Disclaimer: I don't own Bones.

"You two are nuts." Angela shook her head and watched as Booth bent down to unlace Brennan's running shoes. "No one in their right mind wants to go for a walk around the neighborhood while in labor. And no one else lets their wife do it."

Booth shot Angela a withering look over his shoulder. "Bones is boss today, and I do exactly what she wants."

"And that doesn't make you the least bit nervous?"

"It does, but I've agreed to do it anyway." He glanced up as Brennan leaned and put both hands on his shoulders. "You OK?"

"Stay right there. Please." She gripped his shoulders tightly and made a face, pushing back against their front door.

"Hot bath with jets ready to go, Bren. Just hang on a few more seconds and it's all yours," Angela promised.

"Ugh." Brennan rested her the back of her head against the door. "Why can't this one be as fast as Christine?" She kept her hands on Booth's shoulders as he stood up.

"Tired already?" he questioned.

"Yeah," she admitted. "And maybe a little impatient."

He smiled. "I think that's OK, given the circumstances. You ready to hit that Jacuzzi?"

"Uh huh." She eyed him warily. "You're not carrying me up the stairs."

"Wouldn't think of it. I'll follow right behind you."

"Bren, I'm going to fix you some tea — Booth, you want to split a pot of coffee with me?" Angela asked, heading back into the kitchen.

"Yes please — the good stuff."

"Of course. Decaf isn't legitimate coffee."

Brennan groaned. "You two are mean."

A few minutes later, Booth rejoined Angela downstairs, collapsing for a minute on the couch before Angela brought him a steaming mug.

"Bren banish you?" she teased, clinking her mug against Booth's in a mock toast.

"Yeah." He blew into the hot liquid, allowing the steam to hit his face. "She wants ten minutes alone, and promised to yell if she needs me."

Angela gently placed a hand on Booth's knee. "How are you not petrified right now? You're so calm, and it's kind of weirding me out."

"It's all an act. Trust me. I'm freaking out inside."

"You didn't try to convince her to do the hospital thing?"

"Oh, I did." He paused. "About three months ago, we talked about it, and of course we argued. She still insisted on the homebirth she didn't get with Christine, and I still wanted the safety of the hospital. Right before our fight turned horrific, I came the realization that this is her thing and I need to be supportive."

"But doesn't it scare you?"

"Yeah, a little," he admitted. "But it's Bones, and she knows what she's doing. Everything was fine last time, and it'll be fine this time."

"Plus, you got the siren if you need it." Angela grinned.

"Hah. Yes. And we've got you this time."

"Aw, look at you being sweet."

"I mean it." Booth looked over at Angela. "I know you were here dropping off paperwork, but your timing was perfect. She might not have asked you stay if you hadn't already been here, and I am very thankful you're here."

"Well, I figured I needed to stick around and make sure you were actually going to make it home. I thought you might be stuck in a cell after meeting up with Judge Andrews."

Almost mid-sip into his coffee, Booth promptly spit the hot liquid back into the mug. "Pardon?"

"You talked to him after everything the other night, right?"

"What do you mean?"

Avoiding Booth's gaze, Angela suddenly found her coffee mug extremely interesting.

"Angela."

"I plead the fifth."

"You can't plead the fifth because this isn't court. Tell me."

"It's not my place to tell you," Angela protested.

"I didn't ask if it was your place. I told you to tell me."

She sighed. "Andrews wanted Bren to do a presentation to a board on Thursday."

"She had tutoring."

"Yeah. He wanted to take her lunch break."

Booth's eyes narrowed. "But he didn't — I talked to Sweets."

"Yeah, the meeting time didn't match up with the prison's lunch break, so Brennan got lucky. But I think she's anticipating having to present at a later date."

"Hell no she won't, "Booth growled. "She did her time and went above and beyond his requirements. That bastard can …"

"Easy, tiger." Angela patted his arm. "Now you're all worked up and mad at your lovely wife, which is exactly why I didn't want to tell you. And you really can't be mad at her right now because she's having your baby. When you go back upstairs, you're going to put on your poker face and pretend like I never told you. Deal?"

"Yes, but …"

"No." Angela was firm. "Deal?"

"Deal."

"Good. Now drink your coffee and sit for a minute. You and I both need some energy. Lord knows what kind of crazy involved shenanigans Brennan's going to want to try with us to get this kid out."

Booth nodded and took a sip of his coffee, coughing slightly after he swallowed. "Good grief, what's in this?"

"I doubled the coffee."

"I double the coffee on a regular basis, and it doesn't taste like this. That's not it."

"Don't question me and just drink it."

"Here, let me get you." Parker laughed as Christine eagerly bounded from the backseat of his truck into his arms. "Hey, you got unbuckled and everything all by yourself!"

The little girl nodded her head. "I want to hurry!"

"Fair enough." Parker strode up the walkway to the house, lit by the light by the front door. "Remember, we can't be loud or stay long. Your mom is going to be really tired."

"I know. And the baby's sleepy."

Parker grinned at his sister's statement. "Yes. Being born is a very tiring process, so I'm sure the baby will be sleepy."

Christine's grip around Parker's neck tightened as he climbed the porch steps. "Park?"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you for getting me."

Parker smiled and kissed Christine's cheek. "Of course. I'm glad to. I love you."

"I love you too." Christine watched as Parker put a key into the door and turned the lock.

"Hey, I'm here," Parker called out cautiously.

"Just a minute!" came Angela's muffled voice from the hallway.

Parker gently set Christine down on the couch in the den, still lined with towels. "We may have to wait a few minutes."

She nodded. "OK."

Angela walked out of the laundry room into the kitchen. "Wow, you got here fast."

"Well, I've been texting with Dad for almost five hours now. He told me she was close thirty minutes ago, so I figured we better hurry."

"So good to see you, and sweet of you to bring Christine," Angela met Parker by the kitchen island for a quick hug. "And yes, Bren's very close."

"Oh crap, she hasn't had the baby yet?" Parker hadn't intended to get there before the delivery.

"She's about to start pushing. Should be soon," Angela promised, grabbing a pitcher of cold water from the fridge.

Christine looked over the couch at Angela and Parker raised an eyebrow as they heard a noise from upstairs, one that neither of them recognized.

"Like I said, it'll be soon!" Angela shot Christine a reassuring smile, hissing under her breath to Parker, "I'm glad you're here, but get her out right now. Things are not going to be quiet for a while, and the last thing we need is a traumatized Christine."

He understood and made a beeline back to the den for Christine, saying to Angela, "Don't tell them that Christine's here — it's a surprise."

Angela nodded. "I've got to get back — I'll come get both of you as soon as it happens." She disappeared around the corner and jetted back up the stairs.

"Was that Mommy?" Christine looked up at Parker with slightly fearful eyes as he approached the couch.

"Um …" Parker hesitated, swallowing as they heard another sound — this time, it was unmistakably a cry, followed by Booth's encouraging voice trying to soothe Brennan.

Immediately, Christine's eyes filled with tears. "Mommy."

"Hey." Parker promptly scooped Christine up in his arms, grabbed a blanket off the couch, and hurried outside onto the back porch, closing the door behind them. "Christine." He wiped her eyes. "Shhh, it's alright. She's OK. Calm down." Parker soothed, rubbing his little sister's back as she cried.

"P-p-pro-mise?"

"I promise, she's fine." He kissed Christine's cheek and hugged her closer into his chest. "I'm so sorry it scared you. She's fine."

"W-w-why does s-she cry? Cause it h-hurts-s?"

"Yeah. That's why Dad and Aunt Angela are there. They're helping it not hurt so much. Did you hear Dad talking to her?"

The little girl nodded tearfully.

"He's helping her. I promise she'll be OK. What did Dad tell you — Mom's really strong and brave, remember? Didn't you tell me that in the car on the way here?"

Christine nodded.

"See, she'll be fine. Soon we'll have our baby sister." Parker glanced out into the backyard, seeing the freestanding bench swing. "Hey, Dad fixed the swing. Want to swing?"

"Uh huh." Christine rubbed her eyes and hiccupped.

"I'll sit and you can stay in my lap, and we'll snuggle with this blanket. How's that sound? You can fall asleep if you want to — it's late." Parker stepped off the patio and walked over to the swing, still holding Christine, who had her arms wrapped tightly around his neck.

"No," Christine said stubbornly. "I want to see the baby."

"I know. We'll go see her when Aunt Angela comes to get us. I promise. Think you can rest for a few minutes? Just try to close your eyes."

A steady mixture of sweat and tears streaked Brennan's flushed face. "I just want her out," she whined desperately, settling back into the stack of pillows on the bed.

"I know, baby." Booth looked up at Angela, who had come back into the bedroom. "Was someone at the door?"

"Yeah, your mini me." Angela wrung out the washcloth that she had just dunked into the pitcher of water.

In the midst of fighting contractions, Brennan hadn't heard Parker's voice announcing he was home. "Parker?" she questioned. "What's he doing? It's getting late."

"What do you think, sweetie?" Angela smiled, handing Booth a cool washcloth. "He wants to see the baby."

"I texted him a little while ago, Bones. Remember? I just didn't think he'd get here this fast." He looked over at Angela. "If he was speeding, I'm gonna kill him."

"Nah, he wasn't speeding." Angela knew Parker well enough to know he'd never drive riskily with Christine in the car. "He's fine, Booth. Just eager."

Brennan sucked in a deep breath as Booth gently wiped off her forehead and cheeks. "I don't want him to hear me."

"He won't," Angela assured her. "He's sitting on the back porch. I told him you were close and I'd come get him soon."

Booth glanced at his phone as it buzzed. Seeing the text was from Parker, he reached for it with his free hand and read: "Picked up Christine. Uncle Jack texted and said she wouldn't go to bed and kept asking about the baby, so I figured I'd bring her. Don't tell Bones — it can surprise her. We're on the swing waiting — she's asleep against my shoulder. Tell Bones I love her."

A sharp gasp from Brennan drew Booth's eyes away from his phone. "Sorry," he soothed. "That was Parker. He said to tell you he loves you."

Brennan nodded silently, her lips pressed tightly together.

"Baby, please don't be quiet."

"Yeah, no need to be a hero, Bren. Yell and cuss as loud as you want. You know that's how I roll."

"Saving that for when I push," Brennan muttered to Angela through clenched teeth.

"Speaking of which … you should be close. Not forcing you — just tell me when you're ready."

"Give me a minute." Brennan rested the back of her head against the headboard as she rubbed her stomach and closed her eyes.

"So, you catching or am I?" Angela quizzed Booth.

From his position on the bed next to Brennan, Booth looked down at Angela, who was kneeling on the floor resituating a stack of towels and a small basin. "I was hoping you would."

"You really don't think you should be the one catching? You did it just fine last time, Mr. Steady Sniper Hands."

"Oh, and your hands aren't steady? They take detailed photos and paint with tiny strokes and do delicate reconstructions — doesn't that sound adequate for the job?"

Brennan groaned, pulling one knee toward her chest. "Listen. I don't care who catches the baby, but one of you needs to get ready."

"OK, OK!" Booth was immediately at full attention. "Still want to do this on the edge of the bed?"

"Uh huh."

"Booth." Angela entered into full-on pseudo-midwife mode with her tone and instructions. "Grab those extra pillows and put them beside her. Help her move towards the edge, then help support her."

Without asking, Booth reached under Brennan, gently lifting her to the side of the mattress that Angela had lined with towels.

"Thanks," she whispered gratefully.

"OK Booth, those pillows need to go behind and beside her so she's got something to fall back on in case I need you to move down here and help me," Angela instructed, watching Booth's handiwork.

Brennan pressed herself firmly into Booth's chest. "Thank you for doing this."

"I wouldn't want to be anywhere else." He kissed her neck as he tucked a few stands of hair back into her ponytail. "Tell me where to hold you."

"You're good right there … shit," she cursed, pitching herself forward slightly as she curled around her abdomen.

"Bren, you ready?"

She shook her head vehemently.

"Pushing's the good part," Angela reminded.

"No it's not!" Brennan panted, finding Booth's hands and moving them to her hips. "Hurts like hell! Worst part!"

"OK, you're right, but pushing's the only way to stop the pains from hell." Angela placed one hand firmly on Brennan's knee. "I'm not trying to rush you — do what you need to do. I'm staying right here."

Brennan sniffled, giving Angela a weak smile. "Thank you … both of you."

"Sweetie, of course," Angela returned the smile. "You don't have to thank us — we want to be here."

"You couldn't kick me out if you want to," Booth said, kissing Brennan's cheek. "I'm staying right here, too."

She turned toward him and put her hand on his cheek, kissing his lips soundly. "I'm sorry in advance for anything that I might say against you irrationally out of pain. I love you."

"You know I love you."

"Geez, now I want to cry!" Angela exclaimed. "Even after all these years, I still get all excited hearing those words."

"Oh." Brennan gasped, and Booth felt her quiver in his arms.

"Everything OK?"

"I want to push."

I know, I know. I'm the worst for leaving you right there. This quickly turned into a much-too long chapter, and I just didn't have another decent cut off spot. I apologize ... feel free to voice your cries of outrage in a review.

However, to atone for the cliffhanger, I've got chapter 27 on deck — literally, it's sitting in Microsoft Word ready to go. It'll be up tonight, probably right after the episode airs. (Good way to celebrate Bones Monday, right?)

I introduced Parker into this chapter — does that help ease the pain of the cliffhanger? (And side note, since the writers are a little vague with the overall age/timeline for everyone, I'm assuming Parker is of driving age for my story. I know the driving time/age requirements for DC, but that's a lot of boring details, so I'll spare you.)

Oh, and that whole going for a walk around the neighborhood part? My boss did that with her first, and she swears she'll do it with the second. The sitting on edge of the bed is how a family friend delivered four of her five kids. To each her own!

Again, thank you for the kind reviews, follows, and messages. I've had to sit through a usually high amount of meetings for the past four days (which explains the delay in updating), and your notifications were a huge boredom-buster. Thank you, and keep them coming!