Epilogue

6 Months Later

Wednesday

7:28 AM

Booth woke up feeling warm and tired and incredibly happy. He felt her weight on him and it made him smile. He opened his eyes slowly and took in the sight of her. She was sprawled lazily over his naked chest, her head resting on his arm. Their pillows had long since been thrown to the floor. The only blanket that remained on the bed was the sheet that was wrapped around Brennan's leg and came up over her waist. His arm was protectively secured around her waist. He tilted his head so his nose was buried in her hair. He loved the smell of her hair. He didn't know how she could always have the perfect combination of sweet and sexy.

It had been six months and Booth still hadn't gotten used to waking up with her. The six months had flown by. They worked together as partners during the day like they always had, still bickering and solving cases almost better than they had before. At night they would retreat to one of their apartments and spend the night laughing and talking and sharing the moments that any couple shared. Everything about their newfound relationship was amazing and real and more than Booth could have imagined.

Even though they had spent every night together since admitting their feelings to each other that day at the Lincoln Memorial, Booth had given her all the time she needed. He didn't push for more physical contact than she was willing to give. He wanted her with every ounce of his being. He had wanted her since the moment he laid eyes on her, but he was respectful. For the first few weeks of their new relationship, they shared passionate kisses and a few very heavy makeout sessions. When night came, he would hold her and help her through her nightmares, but never push for more. Finally, after several weeks, she stopped having the nightmares altogether and they would just sleep wrapped in each other's arms every night.

It was several months after her ordeal that she had surprised him. They had gone through a rather ordinary day at work. She spent most of the day in the lab, trying to find the cause of death on an elderly, female victim. He had spent most of the day interviewing relatives of the victim. They hadn't seen each other much during the day except for a brief lunch date at the diner where they talked mostly about the case. With Booth staying at the office to finish some paperwork, she had gotten to her apartment before he did. When he finally got home, she practically attacked him against the door. She couldn't get enough of him. He tried to slow her down. He told her that she didn't have to do anything that she didn't want to do, but she kissed him and touched him like she wanted more. He made love to her that night. It was slow and passionate and intensely amazing. He had never felt so connected to anyone in his entire life. He knew nothing would ever compare to what he had experienced with her that first time. From then on, things only got better. Most days they both went to work absolutely exhausted because sleep was the last things on their minds during the night.

Booth trailed his hand up her naked back and into her hair. He ran his fingers through her hair. She moved slightly as he kissed her forehead. She hummed quietly, letting him know that she was awake.

"Good morning," he whispered.

"Morning," she replied. She rolled so that she was completely on top of him. She rested her chin on his chest and looked into his eyes.

"I love you." He never got tired of saying it. It was as if he needed to make up for all the time that he was too afraid to say it.

"I know." She brushed her lips against his lightly.

He swept his hands across her face, pushing her hair out of the way so that he could really look at her.

"You're beautiful."

"I know."

He laughed and raised his head up enough to capture her lips and really kiss her good morning. She, on the other hand, had more than kissing on her mind. Brennan ran her hands down his chest. He knew if she continued her journey, neither of them would get out of bed. He rolled on top of her, being sure to secure his weight on his knees so he wasn't pressing down on her. She was no longer hurt, but the surgery scar on her chest reminded him of how much pain she had been in. He indulged in the kiss for a few more seconds before he pushed her hand away from his thigh and brought it up above her head, but immediately released her hand. He never pinned her down. He never held down her wrists, not only because he knew how much damage had been caused to her wrists, but because he never wanted her to feel like she wasn't in control. He never wanted her to feel like she was back there in that basement.

"Bones..." he warned as she kissed a trail down his jaw and to his neck.

"Am I doing something wrong?" She asked innocently, but teasingly.

"We're going to be late."

"So?"

He stopped kissing her to look at her.

"Did I just hear you correctly? Did you just say that you didn't care if we're late? Because the Bones I know is never late."

"Well, there's a first time for everything." She kissed him again. "Or...we can murder two birds with one rock."

Booth laughed. She looked at him, confused.

"It's kill two birds with one stone, Bones."

"Either way, it doesn't really make any sense. Using a stone to kill a bird is not a very effective method."

"You're absolutely right." He kissed her. "So what two birds are we killing?"

"A shower."

"A shower?"

"We both need to shower before work. If we shower together, we can take care of our little...situation," she said, pointing to his groin. "And we can get ready for work."

"We wouldn't have had a situation if you hadn't started."

"Is that a no?"

"No. That is a definite yes. Race you to the shower."

Booth climbed off of her and ran off to the bathroom. Brennan took her time. She didn't understand it, but she knew that men liked to win most of the time. Even though she was competitive by nature, this was one race she was going to let him win.

9:49 AM

Brennan sat down at her desk while Booth hung up her coat that he had just helped her out of. She had stopped insisting that she could take her coat off on her own. With some explanation from Angela, Brennan just accepted the fact that Booth liked to do things like open her car door, pull out her chair at restaurants, and help her out of her coat because he was a gentleman and he liked doing nice things for her.

"So...lunch?" Booth asked, casually walking over to her desk.

Brennan had already booted up her computer and was beginning to pull up photographs of a human skeleton that she was trying to identify. They didn't have a case so Brennan was using the time off to try to sort through some of the bones in the bone room.

"Maybe."

"Maybe?"

"Well, I have a lot of work to do with these remains."

"Bones, they've been in the bone room for years. Another few hours won't hurt. Besides, I thought we could...you know...have a repeat of this morning."

"Another shower, Booth?"

"You know that's not what I meant."

"So you want to have sexual intercourse at lunch."

"Bones," he hissed, looking around to make sure nobody heard her.

"We're in my office, Booth. There's nobody else around."

"Still, you can't go around talking about that."

"Why not? It's not like it's a secret. Everybody knows we're a couple now."

"I know, Bones, but people don't go around talking about their sex lives."

"Well, then maybe I can't have lunch with you today."

Booth put his hand on the edge of her desk and leaned over her. She reclined back in her desk chair, but he wasn't going to let her get away that easily. He bent until his face was inches from hers.

"You know you want to," he said.

"You don't know what I want."

"That's not what you said this morning. Or last night."

He closed the gap and kissed her. They had both been very clear with each other that public displays of affection were not ok in the work place. Although they had been known to share a few kisses here and there, they had been careful to keep their relationship contained. Everyone at the Jeffersonian knew they were a couple, but they still tried to keep it professional. As the heat passed between them, though, it was hard to keep their hands off each other.

Cam walked into Brennan's office with her nose buried in a file. She looked up and nearly dropped the file.

"Uh...wow…ok," she said.

They immediately stopped kissing and Booth stood up. He straightened his tie as Brennan pushed her chair closer to her desk to pretend as if she had been working.

"We were...ah..." Booth stuttered, trying to come up with some explanation why they were making out in Brennan's office.

"I know what you were doing," Cam interjected. Like everyone else, she was glad that Brennan and Booth were finally an item. She found it quite sweet that they were so happy together.

"Did you need something Dr. Saroyan?" Brennan asked.

"Uh...yeah. From the sketch that Angela did, we were able to pull this off the missing person database," Cam explained. She handed Brennan a photo from the file she was holding. "Her name is Carla Thornton. She went missing in 2002. Her dental records match."

"Well, now we've got an ID," Brennan replied, handing the photo back to Cam.

"I came by to show it to you earlier, but you weren't in," Cam stated. "I think this is the first time you've ever been late, Dr. Brennan."

"Am I in trouble?"

"No. Just making an observation."

"I know it's customary in these situations since you're my boss to offer an explanation as to why I was late."

"Bones..." Booth warned, hoping she wouldn't say what he knew she would say.

"Booth and I were having intercourse in the shower this morning," Brennan said. Booth smacked himself in the head as Cam's eyes grew wide. "That's why I was late. I apologize. I can't say it won't happen again because I find morning sex very satisfying and Booth is a very skilled sexual partner, probably the best I've ever had and..."

"Bones!" Booth shouted. He couldn't even look at Cam although he knew her cheeks had turned the same shade of scarlet that his had.

"What?" Brennan asked innocently.

"I think...I think I'll...I'll be in my office," Cam said, turning quickly around.

"But what about the ID? Booth and I should begin looking into cause of death and..."

"You do that," Cam replied. She handed Booth the file and walked briskly out of the room, leaving Booth shaking his head in embarrassment.

"Bones..." Booth whined.

"What?"

"Remember when I told you that people don't go around talking about their sex lives?"

"Yes."

"That's exactly what you just did!"

"I felt it was appropriate to tell Cam why I was late."

"You could have told her you had a flat tire or you forget to set your alarm."

"I don't use an alarm. My body naturally rises at the same time."

"The point is, you could have lied, Bones."

"I don't lie."

"Let's just keep our sex lives to ourselves. Ok?"

Brennan sighed. "Ok. Although I don't know why it has to be a secret when it is very satisfying."

"Bones!"

"Ok."

"Now...back to this dead body. Any indication it was a murder?"

11:57 PM

Both Brennan and Booth collapsed on the bed, absolutely exhausted. As they stared up at the ceiling, Booth slid his hand across the bedspread and wrapped his hand around her fingers. He brushed his thumb back and forth across her smooth skin as she linked her fingers with his. Neither of them spoke. They had done nothing but talk all day. As soon as Cam had left Brennan's office and Brennan had snapped on a pair of latex gloves to determine whether or not the newly identified victim had been murdered, Booth had received a call that a dead body had been found just outside of DC. It was found in the middle of the woods, the flesh having been eaten by maggots and woodland creatures. They had both spent the day trying to find cause of death and identity. They had finally identified the victim over Thai food for dinner and had spent the rest of the night talking to the victim's brother and trying to put together a case. It had been a very long day.

"I'm starving," Booth finally commented.

"Starving sounds a little extreme, Booth. We did eat dinner."

"Yeah, seven hours ago."

"If you're hungry, get yourself something to eat."

"I'm too tired." Brennan turned onto her side to look at him. She had a big smile on her face. "What?" He asked when he realized she was staring at him.

"I never thought it was possible to be this happy," she said.

"Bones, you spent hours picking maggots off a dead body."

"That makes me happy."

He rolled over so he was facing her. "I sure picked a winner."

"I don't know what that means."

"It means I love you, Bones."

"I love you, too."

He kissed her the tip of her nose.

"I have something for you."

"Booth, I'm sorry, but I think I am just a little too tired for sex tonight."

"It's not sex, Bones."

"Oh." He hung his arms over the side of the bed and reached under the bed. He pulled out a wrapped present and sat up. She sat up and leaned against the headboard. He scooted beside her and handed her the gift. "What is it?" She asked.

"Open it and find out."

"You don't have to buy me gifts, Booth."

"I know. This is just a little something to remind you that you're..." he leaned in to whisper in her ear. "My girl."

Brennan examined the neatly wrapped package before ripping the paper and throwing it over the side of the bed. She looked at the gift closely.

"What is it?" She asked.

"It's a DVD, Bones."

Brennan turned it over so she could see the cover. "My girl," she read.

"Exactly. My Girl the movie. It's about a girl who falls in love for the first time. Kind of like you, Bones."

"I'm not a girl. And this is not the first time I've fallen in love."

"Oh no? Because it's the first time I've fallen in love."

Her eyes turned soft as he reached for her hand once more.

"Really?" She asked.

"Really. Bones, I've never felt this way about anyone before. I've never loved anyone this much. You know that, right?"

She nodded, close to tears.

"There's only one problem," she said quietly.

"What's that?"

"This is a very nice gift, but I don't have a DVD player. Or a TV."

He laughed and leaned in to kiss her. "Then I guess we'll have to watch it at my place."

"Or..."

"Or?"

"Or maybe we could think about getting a place with a TV and a DVD player...together."

Booth's eyes widened. He was shocked. He didn't quite know what to say. He just kept staring at her. He never expected Brennan to suggest that they get a place together. He had always thought she was too independent and unwilling to settle down.

"Bones, I…" Booth stuttered, still completely in shock.

"Or maybe it's not such a good idea," she said, sure that she could see in his face that he was not interested in moving in together.

Brennan looked away from him and stood up. He knew she was pulling away. Booth tugged on her arm and she sat down beside him. He left one hand on her arm and used his other hand to cup her face. He turned her head so she was meeting his eyes.

"You want to get a place? Together? As in move in together?" Booth asked.

"Well, I think it's more logical than trying to decide whose apartment to stay at every night. Your apartment is too small and mine isn't exactly kid friendly for Parker..." Hearing her mention Parker being a part of their lives as a couple brought tears to his eyes. "So it only makes sense that we should get a place together. I was thinking we should start looking at houses."

Booth smiled. "I always knew you were a genius, Bones," he said as he brushed his lips against hers. Minutes ago, he was exhausted, but he felt miraculously full of energy. He knew it was because of her. He attached his lips to her throat. She arched back so he had better access.

"Besides," she panted. "It might also be nice to have some extra rooms and a big backyard for...you know...whoever might come alone."

Booth stopped, his voice caught in his throat. He wondered if he'd heard her right.

"Whoever might come along?" He whispered.

"Yes."

"As in...a baby? As in, you want a baby?"

"You don't want a baby?" She asked, confused.

"No...I mean yes, I mean...I want a baby, Bones. You have no idea how much I want a baby with you. I just never thought you did so I thought it was off the table."

"I don't know what that means. But I do know I want to have a baby with you, Booth. With your heart and my brains, our child will be very well-positioned for a successful life."

"That's the sexiest thing I think I've ever heard."

"I don't know what about that is sexy, but thank you...I think."

"Everything about you is sexy, Bones."

He leaned over and kissed the spot on her forehead that had become his spot. He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and she leaned against him.

"I love you, Booth."

"I love you too, my girl."

They both smiled and fell asleep in each other's arms.

Author's Note: Sorry, but this is going to be a long author's note.

First, I want to say thank you so much to every person who read and/or reviewed this story. Every single review made me feel so incredibly humbled, I can't even explain it. Hearing the amazing comments actually makes me thing that maybe there's a chance that I could become a "real" author someday so thank you for that. You all have given me the confidence to pursue my dreams.

Second, I hope everyone enjoyed this last chapter. I just couldn't end the story without looking into the future at what Booth and Brennan would look like as a happy couple. I hope everyone liked it and that it was worth the wait. I've had this chapter mostly done for a long time now, but I wanted to make sure it was as good as it could be before I published it.

Third, the ending of this story is a little sad just because I've been working on it for so long. I actually started writing this story back on March 16th so this has really been a 3 ½ month journey for me and I'm sad that it's finally coming to an end. But, I'm happy that so many people have enjoyed reading it.

Lastly, even though I almost never do this, I've actually started working on a sequel for this story (I've got about 3 chapters done so far). I don't usually write sequels simply because after such a long story, I'm usually out of ideas, but an idea hit me when I was writing his story and I just had to write it down. I won't start posting the sequel until I can be sure that I will actually finish the story, but I just wanted to give you a heads up. So, stay tuned because there should be more Brennan/Booth to come!

Thank you again and don't forget to review! Oh, and Happy 4th of July to all of my American readers!