A.N: I own nothing of Bones!

Yeah, I know…more than a month without an update.I suck. But hey, life happens, and man, December was a crazy month. But happily, things are settled down now, and the chapters will hopefully flow. And for the ones that are waiting for the last chapter of " Fever", it´s coming up this week. Thank you for your attention and I hope n you keep enjoying this fic!

CHAPTER 37- JOY

"Ok, sweetie. Start spilling now. Don't think I haven´t noticed that you´ve been crying. Did Booth do something to upset you?" Angela asked softly as the two women took their seats at the dinner, and took a good look at her best friend. She looked so tired. The waitress approached and Angela smiled gently. " We´ll take two coffees, please." It was just by this time that Brennan finally spoke, and what she said puzzled Angela beyond belief.

" make it an herbal tea for me, thank you." Bren´s voice was so…thick with emotion as she said it. As if there was a mysterious meaning at those simple words. Plus, it was extremely odd to see Temperance Brennan refusing coffee.

" Ok, that´s just weird, Bren. Really. Could you please stop acting like crazy, because it´s freaking the hell out of all of us. I mean, first there was that scene at the hospital, which really needs a good explanation. Then, I go to your place at night and Booth forbidens me to see you telling that you was having a hard time and needed some rest. What the heck is going on with the two of you?" Angela realized that her friends´s eyes were starting to fill with tears, and stretched her hand to reach Bren´s squeezing it. " Sweetie…whatever it is, you can tell me. You know that. And I´ll do my best to help you and Booth out. I´m with you. But you gotta tell me what is wrong."

Temperance nodded her head carefully, trying not to let the tears roll. She felt completely stupid with this sudden outburst of emotion she was getting since she found out about the pregnancy. She was a woman always proud of her self control. And now, she seemed to be crying for every single thing. Was this a hormonal changin?. She actually hopped so. It was the only logical explanation for her behavior. She took a deep breathe, knowing that protelating the true would just going to be was her best friend. She would know what do do and say to make things a little better. She always did. It was a gift. So, she gazed firmly at her best friend´s eyes, squeezing her hand back and whispering the words she had been practicing. It felt odd to say it , to come out of her mouth.

" I´m pregnant, Ange." She tasted the words, examining how it felt and trying to get used to it. She sure was going to use it a lot in the next months. Meanwhile, she was reading herself for what she was sure was going t o be a complete uncontrolled outburst from Angela Monetenegro. That was just the way that her friend was with big news. She would squeal, jump, dance and do all kind of embarrassing things that Brennan usually found it slightly funny. Until now. She wasn´t sure she could handle an ultra excited Ange, especially when she was still so confused about her current situation. She still didn´t know what to think. But then, she realized something odd: complete silence. She turned her eyes to the woman in front of her, realizing that Angela had her mouth wide open and her eyes seemed ready to pop out of it orbits. She definitely wasn´t expecting this reaction. Angela had practically blew her ears when she had told about her marriage with Booth. And that was by the phone, so she could only imagine all of her friend´s activities while receiving the news. And now, she seemed semi cathatonic. " Ange. Did you hear anything that I´ve said? Are you o?." Because now, adding to the absolutely full of shock face, the blood seemed to have left Angela´s face. But Brennan´s voice seemed to have some effect on her, and she blinked as eyeing Bren suspiciously.

"I´m sorry. I think I´ve just had a hearing hallucination. I thought you said you were pregnant." Angela looked at her friend expecting to see an outraged look by her face by this single speculation, but only saw seriousness. And then, it hit her. She wasn´t hallucinating at all." Oh My God. You really said that, haven´t you?" Brennan just nodded her head and crossed her arms, still confused about Angela´s reaction. It didn´t sound like her at all. " Oh. My. God. Do you think they serve alcohol here at this time of the day? Because I think I need a drink. Maybe two." And that was the complete true. Angela had spent all night imagining all kind of scenarios that could have Brennan in such a bad state, but a pregnancy never crossed her mind. It really didn´t. Because her best friend was the most meticulous person she had ever known. She would never slip that way. To get knocked up. She had imagined everything but this one single thing. Like they had seen an alien last night. Or maybe one of them were turning on vampires ( yes, she may had overthink about Twilight on that one, but c´mon. It was just fun.). They had decided t move to China and become eremits. Anything. But a baby? Hell, no. So, Angela Monetengro , the woman that thought that nothing else could ever surprise her, was in shock. When you think that nothing stranger or impossible could happen…bam! " wow. Just…wow." She inhaled the air to her lungs deeply, registering the information in her mind, trying to process it. Brennan and Booth were having a baby. Her best friend was pregnant. And there she stood, completely still, mouth agape while the most unbelieving, marvelous thing turned on reality. It was like all her prayers were suddenly becoming reality. Her favorite couple in the world was blossoming. Man, God was powerful.

" Sweetie! Holly Lord! Bren…that´s just…wow. A baby. Oh My God, oh My God. I´m going to be an ant.Oh My God, you´re going to be a mommy!" Now, that sounded like the Angela that temperance knew and was used to, no matter how her friend´s reactions puzzled her. How could she react so rapid and positively to such a bombastic new? But somehow, it kind of soothed her to see Angela squealing and bouncing like crazy on her chair. It actually didn´t even bothered Brennan that other people were starting to stare. Because she knew the phases of Angela´s thrill. She would eventually calm down and be the reasonable woman full with good advices that Ange was. But right now, she had to deal with hurricane Angela. And she w as in her full force. " wow, you and stud don´t waste any time, do you? When it comes about you two, it has to be the whole package. I mean, marrying and procreating in less than a couple of months? Way to go, Bren. Oh My God. How are you feeling? I mean, are you having morning sickness and stuff? Have you been to a doctor yet? What do you prefer, boy or girl? Oooh, to have a baby boy with Booth´s charming smile…bur then again, to have a girl with your looks, she would be a heart breaker, don´t you think? Hey, what if you´re expecting twins? That would be awesome, two little Brennan- Booth´s to spoil…Can I decorated the baby´s room? When are you guys planning to tell other people? I´m dying to see their reaction, the squad is going to flip! Oh, sweetie, I´m so happy for you." She took a pause to breathe, feeling slightly lightheaded as all kind of emotions passed through her mind. But slowly she was also seeing the seriousness of the situation. She knew Temperance Brennan far too well to think that her friend was seeing only flowers with this. Actually, the puffy eyes in her face told it all.

" Ange, low your voice a little, will you? The staff here knows Booth and I. And I definitely don´t want them knowing about it. It´s too personal. And troubling, mind you. I don´t think you are seeing the seriousness in this situation. I´m pregnant, Ange. I´m having a baby. Something that I´ve always vowed that wouldn´t happen to me. I mean, honeslty. Can you picture me as a mother? For Booth is very fine, he is an excellent father, he is a natural. But me? Honestly, Ange. It just seems like bad joke. One where an innocent child will end up being the victim." She let her anxiety speak for itself, because really, she w as still scared beyond belief. And she needed her best friend to see it. Because she had never felt so fragile and lost in her life, and she could use all the support she could get. Not that Booth´s wasn´t enough. Because it was. But it would be good to have Angela by her side. Once again, she felt close to tears. Angela immediately stopped her bouncing and took Brennan´s hands in hers again, her face serious and gentle.

" Ok, sweetie. Calm down. I´m sorry. I didn´t mean to get so carried away. It´s just…you know how I get with these kind of news. But honey…think about it. It is a great thing, Bren. I mean, I know it was fast and all, and that it must be scaring the hell out of you, because it was never in your plans, but Bren…this kind of things sometimes happen. You know, the unexpected. And sometimes, it´s just what the doctor ordered, meaning it´s just what will make you wonderfully happy. Just look at your marriage. Who would think that it would happen? And that things would turn out so great? I mean, aren´t you happy with Booth? And how is he taking the news, by the way?" Temperance considered her friend´s words for a while, actually seeing some sense in it. She was happy with Booth. Like she had never thought she would be.

" yes, I´m happy with Booth. This is true. But Ange…a baby? It will change every single thing. Booth is taking it well, much better than me. Of course, he admitted he is still a bit scared and surprised, but you know Booth. He loves being a father, Ange. So, despite it all, he is happy. I can´t say anything bad about him, really. He has been wonderful with me. Patient, and so caring. But this doesn´t change the fact that I´m completely unfit to be a mother." This fear was slowly building down inside her. In a few months, there would be someone entirely dependent of her. The thought actually made her a little dizzy. She wondered if she was going to start to hyperventilate again. But Angela was the voice of heart and reason at the same time, knowing exactly what to say. She squeezed brennan´s hand slowly, making her friend look at her, and smiled softly.

" Sweetie…I have two single words for you to prove that you are far from an unfit mother: Little Andy. Remember him ?" Because Angela sure as hell remembered, and she could still see all the tenderness in her best friend by that time. But Brennan just shook her head seeming a little desperate, her big blue eyes wide open like a little girl afraid of monsters.

" Ange…I let Andy Swallow a key. That was how he got under my custody on the first place. Booth almost killed me." She still could recall the look tha Booth had gave her when finding out that she had let an infant near a key. It only proved that she w as meant to utter disaster as a mother, wasn´t it? But Angela smile´s grew larger, and Brennan couldn´t help but feel a little warmed by her best friend´s brown eyes.

" That was one single accident, Bren, You were busy then, and you weren´t used to have a baby around you. It wasn´t like you did it on purpose. But just think about the afterwards. When he was under your care. Sweetie, you were great. So tender and worried. You had bought him an entire wardrobe,a baby chair,a stroller. You fed him, you played with him, and I´ve even seen you doing the "dancing phalanges" thing for him. You were so worried when Cam found out that he was sick. You didn´t rest until you found out what was wrong with him, and getting the best treatment he could …all of that just proves that you are going to be an outstanding mom. Just like everything you do in your life, you will succeed, because you do with dedication and more importantly, love. Hell, you were responsible for the rebuilding of Andy´s town so he could get a better life. What kind of person would do that if not a very special one? That´s you, sweetie. If you were that way with a kid that it wasn´t related at all with you, than all I can say is how wonderful you will be with your own child. You are already doing great with parker. That kid is crazy about you." Angela could see that slowly she was being able to make her friend relax a little. She still looked scared as hell, but now the tears were gone, and the shadow of a smile played down her lips. " Plus, you won´t be alone. Booth will be with you all the time, and I´m betting my life that he´s willing to do anything to help you go trough this process the best way you can manage. And he is a great dad, like you have said. And honey…don´t you dare to forget about your friends….about me.I´m claiming godmother already, by the of us, your team, your family, will be there when you need, going to simplest thing to the most complicated. Do you understand that, Bren? That you are not alone in this?

Temperance considered Angela´s words carefully, an strange calm starting to take over her. Suddenly, things didn´t seem so terrifying. Scary, yes, but nothing that she could not handle. Because she was finally understanding that it was ok to depend upon others when the weight over your shoulders were too big. And boy, she was blessed in that aspect. She had her entire team, her friends. She had Ange. She had her dad and Russ. And more importantly, she had Booth.A wave of affection took over her by the simple thought of the man that was her husband. Her child´s father. She remembered how sweet he was the night before, the strength of his arms embracing her. And that when she finally realized that, somehow, someday, things would turn out ok. They would be all ok.

" So…can you please wipe off this facial expression of perpetual pain from your face now, sweetie? You only have motives for joy. I mean, honestly, Bren…isn´t there even a small part of you excited and happy about it?You´re going to be a mommy! You know, small feet, tiny fingers wrapping around yours…a small miracle in your arms in a few months. Can you imagine the feeling? Baby smell…a brand new person made by you and Booth. Can you imagine how wonderful it must feel to have something so special developing inside you? Can you imagine the first time it moves? I know you, sweetie. I know that behind those walls of a tough, brave woman,lies a sentimental and tender one. So, are you honestly going to tell me that there´s not a part of you, the smallest that it can be, that isn´t´ a bit happy?" It was like poking the wound with a stick, though Temperance. Ever since she had discovered she was pregnant, she kept shoving of any positive feeling about it, as if it could make her weaker. But really, what was wrong with feeling happy? Angela was right, it was somewhat exciting. And there was this part of her that kept chanting in the back of her mind as she felt her heart beating like crazy: You´re having a baby, you´re having a family… And she finally allowed herself to enjoy that feeling. Because she would love her kid. She would do anything and everything for his or her happiness. And that´s when she realized that she was thinking like a genuine mother. And the world seemed to lighten up a bit more.

" I guess. There are some very positive and exciting, as you say, factors." Angela smiled largely, knowing that this battle was won. She also knew that the next months wouldn´t be always easy, but she would be there then. Her smile grew even larger when she saw the tall man entering the dinner and walking directly to their table.

" And here comes your gorgeous hubby." She watched as Brennan´s face literally lit up, and stood in front of an hesitant Seeley Booth, his eyes traveling from his wife to her best friend. You never knew what to expect with those two. " hey, stud! So…A bun in the oven already,huh? You guys do not waste anytime, that´s what I have to say. Anyway, congratulations, Booth. Really. I´m so happy for you both." She hugged him gently, whispering in his ear in a way that Bones couldn´t see or hear. " And don´t worry. She will be ok. We´ll all gonna take care of her." Booth smiled largely to the woman I front of him, knowing that he could rely upon those words. He also realized that his Bones seemed better than any moment from the one they had found out about the pregnancy. So, he took the seat besides his wife, throwing a gentle arm around her and feeling as she relaxed and leaned against him a bit.

" Huh…thanks, Ange. So, I take that you girls had a good talk?" It certainly looked like so, for the looks of his Bones. Angela smiled brigtly, happy with her success. Man, she was good.

" A very good one. I was able to remind Bren here about the perks of having a beautiful, sweet and perfect baby, and how much joy can come with it. Right, sweetie?" Booth turned in order to gaze at Bones, surprised to see her smiling at him. She never looked so beautiful in his opinion.

" So…we´re happy now?" he asked carefully, watching as she leaned closed and kissed him on the cheek, leading his hand to her belly, completely surprising him.

" Yes, we are happy. Sacred, but in a good way." And all Booth could think was how great it felt to have his fingers over her womb.

They both felt kind of they had fought a war by the time they managed to arrive at home. It was still the end of the afternoon, but there were so many emotional turns and surprises that they felt as if they had been working hard by days, like they just had finished a very difficult case. And they both knew that it was just the beginning. There was still so many people to know, so much to do.

Booth watched as Temperance seated on the couch, her fatigue obvious at her face as she leaned and closed her eyes, taking a deep breathe. He joined her and laced their fingers, feeling her breathing near his neck.

" Tired?" She just nodded and leaned closer, and he kissed the top of her forehead, understanding how demanding that day was for her. " What if I set you a nice bath tub? So you could relax." She opened her eyes and gazed at him, a small smile forming down her lips.

" Are you joining me?" She gave him the sly smile he loved so much, and Booth felt his stomach do a flip flop.

" I thought you were tired?" He smiled as he felt her fingers start tugging his shirt, and kissed her neck lightly,making her shiver.

" I´m not that tired, Seeley. And just so you know…the hormones in a pregnant woman make the libido increase a lot,so…be prepared." He laughed and let her unbutton his shirt, busying himself with her blouse.

" So…basically you´re telling me that I´m under risk of sexual attack anytime in the next months?" She kissed his collarbone as he lifted them both from the couch, heading to the bathroom.

" Pretty much. Do you have a problem with that?" Her voice was rough and he just shook his head, concentrating on her lips.

" hell, no."

TBC…

So…you know the drill by now. Next chapter we´ll have the first doctor´s appointment… reviews only make me write faster…