A/N - First of all can I thank you all for reviewing and adding this to story alerts. The response has completly blown me away.

Secondly, while I know where I am going with my other mutli chapter fics this one has been screaming at me for weeks so I've just had to get it out there. Although post's might become a little sparse over the next week as my life is ridiculously complicated at the moment. Writing fan fic is my way of burying my head in the sand but some issues just cannot be ignored any longer. Reviews truly do brighten my outlook though.

What else brightens my life? The fact that this week the UK also gets a new episode of Bones putting us just one day behind! Now I wont have to contemplate illegal activities.

Disclamer - Obviously.

Enjoy

"Why, Bones. Why me?"

He knew she was there before even she had spotted him. It hadn't taken long for her to find him. Perhaps fifteen minutes at a push. And she'd had time to stop for coffee. The cardboard cup now warming his hands. Was he so predictable. His eyes remained fixed on the water below, but her scent and warmth cosseted him from the Fall breeze. Booth allowed his mind to drift, imagining a baby, their baby, growing in the safety of her womb. He snapped back to reality, angry at himself for entertaining the thought.

"You possess all the necessary attributes. Physically you are very aesthetically pleasing, with very symmetrical features. You're smart, caring, trustworthy. You have proven your ability with Parker time and time again. Do you want me to go on?"

"And if I just came out and said no? What then?" Booth turned to look at her as she struggled to comprehend his resistance to the idea.

"I would have to consider other alternatives. Anonymous sperm donation would probably be may favored option although I am concerned about the lack of control available to me in that situation. A further disadvantage would be that my child would lack a father figure in their life, which research shows is vital to optimum development."

"So you would actually want me to play a roll in their upbringing?"

"Of course Booth. I know how much Parker means to you. I could never expect you to take a passive role in this."

"I never planned on ending up in this situation. You've seen how it is with Rebecca. Constantly being messed around. Sometimes I really think I'm nothing more than a glorified babysitter in her eyes."

"So you are telling me you can't do it. Because you would be unhappy with the legalities of parental rights."

"Yes." The cowards way out.

"So if you had parental rights then there would be no problem. Because I'm sure that Caroline could fix that."

"Its really not that simple Bones."

"Why?"

"What?" She was not going to let this drop.

"Why is it not that simple? Is there another reason why you dislike the idea of procreating with me. Am I unappealing to you physically?"

"No Bones. You are..." he swallowed. "Beautiful. Never let anyone tell you otherwise."

"Although you still stand by your declaration that you are more attractive than me."

"What? I never said that."

"Yes Booth you did."

"When?"

"When you said that if you were a girl you would be prettier than me."

"If!... If I were a girl Bones! Obviously I'm not or you wouldn't be asking me to be the daddy."

"Do you think that..." her voice cracked as she whispered "....that I'll make a terrible mother?"

"God, Temperance. No!" Her eyes were pleading with his to help her understand why. "I think you will make a wonderful mother." He licked his lips nervously and placed his warm hand on top of her own. "Someday. I'm not sure that now is the right time. You could meet someone tomorrow and decide you want to spend the rest of your life with them. Someone you could fall in love with. That's who you should choose to have a baby with."

"I understand what you are saying Booth but I'm sure that now is the right time for me. And I know you want another child. This makes sense. It's a completely rational solution."

"Rational is not a factor."

"I don't understand Booth. Why don't you want this? You love being a father to Parker."

"I know. That why it's so hard. It kills me that I'm not there for him. And it's not just about the legal stuff. His first steps. His first words. The first time he slept through the night. I missed all that. All the precious experiences that happen just once. And I really don't know if I am prepared to put myself through all that pain again Bones."

"It wouldn't be the same Booth. I would make sure of it."

"And then you'll meet some guy, who'll want to be with you all the time, and you will want to be with him and I..." Booth flicked his wrist against the corner of his eye to disguise the moisture that was beginning to gather. "I will be in exactly the same situation as I am with Parker right now. I can't sit back and let some prick come in and steal my family."

"Are you still talking about us Booth?"

He looked straight through her.

"Listen to me Booth. I promise you. That's not how it would be."

"So tell me Bones. How would it be?"

"Like..." She paused to consider. "It would be just like it is now. But there would be a baby." Her answer was confident. She truly believed the words that were spilling out, uncensored.

Booth shook his head violently. "You can't possibly know that. Having a child changes you. Don't make promises you can't keep Bones."

"That's exactly how it was when we took care of Andy. He was there, but we still managed to carry on as normal."

"You! You had him for a couple of days. You were his foster carer. I was just helping you out."

"It didn't feel like we took care of him together?"

"Y'know, you can be very controlling, Bones."

Her face fell. "I really thought...."

"Wait! Are you suggesting we just throw a baby in the back of the SUV every time we follow up a lead?"

"There is room for another infant chair but daycare might be a more practical solution. I am as yet undecided on my preferred type. Although with our long and somewhat erratic working hours I suspect a Nanny would be the most suitable."

Booth buried his head in his hands as his protestations went unheard. She was so caught up in her own fantasy, nothing he said was getting through to her. Reaching over he cupped her chin in his hand "For you everything is black and white. I know thats how you like it. But there are always shades of gray and you can't ignore that Bones. There is always gray. And this time there is just too much gray."

"What are you saying Booth?"

"I can't do it. I can't have a baby with you like this. I'm sorry Temperance."

"It's not like I'm asking you to get down on one knee Booth."

"Maybe that's the problem. For me to have another child, it needs to be all or nothing. Please understand what I'm trying to say."

She nodded weakly. Her posture sagged, like she had been crushed, as his point of view became clear to her. "You need to be with someone who wants the big white wedding, two point four children and picket fence. Sure. I get it." She couldn't hide the devastation in her voice as she sprung to her feet and ran away from him down the steps.

She hadn't understood at all.