Fic: Once Upon a Time (1/1)

[only_more_love]

Timeline: Future
Word Count: 655
Rating:  PG-13 or T
Characters:  Booth, Brennan
Spoilers:  None
Summary:  It happened like this. Future fic.

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It happened like this:

Brennan started stocking his favorite beer in her fridge, and Booth added to his weekly grocery list the Wasabi peas she liked to snack on and occasionally throw at him when he said, “Wassup!” for the fiftieth time. More and more of his dvds (like Ghostbusters--a classic) wound up in her living room, sitting neatly next to each other on a shelf he bought and assembled for her, despite her loud protests, on a Saturday he didn’t get to spend with Parker.

Then one Friday night when he didn't have other plans, Booth brought over spinach lasagna and crusty garlic bread from the Italian place two blocks from his apartment. She answered the door on the first knock, almost like she'd been waiting for him. After she stepped back from the door and beckoned him inside, he noticed two plates sitting side by side on her glass-topped coffee table. He scratched the back of his neck with his free hand. "Are you expecting company?" he asked, still holding the brown paper bag full of takeout.

"Only you," she said. Flashing him a smile that made him want to smile back, she took the bag from him and ripped it open, inhaling appreciatively. "I'm starving."

"Me too."

---

After eating way too much and laughing even more over a bottle of red wine Brennan said she’d been saving for a special occasion for the past five years, they both fell into a carb-induced coma on her couch.

Booth woke to find Brennan curled into his side like she belonged there and nowhere else. His neck hurt like hell because of the awkward position, but he ignored the pain and reached out a hand to brush her hair from her forehead. She shifted closer, murmuring something that sounded a lot like “Mmph,” and he stifled a laugh. When her eyes blinked open, he froze, caught in the clear blue he’d seen in his dreams for longer than he cared to admit. He waited for her to break his arm or pull away or at least ask what he was doing; she surprised him by curling her hand around his.

"If I asked you to stay tonight, would you?” she asked, her voice as quiet as her skin was soft.

“Yes,” he finally replied. There was no point in pretending otherwise when they both knew he could never refuse her when she turned those eyes on him.

She released his hand but didn’t look away. “Then I’m asking.”

“Ok.”

Standing, she offered him her hand. He didn’t take it immediately -- just stared down at it for a moment.

“Have you changed your mind?” she asked, her eyebrows drawn together in a frown his fingers itched to smooth away.

He rose and took her hand, slipping his fingers through hers. “No," he said, squeezing her hand and feeling her squeeze back. "Of course not.”

A smile lit her face, and she moved to switch off the lights, leaving the room in shadow. She led him down the hall without stumbling even once. When they stepped into her bedroom, it took a second for Booth’s eyes to adjust to the darkness. By then she’d tugged him onto her bed. He took off his shoes and set them on the floor before he laid down beside her. Not touching, but close enough to feel the warmth of her body. Sighing, he pulled the blanket over them both and tried to relax into the unfamiliar bed.

“Good night, Booth,” she said, yawning and wriggling backward until her back was pressed against his front.

“Good night, Bones,” he replied, smiling. With only the tiniest bit of hesitation, Booth looped his arm around Brennan's waist and moved closer. A kiss could wait, he told himself as he started to drift off. At least until tomorrow. “Sweet dreams,” he whispered into her hair before letting his eyes fall shut again.

Author's Note: I'm not sure how I feel about this brief oneshot, but it wanted to be written. It's one of those little stories where things happen without a lot of fanfare.

 

Comments

[last-archangel.livejournal.com]

Oh, I love it. It's perfectly sensitive and well-written.

Is it out of bounds to ask for a smutty sequel?

[starlite-diner.livejournal.com]

Aww, simply beautiful! I love reading little glimpses of their future together. I'm absoultey in love with the way you capture their relationship, I can never tell you that enough.

like last_archangel commented, I wouldn't mind a smutty sequel either. ;) :D

[makd.livejournal.com]

Lovely, as always.

[melissa-pbfan.livejournal.com]

This is absolutely adorable.

[http://users.livejournal.com/alderaan_/]

Awwwww. A lovely fairy tale ;)
It’s sweet and warm.

And I would like a smutty sequel, too *lol*

Besos

[jadeakira.livejournal.com]

Aww, this fic is a little fluffy, but it's also perfect.

I want to cuddle it.

[a2zmom.livejournal.com]

There was a lovely tenderness here that I truly liked.

[greyskygirl.livejournal.com]

It's wonderful in its simplicity and its straightforwardness. And when things want to be written, it's generally best to obey. :) Succumb to the muse!

[dabhug.livejournal.com]

God, I miss this show! Wonderful.

Life happens without a lot of fanfare.

[tracgyrl.livejournal.com]

"A kiss could wait, he told himself as he started to drift off. At least until tomorrow." I LOVED IT!

[love-kate-walsh.livejournal.com]

This thing made my day (not that it is something new that your fanfics make my day =D ). The two of them are so cute. Really great fic, hun.

[dabih.livejournal.com]

Adorable. You´re just awesome. :)

[erinm-4600.livejournal.com]

Oh, now that was fantastic!
LOVE! for the bookshelf ;)

[killmotion.livejournal.com]

Such a sweet fic. You can write something where they don't even kiss and I get happy. I can kind of see this happening. Them sharing things and falling asleep together. The gap is closing. April 14th!

[(Anonymous)]

Love it, love it, love it!!

Warm and fuzzy feelings all over. Pure WAFFiness (remember those from the mid-90s? :))

[evenstar1002.livejournal.com]

See, your fics are the kind of things that totally make my day. It's amazing how you're always able to capture these two characters and their relationship... Have you applied for a job with the Bones writers staff, yet? Again, you did an amazing job! Starving for more :-D

[made-of-toast.livejournal.com]

Loved it! I'm actually kind of glad it happened the way it did, without wild making out and such. Very subtle, very cute!

[elena1701.livejournal.com]

I like this precisely because it shows things happening without fanfare - much as I love the 'dramatic moments' of them getting together, sometimes it's nice to see it happen in an understated way.

[xhio86.livejournal.com]

Simply WONDERFUL!
It's so perfect...I really mean it!
I think that whenever they'll hook up on the show it should be quietly and tender like this *_*

[pinktealeaves.livejournal.com]

The thing I liked the most here was their complicity. She asks him to stay not meaning for sex, and he doesn't need to be clarified, he understands what she meant. Cuddling, holding each other...

Sorry to disagree, but a smutty sequel for this probably break that complicity, that need of being together/near each other and the proof that they make love with any gesture. Smut is GREAT, but not here. ;)

I love them in your fics as much as I love them in the show. Great work.

[fangirlgonewild.livejournal.com]

I actually read this much earlier today, but then I had to dash off to class. I must say: I absolutely loved this. It works in a general progression of time without speeding through the development of their relationship, but yet cuts to the chase (ie: the pivotal scene when we know that they know they are so clearly Meant to Be). Does all of this babbling even make sense? Gah, it's excellent. There. I said it.

[davidtenanntmad.livejournal.com]

Aw, that was great :) Can I jump on the smutty sequel bandwagon? ^^

[gah-warrior.livejournal.com]

Ditto, and seconded!

[odakota-rose.livejournal.com]

Agreed.
Uhh, thirded?

[odakota-rose.livejournal.com]

*is wondering how to contain the happy squeal and avoid making the family think I really am loopy*

Loved this, it's so organic and real. It felt like a natural progression the way they went from friends to more so easily. There wasn't any long discussion about it, it just clicked. Great job :D

And I'm smiling like an idiot right now, not only because of this but also because I think my mom is watching Bones in the living room ;)

[pharmduh.livejournal.com]

I think the thing I like most about this is their friendship. It's not hard to imagine this going on off-screen, as something we never see because it's not momentous.
Your fic is always a good thing, but after about two weeks of exams (and some not so great results) this was exactly what I needed, thanks. :o)

[daynawashere.livejournal.com]

Aww, that's adorable :D

[sb158.livejournal.com]

What she said, too! Wonderful, as always. And scoot over, I'm climbing on the sequel bandwagon.

[oltha_heri.livejournal.com]

This is really good. I am in love with the idea of them just growing together, so this made me happy.

[witchofthedogs.livejournal.com]

Oh, this is exactly how it would happen.

[christ-chexx-4u.livejournal.com]

i LOVE this!! so easy and natural, so them.

[monanotlisa.livejournal.com]

Oh, this is lovely -- I like the ease and natural feel of this!

[lazorsaurus.livejournal.com]

ooh feel good. feel very good. i love it. bonus points for the spinach lasagne.

i love how they both knew. it has always been leading to this.