Disclaimer: Don't own Bones.

A/n: Okay, here we go. Ask and ye shall receive! Final chapter of this story. Thanks so much to everyone who've toiled with me with this story, commented, reviewed, and encouraged. Special thanks to pal Dispatch who was always there for a swift kick in the pants and unlimited musing when I felt like giving up! :)

Epilogue: Right from the Start

A year plus a few months later …

Brennan could feel his eyes on her from the bathroom doorway. Purposefully ignoring him, she looked into the mirror and continued to carefully apply mascara to her lashes.

"Bren …"

"No." She blinked and assessed her work. "Go away."

Booth chuckled and stepped inside their bathroom. "I've got something for you." He walked right behind her and settled his hands loosely at her waist. "Come with me for a sec."

She scoffed. "You're not going to talk me back into bed again," Brennan warned sternly. "We cannot be late."

"We're not gonna be late." Booth nuzzled into the side of her neck, eyes fluttering lazily at the smell of her perfume. "God, you smell incredible."

"It would be shameful," she chastised, resolutely ignoring his warm lips and the compliment. "You're the best man."

"I'm aware, Bones." His fingers tugged on the silky fabric of her robe. "C'mon. I promise I'm not trying to seduce you." He smiled innocently. "I do have some self-control, you know."

Another scoff, accompanied with a raised eyebrow. "Oh please." Her eyes met his in the mirror and she noted he was dressed already, looking unfairly beautiful in his tux. Only thing missing was the bow tie, which was hanging around his neck, not yet tied. "I still have to get dressed, Booth. And put make-up on."

"You don't need any make-up," he said silkily, hands on her shoulders turning her around to face him. "You are so freaking beautiful it's criminal."

"Angela says that's what all men say when they want something."

"Stop listening to Angela," he muttered and grabbed her hand, tugging her out of the bathroom. "I just need to show you something."

He led her out of the bedroom and to the living room. Along the way, he'd placed a hand over her eyes as they walked. "Booth," she laughed a little. "What's going on?"

"Okay," he said with a smile, stopping in front of the couch. "Open your eyes."

She gasped at the little ball of fur curled up on the couch. "What?" Immediately, she sat down and scooped up the tiny puppy. "Booth …what is this?"

"A puppy, Bones." He laughed and crouched in front of her to be at eye-level with the puppy. "C'mon, I thought you were a genius."

"I know it's a puppy, Booth," she said with a roll of her eyes. "But why is he here?"

"Because he's ours?" Booth asked with a crooked smile, one finger smoothing over the puppy's head.

Brennan smiled, a little dazed. "Ours?"

"Yeah." Booth melted at the way she rubbed her cheek against the little furry head. "Unless, you don't want him," he teased just a little.

"Of course I do." She clutched the puppy to her chest protectively. "Where did you get him?"

"From a shelter," he explained. "Park helped me pick him out last week. He had to get vaccinated and medically cleared, so we couldn't take him home." Booth smiled up at her. "The shelter called me today that he was ready. I went to get him while you were in the shower. I wanted to surprise you."

"I'm very surprised." She laughed delightedly and then confessed shyly, "I've always wanted a dog."

His fingers smoothed in a small circle over her knee. "I know."

Brennan's gaze went from the puppy to Booth. "You do?"

"Ah, Bren, Hodgins has to practically pry Rip from your hands every time they bring him over."

The slightest color stained her cheeks, but she didn't deny it. Brennan laughed as the puppy burrowed his cold little nose against her hand. "He needs a name."

"Yes, he does."

"Ohh …Jasper!"

Booth balked. "What? No way!"

She raised wide blue eyes to him. "Please."

"Bones, c'mon, don't do this to me," he pleaded, knowing he was putty in her hands when she looked at him with that bright little girl gaze. "That's so not fair."

"It's a perfectly fine name."

"Not for a dog," he groaned, petting the puppy in her arms. "Look at him…he's not a Jasper. How about Greztky?"

Brennan's nose wrinkled. "Perhaps we should give this more thought."

"Okay," Booth agreed quickly, relieved he didn't have to commit to Jasper. "We don't need to decide right now."

"Hi, Puppy," Brennan said, looking into warm brown eyes. "We'll find a name for you later." A little paw swiped playfully at her and Brennan tuned to mush. "He's beautiful, Booth."

Her smile warmed him from the inside out. He cupped her face and kissed her over the puppy's head. "C'mon, we have a wedding to get to. Cam and Sully will kill us if we're late."

-x-

It was a great wedding.

The bride looked lovely, the groom was handsome. There was good food, good music and an open bar.

At the end of the night, Booth swayed a tipsy Brennan in his arms. "You ready to go home?" he asked softly, rubbing his lips against hers.

"No." She grinned up at him. "I want to dance with you forever."

"Oh, you're so drunk, baby," he chuckled, holding her just a little closer.

"Am not." Brennan pressed her face against his neck and inhaled happily. "I have a very high tolerance for alcohol, I'll have you know."

That was true enough, but between her and Angela, they'd put quite a dent in the bar's wine supply. She was definitely on the drunk side of tipsy, but he loved seeing her that way. If there was one thing he'd learned living with her was that Temperance Brennan was a highly controlled woman and he was one of the few people that got to experience her like this…loose and relaxed and carefree. He dipped her and gave her a quick spin and brought her close again, relishing the soft, uncharacteristic giggle that escaped her.

When she had enough dancing, Booth took her home and smiled at her excited, just slightly slurred chatter. She wanted to play with her new puppy and rushed straight to the bedroom as soon as they walked through the front door.

"He's asleep," Brennan observed in undisguised disappointment, looking down at the bed of pillows and blankets they had created for the pup before leaving the house.

"It's late, baby."

"I wanted to play with him."

Booth chuckled a little at her small pout. "He's not going anywhere. You can play with him tomorrow." Reaching out, he drew her unresisting body into his arms and brushed his lips against her jaw. "How about you play with me tonight?"

"That's a sexual innuendo, right?"

He grinned and lowered the thin little straps of her beautiful purple dress. "You tell me." Peeling the bodice down, Booth opened his mouth over the curve of one lace-clad breast. "God, this is a sexy bra."

Automatically, Brennan's hands went up, fingers tangling in his hair. "Are you trying to take advantage of my inebriated state?" It was a husky murmur.

Booth smirked, lips closing over lace to suck one perked nipple. "I thought you said you weren't drunk?"

"I'm not." It was an immediate reply and then her lips quirked up. "Not very."

He laughed, kissing up the length of her throat. "Should I tuck you into bed?" Agile fingers found the catch of her skimpy strapless bra and flicked it open. It dropped to the floor with barely a sound and Booth splayed one hand over the bare skin between her shoulder blades. "I hear alcohol can make you sleepy." His other hand curved over one breast, molding the soft flesh, thumb rubbing the tight nipple. "You sleepy, Bones?"

Her head spun wonderfully and it had nothing to do with the wine in her system. Hands to his chest, she pushed him back until he hit the bed. Booth groaned, finding the way she gathered her dress up around her thighs as she straddled him so very sexy. "Gonna take that as a no," he teased, yanking on the loose bowtie around his neck and then promptly sliding his hands over her sleek bare thighs. "Christ, you're so beautiful."

Her impatient fingers tried to open his shirt, but she wasn't at her most coordinated at the moment. "Booth…" Her voice was a husky whine as she struggled with the unresponsive buttons. "Help me."

He laughed a little, but complied immediately. Brennan sighed in appreciation, sliding the shirt over his shoulders, just enough so that she could run her hands over the sleek muscles that never failed to arouse her. "I love touching you."

"Do you now?" Brown eyes glittered up at her, male hands sliding up her torso and palming her rounded breasts. "What else do you love about me?"

The sentimental one in this relationship was him, so he expected a smart ass comment. Instead, her arms wrapped around his neck and her lips whispered against his, "Everything." His mouth parted in surprise and she slipped her tongue in, sweet and playful. "I love everything about you, Booth."

His heart thudded. "Damn, Bren," he whispered, almost drowning in the liquid blue of her gaze. "You can be so surprising."

Her smile was the best combination of smug and sweet. "That just means you'll never be bored with me."

"Yeah, I don't think there's any chance of that happening," he agreed. "Just watching you walk into a room is exciting." After a soft squeeze to the perfect globes in his hands, he slid beneath her dress, dragging down her panties and cupping her against his palm. "You get my heart racing with one damn look, Bones."

With a soft moan, her mouth crashed on his. She pressed against his hand and Booth let one finger slide into her warmth. Helplessly, he added a second one and began to finger her in deep, easy glides. Her nails scraped against his nape as her body went liquid around his fingers. He buried his face between her soft breasts, licking and kissing.

"Inside me," Brennan gasped, clasping his shoulders to push him back down onto the bed. "I want you inside me."

Booth hesitated for a moment, unwilling to stop stroking her when she was so close. But she skimmed her hands down his stomach and rubbed his erection mercilessly. With a groan, he fell back hard against the mattress. She unzipped him and he raised his hips, helping her lower his pants and underwear just enough to free his cock. Her cool fist wrapped around him and he moaned deeply.

"C'mere," he groaned, clasping her hips in a sure grip. "Let me feel you …I need you …I need …Bren …Jesus Christ, you're wet."

She sank into him and shuddered. His hands cupped her bottom, mouth leaving kisses on her exposed throat as her head tipped back in pleasure. Still half-dressed, underwear lowered just enough to get out of the way, they began to move in a familiar rhythm. Booth's hands swept over her back to tangle in her hair and his hips rose to meet hers on every stroke. Over him, she was all warm skin and soft silk, the material of her tangled dress rubbing against his skin in an erotic caress. Under her, he was all hard flesh and fine wool that added one more layer of sensation. Soft cries gave way to deeper moans and frenzied kisses until they were spinning apart together, two bodies left sweaty and satisfied.

-x-

Eventually, they undressed fully and climbed under the sheets. Booth curled Brennan into his arms, pressing a soft kiss against her temple. He was sated and sleepy, but she gave a small sigh and he stroked a hand down her spine and realized her languidness had disappeared.

"What is it?"

"Nothing."

"Temperance …"

"It's nothing …" she repeated and he felt her slight shrug and just waited her out. "Cam looked lovely, didn't she?"

"Yeah …" His eyes narrowed, knowing something was swirling in that brilliant mind. He gave her a few more minutes and was met with silence. "Bren," he prompted. "C'mon…"

A beat later he knew what was on her mind. "Do you expect us to get married?"

He'd been kinda sleepy but now woke the hell up. "What?"

Brennan pushed up, leaning on one elbow and looking down at Booth. "It's a fairly simple question, Booth."

He almost scoffed. "Yeah, right." Nothing was that simple with Temperance Brennan. "Okay, why are you asking me that?"

She gave a tiny shrug. "I know you believe in marriage, Booth."

"Are you worried I'm gonna ask you to marry me?"

"Are you saying you're not?" she shot back.

"Oh, no, no, Bones," he tsked, shaking a finger at her. "I asked first."

"Forget it." With a huff, she fell back against the bed. "Good night, Booth."

He let out a little growl. "Woman, you're gonna drive me crazy, you know that, right?" He leaned up over her, braced a hand on the bed, next to her shoulder. "I know the score, Bones. I've known from the beginning how you feel. I told you once I didn't want to change you. That I just wanted to be with you. And that's as true now as it was then."

His eyes were so dark and his words so earnest that she sighed, her small fit of pique disappearing. "I know. I know, Booth. And you've never made me feel otherwise. It's just …this wedding …I was thinking …I …." Her words trailed off on another small sigh and she reached up to cup her palm against his smooth cheek. "I know you're traditional about certain things. And I also know that our relationship …it's been used to attack you."

He knew exactly what she was talking about. After the Court had ruled on one particularly controversial case, striking down a Florida law that banned same-sex marriage, Booth had written the opinion for the majority. The conservative media had taken quite a few pot-shots at him and his relationship with Brennan, their lack of legal status ready fodder for the attack. "You think I care about what some narrow-minded asshole writes in a newspaper?"

She sighed. "I know you don't, Booth, but I still dislike that our relationship can be used to attack you professionally."

"Hey, I have job security for life," he said with a half smile, turning his head to kiss her palm. "I could probably kill someone and it'd still be hard to remove me from the Court."

"Would you be serious?"

"I am." He grinned at her and leaned down to brush his mouth over the serious line of her lips. "Bren, our relationship is no one's business but ours." Idly, his thumb smoothed over one pink nipple. "You make me happy and I make you happy. Everything else is just details."

"You do make me happy," she murmured.

"I know," his smile was cocky and sweet at the same time. "Goes both ways, Bones."

"So it doesn't bother you that we aren't married?"

"No."

She raised one eyebrow. "And you don't want to get married?"

His gaze moved from the pink tip of her breast to her questioning eyes. "If I say that I do want to be married to you," he asked calmly, "are you gonna freak out on me?"

Brennan gave a mildly indignant sniff. "I do not freak out."

He chuckled. "You don't, do you?" His teasing tone went serious, his eyes steady on hers. "All right then, here it is. I'd love to marry you, okay? I love you and I can't imagine spending the rest of my life with anyone else. You're it, Bones. You're the one." His lips quirked up in a small smile. "From the moment I walked into my own damn living room and saw you standing there, I knew nothing would ever be the same."

"That's impossible," she said automatically, but had to admit that the romanticism of his words had sped up her heart rate. "Even you can't predict the future, Your Honor."

His smile widened at her sass. "Those blue eyes of yours had me, right from the beginning, Bones." Wanting to be closer, Booth shifted, covering her body with his but raising off a little so as not to crush her. "You're always gonna have me. I'm always going to need you. I'm always going to love you."

"Booth …" Her throat locked at the soft words, eyes watering against her will. Her arms closed around him, holding him close. "I love you too. I love you so much."

Those words in that slightly husky voice of hers never failed to send his heart spinning. "Oh, baby, I know." Her liquid blue gaze made his heart clench. "Listen, as long as I get to spend the rest of my life with you, I don't care how we do it." His head dipped, kissing her slow and deep, until her eyes closed and she was sighing softly into his mouth. "So no, I don't expect us to get married and I'm not gonna ask you, Bones."

Her eyes popped open and narrowed. "You're not?"

Booth almost laughed. He was well familiar with her discourse on the limiting and outdated institution of marriage, but yet she didn't appear particularly pleased with his answer. Oh, it was a safe bet that his complicated genius was going to keep him guessing for the rest of their lives. Well, he'd be lying if he didn't admit that he really liked that.

"Nope." Booth dropped a kiss on the tip of her nose and another on her beautiful mouth. "But just so you know, if you ever wanna ask me, the answer's always gonna be yes."

-x-

The End. Hope this has lived up to expectations. Drop me a line and leave me your thoughts on this story, it was two long years of toil and panic! Thanks! :)