A/N: WHAT?!

I know, I know.

But I found this in my notes and it's early season 5, and Bones2014 deserves a little something-something for reading through my entire Bones catalog of fic in just a few short weeks and reviewing EVERY chapter like a champ. (Seriously. Every one!). And since season 5 get-togethers are her favorite, I'm calling it a twist of fate.

OOOOO

Brennan felt Booth stirring behind her but she refused to open her eyes. She was so comfortable and warm right now that she would seriously consider never going on a dig ever again if it meant having to give up this bed or the man in it.

Booth slid an arm over her waist, either realizing that she was awake, or hoping to wake her anyway. He placed a kiss on her shoulder and she smiled languidly.

"Morning." He grumbled against her skin.

"Mmm." She murmured back and closed her eyes tighter.

"I love waking up next to you." He let his hand caress her hip. "I didn't sleep well when you were away."

"Neither did I." Even with her eyes closed, she felt his grin light up the room at her statement. It was still early enough in their relationship that simple confessions like that still took them by surprise. She turned over and looked at him. "Believe it or not, the jungle floor does not have Egyptian cotton." She grinned as she pressed herself back into the pillow.

Booth's light caresses suddenly became less gentle in protest as he flipped her underneath him in one quick move. Now it was her turn to be surprised. She glanced down at their bodies before looking up at him again.

"You've got to teach me how to do that." She said.

"We'll see." He said noncommittally. "Maybe if you think about giving me another reason for your insomnia." He asked. "See, I didn't sleep well because you always use the same lotion every night before going to bed and the sheets still smell like it long after you've left." He confessed. "You didn't sleep well because…?"

"...of all the predators who could've killed me if I fell asleep?" She teased. Booth raised an eyebrow and Brennan's stomach furled in delighted response.

"Fine." Booth accepted as he released her and stood up. He found his shirt and put it on.

"No, Booth, come back to bed. I was just teasing." Brennan coaxed.

"Bones, it's fine." Booth said honestly.

"It's not fine, you're getting dressed." She pouted. He smiled and leaned over to kiss the frown from her face.

"Look," he whispered in his close proximity, "I knew from the second I met you that I was always going to need you more than you need me. I don't expect that to change just because we're sleeping together." He promised. "I'm a chaser, you're a runner. That's why we make a good team." He smiled.

"Don't say that." She said seriously. Booth tilted his head at her objection. "I got in a cab once, because I thought what I was feeling was tequila-induced, but I lived to regret it and because of that regret, I haven't run from you since. I could have taken one of the amazing job offers I've gotten since I started working with you, but I didn't. I tried dating Sully after you told me you would never date a colleague again, but even then, I couldn't walk away from you." Booth looked down at the floor. "And when you woke up from a coma calling me Bren instead of Bones, I was still the person sitting next to your bed, until you made me go to Guatemala."

"The Aztecs needed you." Booth said naturally.

"The Mayans. The Aztecs were Mexico." She corrected out of necessity, even though she knew he didn't care one way or the other. She sighed. "I've never left you willingly." She said honestly. "And I never will."

"I know. I know that." He acknowledged with a serious nod as he reached out to hold her hand. "But it is nice to hear it every once in a while." His small smile broke out into a giant grin and she flushed pink as she realized what he'd just accomplished. He'd gotten exactly what he wanted from her. He'd been playing her the entire time.

"Oh, you bastard." She said as she hit him with her pillow.

"I'm sorry, you're just such an easy mark." He laughed victoriously. But his comment earned him another pillow aimed right for his face. "Hey! Careful!" He cried. "I'm a recent survivor of brain surgery. One good shot from a pillow and there's no telling what I might forget."

"Well, you can start with the sex you wanted this morning because that's off the table." Brennan informed him as she reached for her robe.

"Aw, Bones, come on. I was just teasing!" He grinned as he stole her line.

She flipped him off as she headed towards the kitchen and he laughed out loud at the uncharacteristic action.

"I love you too!" Booth's words echoed down the hallway, chasing her down in his stead. And in the safety of her solitude, she paused long enough to smile at them.

It was progress.