A/N: The word for this one is absence

Angela stood on the bottom of the stairs leading to limbo and watched Brennan, she could tell the anthropologist was trying unsuccessfully to hide her emotions. She shook her head and walked over to Brennan. "Bren, what's wrong?"

"Nothing is wrong, Ange, I just have a lot of work to do…"

"Sweetie, don't lie to me…"

Brennan picked up the right tibia, studied it for a minute and carefully placed it back on the light table, she sighed and looked at Angela. "I miss Booth…a lot…"

"Aw Bren, that's not a bad thing."

"We've been apart before and I haven't missed him as much as I do now. We just spent seven months apart and I missed him as much as I did everyone…"

"You missed Booth more, but that's a discussion for another day…"

"I don't understand why this time I feel different…"

"Because this time it's different. You admitted to yourself that you love Booth, your brain finally knows what your heart has known for seven years. You're in a committed relationship with Booth. You're going to have his baby… that's why you feel different…"

"I suppose."

"When is he coming home?"

"He should be home by this time tomorrow…"

"That's good. Do you want to have a girl's night in tonight? Hodgins can watch Michael Vincent while we hang out…"

"No, I'm just going to work on this set of remains…."

"Okay, I'm giving you two hours to finish then if you're not home or on your way I'm coming back and making you go home…"

"Okay, Ange. Now, if you'll excuse me…"

"Sure, Bren."

B&B

Angela headed upstairs and got her stuff to head home. On her way out if the lab she ran into
Booth. "Hey Booth, Brennan said you weren't coming home until tomorrow…"

"The lecture for tomorrow was canceled, so I changed my flight."

"Brennan will be really happy to see you. She's really missed you this trip and has had a hard time understanding why."

"Is she okay?"

"Brennan is fine, she's letting herself feel things she's denied existed until you two got back from your trips to opposite corners of the world and it's freaking her out a little…She's in limbo…"

"Thanks Ange."

"You're welcome. Go take her home, she's coping with you being gone by working all night again."

"I will…" Booth made his way into the lab and down to limbo. He quietly walked to the other side of the table. Brennan was examining the right tibia again. "Ange, I told you I have a lot of work to do. I don't wish to have a girl's night in. I also know you haven't been gone for my allotted two hours…"

"I'm not Angela…"

Brennan slowly put the bone down and looked up. "Booth!" Before Booth could say anything she had stripped off her gloves off and was in his arms. "Whoa, Bones! I missed you too!" Booth chuckled a little.

"I had a harder than expected time with your absence…" Brennan shrugged in Booth's arms."

"I missed you a lot too. When you go on your book tour next fall, the baby and I are coming with you."

"Okay."

"Okay? You're agreeing just like that?"

"Yes. I really don't like being away from you now that we're officially together. I don't really understand why I feel this way now. Angela said it's because I finally admitted I love you and because we're in a committed relationship and because I'm going to have your baby."

Booth couldn't help laughing as he kissed Brennan. "Angela is right. Being away from you was different for me this time too. I couldn't wait to get home to you and the baby. I was the only one who changed their flight when the last day of the conference was canceled. All the others stayed to have a free day in Boston."

"I'm very happy you came home early." Brennan smiled and took Booth's hand and placed it on her side. "Someone else is happy you're home early."

Booth smiled, "that's amazing I can finally feel movement on the outside."

"It is quite amazing, it started yesterday. I started to tell you last night when you called, but then I decided to surprise you."

"I am surprised and happy. Put your bones away so we can get some dinner and go home. I don't know about you, but I didn't sleep that well without you next to me."

"I didn't sleep that well either. Give me a few minutes."

"Take your time." Forty five minutes later Booth and Brennan walked hand in hand out of the lab.