Disclaimer: I do not own Bones, but I am obsessed!

Author's Note: Long time, no update on this one. My muse and my schedule were both working in my favor today, so I finally finished this one. It's short and hopefully sweet. I've changed this story to complete. I may add more chapters, but Lost in Translation and Man in Black are my writing priorities right now. I may add more chapters to this one at some point, but these one-shots seem pretty complete to me. Enjoy.

Part Two

Booth's alarm blared and he hit the snooze button. It was too early in the morning for the obnoxious noise, and he attempted to fall back asleep for another few minutes. As the alarm went off again, he pressed one last button and stretched. His bones cracked as he threw back the covers and got out of bed. He stretched again, suddenly remembering what day it was. He was now energized, even jittery as he threw on some running clothes. He would just take the usual route, burn off some nervous energy, and put his plan into motion.

Forty-five minutes later, a dejected Booth returned to his apartment. He had made several unnecessary laps, waiting for his partner to make her usual appearance, but she didn't show. He couldn't believe it. He had it all thought out. Pretend to run into her on her route, convince her to meet him for breakfast, make lunch plans over coffee, and make dinner plans over lunch. Only this time, he wasn't going to settle for take-out Thai. He was going to convince her to go to a nice restaurant, and over dinner they were going to talk, and after dessert he was going to take her home, and he was going to make his move. He was going to kiss her, and she was going to kiss him back. It was their day.

Yes, he had it all perfectly planned out in his mind. Their perfect day, ending with the perfect night. She had to know what day it was. How special it was going to be for the two of them, a new beginning for them. And it was all supposed to start with that early morning run.

He wasn't sure how he had missed her. She always ran three days a week in the morning when the weather was fine. She would settle for her gym when she had to, but the fall weather had been beautiful. She always ran at the same time, and he knew her preferred route. Yet she wasn't there. Suddenly worried about her safety he grabbed for his phone and sent a hasty text.

She responded in her usual blunt manner that she had been pulled into an early meeting with her publisher and had been unable to make her run. She was suitably grumpy about it, which pleased Booth even as it frustrated him. Clearly, breakfast was out of the question as well, and Booth showered and sent himself to the Hoover.

Booth made it through the morning, skipping his usual second cup of coffee. He was still feeling jittery. Every ten minutes he was found looking at the clock, waiting until the time when he could surprise Brennan for lunch and get back on track for his day. Finally, he decided that he had waited long enough. He flipped his lucky poker chip in the air and gathered himself. He was two steps away from his door when Caroline let herself into the office.

"Glad I caught you, I've got to go over your report from the Gyles case. Your lady scientist sent me her deposition, and after all of this time, I still can't translate what she says. I need you to walk me through this mumbo jumbo before I go in front of a big scary judge."

Booth rubbed his hair. "Caroline, can't this wait till this afternoon? I was just off to lunch."

"Go courtin' on your own time, cher. I need to go over these files now. Big scary judges don't like to wait. But I won't starve you. I'll let you treat me to lunch. Gumbo's the special today at my favorite haunt. I'll even drive. The sooner we go, the sooner we get back."

Booth was unable to protest and found himself sharing a meal with Caroline. Halfway through his gumbo, he received a text from his partner which simply read, "Lunch?" Catching the death glare from a lawyer on a mission, he coughed on a bit of okra and sent his regrets.

Eventually returned to the office, the day seemed to drag on. It seemed that Booth's entire afternoon was one interruption after another. Narcotics was asking him questions about a murder suspect and suspected supplier of half of DC, Charlie was heading his own investigation and needed advice on interrogation, Hacker needed files on a cold case from Major Crimes. Even Cam sent an e-mail, needing Booth to complete paperwork on an old case. Everyone needed him except for the one person he was most willing to help.

Booth was surprised to see that his business day had ended and them some. Somehow, the day that didn't want to end had ended. Booth yawned and stretched. He glanced at his watch. Perfect, it was early enough that his partner wouldn't have eaten dinner, but late enough that he could drag her away from work with a minimum of protest. He could still convince her to join him for a nice dinner. He could still salvage this day.

The knock on his office door stopped his planning, once again. A dejected looking Sweets was standing there. "I'm sorry to bother you, Agent Booth. I just wondered if you had a few minutes to talk."

Booth cringed. Whatever was bothering Sweets, chances are it started with a capital D. And he couldn't just walk away when the kid looked so sad. The baby duck's timing was impeccable. "Come on, kid. I'll buy you a beer and we can talk this out."

Two exhausting hours later, Booth had exited the bar. He was slightly tipsy, having drunk more than intended. The first beers were for putting up with Sweets' drama, the third and fourth rounds were for finally realizing that today wasn't his day. The evening that he had dreamed of was in fact just a dream, and he was left with this nightmare. He had finally packed Sweets into a cab and walked himself home.

Booth trudged up the stairs to his apartment. He was exhausted and just wanted to go to bed and forget that this day had ever happened. He was once again disrupted from his plans by the fact that his partner was standing outside his door.

"Bones, what are you doing here?"

"I've been trying to reach you for hours. Where have you been?"

"Putting out fires." At her raised eyebrow, he clarified. "Metaphorically. Everyone needed my help today. Sweets especially." Booth pulled out his phone and silently cursed his dead battery, even as his heart lifted at the thought that his partner had missed him.

"Yes, I overheard the argument that he had with Miss Wick. I'm glad that he had someone to confide in. You are a good friend, Booth."

"Thanks, Bones. Don't worry about it too much. They'll be OK, I took care of it. Hey, why didn't you let yourself in? Don't you have a key?"

"Yes, but I wanted to wait for you." She suddenly seemed anxious and it seemed to make him nervous as he fumbled for his keys. He silently let them into his apartment. He had barely closed his door when she had jumped into his arms and firmly planted her lips on his. Booth stumbled a bit at her sudden weight, but quickly recovered.

It was several moments before they separated, and when they did they were both panting. Booth recovered first. "What was that for, Bones?"

"I was afraid that the day would end before I had a chance. I've been waiting to do that for hours."

Booth smiled and pulled their foreheads together. "Honestly, I've been waiting to do that for years. Why now?"

Booth was shocked at his partners shy response. "You know what day it is?"

Of course he did. He nodded and stole a kiss. "I'm glad you're here. Come on in, let's have a drink and talk."

Brennan smiled. "I'd like that."

Two minutes later Booth's arm was wrapped around Brennan as they sipped at their drinks and cuddled on the couch. "So Booth, how was your day?"

Booth leaned in for another kiss. "Perfect."