Disclaimer: I do not own Bones, but I am obsessed!

Author's Note: Hello friends! Happy Wednesday! Lucy is back, I know most of you missed her. Once again, thank you for all of your reviews and alerts. Today's chapter is a little short, but I have a one-shot that I am going to post tonight, and I am going to post two chapters on Sunday, because they are also kind of short, but they are separate scenes, so I want them to be separate chapters. Nothing much else to say, so on with the show.

Chapter 14: I Want to Hold Your Hand

July 20, 2005 6:02 PM The Jeffersonian Institution

Angela was working on her simulations for the gunshot placement when her door opened and a small girl sat in a large chair and sprawled in it with a sigh. Without looking up, Angela addressed her "niece."

"Hi Sweetie, how was your day as Junior Assistant? Eleanor teach you something new?"

"Yeah, it was a good day." The usually loquacious girl just continued to sit idly. Angela looked up briefly, sensing the very "Brennan" mood, but with no explanation forthcoming, Angela returned to her work. Ten minutes passed before Lucy sighed once more and asked in a timid voice, "Aunt Angela, can I ask you something?" Angela saved her work and turned off her monitor. She could tell that she was in for a long talk. She came and sat in a chair across from Lucy.

"So Baby Brennan, what's up?"

"Do you think I'm ever going to have a dad?"

Whatever Angela had been expecting, it wasn't this particular topic. But then again, seeing how the Brennans' minds usually worked, she should have expected it. She exhaled and tried to phrase her words carefully.

"Is this because of Agent Booth?"

"No, yes, I don't know. It's just yesterday, I feel asleep on the couch and he carried me out to the car and buckled me in, and it felt nice. I know mom loves me, but this felt different. I just didn't know that I was missing something until... until..."

"Until you got a taste of it. Sweetie, maybe this is something that you want to talk to your mom about. I mean it's kind of her decision whether or not you ever get a new dad."

Lucy looked at her with a withering stare that was so like her mother that Angela couldn't help but smile.

"Aunt Angela, you know Mom. She doesn't believe in marriage. And she doesn't even date. I mean has she gone out with anyone since we moved here from Chicago?" Lucy barely remembered the professor that had been a distant part of her formative years. As she couldn't really remember Dr. Stires, she figured that he was never meant to be father material anyway. Any potential dad would have to make a lasting impression, right?

Lucy realized that Angela was waiting for her to continue, so she took another deep breath and went on. "I just, I want Mom to be happy. And maybe a guy would make her happy."

"Do you think that your mom is unhappy? I happen to think that she is pleased with the way her life is turning out."

"I think she's happy, but she doesn't know that she could be happier. I mean, remember when I skipped first grade, and I didn't have any friends? And I was really lonely?" Angela nodded and Lucy continued, "I had you and Mom and I really liked school, so I thought that I was happy. And then I started to make friends and then I was really happy and I knew what I was missing. Do you think, it's like that with Mom? Would she be happier if she had a boyfriend? Does she only think that she is happy; she just doesn't know the difference?"

"Well, you probably know what I think. I kept trying to get her to go out with that physics guy who kept asking her out, but she is so stubborn. She doesn't want to depend on anyone. She wants to be independent."

"But she depends on you."

Angela smiled, it was true, but Brennan would never admit it. "Well, I'm Angela Montenegro, I'm the exception to every rule." That comment at least got a smile out of Lucy.

Another worry crossed over Lucy's face, "What if... what if she does find someone, and she decides that she likes him. What happens if he doesn't like me?"

"Lucy, it is impossible for anyone who has met you to not like you. Yes, you are stubborn like your mom, and a little bossy, but you are a wonderful person. And your mom would never date someone, even for a second, if she thought that they wouldn't like you." Lucy took in all of Angela's gentle advice and let it sink in.

"Do you think FBI guy likes me?" It was probably the one question that Lucy had been meaning to ask all night. Angela had to keep the smile off of her face. Lucy was so sweet, and so transparent, just like her mother. But Angela knew exactly how Lucy was feeling. Was Booth sincere in his actions, or was it a way to try and take advantage of the beautiful scientist? Angela exhaled again, and went with the truth.

"No, Sweetie. He doesn't like you, he loves you, already. You are very lovable, kid."

"Do you think that he likes Mom?" Lucy asked in just a timid a voice as she had used previously.

"Yes, Sweetie. But maybe we should keep that part just between us for now. We have to proceed with extreme caution, a little matchmaking will go a long way. You know your mom. It has to be her idea, but we can plant the seeds anyway." Angela smirked and reached out her arms. Lucy bounced into them, and they shared a hug. Lucy buried her face in Angela's shirt, and a brief shadow of concern passed over Angela's face. Lucy was attached to Booth already. If things didn't work out with this case, she wasn't sure how anything could ever work out in real life.

Three minutes later, Brennan arrived back from a briefing at the Hoover. She took home a daughter that was lost in thought and left behind an even more pensive best friend.