Brennan came down the stairs into the living room and looked over at Booth. "She's asleep. She was exhausted." She sat next to him and picked up his glass and smelt his drink. "mmm. I would love one, but I better not. You want a top up?" she asked holding his glass up and jiggling it so that the ice clinked against the glass. He nodded and smiled, watching her walk across and pour the 20 year old scotch he was saving into his glass. "Bones! Oh, never mind" he mumbled as she turned and looked at him, unsure what he was saying. She put ice in a second glass and filled it with soda water, then carried them back over to the counter slipping his across towards him.

"This afternoon was the single most, mentally exhausting thing I think I have ever experienced." Booth sat at the breakfast counter, his head in his hands. Fingers threaded through his hair. They find a tiny hair clip. A pink bow, gripping his hair. "How many of these things did the girls use?" he exclaimed as he pulled it out of his hair, wincing as the clip refused to let go of a coarse curl and threatened to pull it from his scalp.

"Oh Booth. Leave it. You look adorable!" Brennan laughed at him. He glared from under his brows, his eyes twinkling. "You would love that wouldn't you. If I hadn't found it and went out in public with that attached to my head" he said as she nodded enthusiastically, grinning widely. Christine and Emma had sat pushing brightly coloured hair clasps into Booth's hair. The pair of them giggling as he winced every time they jabbed one into his scalp. The pain still evident as he poked around his head looking for any more clips that Brennan perhaps had failed to tell him about.

"Well, I for one think that today went quite well." Brennan announced. "The girls had a lovely time together. They played really well, don't you think?" she asked Booth. His face was smooshed, cupped in one hand as he leaned his elbow on the counter. "Oh yeah. Just great. Until Itsy Bitsy Spider made his grand entrance, balance on top of our daughters head. I swear, I would not have thought it possible for a human being that small to make a noise that loud!" Brennan pursed her lips and shrugged, her eyes widely innocent. "Well you were the one who taught her to wear it like a Rastafarian wig!" she said indignantly. Booth shook his head, "And don't pull that face. You knew it would happen. I told you it would happen. Wait! I thought you didn't understand that I was being a Rastafarian?" he said, as he realised she had duped him earlier. Brennan smiled and shrugged again.

"Booth. I think you are over reacting. I believe Emma is too sensitive"

"Bones! She's two!"

"Well, Christine is two and she's not frightened of anything!"

Booth chuckled rubbing his hands on his chest, "Well, that's because she takes after her father. We Booth's don't scare easy"

Brennan pulled a face "Well, I suppose she has gotten some of her genetics providing bravado from you. She's very advance for a two year old though in most areas." Booth raised a hand, palm towards her his eyes closed "Bones. Let's not start that again. Please. I had to listen to you verbally sparring with Emma's Mom all afternoon. You two were as bad as one another. You both think your child is better than the others. You both tried some serious one-upmanship today. You with the whole oooh Christine isn't scared of anything. Oooh Christine climbs and paints like an old master, and reads books about bugs And Emma's Mom with the whole Well Emma can already tumble and Emma knows her colours and numbers and already does ballet Booth closed his eyes and lifted his head up, his hands hanging by his sides palms out "I was starting to get nauseous with all the backwards and forwards posturing".

"Booth"

"No. Bones. Enough. I think it's great that Christine had a play date. It's good for her to play with other kids her age. What I don't think is great that you feel the need to compare her to every other child she comes in contact with." Brennan frowned "I don't know what you mean" Booth pointed at her "Like when you thought she couldn't play peek-a-boo."

Brennan interjected "But that was a real concern Booth. The other children played it and really enjoyed the fun of it!" Booth turned to face her, grabbing her by the shoulders. "It's time I came clean Bones. Christine and I always play peek-a-boo"

"You do not. She doesn't respond to it! Plus I distinctly remember you saying it was a stupid game, which I am inclined to agree with now." Brennan argued.

"Yes we do. She just likes playing it with me better I guess. Plus I don't just stand in front of her with my hands over my eyes. I actually hide in places and poke my head out and play it with her. She loves it."

Brennans face was crestfallen "but"

Booth felt bad. "Look Bones. It doesn't matter. It's just that I taught her to play it a certain way. I guess she just didn't understand what you were doing with your hands over your face. It's nothing against you. If you played with her the same way I do, she'd probably love it." He wrapped his arms around her. "I'll make a deal with you. I won't teach this new little one how to play peek-a-boo." He let one hand rest on her stomach. "I'll let you teach him, your way." She smiled into his shoulder "And how do you know it's going to be a boy?"

Booth squeezed her harder "I don't know, I just know. We'll have a pigeon pair. A girl and a boy. It just feels right."

Brennan pushed herself back from him. "Booth you already have a boy. Parker." Booth smiled "I know, but he's so grown up now. This is different. This is our family. Our baby. A brother for our daughter. I love Parker. You know I do. But we've starting a new family here. And I just have this idea that we'll have a girl, then a boy, and then maybe another girl." Brennans eyes widened, her eyebrows shooting up "Really? Well perhaps we should talk about that after I've delivered this one, shall we? And by the way three is not a pair" Booth laughed out loud. A deep rich laugh that made Brennan feel good.

"Well I'm wiped, its been a busy day" he said, downing his drink and standing up. "I need to hit the hay. You coming?" he asked. Brennan picked up the empty glasses and smiled "Just rinsing these and I'll be right up" Booth stepped towards her and cupped her face, kissing her deeply "I'll be waiting" he said. Brennan smiled and turned to walk to the kitchen "More likely you will wait for approximately three minutes and then begin snoring. But I appreciate the offer."

Booth's face dropped and he opened his mouth to respond, but he knew there was a fair chance she was right. When he was tired he dropped off into a deep sleep as soon as he hit the pillow. He closed his mouth and turned and headed upstairs.

Brennan smiled as she washed the glasses and wiped down the counters. She stopped, her breath catching in her throat. She winced, and pressed her hand to her belly. The pain was gone as quickly as it came. She stood for a moment, but nothing else happened. Shrugging well that was odd and headed up to bed, turning off lights as she went.

As predicted, Booth was sprawled across the bed, mouth open and snoring. She smiled as she undressed and climbed in next to him, pushing him over onto his side to make room for her. Snuggling up and spooning him, absorbing his body heat, relaxing her. His words I'll be waiting making her smile as she drifted into slumber alongside him.