Chapter 6

Seeley Booth strode out of the jewelry store with a broad smile on his face. He'd found the perfect ring for Temperance. Not too over the top gaudy that she wouldn't wear, but not too plain either. It was a platinum band inlayed with diamonds encircling.

He knew how she felt about marriage, but under the circumstances, if he played his cards right, and if he could present it to her in a way that seemed logical, he was certain she'd accept. He was going to meet up with Angela to get her take on it of course.

He had left her at her apartment early this morning as she slept. He'd had an incredible night with her. He'd found he couldn't sleep. He watched her sleep through the night, caressing her bulging middle. Amazing, his baby was in there. The baby they made.

Finding out he was to be a father again was the best thing that could have happened between them in his opinion, he was still grateful that he got there when he did. He never got the opportunity to go through this with Rebecca. She left him not too long after she discovered Parker was on the way.

Temperance had cancelled her plans to leave for Minnesota, and she was planning on going in and talking to Cam today regarding her condition. He couldn't wait to her what Cam had to say to him about THAT situation, he thought with a grin.

She was still feeling insecure, which was highly unusual for Bones, but he thought he'd be able to boost her confidence in herself as he spent more time with her, convincing her she made the right choice.

Tossing his lucky poker chip in the air and catching it, he walked briskly back to his SUV with a smile on his face.

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Rolling on her side, and yawning, she awoke slowly. Memories of the last 12 hours came rushing back to her. Booth at her door, finding out about their child, the argument, and the shower and other activities that took place afterward. Blushing slightly at the memory, she glanced down at her middle. Hesitantly, she said softly "hi baby…" shaking her head impatiently, she got up and padded out to the kitchen to find some antacids.

She supposed she should call Angela and let her in on the whole story. She felt guilty that she didn't tell her what was going on, hopefully her friend would understand. She would no doubt be thrilled at the new development.

Sitting down at the breakfast bar, she picked up the phone and dialed her friend

"Bren?" Angela answered, sounding surprised

"Hey Ang" she responded

"You okay? I didn't think you'd be checking in so soon, what's going on sweetie?" she said suspiciously

"Uh, it's hard to explain on the phone, can you come over?" she said, as she stared out the window of her apartment, looked nice outside today, she thought absently

"I was on the way to my cardio kick boxing, but yeah, I can come over instead, I didn't feel like being all aerobic this morning anyway, I will be there in 10 minutes" she said and hung up

10 minutes later, Temperance answered the door in the same attire she answered the door in when Booth came over, thinking Angela would immediately get the picture also.

Angela just stood there, coffee in hand, not meeting her eyes, staring right at her middle. "Bren, honey. We need to talk" she said, dragging her eyes up to her friends amused expression.

"Are you still seeing David? Is this his? I thought you guys were done?"

"No," She answered "It's been over for a while."

"Ang, this is why I asked you over" she let out a sigh, ran her fingers through her hair as she walked to the living room

Angela stood, rooted to the spot, still in the entryway of the apartment. She slowly walked in and shut the door with a soft click.

"Bren….why didn't you tell me what was going on? I thought we were best friends" an expression of hurt was cast across her friend's features

Temperance winced. This was so complicated. "Ang…it's a long story. Last New Years Eve, Booth came over, and after a lot of alcohol consumption, we had a one night stand. We met later and agreed to move on as partners and forget this ever happened" she hesitated a moment, looking up at her friend, who had joined her on the couch. Angela seemed stunned at this revelation.

"Sweetie, I can't believe you didn't tell me about this. Why didn't you?" she asked her friend, her eyes skipping down to her abdomen, and back up again.

"You hid it well, that's for sure" she added wryly, a subtle note of sarcasm in her voice, glancing away from her

Letting out a pent up breath, she replied "I know, I said I was sorry. I wanted to forget about it. I knew if I told you, you'd never let me forget it, or Booth either for that matter, then 3 months later, I found out that I was pregnant" she looked away, out the window at the street below. A pair of kids were playing hop scotch on the sidewalk.

Angela didn't say anything. She took a drink of her coffee and looked at the kids below playing. "Well. What then?" she said finally

"I didn't tell anyone, obviously, not even Russ. I was going to go to Minnesota, rent a cabin until the baby was born and put it up for adoption, no one would need to know, and I could come back as if nothing ever happened" she admitted, waiting for her friends reaction.

"Bren, for this grand IQ of yours, you sure can be obtuse sometimes" Angela said, and continued on "Booth has a right to know. What is growing inside of you right now is part of him too. With all you know about what happened between he and Rebecca, especially, you should know he needs to know. I know you didn't want to have kids hon, but don't you feel any love, any bond with your baby?" she prodded, setting her coffee cup down on the coffee table.

Temperance sat a moment, considering her answer. "I didn't at first, because I'd made up my mind that I couldn't do this. I tried to distance myself. Look at it objectively and scientifically. I didn't want to ruin our partnership, his or my career, not to mention the dangers of raising a child in today's society. Then as it grew, I don't know. I started trying to find scenarios where I kept it, WE kept it that is. Its totally illogical" she ameneded, and went on "but I guess my fear outweighed that uncertainty. Then Booth came over yesterday before I was to leave, he must have been watching for my lights to come on, because as soon as I turned on the kitchen lights, he was knocking at the door, and this is what I had on when I answered the door. It was pretty hard to hide Angela" she said, recalling the morning before. "I am six and a half months along; it was getting hard to hide from everyone"

"He must have been pretty pissed" Angela commented "What happened?"

"He was angry. I guess I can see why. I should have told him. He said he has feelings for me Ang. He wants us to keep it" she said, looking down at her lap

"Wow… How do you feel?" Angela said, pretty much already knowing the answer, but wanting her to admit it to herself aloud

"I didn't want to feel the way I do. I wanted to think I could handle everything on my own. I didn't want to feel the way I do about Booth. I have been fighting it. I wanted to stay professional, and keep my feelings that way. Ang…I've never been in love before. I don't know what it means, but I think I am falling in love with him, and it scares me" she whispered

Angela felt like doing a victory dance at this revelation, but managed to keep her face calm "Did you tell him that hon?"

"Not specifically, I told him I'd never been in love before, but I had strong feelings for him. This is all new to me, I don't know how to act or what to say" Temperance told her friend

Angela placed her hand on her friends

"Sweetie, don't hold it in. Tell him, he needs to hear it, especially right now, this has to be hard for him too"

"Well it's not as hard for him as it is for me. Do you have any idea how many antacids I've been going through? Not to mention this whole feet swelling business. Sleeping is a total waste of time, because I can't get comfortable…" she drone on and on about the discomforts she'd been experiencing.

Angela sat there and smiled

"What?" Temperance demanded

"Nothing, nothing. So, what about work?" Angela questioned

"Oh that. I guess I am going in later today to talk to Cam. I don't know what I am going to do yet. I guess it depends on how she takes the news" she said somewhat nervously

"Yeah, that whole Booth and Cam thing may complicate things a little" Angela agreed, standing up from where she sat.

"So do you want to go shopping? Get some cute 'baby on board' maternity clothes or something?" she offered her friend

"I don't what that means" Temperance stated, confusion across her face

Angela laughed. "Come on sweetie. Put your self together and I'll teach you"

End ch. 6

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