The Heart Chooses What It Chooses

"No, of course, it's absolutely ludicrous the idea of you two together. But the heart chooses what it chooses, we don't really have any say in the matter." - Gordon Gordon Wyatt

His hands held his head while he sat on the couch that he had shared with her so many times, finishing up on the paperwork, and a beer in both of their hands. But she wasn't here with him. Instead Hannah, his girlfriend was standing before him, her hands on her hips and a frown on her face, but Booth could tell she wasn't angry, which surprised him, and frightened him a little too."You love her. You love Temperance." It wasn't an accusation; it wasn't said out of spite. Hannah had voiced it as fact, like it was something she had known for a long time. And she had done. But she had been lying to herself all along, like she was waiting for Seeley to change. She had seen the way he had stared at his partner, which she had never seen directed towards herself. No, that look was for Temperance only. Then when Booth had come home over a week ago, he just wasn't himself anymore. He had barely talked to Hannah, preferring his own company, trying to avoid her. She'd finally had enough and had come home early to find Seeley in his current couldn't deny it. He had been wrapped up in his web of lies for too long, pretending he didn't love Bones and pretending he had fallen in love with Hannah. Sure he loved her, but he wasn't in love her like he was Bones. She was still the standard to compare all other women by. He didn't want to lie to Hannah anymore. So he told her the entire story, how he had admitted his feelings to Bones and how she'd pushed him away. How they all went their separate ways, because the centre had crumbled. How they had all come back, but he had brought Hannah. And how he thought it was all over between himself and Bones, until she sobbed out the broken fortress of her heart in his car. He'd been torturing himself by repeating her words over and over again, and each one felt like his father's punches. "I don't want to have any regrets . I made a mistake. I missed my chance"

Hannah nodded, and left him without another word. His head was still cradled by his hands while he listened to her open drawers, the rustling of bags meaning it was time. She was leaving him. As if he didn't see this coming. Booth sighed to himself, trying to get off the couch and apologise to her yet feeling like a heavy weight, but she had come back before he could manage to do so. A look of pity was set on her face. "I don't blame you. You love who you love but… I just can't stay with someone whose heart belongs to someone else." She dropped the bag that contained all her things, falling to her knees. Her hands removed his own from his face, replacing them. Giving him the comfort he needed. "Do not let her go again. Temperance told me not to hurt you. I'm now giving the advice to you. Do not hurt her again." A single kiss fell on his forehead, eyelids closing at the touch, and she was gone.

Just like that. It was over. And the relief was immense. Booth was free, able to make his own choices without the knowledge that he belonged to another woman hanging over him. He wanted to see Bones. But he'd have to deal with his own pain, before he could inflict Bones with any more.

Two weeks had been and gone. There'd been a case, sure, but no words were mentioned about Hannah's departure. In face, Bones had on many occasions, asked how Hannah was. Booth had always ignored the question. 4 months after Hannah had come home with him and 17 days after she had left his life forever, his right hand lifted and knocked on Bones' door. In his other hand was takeaway, just like old days… he hoped.