Chapter 9 – Changing Locations

Booth stood up as he heard his apartment door closed.

"I've been trying to be cool, but I have to put my foot down on this." Booth began. Brennan walked into the living room and placed her overnight bag on the floor. She'd just come from her place after going home for just one night so she could make sure no one had moved in.

"This doesn't make sense. Logically…. I mean, for you or me to worry about another residence when we're spending most of our time together at one place anyway." This had been eating at him for a couple of weeks, but he didn't know how to bring it up and not push her into defense mode. Finally, he couldn't take it anymore. The couple of nights they spent apart were just strange to him at this point. He missed her presence even in his sleep. He tossed and turned and just couldn't get comfortable without feeling her body next to him.

"Booth, we agreed…" She started.

"I know we agreed, but that was in concept. We didn't really know what we were talking about. I mean… WHY should we take ourselves through the extra complications? You've got to pack a bag. Then I've got to pack a bag. Just to say we have our own places?"

Brennan slowly moved across the room and plopped down on the couch. Immediately, she moved the pillows to the right of her pregnant belly so she could lean more comfortably.

"Do you realize how complicated it's going to be to even try to combine our things? You'd have to throw out half of your sports memorabilia to make room for my books." She said.

"My sports…? Why can't we just get a larger place? We could use one with the baby coming."

"Hmm… that's not a bad idea…"

"And… we could move closer in to both offices so we have a shorter commute…" Booth added.

"That would also be better. But wait, are you tricking me?"

"What do you mean?"

"Are you really just trying to make me depend on you?"

"Of course not," Booth looked at her. "You don't DEPEND on me now, do you?" He knew what her answer would be, as well as he knew she'd be lying.

"No, I mean I like that you're here, but I wouldn't fall apart without you. You know that."

"Sure…, but you do know that I depend on you, right?"

Brennan sat quietly and considered the statement. She didn't want to do anything without him these days, but that didn't mean she'd fall apart if for some reason he walked away, did it?

"Not really, do you? No one really depends on anyone. They get used to them being there and don't really imagine them not being there, but if they disappear all the sudden, people pick up where they left off. I've done that before."

"Yes, but they are not the same. Take myself for example, I can live without you being here, yes. But do I want to? No. Absolutely not. I miss you when you're gone. Even when you're gone for one night. You don 't have to tell me, but I know you feel it too."

Brennan sighed. He kind of had her on that one. She would lie about it if pressed but she knew that she now hated sleeping without him. She liked the noises he made, the way his arms automatically reached out and pulled her in at night. She decided to give in.

"Ok. We'll get another place." She said looking up at him. Booth smiled. He was a little shocked. He'd won. That was unexpected especially after only one discussion. This was her way of saying that she did depend on him. His plan was working.

"What are you smiling about?"

"Nothing. I'll call around to check out apartments tomorrow." He said bending down to kiss her on the cheek.