*I've been MIA for a while…but am looking forward to Bones returning in a few weeks! I thought I would try to do a few short scenes that we have missed from our favorite duo. Feel free to comment or leave suggestions. I don't own Bones or the characters, of course.*

Doubts

"Bones!" Booth swung open the door to his apartment. He kicked the door close behind him as he flung his leather jacket over the back of the couch and walked quickly through the living room looking for his partner.

It had been a hell of a day. The Squint Squad had ruled out the top two suspects for Booth's latest murder case. On top of that, Sweets had been on Booth's last nerve all afternoon. It had started when he insisted on joining Booth for lunch at the Diner. Booth just wanted to run in, grab a quick lunch a few minutes of peace to think for himself. The past week working without Bones allowed in the field should have made him feel more relaxed, without having to worry about her and the baby's safety. Instead, he found himself second guessing himself and spending too much of his time trying to check up on where his partner was and what she was doing without him. It wasn't a lack of trust; he simply missed being with her and having her with him for much of every day. It was almost as if he was having to work with a part of his own body missing—amputated, but still with the ghost feeling present.

"Yo Bones! Where are you?" Booth called out.

"I'm back here," replied Brennan.

Booth walked into their bedroom. Brennan was laying on the bed, propped with all of the pillows and held the remote control in one hand. Booth raised one eyebrow and cocked his head to one side, confused. Bones didn't watch TV in the middle of the afternoon…not unless he or Parker were home with her and insisting.

"Hey Bones. Are you okay?" Booth walked over to his side of the bed and sat down, propping one leg on the mattress.

Bones sighed. "I'm fine Booth." She clicked the remote and changed the channel. The pair stared at the screen, watching the end of the commercial.

Booth leaned over and gently pried the remote from Brennan's hands and turned off the television set. He took one finger and stroked her cheek down to her jaw and turned her to face him. "What's the matter Bones?"

"Why do you think something is the matter Booth?"

"Because you just spent 24 seconds enthralled with a magic screen door maker info-mercial. Why are you laying here watching what Pops likes to call the "Boob Tube"?"

"I did not watch any shows that featured or focused on the mammary glands of the female species, Booth."

"That is not what it refers to Bones."

Brennan sighed. She closed her eyes and leaned her forehead onto Booth's chest.

"Angela asked me to go and pick up Michael from day care today."

Booth moved his arm to wrap around her shoulders and hold her to him, gently rubbing her back while listening. "Okay. What happened?"

"One of the assistants was changing him and two of the toddlers had a mild episode involving their two activity walkers and a new couple came in for a tour with their twins."

"Alright. Sounds like it was a busy afternoon in Rugratville…"

"No, they don't have any rats, although I did see two guinea pigs but they were both in their crate." Booth rolled his eyes. It never failed to amuse him how literal his Bones could be, especially when she was upset.

"I told the director to go ahead and start the tour, and I would entertain the remaining four children until the assistant returned."

Booth nodded against her head. Seemed like something along the same thing he would have offered if he had been in the same position.

Brennan took in a deep breath and let it go shakily. "I couldn't even do that." She started to cry against his shirt.

Booth's forehead frowned, confused. He tightened his grip around her and gently started rocking her as she cried for a few minutes. Finally her tears subsided and he thought she might be able to answer his questions.

"What do you mean you couldn't do that, Bones?"

"I got a book from the shelf and told the kids to sit on the reading rug I have seen them use before when I have been to visit. I told them I was going to read them all a story.

"First one would get up and run to get a toy. Then when I asked that one to come sit down, another would go and try to bring the first one back to the rug. When I would get those two settled, the other two were already off in the corner trying to open the finger paints…"

Booth bit the inside of his bottom lip, his eyes closed. He knew he needed to not laugh or show any amusement at her story…even if it killed him.

"How can I think I could possibly take care of our daughter if I can't even manage five minutes with older children who are capable of comprehending basic commands?"

Booth reached around for Brennan's shoulders and forced her to look up at him. "Bones, no pregnant woman starts being a mom to four toddlers immediately after giving birth. You and I will have time to get to know our daughter and learn how she thinks and how she reacts to us and her surroundings."

"But what if she doesn't want to do what I plan-"

"I think, our daughter being related to us, we should definitely always have a Plan B and Plan C. Do you think it is even possible for us to create a child who would not be stubborn, or smart enough to come up with her own ideas?"

Bones thought about this for a moment. "Are you saying I should have thought of something else to entertain the children with today?"

Booth smiled and tugged her back into his arms. He tucked her head under his chin. "I wasn't there, Bones. But I'm sure the teacher at the facility knew you were offering to help and to make sure the children stayed safe. Did anyone get hurt?"

"No."

"Did the children have fun?"

"Yes-s," Bones stretched out, thinking, "but it wasn't doing what I had asked them to do."

"Okay. But they were looked after and you kept them occupied and watched over until the next responsible party arrived, correct?" Booth helped her rationalize.

"Yes."

"Alrighty then. Great Job, Bones."

"I just think that our daughter isn't going to think I'm fun or-"

Booth leaned down and stopped Brennan's sentence in a warm kiss.

"Bones, we've talked about this before. You and I have fun. Of course our daughter will have fun with you. You're her Mommy. She's going to love you. She will love to spend time with you, even doing normal everyday things, like laundry or cooking dinner."

Brennan smiled up at him. "I can remember helping my mom cook dinner."

"See?"

Four Days Later

Booth unlocked the door to the apartment. He and Brennan had offered to look after Russ and Amy's girls while they were in town so the couple could go to the theater and a late dinner while they were in town for the long weekend. The girls were taking their turns getting a shower and preparing for bed when Bones told him she was craving mini drumstick ice cream cones with kalamata olives.

Luckily Mr. Sanchez' corner market was still open, so Booth did not have far to go to buy Bones' late night snack. Booth put the items in the kitchen and went to ask Bones if she wanted him to bring them to her.

Booth found her in the guest room on the bed. The girls were curls up on one side of the bed, Hailey's head in the crook of Bones' arm as she held a book open, finishing the last paragraph page of their chapter book. Brennan placed the bookmark and closed the book.

"Please Aunt Tempe, just a few more pages?"

"It's time for bed now sweetheart. I'll read you another chapter tomorrow night. You need your rest so you can go to the Zoo tomorrow and tell me how the Pandas are doing."

The girls sighed in disappointment, then agreed. "Are you sure you can't join us? We really want to spend the day with you too?"

"How about if We get up early and surprise Booth with a big pancake breakfast before he goes to Sunday Mass? You can help me cook the pancakes. We can even make some with your initials."

"Really? We love pancakes! Can we have them with peanut butter and corn syrup?"

"Sure. Just don't tell your dad."

A minute later Bones was leaning over the bed giving each girl a kiss on the cheek.

"Night Aunt Tempe. Night Baby."

"Night Night Aunt Tempe. I love you. Night Baby Bones." Booth smiled at Hailey's adoption of his nickname for Bones' baby bump.

Brennan gently closed the guest bedroom door. Booth wrapped his arms around arm and pulled her close as he leaned down and kissed her cheek and nuzzled her neck.

"And who was worried they couldn't relate to children?"

Brennan smiled. "Maybe you were right."

"Maybe?" Booth turned Brennan around in his arms. He leaned down and started placing gentle kisses on her neck, her jaw line and finally her mouth. "Baby, you are going to be an amazing mom."

Brennan kissed him back. "Why are you always so sure, Booth?"

"You are a New York Times bestselling author…you are the top forensic anthropologist in the country. You've been an amazing friend, a terrific partner and a creative, caring and giving lover…why would I think you would be anything less than the best Mom when you've never failed at anything you've set your mind to do?"

Brennan shook her head and smiled. She reached up and curled her hands behind Booth's neck, pulling his face closer to hers. "Well when you put it that way, who am I to try and argue with such sound logic and reason?"

Booth chuckled as their lips met in a warm and deep kiss.