Temperance and Booth rested together on the bed, he held her against him and held her, kissing her forehead when she whimpered involuntarily from the pain in her back, her abdomen, and anywhere else in her body that decided to pinch or ache at that particular moment. The nurses came in and out periodically as Booth finally closed his eyes, letting sleep whisk him away for a few moments of peace. He dreamed of tiny toes and tiny fingers, his daughter's laughter, his son's voice. He dreamed of Temperance, saying his name in a tender whisper, professing her love and thanking him for his patience.

"Booth?" Temperance's voice was a bit more forceful, and his eyes flickered open to find his head resting on her shoulder. "The nurse wants to know if you want to ride to NICU with us, or walk along the side of the bed." She said with a sarcastic smile, that his faux glare clashed with.

"I was just getting up." He grunted, his muscles sore from the incredibly uncomfortable position he had found himself in.

"Perhaps you would benefit from some physical therapy while we're here at the hospital." She asked him as he playfully poked her nose.

"Don't worry about me." He mumbled as he watched the nurse move around the bed, moving wires and tubes, and things he hadn't even noticed or wondered about before, because he was just so concerned with her face. He could see the excitement in her eyes, the happiness bubbling up through her normally reserved personality. There was a soft glowing sense that seemed to just emanate from her and make her more beautiful than ever, despite the tubes, the wires, and lack of sleep and make up, she was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen.

"Alright, mommy and daddy…" The nurse said, attempting to gain attention from the two of them who seemed to be in their own little world. "Let's go meet that little one." She said, looking to the door as an orderly came in and helped to pull the bed, and before they knew it, they were on their way to NICU.

The bed was rolled down the hallway, and Booth caught Temperance glancing in rooms periodically, a strange, longing look on her face, he reached his hand for hers and she looked up at him. "We have one waiting for us." He winked as she smiled sleepily at his knowing her thoughts.

"I do believe that mind reading is a form of invasion of privacy."

"Try to prove that it's possible." He said, his tone full of tease and happiness as she let squeezed his hand as they neared the NICU unit of the hospital.

The next half hour or so was filled with confusion for Booth as things just happened much too fast for him to comprehend. Temperance could feel his confusion and apprehension, and held his hand as the doctors explained the procedure they had used with her, and the lengths they were going through to keep Gracie happy and healthy due to her early arrival. When they brought her into the room, there was silence between the two parents as the nurse began to explain a few things to Temperance about something they called 'kangarooing'. His head snapped in the direction of Temperance, just as they began to remove the front of her gown, Booth had to fight the urge to tell them to save the woman some dignity and give her a break, when he saw the look on Temperance's face as she watched the baby in the incubator.

Her eyes were so bright and full of excitement that tugged at his heartstrings. She looked up at him and gave him the most brilliant smile. "Preemies cannot maintain their body temperature, and while in the NICU, she will be under warmers, but they recommend what is called 'kangarooing', which is skin to skin contact with the mother, where my body temperature will regulate hers." She explained as Booth just nodded and smiled as she explained all of the other tubes and wires that were protruding as they brought the baby to her and settled her against her chest. Booth reached behind him and pulled a chair up, watching as the tiny little bundle was placed in Temperance's arms.

The baby was covered with another warmer, her tiny head visible to Booth as he watched in awe as Brennan lightly ran her finger over her little girl's skin. "Grace." She whispered, taking a slow, deep breath as tears came to her eyes.

"Bones, you okay?"

"I'm perfect." She whimpered back to him, watching his eyes, she tried to hold back the tears but found it impossible. He reached forward and carefully wiped her tears away.

The doctor explained the ventilator, a tube so large compared to the tiny baby, that it almost seemed like a monstrosity. There was an IV in her arm, sending minerals, nutrients, water, and antibiotics into her tiny body to stave off infection. She moved a bit against her mother, her face resting right against Temperance's chest, just above her heart.

"I bet she likes hearing your heartbeat." Booth whispered.

"It is very soothing for a child to hear their mother's heartbeat. It is known to regulate their own heartbeat, because they feel secure and safe hearing the sounds that they heard while in the womb, which is why it is very important that you talk to her."

"What do… I say to her?" He asked, watching Temperance run her finger over the tiny baby's skin.

"Tell her stories… tell her about yourself… about her brother and sister, about us."

"Sing?"

"You can sing." She nodded. "You can say anything, Booth."

"Can I tell her stories about you?"

"Yes."

"Will you tell her stories about me?" He asked, running his finger over the baby's tiny arm.

"Of course." She said, holding eye contact, she sensed a bit of sadness in his voice as he watched her hold the baby.

"Do you want to hold her?" She whispered, watching his eyes light up at her question.

"Can I?"

"Of course you can." She said, putting her hand on his for a moment as he kneaded the blanket with his fingers. "She's ours, Booth. She's not just yours, not just mine… ours… we're together, right? Do you want to hold her?"

"Yes." He said, watching Temperance turn to the nurse. "Wait, wait… not just yet… not just yet." He said, moving the chair just a little closer to the bed. "I want to watch you both together for a little longer."

Temperance tipped her head against the pillow, watching as he watched in wonder.

"She's really small." Booth whispered. "There's more blanket then there is her." He said, leaning over both mother and child. He was absolutely captivated by the two of them, the sounds and machines that were frightening to most parents were just a simple obstacle for him. He had faith that it would all be well, he knew how strong he was, how strong Temperance was, and he knew that this little one had to be strong as well.

"Is this your first child, Mister Booth?" The nurse asked politely as she helped hold the wires and tubes carefully.

"This is… my first birth." He whispered, still watching the baby continually. "Temperance and I have another child, but I was out of the country at the time of her birth." He replied, details were not necessary. "I also have a son…" He said, his eyes meeting with Temperance's, she could see the deeper meaning. "His mother and I have shared custody… I wasn't there for his birth." He whispered.

"But you're always going to be his father." Temperance said, not to anyone but him. He gave a simple nod and narrowed his eyes at her playfully, a hint of a sly smile on his lips.

"They're with their grandfather right now." Booth said, breaking eye contact with Temperance to look at the nurse. "Can I hold her now?" He asked, the pleading sound in his voice was endearing, and the nurse smiled and nodded, noting his enthusiasm. The nurse looked to Temperance and smiled as they gathered the baby and all of her tubes and wires and carefully transferred her to Booth's arms.

It looked so odd, this large man holding such a tiny bundle in his arms. It looked odd, but to Temperance, and to Booth, it also looked right. He looked down at the baby's face, knowing that with a few more pounds and some love and care, she would grow stronger, and that face would change, he tried his very best to memorize it. She moved a bit in his arms, her free hand moving up to wiggle her little fingers, moving against the skin of her face, he whispered to her as he dipped his finger slowly into the blanket, her little fingers grasping his, unknowing of what they were touching, but feeling the warmth, her tiny hand remained on his.

"Hey Gracie." Booth whispered. "Hey little girl." He said, watching her move a little more. "She's so tiny." He looked up at Temperance and could see the tears in her eyes. "Aw, Bones… you can have her back, I'm sorry." He whispered.

"No!" She whispered, shaking her head, wiping her tears. "No… you hold her, I want you to… I need you to hold her." She said, holding in her sob.

"Hey, Gracie… I'm your daddy." He whispered. "I'm your daddy and I promise… I'm going to love you and protect you… and read to you, and sing to you… teach you to play hockey… and football…and how to beat up any boys that try to kiss you…" He whispered, rocking her involuntarily. "You're my little princess… just like your big sister, who is going to spoil you like you wouldn't believe… and your big brother, Parker… he'll beat up any prospective boyfriends also…" Booth whispered confidently.

"Booth?" Temperance whispered as he looked up at her with a smile, and a hint of tears in his eyes. "Perhaps we should focus on getting her to eat on her own before we send her off to college."

"Oh, funny." He bantered back. "You're funny, Bones…" He said looking down at the baby. "Did you hear that? Your mommy is hilarious…" He said in small voice. "She thinks she's so funny, that mommy… that silly mommy." He said, feeling the vibration in his phone in his back pocket. "What time is it?" He asked, still looking at the baby.

"Booth, Grace isn't able to speak, and newborns have limited sight… not to mention that she's far too small to know what time even is, let alone let alone read or tell you what time it is." Temperance said, watching him look up at her with a humored expression.

"You're messing with me, aren't you?"

"Perhaps."

"God, I love you." He said with a soft smile, he looked to the nurse. "Do you have the time?"

"It's nearly noon." The nurse said with a polite smile.

"My phone is buzzing, it's probably your father." Booth said, looking to the nurse, who smiled and carefully took the baby from Booth, settling her back on her mother's chest. He pulled his phone out and checked the text message. "He's in the lobby." He said, rolling his eyes.

"Did you tell him that it was okay to come back?" Temperance asked.

"I told him I'd call him… and I hadn't gotten around to calling him yet." He said, carefully standing up.

"You can invite them up to Temperance's room if you like, Mister Booth. Though they won't be able to see the baby right away, it would be fine for Temperance to have visitors. You can take some pictures of the baby if you like, to show your friends and family." The nurse said, noting that Booth and Temperance were communicating silently, their eyes were focused on one another's.

"Thank you." Booth finally said, giving the nurse a polite smile, he looked back to Temperance.

"Bring them to my room." She nodded. "I need to see Antonia and Parker right now." She whispered.

"You're sure you're not too tired?"

"I don't care." She shrugged. "I need them more than I need sleep right now." She said. He nodded and smiled. Booth leaned down and kissed her softly as he looked down at the tiny bundle again. He snapped a couple of pictures with his phone, and tenderly said goodbye, promising to meet up with Temperance in her room.

"He seems like he's a really sweet guy." The nurse said as Booth reluctantly disappeared out of the room.

"He's the only guy." Temperance whispered, swallowing the lump in her throat as she looked down at the tiny life that she and Booth had created together.