The next three months passed with secret looks and the occasional worry that someone had discovered their secret, but no one seemed to have any clue that there was about to be a new addition to the Booth and Brennan's life. There had of course been the initial interrogation from Angela when she returned the office the day after they had found out.

"So, what the hell happened to you yesterday, Brennan?" Angela had demanded the moment she stepped into Brennan's office the next morning.

Brennan took a deep breath and recited what Booth and she had practiced that morning over breakfast. "I became very apprehensive about Booth and my cohabitation being wise now that we're settled back in D.C. for an extended amount of time. But after several hours of evaluating the evidence and discussing it with Booth, I realized that I was simply apprehensive about the change in our lives, routines and relationship."

Angela fixed her with one of her "mind-reading" stares, as Booth called them. "And you're sure that's all?"

"I may have also been suffering from some jet lag, but other than that everything is quite alright."

"Okay, but I'm keeping an eye on you. I can't have you running away from something that is clearly so good for you and makes you so happy."

"Believe me, Angela. I have no intention of vacating my place in Booth's life or letting him vacate his place in mine. As he puts it, we're stuck with each other."

Other than that early talk with Angela, most of the others never questioned the day Brennan when AWOL or the change in the partners over the following weeks. The new happiness that seemed to surround the couple was attributed to the still somewhat new experience of living together and luckily for Brennan she had very little morning sickness and usually long before she was due at the Jeffersonian. In the end it had been remarkably simple for Booth and Brennan to keep their little secret even as they reveled in it themselves.

With the three month mark approaching quickly and Brennan's baby bump becoming increasingly noticeable; the partners realized that it was time to let their family in on the new addition to their lives. A large dinner was planned including Booth and Brennan's families as well as the squints under the guise of Easter Picnic – Brennan found this particularly appropriate because as she stated, "Easter had it origin in a pagan fertility festival."

But in the end as the day for the reveal got closer and closer, both Booth and Brennan found they needed to discuss another change that could be bigger and more terrifying then finding out about the pregnancy had ever been.

Brennan sat across from Angela in her studio in the Hodgins – Montenegro Estate trying not to be overly nervous. After weeks of deliberation she had only realized the day before that she was in dire need of Angela's guidance and support. She knew that Booth and she were set to reveal the pregnancy in a matter of days, but she knew deep down she needed to make a decision about her feelings before that announcement happened.

Angela sipped her tea, giving a Brennan a serious once over before diving in. "So, Sweetie, are you finally going to tell me what this is all about?"

Brennan carefully sat down the curry sandwich that she was eating. "Yes, that was my intention when I came here and I intend to follow through with it, but first I must share with you a secret. You have to promise you will not tell anyone else until I tell you its okay. Do you promise and this includes Hodgins?"

"Of course, Bren, you're my best friend and when it comes to secrets that so trumps husband. Now spill already; the anticipation is killing me."

"So, you remember that day I never came into the office because I was thinking?" Angela nodded. "I was not dealing with the fact that Booth and I were living together – I have actually been happy with that arrangement since I suggested it – I was dealing with the news that I was pregnant."

Angela's eyes widened in surprise, "You're pregnant?"

"Yes, Booth and I are expecting the birth of our child in approximately six months," Brennan stated with a bright smile as Angela tried to wrap her brain around the news.

"And you've kept it from everyone this whole time…" Angela trailed off remember the relief her and Jack had felt when they were out of danger of a miscarriage, "Because you were scared of losing the baby."

"Precisely, but now that we're approaching the end of the first trimester, Booth and I are having the dinner on Sunday in order to share the news with our family all at once in order to fair and efficient."

"So why are you telling me now?" Angela asked suddenly worried. "Is everything okay between you and Booth, you're not getting cold feet about raising a child with him now are you. You all have been so happy the last few months – and that makes so much more sense knowing that you're pregnant – that I couldn't bear for you to get in your own way."

"Angela, I've told you repeatedly that I have no intention of ending my romantic or sexual relationship with Booth," she paused seeing an opportunity to get segue into the topic she wished to discuss. "In fact, I wanted to talk to you today because I wanted to discuss with you how to go about making our lifelong commitment more official in the eyes of the law and Booth's outdated religion."

"Wait a minute, Bren. I think you just told me that you want to talk about marrying Booth."

"Yes, that is in fact what I was trying to convey."

"Oh my god, that's huge!"

"I realized the gravity of me making a decision of this nature and that's why I wanted to confide in you and seek some advice about how to make that a possibility."

Angela coming back to her senses, "Actually, I'm surprised he hasn't proposed, being Booth and all. Didn't he propose to Rebecca as they waited to see what color the stick turned?"

Brennan groaned at the reminder. "Yes and I believe part of me has been hoping that I would receive similar treatment and that is what confounds me, Angela. Why after so many years of not even believing in love, much less marriage, find myself pregnant and longing for the father of my child to propose? Additionally if this is what I want, I find myself unsure of how to achieve it." Brennan took a moment to collect herself after her outburst. "Angela, what am I supposed to do?"

Angela smiled at her friend's uncertainty and took her hand. "Well, let's deal with these one at a time. Brennan, I believe you want to get married, specifically to Booth, because you two are starting a family and it's the thing people do. I know lots of people raise wonderful, happy children without making a formal commitment, but there's something to be said for that public announcement of fidelity that is a great base for a family. Plus, and I know I feel this, when you're wearing and outward symbol of that love and commitment," she pointed to her own engagement and wedding ring, "and carrying your kid, you know that the people around you know that there's a whole family loving this little person. The rings are just the outward symbol, but…"

"I believe that symbols have power in a culture; that makes sense to me."

"And I think on some level," Angela continued, "that you want this because deep down you know Booth wants it all – that wife, the kids, the white picket fence – and you want to give him that. You've loved Agent Studly since day one and now that you've started down this path with him, you want it to…"

"I refuse to live in a house with a white picket fence, they strike me as unsafe."

"It's a symbol of domesticity. Anyway, my point is, are you excited to have this kid with Booth?"

"Unbelievably."

"This one was happy accident, but do you think you would want to try and have more kids with Booth down the line?"

"Yes, I believe a sibling for this child and Parker would be desirable in a couple years especially for developmental purposes of the child we're having now."

"Anyway, can you see yourself spending the rest of your life with him, even though you believe love is ephemeral and marriage is an outdated religious custom?"

"Yes, and for the first time in my life I want that outdated religious custom, but I fail to understand why Booth has not proposed," Brennan whined.

Angela paused before taking on the next issue. "Well, can you blame him, Sweetie? He knows your feelings on this subject, possibly better than anyone and figures it's not for you. Plus, he proposed to Rebecca when she got pregnant with Parker. He probably doesn't want you to think that the only reason he's asking you is because he got you knocked up. So, while it's very un-Boothy as you put it, it makes a lot of sense why he hasn't asked."

"So, what can I do? He is wonderful, but he's still an alpha-male type and if I proposed to him it would offend his sensibilities and his sense of tradition. I really want this, but I have no idea how to go about it. Tell me what to do, Angela."

Angela laughed at her friend's pitiable and uncertain tone and wrapped her arms around Brennan's shoulders. "Honey, you're going to have to do what every other woman in your position has had to do – you drop hints and big ones. Unfortunately for you that's not your strong suit."

Brennan sighed, "No they're not – they confound me much in the way some jokes do."

"But, give him time," Angela hugged Brennan to her side, "The Boothiness of Booth may win out over his sensible side and you'll get love, marriage and the baby carriage."

Across town, Booth waited in an alley playing with all the stuff he insisted on carrying in his pockets. He nervously pulled his hands out of his pockets and rubbed his face. At that moment a big metal door sprung open, causing Booth to jump. The figure coming out the door put his hands up in surrender.

"I guess I should be glad you didn't start shooting. You have quite a trigger finger, Agent Booth," Chef Gordon Gordon laughed.

"Sorry, I guess I'm a little on edge." Booth and Gordon exchanged a friendly hug before Booth dove right in. "That's actually why I wanted to talk to you."

"Yes, I'm quite curious what this is all about," Gordon stated leading Booth out of the alley. "Although based on the fact that Dr. Brennan is not joining us that this is about your lovely forensic anthropologist?"

Booth shrugged. "You got me, but why aren't we eating at your restaurant?"

"While I'm flattered you like my cooking, I figured today, since this promises to be a fateful afternoon that we would return to the first food we ever shared. Plus, I figured this was the perfect time since most vegetarians do not enjoy barbeque."

Booth and Gordon Gordon continued down a little further on the sidewalk catching up on pleasantries. Nothing else was said of the reason Booth needed to talk to Gordon Gordon until they were settled and their food had been ordered.

"Alright, Booth, lunch is underway, so why don't you tell me why we're here."

Booth paused, trying to decide where to begin. "Well first of all, I should tell you what I'm about to tell you is a secret – or at least it will be until dinner on Sunday. Bones and I are expecting a baby this fall."

Gordon's face began to light up, but then stopped. "Is Dr. Brennan or you unhappy about this turn of events?"

"Oh no! Bones and I are over the moon about it. It's all rather unexpected, but we couldn't be happier. Things are amazing with Bones."

"Ah, well then I guess congratulations are in order." Gordon shook his hand then sighed. "Then could I guess what we are here to talk about?"

"Well, Gordon, you've been right before."

"So," Gordon began slowly, "am I correct in assuming that we are at a wonderful dive barbeque place to discuss your plans to propose marriage to Dr. Brennan?"

"Bingo."

"Well, this is quite an undertaking Booth." Gordon was silent for a moment. "You are going to have to combat both Dr. Brennan's feelings on committed monogamous relationships and the trap you've set for yourself that she will think you are proposing because she is pregnant with your child."

Booth smiled at Gordon went straight to the point. "Which is why I've come to talk to you: you are brilliant like Bones, but I firmly believe you are a romantic at the core. With that combination you can help me overcome those things and convince Bones to agree to this."

"Let's first begin with why you want to get married in the first place. You know Dr. Brennan's feelings on the subject, so the best way to convince her that marriage could be a positive event in your lives is to show her that those are not the reasons you want to get married."

"Well," Booth laid his fork down and attempted to organize his thoughts, "I do want to get married because we're having a baby – not because of my religion – but because I have scars left over from all the crap I've had to go through to be a good father for my son. With this baby, with Bones, I want my rights to love my partner and child recognized by the law. I'm tired of my rights being ambiguous and I don't want to go through it again."

"Go on."

"And I want all the outer symbols that we're a family. I want to be out with Bones and or our baby and for people to see our wedding bands and know that we are a happy family. And even though Bones has been amazing throughout our relationship about not freaking out about being abandoned I want to give her a legally, and in my case spiritually, binding promise that I'm not going anywhere and that I will love her with my last breath." Booth sighed after his rush of reasons he wanted to marry Bones.

"Those are all actually pretty good arguments from Dr. Brennan's perspective, so that's a good place to start." After a moment Gordon sighed, "But what happens if you explain all that Dr. Brennan still doesn't want to get married?"

"Nothing," Booth shrugged, "we go on having our amazing relationship and raising our child. I'm not giving that up just because he tells me 'no' – that would dumb." Gordon sat watching Booth thinking over what he'd just said. "Actually, I don't care if she says 'yes', I just want her to know that I want her to have it all that if she wants it and that I want to give it to her." Booth stopped amazed himself at his words.

Gordon looked at Booth with a serious smile, "I firmly believe if you polish up what you just told me, then you have as good a chance of any of convincing Dr. Brennan."

"Really?"

"Yes, now even though you don't care if she says 'yes' or 'no' may I see the ring you've picked out for her?"

Booth laughed at how well Gordon Gordon knew him. He pulled the ring box out of his pocket and handed it over. "It's not terribly traditional – I actually bought it for Bones for Christmas – but after she told me about the baby I knew it was not meant to be a Christmas gift."

Gordon took the box and opened it slowly. "Agent Booth, you've done extraordinarily well and it shows how much you love Dr. Brennan." He closed the box and handed it back. "I wish you the best of luck and I look forward to seeing how many announcements you have to make on Sunday."

"Me too, Gordon, me too."

Brennan settled herself back on the bench watching the sun set over the Reflecting Pool and moaned into her sherbet as she finished that last bite.

Booth laughed taking both hers and his trash to a nearby garbage can, "If that had gotten any hotter or heavier, I was going to leave you and the sherbet alone."

"I'm sorry Booth, I know I was being vocal about it, but ever since I became pregnant I thoroughly enjoy it – far beyond what I know is considered normal."

"It's fine. I was just starting to get a little jealous of all the attention it was getting."

Brennan grabbed his hand and intertwined their fingers and kissed him gently on the lips. "It's gone now, so I can give you my full attention."

"That's good," Booth kissed her and squeezed, "because I have something I want to talk to you about. It's nothing to worry about, but it's just something I want to talk about. Also I want you to be as quiet as possible because I want to make sure I say everything I need to."

Brennan nodded trying to keep her heart from pounding with anxiousness at his serious tone. "I'll do my best."

"Thank." Booth took a breath and began slowly, "Bones, I firmly believe that I've loved you since the moment I laid eyes on you and though sometimes I get frustrated because I feel like we wasted so much time, I truly believe we came together at the perfect time. And I'm so excited that we're having a baby together. It's all like a dream come true and what I'm about to ask you will not change any of that if you don't want it to."

Brennan's breath hitched, but Booth put his hand up. "Please let me finish before you say anything. I know you believe that marriage is an outdated, religious tradition, but I want to give you a different take on it, one that might make sense to you. With Parker every time I take him out, people see that I'm a single father. I lack all the outward symbols that indicate an entire family – I'm not sure what all the symbols are – but I know I lack them. With our baby, Bones, I want people to be able to look at either one of us, together or alone, and know that we're a complete family who love one another. And while I know we can do that without getting married, I still feel strongly about those outward symbols. There's more," he said knowing that he needed to cut her off, "I know you don't want it and I hope I love you enough every day that you don't need it, but I want to give you a public, legally binding contract that says I will never abandon you or our family to make sure that you never have to doubt this." Booth grabbed both of Brennan's hands in his and looked at her seriously as tears began to quietly roll down her cheeks. "I love you so much and even though I know it's against your nature and your beliefs, I want you to at least consider marriage as an option. But, know there is no pressure. If you say 'no' nothing changes including how much I love you and our baby. I just needed to say this, that's all."

Booth released the breath and let go of Brennan's hands. He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and pulled her against him, kissing the top of her head. They sat in silence for a moment. Booth settled back against the bench feeling a sense of contentment; happy that he said his piece and knowing that he didn't need an answer. Brennan sniffled against his shirt amazed at the careful logic and love in his words. She was totally overwhelmed knowing that everything he had just told her was not only true, but had been thought about through her point of view even though it was in direct contradiction with his own. He wanted to marry her not because he was concerned about having another child out wedlock or anything illogical, but because he wanted society to recognize them anthropologically as a family, as people who love one another.

Brennan swallowed back a fresh batch of tears and looked up at Booth. He looked down at her a smiled and kissed her softly on the lips. "That was beautiful, Booth, but now I want you to ask me like Seeley Booth would propose to a woman." He looked at her surprised. "We both know that, while amazing, was not your ideal way to propose. I want to see that proposal Booth," she swiped away her tears.

Swallowing nervously, Booth slowly kneeled on the ground in front of the bench and pulled out a small box out of his pocket. He took a deep breath and opened the box to reveal a simple white gold ring with a brilliant blue sapphire set in it surrounded by a dusting of diamonds. Booth took another deep breath and looked at Brennan. "Temperance, my Bones, I have loved you every day since the moment I laid eyes on you. You are brilliant, beautiful and have a bigger, more open heart than you will ever give yourself credit for. Together we have discovered so many wonderful things and evolved into the people we are today; I'm so lucky to have you in my life. You have already made me the happiest man alive by being my partner in every sense of the word and having a baby with me, but will you do me one final honor? Bones, will you marry me?"

Unable to make her vocal chords work, Brennan just nodded emphatically through the tears and fell into Booth's arms. Kneeling on the ground facing one another, they kissed each other breathless until Brennan finally pulled away. "Yes, Booth! I love you so much and I will marry you. Now may I have that absolutely gorgeous ring you've picked out for me?"

Booth laughed and pulled the ring out the box. Sliding it on to Brennan's finger, they both began to tear up again. "I never imagined I would have this," Brennan said admiring her ring still wrapped in Booth's arms. "I never thought I would have a family and now look at me: we're expecting a child and I just agreed to marry the only man I have truly loved. And it's all thanks to you. Thank you, Booth. Thank you for giving me a family."

"No, thank you, Bones." The pair dissolved in kisses and joyful tears as the sun finished setting and the stars began to come out.

A few days later, Brennan and Booth were putting the final touches on the giant table they'd set up in the dining room as they watched their friends – their family – laughing and talking as they took their seats for Easter dinner. Brennan snuck a glance at Booth and couldn't believe how lucky they were to not only have the little family that they were starting, but this amazing extended family that had been growing and changing over the years. She saw the love and support in that room and knew that their child would grow up loved by a family that, although untraditional, could love one another even through the worst of times. Suddenly feeling very fortunate and couldn't help but smile brightly at Booth, who beamed back at her.

As everyone took their seats, Brennan and Booth remained standing with their glasses held aloft. With another look at one another, Brennan nodded nervously and Booth began. "First off I would like to thank everyone for coming, but before we begin, Bones and I have a couple announcements we'd like to make."