They lay on their backs under a sheet, skin cooling in the night air. They'd managed to take the time to place her crutches next to the bed. The same couldn't be said for the clothes.
"I should really hang that dress up," Brennan said, wondering where it had landed.
Booth rolled to his side and traced his fingers down her arm. "I'm sure it will be okay for the night."
She nodded and turned her head so she could see his reaction to her next words. "I don't want to go back to my apartment, Booth."
He bent over to kiss a bare shoulder. "I was hoping this date wasn't quite over yet."
"No," she said, waiting until he'd lifted his head again. "I don't mean tonight. I mean ever."
"Oh," he said. "Are you asking if you can move in with me?"
"Clearly, I've already moved in with you. What I'm hoping is that you won't expect me to move back out again." She bit her lip nervously. "Logically, I'd understand if that's-"
He silenced her voice with a finger to her lips. "Stop talking, Bones." Reaching up, he brushed at a lock of hair that had fallen over her face. Booth closed his eyes for a moment, wondering if she saw the tears that suddenly appeared in them. Tonight had been more than he'd dare dream. Because to give voice to those dreams meant that he believed they could happen.
And he'd never found fate to be quite that kind.
When a gentle hand brushed at his cheek, Booth discovered his tears weren't quite the secret he hoped. Reaching up, he grabbed her hand and kissed her palm.
"I'm not always good at this, Booth," she began.
The corner of his mouth lifted, but he didn't open his eyes.
"However, you've taught me a lot of things over the years. So, based on that, happy tears is the conclusion I come to."
He opened his eyes and fell into her blue ones. "And like always, you're right."