slashluv18

"I can't change!"

Her words reverberated in his head as he laid in his bed unable to sleep.

He closed his eyes, trying to block them out, but it proved impossible. He finally gave up the pretense of trying to sleep and got out of bed, pacing the floor of his bedroom.

He knew he handled the whole thing outside of the Hoover building badly. He told her 30, 40, 50 years, and in the next breath, he said he'd move on. He knew he was talking to someone who believes love is transient, and it was the worst possible thing to say to convince her to give a deeper relationship a try. Not to mention he used the word 'gamble.'

Booth sighed. He knew deep down that by threatening her with the idea of his moving on, he hoped to scare her into an acceptance of his love, even though he never actually said the word 'love.'

And he didn't even bother to tell her he didn't want her to change, that he wanted her, the socially awkward scientist, just the way she was.

He really did screw up the whole confession.

He strode to his dresser, pulled on a shirt and sweatpants, didn't bother with shoes, grabbed his wallet and keys, and left his apartment.

He was going to try again, and this time he was going to say all of the things he should have said the first time, including he wouldn't move on. He'd wait for her to be ready and prove that his love was steadfast.

He nodded as he got in his car. Sooner or later, he would get his Bones. He was determined.