Disclaimer - Just for fun. I own nothing.
Sequel/addendum to 'Our Village' - may be a series of one shots. I haven't decided where this is going (if anywhere!) Hope you enjoy! Reviews always appreciated.
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William's warmth and gentle weight settled against her midsection lulling her back into a sleepy state. On any other day, Brennan would have allowed the baby to nurse, then crawled back into bed next to Booth. His arm would slide around her waist, pulling her to him, and she would fall back to sleep in his embrace. Today, she had to give up that luxury, and get ready for work, her maternity leave coming to an end. Brennan missed her work, but dreaded having to leave her sweet baby after having spent every second of the last 3 months with him. Knowing that her resolve would crumble unless she got started, Brennan returned William to his crib, and climbed into the shower.
After showering and dressing, Brennan leaned over Booth and placed a light kiss on his soft lips. Booth stirred, looked at the clock, and started to get up. Brennan smiled and pushed him back into bed.
"William nursed and should sleep for another couple hours. You might as well sleep in, too."
Brennan kissed him again, and turned to go. Booth caught her hand and squeezed it.
"Hey," he said softly, "you'll be ok. How about if I bring William by for lunch?"
He knew her too well. Brennan swallowed against the lump that had formed in her throat. Going back to work was harder than she thought, even if she was just leaving the baby with Booth.
"That would be great. See you later."
Brennan squeezed his hand and walked away. Booth knew this would be a hard day for her, and felt his own heart clench when he watched her swipe at the tears that had formed in her eyes. She paused at the door to William's bedroom, resisting the urge to go in one last time, then turned and left the apartment.
Upon arriving at the Jeffersonian, Brennan wanted nothing more than to just hide in her office and review her many emails, messages and files that had no doubt accumulated on her desk, but she knew that was likely not going to happen. Every time she tried to sneak away to her office, some coworker she barely even recognized would corner her and want to hear all about William's latest exploits. Brennan humored most of them, then finally just said she had an important call to make, and escaped to the sanctity of her office. She loved this office, and felt more comfortable here than just about anywhere else. Shelves displayed some of her favourite artifacts and specimens, not unlike the items she had back at their apartment. But, in their apartment, those artifacts now shared shelf space with diapers, toys, and other baby paraphernalia. Brennan smiled at the thought, and made a mental note to bring in some pictures of William and Booth for her desk.
Brennan spent the next few hours at her desk, daydreams regularly breaking her focus. She wondered what Booth and William were up to - probably sitting on the couch, watching a Flyers game that Booth had recorded. Booth would be wearing his Flyers t-shirt, and he would have dressed William in his little baby-sized jersey. Smiling to herself, Brennan returned to her files. She continued this pattern until around noon, when a soft knock sounded on her office door.
"Yes?"
The door opened slowly, and William's little face appeared in the doorway. Brennan laughed, and jumped up to greet her son and his father. Booth stepped into her office, smiling, as he held William toward Brennan. Holding William close, she stretched up and kissed Booth.
"I think he missed you this morning. He kept asking me to read him the latest anthropology journal."
Brennan rolled her eyes and replied,
"I only did that once, but I maintain that he enjoyed it. Besides, do you think he really understands hockey??"
"Booth men are born with an innate hockey appreciation. It's a genetic thing. Seriously."
Brennan laughed, then quoted Hank Booth,
"I don't think so!"
Booth smiled back at her, and relaxed on Brennan's office couch. Brennan held William close as he nursed contentedly. Booth loved the peaceful look that came over Brennan while she was nursing William. She had never looked so content, so beautiful. He actually hated to interrupt the moment between mother and child, so he spoke softly as he asked how her first day back was going. Brennan sighed,
"Unproductive. All I've been doing all morning is think about you and William. I'm unaccustomed to this level of distraction."
"Now you know how I felt when William was a week old and I had to go back to work and leave you. It just about killed me, you know."
Brennan nodded, remembering that first week after William's birth. Booth made sure that everything else was taken care of so she could focus all her attention on bonding with William. He cooked, cleaned, and cared for William while she napped. It wasn't until Booth's week of vacation was over and Brennan was alone with William, that she realized just how much he had done for them. Booth looked exhausted on that first morning back, and Brennan realized later that it was probably less work for him to be back at the office than it was to be home with them! Brennan would have felt guilty if Booth had not constantly reassured her that he would sooner take care of them than do anything else. Booth called her about once an hour, that first morning, and she could hear in his voice just how much he missed them.
When William finished nursing, they wandered over to the Royal Diner for some lunch of their own. Booth wore William in a baby carrier strapped on to his broad chest. Every woman they walked by either smiled appreciatively, or drooled. This type of reaction amused Brennan to no end, while Booth pretended to be oblivious to it. Brennan wasn't worried, as she did not doubt Booth's dedication to her for a second.
After lunch, they walked slowly back to the Jeffersonian. The sad look Booth had noticed earlier had returned to Brennan's face. When they entered the Jeffersonian, Booth pulled Brennan aside, and cupped her face with one hand, his thumb gently stroking her cheek. He spoke in a low voice, for her ears only,
"Listen, Bones, this is going to get easier, ok? Just remember that we miss you as much as you miss us. Now get back to work so you can get home, soon."
Booth leaned in and pressed his lips to hers. Brennan felt her knees go weak for just a moment, then recovered herself, and said that she better get back to work. Booth walked away, talking animatedly to William about their plans for yet more television sports. Brennan laughed, and returned to her office, Booth's words allowing her to find some reason to focus on her work, and keep the daydreams at bay. She realized that she could have it all - the work that defined her professional life, and the family that defined her personal life. Logic dictated that it should be possible, and Brennan looked forward to finding the balance. Returning to work was not so bad, after all.