A/N: Wow, I can't believe how many of you are still enjoying it. You don't know how happy I am about your feedback, Lu78, abc, canadiangurl (yes, they must be very weird at first), Gem6, brennanmars (might be…I'm still not sure though), I hart Booth, 43n5ic fr3ak (it was another croup attack), bb-4ever, syd15 (there it is…;) ) and everybody else who's still reading it. Thanks so much! Enjoy chapter ten!

Chapter X

December, Part II: A Letter

Temperance was standing in the lab infront of the big artificial Christmas tree and sighed. This was going to be a real family Christmas but she was not used to it anymore. Temperance liked the idea of finally meeting Seeley's parents although the thought about it scared the hell out of her. She knew that this situation would come sooner or later. What the hell am I getting them?

The anthropologist had not cared much about the so called Birth of Jesus Christ and still was not fond of buying presents just because of someone who had lived over 2000 years ago and pretending that everything was going to be all right. She turned back to the table, frowning and threw a glance at the female skeleton. The identity had been found. Her name was Aurora Celestine Jones and she had died two years ago at the age of 19. Her three-year-old son Jamie lived with his maternal grandparents now and seemed to be a happy kid.

Seeley and Temperance had visited the family last week informing Aurora's parents about her daughter's remains and the little guy had been extremely fascinated by them, especially by her showing belly. He had been talking up a storm as he was taking the young woman by the hand just to show her his favorite toys. Jamie was a cute little guy and Temperance felt happy for him that his grandparents were still able to raise another child.

"Hi Sweeties!"

"I'm not plural, Ange. You know that?" Temperance smiled and added, "have I gotten that fat?"

Angela hugged her best friend and put her hands on top of the well-showing bump. Temperance was seventeen weeks along now and anxiously waiting for the baby to kick for the very first time. Despite the growing thunderstorm called "Russ getting help from a lawyer" Temperance was full of confidence and hope. She knew that this stage of the pregnancy was supposed to be the "feeling-great" part and that was definitively happening to her as well.

"You've gotten radiant! This pregnancy really fits you," Angela grinned cheekily, "I'm serious. You've got the typical glow," she bent down, "and you'll be the cutest thing ever!"

I swear this woman has to get pregnant herself.

"You know, I'm not sure if I really want to know what's going to happen when William and the baby are in the lab… Ange, did you want anything?"

"Uhm…actually, well…" The woman looked at her feet and sighed, "I've been a really bad girl…"

Temperance shut her eyes but smiled. I knew it! "Gifts?"

Angela nodded.

Temperance opened her mouth but suddenly could not say anything. She stared disbelieving at her friend and put her hands on her belly. Something – someone had just kicked! Temperance gasped and hoped that the baby would repeat its actions. She was not disappointed and felt a slight movement. That was the most beautiful thing Temperance had ever experienced in her entire life.

"Sweety, everything okay?"

She took Angela's hand and directed it towards her bump. Both woman were standing there agog with expectation smiling at each other. Temperance had never seen her friend speechless like this when the baby was kicking again.

"It seems so real now. Don't you think?"

Her friend just nodded but remained silent still staring at Temperance's belly.

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The happiness about the baby's first movements soon vanished and was replaced by fear and panic. First off all the DNA of William's blanket had been cleared. It could not have been Russ' because it was female. The second reason was a letter:

Baltimore, the 23rd of December 2008

Dear Dr. Brennan,

My client and your beloved brother just wanted me to inform you about our next actions considering the re-integration of Russ Brennan's biological son and your nephew William Tye Brennan (born 12th of April this year) in his legitimate family. We have already contacted the responsible family court.

Due to my client's combination of circumstances and the legal adoption of William on your side , the court has decided to leave the child with you until my client is cleared on condition of your agreement that Russ Brennan is allowed to see his son whenever he wishes to.

Merry Christmas.

Sincerely,

Dr. Martin Douting

P.S. This letter has been pre-approved by the family court.

Temperance was watching William who tried to get behind the shelf in order to look for his little blue ball. He knew that it had rolled behind it and wanted to get his new object of absolute interest back. Scientists called this oberservation "object permanence", first introduced by a swiss biologist and psychologist named Piaget. The anthropologist did not put much into Psychology but his ideas were definitively interesting. The term described the awareness that objects did not stop existing only because of not being visible anymore. Object permanence was typically acquired at eight to nine months.

She wanted to help the baby but her head was telling her that William had to do this on his own. He had to be convinced that he possessed the ability of getting something he desired all by himself. His face had already gotten a red touch and he was getting impatient as well but Temperance stayed were she was at.

"You can do it, William. I know you can," she whispered under her breath and put her hand on her ever-growing bump, "you are almost there."

She had been trying to dam up her tears but seeing William like this – "all grown up, exploring the world" – was heart rending, especially now. Temperance could not stand the thought about not being able to observe, cry and laugh about his following steps. The permission of holding him was not enough for her. She wanted to keep him, have William with them.

Temperance covered her face with her hands, turned away from the little boy and started to sob. She knew that her actions were foolish in an instance because as soon as she had turned away and started crying William looked up insecurely and grimaced, beginning to bawl as well. He immediately lost his interest in the tiny blue ball, sat down and reached out for her.