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"Bones!" Booth hollered, waltzing into Brennan's office with a spring in his step. "Come on, we're gonna be late!" Their first doctor's appointment was today and he didn't want to be a second late. Brennan had told him that it might be possible to hear the heartbeat on the Doppler this week, and he wouldn't miss that for the world.
His brain registered that Brennan wasn't sitting at her desk and he surveyed the rest of the office for her. A small smile crept across his lips as his eyes landed on her. She was lying on the couch with a file in hand, fast asleep. He tip-toed up to the couch and kneeled beside her. "Hey. Sleepy head," he whispered and planted a kiss to her forehead. She stirred and opened her eyes.
"I wasn't asleep," she insisted through a yawn.
"Yeah, I can see that," Booth teased. He smoothed his hand over her hair tenderly. "How are you feeling?"
"Exhausted. Nauseas. You know I couldn't examine the remains this morning? The scent of the disinfectant we use on the platform alone made me want to regurgitate." She groaned and sat up.
"You'll feel better in a few weeks," he promised. "You're already eight weeks along! It's flying by, right?" Brennan glared at him and stood up. "Come on, let's go take a look at our little bun in the oven!" Booth rubbed Brennan's belly affectionately, a gesture she had grown used to and even begun to enjoy over the last few weeks.
"There won't be much to see, Booth. The baby is less than half an inch long and has no distinguishing features."
"But you said we could hear the heartbeat today, right?" Booth questioned hopefully. Brennan nodded.
"It's possible. Although some can't discern the heartbeat until nine or ten weeks gestation. If we don't hear it today it's nothing to worry about." Booth beamed and threw his arm over Brennan's shoulder as they walked.
"You've really been paying attention to those pregnancy books, huh?"
"Yes," Brennan admitted without hesitation. "I told you before, Booth. I want to do this correctly. Our child deserves the best that we can give it. And the best thing I can do for it right now is to make sure I have a safe and successful pregnancy." Brennan stopped walking and wrinkled her brow at the odd expression Booth was giving her. "What?"
"Nothing," he feigned innocence. "Just… you're gonna be a good mom. That's all." Brennan blushed.
"I'm not always so certain about that," she admitted. "I don't have any experience with infants. The baby won't be able to tell me what it needs. I'll have to just… know. You know I have poor intuition, Booth. What if… What if I won't be able to tell what our baby needs?"
"Hey, you'll know," Booth promised emphatically. "You will. You'll see, the second you hold that little baby in your arms all the mommy instincts are gonna kick in. And before you know it, you'll be telling me whether the baby's hungry or needs a change."
"You really think so?" Brennan shifted her weight from foot to foot nervously and Booth gave her a reassuring smile.
"I know so." Brennan sighed and hugged him tightly. He reciprocated and rubbed her back comfortingly. "I know you're nervous. Hell, I'm scared to death. But we're in this together, right?" He felt Brennan nod against his chest. "We'll be great parents. We're already great partners. And after all, 'parents' is just 'partners' with the letters mixed up and an 'R' missing." Brennan laughed and leaned back to look at him.
"We're going to be late," she told him through her bright smile.
"Right!" he agreed. He kissed her quickly on the lips and led her to the car. Before they knew it, they were in an examination room looking at a fuzzy ultrasound of their little one.
"There's your baby," the technician said, pointing to a small dot on the screen. Booth grabbed Brennan's hand and squeezed. Their eyes never left the screen as the tech continued to talk. "The ultrasound and exam both look fine. You're right on schedule. Now we're going to see if we can hear your baby's heart. It's normal not to hear it this early, so if you don't hear anything don't panic. Your baby's fine." Booth nodded and just a few seconds later a whooshing sound filled the room. Tears collected in their eyes and they gripped onto each other tighter.
"That's our baby, Bones," Booth said in wonder as he listened to the steady clippity-clop of his child's rapid heartbeat. Brennan just nodded and wiped away an errant tear.
"Hey, you okay?" Booth asked Brennan with concern as they prepared to leave a while later. She hadn't said anything since the ultrasound.
"Yes," she promised. "I just didn't expect to be so emotional. It's just a heartbeat."
"It's not just anything, Bones," Booth insisted. "It's proof we created a life. You and me. Before it was just words, but now it's real. It's normal to feel it."
"Did you?" she asked tentatively.
"Of course I did! I can't believe you didn't hear me practically sobbing back there!" Brennan chuckled and wiped away another tear.
"It's not rational, Booth. It's not even considered a fetus yet and I already love it more than I fully understand."
"Bones, I think that might be the most rational thing you've ever said." He kissed her sweetly and rested his forehead against hers. "Come on, you and Little Bones must be getting hungry."
"Please don't mention food," Brennan pleaded, feeling her stomach roll once more. She started for the door, but paused as she registered what Booth had called the baby. "Little Bones?" she questioned, giving him a sideways glance. He shrugged.
"I thought I'd give it a shot. It sure beats saying 'the baby' or 'it.'" Brennan rolled her eyes. Although she'd never admit it, the affectionate nickname made her heart swell for the man who was currently lacing his fingers between her own. "So, you don't want to eat. How about we go for a walk until you start feeling a little better?"
"That sounds nice," she agreed and rested her head on his shoulder.
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