Chapter 7 – Shock and Awe

As they navigated the DC streets, Booth walked beside her wondering when she would tell him why she'd been so quiet over the past couple of hours. He knew something was wrong, but he also knew she would tell him when she was ready.

Finally, she filled the silence. "They look so happy," she said. He picked up a hint of amazement in her voice.

"Yeah, they have a baby," he said.

"Their whole lives have changed. You'd think they'd be a little more apprehensive."

"Well, you know having a baby…that's a good thing."

"You really think that?" Brennan turned her head to read his face.

"Yeah, it's a great thing," he stopped, turned to look at her and saw the worry on her face. "What? Aww come on, Bones… Look, a baby…the baby's fine. It's healthy. They had a healthy baby. They love each other. This is the happiest day of their lives." He paused, "What?"

Brennan nervously switched feet and tried to speak. The words didn't come the first time so she tried again. "I'm… pregnant. You're the father." She heard Booth's sharp intake of air and waited.

He looked at her while he absorbed the news. Only a couple of seconds passed before a slow grin spread across his face. Brennan smiled back, relieved at his happiness.

He quickly closed the gap between them and hugged her tight. His arms lifted her off the pavement and he whirled her around. When he put her feet back on the ground, he gently grabbed both sides of her face and kissed her slowly. When their lips parted, he rubbed his cheek against her face and whispered in her ear.

"I love you."

She pulled back from his embrace to look at him. "So you want to keep it?"

"Of course, why wouldn't I?" His eyebrows furrowed.

"Because this is new, because you already have a child, and mostly because it just changes EVERYTHING," she said.

"Well, you're right…this is definitely not going slow," he joked. "But seriously, what is really new about us? We've been together one way or another for years now."

"Yeah… but not like this. We haven't even settled into this new dynamic yet."

"Are you getting cold feet?"

"No, it's not that. It's just… how will this fit?"

"I don't know. We'll be like normal people. We'll take a short leave when the baby is born. We'll hire a babysitter when we're solving cases. We'll come home and be a family."

"What does that mean?"

"What do you mean what does that mean?" Booth looked confused.

"What does 'be a family' mean to you?" she said looking into his eyes. Brennan had an idea but she wanted him to say it just in case she was wrong. The answer was going to be their main argument in trying to make this new situation work.

"Ok…so I know you're looking at me like that because you expect me to say marriage. Here's your surprise. I'm okay with us just being together. It seems that I've changed my position on that a little more than I realized. Here's the deal…I've asked two women to marry me that I didn't really love. I would have gone through with it, but I think maybe I did it to seal the relationship, prove in some way that there was love. That's just not necessary with us. It's already there. I know I won't leave you, and I'm pretty sure you won't leave me," he winked at her and smiled.

"That is surprising."

"I know... shocked myself with that."

"So you're ready to just be together and raise this child? No legal, binding contracts attached?"

"Yes. We don't need them."

Brennan stepped forward and kissed him softly. "I'm still scared to death, but this time I'll rely on your faith."

"Wow…another shocker." He smiled, wrapped his arms around her and kissed her forehead. When he released the hold, they turned and Brennan wrapped her hands around his arm. They began walking again and she rested her head on his shoulder.

"Besides," Booth said as he guided her off the sidewalk to cross the street. "I know you'll breakdown and marry me eventually."

"Yeah, right…" she smiled, pulling herself closer. "in your dreams…"