The songs in this chapter are "Happy Together" by Garry Bonner and Alan Gordon, and "And I Love Her" by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. NO copyright infringement intended.

Imagine me and you...I do.

I think about you day and night.

It's only right

To think about the girl you love,

And hold her tight…

So happy together.

The soft glow of early morning streamed through the bedroom window and washed across the tangled sheets. Booth groaned as he stretched a bit. Rolling over, he glanced at the clock on the nightstand. 8:30! I'm late!...no..wait...I don't have to be at work until after lunch...yeah, that's right...He snuggled down into the pillow and grinned, hoping to recapture the wonderful dream he'd been having. He closed his eyes, trying to go back to sleep...back to me and Bones together...all night long… wow…" It was incredible, and so real...he felt almost as tired as if he'd stayed up all night. He pulled the sheets up over himself, thoroughly relaxed...and then his eyes flew open. He rolled over to look at the clock again...that wasn't his clock...this was not his bedroom, not his bed...a quick glance beneath the sheets…"Damn...where are my boxers?" It wasn't a dream...there he was... naked, sleeping in her bed...what about the rest of it? Making love with Bones all night long? Please, God, tell me that really happened….

He sat up as he heard the sound of water running in the bathroom. "Bones?"

She stood in the bathroom doorway, smiling as she dried her hair with a towel, the belt holding her bathrobe in place loosely tied around her waist. "I'm sorry...I didn't mean to wake you. Did you sleep well?"

"Why are you up already? I thought you were gonna sleep in." He ran his fingers through his hair and yawned. "It's only 8:30...you've still got a couple of hours 'til you have to be at work…"

"Well, Hodgins called about 7:45 to let me know he and the FBI techs were leaving this morning for Gloucester City to search the river for remains, and then I couldn't go back to sleep, so I decided to get ready for the day." She walked over and sat on the edge of the bed next to Booth, regarding him primly. She pursed her lips as she began her interrogation. "So, Agent Booth...the truth now...when you suggested that I call Dr. Goodman to tell him I would be late for work this morning, was that part of your plan to seduce me last night?"

"Wait...what? NO, of course not! I would never…"

Brennan arched her eyebrow and gave him a sly smile. "You were very convincing, you know...telling me we could stay up all night making love and then I could sleep in this morning since I'd already called to say I'd be late today….you knew I'd fall for your charm smile and sad puppy eyes, and that those two weapons used together would render me quite incapable of ignoring your faulty logic. You're a bad man, Seeley Booth…"

"C'mon, Bones….you know I'd never do anything like that…" He grinned as her smile grew wider. "Okay, maybe that was a small part of it. I was hopeful that we could spend some 'quality time' together, you know, talking and stuff like that...but it's not like I set out to try to 'get lucky.' As I remember, you weren't complaining about our quality time together last night, now were you? In fact, you enjoyed it every bit as much as I did." He noticed the tantalizing view offered by her loosened robe, and he gestured toward her. "Hey, you're too far away from me. I need you to come a bit closer….there we go. I don't really think you need this robe, do you?" He pulled on the belt of the robe, untying it and causing the sides of the robe to fall open. "Let's see if we can just slip this bulky old robe down over your shoulders a bit."

"I was cold after I got out of the shower." She giggled as she pretended to pull the robe closed. "It's a bit drafty in here. I better put on my flannel pajamas before I go make breakfast."

"Nope. No flannel pjs, no robe...you don't need any of that stuff…" Booth playfully tugged at her arm, laughing as she pretended to protest. He made a show of pretending to pout until she relented and crawled into bed next to him. "I'm gonna keep you warm, Bones. In fact, I'm gonna make your temperature rise into the hot range." He rolled over on top of her and started to plant kisses along her earlobe and down her jaw. "And I'm then gonna keep going, and you're gonna feel like you're on fire...on fire for me…" He continued down her throat and breasts, kissing, stroking, and gently nipping her flushed skin as he went, enjoying the sound of her moans and gasps as she began to undulate against him. "And then...we'll both have to quench that fire together in the shower, right? I can't wait…"

"Booth…" Brennan let his name escape from her lips as a breathy gasp…"Oh, God, Booth….that's wonderful…a shower sounds perfect…"

He gave her a slightly wicked grin. "And we might even have time for lunch before we have to go to work…"

She wrapped her arms around him and pulled him close for a passionate kiss. "With the way I'm feeling right now, I don't care if I ever eat again, as long as you make love to me like this…I don't want to talk about lunch right now..."

"Your wish is my command...c'mere….I need a little more lovin' from you...God, Bones...I love you so much…"

oooooooooo

If I should call you up, invest a dime,

And you say you belong to me,

And ease my mind

Imagine how the world could be

So very fine…

So happy together….

It was nearly noon when Booth and Brennan entered the diner. They found their favorite spot by the window and smiled at the waitress who brought their coffee and menus to them. Booth smiled broadly across the table and winked at Brennan. "Just another day, right?"

"I find that I do feel slightly nervous, Booth. I know, logically, that no one can look at us and perceive that we've added a sexual component to our relationship, but I still feel a bit awkward…"

"Bones!", Booth hissed. "Lower your voice!"

"Why? People have sex every day, Booth. It's a perfectly normal biological function..." Suddenly a frightening thought crossed Brennan's mind. "Are you embarrassed because we engaged in intercourse? Are you ashamed of me? I'm sorry, Booth…"

He rolled his eyes and smiled. She's so cute..."Of course I'm not ashamed of you. Don't be silly, Bones. I love you...you know that...I just think we need to be discreet until I talk to Cullen."

"You said you didn't give a damn about what Cullen said…"

"Well, I don't, really, but he is my boss, and I want to be the person to tell him about the change in the nature of our relationship. I don't want him to hear it through the FBI grapevine…."

They paused while the waitress brought them their meal. "I don't know what that means, Booth...a grapevine? Plants don't talk…"

"Gossip, Bones...I need to be the one who tells him first. I don't want him to hear it second hand. He won't care...he's a practical man. Cullen just wants his cases solved. But...in case he does get some heat from the guys above him in the chain of command, I think we can work it out where Perotta and me can be partners but we'll still be able to come to the Jeffersonian for your assistance…"

Brennan glared at Booth and then studied her salad. "I'm not sure I like the idea of Agent Perotta working so closely with you, Booth…"

"Aw, that's sweet, Bones...are you jealous over me?" Booth laughed as she smiled shyly. "Come on...you know she doesn't hold a candle to you, Bones...and it probably won't be an issue anyway. Like I said, Cullen probably won't care, but he has to hear it from me first." He smiled, watching her as he ate some french fries. "So what are you gonna tell Angela?"

"About what...oh, you mean...about us?" Brennan wrinkled her nose as she sipped her coffee. "Why would I have to tell her anything? I'll just go to work and see if she's compared her drawing to any other possible missing children cases…"

"C'mon, Bones...think about it. She knows you were with me all day yesterday, and you're going into work late today. You know she's practically psychic about stuff like this…"

"There's no such thing as a psychic…."

"Okay, then let's say she has excellent powers of observation….but she's gonna know we've slept together...you can count on that…"

"Perhaps I can tell her there's nothing to discuss…" Brennan smiled demurely. "I could just downplay the whole experience...I can tell her it was nothing special…"

"WHAT?! NOTHING SPECIAL?" Booth blushed a bit as the crowd at the diner turned to look at him. Speaking in a hushed tone, he began again. "What do you mean, nothing special…3 orgasms this morning is nothing special?"

Brennan shook her head and laughed at his alpha male vanity on display. "I'm joking, Booth. Of course the sex was spectacular, both last night and this morning. You're recovery rate is quite impressive, and I can't wait to tell Angela how talented you are with your tongue. I'm sure she'll be very envious…."

"Bones…seriously…" He grimaced at the thought of Angela knowing everything about his sexual techniques. "Maybe you don't need to give her a play by play description...maybe just the basic stuff, you know? She doesn't have to know all of it…"

"Angela's my best friend, Booth...we talk about everything...but I'll be discreet. I won't bring our relationship up, and if she asks any probing questions, I'll deflect. Will that be satisfactory?"

Booth nodded as he reached to answer his phone. "Booth…"

He'd just begun his conversation when Brennan's phone rang, also. "Brennan…" She reached over to steal french fries from Booth's plate as she listened. "Okay…" she sighed. "Thanks, Hodgins."

Booth stared out the window as he waited for Brennan to finish her call. "That was Detective Tonelli, Bones. They had to release Maureen Sheehan and Sean Kelly from custody this morning. They didn't have enough probable cause to hold them any longer."

"I know...that was Hodgins. So far the dive team hasn't found anything in the river. They set up a grid pattern about 5 miles either side of where Kelly thinks he disposed of the body, but it's really slow going. They've been trying to use a fish locator to narrow their search, but they've come up empty. They haven't found anything on the riverbanks, either."

"When will the DNA tests be done?"

"It'll take a couple of days, even if they rush it. By then, Maureen and Sean could be in Canada…" Brennan shook her head in disgust. "This makes me so angry, Booth...they might get away with killing that little girl, and there's nothing we can do about it…"

"I know...but let's see what the DNA tells us first. We're still in the game. I don't think they're gonna get away. Detective Tonelli doesn't strike me as someone who gives up easily. I bet she's gonna have 24 hour surveillance on them, and if they even sneeze funny she'll haul them in, you know?" Booth reached over to hold Brennan's hand. "Together, you and me...we're a great team. It's gonna take a lot more than Maureen and Sean to beat us, right?"

Brennan smiled as she squeezed Booth's hand. "You're right. I love you, Booth…."

"I love you, too." He glanced at his watch. "I have to be at work soon. Let's go, and I'll drop you off at the lab."

"Alright. Would you like to come over for dinner this evening? I think there's still some Hunan beef and some lasagne."

"Nope. Tonight I want you to come to my apartment for dinner. I'm gonna make my speciality: Spaghetti Marinara a la Booth. My grammy was part Italian, and she made the best spaghetti…"

"And what will we have for dessert?" Brennan reached over to pat Booth's butt as she wore a naughty smile. "Something sweet, I hope."

"I'm sure we can think of something. Maybe we should stop by your apartment on the way over to mine to pick up a few things for this evening and tomorrow morning." Booth pulled Brennan close to give her a hug, smiling suggestively.

Brennan returned his smile as she kissed him. "You're a very smart man, Booth."

oooooooooo

I give her all my love

That's all I do.

...and I love her….

Brennan was looking through a file as she walked into her office and sat down at her computer. She leafed through the papers, looking for the results of the tox screen, when she heard her visitor cough quietly.

"Good afternoon, Sweetie. Glad to see you finally made it to work today." Angela moved from the sofa to a chair in front of Brennan's desk. "So how were things yesterday?"

Brennan glared at her computer monitor. "Not good. I'm quite frustrated with the whole situation. All that time and energy, and nothing to show for it. What a waste of time! A total failure."

"Really? Because I thought…"

"Yes, really. It makes me angry that things are not working out the way I expected they would, and there's nothing I can do to fix it. I may just have to give up on the whole thing. It's quite aggravating, but I suppose it can't be helped."

'Oh Sweetie….I'm so sorry…"

"I just need to work...maybe if I focus, it will help me feel better about it." Brennan typed rapidly on her keyboard before glancing up at Angela. "Angela, what's wrong? You look like you're going to cry."

"Well, I just feel bad that things didn't work out better with Booth…that's too bad...he seems like such a great guy."

Brennan stared at Angela in surprise. "Booth? I wasn't talking about Booth. I was talking about our case. Why are you talking about Booth?"

"You spent all day with him yesterday...and probably last night, too. Aren't you going to tell me what happened?" Angela smiled eagerly. "I'm pretty sure you and Studly Do-Right got it on last night...and I want lots of details...you, know, a vicarious thrill. Come on, Brennan...spill."

Turning back to her computer, Brennan tried to remain calm, even though she knew she was blushing. "We brought home Chinese take out and spent the evening talking. Our relationship is going well, and I'm very satisfied with it."

"Satisfied? How satisfied?" Angela leaned back in her chair, watching Brennan closely. "You might as well tell me everything. I know an orgasm afterglow when I see it."

"I'm very, very, very satisfied…." Brennan allowed herself one nervous giggle and a shy smile. "However, I really can't talk about that right now. I have to get the DNA tests started, and I need to fax the tox screen results over to Booth. Our case is quite frustrating, and we need to move fast before our suspects jump the city."

"I think you mean skip town. Okay, I'll let this go for now, but we're gonna have lunch together tomorrow, and I expect to hear all about you and Booth together." Angela smirked as she stood up to leave. "It was worth it, wasn't it? Trusting him, and letting him know you love him? It was worth it…"

Brennan grinned broadly. "Yes, Angela...you were right. It was definitely worth it."

oooooooooo

She gives me everything,

And tenderly.

….and I love her…

Booth sat in the waiting room outside Director Cullen's office, nervously drumming his fingers on his knees as he ran through his speech in his mind again. It's logical for Bones and me to work together...we have a great record together…we're professionals…. Finally Cullen's secretary nodded toward the office door.

"Agent Booth? Director Cullen will see you now." Booth inhaled deeply and tried to look brave as he walked into the lion's den.

"Booth.", Cullen grunted without looking up from his paperwork. "Anything new on your little Janie Doe?"

"Well, sir, Dr. Brennan has arranged for her colleague Dr. Hodgins to assist the FBI in a search on the Delaware River for remains and other clues, but so far they haven't found anything useful."

"Who do you like for the perp?"

"I think it was the girl's mother, but we don't have enough evidence against her to make an arrest. I really think we're going to need a confession from her for the charges to stick."

"I see." Cullen looked up at Booth and pursed his lips, tapping his pen against his desk as he thought for a moment. "Why didn't you take Perotta to New Jersey with you yesterday, Booth?"

Shit...that was unexpected. "Dr. Brennan had begun to work the case with me before Agent Perotta was assigned to me as my partner. I've worked with Dr. Brennan before, and I knew she'd be an asset on this case. I wasn't trying to keep Perotta out to the loop…"

"Oh, okay." A slight smile lifted the corner of Cullen's mouth. "That makes perfect sense. I thought there was another reason, like maybe the fact that you have an intimate relationship with Dr. Brennan. You're in love with her, right?"

Damn it! I can't believe this is happening…."Actually that was the main reason I wanted to talk to you this afternoon, sir...I'm sorry you had to find out this information second hand. Yes, Dr. Brennan and I are on intimate terms, and we are currently in a romantic relationship, but you know we're both professionals, sir, and I don't think it will affect our working relationship….Sir?"

Booth stood in shock as Director Cullen let go a belly laugh. "I didn't hear this from anybody second hand, Booth. Listen, I didn't get to be an FBI Director based solely on good looks and personality. I've gotta keep my eyes open, and I gotta know what my agents are doing. You haven't done a real good job of hiding your feelings for Dr. Brennan, Booth...I knew you were nuts about her when you came to my office that day with that crazy ass notion that you two should work together. What was it you said...oh, yeah…'she's amazing' and something about doing anything you could to work with her." Cullen leaned back in his chair, studying Booth. "I trust your judgment, Booth. If you think you can maintain your professional standards while working with Dr. Brennan, I'm okay with it. Perotta can work with Wilkens. But no gun for Dr. Brennan…"

"Yes, sir." Booth heaved a sigh of relief as he left Cullen's office. Things didn't go exactly as he'd expected, but the results were good. Sounds like a lot of the cases we have….

oooooooooo

Me and you, and you and me

No matter how they tossed the dice,

It had to be.

The only one for me is you,

And you for me.

So happy together….

Three days had gone by since Booth and Brennan had returned from their trip to New Jersey. Brennan was reaching for her phone to call Booth late that afternoon about the DNA results when she heard the familiar greeting at her door.

"Hiya, Bones." Booth came in and sat down by her desk. "Any news about our little Jane Doe?"

"Yes, actually I have lots of information for you. Angela ran a simulation on the Angelatron to see if we could get a better idea of what the skull might've looked like before it was damaged so severely. Based on the new information, Angela made another sketch of the victim, and we compared it to the photograph provided by Mrs. Sheehan. The new sketch looks very much like Bridget. The DNA results indicate that the skeleton in the lab was the offspring of Maureen Sheehan, and the tox screen Hodgins did on the bones came back positive for methamphetamines. Even though we don't have any dental records for comparison, I feel confident that our Jane Doe is actually Bridget Sheehan. It's her, Booth...maybe now we can find more evidence of what actually happened to her."

Booth sighed heavily. "Great. That's just great… Thanks, Bones. I'm glad you made the identification."

"What's wrong, Booth? I thought you'd be happy. We can go back to Gloucester City and talk to her mother…"

"No, we can't." Booth shook his head as he stared sadly at Brennan's desk. "I got a call from Detective Tonelli this afternoon. Maureen Sheehan and Sean Kelly are both dead."

"Dead! How did that happen? Booth…" Brennan was stunned. "I don't understand…"

"Tonelli went by the house this morning to ask them some more questions about Bridget and found their bodies. She thinks Maureen stabbed Sean to death while she was high on meth, and Maureen had been shot in the head...most likely Maureen committed suicide when she realized she had killed Sean. Tonelli said the meth in that area has caused some bad trips for a lot of users. I guess the crime scene was pretty gruesome...blood everywhere. Tonelli was pretty upset, and she's a 20 year veteran in the homicide division. She said she'd never seen anything like it."

"So that's it? We're never going to know what really happened to Bridget, are we?" Brennan brushed away a tear. "And poor Mrs. Sheehan...she's lost everything…"

Booth reached over to hold Brennan's hand. "I know it's upsetting to not be able to get the whole truth, Bones, but we tried...we did the best we could to get justice for that little girl."

"I know...but it's so sad." Her lip trembled a bit as she blinked back tears. "I'm sorry. I guess I should be more professional, but I keep thinking about that poor child."

"There's nothing to apologize for, Bones. It's okay to be sad about this case. We care about our work, and it's gonna happen that we get invested emotionally." He gave her a faint smile. "At least you're gonna get to be my partner permanently now. Perotta got assigned to that jackass Wilkens….she may never forgive me."

Brennan sighed as she shut down her computer. "It's getting late...I'm going to head for my apartment. Will you be able to come for dinner this evening?"

"Of course. I wouldn't miss spending some quality time with my favorite forensic anthropologist, but I've gotta make a stop first. You want me to pick something up?"

"No...I'm making macaroni and cheese tonight…"

"Wow...God's perfect food, and you're making it just for me? I'm a lucky guy." He walked behind Brennan's desk to give her a kiss. "I'll be there soon, okay?"

"Okay. I love you, Booth…."

"I love you, too, Bones…"

oooooooooo

A love like ours

Could never die

As long as I

Have you near me….

Brennan hummed to herself as she poured the macaroni in the boiling water and stirred the bubbling cheese sauce. She nodded, pleased with her choice. She'd long suspected that Booth was a fan of old fashioned home cooking based on his fond memories of his grandmother's meals. Perhaps the old adage is right...the way to a man's heart is through his stomach. She laughed to herself as she mixed the casserole together. Booth decided he loved me before he knew whether or not I could cook...I wonder how demonstrative he'll be now that he knows I make wonderful macaroni and cheese..." As an anthropologist she knew that cooking a meal for someone was commonly accepted as being indicative of love and affection for the recipient...and she was looking forward to the love and affection she'd be receiving from him in return later that evening.

She put the casserole dish in the oven and went to change clothes, considering again how fortunate she was to have a man like Seeley Booth in her life. She hadn't done anything to deserve his love, but he had loved her anyway, changing her life for the better simply by being a part of it. She paused as she gazed at her reflection in the bathroom mirror. She was extremely happy, and it showed in her sparkling eyes and wide smile. Being with Booth had made her giddy and irrational, and she didn't care a bit...all she knew was that she was thoroughly and illogically happy, and that she loved him with her whole heart.

Realizing how much Booth loved her, even after all of the trials and misunderstandings they'd had over the last few years, was truly amazing. Perhaps if I believed in a Supreme Being, I'd thank him or her for a man like Booth….someone who loves me just like I am...who thinks I'm wonderful even with all my faults….I'm going to do whatever I can to keep Booth in my life...for the rest of my life.

oooooooooo

Bright are the stars that shine

Dark is the sky.

I know this love of mine

Will never die.

And I love her….

Booth walked quietly into the nave of the darkened church. "Evening, Father Paul." He nodded to the priest as he moved past him toward one of the side altars.

"Seeley! How are you? I missed you on Christmas Eve…"

"Yeah...the weather was so bad, and I didn't want to get stuck somewhere because my son was coming to lunch on Christmas Day." And I thought my life was going to hell…

The priest nodded in sympathy, knowing there were probably other reasons for Booth's absence from the service. "Oh, I understand. It was practically a blizzard, wasn't it? I'm glad you got to see Parker over Christmas." The priest cocked his head and smiled as he talked to Booth. "You seem like you're doing a lot better, Seeley... like you're happier than you've been in months. Life's treating you well now?"

"Yes, Father...I've got a wonderful woman in my life now. She loves me, and she loves Parker. Life's great."

"That's excellent news. Well, take your time here...I'll come by and lock up later. Good night, Seeley."

"Thanks, Father. Good night."

Booth stood in the tiny chapel area that was set up in front of the side altar. A statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary smiled benevolently on one side, and a gentle St. Joseph holding the child Jesus stood on the other side. He paused, enjoying the quiet and serenity of the place, before walking over to the glowing candle stand. He blessed himself, and then began to pray silently. "It's me, Lord...it's Booth. Listen, I know you haven't heard from me lately, and I'm sorry about that. So many things have happened the last few weeks, and I've been really busy, but I wanted to thank you for sending Bones back to me….She doesn't believe in you, so I'm gonna believe for both of us, if that's okay with you."

He struck a match and lit one of the votive candles. "I'm lighting this first candle for Bridget Sheehan and her family, Lord, and I'm asking You for mercy on their souls...Bridget was an innocent child, and I know she's with you in Heaven, and you're taking good care of her." He struck a second match and smiled as he watched it burn a bit. "And this second candle is in honor of Our Lady of the Snows. Thank you, Holy Mary, Mother of God, for taking pity on this poor, sad, lonely man. Thank you for making my life so much better by allowing me to find Bones in the grocery store on that snowy Christmas Eve. Thank you, because I finally have a woman to love who truly loves me in return. And now, I promise to You that I'm going to love her for the rest of my life." He watched the candles burn a minute before brushing away a tear and quietly turning to walk away, knowing that he was truly a blessed man.

I can't see me lovin' nobody but you, for all my life…

When you're with me, baby, the skies will be blue, for all my life…

So happy together…

And how is the weather?

We're happy together…..

oooooooooo

.A/N: the story of Our Lady of the Snows is that an apparition of the Virgin Mary appeared to a couple in ancient Rome. She told them she wanted a church built on a hill that was covered with snow. In August a heavy snow fell and covered a hill, and a church was built there in her honor. It seemed appropriate for my story.

Thanks for reading and commenting on my story. It's been quite an adventure to get from what started out as a one shot story to here, but I've had fun writing it.