CHAPTER 52. Pearls & Parties


It is impossible to fall out of love. Love is such a powerful emotion, that once it envelops you it does not depart. True love is eternal. If you think that you were once in love, but fell out of it, then it wasn't love you were in. There are no 'exit' signs in love; there is only an 'on' ramp.

- Anon


Brennan picked up her phone nervously, making the decision to try a phone call. She tapped her pen rhythmically on the desk in front of her as she raised the cell phone to her ear and hoped for an answer.

There was a click at the end of the line. "Booth," the person at the other end answered.

"Hello, it's me," Brennan spluttered, her words falling out of her mouth as a complete mess.

"Oh, hey," he replied flatly.

She sighed; she didn't seem to be making any progress with him. "I was just wondering if you wanted to grab a cup of coffee at the diner for lunch," she mumbled.

"Thanks, Tempe, but I've got a lot of paperwork to complete. Maybe tonight," Booth responded.

"Don't lie to me, Booth! You always manage to put off paperwork, usually until I step in and help you. And you know full well that it's Angela's party tonight," she sniffed, "I made a stupid mistake, Booth, you can't just avoid me forever."

"I'm not avoiding you. Cullen really is moaning at me about these documents," Booth protested.

"Fine. Are you still coming to Angela's tonight?" she questioned anxiously.

Booth groaned. "I might do. It depends how long this stuff takes me to get done," he answered.

"But…" she started, but stopped realising her efforts would most likely be fruitless, "I'm so sorry, Booth. I messed things up… really badly; I know. But I didn't mean it. Marrying you was the best thing that has ever happened to me. I would never have married anyone else, Seeley, only you, because that is how much I love you. I don't know how to make it up to you, Booth… you know I'm not good at things like this."

He held his head in his hands, pained by her beautiful words. "I know you're sorry, Tempe; I know that. But there are some things which are just not forgivable," Booth sighed, his eyes stinging.

"Oh," Brennan choked. Angela found Brennan on the phone, sobbing in her office.

She ran in and clasped her best friend's hand, not even worrying about whether this might be a private conversation.

Brennan squeezed Angela's hand tightly and breathed deeply, trying to level her voice.

"Have a good day, Seeley. Good luck with the paperwork," Brennan murmured.

"I'll see you later," he mumbled.

"Oh and, Booth," she whispered, resting her head on Angela's shoulder.

"Yes, Tempe?" he yawned.

"Happy Valentine's day," she said sweetly.

He couldn't prevent the slight smile that sprung to his face. "You too, Bones," he whispered, before he heard the familiar sound of the dial tone at the end.

That night, Cam turned up at Brennan's house to pick her up. She was going to help her friend get ready for the party. She hated seeing her so down and she sighed, deeply regretting the fact that it was once her who had been the cause of Brennan's tears.

Brennan had opted for a figure hugging, blue dress, displaying her baby bump prominently and proudly.

She wore a simple pearl necklace and matching earrings. The dress matched the two sparkling sapphires that were set in the engagement ring she was wearing.

Cam noticed her studying it as they made their way to Angela's and she smiled sympathetically. "He'll come around, Bren. Booth is madly in love with you; it'll all work out," Cam assured her.

Brennan's eyes were still glued to her ring and she brought it up closer to her face, grinning.

Then her face formed a frown as she responded to Cam's comment. "I'm not sure anymore, Cam. He said that there are some things that just can't be fixed. What if he…" she whispered, trying to hold back her tears so that her freshly applied make-up wouldn't smudge.

Cam reached across the vehicle and took Brennan's hand. "He still wants to be with you," Cam uttered softly.

Brennan was about to reply, but they reached their destination; pulling into the driveway of the Hodgins Estate.

Angela came running out of the house when she saw them arrive, hugging Cam briefly and pointing her inside before pulling Brennan into her arms.

"Hello, sweetie. You look beautiful," Angela complimented, "that colour suits you."

"Thanks, Ange. You look very nice too," Brennan beamed, before a pang of sadness rose up from her stomach, "is Booth here yet?"

Angela nodded her head. "He's inside talking to Goodman. Well, he was when I came out anyway. Are you nervous about seeing him?" Angela asked, tapping her friend's shoulder gently in reassurance that things would be fine.

Brennan looked at Angela sadly, and her friend observed the distant look that haunted her cerulean eyes. "He won't speak to me anyway, Ange," Brennan sighed.

Angela tugged her arm. "Well, come on inside, sweetie. I'm gonna make sure you have a good time," Angela grinned.

They entered the ballroom and Brennan scanned her surroundings for Booth. Her heart ached as she saw him; standing over by the edge of the hall, chatting to Goodman.

He looked jaw-droppingly handsome in his black dinner jacket and Brennan felt herself going physically weak at the knees.

Angela felt her friend's pain and dragged her over to the table to accompany Hodgins and Zach. Cam was over at the bar, and Angela left Brennan with the guys for a few moments, rushing over to the bar to usher Cam away.

"How about we just start you off on some lemonade?" Angela suggested, giving the bartender a knowing look that said 'don't let her order any spirits'.

She guided Cam back over to their table, making sure everyone was seated before she came over with a tray of drinks.

As the hours flew by, most people were dancing, and Brennan looked increasingly disheartened. Zach decided to step-in and try to help cheer her up.

"Would you like to dance, Dr. Brennan?" he offered shyly, holding his hand out to her.

She looked up into the embarrassed face of her student and smiled, allowing him to lead her onto the dance floor.

It was a little awkward at first because of the giant bump between them, but they soon settled into a comfortable and not entirely unpleasant rhythm.

Booth watched Brennan dancing from the corner of the room and he felt his breathing hitch.

She looked beautiful in her dark, satin dress, and he had to control his urge to go over to her and wrap her up in his arms. There was a surging battle between his heart and his head taking place.

When the song ended, Brennan and Zach parted and Booth slipped over to Brennan, extending his hand to her. "Dance with me?" he asked quietly.

She accepted his invitation and nodded; one hand finding its place on his shoulder, one hand clasping his.

She trembled at the electricity of his contact, having missed it for what seemed like forever.

"Have a good time dancing with Zach, did you?" Booth snorted.

She frowned. "As a matter of fact I did. Zach is an adequate dancer," she replied.

"I'm sure," Booth responded sceptically.

"He is," she argued, "if you didn't want me to dance with him you should have asked me, instead of glowering at us the whole time."

"I was not glowering. I was simply squinting against the bright lights," he protested.

She laughed softly. "Admitting to squinting? Now that's a first," she teased. She wasn't sure exactly where she stood with him at the moment and she was trying to establish the pattern of his thoughts.

"I thought you weren't speaking to me," she whispered, gazing up at him uncertainly.

He inhaled deeply and stepped back from her. Her face contorted with fear and she pulled her arms around herself tightly.

"I still don't know if I can forgive you for what you said, Tempe," Booth sighed, "I know you aren't good with words, but some things you just can't apologise away."

Her eyes were swimming with water and he felt as if he might be drowning in them. "I know, Booth. Just tell me how I can make it better," she pleaded.

"I don't know if you can, Temperance," he muttered drearily.

"Well what do I do then, Booth? One horrifically stupid comment and you're leaving me? I love you!" she screamed, attracting everyone's attention unwittingly, "don't you dare give up on us, Seeley Booth. Loving you is by far the smartest thing I have ever done. Please, you can't just…"

Suddenly she sucked in a raspy breath, lurching forward and clasping her stomach as she fell, landing on her knees.

Booth ran forward, catching her shoulders to cushion the fall.

"Booth… the baby," she was shouting desperately, "I think it's coming, Seeley. It can't!" She was sobbing furiously.

"It's too soon. There's still three weeks left," she cried, clutching at his shirt and tie to anchor herself to him as she felt the world spinning around her.

Booth scanned the crowd and caught Zach's eye. "Zach, call an ambulance. Right now," Booth ordered, turning his focus back to Brennan.

"Oh god, Bones, you're going to be fine," he whispered, tugging her into his lap as he crouched down, rocking her softly, "I'm so, so sorry, Tempe. I love you, god; I'm so in love with you. I was just mad before, that's all, but I'm here now and I always will be. I promise you, I'm right here. You're both going to be okay."

She cried hysterically into his chest as they waited for the ambulance, comforted and calmed by the kisses with which he dusted her cheeks.

Finally things were resolved between them, but now the life of their child hung in the balance.


This chapter is dedicated to: sunlitauthor101

Fireflies for everyone. :D

A review would be glorious.