I'm sorry, I have no excuse for how long this took. I lost my inspiration for a while, but as I'm now participating in Nano, I have some writing motivation back.

There'll be maybe two chapters more after this. And if you're confused (,as this started ages ago,) this takes place sometime after The Daredevil in the Mold in season 6, going AU from there. And if you're wondering, there is a case in this as well, but this fic is all about the relationship, making the case a shameless plot device.

Chapter Five

Brennan had to admit that it was true what was said about the cheering effect children could have, as she still had a smile on her face when she walked into her office on Monday morning and threw her bag on the desk.

Booth had taken her up on his promise and the three of them had gone swimming to Brennan's pool. Somehow, Parker's hear warming excitement as he saw her immediately lifted her spirits in a way that even the pain she felt when Parker buried her in a hug, couldn't darken it.

As Parker blabbered on about basically everything that had happened the last time they'd been swimming, Brennan had been reminded how much time had passed since she'd really spent time with Parker. Booth seemed to be coming to the same conclusion, as he averted her eyes, a bit guilty. Brennan had had to be very careful while in the pool, but Parker didn't seem to notice as he was too busy demonstrating new swimming techniques he had learned.

She was still in the middle of her reminiscing, when she heard the sound of high heels approaching her office and tensed. It wasn't her usual reaction to Angela, but in this case, it filled her with dread.

"Hey, Bren!" Angela greeted her, as she peeked her head into the office. The smile was so wide that it looked uncomfortable.

"Morning, Angela", Brennan answered, starting to move the papers on her desk aside to have some room to work. This was part the reason she liked to get her work done right away instead of leaving it to the last minute. Although, at least now she would be busy for the entire day.

"Let me help!" Angela immediately offered and almost leaped to take the papers from her and quickly arranged the pile neatly on the other side of the desk, while Brennan stood there unsure what to do.

"So... How is everything?" Angela's tone was very light. She was clearly trying to look casual, but her worry and curiosity shone through clear enough that Brennan did not need to try guessing what she wanted to talk about.

Brennan resisted a sigh. She had known that this was coming and she had to admit that maybe Angela had some reason to worry. She had no idea of what had happened, besides that her best friend had been in the hospital and then had not let her in.

"Everything is fine. And before you ask, I am fine. There was an incident during the case and because of that, I had to be checked up in the hospital. That is all", she said very carefully, trying to remember all the things Booth had told her about the signs that showed a person was lying. Unfortunately, Angela knew her too well and she was still a very bad liar.

Angela dropped down to the chair in front of Brennan and pierced her with her trademark I-know-you're-lying-and-I'm-not-buying-it look. Her drop was more careful than usual as she placed a protecting hand on her baby pump. Brennan could see the moment she dropped the over sensitive act and got down to business.

"Alright. What happened?"

"I don't want to talk about it."

"Are we talking about something serious? I have no idea what happened and it's driving me crazy. Booth won't say anything -"

"- I asked him not to-"

"- and I have more respect for you than go searching for the FBI report", she finished, still waiting for an explanation.

Brennan had no idea how to give her one. On some level, she truly wanted to tell her friend the whole story, ask for advice like she usually did. Angela and Booth were her guides in these kinds of situations so it made perfect sense to be talking to her.

But the words just didn't come. She opened her mouth a few times, but she couldn't say it out loud. It was irrational, but saying it would somehow make it too real. She averted her gaze, pretending to be very interested in the surface of her desk.

"Alright", Angela sighed in defeat when the silence had streched out long enough and Brennan was still looking at anywhere but her. "I won't force you. "

She stood up, beckoning with her hands for her to do the same. Confused, she complied while Angela crossed the distance between them and embraced her in a warm hug. At first she tensed at the sudden human touch, but Angela wouldn't let go, forcing her to melt into the embrace. Satisfied, she let her go, but still held her by the shoulders and looked deep into her eyes. Brennan didn't want to admit it, but she would have liked for the closeness to continue a while longer.

"Whatever it is you're going through, you will make it through, you always do. And I will be here", she said.

"Thank you", Brennan answered gratefully. She turned to the wall to hide the fact that her eyes were burning with tears that threatened to break through. "Did you have anything to say that was related to the case?"

The corner's of Angela's mouth twitched slighly at the change of tone, but she nodded. "Well, I have the reconstruction of the victim ready, but Cam did say that you weren't even supposed to be in today -"

"She said that I could come to work on Monday the earliest, which is today."

"Yes, but that indicated that you shouldn't have come -fine, do you want to see it now?"

They walked together into Angela's office and to the Angelator. She had once again done an excellent job at reconstructing the skull and had even managed to save the SIM card from the victim's, Jordan Adams', phone.

Angela put up some pictures that had been taken on the night that the woman had been killed. They were all a bit hazy, showing partying people in some sort of club.

"So, I managed to zoom in one of the coasters on the table..." She pulled out a picture that showed two girls, both about 20 years of age, sitting at a table. They had both set down their drinks on their coasters, but the edge of the other could be seen. "... and it could be one of two clubs, an Irish Bar or a club on the other side of town that's popular with teenagers."

"Good. I'll call Booth", she immediately concluded, pulling out her phone. Angela cocked her head.

"How is it going with him, anyways? Have you talked about... anything? About Hannah?"

"No", she simly said, pressing Booth's speed dial and waiting for him to pick up. He answered on the second ring. "Hey, we might know the club they were partying at. Yes... At one clock in the diner? Right, see you then."

"You seem to be spending more time together now", Angela pressed on, watching her carefully.

"Yes, I suppose we are. We watched a movie the other night and slept toge -"

Angela jumped a few feet in the air, throwing away all pretenses that she was trying to work, he eyes shinign. "What? You slept together? You can not be serious, you've had this big news all morning and didn't think to tell me until now?"

"I don't know what you're talking about", Brennan replied, eyeing her whailing arms warily,

"- or what's making you make those facial expressions. Are you experiencing any digestional problems due to the pregnancy?"

"No!" She bellowed out, too excited to let her throw her off with the oblivous question. "How was it? How did it happen?"

Brennan frowned, trying to figure out what made "It was- it was nice. I asked him to stay over and -"

"You actually asked him? You didn't just jump each other like two wild animals after one of those meaningful, long looks you share?"

"We don't share meaningful looks – what are you talking about?"

When Brennan realized what Angela meant, she let out a laugh that she hoped didn't sound as nervous to her ears as it did to her. "Booth and I didn't have sex, that's absurd! We slept in the same bed."

Angela's smile melted off her face as though it was made from modeling clay. "It's not absurd and why didn't you say so in the first place? You got me all excited for no reason -"

"You misunderstood my meaning."

"Right", she sighed, running a hand through her hair, frustrated. "Well, you slept in the same bed, that's pretty intimate, too. How did that happen?"

"We watched a movie and I asked him to stay over, because... it was late and he would have had to drive home and -"

"What did you watch?" She immediately asked, her interest perking up again.

"The Lord of the Rings, why?"

Angela was fighting off a victorious grin for some reason. "Oh, nothing. That's quite a long movie... Did you fall asleep during it?"

"I did, actually. You're right, it's a bit long -"

"When you woke up, were you leaning on him? Was he stroking your hair?"

"Yes, why?"

At that, Angela finally started to laugh. "Oh, honey! Isn't it obvious what he was doing?"

"What?"

"Never mind." She was still chuckling when she shut down the screen and made some final marks on her notes. She moved to the door, almost skipping and yelled to the hall at the top of her lungs, "Hey, Jack! Get in here!"

"Do you want to talk to him about the case? Has he found more evidence from the victim?" Brennan asked, interested.

"No", Angela simply chuckled as Hodgins came, jogging, inside the room.

"Is everything alright with the baby?" He immediately inquired, looking like he would be ready to carry his wife to the emergence room if necessary.

Angela raised a hand to calm him. "Everything's fine, Jack. "

Hodgings took in a deep breath, moving to lean against Angela's desk. "Don't scare me like that. Hey, Doctor B", Hogdings greeted her as he had time to register what was happening in the rest of the world. "I thought Cam said that you wouldn't be in today."

"Don't start", Angela jumped in before Brennan had time to reply. "Guess what movie Brennan and Booth watched the other night? The Lord of the Rings." Hodgins' mouth started to form a smile and she continued, "It was really late when they were finished and he stayed over."

"Really?"

"Really."

"That dog", Hodgins grinned widely, crossing his arms across his chest, while Brennan grew more and more confused. She looked from him to Angela and back again, but the pair just kept grinning to each other.

"I think I'm going to go have some work done", Brennan announced, preparing to leave the two of them in peace, but Hodgins seemed to be waking from his Angela haze and stopped her.

"No, wait, I have something for you. I found some particulates from the victim that might give us a clue of where she was killed. I'll bring them by later once I've talked to Cam."

Brennan nodded, her mind already elsewhere. "That's fine." She walked away, leaving Hodgins and Angela alone, smiling secretively.

"You want to watch a movie tonight, too?" Hodgins asked wickedly, wrapping his arm tightly around his wife, while she smiled back.

"What do you want to watch?"

"I was thinking something along the lines of Avatar, or the Godrather..."

"Sounds good", she replied by giving him a light kiss on the lips and lingering there. "I hope you don't mind if we don't watch through the whole thing."