A/N: Just a short little chapter this time. It's time for this story to wrap up, just like this hiatus. I'm so excited for Oct. 1 and S11. (9/26/15)

Disclaimer: I own nothing Bones related except my imagination.

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*** EPILOGUE ***

As the dawn's first rays were breaking over the horizon, Brennan's eyes fluttered open with a sense that something was different. Not necessarily wrong, just different. Then she saw the bare chest of the man still sleeping beside her and her memories of the day before came rushing back at her, leaving her with a ridiculously giddy grin on her face. Different, but better. Much better.

Oh yeah, she'd been so right about their physical compatibility. They'd proven that multiple times yesterday and last night and she had the unfamiliar aches and sore muscles to remind her this morning. Her body was out of shape for such sexual acrobatics, but no worries, she was certain she'd adapt quite quickly given Booth's stamina and ingenuity with respect to lovemaking. Not sex. Lovemaking. The mechanics had been the same as with past lovers (well, most of the mechanics had been the same, but a few were uniquely Booth's) but the results had been so much more powerful. The physical sensations had been stronger. The emotional rewards richer. In one day, less than 24-hours actually, Brennan had become a very big proponent of lovemaking over sex.

Neither one of them had made it back to their respective offices after taking off for their early "lunch." They hadn't wanted to part which was a novel experience for her. The day before hadn't been completely about slaking their desires though. They'd actually managed to fit in a good bit of discussion, and not just the "oh yeah, right there" or the "that feels amazing" type of dialogue, although there'd been plenty of that too. They'd talked openly and honestly about their hopes and their fears. They'd discussed some ground rules and expectations, such as appropriate behavior while working and what expectations they each had associated with being in a monogamous relationship. They'd agreed that even though they loved one another, they needed to allow themselves time to adjust to simply being a couple before they started worrying about what came next.

Time to just relax and enjoy.

Brennan rolled on her side, facing Booth, and propped her head up on her elbow to take advantage of the opportunity to study Booth in his sleep, his body just inches away from hers. He lay on his back with one arm above his head and the other out to his side and she could see his chest rise and fall in even cadence with his breaths. His face was relaxed in slumber without any of the normal tensions that marked it when he was awake and she couldn't help but admire the inherent strength of his jawline or his prominent brow.

She let her eyes wander down across his chest and was surprised by the feelings examining him engendered in her. She'd seen Booth without a shirt any number of times over the years they'd known each other. They occasionally jogged together and in the warmer months, it wasn't unusual for him to go shirtless. Also, there were the times he and Parker would come over to use her pool. But now, lying beside him like this, she felt almost territorial and possessive. He was hers now. She no longer had to content herself with admiring his form from afar. She was allowed to touch him and trace the contours of his muscles at her leisure now and she looked forward to doing just that some more later.

Yes. Temperance Brennan thought Seeley Booth was one fine specimen of the masculine gender.

As she scanned her eyes back up to his face, she first noticed the slight lifting to the corners of his mouth that hadn't been there earlier and then she realized his eyes were cracked open. He was watching her watching him.

"Checking out the goods, Bones?"

She smiled back at him and placed her free hand on his chest. "Admiring my bounty, yes."

Booth chuckled. "This is nice."

"What?"

"Waking up like this. Here, with you."

"Oh. Yes. I'm finding my spirits are quite buoyed this morning."

"I've dreamed of this so many times over the years, it's hard to believe it's actually real."

Brennan leaned down and placed a soft kiss in the area between his shoulder and his pectoral muscle. Her heart felt so full and she was unsure of how to express the depth of happiness she was feeling in this moment. She wasn't used to the intensity of emotions she was experiencing and she admitted, to herself, that she was a little overwhelmed and a little frightened. But in a good way. She'd adapt. She wanted this too much not to. "Mmm. I know what you mean, but it's real, Booth. I think this could easily become a habit."

"I don't know, Bones. I barely slept a wink last night with all your snoring."

"What? I do not snore," she protested before noticing the twinkling in his eyes and the teasing grin on his face. She smacked him playfully. "Okay, mister. If that's the way you feel then I suppose you can sleep at your place from now on and I'll sleep here."

"Oh, hell no." Booth sprung forward and grabbed her, pulling her down onto his chest as he gave her a proper good morning kiss that had the added benefit of shutting her up for a few moments. When they finally broke apart, she pulled away into a half-sitting position beside him.

"I love you, Booth. You know that, right?"

"I know Bones. I love you too."

She looked away and then looked back at him. "We have to get up and go to work soon and I am finding that prospect unsettling for some reason. I'm nervous that once we leave this room and the real world intrudes again, things will be different somehow. Yesterday and last night were wonderful and I don't want it to end, even though I know it must."

Booth reached up a tucked a stray strand of hair back behind her ear and tried to think of what to say to allay her fears. "Yesterday and last night were phenomenal Bones, but it's not going to end just because we have to go to work today. It's just the beginning for us. Things might be different going forward, that's true, but they'll be better because we've got each other. As we get more comfortable and more confident in our new relationship, it'll get easier, you'll see. I'm sure we'll have our squabbles from time to time, but I'm not going anywhere Bones. I want to spend every night with you from now on and we're going to make this work. For now, let's just take things one day at a time, starting with today. We have a few more minutes before the alarm goes off and the outside world intrudes, so how about you lay back down here with me and let me hold you some more like I plan to do every day for the rest of our lives?"

Brennan leaned forward into his embrace, letting her arms slip around his waist as his closed around her in a hug that was both an acknowledgement that the partners were finally where they each wanted to be and a commitment to what the future might hold.

The End.

A/N: This is obviously the final chapter for this particular story. Thank you all for reading it as it evolved and especially to those who shared your thoughts along the way. I hope you're satisfied with the way things ended and, as always, I welcome any comments you have.