"Ah, Dr. Brennan, please have a seat," Teresa Miller indicated the chair opposite her for Temperance to sit in. "Agent Booth told me to expect you. Now, what can I do for you?"

"I've had some contact with a young girl in the foster system named Norah Taylor. I feel that we have a connection and am interested in adopting her." Brennan fidgeted in her seat as the social worker turned to her computer to input some information.

"Ah yes, Norah. She's a very special case, and one of the few actual orphans in the area. She has certain needs that must be met in order to be placed correctly."

"I'm assuming one of those areas has to do with her intelligence quotient? I noticed that she's incredibly smart for her age, and I can assure you that I would be able to help provide the correct level of education for her." Teresa smiled at Brennan and entered in a bit more information into the computer.

"That is part of the concern, yes. We like to make sure that all of our children are put in the best possible environment. I have a few forms that I need you to fill out, and then I'll get back to you on the whole process of adoption. We of course have to do a background check and once that is taken care of, we'll be able to approve or disapprove your request." Brennan winced at the words 'background check'. She squirmed in her seat for a moment and turned her attention back to Teresa.

"Can I make a request that if you have any questions or concerns about anything that you please talk to Agent Booth?"

"Is there anything on your record that should concern us?"

"No, but there could be some misunderstandings if questions aren't asked. I work with the FBI on cases, and in the due course of an investigation have had to protect myself. The first of those moments of self defense was reported, but I assure you that I am perfectly capable of raising a child."

"Are you married Dr. Brennan?"

"No, I'm not, but that isn't a requirement for adoption. I have a very good job that pays well. I can provide the best possible education for her, and my brother has two daughters around her age, as well as my partner's son."

"Hmmm, well it does sound like you're qualified, and I see that you're already a registered foster parent?"

"Yes. My brother asked me to register so that if anything happened to his girls they would have someone to take care of him. I don't think he wants them to go through the system the way that I did."

"Ah. You were in foster care at one point?"

"Yes. My parents disappeared when I was fifteen, and I was in the system for two years. I know what it's like to be in Norah's situation."

"Well Dr. Brennan, that will certainly be a determining factor with our decision. Just fill out that paperwork and I'll go ahead and process everything. We should have an answer for you in the next couple of days." Teresa shook Brennan's hand and turned back to her own work as Brennan filled out the forms and left the office.

XxXxX

"Bones, what did you need help with," Booth asked as he poked his head into her guest room that evening. She was wearing overalls and an old tee-shirt with a bandana covering her hair. He smiled at the sight of her, looking like a little girl as she sat amongst several pieces of metal and wood.

"I bought a bed to go in here that was more appropriate for a child Norah's age and I'm having some trouble putting it together. I thought maybe you could help? I've already ordered some food, so you don't have to worry about that…"

"Don't you think you're jumping the gun just a little bit? I mean nothing's been approved yet."

"Booth, I don't expect you to understand, but you don't know how important environment is for a foster child. I want her to know that this is her space, and it was made for her. Even though you have a bed or a room with a foster parent, it's never really your space and you know it. I want her to know that this room was decorated for her." She looked up at Booth fiercely, expecting him to counter what she said. He just looked at her for a minute and shrugged.

"Okay. Did you want me to put the bed together?"

"Yes please. I can take care of the crib, but it would help tremendously if you can make sense of these directions." Booth glanced around the room in surprise.

"You kept Andy's crib? Why?" Brennan looked faintly embarrassed.

"I couldn't bring myself to get rid of it. Besides, I know that Amy and Russ are planning to have a child together, so I thought that if they ever stayed here with me that the baby would have a place to sleep." Booth grinned at her as he sat down next to her.

"I'm sure that's the only reason. Admit it Bones, taking care of Andy is part of the reason you made the decision to adopt a child." Brennan's cheeks colored a bit under his gaze.

"That might have had something to do with it. I'll admit that being a caregiver isn't as bad as I once thought it was. I've seen you with Parker enough to realize that there are benefits to raising a child."

"Yeah? You think I'm a good parent?" Booth pulled the instructions over and began to look over the little drawings. "Sheesh, where did you buy this bed, at IKEA?"

"I wanted to get that bed with the butterfly design that we saw the other night, but when I inquired in the store, they said it was back ordered until February, so I sent an intern out to find something that a little girl might like and this is what they bought."

"Could it have come with any more pieces?" Booth shook his head and looked over the jumble of pieces. Brennan shrugged and stood to disassemble the crib.

"I suppose it could have, although I don't exactly know how that would be practical."

"It was a rhetorical question Bones." Booth shook his head and began to sort the pieces to build the white daybed. He glanced once over his shoulder at Brennan and turned his attention back to the pieces of material in front of him. As he worked, his thoughts kept wandering to Norah. He sincerely hoped that everything would work out with the adoption. When Temperance's heart was engaged, it was much worse if she crashed and burned than if she kept everything compartmentalized.

The pair worked in companionable silence for a while as Booth fought with the pieces for the bed and Brennan laid out plastic to paint the walls. He was surprised to see she chose pink for the wall color.

"Hey Bones, what's with the pink?"

"Studies have shown that the color pink is the most soothing shade to children, followed by light green. I'd like Norah to have a comfortable environment so I think the color is appropriate."

"Huh, I just didn't think you'd ever choose pink is all." He went back to his work, poking up occasionally to watch Brennan as she carefully painted around the line of the ceiling. Of course she'd be just as meticulous with paint as she was with everything else.

The doorbell rang, and Brennan turned to answer it. Booth waved her back to her task and got up, his joints popping. He answered the door and paid the delivery boy just as Max rounded the corner of the hallway.

"Booth, what are you doing here?" Max eyed the boxes of food the agent was holding.

"Bones wanted me to help her with something. What about you?"

"She wants me to rewire a light. I do still have my electrician's license." Booth motioned with his head and Max followed the agent inside. While Booth set up things in the kitchen, Max headed back to the guest bedroom and whistled as he took a look around. Brennan stopped painting and turned to her father.

"So, what do you think?"

"I think it looks great honey. Any little girl would love a room like this."

"You think so?"

"Of course." Brennan climbed down her ladder and set down her paint supplies, following her father out of the room to grab a bite to eat. "Hey, do you remember when you were five and you colored all over the walls to your room with your crayons?"

"Yes, I do actually," Brennan laughed and shook her head a bit. "I didn't like the color of the walls and thought I'd change it myself."

"Why does it not surprise me that you'd do something like that," Booth said and handed her a plate of food and pulled out her chair.

"It seemed quite logical to me. After all how else was I supposed to get the color changed?"

"I don't know Bones. Most normal kids would have just asked their parents to paint their rooms."

"I just felt that I could take care of it on my own."

"You handle something on your own? Perish the thought." Booth grinned and moved just out of reach when she tried to smack him on the arm. Max just watched the scene in front of him, grinning. This was what he wanted for his daughter. He wanted her to have the family he'd managed to deprive her of all those years ago. Now Booth was here for her and by the look of it his daughter had never been happier. He took a sip of his beer as he continued to watch the couple bicker. Anyone who thought that she was cold or too analytical never saw this side of her, and now that giving personality was going to be rewarded. She'd have the family she deserved to have.

XxXxX

"Wow Bren, you look happy this morning. What's got you so cheerful," Angela asked as she walked into Brennan's office a few days later. Brennan looked up and smiled at her best friend.

"Today I'll get approval to adopt a child." Angela stared at her friend, jaw dropped and completely speechless. Brennan leaned back a bit in her chair and looked at her best friend. "What?"

"I just…when did you make that decision? Why didn't you say anything to me about it? You've never been one to just make rash decisions without talking about it first."

"Ange, it's not a rash decision. I've thought through all of the implications and have all of the arrangements lined up in case I need to work late or have to go out of state for any reason."

"What if the adoption doesn't go through?" Brennan looked at her computer screen for a minute and then turned back to Angela.

"There's no reason for it to not go through. I have a steady job that pays well. I can provide a good education, and there are children around that are her age, so she'll still be able to socialize with peers."

"Sweetie, I know that, but sometimes things don't work out that way. I mean you aren't married…"

"Being married has no bearing on whether or not I can adopt. There are single people adopting all the time, so that shouldn't be a reason for them to turn down my request." Angela sighed and offered her friend a hug.

"I really hope everything works out for you Bren. You'd make a great parent and adoption is a really noble thing to do."

"Thanks Angela." Brennan smiled again as her best friend left the office and then turned back to her work. She found her concentration lagging as the day went by, her mind preoccupied with the adoption. After a few hours, she decided it just wasn't worth the effort of forcing herself to concentrate and shut off her computer.

On her way from the lab, she stopped by to let Cam know she was leaving early, and headed out onto the grounds of the museum. The night before it snowed and the grounds were blanketed in white. Small icicles hung on the eaves of buildings and the sky was a clear blue.

She smiled and wrapped her arms around herself to stave off the crisp air. She practically willed her phone to ring with news on the adoption, and the waiting was killing her. When the phone did ring, she fumbled with it for a moment before bringing it to her ear.

"Brennan."

"Ah Dr. Brennan, this is Teresa Miller from social services. I was hoping to get a hold of you. We've reviewed your paperwork and agree that you're an excellent candidate for adoption."

"That's wonderful news. When will I be able to sign the papers for Norah?"

"Well, that's the reason I'm calling. Norah has been adopted by another family." Brennan sucked a breath and put her hand out on a tree to steady her suddenly weak knees.

"What?"

"I'm sorry Dr. Brennan, but our agency felt she would be better placed with a nuclear family, and that is one aspect that you just weren't able to provide. I'm truly sorry for the news." Brennan nodded, finding her voice eluded her as she flipped her cell phone shut.