"So… that is it?" Booth blinked as his daughter quickly went back to sleep without a fight. "She just… sleeps? No need for a thousand stories or glasses of water?"

"Booth, she just had juice." Brennan turned back toward her partner as she pulled the blanket up to her daughter's chin, "Why would she want water?"

"Never mind, Bones." Booth stole another glance of his daughter before stepping into the hallway and out of Brennan's way.

She walked quickly toward her bedroom, without saying another word to him. Suddenly she stopped abruptly in the doorway; she could feel his eyes beating down on her.

"Booth, what is it?" She hissed, clenching the frame to relief the tension of the onslaught of words she knew where coming. Even though it had been years since the partners were close, she still knew him better than anyone and one thing had not changed: he refused to drive drunk.

"I just thought…" He fumbled, suddenly ashamed at how far they had drifted apart. "You know what, Bones… I'll just see you tomorrow. That is… if you will let me take you and Maggie to breakfast…" He spoke with a growing void and sense of abandonment.

She heard his keys jingle then his slow, somber footsteps become increasingly quite. They both knew he was too intoxicated to drive. He barely had enough strength to get Maggie's sippy cup, the man was not only very, very drunk but the self loathing that had settled deep within only spelled disaster.

"Booth… stop." She turned sharply, out turning her hand toward him, "You are in no shape to drive. Give me your keys."

"I was just thinking… uh… I could sleep in my car."

"Don't be ridiculous. We have shared a bed before when we were just partners, I am sure we can share an apartment for the night." The words slowly faded as the torture of her words broke through.

"But Bones… I don't want to impose."

"My daughter… our daughter… Maggie needs a father so you getting in a car accident because of your intoxication is not being a father. She needs you, not some vegetable because you made some stupid mistake."

"You sure? I mean I could always take a cab…"

"Booth, you're not going anywhere. You are staying here and making us breakfast in the morning." She spoke with almost giddy. She leaned forward, pulling the keys from his grasp, "There are any necessities you might need in the hall closet."

"Thanks Bones." Booth beamed, pulling her into a tight embrace before walking into the hall closet, "Some things never change, baby." He grinned; everything was just where he had remembered it. "I didn't know you got knew towels. I like 'em."

Brennan slowly slipped into her very cold sheets, ignoring her desire to run out into the living room and be with the man she loved. Somehow they seemed cooler than they were previously that night. Clenching her eyes closed she attempted to force her body to sleep but it was futile. Her body practically burned where their skin had made contact. 'Baby' the word reverberated in her mind. She had waited two years to hear that word flowing from his lips and if she had to wait another two to hear it again, the peace it brought her shattered heart was worth it.

Brennan rolled over for what felt like the hundredth time in the last hour, glaring at the red blinking numbers before her. 5:36 a.m. Ever since Maggie was born; Brennan no longer kept those night owl hours and arrived at the Jeffersonian at a respectable 7:30 every morning. A gagging sound sent her out of her glaring contest with the alarm clock and down the hall.

"Booth… Booth…" She lightly pushed the bathroom door open to find her partner sitting in a fetal position on the tile, "Are you okay?"

He slowly nodded but the fear and panic in his eyes spoke of a much deeper problem. Instinctively she ran to him, wrapping her arms tightly around him and pressing her lips to his forehead. She knew she shouldn't let herself get that close to a man that could cause so much damage but he was just too irresistible.

"Booth, you're burning up." She released him and they shivered in unison, "Do you feel sick?"

"No… I… I don't." His teeth chattered, "It is the beer." He looked up at her, trying to make both of them believe his lie.

"Seeley Joseph Booth." She glared, "Do you not think I can tell when you're lying?"

"A man can try." He grinned from ear to ear, "I don't have a cold…" He confessed, "I just… I think I made a mistake."

"What kind of mistake?"

His eyes slowly rolled up toward his partner, fear and sorrow with a light hint of 'don't ask' flickered over them before they came crashing down. She reached her hand out toward him, rubbing light circles on his back while trying to soothe away any demons. He tensed at her touch but finally gave in. Without notice Booth stood and walked toward the bathroom door.

"I need to go back to bed." He smiled sweetly at her, running his hand over her shoulder, "Thanks."

"Booth…" She spoke softly, "you don't have to sleep on the couch, especially if you are sick." She looked up and smiled, "I am sure we can share a bed. We have in the past without any qualms."

As the words flowed from her lips, her rational mind knew the mistake she had made but with her heart in overdrive there was no turning back. She wanted him, she needed him and if that meant doing something she would later regret it was a risk that Brennan would have to take.

The partners walked side by side toward the bedroom they once shared. Upon reaching the doorway Booth slipped his hand in hers, lifting it toward his lips and placing a delicate kiss on her palm.

"Thanks for all you have done, Bones. Just… thanks." He smiled as they broke apart.

They slipped into opposite sides of their bed, just as they had when they were a couple. Each instinctively turned to the other before turning away quickly. Silence filled the large bedroom and Brennan was sure Booth was fast asleep before turning toward him and staring at the man in her bed. She could feel the heat radiating off his body and his scent washed over her calmly. She reached out her hand to touch him but quickly retracted it as he rolled toward her. She turned on her back and stared at the ceiling, just as she had done the week he was gone, hoping beyond hope they could go back to who they were before that fateful trip.

"Bones, I… I think the government lied." She heard the words flow from the other side of the bed followed by a light sob. "I know you're asleep and I am a pretty big chicken for not telling you while you're awake but I just wanted you to know, the way we ended things was not your fault. I was a mess and didn't know anything, I had the perfect woman and I… I just couldn't accept your love knowing my life is based on a lie. So I took the easy way out and ran before you could see the mess I had become. I love you Bones, I always have."

His hand trailed down her arm before linking their fingers together.

"I hope one day you can forgive me…" He pressed his lips to her forehead and a single stray tear dripped down, mingling with her own. His body quickly cling to hers, knowing she was the only one who could ever make him believe in himself once more. "More than anything I want you to be my wife. You're my life Bones, I was stupid to think I could survive without you. I just hope it isn't too late." He mumbled before drawing her body closer to hers.

Brennan closed her eyes, letting the tears well up and slowly leak down her checks. She had cursed him for years about the way he just abandoned her but she should have known better, Seeley Booth was not one to break promises. All her anger had left her heart that night; replaced by an unwavering devotion to the man she never could get enough of.

And that night, was the start of something magical…