A/N: Okay. Last chapter. I just haven’t been very good at updating and coming up with new ideas, so this is the end. I hoped you enjoyed what there was and I always love to hear what you think.

It was early afternoon and Temperance wasn’t tired. She couldn’t think of anything else to do, so she just snuggled in closer to Booth.

He snored quietly beside her. Temperance smiled. He’d been doing so much, trying so hard to make this and unforgettable weekend that he’d tired himself out. If only he knew that every minute she spent with him was unforgettable.

Moving slowly as to not wake him, Temperance rolled to face him. Sleep softened him features, made them look almost boyish and lips curled up at the edges. Temperance wondered what he was dreaming about. The bag of ice had slipped from his face and was melting on his pillow. Making sure it was still tightly zipped, Temperance dropped it to the floor. Then she reached up and traced his bruise again. Round and round her finger went and Booth never stirred.

It was methodical and soon Temperance didn’t even realize she was doing it. Lying next to him, all her thoughts fell away. There was nothing else, just the two of them and the snow falling outside.

The room was growing dark when Temperance’s stomach gave a sharp growl. She jumped at the sudden sound, then scolded herself. It was her fault Booth was hurt, she didn’t need to wake him up, too.

Easing herself out of bed, she went off in search of food. By the time she entered the kitchen she was freezing. And, she admitted to herself with a small smile, she missed Booth. So, after filling a bowl with Cheerio’s and milk she returned to their room. Booth’s eyes were open, his head propped up on one arm. Each broke into a grin at the sight of the other.

“Missed you,” Booth said as Temperance rejoined him under the covers.

“Mhm,” Temperance agreed while taking a bite of cereal. Booth watched her do so with innocent eyes.

Rolling her own, she reloaded the spoon and lifted it to his lips.

They shared the rest of the cereal, then Booth took the bowl out of her hands and set it on the floor. He took her in the arms and lowered his face slowly to hers. Temperance felt that rush of excitement that never ceased to amaze her before their lips met.

Something was different about this kiss. It was deep and passionate, yes, but somehow intense and probing at the same time. A question mark instead of an exclamation point. It scared her and she pulled away.

“Booth–” It was now too dark to make out his features.

He rolled off her. “Sorry.”

Temperance wasn’t sure what he was apologizing for, and for some reason she felt as if she had been the one to do something wrong.

They lay silently side by side. Sleep didn’t come for a very long time.

XxXxX

When Temperance opened her eyes the next morning Booth wasn’t in bed. Terrified that she had upset him the previous night, she jumped from under the covers.

He wasn’t in the bathroom. Or in the living room. Or the kitchen.

Temperance’s panic increased with each room. She couldn’t lose him now. Not when everything was going so perfectly for the two of them.

She found a pair of boots by the door and put them on, not caring that she was wearing them on the wrong feet. Without a jacket she ran outside. Booth’s SUV was still parked in the driveway. And Booth was shutting the passenger door and turning back towards the cabin, holding something in his arms.

Temperance’s heart leapt at the sight and she clumsily ran towards him. He dropped what he was holding and gathered her into his arms.

“Booth, I’m so sorry,” she whispered into his chest. The cold air sent goosebumps scurrying up her arms and she shivered and pressed closer to Booth.

“For what?”

What was she sorry for? “I thought you left,” she said simply.

“Why would I leave?”

Temperance didn’t reply from where her head was buried in Booth’s warm chest.

“Temperance, listen.” He tilted her chin up so he could look her in the eyes. “I love you.”

A single tear rolled down her cheek and she allowed Booth to wipe it away. She stepped back into his arms, liking that if felt as though he was protecting her.

“Look.” Booth finally let go of her. He pointed to the ground. A worn pair of hockey skates and a pair of pristine white figure skates lay in a jumble at their feet.

Temperance laughed. “I don’t know how to skate.”

“I’ll teach you.”

An hour later they were trekking through the snow, decked out in snowpants, jackets, and their other winter gear. Booth had Temperance’s hand in his; he seemed so comfortable now that he had finally said ‘I love you’ and every once in a while he would lean over and whisper it in her ear. She would blush and squeeze his hand, wondering why she couldn’t say it back. Booth, however, didn’t seem too worried about it.

The air was crisp and clean and made Temperance feel alive. Snow covered the leafless trees and bright red cardinals hopped from branch to branch, chirping songs to each other. Temperance felt as though she could have lost herself here, but Booth walked with an air of confidence. He knew exactly where they were going.

“Here we are.” He spread an arm at the frozen pond in front of them.

“Didn’t it snow yesterday?” Temperance asked. All of the snow on the pond had been pushed off the one side so there was a smooth plane of ice.

Booth shrugged. “I have people.”

He helped her lace up her skates and she waited while he put on his own. She stood, shifting her weight from side to side, testing the skates. They were tight on her feet and didn’t allow much give in the ankles. Booth assured her that’s how it was supposed to be.

When both were ready he took her hand and led her out onto the ice, whispering another ‘I love you’ in her ear.

“I’m afraid.” Even Booth could tell she wasn’t just talking about learning to skate.

“Don’t be.”

Temperance stepped onto the slick surface. Her feet flew out from underneath her. With a thump her butt hit the ice.

Booth pulled her up. “Here. Like this.” He showed her how to push off from the ice. It took some practice but soon Temperance was keeping up with him.

“How’d you get so good at this?” she asked while Booth skated circles around her after yet another wipe out.

Booth held out a hand for her. “I used to play hockey.”

“And now you’re teaching Parker,” Temperance guessed, grabbing his proffered hand. Booth nodded.

Once she was back on her feet, Booth touched her arm, then sped off. “Come get me,” he called over his shoulder.

Temperance set off after him, chasing him across the pond, pausing now on then to regain her balance. She was racing up one side of the pond when she heard a crack. Slowing, the cracking sound grew louder. Then, the feeling of growing shorter until she realized her feet were freezing. Looking down, she saw that she had cracked the ice and was sinking. She tried to lift herself out, but the weight of the skates combined with the pull of the water made it impossible.

“Booth!”

He turned, and seeing her, sped over. Her feet had found the bottom of the pond and she was waist deep in icy water. Booth grabbed her by the arms and pulled her out. She collapsed against him, the bottom half of her body soaking wet.

Booth helped her out of the skates and wet snowpants, took of his own snowpants and guided her frozen legs into them. It didn’t help much. The cold seemed to have invaded her to the core and she couldn’t stop shivering.

Booth gathered her close and together they hurried back to the cabin. Temperance didn’t say much, but Booth kept whispering that she would be fine, that they were almost back.

When finally the cabin came into sight they broke into a jog.

As soon as they were inside, Temperance headed straight for the hearth. She lit the fire and set as close to the flames as she could without burning herself. Even with the fire her teeth still chattered and her clothes still dripped. During their short sprint she’d broken into a sweat that was now making her even colder.

Booth entered the living room, laid a blanket on the floor in front of the fire, and sat down on it. Temperance joined him and Booth stripped her of her wet clothes, leaving her in only her bra and panties. He threw another blanket over her shoulders.

She slowly grew warmer, the fire and blanket and Booth’s body heat finally doing their job. She leaned into Booth, who stroked her hair absent-mindedly.

“It’s New Year’s Eve,” he murmured.

She thought about how much had happened in the last year, how happy she’d been. And it had all been because of Booth. He had changed so much.

Temperance turned in his arms and looked at him with a fierce intensity in her eyes. “I love you.”

She waited for a reply. Booth smiled. It was enough for her and she pressed a kiss to his lips.

The fire crackled beside them and the blanket was soft on her bare skin. Which was pressed up against Booth. Who had a very noticeable bulge growing in his pants.

His mouth was hot and reassuring on hers and this time Temperance knew she wasn’t going to be able to stop.

She lost herself in him and each thing he did amazed her. It was like she’d never had sex before. This was different. She’d never felt anything like it, never felt so close to anyone. It was as if Booth completed her, added something that had been missing for so long.

The way he kissed her, the way he touched her, even the way he held her when it was over was so gentle and loving. Temperance knew she had found what she was looking for.

“When did you know that we would end up together?” she asked, curled up in his arms.

“I always knew,” he murmured, lips brushing her ear. “Since the very beginning.”