Story: The Feel of A Heartbeat

Author: QueenyC

Disclaimer: I don't own Bones or any of the charters or locations affiliated with it. If I did, I'd be doing more with them then posting stories in fan fiction.

Chapter Twelve: Girl Time, Girl Talk

"How about this?" Angela suggested, holding up a burnt orange knit top and modeling it for her friend. Being a maternity top, it looked like it was going to swallow her whole.

Brennan grimaced. "I'll look like a walking pumpkin," she groused dismally, flipping aimlessly through the rack of department store clothes with a face screwed in concentration.

"Sweetie," Angela sighed, "You've shot down about a million of the options I've suggested. Eventually you will run out of maternity clothes and we'll have to move on to a new store filled with outfits you hate."

Brennan turned to her friend with a frown. "You're being hyperbolic again, we've only looked at a dozen or so options."

"What I'm say is," Angela sighed, "Why did you ask me here if you don't want my opinion?"

"Angela," Brennan laughed, "You brought me here, under extreme duress, I might add."

"Well, you needed to breakdown and buy some pregnant lady clothes sooner rather than later. Otherwise you'll stretch out all your designerwear." She bit her lip and began flipping again through the rack. Brennan took her lead and did the same.

For a few minutes the two friends were silent and then, "Sweetie, I've got to tell you something," Angela admitted finally.

"Okay," Brennan nodded, turning to meet Angela's strained face. She'd suspected since early that morning when she'd been all but kidnapped from her own apartment that Angela wanted to talk about something important. It had taken her an alarming two hours to work up the nerve apparently.

"Okay, so...after what you and I talked about the other day—"

"About what?"

"About love and relationships."

"When did we discuss this?"

Angela rolled her eyes, "When we were moving Booth's stuff in, Bren."

"Oh..." Brennan nodded, recalling with some embarrassment the conversation they'd shared. "About our changing relationship," she felt heat rise to her cheeks.

"Well, yeah, and...and about me and Hodgins."

"Oh."

"Yeah, well, it got me thinking and...then it got me driving—"

"A conversation got you driving?"

Angela sighed, "Focus Bren. So, I was driving and trying to figure out what I wanted and...suddenly I look up and I'm at the gate to Hodgins' place." She stopped in her narrative and gave Brennan a 'say something' look.

"So the two of you had sexual intercourse," she deduced, feeling rather proud of herself since Angela rarely gave good clues when she was flustered like this.

"Made love, but sure," Angela agreed, ringing her fingers together. "And...well, we're sort of... back together. And...the wedding is back on," she finished finally.

"Angela, if you're asking if I'll still be your maid of honor, the answer is, of course, yes. Although, it might be pertinent to wait until after February when the baby is born. I understand that wedding photos often attempt to achieve an aesthetically—"

Angela squealed, cutting her friend off in her lecture and lunging at the pregnant woman to wrap her in a hug. "Thank you," she whispered into Brennan's ear. "You're sure you don't mind?"

"Why on Earth would I mind, Ange?"

"Well," Angela screwed her face up in a grimace, "It's just, some people would probably be annoyed with, you know, a wedding since the first one was a bust and then we were broken up and I don't want people thinking that this isn't a serious thing just because of our history."

"Nobody would ever accuse you of holding a wedding without being in love, Angela," Brennan assured her friend. She didn't know much about love or monogamy, but she knew her friend and that both of those things were important to her.

Apparently she said the right thing since Angela let a huge smile split her face. "You're a great friend, Bren. Really," she said sincerely.

"As are you," Brennan agreed. "Now, what do you think about this one," she asked, holding up a cobalt blue sweater for her friend to admire.

"Perfect," Angela agreed.