I'm glad you guys liked Parker's little appearance. I love that kid, he's way adorable. Thank you again to DoctorSweets, lukablue, HarryPassionFan, NatesMama, alwaysbrennan, boothandbones4ever for your reviews.

Some of you were rather harsh on poor Brennan, I must say in her defense it wasn't entirely her fault, and she had been through a rough time in her life.

I did say this was gonna be a an angsty story didn't I?

Booth was nervous. He scanned the crowd at Dulles, looking for the one woman he had waited three whole months for. He had received a text from her the night before, informing him of her return. His heart had leapt and had been pounding madly in his chest ever since. Would things still be the same between them? He knew he would try his utmost to make it work.

And then there she was, looking at him through the crowd, her hair up in a bun, looking weary but happy. She had a smile on her face and he beamed back. They stood rooted to the ground, not moving for a minute as if both unbelieving this was real. The rest of the world faded to oblivion as the stared to walk towards each other.

The moment they reach each other they threw their arms round each other. The world could have stopped spinning and it wouldn't have mattered. There was only each other.

Booth let out a relieved laugh. Brennan buried her face in his neck, the familiar scent of his cologne mixed with the distinct scent that was unmistakably Booth filled her nostrils, flooding her with comfort. The tears fell as she clung to him, her rock, steady as always. He looked tired, with dark circles below his eyes. He had more scruff than usual and his still sturdy frame seemed a little narrower than she remembered.

Booth squeezed her to him, never wanting to let her go again. His arms than circled her waist noticed that they could wrap round her tighter, her skin more tanned and her eyes less blue. She smelled different, and she felt lighter in his arms as he lifted her feet off the ground in a gesture of triumph. Love conquered all. She had returned to him.

They broke the embrace, Booth holding her at arms length, running his eyes up and down her length.

"You've lost weight."

"So have you."

"Hey I'm still big and strong." He flexed his bicep and Brennan laughed.

"You look tired."

"Yeah you don't look exactly fresh and full of life either."

"It's been a long flight."

"I'll bet."

He reached out to stroke her cheek, a part of him wanted her to pinch him to tell him that this was real.

"I missed you so much Bones."

"I missed you too."

He couldn't help it. He pulled her to him and pressed his lips to hers. He wanted her so badly but didn't want to pressure her, so instead of allowing his tongue access into her mouth like he wanted, he settled for a light kiss. Just having her lips on his was enough.

Brennan threw her arms round his neck again.

"I love you Booth."

Booth felt his heart soar. "I love you too. It's so good to have you back."

"It's good to be back."

"So we're going home?" Booth picked up her luggage. "Or to the Jeffersonian?"

"No, I think I'd like to stop by to see Parker first, if Rebecca doesn't mind."

"Don't think she would."

Parker was elated to see his step-mother. Brennan had presents for him, and stories of her adventures in Peru to tell.

On the drive back to their apartment, Booth couldn't help the now permanent smile on his face. His life had started to get better.

"So Parker thinks you're Indiana Jones now. You're the coolest step-mom ever."

"Who?"

"You know the archeologist guy in the movies we watched."

The word archeologist made Brennan think of Tyler Rushton and the guilt she had tried to bury resurfaced. She hoped Booth hadn't noticed that she flinched.

"Oh you mean the man with the hat and the whip?"

"Yeah him."

"I didn't have to run from Nazis or deal with aliens."

Booth laughed. "Thank you."

"Why are you thanking me?"

"For loving Parker like he's your own."

"I've never thought of him as otherwise."

"You never fail to amaze me Bones."

Booth allowed Brennan to settle and unpack at their apartment. Nothing at home had changed, Booth had left everything like it was before she left. Brennan insisted on cooking his favorite mac n' cheese for dinner and Booth tucked into it like he hadn't had it in years.

After dinner they settled on the couch with coffee. They both knew there was a lot of catching up to do. The tension of the unspoken would hang over them until things were talked about.

"We need to talk."

"You sure you don't wanna wait till tomorrow. You're tired."

"No there are some things that I need to say."

"Good things I hope."

"I'm not entirely sure."

Her reply made Booth nervous. Didn't she know she had the power to crush his heart? His soul?

"Ok. There're some things I need to say too."

"You should go first."

"Ladies first."

"When I was there, there were some things I have come to realize."

"Yeah?"

"I love you Booth. More than I could have ever imagined."

Booth broke into a smile. He allowed her to continue.

"I realize now that leaving, running was a mistake. It had some positive outcomes, I feel myself again, but I also hurt you by leaving. I now know that there isn't a need for me to run anymore because whatever happens you're always here. You waited for me, you believed in me, and I don't deserve you."

"Don't say that. It's me who doesn't deserve you. You're smart and amazing and you love Parker and you came back. I'm proud of you."

Her words clamed Booth a little but he still felt nervous. He sensed that she was holding back.

"Are we ok Bones?"

"I think we are."

"Cos you're not gonna buttering me up to tell me you're gonna leave me are you?"

"Why would I? I just came back."

"No I mean, like you don't want to be with me anymore or something."

"No, that's not my intention."

"Good." Booth breathed a sigh of relief. "I guess I owe you an apology. You leaving wasn't entirely your fault. I pressured you, I tried to control you, I crowded you and I know you're not made to take crowding, but I did that, and I made you run. I'm sorry."

"No, I left out of my own volition. I didn't leave entirely because I felt like you were controlling me although if you did I understand that you felt the need to protect me."

"You help me be a man Bones. A man should fix things, protect the ones he loves. I couldn't protect you, couldn't fix us."

"You shouldn't feel inadequate because to me, you're more man than any other male I've met."

"Thanks Bones. I know now that what happened was random and unfortunate, nothing either one of us could have done to prevent it. We need to move on, and put it behind us, but not till we've had this talk."

"I agree."

"Yeah cos I've been seeing Sweets."

"I know."

Booth raised his eyebrows.

"I can imagine this time without me has been hard on you, just like it was hard on me and I know you would have gone to Sweets."

"And Gordon Gordon."

"I'm glad you have friends to help you through it."

"You have them too Bones and… you have me. But I also understand you have a different coping strategy then most people."

"I'm sorry I left Booth, left both you and Parker. And I see now that there is no longer a need for me to run from anything."

"You needed space and time, I get it. Did you find what you needed Bones?"

"Yes. I loved my work in Peru, and it helped me find something I thought I lost. It also made me realize how much I love you and need you. How there's only you I want to spend the rest of my life with."

Booth smiled taking her hand. Brennan had debated with herself if she should tell Booth about Tyler and she decided she couldn't live with the guilt. She had gone to Peru wanting to come back with a clean slate, not with more baggage.

"There's something I need to tell you and you may not like what you hear."

"I'm listening."

"When I was in Peru, there was this guy I met. An archeologist."

Booth dropped her hand. He had a sinking feeling he wasn't going to like where this was going.

"He seemed to be infatuated with me."

"Yeah well you're really beautiful and other guys have to be blind not to notice how hot you are."

"I made it clear I'm in love with you but there was this one time a week ago, right after Parker called and I felt so lonely, and I missed you so much, he tried to comfort me, and we sort of kissed."

"Sort of?!"

"His lips barely touched mine."

Booth stood, the blood rushing to his pounding head. He turned his back to her and his immediate reaction was to want to leave the apartment.

Tears rolled down her cheeks as Brennan continued.

"It was nothing, it was a mistake, I shouldn't have allowed him to, I shouldn't have left, then I wouldn't have, I'm so sorry Booth. I knew in that instant I hurt you and I regret it more than anything else in my life. I'm sorry and it would never happen again. I never meant to hurt you."

Booth ran a hand through his hair. He spun round facing Brennan who was now also standing. He pointed a finger at her.

"You're mine Bones. Mine. Nobody's supposed to – You know how many nights I lay in our bed wishing how that day could be different, wishing I went on that damn run with you, wishing you hadn't left for Peru? Wondering if you were ok, if you were safe? It crossed my mind you might meet someone there, but I told myself to trust you. I told myself I was being an over-suspicious ass but I guess I was right huh?"

"I'm sorry Booth. I love you so much it hurts and it scares me to think how much I love you and I don't understand why I ran, why I allowed Tyler to kiss me. I was stupid. I'm so sorry."

"You love me so you had to do something to hurt me? What kind of fucked up logic is that?!"

"Like I said, I don't deserve you."

"I'm pissed Bones, angry and I know I shouldn't be, but I am."

"No Booth you have every right to be angry."

Booth's eyes turned red, fighting back his own tears. His chest hurt and he couldn't breathe. How was it that the day started out so well, holding so much promise, only to be blindsided by a truck.

"I would never leave you and I don't want to on the night you come home but I need to blow off some steam before I explode."

"Booth – "

"Just, please, just I need some time to process this, it's stupid and irrational. It was no big deal just a stupid meaningless kiss right?"

"Right and it is stupid because I went there to escape the fact that I was raped and I couldn't make love to you the way I wanted and the irony of it is that I went there and let some other man kiss me."

"Yeah downright stupid. I shouldn't but I care too much and am jealous abd pissed out of my mind and I'm hurting like a sonova' bitch right now. So just – I gotta, I can't – I just need some time ok? Just leave me alone. You asked for time I gave you three months. I'm not asking for that kinda time now, just some time alone alright?"

And with that Booth was out the door leaving Brennan wondering if she would ever have him back.

Don't hate me, the story's coming to an end soon, and so will the angst. Just keep reading.

This chapter was hard to write and went through a couple of revisions, I tried to keep BB in character as much as possible.

Keep reviewing, cos you know how much I love to read your reviews, know what you think. It makes me wanna write more.

And a Happy New Year everyone!