April of senior year
"Bren, are your eyes closed?"
"Yes. And I also have a blindfold on. Are you going to tell me where we are? I've had this blindfold on for almost a half hour. Are we there yet?"
Booth laughed and took of the blindfold.
"The Navy Pier?" she asked.
Booth nodded. "I love this place. You've been here before, right?"
Brennan shook her head. "I've always wanted to though."
He laughed. "Oh, baby, we are going to have so much fun!"
They walked up the pier holding hands in silence for several minutes before either spoke.
"So what do you want to do first?" he asked.
Brennan just shrugged. "I'm not sure what there is to do."
"We could…play miniature golf. Or go on some rides! We can do almost anything until the fireworks start. What do you want to do first?"
"Um, golf. But you're gonna have to show me how swing the bat because I have no idea what I'm doing," she told him as he pulled her along. He laughed and pulled her into a kiss.
"You're not scared of heights, are you?"
"No…uh…why would you, uh, say that?"
"Your hands are clammy and you're getting the sweats. Booth, are you okay?"
Brennan grabbed both of his hands and stood in front of him.
"We are going to ride the Ferris wheel. It'll be fine. Come on, let's get in line," she told him.
For April, it was unusually warm and the line for the Ferris wheel was long. Booth shoved a hand into his pocket and immediately started fumbling with the ring. He was going to propose tonight but it was finding the right moment that mattered to him. He was, by no means, scared of heights but he was just scared as hell of what she'd say.
When they were finally at the front of the line, they sat in the gondola by themselves. It was getting late and the sun was beginning to set. Looking one way, downtown Chicago buildings lit up the skyline. But looking the other way, Lake Michigan seemed to never end. Both views were beautiful and Booth couldn't have been more nervous. He wanted this to be the moment but something was holding him back.
"It's gorgeous," Brennan commented.
"Mmmhmm," he mumbled. The movement of the Ferris wheel was making him nauseous. Or maybe it was the thought of her saying no.
"Are you okay, Booth? You look sick."
Booth smiled at her and that was enough to get the worried look off her face.
"No. I'm fine. This is the best date we've ever gone on, if I do say so myself."
She laughed. "It does rank pretty high among the others," Brennan teased.
"I love you, Bren." He wanted to continue with 'marry me' but he couldn't get it out.
"I love you, too."
The sun was gone now and the sky was dark. Booth and Brennan were walking to the end of the boardwalk to watch the fireworks. Their night was almost over and Booth still hadn't asked the most important question of his life.
They reached the end as the first explosion sounded and the sparks lit up the sky.
Just ask her, Seeley. Damn it, just do it already, he told himself. If you don't ask her now, you'll never ask. Don't be such a pansy.
"Bren?"
"Yeah?" she responded, not taking her eyes off the sky.
"Marry me." Shit. Did I really just say that? Shit. Get out the damn ring, dumbass. He stuck his hand in his pocket and pulled out the box. He opened it and showed her the ring.
"What?" Brennan couldn't believe what she was hearing. Never in her life did she think she would hear those words. She eyed the ring and then looked up at Booth. That's why he's been acting weird. He's nervous, she thought.
"Marry me," he said again. "I love you. And I always will. I can't even imagine my life without you. So…marry me." God, I sound like an idiot.
"Are you serious?" Of course he's serious. He wouldn't be asking me to marry him if he wasn't serious. Shit, I sound like an idiot asking stupid questions like that.
"Of course I'm serious." Oh shit. This is not going to end well. Shit.
"Okay." Okay? Shit, Temperance. Okay? That's all you can say? Shit.
"Okay?" That's a yes, right? She just said yes. Holy mother of God, she said yes!
"Yes. Let's get married." Oh god. I'm getting married.
