Having just concluded the final chapter on her next book, Brennan was about to shut her laptop when she heard a knock on her door. After glancing at the clock and seeing that is was nearing 2 am she headed toward the door. There aren't many people who would come knocking at my door at this hour, she thought. She looked through the peephole and not at all surprised at who was standing there, opened the door.
"Booth."
He was standing at her door holding what looked to be a large pizza and a 2-liter of her favorite soda.
"Hey, Bones! You up for a late night snack?" He asked, rather enthusiastically.
Pulling her robe tighter around her and smiling slightly, she stood back to let him in. He went straight to her kitchen and dropped off the pizza and soda, then flung his coat over a chair as though he lived there.
"Make yourself at home." Brennan said only slightly sarcastically.
"Thanks, I will." Booth replied with his usual cocky grin.
"May I ask the reason for this late night visit, Booth?"
Without looking up from pouring soda, Booth said: "I have an answer for you."
At Brennan's quick intake of breathe Booth looked up at her. He saw a myriad of emotions cross her face. Anticipation, fear, and hope being the most dominate ones.
"I didn't think that you would have an answer so quickly Booth. Are you sure you've had enough time to think about it?" Brennan said. He's going to say no, I just know he is. I want this too much for him to say no, she thought.
"Well, I'm not going to change my mind. But I could always wait a few days and then tell you if you'd prefer." Booth responded with a mischievous grin.
"No, no. I'd rather you just tell me now." She said while thinking, that way I can go ahead and try to make other plans.
"I'll do it."
"What???"
"I said, I'll do it. Do we need to have your hearing checked Bones?"
She nearly sank to the floor with relief. It was almost as if a weight had been lifted off her heart. Metaphorically speaking, of course. She didn't understand why she wanted this so much, only that she did. Keeping her composure in check (even though she wanted to dance with joy) she asked: "Are you sure?"
"Yep." Was her only answer.
"Booth, look at me." She said while coming around the table to stand directly in front of him. He looked up at her and stared into her beautiful blue eyes. "Are you really, really sure? This isn't something that you can change your mind about in a few months."
"I'm very aware of that Bones, thank you. I already have another child, remember? I kind of know how permanent they are."
She searched his face to see if he was being as sincere as he sounded. She didn't want him to do this just because she'd asked him or that he felt bad for having said no the first time. She actually wanted him to want this baby with her. 'Whoa, wait a minute where did that thought come from? I want him to want my child?' Brennan thought, but pushed it to the back of her mind to analyze later. She found the sincerity she was looking for.
"Booth, thank you. All I can say is thank you!" She said and then flung herself into his arms. Caught a little off guard by her enthusiasm Booth caught her, but just barely. He wrapped his arms tightly around her and just held on. Turning his head just slightly he caught a whiff of her hair and almost sighed. He started to pull back but Brennan wouldn't let him. Finally after a few more seconds she pulled back a little and kissed him on the cheek. "Thank you Booth." She whispered in his ear. He had to suppress a shudder as she did. His chest tightened up at having her so close to him.
Hoping to lighten the mood slightly he said: "No problem Bones. Glad I could help."
He stepped back to put more distance between them and started to dish up the pizza. He handed her a plate and received a murmured 'thank you'.
"Couch or table?" He asked.
"Let's eat at the couch, it'll be more comfortable."
They sat down and dug into the pizza, collapsing into a comfortable silence. Brennan looked up to see that Booth had pizza sauce on the corner of his mouth and innocently reached over and wiped it off with her thumb. She realized her mistake almost as soon as she made it as she watched his eyes darken.
"Umm, pizza sauce. You had pizza sauce on your face Booth." She said quickly while wiping her thumb on a napkin.
He continued to stare at her for a few seconds longer then finally broke her gaze and mumbled a thank you.
Wanting to completely change the subject Brennan said that she would have papers drawn up to protect him from having to monetarily support the baby.
"No."
"No?"
"No, Bones. I said I didn't need that before when I wasn't going to be involved with the child and I certainly don't need it now that I will."
"But Booth, I just want you to be protected…." Brennan said before Booth cut her off.
"Bones, look, you said that this wouldn't be like with Parker. I don't want a piece of paper that says what I can and cannot do or when I can or cannot see my child. If something happened and you ended up in a bad financial situation I would help you as much as I could regardless of whether the child was mine or not. And I trust you that you won't try to keep the child away from me. Like you said, we're together most of the time anyway. But if the only way you will feel comfortable with using me as a donor is to have paperwork in place, then maybe I shouldn't do it."
"NO! Booth, that's not what I meant at all! Of course I wouldn't try to keep the baby away from you. That's horrible, and I think that it is terrible of Rebecca to do that to you with Parker. I just, I just didn't want you to feel used or manipulated down the road. That's all."
"Ok, then, so we are in agreement? No paperwork?"
"Yes, if that is what you want than yes. And I'm sorry about what I said about Rebecca. That was uncalled for and certainly not my place to say it."
"Don't worry about it Bones. If you don't have the right to say it there aren't many people do."
"Thanks Booth."
They continued to eat their pizza in silence until Brennan finally asked a question, very softly.
"Why did you agree Booth?"
"Why did I agree?"
Brennan nodded. She really needed to know that he was doing this because he wanted to and not just to make her happy.
"I said yes for two reasons Bones. I'll admit that one reason was because it was what you wanted." He raised a hand to tell her to wait when she started to interrupt him. "Now wait and let me tell you the second reason before you interrupt me. The second reason, is simple. I really do want more children. And as it doesn't seem like my life is heading down that path naturally, you gave me a good option. Plus like you said, statistacally you will have a gifted child." He concluded with a smirk. He didn't add that she was the only woman whom he wanted to be the mother of his child. Or that ever since she had asked him the first time all he had been able to picture was holding a little baby that stared at him with her big blue eyes, or a little girl with those same blue eyes and honey-gold pigtails spouting off the number of bones in the human body.
"Ok."
"What, just ok?"
"Your second reason was valid. Why should I question it?"
Booth just chuckled and said: "Alright Bones, if that works for you, it works for me."
They finished the pizza and Booth got up to leave. Brennan followed him to the door and just as he was about to leave, leaned up and kissed his cheek again.
"Thanks Booth." She said and shut the door. Booth stood there and leaned his forehead against the closed door. It's going to be a long 9 months, he thought.