This one is short and simple (though with B&B, is anything ever simple?)

-b&b-

She'd decided not to wait to meet him at the coffee cart and instead met HIM at the airport, watching as he walked through the terminal. She searched his face, looking for what, she didn't know. Signs he looked a year older? Signs that his smile was somewhat forced? It wasn't until she was right in front of him that she realized that for every step he'd taken, she had too, and now they were face to face.

"Bones!" he blinked and then wiped his hand over his face as if he wasn't quite sure what he was seeing.

"Booth…" she whispered. The airport was loud, but she couldn't manage anything above the slightest sound as she felt the pull of his presence.

"General," Booth cleared his throat and placed his hand on Brennan's back, motioning with his other hand toward the man he'd walked out with. "This is Dr. Temperance Brennan."

"Ah," the man smiled. "I've heard a lot about you over the past year." He slapped Booth on the back good naturedly. "You're a lucky man."

"Oh," Brennan breathed a small gasp, and Booth stiffened beside her.

"Yeah," he rubbed his index knuckle against his nose, "We're just…"

But the 'partners' fell unspoken, and their eyes met. Were they partners? Were they just partners?

In that moment, it was unclear.

The general patted Booth on the back again & walked away. Booth spared him a quick glance, but his eyes quickly moved back toward Brennan's.

That it was good to see her was on the tip of his tongue, but then she was in his arms, pressed against him like the best dream come true.

Were they partners? Were they just anything?

He didn't question it, didn't want to question it anymore, and so…he didn't.

Not when she followed him to get his luggage and not when she put her hand in his and walked them to her car.

Not when she pulled up in front of his apartment, and not when she followed him inside. Only when the door closed and he set his bags down did he open his mouth. But before words could exit, her soft lips were pressed against his.

His tongue touched hers instantly, immediately knowing the way, and his hands tunneled through her hair.

It felt shorter in his fingers even though he'd never once done this in his entire life.

"It's not enough," she gasped, pulling him as close as possible. He knew what she meant. Kissing. Partners. All of it. Not enough. Not even close.

He'd spent an entire YEAR wondering if he'd see his next day, and he'd learned a lot more about accepting what he wanted out of life.

Right now,she was kissing him in the spot below his ear, making his knees buckle, even though she'd never once done that in her entire life.

He didn't want to wait till tomorrow or another someday. He didn't want to be just partners anymore. No excuses. No second guessing. No hesitation. No barriers between them as his hands roved over every inch of her.

Brennan arched in his hands, cupping the backs of his thighs to keep him in place as he sank into her over and over. "Booth," she moaned.

He rose up on one hand, looking her in the eyes as he kept up their rhythm. "Bones, I'll still die for you. But I'm not living without you."

A year ago she'd walked away from him, fighting back tears. Now she came to him, for him, with him, tears streaming down her cheeks unnoticed. She felt him collapse onto her, all of his energy spent, years of waiting released inside of her. She wrapped her arms around him and when he rolled to his side, she followed, plastering her body on top of his, unwilling to be separated from him for even a minute.

Not today, not right now.

His hand lazily stroked her back, coming to rest against the back of her neck, his palm warm against the cool sweat under her hair line. Brennan couldn't stop pressing soft kisses against his neck and chest. "I'm so glad you're home, Booth."

He pondered her words, the soft scent of her permeating his air. "Me too, Bones. Finally home."

-b&b-