A/N: as I've written these stories, it's been fun to look back through the episodes to see how much Booth and Brennan have grown as individuals, and as partners as friends. The characters both changed quite a bit as the series went on.

This is chapter references Death in the Saddle, Mummy in the Maze and Baby in the Bough.

The large black SUV sped along the country road, winding its way through the thick West Virginia forest as Booth drove them back to DC. He glanced at Brennan as she watched the scenery go by. She was unusually pensive this afternoon, even after their impromptu picnic, when they'd sat in the back of his truck having a sandwich and enjoying each other's company, and he thought he knew why. As much as she had brushed off her attachment to little Andy, he knew that cute baby had made quite an impression on his partner, and while he normally thought the whole 'biological clock' thing was silly, he also knew she probably couldn't help but wonder if that part of life had passed her by.

Clearing his throat, he decided it was time to cheer her up. "Hey, you know what? I think you made a good choice wearing that Wonder Woman costume to the Jeffersonian's Halloween Gala."

Surprised at his utterly random statement, Brennan turned to her partner with a furrowed brow. "That was months ago, Booth. Why would you bring that up now?"

Booth bit his lip to keep from blurting out his secret. Even though at least six months had passed since Halloween, in his mind's eye he could still see her wearing that outfit, down to the last detail...those cute little shorts...those white boots on her long legs...the way her breasts had threatened to spill out of her bodice... Whoa, boy...don't even go there…

That costume had played a prominent part in several of his more 'interesting' dreams lately, and between them and the pony play dreams he'd had, he hadn't been sleeping as well as he'd liked, but wow...it was certainly worth it.

When he finally figured out she was staring at him, he quickly shrugged. "Well, I was just thinking about all the superpowers you used during this investigation, you know? Some of that stuff was pretty amazing."

She rolled her eyes as she turned back to the window. "It was merely scientific knowledge...there was nothing heroic about it."

"Maybe not to you, but seeing how you could find the number that had been filed off that pistol, just by exposing it to acid? Being there when you figured out how to separate the bone fragments from that ground up tire crap just by using water? That's powerful stuff. And then, to top it off, you figure out how to get that little town a bridge to the highway to connect them to the rest of the world. Amazing..."

He heard her loud sigh of disagreement, but he forged ahead. "Look, here's the thing, okay? A lot of people know science facts, but they don't know how to use those facts. You can apply the knowledge you have so that we can solve cases. That's your superpower. That's what makes you Wonder Woman."

"I'd like to believe that to be true.", Brennan said softly. "However, in the things that matter most, I seem to be a failure. Here I am, a licensed foster parent, and yet I had no idea of how to meet Andy's basic needs. I couldn't change his diaper at the proper time...I couldn't tell if he was crying because he was uncomfortable or merely tired...I let him swallow a small key…" She sniffled as she brushed a tear away. "I've come to realize that I would be a terrible parent."

"Nah." Booth shook his head as he checked his mirrors. "You were right when you said that merely having breasts…" He cringed slightly as he thought of the costume once again. "...that having breasts wouldn't automatically make you know how to take care of a baby. It takes practice, that's all."

"You seemed to know right away what Andy needed, Booth, and since Parker is approximately seven years old, I would imagine you to be out of practice as well, but you were quite capable. Your skill in caring for Andy made me realize how much I have to learn. I was actually quite envious."

"Listen, Bones...if you ever decide to have a kid, you'll be a great mom, okay? I know you became attached to our little tiger…we both did. No shame in that."

"I became attached because I was his caregiver. It's merely anthropology, Booth. The community steps in to care for the orphaned offspring to ensure the continuation of the species."

"Yeah, right. Whatever you say, Bones." Booth sighed as he patted her hand. "That's why I saw you wiping your eyes and blowing your nose when you excused yourself to go to the ladies' room after the adoption papers were signed, right? It wasn't because you were gonna miss him or anything like that…"

She was caught, and she knew it, but there was no need to hide her feelings from Booth. He would understand how she felt and not belittle her. "Yes, of course, I'll miss him. I find that I very much enjoyed providing Andy with his basic needs, as well as exposing him to both auditory and visual stimulation." She wiggled her fingers at Booth. "He seemed to like watching my 'dancing phalanges' quite a bit."

"See? It's just a matter of trial and error...that's how things work sometimes in science, right? You tried to entertain Andy, and he liked it. You'd be a great mom."

Brennan hesitated slightly as she checked her fingernails. "I don't think so. I don't think I'm ever going to be in a position to have an offspring, anyway, and even if I did…" Biting her lip, she sighed. "I'd need so much help...I wouldn't have any idea of how to do anything for an infant...not like you do…you were the one who was wonderful during this case."

Slightly embarrassed by the compliment, Booth chuckled softly. "Hey, I'm gonna let you in on a secret, okay? I'm gonna tell you a story that nobody else knows except my grandparents. I never even told Rebecca, so you've got to promise not to tell anyone else…"

"Of course I won't tell anyone, Booth. You've said many times that's what's ours is ours…"

"Yeah, but this isn't really about a case. This is more of a personal matter." Seeing her concern he smiled. "It's a funny story, actually. See, I'd had very little contact with babies or toddlers until Parker was born. During the first few months he was around, he spent most of his time with Rebecca, and I'd get to see him for part of a weekend, but I hadn't ever had him for more than a few hours. Then one weekend, Rebecca had to go out of town, and she asked me to keep him for the whole weekend. Piece of cake, right? I mean, how hard could it be...he wasn't even crawling yet. So I get him to my apartment, and I set his baby carrier up on the kitchen counter where he can see me. We were fine for a few minutes, and I knew I had this being a dad thing down, right? It was so easy...no big deal. So I'm cooking dinner, and he's getting fussy for some reason, but I can't figure out why...until I smell it…"

"Oh my...feces?"

"Yep, it was everywhere. I mean the kid was literally up to his armpits in poop. It was in his sleeper...in his carrier…" Booth wrinkled his nose in disgust. "It was awful. So I get the stove turned off, and I grab the carrier and take him into the bathroom to clean everything up, and then I realize I'd left the diaper bag in my SUV. Unfortunately, I'd already stripped off his clothes, right? So I bundled him up in an old tee shirt, and carry him down to the car...and then I realize that my car keys are on the counter next to the carrier. Now by this time, he's screaming bloody murder...which attracts the attention of Mrs. Ross, my next door neighbor. She meets me in the hall...and I tell you what, I was never so glad to see anyone in my whole entire life. She helped me get Parker calmed down. Then we got him bathed and fed, and put down for the night, but I was exhausted...and then I remembered I'd have to do the whole thing over the next day..."

Brennan nodded in understanding. "So what you're saying is that having testicles doesn't automatically make a man know how to care for children, either."

Booth grimaced slightly. "Well, that may not have been exactly what I was saying…"

"So was the rest of that weekend better?" Brennan sat back in her seat and watched her partner. "I assume Mrs. Ross was available to assist you…"

"Yeah, and I called my Nana for help, too. I figured if she'd found out I hadn't called her to begin with, there'd be hell to pay. She was one tough little lady…anyway, that's how I learned to take care of babies. It was kind of a combat situation, you know...jump in and do the best you can, learning on the run. After a few times, I was an old pro at it."

"It sounds like you learned your new skills very quickly, Booth." Brennan was very impressed. "Do you suppose I could learn those skills as well? Perhaps, if Angela has a child with Hodgins, she'd let me help out occasionally…"

"I'm sure she'd be glad to do that, Bones, and you're a quick learner. You'd pick things up in no time. Pretty soon you'd be able to take care of a baby all by yourself for a weekend...or maybe even longer, if you wanted..."

"Of course I could learn to take care of a baby...I am a genius, after all…", she sniffed impatiently.

"A genius who lets a baby wet all over her shoes…", he chuckled. "Right…"

"Nobody told me I needed to watch out for that…", she exclaimed. "How would I know that urine would travel that great a distance?"

He rolled his eyes at her excuse. "Oh, come on...you understand male anatomy...what did you think was going to happen when he got cold?"

"Well, now I know better...you put a washcloth over the genitals…"

"See? You've already learned something. You're brilliant, just like Wonder Woman." Seeing her smile, Booth was relieved that his plan to cheer her up had worked.

He listened happily as she nattered on about caring for babies and toddlers, hoping that someday she'd get to enjoy using her superpowers to raise a child of her own...

...and hoping that maybe, if he was lucky, she'd let him hang around long enough to help her with that.