When I wrote this chapter I had German standards in mind. My Beta told me that this is not the way it happens in the US. But hey, this is fanfiction. Just pretend it can happen like this. Hope you agree with me.
Week 21-24
It was a dark and rainy day in late November. They were on their way home from Alexandria where they'd spent the afternoon interrogating a witness in relation to their latest case. Their drive had become quiet as Booth tossed the information they'd gleaned from the witness around in his head and Brennan looked out the window, watching the houses as they passed by. Suddenly, she started yelling.
"Stop, Booth! Stop!" He stomped on the brakes as hard as he could as Brennan flung her arms forward and braced herself on the dashboard to avoid being pressed into the seatbelt too hard.
"Bones, what's wrong?" He turned to her as soon as the car came to a halt. "Is everything okay?" Brennan held out her hand to him and tried to catch her breath.
"Okay. Yes. I mean, everything is fine." Booth shot her a questioning look not understanding why they had to stop so abruptly.
"A house." She swallowed hard. "There was a house for sale. I saw the sign at the last minute." She pointed backwards. "It's down this road, back there a little bit." She gave him a pleading look. "It looked … pretty."
"Pretty?" He wasn't sure he'd ever heard her use pretty to describe anything, ever. "Bones, I could've hurt you," he wasn't angry by any means, just worried. "Stopping like that, I could've really hurt you and the baby. Next time just tell me to turn around, okay?" He chuckled at her exuberance, put the truck in gear, and turned the SUV around heading back down the road. "So let's have a look at that pretty house." He hadn't noticed anything but admittedly he hadn't paid much attention. His mind on other things.
Shortly after they'd turned the car she pointed out the house, easily recognizable by the real estate sign on the front lawn. It looked idyllic. They parked and climbed out of the car to take a closer look. It was a white two story house which looked like it was in good shape from the outside. Standing on the sidewalk in front of it, they looked around them. The neighborhood looked good. The yards were well taken care of. There were signs of young families, a few bikes and scooters in yards up and down the street.
There was a phone number on the sign and Booth decided it couldn't hurt to give it a call. It would be short notice but they were there after all, maybe they could see the inside. After the fifth ringing a female voice answered the phone. "Hello, Long & Foster agency. My name's Lydia Sherman. How may I help you?"
Booth told her where they were and that they had seen the sign and were interested in looking at the house.
"Great." Lydia was happy someone was actually interested in the home. "I can be there in ten to fifteen or we can set an appointment."
"Now's good. We can wait."
She'd been hoping they'd be willing to wait. "I'll see you soon then, Mr. Booth."
Booth told her that they would wait for her in front of the house. After he finished the call he turned to Brennen, who had already climbed up the stairs to the front porch and was peeking through windows. The house looked freshly renovated with some built-ins but otherwise without any furnishings inside. From what she saw, it was highly unlikely people were living in the home.
"Bones." His slightly exasperated tone surprised her. "Get out of the bushes." She'd wedged her very pregnant body in between the tall hedges to get to the windows so she could see into the house better.
On the left side she could look into a small, empty room. Maybe it could be a den or her office. Booth thought she'd finally listened to him but she was just switching to the other side of the front door. On the right side she could look into what was obviously the living room. It looked like it connected straight through to a big white kitchen. She liked what she saw.
"Bones, seriously. The lady's gonna be here any minute. Come out of there." He reached out his hand, taking hers, to steady her as she maneuvered across the uneven ground. Pulling him, she dragged him from one side of the yard to the other. On the left side was a driveway leading to a two car garage. On the right side was a gate which led to a big backyard. From what little they could see it looked nice enough. But the gate was locked so it wasn't possible to see more. They had to wait for the agent with the keys.
Brennan was really excited about the house, while Booth was more hesitant. "Bones, this house is in this nice area, it must cost a fortune." She gave him a pointed glare making it clear that she didn't really care about the price.
Yes, they had talked about how they would share the cost but still it made him feel uncomfortable that she would cover most of it. On the other hand, he knew that she didn't really care and planned to pay for the house outright, without any loan.
When the real estate agent arrived she found her customers traipsing back across the front yard after seeing what they could of the garage and backyard. She stopped her car and climbed out of the vehicle, stepping up the porch to greet the couple waiting there.
"Hi, I'm Lydia Sherman." She pointed at Booth. "I think we talked on the phone, right?" Booth smiled at her and shook her hand.
"Yes, I'm Special Agent Seeley Booth." He pointed at Brennan. "And this is my partner Dr. Temperance Brennan." The two women shook hands too.
"We just drove by and saw the sign in the yard." Brennan pointed at the house. "We have been looking for a house for a little while now and this one got our attention."
The agent pointed at her belly. "Looks like you might be a bit in a hurry, huh?"
Brennan put a hand on her stomach and smiled at the other woman, who was a little older than her and had a sympathetic look in her eye.
"Oh, it would be nice to find a house soon, but we actually have a home so there is no pressure." When they first started looking, Sweets told her not to appear too fond of the house so price negotiations had a better chance of leaning in their favor. That was hard for her. She was naturally, unabashedly, brutally honest. In this case that quality might not be in her favor.
The agent opened the door.
Booth and Brennan stepped inside and instantly fell in love with the house. The open living room and kitchen area took most of the first floor, just like it appeared from the outside. To the left of the entrance was a room that would be a perfect office. Pleasantly, the room was bigger than it appeared from the outside. There was a decent sized laundry room and a small bathroom with a toilet, sink, and a shower all close to the back door.
On the second floor there was a spacious master bedroom with a built-in closet and the master bathroom which, to their surprise, had a big Jacuzzi tub. Booth was very excited about that tub. He loved a good soak. There were two other good sized bedrooms and another bathroom on this floor. One of which would make a perfect nursery for the baby. The other would be perfect for Parker. It was everything they wanted. It met all their needs. After all their looking, finding this house seemed like the answer they'd been searching for.
There was a good sized porch behind the house and a big garden. Booth already was planning a treehouse for their little daughter and Brennan made plans for a swimming pool. This house was theirs, absolutely.
Brennan remembered something Booth had told her, the house would find them. He was right. He was right about the house and he was right about the baby. But there must be something wrong with the house because a house like this wouldn't last long, it'd be off the market in hours and it had been sitting empty for quite some time.
After the real estate agent had shown them around the house and they had done a little
exploration of their own, taking the time alone to talk. They met up in the kitchen again because that's where the only furniture they could sit on was.
So they sat at the breakfast bar together. Booth addressed the woman in front of him directly. "So, Ms. Sherman, what's wrong with this house?" There was a panicked look in her eye. When she didn't answer immediately Booth continued. "Because a house like this … should've been off the market in no time."
"Uhm." Lydia Sherman cleared her throat. "You're quite right. This house has a history and I need to tell you about it before you make your decision." She smiled at them. This was the part where she always lost the sale. Everyone that saw the house loved it and was ready to buy until she got to this point and every time she gave them this spheal they back pedaled their way out of the deal.
"I want to be truthful with you. I don't want you feeling like I'm not putting all the cards on the table." She shifted in her seat. "And … it is my legal obligation to disclose." She took a deep breath. Booth and Brennan were both getting annoyed as she danced around whatever it was she was she was trying to tell them.
"Ms. Sherman, could you please just get to the point." Brennan was tired, hungry, and uncomfortable. She was in love with the house but was not enamoured with the agent at the moment.
"So, you should know, the owner of this house is a criminal. He's not out running around free. He was arrested … and convicted." She was trying to reassure them as she frantically told them the story. "Right now he's sitting in prison for the rest of his life. Drugs I believe. Leavenworth. The house was partially destroyed when he was arrested. He really fought hard. But they got'em." She smiled awkwardly. "The house was seized but -"
"I understand."
"Nobody wanted to buy a destroyed house. Our company bought the house at auction, government auction, and renovated the house to make it more attractive but, as it turns out, no one wants to buy a house previously owned by a felon." She let out an awfully long frustrated sigh. "As soon as the people hear the story of the house, they lose interest."
Booth groaned, nearly collapsing on the counter, but Brennan leaned into him while looking at the agent. "Ms. Sherman, can I have a word with my partner in private?" The agent slipped off the stool and turned to leave the house.
"Sure. Take your time." Looking back over her shoulder one last time, she closed the door behind her.
"Bones, I know this might not seem like the right place to raise our kid, given, you know, everything, and I understand if you have doubts. But ..." Booth looked at Brennan, but before he could finish she jumped in.
"No, Booth, no." She shook her head. "Look, when the Dani of New Guinea defeated the Amungme tribesmen, the Dani valued the huts of their vanquished enemy as symbols of their mightiness."
"Right." Booth chuckled. Of course she would turn back to anthropology. "So, the scumbag who lived in this house is like … our vanquished enemy?" Brennan nodded vehemently.
"Yes. His house would be a symbol of our mightiness." She laughed. "And because we are in law enforcement I thought it might be perfect for us." Booth got excited.
"Great. Now we just have to find out how much this mighty hut will cost us." Nudging her with his elbow, he smiled. "I think the history of the house might have an impact on the price. I bet we can get a pretty big discount. "
They called the agent back in and were pleasantly surprised when they heard the price. While they planned on negotiating the office down, they decided not to, given the price offered. They bought the house right then and there and made an appointment for the next week to do all the legal paperwork. After they had talked about all the details with the real estate agent they headed back to their car and climbed in. Brennan shook her head with wonder. They went to interrogate a witness and bought a house on the way back.
§§§
Right after they got back from making the deal for the house they started planning their move. They had long discussions about their combined belongings, trying to decide which things would go to the new home, which furniture would be made available to her interns and graduate students, and what would be donated to charity. Although Booth insisted that graduate students were a charity.
The move consumed the next two weeks. Booth wanted them to move as quickly as possible, which meant there was no time to waste. Brennan was already pretty far along and every day seemed to be more exhausting for his beautiful partner, although she certainly did her best to argue the point. He tried his best to do all the work but, as expected, he couldn't control what she did when he wasn't around.
Boxes were filled and labeled, so they knew which room to place them in the new house. In a bit more than a week all the things which were not for daily use were in boxes leaving both their homes with only a few pieces of furniture and the clothes they needed until moving day.
They decided to buy a new bed for their bedroom. That took research on both their parts. Brennan read reviews, compared research on Consumer Reports, and factory specs. Booth sat on the edge of every bed in every store they visited and bounced, then laid down and stared at the ceiling insisting Brennan join him. After much back and forth they found one they both liked and arranged to have it delivered.
Brennan did not want the nursery set up. She wanted it to be painted a different color but was having a difficult time deciding on a color. The research was conflicting and she wondered how she was supposed to balance a calming color for sleep with a stimulating one for development. Booth insisted she just needed to pick one she liked or thought would be pretty. While it was important to move in as quickly as possible, it was also important everything be just how they wanted it and that was proving to be quite a challenge.
Moving was exhausting under the best of circumstances. Booth found himself worried about Brennan. She needed much more rest than usual and was very emotional. He didn't want anything to happen to her or the baby. Typical Booth tried to do all the work himself.
"I can sit here and pack, Booth. I'm not an invalid. I'm pregnant." It was her new mantra. Usually followed by, "for centuries women have been …" followed by a lecture on some culture or another whose women gave birth squatting in fields while picking potatoes or something awful. He tried not to listen too closely to that part. Nightmares. Her stories were giving him strange nightmares. Mixes of her lectures and working cases and their baby being born.
Of course, Booth persisted. He didn't care how many times she argued with him about it; he knew her limits.
Finally on the Saturday of the second week of December two big moving trucks were rented and all their friends and all the squints gathered to help them move. While Booth directed all the moving in his apartment, Brennan took care of hers. Booth had begged Angela to watch Brennen like a hawk. No heavy lifting for her. To Booth, heavy lifting meant anything more than a handbag, at least that was what Angela had understood when he was instructing her.
It was late, but at last, both trucks arrived at their new home. Busy legs were running back and forth between the trucks and the house, up and down the stairs. Busy hands were filling closets and cupboards and putting furniture in its place trying to unpack at least a few of the essentials.
When all the moving was done for the night, Booth ordered Pizza for the whole gang of helpers and they celebrated a successful move. These people were more than coworkers, more than friends, they were family to them. Soon laughter and happy chatting filled their home. Booth watched Brennan closely. She looked tired and he caught her trying to suppress a big yawn. Leading her gently by the hand, he had her sit on the couch and put her feet up.
Their friends were spread all over the kitchen and living room, enjoying their food and a cold beer from the newly filled fridge. Brennan was overwhelmed by all the love and care shown to them by those who'd helped make this move happen. She thought of the apartment she'd left behind and how she'd had to move in there all by herself. No one helped her. She was amazed how much had changed in her life in the last six years.
They'd found a house, they had a home now. They had dear friends and when she looked at the man she loved, her partner and friend, as he chatted with Wendel about the next hockey game, she was overwhelmed. She touched her growing stomach and thought of the baby they'd made together just waiting to be welcomed into this beautiful, new home. She couldn't help but reflect on how much this one man had done for her, leading her, loving her, teaching her, to bring her to this point. Their eyes met over the heads of their friends and as always, nothing had to be said, they understood each other perfectly.
When the pizza was all eaten and the beer bottles emptied, one by one their friends found their way out of the door, leaving behind the thankful couple in their new home. Booth gathered up the empty bottles for recycling and put the plates into their new dishwasher. After cleaning the kitchen counter he approached Brennan, who was still sitting on the couch, looking around, already deciding where to place the many artifacts and decorations still packed boxes.
Booth told Brennan to sit still and wait a few minutes downstairs while he took care of some business upstairs. Brennan wondered what that could be but was actually too tired to really care. After a solid ten minutes, Booth was back standing in front of her. He reached out, offering her his hands to help her stand up from the couch and swept her right up into his arms.
"You know, Bones, normally I would have carried you over the threshold of this house when you entered it for the first time." He chuckled. "That would have been some entertainment for our friends, don't you think?" They both laughed. "I wouldn't do that to either of us." He turned her into the direction of the stairs. "Next best thing would be to carry you up these stairs and into our bedroom, right?" Her eyes widened in horror and he instantly put up one hand to calm her down. "I know, I know, it would be too dangerous to carry a pregnant woman up the stairs and truth be told, I've lifted and carried so many heavy boxes today that even I know this would not be a good idea for my back."
He took her hand and led her up the stairs. "So the only thing left is to take your hand and go with you upstairs into our new bedroom and maybe, just maybe there's a little surprise for you up there." Brennan gave him a tender smile and followed him as he guided her up the stairs. He opened the bedroom door and they both stepped in. She was not so sure what he meant, nothing looked different in this room since she'd hung their clothes and made the bed with Angela's help. The two bedside lamps were lit but that was the only difference she noticed.
She gave Booth a questioning glance but he didn't say anything, just let her stand in front of the bed and slowly started undressing her.
She sighed. "Booth, even though it might be considered traditional to make love the first night we're in our new home, in our new bed," she gave him a tired look, "I have to admit that I am really too tired to engage in … in a passionate act of lovemaking. I believe it's much more than I can give right now."
He chuckled and continued to just remove her pants and leave her only in her panties and a bra.
"Even though the idea is quite entertaining, I'm not interested in a, what did you call it? The passionate act of love making? Every muscle in my body is hurting and I'm just as ready to relax right now just as you are." He took off her bra and panties, leaving her naked in front of him. She stood with the cutest look of confusion he'd ever seen as he quickly took off all of his clothes until he was as naked as she was.
Still not knowing what this was all about, Booth took her hand and led her to their new master bathroom. When he opened the door and they both stepped in, Brennan gasped. She hadn't expected this, not at all. The room was only lit with candles. They were everywhere, on the shelves, on the window sill, and on the rim of their big Jacuzzi tub, which was filled completely and was softly bubbling.
"Booth." Brennan whispered softly, taken aback by how thoughtful and romantic it was for him to surprise her like that.
He helped her step in and followed right after her. He then slowly sat down and helped her sit down between his legs. With a soft hum she leaned back against his broad chest, the water swirling softly around her. She let her head fall back under Booth's chin and he instantly pressed a soft kiss against her temple.
"Oh, Booth, that feels wonderful." She craned her neck to connect with his warm brown eyes. "This is exactly what I needed tonight." He gave her a loving smile.
"That's what I thought."
He took a washcloth and some soap and started rubbing it along her arms and shoulders. She had her hair up still from working all day which left it conveniently out of the way. Every inch of her body was caressed, his hands running lightly over her skin. Closing her eyes, she enjoyed his loving care.
"Hey, Bones, don't fall asleep on me, huh?" He whispered next to her ear. She only moaned a bit and snuggled deeper into his chest. When he'd finished his job with the washcloth he stopped the bubbles so that the water calmed down. His hands were now sliding smoothly over her belly. They lay there for some time in their own happy bubble, enjoying each other and their new home. "I love you." He pressed a kiss onto her head. "And of course I love you too, baby girl." He slid his hands over her belly again.
"Whoa." His voice was loud and made her turn to him at once.
"Booth, did you feel her too?" He put his hands firm on her stomach.
"The baby, I think she kicked against my hand." He got very excited. "I felt it, Bones, our baby, I finally felt it too." He was over the moon and Brennan smiled at his childlike exuberance. He pushed lightly against her stomach. "Hey, sweetheart, do it again." And as if the baby had heard him he felt another soft kick against his hand which made him giggle with joy.
When the water got colder and their skin started to wrinkle they left the tub and dried themselves. Booth blew out the candles and they both got ready for bed. When Booth entered their bedroom Brennan had just started to apply lotion all over her body. Booth took the bottle from her. "Please, let me."
She looked at him with wide eyes but turned her back to him so he could start there. He put some lotion into his hand and started with her back. Smooth firm circles, long gliding strokes over her shoulders and down her arms. Then he had her lay down and continued to carefully cover every inch of her. His hands caressed her and he sometimes pressed a kiss to whatever part of her body he'd just finished. It was beautiful in a way she'd never experienced before. She was surprised. It all felt so intimate but not sexually arousing. This felt like another way of just … making love.
That was the last thought that crossed her mind before she fell asleep.
When Booth put the bottle aside and turned to her he chuckled because she was sound asleep. He pulled the sheets over her body and watched as she turned to her side and gathered the sheet up in her arms pulling them close into her chest, snuggling down into bed. She had told him that this position was much more comfortable for her and better for the baby.
He switched off the light and slid in beneath the covers himself. Moving behind her he pulled her into his arms, one hand resting on her stomach protecting her and their baby even in his slumber.
He thought back to where all this had begun, remembering a rainy day in front of a pool hall. "I feel that this is going somewhere." It felt like he had finally arrived where he always wanted to be. He had the home and the woman he had always dreamed of and a baby on the way. He could not be happier.
They would sleep now and in the morning, they would make sweet love to celebrate the first day in their new home. Booth would search through the kitchen for all the necessary items to prepare breakfast in their new kitchen. Then maybe they'd start to open some of the many boxes still waiting to be unpacked.
They would argue about where to put some of the items. She didn't want his collection of graphic novels to share a bookshelf in their new office with some of her more prestigious anthropological publications. He would argue that a human skull, even a very old one, is not the right decoration for a living room. Especially, when there would be a baby running around soon.
But one thing he was very sure of … her mayan fertility statue thing, that had stared at him every time he was in her bedroom, would absolutely not be staring at him in their new bedroom. No way.
AN: I took the freedom to let them find the house they had in season 7 but already renovated. I also used some lines from this episode.
Sorry for the delay, real life is very busy right now. We have 3 pregnancies to deal with, the one here in the story, the one of our daughter who is due in 3 weeks and the one of the daughter of my Beta, due in February. Life is interesting right now.
So please stay tuned, this story will be finished, we promised.