A/N: Wow, thanks for all the reviews for the last chapter! I am really blown away by the response to this story. I hope you all continue to enjoy it!
Disclaimer: I don't own Bones.
Three weeks later….
Booth and Bones had spent the last three weeks living together. It seemed surreal, as if they were on some sort of extended undercover mission. Except, of course, they weren't. Other than their living arrangements, life continued normally. They both returned to work. Bones matter-of-factly marched into Cam's office requesting to return to her position. Cam was astonished to learn the reason for Brennan's unexpected return and was nothing short of shocked to learn who the father of the pregnancy was. Cam made the intuitive leap that the babies were conceived "the old fashioned way." Nonetheless, Cam welcomed Bones back with open arms and her temporary replacement was gone by the day's end.
Hacker was less than pleased to learn that the woman he'd pursued for nearly a year was now pregnant with his subordinate's child. He toyed with the idea of permanently dissolving their partnership, but their solve rate was irreproachable, and, contingent upon weekly sessions with Sweets, their partnership was permitted to resume. Sweets was perhaps most dumbfounded by the news and wanted desperately to speak to each of the partners individually to discuss their current circumstances, but neither would oblige.
The partners settled into a routine together. In the morning, Booth brewed two pots of coffee – regular for himself and decaf for Bones. They traveled to work together, as they often had before. When Bones worked late, Booth would have dinner ready when she returned home. Cam teased Booth that they spent more time together than most married did. She was right of course, but the sad look in Booth's eyes, silenced her on the subject. She knew he was beyond counsel on the topic of Brennan.
As the first trimester of her pregnancy waned, Bones' morning sickness diminished. Meanwhile, her stomach was becoming more swollen to accommodate the new lives growing inside her. To avoid having to buy maternity close yet, she wore mostly dresses to work. Whenever Booth caught a glimpse of her baby bump, he couldn't help but smile.
In her fourteenth week of pregnancy, Bones found herself needing to get up multiple times each night to use the bathroom. At four a.m., she found herself peeling down the cover and heading towards the bathroom for the second time that night. After using the bathroom, she found it difficult to go back to sleep, so she walked into the kitchen intending to brew herself some chamomile tea. As she waited for the water to boil, she heard a faint sound coming from the guest room. It sounded like something of a whimper. Bones turned off the lit burner beneath the tea kettle and walked towards the room Booth was inhabiting.
When she was a few steps away from the guest room's door, she heard Booth cry "No! I can't!" Bones opened the door to her guest room to find Booth thrashing in bed, softly repeating, "No" over and over. Without hesitation, she approached him and sat beside him on the corner of the bed.
Gently tapping him on the shoulder, Bones said, "Booth, wake up. It's just a dream."
When he didn't awake, she shook him lightly, "Booth. Wake up."
Booth's eyes flew open, "Bones?"
"I'm here, Booth. It was just dream."
"But it seemed so real."
"It wasn't," Bones reassured.
Booth reached for her hand and lightly squeezed it. He placed her other hand protectively on her stomach.
"What was your dream about?" she asked softly.
When Booth began to speak, Bones noticed the moisture in his eyes. She scooted closer to him on the bed and squeezed his hand more tightly.
"You – you were in labor. They had taken you into the delivery room. It had been a long time, and I hadn't heard anything. Then, the doctor came out. Something was wrong. They told me they could do an emergency C-section but that your chances of survival were fifty-fifty, at best. If they saved you, they babies would suffer from lack of oxygen at best. There was a good chance neither of them would survive."
Bones looked at him wide-eyed.
"I had to choose," he said softly.
"It was a dream, Booth. If something happens during the delivery, I will be in a hospital receiving excellent care. And you won't be in the waiting room. You'll be in the delivery room with me," she replied her fingers softly stroked the bare skin of his arm.
Booth smiled. He desperately wanted to be in the delivery this time when his child – children – entered the world. But, he was afraid to broach the topic with Bones.
"I chose you," Booth whispered, "I would always choose you."
Booth wanted to ask her to stay, for tonight, for ever. But something in the soothing tone of her voice and gentleness of her touch told him that he didn't have – about the former at least. Wiggling her hand from Booth's grasp, she slid her arm around his shoulder.
"I know," she murmured.
Booth looked at Bones through tear filled eyes. She motioned for him to move over, and Booth moved towards the center of the bed. Bones wrapped her other arm around his Booth's chest and sat up straighter. Booth's head rest just above her collarbone in the crook of her neck, just as she'd laid against him on the night the babies were conceived.
"Go back to sleep," she whispered, her warm breath tickling his ear.
"Good night, Bones."
"Good night, Booth," she said, pressing her lips softly to his temple.
Bones felt the tension in Booth's shoulders dissipate as he drifted off to sleep. For nearly an hour, she just watched him sleep. His face wore a slight smile, and she wondered if he was having a more pleasant dream about their children's future. He seemed so vulnerable, almost childlike, as he slept in her arms. Booth had held her many times, but she couldn't recollect ever just holding him – or any man – in this way. With Booth in her arms, she felt needed, and for a change, the thought of being needed by another human being – even needing another human being – didn't scare her. As she held him - the man that she was on precipice of letting herself love - she slipped into a sweet slumber.
Let me know what you think! Reviews are greatly appreciated!
