A/N: So, this takes place right after Hero in the Hold. I thought Teddy was making it blatantly obvious that Booth loves Brennan, therefore I wrote it. I dunno, I do that kind of stuff. Uhm, some sex and language in later chapters, thus the teen rating. Soyeah. Review, please? I would love that.

Disclaimer: I don't own bones, or any part of it. Okay, thanks.

The Conversation was stuck in Booth's head. It would probably be stuck there forever, honestly. Teddy Parker's words just seemed permanently etched into his memory, as if the kid had taken a screw driver and slowly scratched what he was saying onto Booth's brain.

"I need you to tell Claire I loved her."

"You never told her?"

"I was twenty, I didn't know how to say it."

"What, you say 'I love you,' what's so hard about that?"

"What, you've never loved somebody and didn't say it to them?" There was a silence. "See, maybe that's why I'm here! To get you to say 'I love you' to somebody."

To get him to say 'I love you' to somebody. Booth stood there in front of Teddy's grave, staring down at the gravestone and mulling over these words. Who didn't know that he loved them? Rebecca knew, she just chose to ignore the fact that he still had some feelings for her, and probably always would. That first love dies hard thing really was true. Parker knew all about how much his daddy loved him, he knew it. Those were the only two people he could even think of. Who else did he love? Booth racked his brain and let out a small sigh. Claire was still standing in front of the grave, tears trickling down her cheeks. Booth's eyes flickered back over to Bones. There Parker was again, in full out uniform, waving very congenially, just like always. Booth saluted back, his face stoic. Brennan finally caught his eye, and waved back, probably thinking he had been waving to her. He sort of had been… She didn't know Teddy was there. She hadn't seen the way the corporal had looked knowingly from her own beautiful face back to Booth. He knew now. There was one person he needed to tell. The only person who probably didn't know the extent of his emotions for her… Did she even have a clue? Probably not.

They always acted like their relationship was just platonic, that they were partners and friends and nothing else. Booth wasn't sure if he could believe that was true any more. He understood that there was something else, more than physical attraction, more than a slight care for her. He really loved her. Booth loved Brennan. That was one odd thought. But he knew it was true. Some how, some way, he knew that was exactly what was going on here. Coughing softly, Booth placed his hand on Claire's back. "I wish I could stay around a bit longer, but I've got some unfinished business to do." The girl looked up at Booth with sad, lonely eyes and his heart reached out to her. "If you ever need anything at all, just call the FBI up and ask for Seeley Booth. I'd be happy to help, treat you to dinner, anything really." He wasn't just being sympathetic. He could only guess what this woman was going through, and he wanted to make her feel better, if it was at all possible. She thanked him, he offered her one more smile and took his leave.

"Is she going to be ok here, by herself?" Bones asked as Booth approached. He glanced over his shoulder and nodded, not saying a word but instead putting his hands into his pockets. "Well, then. We should get you back to the hospital…" Bones muttered more to herself than to him. Almost as if he didn't have a choice.

"Wait, what? I'm in tip top condition, Bones! I'm not going back to the hospital. You know what I am going to do? I'm going to treat you to dinner." He smiled as he opened her door for her and then climbed into the driver's seat of his big Yukon the FBI always provided him with. She opened her mouth to protest, but instead of letting her talk, Booth just put a finger over her lips, something like he would do to his son. "Just let me do it, ok Brennan? We're partners, and you just saved my life not even 24 hours ago. Just let me show my gratitude for once, ok?" He didn't wait for her to answer. Instead Booth just drove. The route was familiar, and they drove in silence, something that was odd for the two. He couldn't help but glance over at her on occasion, look at her and, now that he knew what it was, couldn't help but acknowledge the love. Seeley always thought he was in love with Rebecca. But now he realized it was more of a family type of love rather than a romantic sense of the word.

Booth finally pulled in to a small, familiar parking lot, and Brennan couldn't help but smile. It was the small diner, the one they always went to, to celebrate a case well done. "So what are we celebrating? Another case well done?" She asked him as she stepped out of the car and met him around the front. Booth once again shoved his hands into his pockets and shrugged.

"Sure, why not? Case well done. And instead of catching a killer, you caught a killer and saved a life," he said as he slung his arm over her shoulders. It was natural. Together they walked into the café and sat down at their normal table. The waitress was over in a flash, since it was important to take care of their usuals. After placing a drink order, Booth turned back to Brennan. "So, this ghost--"

"Are you sure it wasn't a hallucination?" Temperance interjected. She never did believe in ghosts, never had, and never would. "You were drugged, locked up, then breathed bad air for a long time. He couldn't have been a ghost…" Bones explained to Brennan simply.

"Ok, let's call him my hallucination, okay? Just so you will sit through my story." He waited for approval from Bones. She seemed to be contemplating it, then finally nodded, signaling him to go on. "Parker, he taught me a lot. I blamed myself for his death for a long time. He told me it wasn't my fault…" Booth stopped to take a sip of the warm black coffee and started talking again. "He also said something about telling some one I love about it. Some one I love but doesn't know it…" He looked at her for a moment. She wasn't following, it seemed.

"What, are you talking about Rebecca? And asking me advice about it? You know I'm not good at these things, Booth. Cam would be the better person to talk to about this…" She took a sip of her own tea and absently twiddled with a spoon. Her eyes met his for a moment, and they looked a bit different, like something had moved inside of them - inside of him, more like.

"No, Temperance. I don't love Rebecca. And I know better than to ask you advice about that stuff." He never called her Temperance. Maybe once when they met. That was probably it. It had to be a wake up call. She eyed him suspiciously and grasped her warm mug with both hands, one eyebrow arched. Before she could talk, Booth plowed on. "But I do love some one. And she's great, but I never thought I would … you know, have to do this…" He was rambling, because he didn't know how to do this. They weren't dating, they weren't even the kind to flirt. He just knew that it was right. It had to be right. "I mean, no offense but I never thought I would fall in love with her… with you, I mean. I never thought I would fall in love with you, Temperance…" He put his fingers together and rested his chin on his fingers.

"Me? You love… you fell in love with… Me? What?" Brennan looked almost as confused as she sounded. He ran his fingers through his short brown hair. With out answering her he just cupped her face in his hands, leaned in and planted one of the most deep, passionate kisses he had ever given to any woman on her lips. Now that was perfect. After a kiss like that, she had to understand what he meant.