Angela smiled at her friend, pleased to see her looking so much better. Booth had obviously been working his magic because she had a twinkle back in her eyes when she spoke about him, and was starting to gain some weight again. Brennan blushed slightly under her friend's scrutiny as she looked up from her sundae, frowning suspiciously.

"What?"

"Nothing, you just look...happier," Angela replied, watching as Brennan smiled briefly before sighing and looking down. "What is it? What's the matter sweetie?"

"I...I screwed up, Ang," she replied, resting her chin on her hands. "I just...I feel so strange, so not like myself. Things scare me now that wouldn't have scared me before."

"Oh, Bren, of course things will! It'll take some time to get back to how you were before."

"But in the meantime, how do I manage to not hurt Bo...people?"

Angela sighed, seeing the desperation in her eyes as she looked back at her. "Sweetie, what do you think you've done to upset Booth? I'm quite sure you can't have, he seemed fine earlier."

Brennan sighed. "I...we...we kissed, last night..." she started, not sure how to go on.

"Well that's taken you long enough," Angela replied with a snort, seeing a small smile start on Brennan's face. "Isn't that a good thing?"

She nodded. "It should be, but I freaked out. I don't know what came over me, Ang, but when he kissed me...I knew it was Booth, but my mind kept switching him back to Steve. And I ran away from him, but I was so embarrassed I couldn't...and he was so sweet, and he still stayed with me, but I wanted him to do what he did. I thought I was ready. I think...I think I love him, Ang."

Angela blinked back the tears, reaching out and grabbing her friend's hand. "Bren, Sweetie, have you tried telling Booth all of that? I think that he'd be able to set you straight easier than I could."

She shook her head. "I can't tell him that, Ang. I can't lose the...the person holding me together."

She smiled, patting her hand. "I think you should let him in on these things, Sweetie, he's a sticker. He won't leave you, I guarantee it!"

Brennan sighed and shrugged, pulling her sundae towards her. "You know, this is the first time I've been out since I left the hospital, and I sort of like it. So I think...I'd just like to enjoy this for a while, if that's OK?"

Angela grinned. "Sure, I can do that! For example, did I tell you about what me and Hodgins did last night..."

Booth smiled when he got home. Brennan was standing against the open window, her hair blowing gently in the wind as she sipped from a glass of water, her face looking almost peaceful. He leant against his door, watching for a moment. It had been a while since he'd seen her looking so peaceful, and she looked so stunningly beautiful in that moment, he couldn't have looked away if he tried.

He cleared his throat a moment later, seeing her spin in fear before her eyes fell on him and a huge smile spread across her face, lifting Booth's heart even further. She was pleased to see him! Brennan walked quickly towards him, wrapping her arms around his waist in a huge hug. Booth was taken aback for a moment, before his arms reacted and he hugged her back.

"What was that for?" he asked, looking deeply into her eyes as she blushed slightly, shrugging and walking past him.

"I'm happy that you're back," she replied simply, wandering towards the kitchen.

"OK, well, that's nice," he told her, blushing himself at how stupid is words sounded, but Bones didn't seem to realise. She was too busy bustling around the kitchen. "Uh, Bones, what are you doing?"

"Making dinner," she replied, carrying on looking for her ingredients and missing Booth's concerned frown.

"You don't have to do that, Bones, I can get us something."

She sighed, turning around to face him. "I want to, Booth. I want to be useful."

"You are useful," he told her, stepping forward and brushing some hair from her cheek. "You make me happy, that's useful! Are you sure you're feeling up to it? It's been kind of a busy day for you."

She nodded. "Yes. I think the fresh air did me some good, I'm feeling much more like my old self after an afternoon with Angela. Not that I changed, but I feel more like I used to."

Booth nodded, smiling softly. "I'm glad. And in that case, I'm looking forward to La Food De Brennan!"

She smiled, turning back to her task. "You do know that wasn't really French, don't you?"

Booth didn't reply, settling himself back into the chair to watch. She was still his Bones, underneath all that hurt. That was a promising thought.

Brennan flicked an eye open tiredly as Booth sat down on her sofa. His chuckle enticed her to open her eyes properly and sit up rather than risk his teasing.

"How do you still have energy?" she complained, seeing Booth grin back at her, a soft chuckle reaching her ears.

"You make me energetic, you make me happy to be around you."

She blushed slightly, looking down at her hands. When she looked up again, Booth was still watching her, a tender look on his face. Smiling, she slipped down the sofa towards him, resting her head tiredly on his shoulder. Amazed, Booth grinned and put his arm easily around her shoulder, rubbing up and down her arm tenderly.

She sat up a moment later, a slight frown on her face. Booth sat and waited patiently, knowing that she would talk when she was ready to. A moment later her frowning face looked up at him, before she saw the tender look on his face, and a small smile hit hers.

"What's up, Bones?"

Smiling, she looked down at her hands. "I enjoyed being out today, it reminded me how many things I enjoy. I like being here with you too, but it was good to get back to a normal life."

Booth felt his heart sinking, trying not to let it show on his face. She wanted to leave his mind screamed, while a part of him knew he couldn't let her leave, he loved having her around too much. She looked up at moment later, seeing him still watching her patiently.

"I'm...I think I'm ready to go back to work," she told him, seeing his whole face relax, and a whooshing breath be released.

"Oh! Uh, are you sure, Bones? There's no rush!"

She smiled and nodded. "Yes. I think I want to give it a go. And I know you'll be nearby if I get in trouble."

He nodded. "Sure, how about Monday? Give us tomorrow off and start on a new week?"

Bones nodded, looking at her hands again before looking back at him critically. "Why did you look so strange then? What did you think I was going to say?"

Booth blushed slightly, looking away. "Nothing, Bones. I'm glad you've made that decision."

He stood and walked into the kitchen, needing to get away from that conversation. He jumped slightly when she appeared next to him, looking at him with a small frown.

"Booth? Did I do something wrong? What's the matter?"

He smiled, reaching a hand out to touch her cheek gently. He had been amazed that she'd picked up on his body language so well, a few years ago she wouldn't have had a clue what he was thinking. Now, flummoxed by his behaviour, he felt sorry for her, and loved her so much at the same time.

"Nothing, Bones, nothing's wrong. I just...well...I thought you were going to say that you wanted to move back to your apartment, and I guess...well, I kinda like having you around here."

She nodded, looking sober for a moment. "I can move back, Booth, I think...I think I'm ready, if you want me to?"

"No!" he said a little too quickly, making her start. He blushed slightly. "I mean, there's no rush, Bones, stay as long as you like. One big change at a time, eh?"

She smiled and nodded, trying to stifle a yawn and failing miserably. Booth chuckled, standing from the sofa and heading towards his bedroom.

"I nearly fell in there, Bones," he shouted back cheerfully, almost seeing the huff he knew would have come from his comment.

"That would be impossible Booth, you're far too big to fit in there."

He grinned. "So, I'm ready for bed, what about you?"

She nodded. "I do find myself a bit tired."

"Grab your stuff then, Bones, we might as well use the comfier bed than the guest room," he said, standing back to let her walk through into his bedroom first, her things cradled under her arms.

Once he thought she'd had enough time to get herself comfortably into bed, he knocked softly and walked in. She was already fighting sleep, snuggled under his duvet when he got in. He stripped his clothes down to his boxers and slipped on some slacks before carefully peeling back the covers and joining her. With a tired sigh, she moved closer to him, throwing her arm around his stomach as she had been used to doing recently and settling onto his shoulder. Booth couldn't help the grin that settled on his face as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders, holding her to him and kissing her hair softly before closing his eyes to sleep.

He also couldn't have known that a similar smile was mirrored on his partner's face, especially as she'd cracked an eye open to watch his muscular chest as he changed.