Brennan could detect the delicious aroma of waffles wafting out from Angela's kitchen even as she quickly hurried through the hallway. She quickly glanced down at her watch, wincing as the pretty pearl screen read 11:34.

Angela and Jack lived all the way across town, and past the downtown area, into the more rural tree lined roads. Brennan knew that Angela and Jack were trying for a baby, and Angela had wanted to live somewhere where they could raise a child and have a family. Crazy downtown DC with its interspersed college students, always flashing nightlife, and incessantly honking cabs was no place to start a family. Brennan should know, she had done it.

Luckily, Chloe and Sam hadn't proved to be "crying" babies, a fact that Brennan was extremely grateful for. She had read somewhere that twins were comforted being around each other, so Brennan had taken that advice putting Chloe and Sam in the same crib. They hadn't cried once throughout the months that were supposed to be "hard". That was part of the reason she kept them sleeping in the same room still, funny as it sounded they didn't seem to have as many nightmares as 3 year olds usually did.

That's why she already felt excruciatingly guilty for being late. It had taken all of her feelings towards Booth to override the logic last night that told her not to leave them with Angela. What if they had a bad dream, or woke up in the middle of the night not knowing where they were?

In the back of her mind, she doubted that they would. Sam and Chloe were two of the bravest 3 year olds she had ever met. She didn't know very many, but that wasn't relevant.

They weren't scared of anything. Snakes, spiders, the dark, medicine, flying. She wished she could be as fearless as they were.

There were so many things that she was afraid of. She hated to admit it to anyone. That was where she had gone wrong with Booth. She had told him how afraid she was.

She was afraid of being alone. It was irrational. After her parents left, she had been alone for so long, but she never wanted to go back there.

She was afraid that she'd close her eyes and be back in the foster system. Back where she didn't matter. Where all she was was another street kid with a ripped trash bag.

She was afraid that he'd leave again. That this was all just a lie. That he just wanted to hurt her more, and then he'd pull it all away from her. Again.

She only realized that she was leaning against the wall outside of Angela's kitchen when Chloe's loud giggles echoed throughout the house. She ran a hand through her hair sighing. How long had she been standing out here? She guessed she just had gotten caught up in her thoughts.

Quickly, she straightened out her shirt, making sure it didn't look like she had just tossed it on after sleeping with Booth. Of course it was in the literal sense, but still Angela would want all the details.

She bit her lip, and walked through the doorway of the kitchen. Her nose hadn't failed her as Chloe and Sam were indeed devouring huge plates of waffles covering in maple syrup in whipped cream. There seemed to be more maple syrup on their faces then on the plate, and Brennan had to laugh. She also laughed at Hodgins who was listening intently as the twins chattered incessantly to him.

Angela looked relieved and surprised to see her all at the same time. Her friend was wearing and apron that said "Kiss the Chef", her raven hair tied back in a bun. She smiled widely, coming over to hug her friend.

"Sweetie! Geez, I was so worried about you."

Brennan returned the hug, and she could see Chloe and Sam's faces light up behind her.

"I'm sorry Ange, I--,"

Her words were interrupted by the twins' squeals of joy as they launched themselves out of their chairs and at their mom, who smiled widely.

"Mommy! Mommy! We missed you!"

Brennan leaned down, picking both of them up, hugging them tightly. She noticed that Chloe's hair was tied in two perfect auburn braids hanging half way down her back, and she fingered them as she hugged the little girl.

"I missed you too. Chlo, did Aunty Angela braid you hair?"

Chloe nodded enthusiastically, her smile wide except for her missing front teeth.

"Yes! Isn't it pwetty Mommy?"

Brennan smiled. "It's really pretty."

Sam tapped his mom on the shoulder, eager to get a share of her much wanted attention.

"Guess what mommy?"

"What?"

"Jack showed me all thwese cool bugs, and then we went outfide and he showed me more!"

Brennan smiled widely, ruffling Sam's shaggy brown hair that was badly in need of a hair cut. She glanced over at Hodgins who grinned at her, nodding in silent understanding. Brennan was grateful that he'd been able to keep Sam occupied while she wasn't there.

"That's awesome babe."

"I know, and then Aunty Angewa made us waffles!"

"Did you say thank you?"

"Of couwrse we did mommy, we always say fwank you."

"Good, at least I did something right."

"I don't know what that means mommy."

Brennan smiled at their perplexed faces. "It doesn't matter."

She hugged them again before lowering them back to the ground where the scampered back on to their chairs to devour their syrup drowned waffles. She watched as the chattered aimlessly to Hodgins, biting her lip softly as she could feel her friends curious stare from across the kitchen.

She turned to look at Angela who was smiling mischievously at her as if she knew a secret. Angela always knew everything, a quality that Brennan half admired, half wanted to kill her for.

Making her way across the kitchen to where Angela was pouring batter into the waffle iron, she leaned against the wide counter, then pushing herself up onto it, winging her legs.

"So, I guess this means you fixed things with lover boy huh?"

Brennan resisted smiling, as Angela grinned widely up at her, she couldn't stop the smile from dancing across her lips, as she sighed.

"He's not…we're not."

"Oh come on sweetie, you so are. Don't lie about it."

"I'm not lying I promise. Nothing happened."

"Nothing? No passionate make-up sex against the bedroom door?"

"Ange! Chloe and Sam could hear. Or Hodgins."

"Please, Chloe and Sam wouldn't know sex if you dangled it in their faces, and Jack's busy eating his waffles."

Brennan chuckled softly, running a hand through her hair, looking over at Chloe and Sam, their dark hair shining in the late morning light.

"If nothing happened, why are you so late?"

"We just talked. And then I fell asleep. Nothing happened."

Angela studied her friend knowingly. "But you want it to."

Brennan sighed in frustration. "I don't know what I want."

"Yes you do Bren. You always know what you want, and I'm sure somewhere in that head of yours you know exactly what you want."

"I'm used to knowing what I want Ange. But this time, I honestly have no idea. I want to be happy. I want Chloe and Sam to be safe. I'm afraid. I'm afraid he's going to decide that we're not worth it."

Angela reached out, touching her friend's arm softly. "Booth won't leave you again."

"How can you be so sure?"

"He wouldn't risk loosing you again. Especially with Chloe and Sam in the picture. Booth isn't that type of guy."

"You make it sound so easy."

"It's not easy Brennan. But I want to see you happy," She motioned towards the two laughing twins sitting happily at the table. "I want to see them happy. You three deserve it, and you deserve it with Booth."

Brennan laughed, at how simple Angela made it sound. "Thanks Ange."

"No problem Bren, sometimes we all need a little help."

Brennan glanced down at her watch. It was already 12. How had a half and hour passed by already? She needed to get Chloe and Sam home so they could have lunch before they met Booth.

"Ange, I've gotta go."

"Now? Do you want some waffles?"

"No thanks, I'm meeting Booth at 2."

Angela smiled, raising her eyebrows. "Really? For what?"

"With Chloe and Sam, we're playing soccer."

"How romantic." Angela scoffed.

"Hey, I'm not going to waste the first sunny day we've had in weeks."

Angela waved a hand jokily towards her friend, smiling amused at her friend's idea of a date.

"Have fun on your date, or match or whatever."

Brennan grinned as she left Angela to man the waffle iron, as she tried to collect her two sticky children.

"Shut up."

They had just cleared their plates, their lips still sticky from the syrup.

"Chlo, Sammy, are you ready to go?"

They turned to face her, and she stifled a laugh at the syrup painted across their faces.

"Yeah mommy! Are we going to pway soccer?"

She ruffled Sam's hair, smiling. "Definitely, and guess who's coming?"

Their eyes widened in excitement as they responded simultaneously. "Who!? Who mommy?"

"Booth."

"Yay! Boof! Can we show him our jugwing?"

"Of course. You can show him whatever you want."

They immediately jumped out of the chairs, waving bye to Jack, and grabbing their mother's hands, dragging her over to Angela who they both hugged around her legs tightly, saying thank you as they pulled Brennan across the kitchen and towards the door.

Obviously, the mention of Booth had gotten them riled up. They seemed to really be drawn to him, and it was so surprise why since he was after all, their father.

"Bye Angewa! Bye Jack, come on mommy!"

Brennan followed Chloe's pushy demands, waving one last time to Angela, before they were out the door, and into the sunny March day. It was a day of possibilities, Brennan could feel it.