon is an idiot!"

Maxwell glared at her, "It still does not give you the right to play surgeon, you're a woman and a Princess! That Countess may do as she pleases but she is not my daughter."

"So I am to sit and watch when I am perfectly capable of helping?"

"Yes. You cannot go rushing to the aid of knights no matter who they are! Now you will come back to the castle tonight and stop this playing doctor nonsense. Imagine if the Prince heard of this! He may well hear of it since the whole kingdom saw you!"

"Are you saying that my reputation is worth more than a man's life?" she tried to keep her temper in check.

"You are the Princess of this land, our soldiers fight in your name, so yes it has always been worth more than one man's life."

She opened her mouth to protest but he stopped her, "You will return to the castle tonight Temperance, that is an order. The guards will escort you now."

She was dismissed, there was nothing more she could say. Fuming again she turned and left the tent.

Later she paced her chamber her dinner forgotten on the table by the fire. The Lady Angela sat on the bed long having given up on comforting words, there were none. When the Princess got this mad it was better to let her be than attempt to reason with her. Angela knew her friend was worried about Booth, she had sent a page boy earlier to check on him, the boy had yet to return.

"I'm sure he'll be fine, the Countess will take good care of him," Angela tried to reassure Temperance.

"If only I was free like the Countess, she may do as she wishes with no father to tell her how to behave," the Princess mumbled in reply.

There was a knock on the door and both women turned to the sound, "Enter," commanded the Princess.

A guard opened the door to admit the page boy, "Come here child, what news?" she asked.

The boy twiddled his hat nervously in his hands, his cheeks were red from running, "The knight, he's taken a turn my lady, a fever," his eyes were on the ground.

Temperance swore under her breath, "A fever? Is it bad?"

"He looked to be in pain your highness, the Countess, she was working hard to help him."

The Princess took a coin and gave it to the boy, "Go to her, tell her I'll come shortly. Tell no one I am going. Fetch Mr. Addy and my surgeon, tell them it is of utmost importance that they come."

The boy nodded, bowed and left. Temperance turned to Angela who was wide eyed.

"You cannot go, your father forbids it," her friend said.

"Then he shall not know I've gone," the Princess replied, "Get my maid."

Not long after her maid had come Temperance stole away from the castle riding fast on her horse. At the surgeon's tent the guards stopped her and she told them she was bringing supplies for the Countess.

"How is he?" she asked, the concern evident in her voice as she removed her hood.

"Princess?" Cam was startled by her sudden appearance.

Dressed in her maid's clothes, her hair pulled back under a white bonnet the Princess did not look like her royal self. She made at once to the bed where Booth lay.

He was sweating, his brow worried even though his eyes remained closed. The bandages had been removed and she could see the angry red line of his wound beneath the edges of the poultice.

"He goes in and out of consciousness, sometimes he doesn't know where he is or who I am," her worried eyes were on the knight but she turned them to the Princess, "You should not be here, your health is more important."

"You sound like my father but at least I can tell you I'm staying. What can I do?"

"Bathe his forehead in cool water, I'm preparing a tonic I hope he'll drink."

Temperance dipped a cloth in the basin of water and took the spot beside the knight.

"Booth, can you hear me?"

As she wiped the cloth across his forehead he flinched but his eyes remained shut. His skin was hot to the touch and she ran her cool hand along his cheek.

"Booth, wake up Booth," she tried, desperation edging into her voice.

Brown eyes fluttered and opened into slits but did not focus on her.

"That's it Booth, I'm right here," she cooed, trying to get him to look at her, "You're going to be fine Booth, just stay with me."

The tent flap opened admitting Zach and her surgeon and she sighed in relief at their sight.

"Good you're here," Cam addressed them, "Help Booth to sit up, he needs to drink this."

"What are you giving him?" Zach was as inquisitive as ever.

"Tea with herbs that will hopefully bring down the fever."

The men had propped Booth up as best they could, Cam handed Temperance the cup.

"Last time I tried he wouldn't take it, maybe he'll drink for you."

Booth's eyes had fallen shut again, Temperance stroked his face repeating his name. Finally the brown orbs appeared as slits again.

"Here, drink this, it will help," she urged him as she brought the cup to his mouth.

He groaned as she gently tilted his head back and dropped some liquid on his tongue. Thankfully he swallowed and she got as much in as she could before he passed out again.

Zach and the surgeon laid him down and Temperance handed the cup back to Cam.

"What else can we do?"

Cam's expression was grim, "We can do nothing more than wait. We will keep giving him the drink when he can take it and replacing the poultice, but beyond that all we can do is pray the fever breaks."

So began a long night of watching over the wounded knight.

Throughout the night Temperance wiped his brow and wet his lips, she made him drink when his eyes opened, she did not leave his side. Occasionally he would mumble though she could not make out much. Once he said his son's name and another time she heard her own. In the darkest hour she prayed for him hoping that if there was a god, he would save Booth despite her own lack of faith.

Sometime before dawn as she slept, her head on the good side of his chest, he stirred. The change in his breathing had her up and watching his face.

"Booth?" she asked hesitantly.

His skin felt cooler and this time when his eyes opened they looked clear. It took a moment but they finally fastened on hers.

"Booth?" she tried again, "I was so worried about you..."

Brown eyes looked quizzically at her, not in recognition, "Who...who are you?" he whispered.

"Unlace me?"

Slowly he walked behind her but instead of working at the laces he ran his fingers along her delicate shoulders sending a shiver down her spine. Goosebumps flickered across her pale skin as he delicately kissed her neck. Her head fell to the side to allow his lips to continue, up higher to her ear where he playfully nipped her earlobe. Strong arms embraced her and turned her to face him, his brown eyes melting into her blue ones. As he captured her lips his fingers worked expertly at the laces until the bodice of her dress fell loose between them. With a small cry of surprise he lifted her and placed her on the bed covering her body with his own.

"Do you love me?" she murmured.

"I love you, let me prove it to you," he answered, his voice dark and husky.

As the sun rose and the cock crowed he shifted in the small bed, still half asleep, to gather her into his arms. Both ignored the sunbeams to bask in the afterglow for a few moments longer, the chores could wait.

Seeley Booth thanked God on a daily basis for his life, which to him was next to perfect. He loved his wife, he adored his job and together it made for good living.

As the cock crowed yet again and the sounds of the morning continued Booth decided it was time to get up, the tavern would not run itself.

The Booth family had owned The Pig's Head for as long as he could remember. Fond early memories of watching patrons from the stairs or listening to his mother sing came to mind when he walked through the place. True, his father had ended up a drunk but his grandfather had taken over responsibility for Booth and his brother when their father disappeared.

From his grandfather the pub passed to Seeley, his brother Jared became a soldier and worked at the tavern when he could. Booth enjoyed being in charge, talking to his regular patrons and throwing a good party on the holidays. He had hired help, friends he had acquired over the years but he had longed for more, for a wife and a family.

Two years ago a blue eyed maiden had walked in the door, sat down and demanded to speak to management.

Temperance Brennan's life had not been easy. In her early teens her parents had gone missing, presumed dead, possibly from the plague or killed by bandits while traveling. Her older brother had abandoned her and she was forced to fend for herself from then on. Stubborn and determined as she was Temperance found herself working whatever jobs she was offered, eventually ending up at The Pig's Head to ask for a position as barmaid.

At first Booth had shook his head telling her the place could get rough but Temperance would not take no for an answer and asked if she could work a trial night. That particular evening she was not only able to keep up at the bar but broke up a fight as well. Impressed by her grit Booth had hired her on the spot. It wasn't long before the two became close friends and then lovers.

They were married a year later. Now Booth didn't know what he'd do without her.

Stretching, Booth rose from the bed as Temperance turned over to greet him. Leaning down he kissed her and she took the opportunity to pull him back onto the bed. With little protest he stretched back out and brought her to lean on his broad chest.

"I think we may have to hire a new barmaid in the coming months," she whispered to him.

Raising an eyebrow in return he said, "Why? Daisy does a fine job with your help."

"Well in the coming months I'll have some difficulty getting around," she returned his raised eyebrow with a twinkle in her eyes.

"Really?" brown eyes widened in recognition and his hand slid across her flat stomach, "You're with child?"

She nodded and he kissed her in happiness, "To think we might have a son!" he exclaimed.

"Or a daughter," she countered.

Booth beamed with pride at the thought of either, he truly had a blessed life.

"They should arrive soon," Angela peered out the window again though the Princess didn't seem to hear her words.

Temperance sat at a table flipping through books but not actually reading the words.

"Aren't you glad he's fit enough to travel? The Countess says he is doing much better now," Angela tried.

It had been two days since Sir Booth's fever had broken and Angela knew that the Princess had not been back to see him since.

"Yes," was the only reply that Temperance gave.

Two days ago she had sat by his side and nursed him through the night. When he awoke she had expected him to smile at her or give her some sarcastic remark about the joust or the Duke but instead he had awoken in confusion mixing a dream state with reality.

"Who...who are you?" he had asked.

"It's me, Bones," she answered, anxiety in her voice.

Again he searched her face only to look at her in confusion, "Bones?"

"It's what you call me," she could feel the tears ready to fall, "don't you remember?"

"Why?"

She couldn't speak past the lump in her throat. As the first tear slid down her cheek she turned from him and fled the tent.

Later Cam found her curled up in the stables, her eyes red from crying.

"What happened?" Temperance asked, "Why does he not remember me?"

"The fever was high and he had vivid dreams while in it Princess. You were in his dreams but they were not about this life. These dreams felt real to him and when he awoke he still believed he lived them but his own memories of this life were still there. He knows you but he could not figure out which you he looked upon when waking."

"What do you mean which me?"

"In his dream you were not royal, you lived a normal life with him as his wife."

"His wife?"

Cam nodded, "The two of you owned a tavern."

Temperance took a minute to digest this piece of information. When she spoke again her voice was soft, "Does he know me now?"

"Yes," but it was a hesitant answer, "But he is still weak, therefore he still confuses the dream with reality. When he looks upon you again it may take him a minute to realize which woman you are to him."

The Princess still did not look fully reassured so Cam added, "But he knows you," she looked Temperance in the eyes, "And he cares deeply for you."

She had left after that conversation with Cam, gone back to the castle and spent many hours thinking about what had happened. Nearly losing Booth had brought feelings she had kept hidden to the surface, forcing her to confront them. Hearing about his dream, realizing the depth of what he felt for her scared her, or rather the possibilities it brought forth scared her.

She struggled and spent sleepless nights wondering what to do: should she send him away or refuse to see him when he returned? Yet she knew she could never shut him out. The other options were what frightened her. Surely she couldn't do what she truly wanted to?

All the time while Booth recovered he asked for her, he sent page boys requesting her presence three times a day.

Temperance told them she was busy, that she would see him once he returned to the castle.

Now that day had come and she feared facing him for she had not yet made her decision.

"They're here," Angela's voice broke through her thoughts.

Slowly, Temperance made her way to the window to watch the procession. They brought him in a litter, walking slowly so as not to jostle him. Once it stopped, Lance and Wendell reached in and helped the knight to his feet. Booth shrugged them off despite their protests and began to walk towards the door.

She knew it was only a matter of time before he called on her, before she must confront him face to face along with her fears.

Temperance still did not know what she would do.

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