Hi everybody. Some of you may still remember this story. I know it's been a long time, but I really do intend to go on with my stories. Life kept me busy, but now I think it might get better again.

I hope you'll like it! Thanks for your patience.

Chapter 24:

"What names do you have in mind?" Angela asked her best friend, while she watched with increasing respect, how much a mommy-to-be could eat. Somehow she was glad, that her best friend was going to pay for lunch. Her appetite sure was getting expensive. Though she had to admit, the burgers had been delicious. And the fries weren't half-bad either.

"Names?" Brennan frowned at her.

"Yeah, sure. Guess you won't call the baby 'baby' for all his or her life. Might get embarrassing at some point, especially if it's going to be a boy." Angela smirked and bit into a fry.

"I thought maybe you meant the last name." Brennan sighed. "Which continues to be topic of our discussions."

"Why? How many options are there?" Now it was Angela's turn to frown.

"Well, there is Brennan. Brennan-Booth, Booth-Brennan or Booth." The forensic anthropologist counted them off. "Which means four choices."

"See, that's why Baby wouldn't work. Baby Brennan-Booth. Way too many Bs." Angela smiled at her best friend.

"Ange, I'm serious." The other woman let out a frustrated sigh.

"You want my opinion?" Angela asked cautiously. "Sure" Her best friend nodded. The one word she had managed to press out between the fries in her mouth came out pretty muffled…. And gave Angela a not-so-pretty sight of munched fries.

"Ew, Bren. Ever heard of chewing with a closed mouth?" Angela teased her friend. The pregnant woman shot her a death glare. "Wheeew, ease up, tigress. I was making a joke. You'll get my opinion, but you're not allowed to yell at me – especially not with fries in your mouth – and not allowed to beat me." Angela covered her bases.

Brennan gave her an annoyed look, even emphasised it with a quick roll of her eyes.

"Okay. I wouldn't go for a double last name. I know this is probably your first choice, seeing as it would be fair to include both your names, bla-bla. But in the end, you gotta keep in mind what's best for your child, right? First, I think that double names are unnecessarily long. You've both got nice short last names… why burden the little one with a double name? And secondly, I'm thinking of Parker." Angela said.

Brennan's eyes widened. "Pawka?" Remembering that Angela wouldn't want another sneak peek at half-munched fries, she slapped her hand in front of her mouth and the boy's name came out pretty muffled.

Angela nodded. "Yes. I think if he's got the same last name as his little brother or sister it would kind… of… help them bond. It's going to be hard enough for him with all the changes, as you said already… but that would be something he could share with his little brother or sister. You know it kind of helps the whole 'family-feeling' along."

Brennan's eyes narrowed. She took a sip of her lemonade and swallowed down the fries. "Which means you'd opt for Booth."

Angela nodded cautiously. "I know that's not your first choice and I know you think that I – as your best friend – should support you, but you asked for my opinion and…"

"Actually, I think you're right. Those were pretty good points. I never thought a double name could be kind of a burden, but you're right. It's just not necessary. And I bet Booth will agree with the fact that it might be better for Parker, easier for him to bond with the baby. After all, he also has his father's last name and not Rebecca's although he doesn't live with Booth. I'm the mother and names won't change a thing about it." Brennan mused.

"Thanks, Ange. That was helpful."

Angela gave Brennan a surprised, but also approving look. "Great. How about first names?"

Brennan sighed. "I don't know. Well, maybe now that we've established the last name it's going to be easier…. And maybe Booth's going to give me credits for using his name. I'd like a name with meaning behind it, you know? There are many cultures who were very inventive and thorough regarding giving names. For instance, some tribes in Africa give their children a "childhood name" and after they hit puberty and character and looks have stabilised, they get their "adult name". I think this is a very interesting way…. But of course in our society not practicable. But still, I want to invest time into choosing a name with meaning, not only something that sounds good." She explained.

"I think it's a great idea, Bren. You've got time and the baby's going to have the same name his or her whole life. Better choose wisely." Angela nodded.

"Or she or he changes it, as you did." Brennan smiled at her best friend.

Angela laughed. "Oh, I can't see you being happy with you kid getting a new name cause he or she has been told to change it in a dream."

Brennan frowned. "We will see." She sighed again. "You know, I'm still not entirely comfortable with this being a mother-thing. I mean, I want the baby… but I don't know anything about being a mother. And though I know that maternal instincts should help me, I'm … afraid."

"Aw, sweetie… but that's just normal, don't you think? This is a huge change in your life, a big responsibility, but you're going to get used to it in no time. And you've got Booth. He won't let you bore the baby to death with bedside stories about digs in Ecuador." Angela tried to cheer her up.

Brennan gave her friend a sly smile: "I thought these stories were supposed to be boring to get the child to sleep?"

Angela grinned. "Yeah, but there's boring - like… uh, a fairytale you've heard ten times - and there's boring, - like, look, little one, this is the scapula, this is the ulna, and so on… God, I can already see your child playing with a anatomically correct doll." She grinned. "I bet you're all against Barbie."

"Who's Barbie?" Her best friend gave her a questioning look.

"No, no, no. You do know what I'm talking about, right? This is a joke? Come on, Bren, you've got to know Barbie? And Ken?" Angela nearly begged.

"Ah… I think I know what you mean. These anatomically very incorrect little dolls. Blondes with very big breasts and practically no waist… and legs twice as long as they should be. I don't see why children should be playing with something that has so little educational value." Brennan stated, popping the last remaining fry into her mouth.

"Ha! I'll remind you of that when you've got a whining four-year-old at home, that wants exactly THIS DOLL, mommy!" She mimicked the high-pitched wail of a little girl.

Brennan's eyes widened. "You want to spoil this, right?"

Angela grinned and shook her head. "Nuh-uh. Just want you to be prepared."

Brennan snorted. "Hmpf." Then she noticed something that she found very interesting. "Angela… are you going to eat those fries?"

The artist gave her best friend one long look and decided not to fight with the hungry monster. "You can have 'em." She gestured for the other woman to take them.

"Ahhh." Brennan made while munching on a few fries. "Then you're forgiven."

Angela watched Dr. Temperance Brennan munching on a handful of fries and had to smile. Life sure was changing.

So, please let me know if you liked this chapter. I know it wasn't that long, but I guess the next on should be longer. Thanks of reading!!