A huge thank you to everyone who has reviewed so far! I am loving all the feedback I get from you guys and would love to hear more in the future about what you think about this story and how it's going. As a writer, I crave the feedback from my readers. Even those who just casually read through this fanfiction because they're bored. Tell me what you like and don't like about it, how I can improve, and whatnot. Just review and let me know!

A special dedication for this chapter goes out to my friend Elizabeth, who is my beta reader sometimes and knows of the ideas bouncing in my head for this story from time to time.

Thanksgiving was one holiday that Brennan had never really celebrated before, at least not in the sense of having a large family gathering in her home. But this year would be different because she and Booth were hosting their friends and family in their home. Booth had been in the kitchen with her off and on through the night while they cooked together. Surprisingly enough, Booth was a pretty good cook and made sure that she wasn't on her feet too much, even if she insisted that she was fine and he had nothing to worry about. But he was being his usual, overprotective self that she had come to know and love over the course of their partnership and now their relationship. At times it was comforting to know that he was there for her to protect her, but at other times...like during her pregnancy when he insisted she sit down all the time, it was annoying.

Around eleven the next morning, their first guests arrived. Angela and Hodgins, along with Michael, came in with their contribution to the meal and greetings all around. Her best friend made a fuss about Brennan being on her feet and about how much her belly had grown over the last few weeks. While she knew she felt perfectly find standing up, she ignored that comment and instead beamed proudly after Angela mentioned her growing belly. She felt proud of the little bump she displayed under her shirt, especially because there was a baby causing it. Anthropologically speaking, she now had an elevated status in some cultures because she was pregnant with a child. But personally, she was just happy.

"Just a few more weeks until we meet that precious baby girl growing in there," Angela grinned, clasping her hands together excitedly.

"I feel like it's so far away, but that the time will pass quicker than I think it will," she said, resting her hand on her stomach.

"That's how I felt before Michael was born. I remember those last few days when I was overdue and just wanted him out of me," Angela laughed, looking to the men on the opposite side of the room. Hodgins had their son in his arms while chatting with Booth. "But now that he's here and growing so fast, I just want to keep him little forever."

"That isn't possible Ange," Brennan said, laughing a little.

"You'll understand when that little girl is born and you're holding her in your arms," Angela's eyes gleamed knowingly. "She will be the most precious thing in your world and you'll never want her to grow up."

"I just want to see her now," she admitted. "And hold her in my arms...I know that is my hormones taking control of my emotions, but it's what I feel."

Angela grinned and shook her head. "That is a mother's love talking."

Brennan touched her stomach again as Stella rolled over, smiling softly as she thought about holding her daughter in her arms. As much as she wanted to argue that it was human nature to love one's child for the survival of the species, she couldn't deny the existence of the love she felt for her daughter and how real it was for her. For the first time in her life, she understood what unconditional love was and how it worked. Her heart felt connected to the life growing inside of her-but not her actual, physical heart. The metaphoric one that Booth was always referring to all the time. That was the heart she felt attached to her daughter. The love of a mother for her child was one of the most powerful thing Brennan had ever experienced and Stella wasn't even born yet.

When their next group of guests arrived, Booth let them in. Cam, Michelle, Sweets, and Daisy all arrived at the same time, bringing more dishes for the table. They definitely would not be in short supply of food for everyone to share. Everyone began chattering amongst the group about the game coming on later, the food, kids, and life in general. It felt surreal to Brennan how normal everything seemed, but at the same time how extraordinary it all really was. Booth had once told her that there was more than one kind of family-and now she was starting to fully understand that notion. Families weren't always just parents and children, but a blend of people you surrounded yourself with. Brennan's family were her friends, her father and brother, her daughter, and Booth. Booth had always been a part of her family, even as just partners. But now that he was the father of her child, it made it that much more so.

The last of the guests to arrive was her father, who came in bringing an apple pie that he set on the table. Brennan hated cooked fruit, but she knew that the gesture wasn't for her but for Booth. Since they had told Max that she was pregnant and that Booth was the father, he and Booth had been working toward being nicer to one another. Max respected that Booth was taking care of her and that they were working on raising their child together, even if they didn't always agree on everything. She knew her father was of the old notion that people got married when they had kids, but Brennan still didn't believe in marriage. Booth did, but he respected her views and she respected his. Her dad, however, didn't understand that. Walking over, she hugged him and smiled.

"You look gorgeous Tempe," he said, grinning as he took a step back to admire her. "Every bit as beautiful as your mom."

She smiled a little, thinking of the few memories that she had of her mother. Throughout her pregnancy, she had moments when she wished she could talk with her mother about things that only she would understand. While she was grateful to have Angela to help her through the pregnancy and the worst of its symptoms, having her mom there would have been wonderful. But there was nothing she could do about it and it didn't do anything to dwell on that thought.

"Thanks dad," she replied, holding his hand and squeezing it slightly.

"How are you feeling?" he asked as everyone else continued to chat on around them.

"A little uncomfortable," she said, frowning a little. "The baby's feet are constantly in my rib cage as she kicks, so my lungs are quite squished."

Max nodded. "The last couple weeks were the hardest for your mom too, especially with Russ. He was a really active baby before he was born, so he gave her hell quite a bit before he was born."

"What was I like?" she asked out of curiosity, wondering if she was vastly different than her brother.

"Fairly calm actually, except during the early evening hours after I would come home from work," he grinned proudly. "Daddy's girl from the start."

Brennan smiled softly and looked around. Everyone that was supposed to be here had arrived. Rebecca had taken Parker for Thanksgiving this year so she and Booth could have him for Christmas since his sister was supposed to be born around that time. It was an agreement that Rebecca surprisingly allowed, especially given past years where Booth had to beg to even see Parker on Christmas Day. But Rebecca hadn't put up a fight this year and willingly allowed them the compromise that they gladly took. Parker was excited about his little sister being born, which Brennan loved because she could sense that he would be an excellent big brother. It was a Booth trait that he had inherited from his father, who was an older brother himself. On that thought, she joined the rest of the family at the table as they all sat down to eat together. She took her place next to Booth on one side and Angela on the other while her father sat across from her.

Standing up, Brennan picked up her wine glass filled with water. "I would like to propose a toast," she said, getting everyone's attention. "Thanksgiving is a holiday derived from the celebration of the pilgrims landing on Plymouth Rock in 1621 and has continued down to present day as a holiday that is meant to celebrate families coming together to share a meal. While not all of us here are blood related or married into the same family, we are in a sense our own family," she said, looking at Booth with a smile. "There are many kinds of families out there and I, for one, am proud to be a part of this one. All of you have been influential parts of my life as friends, co-workers, parents, and partners...and I could not imagine a life without any of you."

Everyone raised their glasses in agreement as the feast began. Brennan took her seat by Booth again and smiled at him as he looked at her approvingly. The last speech she had made at a gathering like this was at Christmas a few years back and it had not gone over so well. But this one was much better since she had grown as a person since that time. She was always growing and learning around Booth. He had taught her so much over the years about humanity and how to conduct herself in public settings. He taught her about eye contact and about opening herself up to people, specifically him. All of those things were things that she was thankful for and so much more. Her life was changing for the better and she liked that. But the most amazing change was yet to come.