Chapter 21 : Epilogue

Three years later :

Sighing, I dusted off my hands after having used our combined power to put the last box in the moving truck, with a contend smile I looked at my lover.

"That was the last one." He said with a grin as he moved closer towards me and I wrapped my arms around his neck, kissing him soundly on the lips.

"Yes it was." I replied, releasing his neck and putting my hands onto his chest. "I'm gonna check if we didn't leave anything, you go ahead and give the movers our new address."

After having received a nod from Booth, I slowly climbed up the stairs of my apartment for what was probably going to be the last time ever. The first room I checked was the living room. A smile immediately stretched over my face as I remembered all those nights of take-out, snuggling together on the couch, with Booth. I would always read, using him as a big pillow to lean on as he watched one sports or another on the TV. After a thorough look-over, I moved on to the kitchen. I laughed silently as I touched the cold counter, remembering the different times Booth had sneaked up behind me when I was making dinner to wrap his arms around me and starting to place kisses on all the skin he could reach, often resulting in a delayed dinner.

Overcoming the warm feeling in my body as I started opening and closing the drawers, other memories creeped in. Memories of early breakfasts, midnight feasts... Closing the last of the drawers, I walked out of the room, stopping in the doorway, to look back at the kitchen with a small smile, before I moved on to the bathroom.

I walked into the bathroom and was immediately drawn to the bathtub. My hands softly caressed the edges of the tub, remembering all the times Booth and I had taken a bath together. Eventually that ritual had turned into our very own relaxation technique, once I was comfortable to rest my naked body against his, submerged in the hot soapy water. Just thinking about it made me relax. I shook my head, bringing myself back to the present. I got up, checked the cupboards and after having made sure that we hadn't left anything in the bathroom as well, I affectionately closed the door and made my way to the last room. Our bedroom.

Carefully I cracked open the door and walked inside. I was still a little hesitant about walking into the bedroom all alone after all these years, fearing some kind of flashback to appear. However when I did enter the room all I remembered was the feeling of Booth's arms around me, waking up in his strong embrace or otherwise, his kisses, from tiny pecks of comfort to passionate kisses while we made love. The thought of his influence on my memory amazed me and brought a smile to my face.

I was quite surprised when all of the sudden I felt Booth's strong arms wrap around my waist from behind, pulling my body close to his.

"What are you thinking of?" He whispered, peppering kisses along my neck as I tilted it back automatically to grand him access.

"That I'm going to miss this place." I replied, turning in his embrace to look at his reaction.

With widened eyes he looked at me, clearly confused. "Miss it? After all that horror you went through?" Booth asked.

"Yes," I replied softly gazing lovingly into his warm brown eyes. "You replaced all that horror with something so … Precious." Slowly cupping his cheek, I kissed his lips gently, wanting to let him know how grateful I was for that. Moments later Booth spoke up as we broke apart.

"Bones, we'll have to go. Make sure the movers don't mess up the interior."

Nodding, I allowed him to guide me back downstairs towards the SUV as we reached his car, he pulled me closer and brushed his lips against my cheek.
"Drive safely and I'll see you at our new home."

The smile stretched over those sweet, sinful lips, made my own lips curl. I rolled my eyes and slapped him on his arm. "I do know how to operate a vehicle, Booth." He chuckled lightly and released me with another reminder to drive safely. I sighed, but I smiled at him as I told him to be careful as well.

My eyes focused on the man who loved me, no matter what. Grinning at what I had in store for him, I started my own car and followed him home.

It had taken nearly 4 hours before all of the furniture was in its place, and all of our belongings had been carried in. I sank down on the couch and sighed in relief. Yes, I still had a lot of unpacking to do, but finally we were alone. Just me and my Booth.

When I looked up, I caught him staring at me with a tender smile on his face and slowly I walked over to him, winding my arms around his neck to pull him closer to me, our faces just a few inches apart. Licking my dry lips I looked deeply into his brown orbs, losing myself into their warmth.
"Welcome home, Booth." I whispered huskily against his lips, before leaning in and sealing them together in a passionate and heated kiss that, at the end, both left us out of breath. Still, we let our foreheads rest against each others, trying to maintain the intimate and peaceful contact. I could feel him smile against my lips, probably realizing it was all real now before he replied: "Welcome home, Bones."

After having spent some minutes in each other's arms, I suddenly realized that we still had a lot of unpacking to do and carefully I pulled back. "I have to go unpack the food and put it in the fridge or we'll have to throw it away. Why don't you start unpacking the boxes in the bedroom?"

Seeing him nod, I moved to the kitchen with the bags of food and started organizing them and after a few minutes, when my last bag was almost empty, I heard Booth's footsteps coming towards me.

"Bones?"

Curious, I turned to the sound of his voice and saw him walking towards me, holding a big stack of papers, which appeared to be one of my manuscripts. Immediately, I realized it was the final version of my new book, 'Saved from the house of horrors'. He opened the manuscript and started reading.

"Even though I had never thought I would write a psychological novel, and especially one that would deal with matters of the heart and even worse psychology, I came to the conclusion that I needed to broaden my horizon. Too long was my world too narrow, too dark, closing in on me. However, just like Kathy has someone to rely on, my very own Andy (yes, he IS based on an actual person and now that I've acknowledged that fact, I'll never hear the end of it)"Booth looked up at me at this point and wiggled his eyebrows, confirming the fact that I would indeed NEVER hear the end of it. He continued to read and my cheeks flushed, knowing what was coming, "offered light in the darkness. Therefore I would like to dedicate this book to him, my partner, best friend and lover. The person who saved me from the nightmare I went through for over a year. Signed, Dr. Temperance Brennan."My breathing sped up and I could feel my heart hammering in my chest as he put the book down and walked over to me.

"I'm sorry I didn't figure it out sooner, Temperance." He gently brushed my hair behind my ear, before he kissed me tenderly. He pulled back and looked into my eyes. "I love you and I want you to know that I will do whatever it takes to give you the happiness you deserve."

I leaned up and kissed him, touched by his words. When I could feel his lips curl into a smile against mine, I pulled back, "What, Booth?" I asked him, not having missed the mischievous look in his eyes.

"Apsychological novel, Bones?"

He spoke incredulously, to which I simply shrugged as I turned back to the fridge, so he wouldn't see the tight grip I had on the oranges. "The events changed me on a deep personal level, Booth. I can't deny the fact that it is a psychological process."

I could feel his arms wrap around my waist, and I felt his hot moist breath against my ear as he apologized, "I'm sorry, Bones. I shouldn't have made fun of it, it just makes me really proud that you worked through it. And that you are strong enough to share your story with the world."

Smiling slightly I put the fruit in refrigerator and turned to Booth, a flirty glance on my face in the hope to cover up the nervousness I was feeling underneath. "Booth?" I whispered as I placed several kisses on his neck and jaw while his hands rested on my hips, holding me close to him.

"Hmmm."
I could feel him tilt his head, and look at me, his brown eyes shining with a warmth I had never seen before.

"I have something to confess." I replied, licking my lips and keeping up the flirty act as I ran several fingers over his muscular chest that was covered by his t-shirt.
"And what would that be, Dr. Brennan?" He said, throwing me a smoldering look as he decided to play along in the game.

Smirking I clasped one of his large, rough hands in mine, looking directly in his eyes as I slowly brought it down my abdomen and under the fabric of my shirt.
"Use your gut." I whispered smiling into his ear as I withdrew to look at his reaction.
He took a few moments to let the words seep in before I saw his eyes widening in shock.
"No," He whispered in awe, planting a quick kiss on my lips before he turned to look at me, a enormous grin showing on his face. "Seriously?"
Shyly I nodded before meeting him for another brief kiss.

"I found out earlier this week, but I guessed with all the pressure of the moving it wasn't a great moment to tell you."
"Are you kidding me? Bones," He said embracing me, his hands resting on my hips as he gazed deeply into my eyes and captured my lips in a passionate and yet tender kiss.
"How could it not have been a perfect moment?" He asked me. "We could have delayed the moving for a few weeks, or at least you could have let me carry those heavy boxes alone."
Slapping his arm playfully, I removed myself from his arms and started walking towards the living room.
"See, I knew there was another reason I didn't tell you," I replied. "alpha male."
As we both sat down on the couch, he spoke up again.
"Nah, you love me anyway." Booth retorted playfully and smirking I kissed him briefly.
"You know I do." I said, resting my head against his shoulder, sighing contently.

Curling up into Booth's embrace, holding his hands to my stomach, I sighed contently. During these last three years, I had become the strong, confident woman Patrick had been trying to beat and kill me. Right after Booth had saved me from my house of horrors, I was so convinced that I had barely anything left. Remembering how Booth had followed me all the way to Peru, I brushed his cheek tenderly, letting the love show openly in my eyes. Booth had been patient with me, encouraging me to go out into the field again, to face down criminals. And we had done that. Together. Just as we had lived together for years now. He had helped me to become just as strong, if not stronger than I had been before Patrick. But something else had changed. I no longer worried about our proximity or what it meant for our partnership. I didn't have to. Our partnership had slowly, carefully turned into a blossoming relationship. As Booth leaned down to kiss me once more, with that over the moon happy look in his eyes, I realized that we had successfully moved forward from the pain of the past and I found myself looking forward to our next adventure.
Parenthood.

(-The End-)

A/N: So this is it...the final chapter of Save me from the house of Horrors :( I hope you all enjoyed it because I sure did :D
As a final parting gift, please leave a review and see you next story ;)
Greets, Lilalo264888 aka Liesa