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Chapter 15

The following day...

Brennan took a deep breath while walking through the park towards the Jeffersonian, trying to calm down. After all, these were her friends... telling them she was pregnant should not be a big deal, especially since two of them knew already... but still...it was big, it was life-altering, it was... so not her to announce her pregnancy to her co-workers. She was sure nobody would ever picture her as a mother. Never.

She glanced at Booth, who was walking next to her and his calm appearance helped her a little. But still there was an uneasy feeling left. She was looking forward to having that child, but still the prospect of telling her colleagues of making it official, making it REAL, scared her.

As if Booth was able to read her thoughts, his hand brushed against hers, intertwining their fingers. "Don't be nervous, Bones. Angela already knows and Zach too. Everybody is going to be happy for us, don't you think so?"

She hesitated for a moment, but nodded. "Yeah... but still..."

"We will have to tell them eventually, Bones... it does not have to be today, but some day we will. You know, at some point it's kind of hard to keep it secret." He smiled gently at her and gave her stomach a pointed look.

"I do not show yet." She said, frowning a little. "It may take another month."

"Temperance" He whispered, stopping her and drawing her close. "I mean it. It does not have to be today. It's your decision."

She sighed. "No. We will do it today. I just wish... I am happy, Booth, I really am. It's just ... what will people think? I always said I would not want children... I..." He silenced her with a kiss. "You want this baby?" He whispered, not really meaning it as a question, since he knew the truth. He merely asked to let herself hear the answer.

"Yes. With all my heart." She gave back, her voice steadier now.

"Then what is there to be afraid of?" He asked, gently pressing a kiss against her temple.

"But it will be public knowledge. What will your family think?" She suddenly blurted out. "Your friends?"

"Bones... You, this child and Parker are my family. My close family, the people I can't live without. That's what matters most. As for my parents and my brother... they love Parker. Why would they act differently towards our child?" Booth said, his voice gentle.

She leant against his broad chest, inhaling his scent and sighed. "I don't know... I never met them."

"You will, Bones. We will visit them some time, okay? And I am pretty sure they will like you and you will like them. And even if not, I love you. Nothing can change that." He felt how her body relaxed a little.

"When do you want to tell your father, Bones?" He suddenly asked, and she became rigid again. "My father... I never realised..." Her voice trailed off and she let out a strangled sob.

"What? Temperance, what is it?" Booth urged her to answer, not understanding what had caused her shock.

"Our child is going to have a grandfather in prison. That... is... How should I explain that? Your Grandpa is a criminal? And your uncle too... " She shook her head, her eyes wide in shock.

"Bones, it does not matter." Booth said, but she cut him off. "Are your parents going to be able to accept that? My criminal family, my messed up life?"

He pulled back a little, to be able to look into her eyes and his voice was serious when he said: "Your life is not messed up and you did not commit a crime, did you? You are not responsible for what your father did and I am fairly sure that criminality is not hereditary. And nobody thinks less of you just because your background may be a bit complicated. Now stop beating yourself up about things like that. None of this is your fault and I love you just the way you are." He ended his speech with kissing her deeply.

Booth pulled back a little after the kiss and enjoyed the sight in front of him. Temperance Brennan was a little flushed, her lips slightly swollen and she was obviously speechless, which was indeed remarkable and something he intended to remember forever.

"Any other things you want to talk about?" He asked, smiling at her.

She shook her head, but before he could say anything else, she suddenly blurted out: "You are the best thing that ever happened to me, Booth." Her words made him feel warm inside, but he shook his head softly and answered. "No, Temperance, you've got that one wrong: YOU are the best that ever happened to ME."

Then he gave her a quick peck on the cheek and said in a cheery voice: "So...are we going to tell people about this baby, or what?"

She smiled and nodded and they resumed walking towards the entrance.

Ten minutes later Cam, Hodings, Angela, Zach, Brennan and Booth were all gathered in Brennan's office.

Brennan looked at her co-workers, the curious look or secretive smiles on their faces and took a deep breath. Booth, who was standing beside her, placed an arm around her shoulders, supporting her.

"Thank you for coming here. We wanted to meet you, because we have something to tell you." She started and paused then for a moment. "As you know, Booth and I have been a couple for some time now and... well... now ... we..." She stammered, and gave him a pleading look.

He grinned broadly at her and then at the people who were standing in front of them. "We are going to have a baby." He announced.

"Dude... Wow... that's ... Congratulations!" Hodgins was the first to blurt out, grinning broadly, but after a moment he stopped and looked around suspiciously. "Wait... how come I seem to be the only one who is surprised? This... is a conspiracy." The tone of his voice was only half-joking. Booth rolled his eyes at Hodgins' comment.

Brennan gazed at Zach and Angela, who were smiling happily, but did not bother to feign fake surprise. "I... told Angela." Brennan admitted. "She is my best friend."

"You did not tell me." Jack huffed and gave his fiancée a wounded look.

Angela gave him an apologetic look. "I couldn't. I AM her best friend."

Jack nodded, but then he looked at Zach. "Zach figured it out himself." Brennan supplied, with audible pride in her voice.

Hodgins looked surprised for a moment, but then approval became visible. "Dude... never thought you had it in you."

Zach gave him a wry smile. "King of the lab." He murmured.

Brennan scowled. "I refuse to be the subject of that immature competition."

Hodgins ignored her comment and asked: "But why didn't YOU tell me, Zach? And you can't hide behind the best friend's excuse... cause you're my best friend."

Zach's eyes widened. "I am?" A small smile appeared on his face. "I... figured it would be a wise decision not to say a single word. My sister ... taught me better not to talk about pregnancy until it was common knowledge."

Booth chuckled. "He was afraid of Bones. And my gun."

Zach winced, but he did not deny it either.

"That leaves Dr. Saroyan. You don't seem to be surprised. Why is that?" Jack asked the woman. Brennan frowned. "Yeah, why is that?"

"I only found out yesterday. I am sorry, Dr. Brennan... I really did not mean to eaves-drop... but I overheard you…. Erm….. talking yesterday when we both were at the restroom." Cam admitted, giving her an apologetic smile.

Brennan's eyes widened and her mouth formed an "Oh."

"To whom were you talking?" Angela asked curiously. Brennan suddenly flushed a little and avoided everybody's gaze. "To the baby." She admitted, her voice low and somehow embarrassed... but to her surprise nobody laughed. She felt how Booth's arm tightened a little around her shoulders.

She looked up in the faces of her co-workers and of the man she loved and all she saw was sympathy and understanding. "That's so sweet." Angela finally broke the silence.

Brennan shrugged, masking her surprise. Obviously it was considered normal to have futile conversations with the unborn baby during a pregnancy. Nice to know.

"Well... Congratulations, Dr. Brennan." Cam finally broke the silence and approached the forensic anthropologist and even hugged her, then moved on to Booth. "I am really happy for you, Seeley."

"Thank you, Cam." Booth answered, somehow moved by his friend's reaction. And then Angela, Zach and Hodgins did the same, hugged the soon-to-be-parents and wished them their best. And Brennan wondered what she had been worrying about. After all, these people were her family.

TA-TA! The squints know and all is well... or will there be trouble in paradise?

People, you did not seriously think I will have the squints react in a bad way, right? But what will happen at the FBI?

Please let me know what you think!!!