AN1: So a while ago, I was talking with some people about how Bones fans are the best reviewers - only to be slightly disappointed with the response to this one. Don't make me a liar guys!
AN2: Can someone tell me if there is an episode where they mention Booth's brother? It seems pretty accepted on FF dot net that he's Jared, but I don't remember this from the show at all. Is it something that has just slipped into FF canon?
AN3: Last part. Enjoy!
In the haze between sleep and wakefulness, Booth's only thought was that his pillow was unbelievably, insanely comfortable. His bed was never this comfortable. His pillows were never this fluffy, his sheets never this soft. Then he realized it wasn't his bed. It was Bones' bed.
BONES'. BED.
Barely able to believe it, he rolled over and faced his new lover as proof. The morning sun coming through the window illuminated her face and the pale skin exposed above the 800 thread count Egyptian cotton sheets, which were making the bed so comfy.
He reached out with one finger and traced it over her fine features, starting when she woke under his touch. Bright blue eyes blinked open and locked on his brown ones.
"Hi."
"Hey." He brushed his lips against hers and stroked his hand over her arm to settle at her hip. They kissed softly for a few long, lingering moments. "This is a nice way to wake up."
"It gets nicer." She kissed him then, a little deeper this time.
"Mmmph," he murmured against her lips, "should we talk maybe?"
"I think we're more people of action, don't you?" He grinned as her hands disappeared beneath the sheets.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
"So do you have plans for tonight?" Booth asked Brennan over coffee and waffles at the diner.
"No plans. I'm supposed to be in Peru, remember?"
"Right. Want to do something?"
"Like what?"
Booth's eyebrows knitted together in frustration as he suddenly realized it was too late for any romantic New Year's Eve plans. He drummed his fingers as he tried to think. "All the restaurants are going to be booked up, bars filled, we really should have planned ahead."
"Booth, it's not a big deal. New Year's Eve isn't an important holiday. In fact, January 1st is a completely arbitrary date for the beginning of the new year and it wasn't even commonly accepted until the 16th century. On the other hand, the Zoroastrian New Year falls on the vernal equinox which, to me, seems like a much more logical date than mid winter."
"Bones," Booth cut his partner off from what would surely become a lengthy lecture about new year's practices around the world, "it's what we do. Here in America. Where we live."
Instead of responding with a lengthy diatribe about socialization, Bones just smiled at him. She was incredibly relieved that he wasn't staring at her moony-eyed across the table. Their banter was uninterrupted, their relationship seemed pretty unchanged even with the addition of sex and…dare she think it, love.
"Why don't you come over for dinner? I'll cook."
"Mac 'n' cheese?" Booth asked excitedly.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
Booth paused in front of the bodega next to the wine shop. Bouquets of flowers were displayed, offering to help men woo their special dates for the night. He considered buying some for Brennan. Not roses definitely, she would laugh in his face. But daffodils or daisies maybe. He wasn't sure if it would still be too much.
Since last night, Brennan seemed as into this as he was, but he didn't want to scare her away with romantic gestures. He decided to skip the flowers and instead just bought some wine for dinner and champagne for midnight.
He arrived at Brennan's place at 8:30 and could already smell delicious things from behind the door. His excitement grew greater when she answered the door. Instead of her usual professional attire or her casual jeans and top, she was wearing a hunter green wrap dress with a signature chucky necklace – date clothes.
"Smells good, Bones."
"Thanks, it's almost ready. Come on in." He followed her into the kitchen, reaching out and spinning her into him. Hand on the back of her neck, he lowered his lips to hers. They parted with a soft sigh and he took advantage, sliding his tongue along her lower lip before sneaking inside. She responded enthusiastically, sucking lightly until they were interrupted by the ding of a timer.
"Dinner's ready," Bones said with a smile. Their meal passed in comfortable conversation and after they ate, their party of two made its way over to the couch. Warm from the wine and his presence, she didn't protest when Booth slung his arm around her shoulder. Instead, she curled into his side as they watched Dick Clark's New Years Rockin' Eve.
They had watched TV together a few times but always from opposite ends of the couch, keeping a partner-ly distance. Now, with the distance gone, Booth couldn't believe how simply nice it all felt. The brush of her hair against his arm, the weight of her head on his shoulder, the warmth of her thigh next to his. It was delicious and heady and wonderful.
Somehow he managed to keep from kissing her until the final countdown. "Ten, nine, eight, seven…" they started together with the crowd on TV. Reaching with the arm that wasn't around her shoulders, he dragged his knuckle along her jaw, turning her away from the screen and to him.
"Six, five," he whispered, moving towards her. "Four, three, two," he moved closer to her with each number until she could feel his breath, hot against her cheek. His lips brushed against hers as they murmured "one" and then they were sealed together.
Brennan took the lead, coaxing his tongue out to play with hers. She pulled him closer, hands on his face, dipping her tongue to take in the taste of him. With the few kisses they had shared so far, she found herself a bit addicted to her partner's mouth. He was an incredibly good kisser and she couldn't believe she had waited two and half years to find that out.
Booth slanted his head, deepening the kiss as he let his hands wander over the curves he had learned the night before. The stretchy thin fabric did little to block the feel of the heat of her skin. She arched into his touch, opening her mouth wider and kissing him harder.
Eventually, they let the intensity of the kiss lessen to a slow burn instead of a raging fire. Their lips moved leisurely together, tongues occasionally caressing until they finally broke apart. Brennan peeked at the clock on the DVD player which read 12:07. It seemed 2008 was off to a good start.
"Happy New Year, Booth."
"Happy New Year, Bones."
