Disclaimer: I don't own Bones, but I am obsessed.

Author's Note: Another chapter. This one is short and sweet and all about our favorite couple. Enjoy.

Chapter Seventeen: Wabi-Sabi

Wabi-Sabi: Japanese: Much has been written on this concept, but in a sentence, one might be able to understand it as "a way of living that focuses on finding beauty within the imperfections of life and accepting peacefully the natural cycle of growth and decay."

Booth stood beside his partner as the the casket was lowered. A grieving family huddled together a short distance away, placing flowers and attempting to stem the flow of their tears. It was always difficult seeing someone bury a child, it was something that he would never get used to. As usual, the team had found the truth, heartbreaking as it was. And once again, the team was assembled at a funeral, flanking the partners in their own show of support. They stood silently, giving the family and themselves the closure that they needed after a case.

Brennan's arm snaked out, reaching for her partner. She reached for his hand, and he found himself glancing down at their entwined fingers, a smile gracing his face. Even after all of these months together as a couple, the brief contact still gave him a thrill. She squeezed his hand as she felt his body's reaction, even as she kept her eyes focused on the scene in front of her.

Slowly, the family turned away from the freshly dug grave, and approached the team. They gave a last round of gratitude and handshakes for the combined efforts of the Jeffersonian and the FBI. After condolences and sympathies had been delivered, the team drifted away, nodding their good-byes to the partners. Angela braved a hug and a sad smile for Brennan before leading her husband away, desperate now to give her own child a hug and kiss. As soon as they were alone, Brennan once again reached out for her partner's hand, seeking its warmth and comfort.

Booth could tell that Brennan was working up the courage to speak. He squeezed her hand back, silently encouraging her to talk. As much as she claimed that she didn't need time to process her emotions, it was these moments when he knew that she carried the weight of her thoughts as they struggled to become words. Finally, she took a deep breath and spoke. "It's just so sad, Booth. It was an accident. She didn't have to die. And she certainly shouldn't have had to wait six years for her family to know the truth."

Booth released his partner's hand in favor of wrapping his arm behind her back and around her waist. "I know, Bones, I know. But now her story has been told, the truth is out there, and we can sleep well tonight. You will sleep tonight, Bones, won't you?"

Brennan sighed and snuggled closer into Booth's side. "I'll try. It's just every time I looked at that girl's picture, I kept seeing all of the things that she would never become. I kept thinking about all of her family's suffering, not knowing what had happened to their little girl. And, I kept thinking about..."

"About our baby, and all of the terrible things that could happen to her."

Brennan nodded. "Exactly. I'm scared, Booth."

Booth kissed her temple. "I know. I am too."

"You are?" Brennan stepped away from him so that she could look him in the eye.

Booth stepped towards his partner and placed his hands on her face, his thumbs gently circling her cheeks. "Don't you remember how terrified I was when I thought Epps had Parker? And how many times have we been shot at, or kidnapped, or been exploded?"

Brennan scoffed. "I don't think that 'been exploded' is proper terminology."

"No, it isn't, but you get my point. And yes, we have more to fear than most parents, because we have been targets in the past, and we or our family could be targets in the future. But we can't let fear rule our life. We are having a baby, Temperance, we are bringing new life into the world, and that's a wonderful thing."

She paused to inhale his scent. It always soothed her. "I just can't help but worry."

Booth pressed a gentle kiss onto her forehead. "I know, but you can always tell me these things."

"I am telling you these things, now."

Booth's gaze shifted to take in the grounds. "That's right, while we're in a cemetery. Doesn't it seem kind of morbid, discussing life after a funeral?"

Brennan shrugged as she once again curled into his side and let him place his arms around her. "It's almost poetic, actually."

"Poetic? Those hormones must be doing a number on you. Are you going metaphorical on me?"

She let out a chuckle. "I don't know, it just seems kind of like... like..."

"Us?"

She nodded. "Yes, exactly. Life and family and death, all together."

Booth's voice lowered an octave as he whispered into her ear. "Yes, Simba, but let me explain. When we die, our bodies become the grass, and the antelope eat the grass. And so we are all connected in the great Circle of Life. "

Brennan raised an eyebrow, although Booth couldn't see it. "What on earth are you talking about?"

"The Circle of Life? From the Lion King? We really need to sit you in front of a DVD player before the baby comes."

"Oh, is it a film that Parker enjoyed?"

"God, no. It gave him nightmares for a week, but that's not the point."

"Then what is your point?"

Booth released his partner, plucking a small wildflower from the ground near his feet. He held out the blossom for her, and she accepted it with a small blush. He gave her his softest smile as he continued his explanation. "The point is, we deal with death, but we won't let ourselves get lost in it. There is a lot of life, all around us, we just have to learn to appreciate it, to embrace it."

Brennan fingered the flower in her hands. "I do appreciate life. I revere it. It's one of the reasons that I do what I do."

"And it's one of the many reasons that we work so well together. The whole team. But especially you and me. You look beyond a pile of bones and you see a life. You can tell us their favorite sports, how they lived, how they hurt. You can tell us how hard they fought to stay alive. Only you can do that, Temperance. You give them back their voices, their life."

Brennan cut him off mid-speech. "Booth?"

"Yes?"

She took a steadying breath. "I love you."

"What?"

"I love you. I know that I don't tell you that enough, but I just wanted you to know. Really know."

He sighed and pressed their lips together briefly before pulling her into another hug. "Oh, Bones, I know. I always knew. And, I love you too. So, so much." Brennan pulled away and gasped at the sharp jab in her abdomen. "You OK?"

Brennan's answering smile could light the whole neighborhood. She had felt the movement before, but it had never been so strong before. So present. "The baby. She's kicking." Brennan grabbed Booth's hand and placed it over the spot on her swollen belly. They were both rewarded by another sharp tap. Booth's grin then matched Brennan's.

"Wow."

Brennan's usual eloquence also disappeared. "Yeah, wow."

"See, she agrees with us."

"She does?"

"Life... and love, it's a beautiful thing."

Brennan could only nod and lean in for another kiss. "It is."