Disclaimer: I don't own Bones. If you sue me, my uber smart lawyer friends will kick your ass.

Chapter 6 (Wednesday)

It was still dark Wednesday morning when the Booths dropped off Parker and Sam at school. Temperance smiled brightly as they ran to the building, she loved to dress her boys alike. Today they were in blue jeans and matching green sweaters. Sam's shirt hung a little looser than Parker's but he beamed as he walked next to his big brother.

Waving goodbye from the SUV they managed to wait until they were out of sight of the school before discussing the recent progress on the case.

"The neighbor had a look at the house last night. Despite the mess there wasn't much missing. Beed's jewelry box, her work briefcase and wallet. And the car." Booth mentally reviewed the conversation from the night before, making sure he had not left anything out.

"The house was meticulous, the books arranged by the Dewey Decimal System, cds alphabetized. Whatever they were looking for, they found. Nothing was out of place." Temperance continued and saw Booth nodding. "This woman had reclusive tendencies. No close family or friends, wasn't involved in any religious group or cult. Her house reflects how much time she spent. It was spotless, even the basement, aside from the obvious."

"But she was gone for long periods of time that no one can account for. I think the house was ransacked as a cover. The safe in the office wasn't touched, the victim's electronics were left behind, even portable items, an iPod, Palm Pilot. I'm interviewing the coworkers this morning, maybe we'll find a lead with her briefcase."

"Okay, call me when you know something."

"You're not coming with me?"

"Unfortunately, no. Hodgins is taking the day off and I need to finish analysis on the particulates from the basement."

That afternoon Temperance entered the Hoover building, lunch in hand and made her way to Booth's office. Finding it empty she settled herself behind his desk and put her plan in motion. Dialing Cullen's office she explained the situation and he agreed to assist.

Within the hour she could hear Booth's voice echoing in the hallway. He was shouting at someone, I hope it's not Cullen, she thought, guiltly. Soon Booth burst into his office and was visibly surprised to see her sitting at his desk, feet propped up on the desk.

"Hon, what are you doing here? Did Cullen call you too? I know I turned in your reports yesterday, why would he call you about it?"

"He didn't," she replied calmly.

"What? Temperence what's going on?"

"I had Cullen call you, ask you to come back to the office. I told him to…be creative." Her sly grin calmed Booth immediately, she stood and moved toward him.

"Why?" His suspicion grew as he noted the bags on his desk.

"Can't a girl have lunch with her husband?" He moved closer, tossing aside his jacket.

"Can't a girl call and ask her husband to lunch like a normal person?" He teased.

"Nope." Her answer was smug, confident.

"Don't you ever want to try, see if it works?"

"Now where's the fun in that?" Booth laughed heartily, Temperance threw her arms around his neck, pulling him closer. Booth pulled back, eyeing the desk.

"What'd you bring for lunch?" She rolled her eyes in exasperation.

"Are you serious? You're really interested in lunch?"

"Just want to know what I can look forward to." And Booth shut his door with a swift kick and leaned forward to claim her lips with his own.

I should take lunch away from the lab more often, Temperance mused, sitting atop Booth's desk picking at her sandwich.

We should do lunch at her office, she's got a couch at least, Booth considered, rubbing her feet gently from his desk chair.

"The co-workers said-" Temperance cut Booth off, "not now." He looked at her incredulously, not believing she'd stop working a case before the end. She shrugged, sheepish, pulling back her foot.

"Let's talk about something good, just for lunch."

"How about the baby? He or she is coming soon." She sighed, diverting her eyes from her husband. Couldn't we talk about something else? Something easy?

"I know, we'll need someone to watch the boys after school once Angela gives birth. Summer break will be starting soon, maybe we can enroll them in day camp." Now he rolled his eyes, annoyed at her need to change the subject, again.

"The boys will be fine. You're going to be a godmother." He persisted.

"You know I don't like that term."

"But that's what Angela wants to call you. And she's the pregnant woman with the raging hormones so we'll let her call the shots."

"I don't know what that means." He grinned playfully.

"Hormones are chemicals secreted from-Ow!" the poke was quick to his gut but gentle.

"I know that. What do you mean shots?"

"It means that she makes the rules because pregnant women are dangerous." Temperance glared again.

"I don't want to do this Booth." She hopped off the desk and paced the office.

"You have already. Parker? Sam? Remember them, the little rugrats who live down the hall?" His teasing tone didn't calm her one iota.

"Angela is counting on me to help raise her child. I can't do babies, Booth. I don't know the first thing about babies."

"But I do. I know I wasn't there for Parker full-time but I do know about babies. And as the designated godfather, I'll be standing right next to you, godmother, the entire time. Besides, you're great with the boys, this little guy or girl will just be a smaller version."

"They were…." she struggled for the appropriate word, "easy. I don't know." She leaned against his desk, frustrated.

Booth watched her internal struggle, how could such a beautiful, confident woman feel so defeated. Over a baby? He knew her worries were not about diapers or dressing, they were about the emotional connection, really raising a child.

"Temperance, you and I both know things were not easy with the boys. In the hospital, when Parker…." he couldn't bring himself to continue, "if you had not been there for me, for Parker, I wouldn't have made it. Then you bought that house and we became a family." She remained silent, unwielding. He got up and stood in front of her, trying to capture her gaze.

"And when I think about Sam in that cellar, in the hospital. He was broken, Tempe. He had no family, wasn't healthy or happy. Look at him now." Booth reached for their most recent family portrait from his desk and held it before her. Temperance's eyes softened, her body slumped slightly. "Together, we have raised two wonderful boys. When Parker wouldn't eat red foods for a month, you introduced him to cherry jello. When Sam had nightmares about being kidnapped. You taught him yoga breathing! And it helped! You will do this same for this baby. I'm right here, baby. And I'm not going anywhere." She nodded wordlessly, knowing what he wanted her to hear, wishing her mind would accept it as truth.

END Chapter

A/N: Next chapter is the dinner and more baby news.