Disclaimer: If they were mine, the show would need to be moved to HBO

"When did you get this?"

Her elegant fingers trace the inside of his wrist. He shudders under the touch, his whole body one giant bundle of nerves exposed to her roaming hands.

"When I was in Japan. Nak and I had a little too much sake one night and—"

"Stole a police boat?"

"What? No! How did you—"

She laughs; a low, husky sound that he's sure will be his undoing.

"Don't worry, Booth. I won't turn you in for your blatant misuse of government property."

The breath leaves his body in a surprised laugh.

"It wasn't even in this country, Bones. And I can't believe Nak told you about that, the traitor."

"He was simply attempting to explain the origins of your friendship. The consumption of vast quantities of alcohol is a very common bonding ritual in human males of all ages."

"Oh ho! You say that like you and Angela have never gotten drunk together."

She gives him a curious look.

"Why would I say that when it is clearly untrue?"

"Damn straight it's true. I've even seen you high."

"Only by accident!"

"Face it, Bones. Once you inhaled, that story was up for grabs."

He grins widely, imagining her hair a few shades lighter and her pupils a few dilations bigger.

She scowls, remembering a blonde lawyer on his arm.

"We weren't talking about me and Angela. We were talking about you and Sergeant Nakamura."

What made him think he could divert her attention away from a topic she'd latched onto, he'll never know. She's never let go of anything, and if he hadn't already known that, the last few weeks would have hammered the point home more than effectively.

Ever since they'd started this— whatever this is that invariably leads them to his bed (currently), or hers (occasionally), or the Jeffersonian 'on- loan exhibits' storage room (just that one time… twice)— he's come to two pretty damn quick conclusions about Bones.

1. Her insatiable thirst for knowledge is pretty much on par with her insatiable thirst for sex. Well, that one he had kind of figured, or, you know, fantasized about, when he wasn't driving himself crazy trying not to fantasize about it.

and

2. Both of those… cravings… are now fully directed at him.

Not that he minds. If Bones wants to jump him on every mountable surface (which, she does), he's more than A-OK with that. Because, lets face it— that? Definitely one of the aforementioned fantasies. He certainly won't disappoint her in this respect.

It's the other thing that is completely disarming.

She wants to know him. Really know him, like no one had ever bothered to before. Their second night together, he'd woken from a light slumber to find her watching him. That same intensity she brought to the work that defined them, focused on him, like she wanted to see down to his very bones. She asked him about the fractures on his x-rays and the scars on his body, and God help him if he didn't think he was still dreaming. It made him feel like king of the damn mountain; that he was worth knowing that way. To Bones.

He's been flying high ever since.

It makes him want to tell her everything.

It makes him want to tell her this.

"Booth," she prods while poking his bicep.

If he hadn't already decided to give her every part of himself, the entreaty in her eyes would have made up his mind for him.

"Look, it… I was going through a rough time. Rebecca was playing tug of war with Parker and I'd had a couple of slip- ups with… you know… with the gambling. I was losing my faith, Bones."

Her hand smoothes over his shoulder, but she remains surprisingly silent.

"So we got a little drunk, and a lot crazy, and just sort of… did it." He chuckles low in his throat. "I guess, in retrospect, it's a good thing we didn't end up in Akihabara. I would have blown a year's salary on electronics."

Bones draws her brows together pensively. Her hand runs down the length of his arm. Catching his wrist, she brings it close, pressing her lips lightly into the inked symbol.

"Soul," she breathes against the sensitized flesh. Releasing him, she repeats the gesture with the other wrist. "Destiny."

There is such tenderness in her voice and touch that he can barely breathe through the torrent of emotion. It amazes him that anyone can think this woman, this generous, affectionate woman, is cold or unaffected. Even when they had started working together, that first year when every second between them was so charged with tension he wasn't sure at any given moment if he wanted to kiss her or strangle her, he had known better. He had seen the momentary flickers of vulnerability her harsh rationalizations and unyielding dispassion tried to mask.

Now she's giving him that vulnerability, like the most significant gift he could ever have hoped for.

"So, why did you choose these words?"

"I didn't. Nak did."

She tilts her head in an unspoken question, as her hands begin to ignite tiny fires across his chest.

"He said that… that I was destined for good things."

"The Japanese culture values generosity of spirit very much, Booth. Your capacity for empathy and positive relations with those around you would be viewed as worthy of a great reward."

"Huh. And here I thought it was some sort of Shinto ritual to help me get a girl in bed."

"That is not a legitimate goal of—"

"You're too easy sometimes." He chuckles, then gives her a sly sideways glance. "But, here I am, in bed with an honest-to-God, certified genius, so it kinda worked."

"Can I ask you something else?"

The chuckle turns into a hearty laugh.

"Now you're asking permission?"

"Why do you always use humor as a diversionary tactic from a serious discussion? You utilize wit the way you claim I utilize logic."

It's no surprise that she leaves him flabbergasted. It's a huge surprise that she uses psychology to do it.

"I think you've been spending way to much time with Sweets."

"I'm serious, Booth. Every time you share something painful, or profound, you make a joke. It is even more evident when I compliment you."

"I guess I don't think I deserve your praise."

Not that she makes a habit out of doing it, but he really hopes she won't make him spell out all the ways in which it's wrong for her to be extolling his virtues.

All the ways in which he's not really the man she thinks he is.

She's studying him with that inscrutable expression again and this time, it kind of feels like she can see all the way down to his bones.

"We've all done things we're not proud of, Booth."

"Oh yeah? What'd you ever do, forget your homework?"

"Actually, yes. In seventh grade, I copied my math assignment from David Markowitz."

"Bones, you badass."

He can't help but grin, and she rolls her eyes good-naturedly.

"Fine. I engaged in a sexual relationship with my forensic anthropology professor. Better?"

He considers this.

"Yeah, I could see how that was probably frowned upon."

"The point is that you shouldn't be ashamed. No matter what you've done, you're a good man, Booth. A terrific father. You help people every day." The eyes that were so intently fixed on him can't seem to maintain the contact any longer. Her voice is small, almost as if she doesn't intend for him to hear. "And, you make my life better."

He turns into her, unable to keep from touching his gorgeous, amazing partner, who makes him feel so damn full.

"You make me better, Bones."

He growls it into the soft skin of her neck, before his lips imbed their own designs into her flesh.

Under the contours of the invisible tattoo, she shivers.

AN: Akihabara, also known as Akihabara Electric Town, is an area in Tokyo that is a major shopping center for electronic and computer items.