Chapter One: We didn't really get along…
Chapter Two: I think I fell in love with you…
You said you'd stand by me in the middle of Chapter Three…
But you were up to your old tricks in Chapters Four, Five and Six
~Elvis Costello, Everyday I Write The Book
After almost seven years, countless unsaid words, thousands of moments, millions of furtive glances and unbidden touches…she knew when she was in his presence like she knew the bones of the human body. Brennan breathed his name and closed her eyes before turning around towards their bench. She didn't have to look...she knew he was there. As always.
"Booth."
Booth had watched from behind the bench as Brennan spoke to the coffee cart vendor. As he moved to sit down and wait, he realized that what he had first thought was irritation at his lateness was actually disappointment. In fact, if he didn't know any better he could have sworn that she looked heartbroken.
Correction: heart crushed.
She opened her eyes and took him in, head-to-toe, from his regulation FBI suit to his not-so-FBI-regulation accessories. He sat casually, ankle resting on knee, staring at her as if he'd never seen her before. A fleeting thought crossed her mind that it was possible she had changed enough that he might not know her as well as he thought anymore, but it passed as she raised her head to look him in the eyes.
She finally returned his stare, all the tension he saw in her limbs just before visibly slipping away, only to be replaced by the last thing he expected to see after everything that had happened since they returned from their respective travels.
She started crying.
Booth reached her in what seemed like two strides and pulled her into his arms, rocking her back and forth and whispering calming words in her ear. Brennan clutched him to her tightly, trying to get closer than close, wanting to feel him against every part of her, to know that not only was he there, with her…but that he was there, with her.
Finally getting control of herself, Brennan tilted her head back to look at Booth's worried expression. "I thought you'd forgotten."
Booth nodded and moved them towards the bench, ignoring the stares they were getting after her emotional display and settling her next to him on the worn wood. "To be honest, Bones…I did forget." He winced at the hurt that flashed across her eyes and raised his hand in protest. "I didn't forget we were supposed to meet! I swear, Bones. I just lost track of the time. I'm sorry. It's no excuse, but I've been trying to get myself…and us, back to some semblance of normal and I…"
She knew what he meant. "When you're busy contemplating your place in the world, the passage of time seems to become insignificant."
"Exactly." Booth released a long breath and smiled. "No one understands me like you do."
"Right back atcha, Booth." She grinned…that sweet damn smile, the one that tilted his whole world on its axis, and he was suddenly, maddeningly, right back where he was a year ago. Helpless for her.
He stood and offered her his hand. "Walk with me, Bones?"
She took his hand and stood. "I'd love to."
B&B
They walked for hours, just talking and laughing and enjoying each other's company. They passed historically significant monuments without a sideways glance, both completely wrapped up in the other and the words they were saying. Booth told Brennan everything about his time in Afghanistan, and Brennan revealed Daisy's part in helping her find her way.
"Remind me to buy her a thank-you bouquet of Valium." Booth joked.
"Be nice, Booth. She really is a wonderful woman." She couldn't quite control the grin that crossed her face, however. She had missed this…their closeness and easy familiarity…so much, and now with this still unacknowledged new layer to their partnership, she realized that she hadn't felt this perfectly content in a very long time.
"I'll have to take your word on that, Bones. Daisy and I…we're not going to be close friends anytime soon."
"I understand. She is…difficult."
"Understatement of the century there, Bones."
She laughed, and held his arm tighter. When he suddenly stopped, she realized that they were back where they started, at the reflecting pool. Almost without words, they agreed take their separate vehicles and meet back at her apartment.
Brennan reached the apartment before Booth, and took the opportunity to run to her bathroom to clean her face and freshen up, suddenly and inexplicably nervous. Ten minutes later, Booth knocked at the door, and then let himself in, holding bags filled with Thai food.
She thanked him for thinking of stopping for food, once again reminded of his innate goodness and caring, even with something as seemingly insignificant as making sure she ate. They sat down at her table to eat, talking a little and sharing glances that held volumes of meaning.
After cleaning up the remnants of the meal, Brennan excused herself to get out of her work clothing and change into something more comfortable. While she was gone, Booth wandered around her apartment, reacquainting himself with her belongings…just realizing that he hadn't been here since they'd left the year before.
Standing in front of her stereo and collection of CD's, he heard Brennan coming back down the hallway. "Hey Bones, you've got one of my favorite Elvis Costello albums ever! I never would have pegged you for an Elvis fan!" He flipped the CD over to read the song list, missing her uncomfortable glance at her own CD's as he dug back into the collection.
"In fact…wow, Bones! Led Zeppelin, Springsteen, Creedence, Ramones, The Kinks…I love all of these!"
"I know. I-" She turned away and walked towards the kitchen, looking for something and not knowing what.
He finally realized she was nervous, and set the CD's down to go to her. "What's wrong, Bones? C'mon…I know something is up, you can tell me anything."
Somehow knowing how important what she was about to reveal was, she nodded and led him back to the stereo. "I…about two years ago, I started collecting CD's that I'd seen in your own collection. Bands and singers you seemed to like."
"Okay. That's kind of awesome, Bones. But…why, exactly?" He stood next to her and leaned against the counter, crossing his arms over his chest, waiting patiently as she seemed to struggle with her answer.
"At first, I didn't really understand my own motivation. All I knew was that you liked them, so I wanted to know them. I know it sounds silly, but I thought maybe I could-" She huffed and shook her head at what she perceived was her own ridiculousness. Booth's answering glance was nothing but supportive, so she continued. "I thought that it would help me to know you even better."
In that one moment, all he could hear running through his head was his own heartbeat going double-time. She looked at him with something close to terror on her face, as if what she'd said was somehow wrong…and he was lost.
"Temperance Brennan…" Booth closed his eyes and fisted his hands, forcing back the tears that threatened. "God, you're amazing."
"What?" She squeaked. The tears that sprang to his eyes did nothing but confuse her.
"Oh, Bones. Do you know what you've done? You've…no one has ever…ah, I'm not saying this right!" He grabbed her hand and pulled her close. Looking down into her wide eyes, he tried to explain his reaction. "Look, I've always believed that the kind of music you listen to says a lot about who you are. Check out someone's iPod, see into their soul. Their wants, what they need, what makes them happy…you know what I mean?"
"I think so..."
"Yeah. And the fact that you sought that out? I've never had anyone care so much about me, about who I am…ever. I've never had anyone who wanted to know every little thing about me so much that they snooped into my music and…"
"It wasn't snooping!" She protested.
"Yeah, it was. And I love you for it." He stepped back a bit and held one of her hands loosely. "Did you hear that? I love you, Bones. I. Love. You."
Time stopped. She stared into his face, into his eyes, wanting to commit this moment to memory for the rest of her life. The moment that she realized that everything she ever thought she didn't deserve, that she thought she was too late to have…was standing right in front of her, wrapped up in a six foot, one hundred and ninety pound man who…who loved her. Her breath caught in her throat as her hands flew to her cheeks, catching the tears that flowed down them.
He wanted to wait for her to say something…anything, but she just stood there smiling, tears running down her face, so Booth took the initiative. He grabbed her hand from her face and pulled her out of the room, dragging her down the hallway to her bedroom. He kicked the door open and stepped in, finally slowing down to look around for a moment. Brennan didn't stop in time, her natural momentum bringing her slamming into his back with an 'oof'.
"Booth…" She gasped as he turned to her, eyes dark and dangerous and…determined. "What are we doing?" She watched, mesmerized, as he yanked off his tie and began to unbutton his shirt.
"C'mon, Bones…take your clothes off!"
"What? Now?"
"Yes, now! Come on…get naked!"
"Booth…"
"No!" He pulled her over to the bed, stopping to kick off his shoes, one of which went flying across in room in his enthusiasm. "No more waiting, no more excuses! Seven years, Bones! We've been heading towards this for seven years and dammit, we're doing this!"
Brennan pulled herself out of her shock, a sly grin crossing her face as Booth stripped down to his Spiderman boxers then stood looking at her, hands on his hips. "But…what about what you said?" Her voice dropped a few octaves in a fair impersonation of him. "You make love gently, Bones…gently! Making love is like breaking the laws of physics…."
Booth rolled his eyes. "What, do you write everything I say down? You said you preferred passionate and uninhibited! We'll do it your way, but this is happening tonight! So c'mon, Bones! Take your clothes off and let's get makin' with the love!"
Brennan grinned, and pulled her shirt over her head.
B&B
It was 3 AM and Booth was exhausted, yet wide awake. He lay on his back, one arm under his head, the other resting across his stomach, staring at the ceiling with a small smile. Inhaling deeply, he thought back to the last few hours. Once Brennan had finally caught up with his intentions, she had been just as enthusiastic as he was in their lovemaking. Unsurprisingly, she preferred to be on top…something he absolutely didn't have a problem with. In his dirtier fantasies, he had pictured her riding him, perfect breasts swaying as she hovered over him, taking her own pleasure from his body…but the reality was so much more than he could have ever imagined. That first time had been just what she said she liked…hot and sexy and completely uninhibited and he wouldn't have changed it for the world. It was, far and away, the best first time he'd ever had with a woman…and since it was his last first time he was grateful. The second time, they went at a more leisurely pace, exploring each other's bodies and learning what made the other gasp, or moan, or beg. And it was still the best first time he'd ever had. And the third time…he grinned wider, amazed at himself by his own stamina. He knew Brennan had been impressed; she'd even thanked Booth's God a few times.
He glanced over at where Brennan lay next to him, her long, pale, naked back facing him. He wanted to run his hands down her soft skin, but he knew she was just as tired as he was and they had had a really intense day. As he watched, her shoulder moved slightly and she was turning to face him, eyes sleepy and half-closed.
"Booth? What are you doing?" She moved to rest her head against his shoulder, absently running her fingers down his chest.
"Just thinking, Bones."
She smiled. "Thinking, huh? I thought that was my job."
"Yeah?"
"Yes. I'm the brains, and you're the heart."
"The perfect combination."
"Yes."
Booth pulled her closer, wrapping his arm around her shoulder. "Well, I just figured…since you've been showing more and more of that big heart of yours lately, maybe I should pick up the slack on the brains part."
"Mmmm. That's an excellent idea." She slid up and pulled his head down, kissing him softly on the lips. "You keep thinking, and I'll keep sleeping. I love you, Booth." With that, she rolled over and snuggled back under the covers, falling back to sleep almost immediately.
Booth lay in shock for a moment, the words that Brennan had just whispered echoing through his head. She had told him she loved him as if she were asking him to pass the salt across the dinner table. He should have known…no grand gestures or fireworks or orchestral overtures were ever going to accompany a declaration of love from Temperance Brennan. It wasn't earth-shattering, it wasn't monumental, and it wasn't ground-breaking. It was, quite simply, pure Bones.
And it was perfect.
Epilogue to follow…..
A/N:As a point of reference, the reason the song Everyday I Write The Book was used for this chapter specifically (and really, all the Elvis Costello quotes in general) is because every time I (NatesMama) hear that song I think of Booth and Brennan's relationship...because it is so them. And I think that may be one of the first things that Smurfs and I ever agreed on. And luckily, Elvis wrote quite a few songs referencing romantic angst so we didn't have any trouble finding quotes for each chapter.