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Chapter 3

"Sweetie, I don't understand why you need to be gone for almost 6 months. That's a long time. What are you going to be doing all that time? You'll go nuts with boredom. You need us for distraction, cases, Booth…" she trailed off, looking at her suggestively, with a smirk

Angela had come over after work, bringing 2 large pizzas, in an effort to pry more information out of her friend on her vacation whereabouts. So far she had no luck at all.

"Ang, I told you. I am going to finish 2 books I am under contract to write. My editor is really breathing down my neck to get these out, besides, I've taken long vacations before, and you guys will manage., I've been under a lot of stress with Cam at work, and it will be nice to get away" she said, reaching across the table, grabbing her 4th slice of pizza. She couldn't seem to get enough to eat lately, she thought to herself

"Yeah, but you've never been gone for this LONG hon. It's never been more than 2 months before. You haven't even told Booth where you are going, plus you are not telling us WHERE you are going, or how to reach you" she pointed out, shoving a slice of pizza in her mouth, following it with a swig of beer.

"Booth wants to know where you are going to be in case he has questions on a case or something" she said between mouthfuls

Brennan stared at her friend a moment, disconcerted that Booth had talked to her about this. She was definitely glad she didn't say anything to her now about the baby. She could just hear the arguments of happily ever after.

"The only person who will be in touch with me, or know where I am is Russ" she said, and got up to throw the empty pizza boxes away. Coming back to the table, and sitting down, she faced her friend.

"If something comes up on the case with my parents, Booth can call Russ. He has the number" she said, folding her hands in front of her

"Look, I am going to miss you too, just trust me on this okay?" she said, glancing away, not meeting her friend's eyes.

"Fine, fine. I will back off on this. But if something huge comes up, I am SO calling Russ" she said, giving her a stern look. "And you know I have a way with men, getting what I want, regardless if he is your brother or not, I may just be forced to use those "ways she said suggestively. "you are going to call and check in at least, right?" Angela prodded

Temperance smiled at her friend. She was going to miss her. "Yes, I promise I will at least call YOU and check in, okay?"

Angela yawned and stood up. "I should go anyway. I have to get up early tomorrow, I have Cardio Kickboxing class at 8am, gotta keep this bod of mine in tip top shape" she said, and shook her fanny as she walked towards the door. "What time are you leaving tomorrow anyway?" she asked over her shoulder as she got her purse

"I am leaving at 8am, I won't have my cell, but will be checking my answering machine while I am gone" she called to her friend.

"Okay. Be careful hon, and please, for Gods sake, will you please tell Booth where you are going? Because you know what? He is going to drive me crazy trying to get me to tell him what I don't know anyway!" she said, throwing her arms out wide dramatically

"Ang, I told you. Only Russ is going to know" she smiled at her friend as shegot up and embraced her in a warm hug. "Take care, okay?"

After Angela left, she called her brother; she may as well bring him up to speed too. Nothing like waiting until the last minute she thought to herself, stroking her slightly protruding abdomen. She'd taken to wearing leggings and oversized button down shirts around home. It hid her bulging tummy well. Her work wardrobe hadn't changed too much, as her lab coat hid a lot, and she'd refused the last few fieldwork assignments with Booth, pleading the need to stay in the lab. . Good thing she was leaving, hiding the baby was becoming more and more difficult, she thought as she heard her brother answer on the second ring.

"Hello" he answered

"Hey, it's me" she said to her brother, as she nervously chewed on her thumbnail

"Hi sis, what's up? I got your message on the machine the other day, haven't had time to call you back" he replied, she could hear water running in the back ground, and dishes clanging. He must be doing dishes as he talked to her. "You okay?" he asked quickly

She stood, and began pacing as she spoke. "Russ, I am going on vacation for a while. I am going to be out of the DC area for a little longer than I usually am on vacations" she said, trying to keep her tone even, working herself up to letting him know why

"Yeah, why?" he said absently, she heard him turn off the water, the back ground silent, he was obviously investing all his attention on their conversation now, she though gulping nervously

"Well, its sort of hard to explain, see, you know that Booth and I are partners, a few months ago, we had a one night stand, and…" he cut her off mid-sentence

"What? What the hell Temperance!" he shouted "how the hell did that happen? I thought you guys weren't like that, at least that is what you told me" he challenged

"Russ, we aren't. It was an alcohol induced mistake" she said in a tired voice, still pacing around her living room

"Wait, what does this have to do with you going on an extended vacation?" he pressed on

"Oh….oh Tempe, no" he said, suddenly realizing what had happened "when is it due Tempe? Does he know what's going on?" he shot out the questions one after the other

Temperance sighed. This wasn't going as she'd hoped at all.

"The baby is due around September 4th" she said in a quiet voice, "and spare me the lecture on safe sex Russ. I had an IUD the doctor thinks it was expelled at some point. In answer to your second question, no he does not know, nor will he. I am going to put the baby up for adoption, you know how I feel about bring a child into this world Russ" she said in an angry voice

"He has a right to know Tempe, and would it be so bad, keeping it?" he asked her quietly

"I don't want to ruin our partnership, and the friendship we have. Plus, it wouldn't do much for his career or mine" she shot back, anger filling her voice, she'd had this same argument with herself a thousand times in the last 3 months.

"Those sound like pretty lame excuses Tempe" he answered her

"Russ. I've made up my mind on this. Are you going to back me up on my decision, or are you going to make me regret telling you at all? You are the only one I've told Russ, only you?" she said, her voice shaking with unshed tears, silently willing herself not to cry. Her emotions seemed to be on a wild rollercoaster lately, which she knew was normal, given her hormonal situation.

"Yeah, yeah Tempe I guess I will. I don't like it but I will. You better hope he doesn't find out" he advised her grimly.

"He won't. I am going to Minnesota. I will be in a small community, renting a small cabin on a lake; I will have a phone, and internet access. I will call you when I arrive" she told him

"Fine" he paused for a moment, then " I love you, you know that, right Tempe?" he said in a sad voice

"I know Russ, I love you too" she said before she hung up

She stood there a moment, briefly considering their conversation.

She COULD keep the baby, it wouldn't be that bad, would it? A little boy or girl, looking just like Booth, he is a fantastic father, they could get past their differences, couldn't they?…she shook her head slowly. No. No, it would never work. This is the only option.

While it was true, she had been harboring deep feelings for Booth, he clearly wasn't reciprocating, as he was with Cam, or Rebecca, or whatever his flavor of the month was. Not to mention the fact she wasn't even his type at all. They fought all the time, and they had nothing in common.

Booth had a hard enough time battling for time with Parker. She treasured what little time she had with him, even as just partners or friends, this could ruin it. She didn't want to become what he and Rebecca were. Not to mention today's society, and bringing a child into this world. What would happen if she or Booth were to get killed, would their child end up in the foster system? No. She couldn't do that.

Adoption was for people who desperately wanted a baby and couldn't have oneon their own biologically The WANTED the baby. This was for the best.

She had been feeling a lot of really strong kicks lately, and the doctor had even told her she could find out the sex of her baby if she really wanted to know, but she didn't. It would be easier for her to leg to if she knew as little as possible. Her maternal instincts were kicking in, she told herself, yet the love she felt for her unborn child was all emcompassing. She had even found herself thinking up scenarios where she could keep her child. Feeling the life moving inside of her had been hard. She found herself wanting to talk to the life within, but suppressed the urge. It was for the best. Her only fear was a nosy and impatient Booth would find her before she could arrage the adoption.

End chapter 3

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