Phyllis, RobinAngelena (yes babies are babe magnets), JAG'ed Bones in the Casckett, GalaxieGurl, MstgSzy (lol yeah sometimes they do), 554Laura (haha mine too), LoveShipper (Ingrid didn't have any malicious intent, she thought she was defending Brennan), Vmf447 (you've got that right about the sliver generation), doge, mendenbar (very true about it possibly being Brennan's idea), hushedgreylily, kareneb, Lauwy (I think he didn't get a chance to correct her), FaithinBones (lol, true), mphs95, adorkablesalad, Julie SBXMomX, regbride12 (yeah wish we had more of the 3 Booth kids together too), topaz270. Thank you all for your kind words of encouragement. Each review was read and re-read appreciatively.

Figured since I did a story for Hank's first night, I'd do one for Christine's as well.

Stapes

It was four in the morning but Booth felt strangely energized despite the eventful day he had. The new father still had trouble believing his daughter was here. It wasn't the first time he was a father, but when Parker was born, he had been in the Army and wasn't there for his birth. Even after, because of the bad terms he had been on with Rebecca, he didn't get to spend time alone with Parker until he was three months old. And so everything was new to him, new house, new baby, a family to build together with the love of his life. The thought invigorated him even more.

He tried his best to work as quietly as he could. Piece by piece he carefully put the crib together. He tried his best not to use the electric drill, knowing how loud it was especially in the early hours of the morning but it was unavoidable. The crib had to be safe for his newborn daughter. He used a screwdriver, twisting it to tighten the screws until his palms hurt, then used the electric drill to put in the final turns, making sure each screw and bolt were tight, holding the crib together as they should.

The day had started off ordinarily enough, with a case to solve. Human remains found in the toilet. As Brennan grew closer to her due date, his anxiety grew, with each sound or exclamation of discomfort making him think she was in labor. But each time he asked, she wasn't, and after a few weeks, he had learned to relax a little. Thinking back, he should have known not to bring her along with him on the long drive to the prison. She was two weeks away from her due date, but she had assured him it was okay. They couldn't have been more wrong. Leaving the house that morning, Booth hadn't thought that they'd come home with their infant daughter in Brennan's arms. Helping deliver Christine in that barn was scary and he was thankful that both mother and child were safe.

Little Christine had come earlier than expected, so the nursery was barely ready. Not to mention the fact that their Mighty Hut had only been purchased not too long ago and it had only been a week since they had moved in. When they got home, there had been another surprise waiting for them. It was past midnight by the time they got home but their friends knowing they were barely prepared to welcome the arrival of their daughter had brought much needed gifts and food. That was one worry off his mind, and he was again reminded to be thankful for friends like these. Remembering how they "oo-ed and ah-ed" over his beautiful little girl, he couldn't have been a prouder Dad.

As he finished assembling the crib, he stood back to admire his handiwork, a grin on his face. The sound of the room door opening made him turn. Brennan walked in, Christine in her arms.

"Were you intending to get any sleep at all?" She asked as she approached him.

"I just wanted to get this finished." Booth pointed to the crib.

"You were going to get it finished this weekend."

"Yeah but she decided that she wanted to make an early entrance." Booth gently caressed his newborn daughter's cheek. "I'm sorry if I woke you. I kept the door closed but I guess it wasn't enough."

"You didn't wake me. Christine did. She was hungry."

"Did you need help with something?" Booth asked, wondering why Brennan had come looking for him.

"No. I just wondered where you were."

Booth gestured to the crib. "Like I said, just wanted to get this finished so our daughter can have her own bed to sleep in."

"She's sleeping well in the bassinet Angela brought. There's no need to be in a hurry to finish assembling the crib. You could have gotten it fixed tomorrow or the day after."

"It's almost done. I just gotta make sure the sides go up and down and lock as they should, put in the mattress, and it's done."

"It's four in the morning, you must be tired."

"Nah, not really. You, on the other hand must be exhausted."

"I'm okay."

"You sure?"

"I am tired and sore but that is to be expected."

"You should get some rest while you can."

"Come to bed with me. It's been a very long day."

"I just… I wanna finish this."

"It can wait till after you've had some sleep."

"No. No it can't. I - " Booth took in a breath, trying to keep a lid on his emotions.

Brennan wasn't good at picking up non-verbal cues but she knew Booth well enough to know that something was bothering him. "You're upset."

"I just… I feel like maybe I've got something to prove." He paused, avoiding her eyes. "You know, to prove that I'm not my Dad."

"We've been through this before, I know you're not your father."

"How could I not be? My daughter's here and her crib's not even ready. And you… you had to give birth to her in a barn! It was just the two of us there, and I've never delivered a baby before. You were in so much pain and there was nothing I could do about it. If anything happened to you or her… I wouldn't have known what to do. I had never been more scared in my whole life. I mean being a prisoner of war was nothin' compared to how scared I was."

"But we're fine."

"I should've gotten you to the hospital in time."

"You can't blame yourself for that."

"Christine's just got here and I'm already screwing up as her Dad. And what kind of man lets the woman he loves give birth to their child in a barn huh?"

"You're not your father Booth. You're right in saying there was nothing you could do to alleviate my pain but your support was instrumental to me. When I had lost the strength to push, you told me that I could. Your love, your words of encouragement gave me renewed strength. And it's not your fault her crib isn't ready. We've just moved in, you spent time and effort making sure this house would be ready for us, often working late into the night. I'm certain these are not things your father would have done."

"You're right, he probably wouldn't. I just need her to know, I can provide for her. Protect her. She needs to know that I love her."

"You don't have to worry that you're him. I know you're not, and Christine will too. We love each other, and we love her. We will provide her with the loving family she needs to grow up in."

With the hand that was not holding Christine, Brennan pulled Booth to her, pressing a quick kiss to his lips.

"You know for someone who was worried she wouldn't be a good Mom, you're already doing an amazing job."

"We'll keep you company here, since you're almost done." Brennan smiled at him. She made her way slowly to the armchair in the corner of the room, sitting down gingerly with Christine in her arms.

Booth grinned, nodding. He turned his attention back to the crib, checking to make sure the sides went up and down, then put the mattress and sheets in. He turned to Brennan, "All done. Wanna let her try it out?"

"Yes."

Booth offered Brennan a hand, helping her up. He watched protectively as Brennan placed Christine in her crib. The infant stirred but soon settled down. Booth wrapped an arm round Brennan's shoulder as they stood watching their daughter sleep.

"Stapes huh?" Booth said, remembering the banner the squint squad had made to welcome Christine into home.

"Yes. The smallest bone in the body."

"It kinda makes sense. Since you're Bones and she's a part of you, so she's little Bones. Stapes."

"Are you going to start calling her that? Given your penchant for bestowing nicknames upon others?"

Booth laughed. "Nah. I think I have better names for her, like Princess, Pumpkin, Sweetheart. Stapes somehow doesn't seem to suit her, not like Bones suits you."

"It does show that she is loved. Not just by us but by our friends too."

"That she is Bones, that she is."

Christine started to fuss and Booth immediately scooped her up into his arms.

"Booth, you're spoiling her. She needs to learn to self-soothe."

"Is that what those parenting books you've been readin' says?"

"Yes."

"Parenting isn't a science, you just do what feels right. Besides, who says a Dad can't spoil his little girl huh? I'm gonna spoil her rotten." Booth pressed a kiss to Christine's head, then rocked her gently, "Especially when she's as beautiful as this little one."

Brennan tried to be annoyed but couldn't. The sight of Booth with their daughter in his arms brought a smile to her face. Booth beamed back at her.

"Thanks Bones, for believing in me too. For making me the happiest man in the world."

This chapter went through less thorough checking than I liked so pardon any typos.