"Among men and women, those in love do not always announce themselves with declarations and vows. But they are the ones who weep when you're gone. Who miss you every single night, especially when the sky is so deep and beautiful, and the ground so very cold." Alice Hoffman

Temperance

No matter how often she was asked and who was doing the asking she always replied the same way, "I don't know."

It was not the answer that most would expect from the genius forensic anthropologist would was world-renowned not only for her work but also for the almost in-human control that she had over her emotions. It was, however, the truth, and among friends she would admit that trying to ascertain at what juncture she began to view her partner as more than a business associate or a friend was akin to calculating at what moment a wave struck the shoreline.

Booth, being the more emotional of the two, claimed love at first sight, to which she would argue he had experienced a chemical reaction that more closely resembled lust than love. She would also point out that she was the one who had blackmailed him into the partnership, suggesting that he was not pursuing her in a romantic manner at that point. As to her own feelings at the time, she staunchly denied that she had anything beyond a professional view of him at that time.

His defense was that he had been the one who had continually sought after her for months, despite being repeatedly rebuffed by Zack. A quirk would appear at the corner of his lips as he teased that she must've been harboring some romantic feelings for him too to base her chief protagonist's romantic interest after him. Her retort was as stinging as the glare she'd send his way, though her delivery of the denial became less forceful as the years progressed.

The truth was that they had evolved over time and in such small intervals that neither one of them fully recognized it until, as one of the characters in the famous duo that Booth had initially compared them to said, "the person who was just a friend is suddenly the only person you can ever imagine yourself with."

"To love," Angela's slurred, giddy voice broke her reverie and brought her back to the present, "And however the hell it got us here."

The straggling patrons who remained from the earlier party gave a drunken roar and knocked back their respective drinks.

"Time to pack it up, folks," the bartender announced as he reached for the phone, "Cabs'll be here in five."

She consulted the clock on the wall, not surprised to find that it was very late- or very early, depending on one's perspective. She moved over to her two friends who were teetering precariously on their stools and began helping them down.

"Not right," Angela shook her head back and forth as she leaned on Brennan, "You should at least get one drink. 's your party."

"And my wedding," she reminded the artist once again, "For which I wish to be sober."

"Temperate Temperance," Cam giggled on the other side of Brennan for about the tenth time since the pathologist had discovered the double meaning.

Angela dissolved into giggles as well as the two collapsed in the back seat of Brennan's car. She sincerely hoped that neither of her companions would feel the need to regurgitate all that they had imbibed until they were home. She breathed a sigh of relief when she successfully dropped Cam at home without incident, and another as she reached Hodgins' mansion with Angela.

"'s dark," Angela noted as Hodgins came to meet them, relieving Brennan of her burden.

"That's what happens when you stay out all night," Hodgins placated her before turning to Brennan, "Sure you don't want to crash here? Dawn'll be here soon and it's bad luck to see the groom on your wedding day."

She shook her head, arching a weary eyebrow at his superstitious notions.

"Drive safe, Dr. B," he cautioned.

"I'll see you later," she replied.

The apartment was dark upon her arrival, though she knew that even if he was in bed he would not be asleep. Still, she entered the room quietly, letting her dress pool at her feet before shedding her heels and her jewelry. It was quarter of five.

A tired groan sounded and he rolled over to greet her, gazing at her as he brushed hair back from her face.

"Do you love me?" she asked, knowing the answer, but needing to hear it from his lips before she could commit herself to going through with the day's events.

"Yeah," he knew why she was asking and there was no censure in his voice, only gentle concern, "Do you want me to prove it to you?"

"If you're not too sleepy," her tone lightened to a tease, eyes daring him.

He flipped her over in response, removing the tank top she had donned to sleep in and ogling the black bra she had left on for him to remove. His kisses shoved her neck into the pillow, raising her heart rate and she flipped him, becoming the aggressor.

"I love when you do that," he laughed.

She laughed too and the sound of their voices mingled, banishing the last of her doubts as their passion built. Ephemeral love had found her, and while tonight marked the end of her life as a single woman, today would mark the beginning of their single life shared.

The End.