Plan "A": Redux
By LizD
Winter 2011
Chapter Fourteen
-P-L-A-N-.-"A"-
"Hey Bren!" Angela quickly walked into Brennan's office. "Are you picking me up, or am I picking you up tomorrow night? And can we eat first? Or do you want to wait until after? I liked to wait until after, but it's up to you. We could do both. But sometimes eating too late at night gave me heartburn to kill for. Just ask Hodgins."
Brennan stood up. "I've been meaning to talk to you." She came around her desk and closed the door. She nodded for Angela to go over to the couch.
"This is serious," she said warily. "Are you OK? Is the baby OK? Sweetie, you're scaring me."
Brennan smiled to let her friend know that all was well. "There's something I need to tell you. Something I need to ask you. Well maybe I should ask you first."
Angela sunk down on to the couch. "Go on."
"Would you mind if you weren't my birthing coach?"
Angela was quickly offended. "You have another best friend you want to ask?"
"No." Brennan took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "The father has requested to do it."
"The father?" Angela was confused. "Mr. Anonymous 985LK6289?"
"No."
A realization came over Angela. "Booth?" she squeaked out.
Brennan nodded. Her face betrayed no emotion.
"I knew it!" Angela jumped up and dragged Brennan with her. She hugged her hard. "I knew it. I knew him hanging around with that cat-who-ate-the-canary expression was not for nothing. So did you -"
"I asked and he agreed." Brennan's expression was not infected by Angela's smile or the fact that she was lying by omission to her best friend, someone she had no reason to lie to. "It was your idea, you know. It didn't cross my mind until you mentioned it. The more I thought about it the more it made sense."
"This is great!" Angela always held out that thin ray of hope for Booth and Brennan. She did some quick math in her head and it didn't add up. "Sweetie, Booth was still with Hannah when this went down. Is this why they broke up?"
"No … I don't believe so."
"Did Booth tell her, talk to her first about it?"
"No." Brennan didn't get that from Booth or her knowledge of the actual chain of events. She got that from Hannah.
"WOW … I mean really … WOW. Can you imagine if they were still together and you were having his kid? Not sure any woman is that enlightened even you."
"If Booth and Hannah were still together, I doubt very much if he would have come back to major crimes. He wouldn't be in our lives. I would be in pure research and having this baby alone, as I originally intended. There was no need for this to affect anyone beyond me."
"You can't possibly be that naive, sweetie." Angela took Brennan's hand and they sat back down on the couch. "By letting you have his kid, he basically killed his relationship with the Baghdad Vixen. It may have taken a couple of months to die, but it was over as soon as he said yes. And if you don't know that, trust me Booth does."
"Why do you say that? That was not what I wanted at all."
"Didn't you? Tell me that you aren't still in love with him? Tell me it was strictly a good DNA that motivated you to ask Booth for his boys."
Brennan shook her head. "I can't say that, but I didn't want him to break up with Hannah. I wasn't expecting him to be a part of this at all."
"So why him?"
"I had a reason."
"I'm sure you did and I'm sure it was well thought out and very logical, so ... spill."
"I asked Booth because I wanted to ensure that I would bond with the child." The look in Angela's eye said that that would not be enough of an explanation. "If I knew the baby was fathered by Booth, I would be more likely to see traits in her that I recognized and were familiar. She wouldn't be so foreign. I would love her more."
"You know I'm not sure that I would believe that from anyone else in the world. But even from you, that sounds like a grand rationalization."
"It's not Angela. Really."
Angela shook her concerns away. However it happened Booth and Brennan were together - sort of - the rest would follow naturally - like the horse following the cart but sooner or later they would figure it out - she hoped. "So are you two going to get married, move in together … buy a minivan?" Or they would be pushed by well meaning friends.
"No, no … not at all. He just wants to be part of the pregnancy processes since he missed it with Parker. Then I assume we will work out a custody agreement."
Angela squeezed her friend's hand. "I'm so sorry for you, Bren."
"Why? I'm happy. Really."
"You get all the crap that comes with a relationship but have none of the fun. You have fast forwarded to the divorce with kids and you haven't even bumped the uglies with him yet."
Brennan looked down.
"Just tell me - honestly, no bullshit, just you and me - do you love him?"
Brennan had to give her honest answer; she was lying about so much already. "Yes."
"Well then Sweetie, I would take this opportunity to reconnect - in your case, connect the first time - romantically and see what happens, you know?"
"I don't think anything like what you're implying will happen. I hurt him and he has moved on."
"I don't think so Sweetie. He is here now with you."
"His only interest is this child. Just like Rebecca, he can love and want his son, but not the mother."
"Sweetie – he'd never have let you use his little guys if he didn't still have feelings for you. I mean it's not like this was a mistake from a one night stand. You know - a little too much wine, some nostalgic honesty - one thing leads to another and before you know it, it's dawn and you have just had the best sex of your life with a man who is walking out the door to go back to the woman he claims to love out of some misguided sense of duty and honor when what he really wants to do is crawl back in bed with you and tell the world to go to hell." Angela shrugged. "You aren't the only one who's lost somebody, Sweetie. Anyway, it was not like that. It was all very civil and rational. He weighed the pros and cons and said yes - for whatever complicated reasons those were."
"I believe much of his decision stemmed from the fact that Hannah didn't want children," Brennan explained. "She stated that she would not have children."
"Well that'll kill a relationship particularly with a guy like Booth," Angela noted. "But don't worry; I'm sure he won't think you trapped him."
Brennan wanted to tell her what happened – what really happened. That it happened just like Angela described. That he said yes to her request, after a night of intensity the likes of which neither had ever known before – well at least Brennan hadn't. So his judgment was impaired. In the end he didn't need to say yes, the decision was made for them. But Brennan didn't trap him. In fact they weren't in a romantic relationship at all. It was all about the baby and Booth would back off Brennan as soon as their daughter was born. Brennan had a lot to think about. She was getting confused.
"We have not chosen to go public with this quite yet. We will, but for now we would like to keep this quiet."
"I understand, my lips are sealed." With that came a knock on Brennan's door with Booth standing on the outside. Angela crossed to the door and opened it. "Well done, super stud." She smiled a knowing smile at Booth, kissed his cheek and slipped out.
Booth looked at Brennan. "You told her?"
"I told her we wanted to keep it kind of quiet."
"Right, that'll happen."
Just then Hodgins burst into the room. "DUUUUUUUDE!" He threw his arms around Booth and hugged him. He leaned back add looked him in the eye. "We'll talk ... grab a brew ... you know?" He punched in the arm. "Dude!" and walked away.
"Yep, quiet as a mouse." Booth really didn't care who knew. The only one he was going to have a hard time explaining this whole thing to was Parker. If he could just tell him that he and Brennan were in a relationship it would be a lot easier. Maybe if he waited long enough that is exactly what he would say.
-P-L-A-N-.-"A"-
"Seeley, can I talk to you?" Cam called across the lab floor.
"Sure." Booth followed her into her office. She closed the door behind him.
"What's going on big man?" she asked simply.
"I don't know what you mean."
"Yes you do ... you and Brennan ... spill."
He shrugged but his mouth was drawing into a grin.
"You're the father aren't you?"
The smile was complete and coupled with a nod.
"Deposit made direct or through the bank."
"What do you think?"
"I think you went through the bank, but I'm not sure why. What did Hannah have to say?"
"Not a factor."
"You can lie to yourself Seeley, but you can't lie to me."
"She was not a factor. My relationship with Hannah was doomed from the moment she accepted my proposal. She had no intention of marrying me; she just didn't want to break up. So she strung me along."
"And what better way to get back at her than to father Brennan's kid."
"It was not like that, Cam." He sat down. "Look, I screwed up with Hannah too - no doubt about that - but she didn't want to marry me. If she had, if we did ... maybe I wouldn't have said yes to Bones."
"So she asked first."
"Of course."
"What is going on between you? Are you finally together?"
He exhaled. "I don't know. I'm not sure it's the right time to push that agenda. On the other hand if I wait until after the baby is born, it will all get confused. I don't know. I'm taking it slowly. One day at a time and I'm being as consistent and as honest as I can be. I'm not letting her speak for me or dictate every nuance of the ... relationship. I think we are in a good place right now. Better every day."
"You're still in love with her," Cam stated not needing a reply.
"You know me Camille. Once I give my heart, I don't take it back ... not completely. I never stopped loving her. I accepted that all she wanted from me was partners and I had to move on with my life. I didn't like it, but I wasn't going to lose my partner over it."
"That's exactly what happened, Booth."
"That was not because of her. It was because of me. And with or without this baby, I would be working to get that partnership back."
"You think so?"
"I know so."
"And if you and Hannah had gotten married?"
"I don't know ... I don't know how to answer that. Nothing happens in a vacuum and things happen for a reason."
She rolled her eyes. "And we all have a hand in our own fate."
"We do ... and I like were my fate is taking me right now."
"As long as you are clear headed and happy."
"I am."
"I don't want you to get hurt again."
"Not going to happen. Nice and slow ... I learn from my mistakes."
"Thank God one of us does." She hugged him. "Congratulations, Seeley."
"Thanks Cam ... not traditional, but apparently that's my thing, right?"
"Right."
-P-L-A-N-.-"A"- -P-L-A-N-.-"A"- -P-L-A-N-.-"A"- -P-L-A-N-.-"A"-
"I'll be there … yes, on time … aren't I always? … Don't worry Bones, I'll be there … Hey look, I gotta go … right, talk to you later … yes, yes, I'll see you later then." Booth hung up as Sweets walked into his office. "Sweets, what can I do for you?" Booth was smiling and happy; rare for him in general except for the past six weeks since Brennan agreed to let him in to be part of the pregnancy. He had hopes for beyond, but was still taking it one day at a time and enjoying the hell out of it.
"You're in a good mood."
"Spring is in the air, Sweets. It was a long cold winter."
"You must be referring to the Broadsky conviction."
"That helps too, yes."
The second trial went a lot faster and netted a conviction in two days after the jury was given the case. Broadsky was sentenced: life without the possibility of parole. Somehow it didn't seem like enough. But Booth was finally able to put the Broadsky disaster away.
"Anything else bringing on this feeling of joy?" Sweets asked.
"What do you want, Sweets?" he barked but didn't let it destroy his mood.
"Nothing, I just wanted to check in with you. We haven't spoken in a while."
"What are you talking about? We had lunch yesterday and drinks the day before that."
"True, True," Sweets agreed. "May I make an observation?"
"Could I stop you?"
"You and Doctor Brennan seem to be spending a great deal of time together."
"So."
"So, she is pregnant and I have to wonder if you two ... soon to be three ... are forming some sort of surrogate family."
"Nothing surrogate about it, Sweets." Booth assumed Sweets would have found out from one of the squints, but apparently Cam, Angela and Hodgins all kept their mouths shut - for once.
"Excuse me?"
"I'm the father, Sweet - biologically and soon to be in every other way."
"I KNEW IT!" Sweets pumped his fist in the air. "I knew it." He came in, closed the door and took a seat in front of Booth's desk. "So how did it happen? You seem OK with it so I assume you knew about it before she did it. Or maybe you have just reconciled yourself and are making the best of it. She got pregnant while you and Hannah were still together, so I'm right in assuming that it was artificial insemination. You're not the kind of guy who would cheat on his fiancée; though you were having troubles back then. Still you are not an adulterer. You and Hannah were having a lot of troubles ... ever since you got engaged. Was that from you or her or a combination? I have to wonder if you really wanted to get married or if you were just reacting to Brennan's admission that she made a mistake. Which is not to say that you didn't love Hannah, but I can see where you might have to make more out of the relationship than it really was to make up for missing your chance with Dr. Brennan. I mean, if only you would have waited; given her a chance to get used to the idea of you and she in a more intimate relationship. If you didn't come back from Afghanistan with Hannah, who knows what would have happened between you and Dr. Brennan. She was clearly ready for a relationship with you, or else she wouldn't have accepted Hannah so readily. It always made me curious why she went so far out of her way to befriend Hannah. Dr. Brennan doesn't make friends easily. In fact I would go so far as to say she has only two people in her life that she called a friend - you and Angela. The relationship you forged in those five years was profound - more profound than most people ever experience. You each have killed for the other - that has to bond people in ways that most will never understand. When your partnership dissolved she lost that bond. She lost you as a partner and a friend. She had already lost you as a potential romantic partner. She retreated into herself again pretty decisively. You didn't notice of course because you weren't around. You had your own trust issues. But for Dr. Brennan, there was no talking to her at that time; totally walled off to anything she was feeling. When I realized she was pregnant at first I was happy for her that she was taking steps to move on with her life in a positive direction. When I thought she had used your sperm without your knowledge I was more than concerned. It would be unlike her, but I imagine she could rationalize it somehow. Just like the way she befriended Hannah, having your baby without you involved would be a way for her to hang on to the only positive relationship she had in her life regardless of how it turned out. It showed the depth of her feelings for you and her growth as a person. It makes sense, from a psychological stand point. She could have gone with an anonymous donor, but she didn't. Interesting, but it makes sense. But you, you don't. Why would you agree? Were you still in love with Dr. Brennan? Are you still? Were you regretting your choice of Hannah and trying to breathe life - literally - back into your relationship with Dr. Brennan? You clearly didn't tell Hannah about the baby. I wonder when and how that would have come out if you had stayed together. How would she have reacted? Were you trying to sabotage your relationship with Hannah but agreeing to be the father for Brennan's child? Would you have gone back to major crimes if you were still with Hannah? I guess it is all academic right now since Hannah is no longer in the picture. So will you and she be raising this child together? Living together? Or shared custody? It will probably start out as shared custody but turn into something more. Is that what you want? What does Brennan want? With this kind of beginning, do you think you can make it last? The fact that you two still haven't slept together but are having a child - I mean that must be weird right? Doesn't it seem weird? It must be weird."
"Sweets, do you need me here for this conversation?"
"Right, right ... sorry ... got carried away. Well I can see that you are happy about wherever your relationship is at the moment."
"And that is as much information as you are going to get. Not to put too fine a point on it Sweets, but you didn't help us last time. In fact without you, we might never have split apart."
"You blame me? We should talk about this."
"Not going to happen, Sweets. You will excuse me if I don't invite you and your razor sharp observations back into my life or anywhere near my relationship with Bones."
"But I was not wrong."
"You can be correct and still be wrong Sweets. Be a friend, not a shrink and be happy for us, OK?"
"I can be a friend and a shrink," Sweets pressed.
"No so far."
-P-L-A-N-.-"A"-
Booth was at his desk getting ready to close up for the night. He and Brennan were going to have dinner. His phone rang. He was expecting Brennan to call and cancel as she was trying to get some work finished up before she left on maternity leave. He turned it over to check the caller ID. Hannah Burley's face beamed at him from the small screen. He froze.
"Booth?"
He looked up to see Brennan in all her swollen beauty standing in his door way. "Hey," he smiled at her and immediately got up to help her into a chair.
"Do you need to get that?" she nodded toward the phone.
"Nope, not important. Whoever it is can leave a voicemail. Or call back. What are you doing here? Thought I was coming to pick you up."
"I got a ride over here with Cam. Thought we could go to dinner from here."
"Sure, sure ... let me just shut it down." His phone chimed to let him know that the caller had left a voicemail.
"Are you sure you don't need to return that call?"
"Nope. I'm done for the night. Everyone else can wait until the morning." He slipped into his coat, turned his phone off and dropped it into his pocket. "Ready? You really want Sushi?"
"Yes ... and French fries."
He laughed. "Your wish is my command." He helped her up and directed her out of the room with his hand on her lower back.
"Oh ... ow." She quickly put her hand to her abdomen. "Wow."
Booth placed his hand next to her. "She kicking again today?" A smile spread across his face as he felt the baby kick. "She is going to be a soccer player, no doubt about that."
"She's going to kick her way out of there."
"You OK?"
Brennan slid her hand over Booth's. "I'm great."
"We could just go home you know ... order in. Would you be more comfortable?"
"Probably, but I really want to get out while I still can."
"You got it." He gave her his arm for support and they walked out together.