Hi all!
Sorry for the delay, sweeties. As it is, the chapter was finished for some time, but I am having trouble getting in contact with my beta. I didn't want to leave you hanging for too long, so I decided to put the chapter up as it is... maybe I'll post the beta-ed version some time later.
Chapter 20:
They were sitting in the car, both waiting – albeit they were not sure for what. Finally she let out a sigh: "Before we go in, you should know, my father doesn't even know about... our relationship."
Booth's eyes widened. "You haven't told him? After... 6 weeks? Not one word?"
She swallowed. "No. It... How was I supposed to inform him about it? I can't just play cards with him and then say 'Oh, and by the way... you remember my partner, who arrested you? Well, I am sleeping with him now.'" She shook her head. "You know I'm not good at those kind of things and spending time with him is awkward enough... without bringing up our relationship. And in these past few weeks I only visited him twice."
"I know." He said, keeping his answer short and she knew she had hurt him.
"Booth, please. I love you, you know that. And it's not that I didn't want to tell my father... I just had no idea how to tell him, don't you understand? You two are practically standing on opposite sides..." She looked at him, a pleading tone in her voice.
"We're not really on different sides, Bones. We're both on your side." Booth said softly and she looked at him for a moment, then hugged him fiercely, only to pull back a second later with a pained expression on her face. "Ouch."
"Your bruises?" Booth asked, gently tracing the line of her jaw with his index finger. She nodded, then hesitated a moment before asking. "Are you mad at me?"
He dropped his hand and looked straight into her blue eyes. "Not really. Telling you it doesn't hurt a little would be a lie, but I understand why you didn't tell him. But we gotta be gentle today then... he's in for one hell of a surprise. First you go in there with those bruises" he gestured towards her still too colourful face "then we tell him we're a couple AND to top it all off, expecting." He smiled at her. "Make sure to start with the accident... or maybe he'll think I manhandled you."
Knowing he was joking, she gave him a pointed look. "As if you stood a chance." Then she gave him a quick peck on the cheek. "Thank you for not being mad."
She opened the door and got out of the car. Looking at the building in front of her she took in a deep breath, trying to brace herself. A moment later she felt his strong arm gently surrounding her waist. "No need to be nervous, babe. He's your dad. He loves you... and I'm sure he is going to be thrilled to get a grandchild."
Although she drew strength from his assurances, she muttered. "Don't call me babe."
He let out an amused snort. "What should I call you then? Sweetheart? Darling?"
"Bones." She shot back.
"And here I was thinking you didn't like that nickname." He grinned broadly while walking towards the entrance, his arm still around her waist, enjoying the feeling of how perfectly they fit.
"Anthropologically speaking, nicknames are either a sign of endearment or mocking. Since you live with me and I am carrying your child I hope you mean it as endearment." She said.
He stopped and turned towards her, taking her chin in his hand. "I never meant to mock you with it."
"Not even in the beginning?" She asked, uncertainty in her voice.
He shook his head. "It was always an endearment... from day one. My Bones." He lowered his head to kiss her, but he should have known she had to object. "I am not yours." She scoffed.
"I thought we'd talked about that the night you told me you're pregnant... babe." He grinned.
"You remember that? The exact words?" She asked, stunned and momentarily distracted.
"Hello? Federal agent? Trained for interrogations?" He winked at her in a playful way and a smile started to cover her face, but then she noticed that..."You babed me again!" She frowned and her voice held an accusing tone.
He felt how her index finger poked his chest. "You've got to stop that. No babe. I'll let you get away with possessive pronouns, because I agreed to it before in a moment of weakness, but you'll have to stop using that infantile endearments. I never agreed to THAT."
He acknowledged the conditions she just had stated with pressing a kiss on the tip of her nose "You're so cute. And your mine. M.I.N.E." He laughed when he saw her roll her eyes.
"Don't worry. As I already told you, I am yours too, Bones. Now let's get inside and tell your father about our baby."
They resumed walking and entered the prison.
"Tempe!" Max Keenan greeted his daughter, a broad grin covering his face. "Now that's a nice surprise." Then he stopped, taking in her appearance and asked. "What happened to your face?"
"I've been in an accident. Don't worry, it looks worse than it is." She hurried to explain.
"You've been to the hospital?" Her father asked, worry etched in his face.
She nodded. "Yes. They only released me today. But I am fine, it was mostly for monitoring."
Max Keenan nodded. "I see." For the first time he acknowledged the presence of the FBI agent who had accompanied his daughter into the room. "Booth. You drove her?"
"Max" Booth nodded and offered his hand. "I'll take care of her." It sounded like a promise.
Max shook his hand and both men smiled to themselves when they heard Temperance Brennan's mutter. "I don't need anybody to take care of me."
"Sure." Booth and Max answered in unison.
"I hate it when you do that." Brennan shook her head. "That patronising tone is unnecessary and condescending!" She stared from one man to another, challenge in her eyes. "I don't need anybody to take care of me. I am just fine."
"You've got to excuse her, she's in a temper." Booth leaned in a little towards Max and lowered his voice to a confidential tone.
"I'm not." She huffed. Max and Booth both raised their eyebrows in unison again. "Well, maybe I am." She admitted after a moment.
"It's okay, Tempe. You're mother was just like that too, when she was pregnant with you. Even worse the first time around when she was with your brother." Max patted her hand.
"You... what?" Her eyes widened. "What did you just say?"
"That your mother was pretty moody when she was pregnant." Max grinned, giving her a knowing look.
"How do you know?" She choked out. "Good question." Booth managed to utter, equally stunned.
"Temperance, you're my daughter. I knew you were with him...' He nodded towards Booth. '...as soon as you so cleverly started to avoid talking about him. And they way you look at each other – I am not blind. And last time you were here you raced out because you were feeling sick. Twice. And at an energy bar afterwards. And besides those bruises on your face... you just have that glow. Just like your mother had, when she was pregnant. You're so much like her." His voice trailed off and an expression of pain flickered over his face before he was able to hide it.
A strangled sob escaped Brennan and Booth quickly put his arm around her shoulders to support and comfort her. "You okay?" He whispered into her hair and was relieved to feel her nod.
"So you knew all along?" She whispered. Her father simply nodded.
"But why didn't you say anything?" She asked, confused.
"I knew you'd tell me eventually. When you were ready." Max smiled at his daughter.
She returned the smile, then suddenly rose and went around the table to hug him. Max enveloped her in his arms, a content expression on his face. "I am so happy for you, my baby." He whispered into her ear and she let out a sound that could have been a sob or a laugh. Maybe it was both. She did not know, but she did not care either.
After a few moments she pulled back and wiped away the tears that had escaped her eyes. "I am very emotional these days. It's the hormones." She explained.
"Of course." Her father agreed and winked at Booth, who had to grin.
"I think congratulations are in order." Max smiled at Booth. "Thank you, Max." The FBI agent answered.
"I'd hug you, too... You know, with you being the father of my grandchild and all, but I'm not sure you forgave me for kicking you in the... you know." A sheepish grin covered his face.
"Obviously, there was no permanent harm done." Booth grinned back and the men met in an somewhat awkward bear hug who lasted for barely a moment.
"You kicked him in the testicles? When did this happen?" Brennan asked curiously, effectively ignoring that both men winced a little.
"When he arrested me." Max answered. "Old men fight dirty." Booth agreed and Max shrugged, still grinning. "Yeah, well."
Brennan looked from her father to her boyfriend and back and shook her head. "How come you two are so comfortable with each other?"
"We understand each other." Booth explained. "Right?" The last word was addressed at her father.
"Right. Though my understanding may fade if I ever hear you didn't treat her as well as she deserves. We clear on that?" Max's voice dropped a little.
"What is it with this family? Why do you constantly have to threaten or blackmail federal agents? That a sport of yours?" Booth shook his head in mock disbelief. "No need to worry. She might be an infuriating woman sometimes, but she's my woman." He winked at her. "Right, Bones?"
She shot him a death glare, but let out a resigned: "Right. Though I object on the infuriating part. Just because you and I have different believes and..."
"Oh, shut up." He said and kissed her soundly. "Works every time." He muttered under his breath, when she indeed was silent after his kiss. "Jerk." She grumbled and caused her father to laugh.
"God, you still pout the same way you did as a kid." Max remarked.
"Cute, isn't it?" Booth asked, grinning broadly.
"Oh, please, cut it out. You two are giving me a head-ache!" She said and shook her head, but despite her words she was pleased to have these two men in her life. After all, they let her feel loved and welcome and she had missed that feeling for most of her live.
But silently she addressed the baby, thinking: 'Let's hope you're a girl. I sure need some reinforcement against those two.'
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