Sabbaticals - 30 weeks

They walked into one of the dining halls and followed the hostess as she guided them to their table for dinner. The room was already mostly full, with most tables seating anywhere from four to ten people. The hostess showed them to one of the few tables for two along the side of the room. Their table sat next to one of the large colonial windows, and they had a beautiful view of a couple of small parks, with the ellipse in the distance.

As they were walking to the table, Brennan was oblivious, but Booth noticed all of the eyes that followed them as they made their way through the room. It wasn't just men, but women too, who couldn't take their eyes off of his partner. She was stunning. She glowed. He didn't realize it, but while most of them were transfixed by the beautiful woman in the exquisite gown, some of them were taken by the couple as a whole. He looked damn good in his tux, with those broad shoulders, as he guided her through the room - his hand lovingly caressing her bare back.

The meal was even better than they expected, as their server brought out course after course. Each course was paired with a small glass of wine - curated by the hotel's sommelier. They found that they really enjoyed the way it was all set up. Because they were only served a few sips of each wine, they were able to try quite a few as the meal went along and only ended up with a slight buzz. When the dessert arrived, a plate was set in the middle of the table with six small, bite sized, scrumptious looking desserts. They had a fun negotiation over who got which ones, as the servers came around to the tables filling each diner's flute with champagne.

They had lively discussions all through the meal. Some talk about old cases they had worked. Stories they hadn't told before about their childhoods. Booth told funny stories about Parker as a toddler. A little bit of talk about the future. A promise they both made was that they would be in their new house by next Christmas. Booth felt it was important that they put a deadline on it to keep them from drifting along with the status quo. Brennan agreed, and Booth taught her how to make a pinky swear.

The whole evening was feeling very different. They had been together before, dressed to the nines, at Jeffersonian events. But they weren't lovers then. This dinner felt like their first meal as real grownups. A couple who had their future laid out in front of them. Brennan explained "imposter syndrome" to Booth. He realized that he had felt that way for years, but didn't realize there was a term for it. Brennan assured him that she often felt it too. "Really Booth. Almost everyone feels it at different times in their lives. Sometimes it feels like we are pretending to be adults in our jobs, our home life, figuring that one day we will grow into it all. It's funny, because I hear stories of senior citizens who still feel that way."

As they discussed the phenomenon, they agreed that they, for the most part, felt confident in their jobs, although it had creeped in occasionally when they had difficult cases. But, in their home lives it seemed more apparent. Booth confessed that there were times when he just didn't feel capable of being a father. Brennan put her hand over his and assured him that he was a wonderful father to Parker. "That's the thing about imposter syndrome. It's a tiny feeling of insecurity in your brain. But, for most people, it's not valid. Most people are very capable of handling all of the grown up parts of their lives, and just need a boost of confidence sometimes. I was feeling insecurity about being a parent figure to Parker, but you have built up my confidence and it's helped tremendously." Booth shook his head. "You teach me so much Bones. I can't believe I just learned all that over dinner at a New Year's Eve party." Brennan laughed. "And you taught me how to do a pinky swear."

When they were finished with the meal, their server explained that the rest of the evening festivities would take place in the ballroom area of the hotel. She gave them directions to the lobby area of the conference center, where the open bars were set up. There would also be tables of snacks and desserts to enjoy for the rest of the evening. There were five different ballrooms - each with a different style of music. A live band in one room playing swing and ballroom dancing. In another room, a live salsa band. And in yet another room, a live Caribbean style band. The last two rooms contained DJs - one was a Euro discotheque, and the other would be playing music ranging from the 50s to the 90s. She explained that each room had tables and chairs around the perimeter for partygoers who wished to sit and listen to the music. A large dance floor took up most of the rest of each room.

They entered the lobby area and found throngs of people crowded around the three bars. Booth took her elbow. "Let's go check out the music in the ballrooms and decide where we want to spend the evening." They tried the room with swing and ballroom dancing, and were delighted to see that it was a "Big Band" era band playing songs from the 30s and 40s. Booth took her hand and walked them over to a table in the corner. He sat down in a chair facing the stage and pulled her down onto his lap.

She was sitting sideways on his lap and had her arms around his neck, while his arms circled her torso holding her secure. "Booth, this is a formal party. As much as I enjoy this, shouldn't we be more formal?" He nuzzled her neck. "We can be anything we want Bones. Why do you think I chose this dark corner? Anyway, we're still on our honeymoon." She smiled at him. "We are, aren't we?" Their lips met for a long, sweet kiss. She leaned her head against his and they sat there through the whole set, thoroughly enjoying the music.

When the set ended, they made their way to the salsa band. Instead of taking a seat, Booth leaned against the side wall and pulled her in front of him. They listened to two of the numbers and had fun watching some of the very talented dancers. They moved on to the Caribbean room and sat down for a set. The band there was playing a lot of Jimmy Buffett songs, and they had fun laughing at (and with) the parrotheads in tuxes and long gowns. Most of the people on the dance floor knew all of the moves, and call and responses typical at a Jimmy Buffett concert. Although Booth and Brennan enjoyed the spectacle in the room, the style of dancing just wasn't in their wheelhouse, so they sat and took it all in. In this room, they weren't the only pair of lovers with a partner sitting in a lap. Although everyone was dressed formally, it was a very laid back atmosphere.

When the band took a break, they decided to check out the DJ rooms. First was the Euro discotheque. It was a cacophony of sound and light. Very loud, heavy beat techno music, and laser lights swinging around and around the room. It was apparent this room was for the 20-somethings. The couple stood in the doorway for about 20 seconds, turned to look at each other, and immediately left. They both almost doubled over with laughter as they walked away from the doors. "I don't think that room was designed for us Bones." She laughed, snaked her arm through his, and leaned against him as they walked to the last ballroom.

The last one was where they found their music. The DJ mixed songs from different eras seamlessly, and they ended up on the dance floor slow dancing off and on for the next hour. They had taken a seat right off the dance floor, and when Booth heard the opening strains of one tune, he pulled her out to the floor and into his arms. They both loved being in each other's arms, with their bodies held closely. His right arm around her back and left hand holding hers intimately against his chest. He began to sing softly into her ear.

Are the starts out tonight?
I don't know if it's cloudy or bright.
I only have eyes, for you, dear.

The moon may be high,
But I can't see a thing in the sky.
I only have eyes for you.

I don't know if we're in a garden,
Or on a crowded avenue.

You are here, and so am I.
Maybe millions of people go by.
But they all disappear from view.
And I only have eyes, for you.

As the song was finishing, she looked up at him. "That's beautiful, Booth." His lips started down toward hers. "No more beautiful than you, my love." They shared a long kiss as the next tune began. It was another nice, slow song. The DJ had noticed how crowded the dance floor was with the slow dance songs, so he found one slow, romantic, tune after another. The couple had no complaints, because there was no need to pull their bodies from each other for dance after dance after dance.

At around 11:30, they decided to go out and get some champagne and snacks to take to the Big Band room to sit and listen until it was time for the countdown. They went back to their dark corner and she sat in his lap again. They snacked, drank champagne, and shared a lot of kisses while they listened to music from the WWII era.

A few minutes before midnight, the band stopped playing and they asked every to come to the dance floor for the countdown. Booth and Brennan joined the throng, and when the countdown hit ten seconds, he whispered. "Last kiss". They shared a sweet kiss and broke apart at 2 - 1 - Happy New Year! Balloons fell from the ceiling and bounced all over the partygoers. Booth had pulled her into his arms again, and at the exact moment of the new year, they began a very long, very juicy kiss. They finally had to break it off because they were both getting a little too overheated to be in public. They looked into each other's eyes and she giggled. "Happy New Year Booth." "Happy New Year Bones." They shared a slightly more chaste kiss, while the band started playing Auld Lang Syne. Booth began singing along with the rest of the revelers and she tried to keep up. She had heard the song a few times, but had never tried to sing it.

As the dance floor began to thin out, he whispered to her. "Let's go out and get some more champagne. Then into the DJ room for more dancing?" She smiled and nodded her head.

They danced every slow dance that the DJ played, and as it was getting near 1:00, she suggested that they have just one more and then go up to their suite. He gave her a big grin and kissed her. When the song began, he looked up with a look of wonder on his face. He looked back at her. "I know Hot Blooded is 'our song', but I think this might also be 'our song'." As they danced, he once again sang in her ear.

At last, my love has come along.
My lonely days are over,
And life is like a song.

At last, the skies above are blue.
My heart was wrapped up in clover,
The night I looked at you.

I found a dream that I could speak to.
A dream that I can call my own.
I found a thrill to press my cheek to.
A thrill that I've never known.

You smiled, you smiled,
Oh, and then the spell was cast.
And here we are in Heaven.
For you are mine, at last.

As the last strains of the music played, she looked up to him. "Oh, Booth." He brought both of his hands up, cupped her face, and they shared another long kiss. Booth took her hand. "Let's go upstairs." As the couple wound their way across the dance floor, the DJ had a sly smile on his face. He had noticed the dazzling couple throughout the evening and suspected he was watching a pair of honeymooners. The song he had just played was his favorite romantic ballad, and he could see how much they seemed to be moved by it.

Several people shared the elevator with them up to their floor. When they exited, he had his arm around her shoulders and her arm was around his waist. Her head leaned against his shoulder as they walked in silence to their room. Once inside, he held her away from him and just couldn't take his eyes off of her. "You have never been more beautiful, Temperance." Her eyes melted and she pulled him to her. "Oh, Seeley." She began a very sweet, very sensuous kiss. As it started to become more intense, he leaned down, picked her up and started walking toward the bedroom, never breaking the kiss. The bottom of her dress swirled around his legs as he walked, and it wasn't until he was standing next to the bed that they finally broke the kiss and he set her on her feet.

Before they began to undress, he paid reverence to the impressive cleavage formed by the dress. He lamented that it wasn't possible to make love to her while she was still wearing the dress, but enjoyed the process of removing it from her body. He lovingly draped it over the desk chair and insisted they would find another event for the dress.

They made love for the first time in the new year, and it was truly "making love". It was slow. It was sweet. It was sensual. They lasted a long time, because every time one of them felt the other getting close, they slowed things down. This kept them both just on the edge, in a sustained frenzy, for a very long time. When they finally couldn't hold out any longer, they pushed through and both of them tumbled into a long, sustained orgasm.

As they lay there, tangled together, they knew they needed sleep after their busy day. Booth gave her a long kiss. "I told Rebecca we would pick up Parker around 10:00. I'd like to get up early enough to hit the breakfast buffet downstairs before heading there." Brennan snuggled into his body. "That sounds good. We'll be spending the rest of our time here with Parker, so we'll have to save our wild sexual escapades for London." Booth pulled her into another long kiss. "I can't wait."

The next morning, Booth tried to finagle her into showering together, but she told him they didn't have time for his shower shenanigans, and insisted he use the other shower. As he walked out of the room, he was laughing. "Shower shenanigans? I love that name for our joint showers. If we didn't have a child, I'd have a plaque made for the bathroom!" She just shook her head and chuckled as she headed for the en suite.

After picking up Parker from his mom's house, they stopped at Walgreens, and Booth and Parker raided the snacks, candy, and soda aisles in preparation for the bowl games that would start in a few hours. Brennan made sure that they chose some items that she liked, and asked them if they were planning to eat anything healthy at some point during the day. "Of course we are Bones! Between the first and second game, we're having pizzas delivered. A veggie one for you. Huh? Huh?" He looked like a little boy trying to convince his mother to indulge him for one day. She just smiled and shook her head. "Just today. We will eat healthy meals tomorrow." Booth leaned over, gave her a quick kiss, and pinched her butt. "You got it babe." Brennan rolled her eyes and was glad to see that Parker had his head in the cooler picking out sodas.

It was a fun day filled with football games, and even Brennan got into the spirit. Before each game started, Booth and Parker declared which team the family was rooting for. Brennan just went along, not knowing what barometer they used for their decisions. But she had no rooting interest in any of the teams, so she went along with their choices.

During the evening game, Parker was in the bathroom when Booth leaned over to Brennan. "I had told Parker he could sleep with us tomorrow, our last night together, but what do you say we all sleep together tonight too? We can save ourselves for London." He raised an eyebrow. She smiled and gave him a soft kiss. "I think that's a sweet idea Booth. We should spend as much time together as possible during these last few hours."

Later, when Parker went into his room to put on his pjs, Brennan went into their room and changed into hers. They all cuddled on the sofa to watch one of Parker's favorite shows, and when it was done, Booth gave him a tickle around the waist. "Hey bud. We're all gonna sleep together both nights." Parker's eyes lit up and he hugged Brennan around the waist. "Can we go to sleep now?" They both laughed. "Yep. C'mon. We need to get up early anyway because I'm taking you to church in the morning."

Booth was feeling bad that the time there had been so hectic that he and Parker had never made it to mass. They had never before missed going to church on Christmas, but there was just so much going on that it didn't happen. He vowed that it wouldn't happen again - he would make time from now on. They all snuggled down into the big bed, and it didn't take long until they were all sound asleep.