Author'sNote: OK, the Bones Writing Bug has bitten me again. Dammit. And it's another series of vignettes, like the infamous "alphabet" meme so many writers use.

This time, though, I thought of another list. Another set of things, also with a predetermined finite sequence. As as soon as I started thinking of the items in the set, story ideas kept popping into my head. In about half an hour, I had the rough ideas for the entire series.

But no, I'm not going to say what the list is until I'm done. I'm not even going to say how many parts there will be. I'm so pathetically craving comments that I will instead challenge you folks to speculate on what the theme is in your reviews. Yeah, I'm that needy.

I'm not expecting this to get much more adult than T. That could change, but I doubt it.

Chapter 1

"Bones, you're so hot..." Booth murmured as he shifted around under the covers.

"I, too, find you sexually appealing. However, I find I am not particularly desirous of intercourse at this time."

Booth rolled away from her and tossed off the covers. "That wasn't a come-on, Bones. I mean you're literally too hot - I feel almost like I'm getting a sunburn just from holding you."

Bones also tossed off the covers. "I, too, thought I noticed that my body was radiating considerably more heat than normal. However, I did not trust my own perceptions, as sometimes pregnancy can cause unusual physiological perceptions."

"This one's for real, Bones. You're like a blast furnace."

Bones considered the matter. "While it's a relief that it is an actual symptom and not merely my own muddled perception, I still find it troubling. I have grown... accustomed to your close proximity, and have no desire to give that up."

"I like sleeping with you, too. But you're roasting me."

"I will have to discuss this with my obstetrician, but two theories immediately come to mind."

"Really? Like what?"

"The first is that pregnancy normally wreaks havoc with the mother's normal metabolism in a variety of ways. In my case, it could be influencing my hypothalamus, raising my surface body temperature. The second is that it's you."

"Me? What did I do?"

"You impregnated me. I am currently gestating a fetus that consists of half your genetic material, half mine. Further, you regularly re-expose me to your genetic material. I could, I suppose, be reacting to your pheromones and other identifying biochemical traits - much like an allergic reaction."

"You mean you might be allergic to my..."

"Semen? Most certainly not. If I was, I would have a much more intense and far more localized reaction - you tend to deposit your semen in..." she sensed his discomfort, and chose to paraphrase what she was about to say. "...specific areas, not topically to my entire body, and it's not just those areas that are reacting. No, this is more of a chemical interaction than an allergy. I shall have to discuss this with my obstetrician at my next appointment."

"That's great, but what about in the meantime?"

Bones thought about it for a second. "Get up."

"Huh?"

"Get out of the bed, Booth."

"You're not kicking me out to the couch, are you?"

"Of course not. Nor will I be sleeping out there. Now, help me remove the bedding." They carefully took off the comforter and blanket, setting them gently on a chair. "No, leave the sheet." She then went over to the thermostat. "I'll just adjust this up slightly..."

"Up?" Booth almost yelped. "We were just talking about being too hot, and you're turning the thermostat up?"

"Only to 72 degrees. Booth, think about it. We are in a relatively small space, with several environmental factors we can quite easily control. We can adjust the ambient temperature, the insulating covers, and even introduce bedclothes if necessary, until we find an optimal climate to compensate for the situation. We could even get a humidifier and regulate the relative humidity in here."

"I see. So, we turn up the heat a little, then sleep under just a sheet?"

"I think that should work most adequately. And here's a trick I learned on tropical digs: if you start getting too warm, simply extrude one leg from under the sheet. The human leg - with its surface area and blood flow - can be an excellent radiator of body heat."

"Yeah, I learned that one in the Army. Just don't try it in a tent unless you have mosquito netting up."

"Exactly. Now, shall we see if this is an acceptable solution?"

Booth slipped back under the sheet. "Sure. But I'm putting one limit on this - we limit the monkeying around to just the thermostat and the bedding. I've gotten used to having you naked in bed with me, and I'm not about to give that up. I'll spray myself with Solarcaine first. Besides, why the hell should I put on more clothes when I'm too hot?"

Bones joined him. "The bedclothes would serve as insulation, preventing the direct skin-to-skin contact. However, I find that an acceptable compromise - with the provision that we may reconsider that should these measures prove insufficient. I, too, have grown accustomed to your undressed presence." She turned out the light.

After a moment, she spoke. "Is this better, or should I go get one of my nightgowns?"

He didn't answer, but she felt him shift in the bed as he slowly worked a leg free of the sheet.