Chapter 4
Valentine's Day dawned bright and clear. Booth slipped out of bed and removed the lavender gift bag from the shelf in his closet, then headed for the kitchen where he brewed coffee Brennan feigned sleep until he'd left the room, then opened her bedside table drawer and withdrew a flat package, slipping it under her pillow. Presently, her husband tiptoed back into the room, placed a tray on her table, and kissed her gently. Brennan opened her eyes and smiled. A bright red rosebud, whole wheat cinnamon toast and two cups of hazelnut coffee adorned the tray. As she sat up and arranged her pillows, Booth slid back in on his side, and pulled the lavender bag from under the bed. She handed him the slim silver-wrapped box as he offered her the bag.
"What's this?" he asked in delight.
"What's in the bag?" she inquired with a smile. "And why are we doing this at 5:15 am?"
"Because we're parents! Gotta save tonight for the fun stuff, Bones!"
"You got me a dolphin pin! And this lingerie is beautiful, Booth! Thank you!"
Booth tore into the paper, revealing a silver framed photo album. Inside were pictures of Pops and Gram at various times in their lives, and several of Booth and Jared with them. "Oh, Bones! Where did you find these?"
"Helen, the Willow River administrator called me last month. She was cleaning out a fireproof filing cabinet in her office. The residents can store meaningful family keepsakes there, protected from theft or fire damage. She'd forgotten that Pops gave her a box of pictures to store for him. When she found it, she was sure you or Jared would want it. And given what happened-, well, they're yours, Booth," she finished, after an awkward pause thinking of Jared.
Through their wistful tears, the two slid back down in each other's arms, seeking exhilaration and comfort amid broken laws of physics as their day began.
oooooooooooooo
Across town, Angela tiptoed around their bed and bent to kiss her sleeping husband's mouth. Hodgins' eyes popped open. "Happy Valentine's Day, Angie!" He took the cup of coffee she offered him, and patted her side of the bed. "Get back here, girl! I've got a surprise for you!"
He set the coffee on his bedside table and opened its narrow drawer. Withdrawing a flat box, he handed it to his wife. Angela opened the paper and tissue to find a slim leather-bound album. As she turned the pages, she buried her head in his shoulder. "Oh, Hodgie! It's beautiful! Look at our boy!"
Swiping her eyes with the back of her hand, Angela turned and reached into her bedside Bombay cabinet. She placed a small black box in Hodgins' lap. Inside he found a gold serpentine chain from which hung an oval pendant inscribed with a carefully-edited version of Isaiah 40:31: "But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will not grow weary. They will not faint."
Angela stared straight into her husband's vibrant blues eyes, and said quietly, "You are the strongest man I know, Jack Hodgins. You have incredible courage and you are my hero. I love you more than you know, for always."
"Oh, Angie!" Unable to speak; he just pulled her down into a tight embrace, covered her face with passionate kisses; and resolved to himself to keep striving for a recovery complete enough to fulfill her wish for another child.