Chapter VII

October, Part II: Confidence

"What are we supposed to do now, Seeley?"

Temperance was on the verge of tears. She had not been feeling like this since her parents had disappeared over fifteen years ago. The logic loving woman was not able to think clearly. Alarming pictures were troubling her mind already. Sickening images of herself and William at the point of having to detach from each other. Temperance shut her eyes and tried to repress these cogitations. They felt so close though.

She wished that Russ had never called. Her love for William exceeded her love for Russ highly and if she had the choice she would always choose a life with this little boy and decline a life which includes her brother but not being able to raise William on her own. Temperance would have never thought that she could get attached so easily to someone that young.

She could not detain her tears any longer, snuggled closer to Seeley and put her head onto his lap. He started to caress her underarm knowing that his action on this specific bodypart of her would have a comforting effect on the woman he loved. Temperance breathing relaxed but she was not sleeping. Instead, she gazed into the dark room. She took Seeley's other hand, directed it towards her belly and pressed his palm against it.

"It's probably the worst moment to tell you this and I'm sorry but being sensitive has never been my strength. Seeley, I can't keep it a secret any longer. It's yours as well so you've got the right to know," she inhaled deeply, "I'm at least two months pregnant already and I feel bad about not telling you sooner. I should have told you…"

Temperance started to cry. Oh God, she hated being that way, exposing her weakness even though it was her boyfriend who saw her bawling like this. She could not help it. The fear of losing William and the little individual growing inside her made her feel powerless. The feeling of not being able to choose what was going on in her life had never suited Temperance. "I don't understand it myself. It's not reasonable. Are you mad?"

She rose and looked into Seeley's beautiful eyes. Temperance could always lose herself in them. He took her face in his hands and kissed her gently. The young woman knew that he wanted to make her forget just for now and this time she would not stop him. She would enjoy the few moments he was about to give her tonight to ignore everything which had been happening. They slowly moved closer and her left hand grabbed his hair as he was undoing her bra. Seeley helped her getting rid of her shirt as well and stroked her exposed breasts endearingly.

"Do you trust me?" He asked huskily while he unbuttoned her pants and pulled them down.

"Yes." Temperance answered and shut her eyes. Whatever he was going to do she would let him devotingly.

He slipped to the end of the couch kissing the area around her bellybutton and moved further to her pelvic bones… He finally spread Temperance legs apart and Seeley's index finger moved along her right leg while the other one had already found its target.

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Both were lying completely exhausted on the soft carpet observing each other in silence. Temperance put her head on Seeley's arm and faced him as she was stroking his sweaty shoulder. He moved his other hand towards her lower abdomen but suddenly halted for a second, as if he was reconsidering his actions.

"May I?"

Temperance took his hand and repeated her action from earlier that night. Her hand reminded on top of Seeley's. She loved how his beautiful fingers touched her skin. He would always treat her so carefully! Both were gazing down at their hands, knowing what was happening beneath them. She moved even closer to Seeley and he wrapped his arms around her. Temperance's head was now lying ontop of his torso and she inhaled his scent.

"Anytime." She answered under her breath.

"Temperance," he kissed her gently and smiled, "I'm not mad at you for not telling me sooner. I kind of figured out myself. I…," he looked a little bit guilty and bit his lips,"you should have gotten your period at the beginning of September, " he twinkled at her surprised expression, "and you haven't been complaining about – you know – cramps like you had done before…"

"Nice to know that someone is actually that interested in my cycle," she grinned and laughed softly, "as long as you don't count my tampons…, " both grimaced at the thought and Seeley tickled her underarm, "hey…stop," she demanded jokingly, "I'm fine with it."

Temperance had not felt that happy for days. He just knew how to make her smile again without ignoring the circumstances entirely. Seeley gave her a feeling of confidence. They would endure this mess somehow and she would definitively not abandon hope. Maybe the adoption papers had already been authorized. It's really a small wonder what a release of biologic chemicals could cause. Temperance thought and crawled her lover's neck.

"You know, a year ago William was just a little embryo himself."

She nodded and sighed. Temperance was thinking the exact same thing. She knew that Seeley would love to raise another child with her and the idea of having an abortion had crossed her mind just briefly, really briefly.

"We'll manage it somehow, Temperance. I promise you. You won't have to quit your job only because of having another baby," he kissed her left cheek, "you are not alone. I will never leave you, okay?"

She smiled and kissed him back.

"It's weird, although I've actually never wanted kids let alone giving birth myself, I did pick out a couple of names, just in case of course…"

Seeley raised his eyebrows with surprise.

"Just in case? You are unbelievable Dr. Brennan. You are one of a kind. I would have never guessed that," he laughed and tickled her neck, "would you like to tell me?"

Temperance's whole body was shaking. She concentrated hard on remaining silent and grinned from ear to ear as she was trying to escape from Seeley's arms.

"Oh please, Temperance," he teased wrapping his arms tightly around the young woman's slim body, "tell me, don't hide them from me."

He raised his voice playfully and bit her right ear softly.

"I will tell you but please, Seeley," she attempted to break loose from his titillating fingers and gasped, "you've reached a really sensitive spot right now…Seeley! Leave my underarms alone! I will tell you…"

"What?," he stopped and laughed triumphing, "really, here? Right now?"

Temperance rolled her eyes and sighed. "You are such a child, Special Agent Seeley Booth."

She stressed "Special Agent" in particular and grabbed his hands fast.

"I always liked Aurora, Ava and Zoé for a girl and Colin, Elias and Levi for a boy …oh, please don't ask me why exactly," she added as Seeley frowned, "I like the sound of them. That's all, really."

Seeley eyed her suspiciously but smiled and kissed her belly.