Epilogue

By the time Valentine's Day rolled around again, there had been some major developments in the lives of the Jeffersonian Lab's team members.

On the first Wednesday morning of February, Aubrey strolled into Booth's office, opened an iconic wooden box, and offered his boss a cigar.

"Aubrey, what's this, what the heck?" Booth looked up at his agent in confusion. "Neither of us smoke!"
"Take one, Booth; it's tradition!"

Booth's expression didn't change; and he didn't reach for the proffered item.

"Jessica and I are expecting! There's gonna be a little Aubrey, come September 8th or so!"

Booth's face broke into a huge grin. "Congratulations, man, you'll make great parents! What a lucky kid!"

oooooooooooooo

A few days later, Angela returned from lunch, strode through the lab, and paused in the doorway of Brennan's office, beaming like a Cheshire Cat. Brennan took one look at her face, and rose from her desk. "Angela?"

Her best friend stepped into the room and closed the door. If it was possible, her smile grew even wider. "Sweetie, I've got the best news!" I'm pregnant! We're going to be parents again in early June!"

Brennan hugged her, and smiled back. "For the last two months, I've suspected you might be, based upon observing your gait, and figural changes. But I wasn't saying a thing until you did. I'm so happy for you! Does Cam know? Are you announcing it to the office yet?"

"We want to wait til I'm showing, to the less perceptive members of society, Honey."

"Can I at least congratulate Hodgins? Has he told Booth?"

"Of course you can, silly. And we figured you'd take care of informing our favorite FBI agent! I've got to get back to that facial reconstruction now."

Brennan closed the file she was working on, opened the bottom drawer of her desk, took out a tin of tea bags, and went to the lab's small kitchen. Six minutes later, she entered the artist's office and handed her a cup of peppermint tea. "Once I speak to Hodgins, I'll be back to schedule your baby shower."

She walked down the glassed-in corridor which formed the wall of Hodgins' lab. He was engrossed in one of the enormous reference books he shelved behind his desk. She watched him silently for a moment, recalling all that had occurred in his lab, from Zach's intentional explosion to Hodgins' return to work after his bomb blast injuries. She stepped up to his desk and waited for him to stop reading. Hodgins looked up, a quizzical look on his face. "What'cha need, Dr. B?"

"Congratulations, Jack, Angela just told me," Brennan said softly so her voice didn't carry. "I'm so pleased for you both. I know neither one of us is prone to praying, but I know this is an answer to your strongest hopes, fondest dreams and most earnest desires. Booth will be thrilled, too."

Hodgins smiled back at her, through a few tears glistening in his eyes. "It is, oh, it is. And we owe so much to you both for all your help and support the last three years, Dr. B."

"That's what family does. Help and believe, hope and support each other, right?" And she bent and kissed his cheek.

A/N: Hopefully, this story fulfills Some1TookMyName's expectations for a Valentine's Day story. She requested a mention of Booth, Brennan, and Hodgins, evidence of Brennan and Hodgins' friendship, and no mention of Max, whom she dislikes. I hope she enjoys my Happy Hearts' Day scribblings.