It's been awhile since I updated this story.

554Laura, Monique Sampson (yes considering she didn't believe in psychology), jsboneslover, ZinaR, kiwifan13, NatesMama, Dee47, thank you all for your kind reviews.

It was evening by the time Brennan returned to the hospital to visit Booth. She was surprised to find his room empty. Mildly worried she approached the nurses station where Veronica was waiting. Now more worried she wondered if Booth had taken a turn for the worse and had been taken back to the ICU.

"Veronica, where's Booth?"

"Don't worry nothing bad's happened." Veronica smiled. "I'll take you to him."

The kindly nurse who had become a good friend in the past weeks led her up several floors to what Brennan realised was the physiotherapy department. They made their way past a myriad of equipment meant for therapy, where Brennan now could see where Booth was. He was seated in a wheelchair at a table, at the outdoor area leading from the room

"He's been waiting. Enjoy!" Veronica flashed a cheeky grin before exiting the room.

Brennan slid the sliding doors open and Booth looked up from where he was, his trademark charm smile plastered on his face. She simultaneously realised at the same time how much she had missed that smile and how she had not seen it since he had returned stateside from Afghanistan. Her heart skipped a beat as a third realisation hit her. She was probably the reason for the handsome smile on his face.

The table was complete with a dinner setting and candles that flickered in the light evening breeze. He was wearing a blue denim jacket over his hospital gown.

"Ta da!" He motioned to the empty chair beside him.

"What's this?" Brennan asked as she took the empty seat.

"It's a dinner date. Well, as much of a dinner date you could get from a guy who's still stuck in the hospital. You know I tried to convince the doctors to let me out for a couple of hours but…"

"Booth… "

"It was a joke. No way they'd let me out yet."

"So how did you get this all arranged?"

"With a little help from Nick, Veronica and Angela. Nick took me down to the therapy room the other day and I saw that they had an outdoor area. I've been wanting to do something nice for you and the idea just came to me. I couldn't use my room cos you know the candles would set off the smoke detectors, so I asked if we could use this area after office hours. Veronica helped arrange for the dinner setup and Angela went and got us some take-out. Nick and I are about the same size, he let me borrow his jacket. So whaddya think?"

"It's perfect," she replied, her eyes glistening with tears.

"Those are happy tears, right?"

"Yes." Brennan smiled. "You look very handsome."

"You look breath-taking."

"I wear this all the time, nothing outstanding about it."

"It's not about the clothes Bones, it's just you. Your hair, your eyes, your smile. You take my breath away all the time. You're beautiful."

They locked eyes both trying to convey the depth of their feelings wordlessly. They leaned slowly towards each other, until their faces were inches apart. His gaze dropped to her lips and he boldly pressed his lips to hers. She responded by parting her lips slightly, and Booth grazed her lower lip with his tongue. Her tongue made contact with his, and he groaned softly. His fingers tunnelled her hair and she smoothed her hand up his chest and up to the back of his neck, both not wanting their kiss to end. The kiss carried their hopes, dreams and teased of more to come. A little more than a year ago, on a different night, he had pressed his lips to hers in a desperate attempt to show her how much he loved her. Now he was doing the same but his heart felt lighter. This time he knew she would not reject him. He gently broke the kiss, resting his forehead against hers, both trying to catch their breath.

"Wow." He whispered.

"That was very good." Brennan added. She pointed to his erection that was now tenting his hospital gown. "I believe you thought it was too."

Booth grinned sheepishly, "I can't help how my body reacts to you."

"If you must know, I'm secreting a large amount of vaginal fluid now."

It was science speak for her being wet for him and it made him harder. "Bones! You're so not helping."

"The time and place for us to satisfy each other will come."

"I can't wait."

"Are you feeling okay?"

"Yeah. More than okay. And I'm pretty sure it's not the pain meds that's making me feel this way." Booth remembered the food that was getting cold. He straightened, trying to think of something else than what it would feel like to make love to her.

"Look, Angela got us Chinese."

He opened the take-out boxes and poured wine into a glass.

"You can't mix alcohol with your medication Booth."

"Don't worry the wine's only for you."

The couple ate in companionable silence before Brennan spoke.

"Booth I need to tell you something."

Worried about her tone, Booth dropped his chopsticks, giving her his full attention.

"I talked to Sweets today."

"Okay… "

"I was worried as to why you would want me to return to work and I thought for a moment that maybe you got tired of me being around you. However, I believe I was wrong in my assumption. Was I correct?"

She looked unsure. Booth took her hand. "How could I ever get tired of having you around? I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I meant what I said though, you can't put your life on hold because of me. I'll catch up with you some day."

Brennan nodded. "But I feel bad. It's as if I didn't care about you."

"I know you do Bones. Just go back to what you like doing. I'm happy as long as you're happy."

"Before I made my decision to leave for Maluku, I was worried for your safety all the time. It felt exhausting. I told Sweets I was tired of worrying for you now too. To be honest I didn't think being in a relationship with you would be so hard."

Booth swallowed. He wondered if she was going to tell him that she didn't want to be with him anymore. He resolved that if that was what she wanted then he would have to accept it. Her happiness meant more to him than his own.

"I'm sorry." He felt a pain in his heart. "I never meant for us to get together like this. If all this is too hard on you… if you want to break-"

"No!" The ferocity in her voice shocked the both of them.

Booth pressed on fearful that she was staying with him out of a sense of obligation. "I'll be okay. I won't blame you if you changed your mind."

"I haven't. You once told me that loving Parker was worth it even though it came with pain and hurt. I think I understand it now. I won't change my mind, I told you I'd wait. I… I love you Booth."

This time it was Booth's eyes that glistened with unshed tears. "I love you too Bones."

He moved in for another kiss. This time they kissed languidly but it was no less spectacular.

"I could get used to this." He took her hand in his. "I have something to tell you too. Dr Casey said I was well enough to be moved to a VA rehab hospital to continue the rest of my recovery. He said other than my leg, I'm pretty much healed up. So all I gotta do now is wait for my leg to heal and try getting back on my feet."

"That is good news."

"Yeah it is. So I guess we're making progress, you're going back to work and I'm working on getting back on my feet."

"It's cause for celebration." Brennan smiled as she pulled him to her for a kiss.

Things seem to be getting back on track slowly for BB in this AU, and they do deserve a break. But in this particular fic, the road for them can get bumpy. Stay tuned for more!