A/N: I am soo sorry for the delay in posting this. I wanted to post before I left for vacation, but wasn't cooperating. Thanks for your reviews for the last chapter.

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Chapter Four: The Truth Will Set You Free

As the words left her lips, Bones felt the weight of years of repressed affection melt away. She also became acutely aware that she was only wearing a towel. Bones gently untucked the towel from above her breasts and let it fall in a clump on the floor. Booth moaned slightly at the sight of her naked before him. Before he could say a word, Bones captured his lips with hers.

No longer in the shadow of a fallen colleague, they made love.

~B&B~B&B~

"We were certainly correct in assuming we'd be sexually compatible," Bones said with a satisfied sigh.

Booth placed a moist kiss on her above her scapula, "You bet, baby."

Bones gave Booth a satisfied moan, and he wrapped his arms around her waist. He ran his hand over her still flat stomach, amazed at the thought of their child growing centimeters below the surface.

"Are you going to tell Angela about the baby today?" he asked dreamily.

"No, I want to wait until we've heard the fetus' heartbeat -."

"Baby," Booth interjected.

"What?" Bones asked.

Booth smiled realizing that Bones had assumed he was referring to her, "It's a baby, not a fetus."

"That is scientifically incorrect," Bones said before continuing her statement, "The chance of miscarriage decreases after hearing the baby's heartbeat."

"How soon will that be?" Booth asked.

"I have an appointment with my gynecologist on Thursday. I will be a seven weeks and two days pregnant at that point. They may be able to detect a heartbeat, but mostly likely they won't be able to until a few weeks later."

Booth nodded and kissed her soft cheek. He tried to push any thoughts that Bones could lose the baby into the recesses of his mind.

"But you'll tell her about us?" Booth asked.

Bones blushed slightly, "She's already aware that we had intercourse the night after Vincent's death."

"Oh, wow! I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall during that conversation," Booth said with a laugh.

Brennan stared at the skull before when she heard her best friend's voice.

"You trying to get that thing to talk to you?" asked Angela

"Are you being metaphoric?"

"I was trying to lighten the mood. It didn't work."

"The mastoid process is generally not a target in close quarter combat. Perhaps I should examine it microscopically," Brennan stated.

"You told me that an hour ago. What is going on? Is this about Vincent?" Angela asked.

Brennan looked down at the skull once more, "Yes."

"Yeah."

"And ..." She looked up at Angela. "I got into bed with Booth last night."

Angela gaped at her silently, rendered speechless.

"Why aren't you saying anything," an unnerved Brennan asked.

"Because ... I don't want to yell "Hallelujah" so close to losing Vincent."

"I think I did it because of Vincent."

"Wait ... whoa ... what exactly happened after you ... after you crawled into bed with Booth?"

Brennan's lips slowly curled up in a smile she thought about what had happened. She was grappling with words to answer Angela's question when Hodgins briskly entered the

room.

"I got the GC Mass Spec results on the bullet that killed Vincent."

"Honey No," Angela shouted. "Not right now. I'm sorry ... I love you but ... go tell Cam. Go ... Away ... AWAY!"

Hodgins left confused and frustrated.

"That could be important," Brennan remarked.

"Sweetie, believe, nothing is more important than your answer to that question. Did you and Booth have sex?" Angela asked expectantly.

Brennan took a deep breath before saying, "Yes, we did."

"OH…MY…GOD!" Angela said, struggling to modulate her voice.

"Shh!" Brennan said.

Quieter, Angela pressed, "I need details. How…how did this happen?"

"After Vincent's death, Booth insisted that I spend the night with him for my safety."

Angela smirked.

Bones looked at her curiously then continued, "I was sleeping on the couch. Booth offered to let me have the bed, but it seemed more practical that I sleep on the couch. I was…upset about something Vincent had said before he…died. I went into Booth's room, hoping he was awake."

Angela smiled. When she'd met Brennan seven years ago, she wouldn't have sought comfort from anyone in a moment like that, let alone from a man she had intense feelings for.

"Booth explained to me what Vincent meant by his statement, and then he…held me while we laid in his bed. After lying there a few minutes, I kissed him…then one thing led to another."

Angela narrowed her eyes, "You know if weren't grieving Vincent's loss there's no way I'd let you get away with such a vague account of your first time with Booth."

Brennan laughed.

"Was it…good?"

"I don't think 'good' would be a sufficient adjective to describe the experience."

"So, I was correct in assuming that Booth would be amazing in bed?" Angela said.

"Yes, you would be quite correct."

"Are you and Booth together now?" Angela asked.

"I suppose. We didn't discuss it."

"You didn't discuss it?" Angela exclaimed incredulously, "Did you discuss anything or just get down to business?"

"By get down to business, I assume you mean have sex. In that case, I suppose we just got down to business with minimal discussion beyond reassuring Booth that I did want to move forward."

Angela hugged her best friend as tightly as her swollen stomach would allow, "Oh, FINALLY! I'm so happy for you, sweetie!"

"Thanks, Ang. I'd appreciate if you didn't tell anyone about this," Brennan said..

"I'm going to need to details later," Angela added, "but don't worry, your secret's safe with me."

"Don't worry, I am sure she has been discreet and didn't share the information with anyone else, other than perhaps, Hodgins."

"Everyone will know soon enough," Booth stated, "Should we get ready to go?"

Bones hesitated, "No, let's just lay like this for a little while longer."

Booth kissed her temple softly, "That sounds good to me, Bones."

~B&B~B&B~

Booth and Bones arrived at the hospital a little over an hour later. They'd confirmed that neither Angela nor Jack was sleeping and stopped by the diner to bring the weary new parents a proper lunch.

"Hey, guys," greeted a tired but joyous Angela.

"Hi," Bones said softly, as to not wake the infant sleeping in the bassinet a few feet away.

It was a relief to be able to visit with Angela, Hodgins, and Michael without the weight of her secret with Booth on her shoulders.

"We brought you guys some lunch," Booth whispered.

Before Bones could present Angela with her Cobb salad, Michael began crying.

"Sounds like someone heard 'lunch' and wanted to join in," Hodgins said with a chuckle.

"I will get him," Bones offered excitedly.

Gingerly, Bones lifted Michael, red faced and crying, from his bassinet. Bones held her best friend's newborn son against her chest as she whispered reassuringly to him. As she rocked him slowly, he quieted.

"Wow, Bren!" Ang exclaimed, "You're quite the baby whisperer. Can I call you at two in the morning when he won't go back to sleep?"

"I suppose," Bones replied hesitantly.

Hodgins laughed, "She's just kidding, Dr. B. Why don't you sit in the rocking chair?"

Booth rested his hand on the small of Bones' back and guided her to the rocking chair in the corner of the room. As she settled into the chair, Booth imagined a similar scene in eight months with their own baby and a smile brightened his face. Bones glanced over at her shoulder at Booth as if she'd read his thoughts and smiled at him.

"Oh my God!" Angela exclaimed, "Would you two officially come out of the closet already?"

Bones looked at her best friend curiously, "I assume you are not referring to either of us confessing that we are homosexual."

Booth scrubbed his hand over his face as Angela gave Bones a disapproving look.

"No, sweetie."

Bones gave her friend a sly smile, "Booth and I are in a relationship."

Hodgins' eyes widened even more largely than they had at Angela's suggestion that Bones 'come out'.

"Wow, really?" Hodgins sputtered, "Ang, can you – you knew!"

Angela looked at her husband sheepishly and implored him to lower his voice.

"Yes, I knew. Sorry, babe. Girl code. I couldn't tell you."

"Wha – How long has this been going on?" Hodgins implored, stunned he'd been left in the dark.

Booth and Bones turned to look at one another and smiled guiltily.

"Just a few weeks," Booth said casually.

"Wow," Hodgins said clapping his hand on Booth's back, "that's awesome, man."

"Thanks," Booth muttered uncomfortably before steering the conversation back to Michael Hodgins.

Both parents eagerly told their friends about their first night of parenthood. As they spoke, Booth stole glances at Bones, who still held Michael. He'd fallen asleep against her chest. Without disturbing him, Bones inspected his tiny hands. She seemed to be adoringly studying him. As she did, Booth did the same to her. He watched as Michael closed his small fist around Bones' delicate fingers.

Booth inched closer to his girlfriend, "He likes you."

Bones smiled, although it was irrational for a newborn to "like" anyone, when his primary concern was having his needs met.

Michael soon awoke and began to cry.

"He's probably hungry," Angela remarked.

Bones nodded, and rose to place her best friend's son in her arms.

"Can you untie this gown at the shoulder?" Angela asked of Bones.

"Oh, sure."

"Uh…maybe I'll go get a coffee," Booth stated uncomfortably.

"You can stay," Angela replied.

"I…uh…think I'd rather get a coffee."

Bones frowned, "Breast feeding is very healthy for babies and a bonding experience for mothers. I hope you will be more comfortable when I breast feed our baby."

Booth's eyes widened when the words left Bones' mouth, but he remained silent. Perhaps, Angela and Hodgins would think she was just speaking in the abstract.

Angela looked her best friend up and down before declaring, "You're pregnant! Oh…My…God…you and Booth are having a baby!"

A sleep deprived Hodgins looked thoroughly confused, while Bones didn't immediately respond.

Angela looked from Booth to Brennan, imploring one of them to speak.

"Yes," Bones finally replied, "I am pregnant. We, evidently, conceived during our first sexual encounter."

"Encounter?" Booth parroted.

"Oh my God! No wonder you seemed so freaked out after I gave birth to this little guy!"

Bones blushed, a bit ashamed that she'd let her own news color her reaction to her best friend's new arrival.

"How far along?"

"A little over six weeks. We hadn't planned on telling anyone yet."

"Wow," Hodgins said, finally speaking, "Michael will have a little playmate."

Hodgins clapped Booth on the back in congratulations.

"I'm sorry," Bones stammered, "Today is about seeing Michael. I didn't mean to steal your lightening."

"Thunder, sweetie. Are you kidding? I am so happy for you guys! Though, now I am really going to need those details."

~B&B~B&B~

Booth and Hodgins exited, getting the aforementioned coffee, giving the girls some time to talk alone.

"When did you find out?" Angela asked.

"Yesterday, well, the day before. Yesterday, I had a blood test, but I'd already taken a home pregnancy test. Several, actually."

"Oh, sweetie. But you're happy about this?" Angela asked sympathetically.

"I have many feelings about this, but yes, happy is among them," Bones replied with a smile.

Angela chuckled, "It's in the top five, I hope."

"I don't know what that means."

"Never mind. Booth is over the moon, I assume"

"Yes, he is quite excited. I was…concerned abut how he might react."

"Booth? He's all about family. Why wouldn't he be excited about this baby?"

"Booth has very high moral standards, and I know the difficulties he's experienced with Rebecca regarding Parker…and Hannah didn't want children."

"She told you that?" Angela asked.

"Yes, she did, so I assume that she shared this with Booth as well. He wanted to marry her," Bones said quietly.

"Oh, Bren. No matter what Booth said that night, Hannah was a consolation prize. He was always trying to be someone he wasn't when he was with her."

"Booth said the same thing," Bones said, her eyes beginning to tear up, "Sorry, I don't…"

"It's okay, sweetie. You're pregnant. Booth loves you, Bren, and he's going to love your baby."

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