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They stood wrapped in each other's arms for a little while longer until Booth broke the silence.

"Mary-Anne let me know that dinner would be ready soon. She even has some vegetarian options for you."

"Really?" She looked at him in surprise. "I would have been fine with a salad Booth."

"Ep, no. No way. You're eating for two and there's no way I would have let you eat just a salad." Brennan rolled her eyes, typical Booth getting her to eat more than she normally did.

"And before you say she shouldn't have gone through the trouble, she was happy to offer when I let her know your dietary choices," Booth gave her a look, knowing that would have been her next statement.

Brennan's mouth opened and closed, trying to find what to rebut but she couldn't think of anything. Booth stood looking at her trying to hide the smile that was creeping in. She simply shook her head in an amused manner and went to the bathroom to freshen up before going down for dinner.

As she walked away, Booth smiled. The thought dawned on him that had it been earlier in their partnership, she would have definitely had something to say and would have rebutted. If he was honest, he couldn't remember the last she'd really let him have it. Like yeah, they still bantered and bickered but there were definitely more subtle ways that she was letting him into her life.

His mind then wandered on the way she had been mentally distant in the SUV and just a few moments ago. Would she let him in then? He honestly didn't know because his partner was such a private person and respected that but he also just wished that she would let him in and he didn't have to coax it out of her. But if he'd learned anything, it was that Temperance Brennan let you in when she was either ready or had enough of the prying.

Brennan had been thinking the same thing as she freshened up. She'd been ready to tell Booth about what was on her mind but then he told her about dinner and she stalled. She looked in the mirror and found herself absentmindedly rubbing her belly again. She thought about the countless conversations she and Booth had over the years about the things that had happened to them. The moments and conversations that led to late-night take-outs or spending the night in each other's guest room after watching a few too many movies in an effort of distraction.

Brennan knew she could trust him beyond the shadow of a doubt but letting go of this, she knew it would leave her feeling raw and vulnerable. But she also knew how much better she would feel if he knew.

"It looks like Mommy is going to have to have a hard conversation with Daddy later." she sighed rubbing her belly, whispering to their baby.

She walked out and found him in the exact same spot she had been in a few minutes ago. Booth turned her head and walked towards her.

"Bones -"

"Booth I know. I'll tell you… we'll talk but not right now, okay? Let's just go down and enjoy dinner."

"Okay. Okay, yeah, whatever you need, Bones." Booth readily agreed. He didn't want to push her more than she could handle and if she was acknowledging wanting to tell him on her own, he'd be right there. If he'd learn anything, it was to not push her but be there for her. "C'mon let's go." He took her hand in his and led them out the room and downstairs.

Brennan began recounting the history in the architecture again and it made Booth smile seeing his genius partner go all squinty.

"Stained glass specifically has a long history. The term derives from the silver stain that was applied to the side of the window that faced the outside." She kept explaining the history behind the stained-glass features and Gothic architecture all the way down the stairs. Booth followed along with what she was saying but couldn't resist pulling her leg. He also figured she could do something to bring her down mentally from her thoughts.

"So, what do you think. We should hit up this 'John Lefurge' guy and see if he could make some stained-glass windows for our home." Booth bumped his shoulder playfully with hers.

Brennan got to the bottom step and looked at him like he'd just spoken martian. "Booth." She started, "Have you not been paying attention?"

"Yes! I have," he defended with a smile.

"Then you would know that his name is John La Farge and he is dead Booth. The period in which he revived stained-glass was a couple of centuries ago." She eyed him carefully.

Booth couldn't help but burst into laughter. He reached for her and brought her in for a quick hug. "I know Bones, don't worry. I was listening. Just wanted to pull your leg."

"But you haven't touched my leg, so how could you have possibly pulled it?" She looked up in confusion.

Booth smiled.

"Oh good! Y'all are down! Dinner's almost ready, Mary-Anne's just putting on finishing touches," Frank spoke from the dining room. He motioned them in.

Booth turned to her before following Frank, "It was an expression, Bones."

"Oh," she said, looking a bit crestfallen at another general colloquialism lost on her.

"Hey, don't worry about it, baby. Besides," his voice took on a hushed tone, "I found your squinty mood quite sexy." He winked at her.

"Booth," she whined, leaning forward and placing her head on his chest. It still unraveled her every time Booth complimented or told her things like that out of the blue. Not used to, it made her insides flip in the most delightful ways. Booth kissed her forehead and led her into the dining room, his hand on the small of her back as usual.

"It smells delicious," Brennan commented as she walked into the dining room and saw Mary-Anne coming from the kitchen with a few small trays.

"Thanks, dear, we hope you like it." She set the trays down and Brennan could see some stew chicken in one and rice in another. And when Mary-Anne brought out the others, she saw some vegetable quiches and a salad bowl of quinoa and avocado salad topped with some nuts.

"It's not much but my daughter is also vegetarian so I have some recipes stored for when she comes up to visit us," Mary-Anne told her with a smile and when she saw Brennan's hand go to her belly she smiled even more. "And, I'm glad I made you the quiches too. Looks like that lil bean in there is gonna be happy."

"Ah-ha," Brennan chuckled. "Yes, I appreciate the effort. Really, this is great, thank you."

They all sat around the table after getting some drinks – homemade lemonade courtesy, Frank. What started out as a table of four strangers, quickly turned into four adults, sharing stories and jokes with each other.

"So, Temperance, how far along are you?" Mary-Anne asked.

"Just about five months, going into the second trimester," Brennan told her with a proud smile. Normally, it took her a while to get used to people she'd just met. It also made her nervous knowing she was socially awkward at points but with Frank and Mary-Anne, it was so easy. They felt like two older parents.

"Ahh, that's so wonderful! I bet you two are very excited!"

"We are," Booth joined in, smiling at Brennan.

"Is it your first?"

"Well, my first yes. But Booth has a son from a previous relationship."

"Well, I'm sure he'll be excited regardless to be a big brother." Frank joined in.

"He is," Booth chuckled. "He's already planning the games they'll play, getting ready to do big brother activities."

"Awe, I bet, I remember when we had our children, our daughter was just the same when she found out she would be an older sister." Mary-Anne smiled at the memory.

Dinner progressed to dessert which was homemade coconut tarts and jam rolls.

"Booth, there's no way you could possibly eat another one," Brennan gawked as she watched him reach over for a fourth jam roll.

"Are you kidding me, Bones? These are divine," Booth looked at her incredulously as he munched on another one.

"Parker's right, you do have a terrible sweet tooth," Brennan admonished.

"I do not!"

"Yes, you do!" Brennan chuckled at his defense. She turned to Frank and Mary-Anne who were watching them in amusement. "You should see him when we're home. Every night he sneaks into the kitchen for something sweet to snack on. You would think that as the pregnant woman, it'd be me but it's him."

Booth gawked at her and before she could say anything else, he stuffed a piece of jam roll in her mouth and smiled impishly at her.

Mary-Anne and Frank threw their head back laughing. Frank leaned over to Mary-Anne and whispered to her, "Something tells me this is an age-old argument between them."

Mary-Anne simply nodded laughing. She had seen many guests during her time opening the bed and breakfast, ate meals with many of them, but none of them brought the energy Seeley and Temperance brought. She could see just by the way they looked at each other, how much they meant to each other. And their bickering was a classic characteristic of their relationship.

She watched as Seeley leaned over and kissed Temperance's forehead, his eyes then going down to the gentle swell of her belly. Temperance's hand came again to rest on her belly and she looked at Seeley nodding. This time, accepting another bite of the jam roll.

There were many times during dinner where she'd seen Brennan lay a hand over her belly or Booth look over at her, eyes twinkling as he glanced at the spot his unborn child was resting. From their story, she knew that they had only just recently gotten together romantically but had been a huge part of each other's lives for a while. Mary-Anne knew that without a doubt, that baby would be loved so much.

Perhaps she was reading into it too much but throughout the night, she also saw glimpses of something else in Brennan's eyes. It looked like sadness, and while she didn't want to pry, she knew all too well how overwhelming holding on to such burdens could be.

"Temperance, dear, I know you're past the first trimester but, if you'd like, I have some tea that could help settle your stomach in the morning and even throughout the day," Mary-Anne offered.

"Oh, I don't want to bother you."

"Nonsense dear. C'mon, lemme go show you," Mary-Anne got up from the table and went into the kitchen. Brennan looked to Booth who nodded encouraging her to go ahead. She got up and followed the direction Mary-Anne had gone in.

"Here you go dear," Mary-Anne handed her a basket she'd taken down from the cabinet.

"Oh," Brennan gasped in surprise.

"They're all caffeine-free and organic, dear so take your pick."

"I… thank you," Brennan looked up and smiled. She sifted through the basket pulling out a few of the tea packets including a lemon tea she'd try tonight. She handed back the basket to Mary-Anne and was just about to walk back to the kitchen when Mary-Anne spoke up.

"I don't mean to pry dear, but I think you should tell him."

"I'm sorry?" Brennan whipped around.

"I don't know your full story, dear but I can tell that something has been on your mind tonight. The way you subconsciously rub your belly every so often for comfort. And there's a hit of it your eyes."

Brennan shifted around, not sure what to say. Mary-Anne reached out and placed a hand on Brennan's arm. "I don't mean to make you uncomfortable nor do I want to pry, dear, I'm sorry if I did. I just… you seem like such a wonderful woman; I want what's best for you."

Brennan could feel some tears pricking the back of her eyes. She couldn't remember the last time she'd heard someone like Mary-Anne, a motherly woman, saying that to her. Without even realizing it, she responded.

"I know… he knows. Well, rather he knows something has been on my mind recently. Booth is like that," she took a breath. "I want to tell him but I… there is a part of me that is hesitant to do so. The holidays are always a tough time for me."

"Oh, honey."

Brennan smiled sadly, "I don't want to burden you with any of it but, what I need to tell him. He gets…" Brennan huffed at the inability to put her thoughts into words. "He's a very passionate person and – "

"And when he hears, you're worried he'll explode because he loves you so much."

"Yes, exactly."

"My advice dear, still tell him. Just by interacting with the two of you tonight, I can tell how much he cares about you and he just wants you to be okay."

"I will, I think it is time. But can I ask you a question?"

"Of course!"

"How did you know? That something has been on my mind. I just don't think, even with the subtle body language cues you picked up on many people would get it."

Mary-Anne laughed, "Frank calls it my sixth sense. Although I'm keen to believe you won't believe in that either. I just. I've met a lot of people dear, have a lot of stories myself, I kind of just pick up on it. And like I said, you seem like a wonderful woman and the two of you are a lovely couple. If I could help in any way, just by letting you know it's okay to talk about whatever is, well," she shrugged her shoulders.

"While I am more of a factual, empirical person, being around Booth for so long has given me the ability to know what you mean. And thank you. For not just the advice but for the tea and dinner and hosting us. We're truly grateful,"

Mary-Anne smiled, "You're most welcome dear. It's our pleasure. Now, let's get back to the boys before they wonder what's happening."

They walked back to Frank and Booth in the dining room who were now standing by the doorway discussing hockey and sports stats. Brennan was still amazed at Mary-Anne's ability to pick up on her mood but was also grateful for the advice she gave her. She knew that Booth would indeed become very passionate – which seemed like the most fitting word to describe him – once she told him. But Mary-Anne was right, Booth did love her, so much more than she thought he would or anyone would be capable of. If she could trust anyone with this, it'd be him.

She took a breath and walked up to him, wrapping an arm around his. Booth looked down on her and smiled. They both bid Mary-Anne and Frank a good night, thanking them once again for their hospitality and dinner before heading back upstairs to their room.


Ahh, Brennan is gearing up to tell Booth. How emotional do you think the night will become?

Thank you for reading and please do leave me a review and let me know what you thought! I love hearing from y'all!