Chapter 10

Angela sipped her iced tea, watching her friend over the rim of her glass. It had been three days since the vasectomy episode and things seemed to be okay between Brennan and Booth. But Angela's radar was on high alert. Brennan wasn't acting any different, but something felt…off.

"I'm thinking about getting a tubal ligation," Brennan said after their food arrived.

Angela frowned. "Really? What does Booth think about that?"

Brennan shrugged. "I haven't told him yet."

"Told him? Don't you mean, you haven't discussed it with him?" Angela asked.

"What's to discuss? It's my body. If I want to have a tubal ligation, then I'll have one," Brennan said reasonably.

Angela shook her head. "That's where you're wrong, sweetie. While I would normally agree with the 'it's my body' argument, being married puts a kink in it. You have to discuss it with Booth."

Brennan frowned and finished chewing. "You just contradicted yourself. If it's my body and my decision, why do I need to talk it over with Booth?"

Her friend shook her head and rolled her eyes. "It's not like you're thinking about changing your hairstyle, Bren. Getting your tubes tied affects both of you."

The frown intensified. "I've made it clear that I don't want any more children. Why should he have a problem with a tubal ligation?"

"Trust me, he will." Brennan was staring at her and Angela had to count to ten to control the urge to slap her. "Don't even think about doing it without talking to him first, okay? For the sake of your relationship?"

"I guess you're right," Brennan said reluctantly. Angela was watching her with a worried look on her face. "I promise I won't decide until I've talked to him."

Angela sighed with relief. "Good." She glanced at Brennan's plate. "You gonna finish those fries?" she asked hopefully. With an absent shake of her head, Brennan pushed the plate away, her thoughts already on the best way to bring up the subject with Booth. If Angela was right, it wasn't going to be an easy conversation.

B&B&B&B&B&B

She really hated to bring it up during the only 'alone' time they had, but she didn't know when else to do it. They were relaxing on the couch after Russ was bathed and put to bed that night. Booth had put on some soft jazz and they were stretched out on the couch together unwinding, his head on her lap. She was absently stroking his hair, her mind working on the best way to bring up the subject.

"Parker has a soccer game Saturday morning," he said idly. "Wanna come?"

"Hmmm?" she said, dropping her gaze to his. "Oh, sure. I suppose I could go to the lab in the afternoon."

Booth reached up and tugged at a lock of her hair. "Hey, the lab can survive without you for one Saturday, Temperance."

"Maybe. Let me think about it. It's only Tuesday," she replied.

"Okay," he said agreeably, then his eyes drifted closed. "Mmmm, that feels good." She was stroking his forehead lightly. She smiled faintly and continued for a few more minutes. Finally she couldn't wait any longer.

"Seeley?" she asked softly, tentatively.

His eyes popped open and his body tensed. She rarely called him Seeley. "What?" he asked warily. She was watching him solemnly.

"I'm thinking about getting a tubal ligation," she said finally.

He frowned and sat up. This wasn't a 'head in the lap' kind of conversation. "Are you sure you want to do something that drastic?" he asked. He knew he was going to have to tread carefully with her. She was so stubbornly independent.

"I don't want more children. I don't know how to convey how strongly I feel about that. For some reason, everyone thinks I might change my mind, but I'm very certain—"

Booth frowned. "How is this different from me getting a vasectomy?"

Brennan pursed her lips, trying not to lose her temper. "It isn't. I have accepted that you're unwilling to have a vasectomy. You have every right to make that decision. It's your body. By the same token, I should be able to make the same kind of decision in regards to my body."

Booth jumped to his feet and paced away from her. When he was far enough away, he turned to look at her. "You're forgetting the main difference between the two scenarios," he began desperately. He had to make her see reason. "You wanted me to get a vasectomy. I don't want you to get a tubal ligation."

It was her turn to get to her feet. "What gives you the right to make that kind of decision for me?" she asked harshly, her voice rising as her temper flared.

"I'm your husband!" he replied, starting to get angry himself. That she would consider doing this, to destroy his last hope of ever having another child with her, was tearing him up.

"I was wondering when you were going to try this!" she said in a low, angry voice.

"Try what?" he asked, nonplussed.

"To exert some kind of control over me, like marrying me gave you some kind of license to push me around!" she accused hotly.

"Don't you think you're blowing this out of proportion?" he asked unwisely.

That pushed her over the edge. "Yeah, that's me, the wildly emotional woman, blowing things way out of proportion!"

"We're just having a discussion. I'm not trying to tell you what to do; I just want to have the chance to talk it over before you do something this drastic."

She went on like he hadn't spoken. "This is why I didn't want to get married—ever, to anyone. Get married and in no time at all, the man takes over and thinks he ought to run things." She folded her arms over her middle and looked at him sadly. "I hoped it was going to be different with you," she said with a catch in her voice.

That stopped him cold. He had set out five years ago to show her how good marriage could be. So far, he thought it had gone very well. Sure, they had had their share of bumpy spots, but they'd always worked through them together and he knew their relationship was stronger now than it had ever been. They'd get through this too.

She sighed, suddenly weary to the bone. She turned and started toward the hallway. "Its late, I'm going to bed," she said over her shoulder.

He stood helplessly watching her walk away. Maybe she just needed some time to think about it. Sometimes the best thing to do was to leave her alone to work things out. He waited until he knew she was in bed, then went in to get ready for bed himself. For the first time in their marriage, they fell asleep back to back, not touching.

B&B&B&B&B

The invisible wall was still there the next morning. They were polite to each other, like two strangers forced to share living accommodations. Russ seemed to pick up on the tension between the adults and chose to be difficult.

"I don' like corn flakes," he mumbled as his mother poured him a bowl.

"Fine. How about some Rice Krispies?" she asked, forcing a light tone.

He scowled, looking like a miniature of his daddy, with his brown eyes and unruly dark hair. "I like Cap'n Crunch," he said stubbornly.

Brennan counted silently to ten. "You know I don't buy that stuff, its pure sugar. We have Cheerios," she offered.

Heavy sigh. "'Kay," he said grumpily. Pouring the corn flakes back, she poured the Cheerios and added milk.

Booth came in pulling on his jacket. "Hey buddy, you need to hurry. I have an early meeting."

"I could take him," she offered, her eyes not quite meeting his.

"Are you sure?" Booth asked, grabbing a bagel and a travel mug full of coffee.

"Yeah, I'll just be a little late," she said, turning to refill her coffee cup.

"Thanks, I'll owe you one," he said, striving for a light tone, willing her to meet his eyes. He leaned in to kiss her, which she returned automatically. "Lunch at the diner at noon?" he murmured hopefully. That got her attention and his heart rose as her beautiful eyes finally locked with his. She nodded. Suddenly he couldn't wait for noon.

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She beat him to the diner, but only because she showed up ten minutes early. She was sipping iced tea when he came in. Sliding into the booth, he signaled the waitress for an iced tea.

"Hi," he said with a smile, searching her eyes for some sign as to her mood.

She smiled too. Good sign. "Hi. How is your day going?" Gone was the evasive eyes and chilly demeanor. Booth could tell she had reached some kind of decision. He just hoped it was one he could live with.

"Good. No new cases, so I've been able to catch up on some paperwork," he said. In truth, he hadn't gotten much done, he was so busy wondering what to say to her—and what she would say to him.

She waited until they had started eating before bringing up the subject that was foremost in their minds. "I talked to my doctor. He recommends that I try the patch."

Booth frowned, puzzled. "They make a patch for it now?"

She nodded. "Yes, he assured me its one of the best methods of birth control with the fewest side effects."

Relief flooded him. "Great. I mean, if that's what you want to do," he said, searching her eyes.

She smiled. "I think it's a good compromise." Her smile faded. "I'm sorry about what I said, about being married to you. I didn't mean it."

His eyes softened. "I know you didn't." She gave him a doubtful look. "Okay, I have to admit, I did worry that you might really regret marrying me."

She reached for his hand, sorry that she had caused him to worry. "I did." His mouth dropped open and she hastened to explain. "For just a little while, in the middle of being mad, I wondered if it had been a mistake. Even after five years, I'm still not used to being accountable to someone else," she said gently.

"Come here," he said hoarsely, opening his arms to her. She hesitated, then scooted around the booth and into his arms. He closed them around her as she burrowed into his chest. "I love you," he murmured in her ear. She pulled back a little to look up at him. "I'm glad—make that ecstatic—that I married you. I already knew you were a strong, independent woman—I admired that in you, even though it drove me nuts sometimes." Her lips twisted into an almost smile at that. "I didn't marry you to change you. Over the years we've made compromises for each other. I think it's what makes our relationship so strong." She snuggled back up to him and he sighed, relieved that they had settled it.