6 – No broken promises

"My water just broke."

That day was supposed to be the day their lives would change forever. In that day she was supposed to become a mother and he was supposed to cut the cord. In that day, they were supposed to become accountable to someone other than themselves. Accountable for more than the love they felt for each other. In that day, they were supposed to be accountable to their daughter. They were supposed to be there to catch her. They were supposed to be aware of all the possibilities that life has to offer. Starting that day, their job was to show up wide eyed and willing and ready. For what? They didn't exactly know. For anything. For everything. To take on life. To take on love. To take on the responsibility and possibility. That day were supposed to be theirs and theirs only. *

However, nothing seemed to be working as it was planned. They knew that natural births couldn't be planned. They knew that one minute you were there, giving a belly "rubba" to your wife, and in the other you are driving her to the maternity floor. They knew that Sarah could be there, in their hands, by any moment, but – what they didn't know was that Brennan would have to face it alone and he'd miss his first daughter's birth.

When she felt that her water had broken, her body was filled by emotions she thought she would never have to face. She knew it was all irrational, she knew she'd have to do it, for him, for her and for Sarah. She knew that, as a mother, her first job was to love, care and protect her child. But, in that moment, all she knew, was that she was already failing.

"Angela, I can't do it."

"Bren, I know that – when you're in this situation – all you want is your husband, to hold your hand, to tell you things that would calm you down. I know, hon. Believe me, I passed through it and I know how much Hodgins helped me through. But, let's face it, I'm the best you can get. And, you have to start pushing, because Sarah wants to meet you. You know your sounding irrational right now and you are the one who always brings rationality to all I say." – Angela was there, by Brennan's side. Holding her hand, drying her forehead.

"But, I can't…" – she stopped, another contraction was making her entire body hurt, the strongest pain she has ever felt. – "I promised him he wouldn't miss this. He made me promise. I can't go out there breaking our promises. It's very irrational, I know… But, what am I supposed to do?"

"You are supposed to push, ok? When it's time, you're supposed to push. You're not gonna make Booth miss this moment. The first thing he'll see when he gets out of surgery is you and Sarah. The first thing he is gonna hold, when he's awake, is Sarah. You're not gonna make him miss it. In fact, you're gonna make it all possible. Sweetie, listen. He is gonna understand this. It's for his sake and, in the end, he is gonna thank you for this."

"No, Angie. You're the one who does not understand this. Once he told me he'd never betray me. And what am I doing? I'm breaking a promise, I'm betraying him. I can't push. This baby is not getting out of me until Booth is here!"

"Bren, what the hell is wrong with you? You have to push when it's time and you know it! And, betraying? Seriously? He betrayed you, like, zillion of times. That time in which he was fake-dead? Seriously? This is not the time for this kind of discussion. Focus in one thing and one thing only: Sarah. You know what to do, you're the scientist here and you do know how these things work."

"Angie, why is this happening? Why? Why now? Why Booth?"

"Bren, we can't change it, ok? It is happening and there is nothing left to do. Booth is gonna get out of this, he did it once, he can do it twice. And, you? You're about to hold the person you're gonna love the most, no matter what. Your daughter, half of you, half of him. No one can mess this moment for you. All you have to do is push."

She has been in labor for about 12 hours. By this time, a lot of women would have already given birth to their child, but – for Brennan – this was not the right time. She knew all she had to do was to wait, not too long, because she could put Sarah's life in danger, but wait until she was definitely ready to push. 12 hours, eight centimeters, two centimeters more and she would have to start it.

"Bones…?" – Booth tried to speak, but his mouth was too dry.

Someone approached. He couldn't say where he was. He couldn't guess what happened. The last thing he remembered was sitting by the kitchen's counter, waiting for Brennan to get out of the shower to drive him to the hospital.

"Sir, you have to calm down. We didn't do anything to your "Bones". You had a major brain surgery. You had a tumor growing inside your head. They took it all out, but you have to rest."

"No, you don't get it. My Bones. She is mine, ok?"

"She? What are you talking about, Sir?"

"My partner… My wife… My daughter's mother… Whatever you wanna call her. She would be here if everything was ok."

"Sir, I'm sure she is at the cafeteria. She must have been waiting for more than 12 hours. Do you want me to go find her?"

"No. She is not at the cafeteria, ok? Last time it happened, she stayed her, for more than 12 hours. For days. She stayed here… waiting for me." – Booth pulled all the wires that were tangled around his arms, chest and finger out of his way. He tried to sit, but he was too dizzy for that.

"Sir, you can't get up. You have to rest!"

"I can't rest. Bones, my Bones, she is pregnant, ok? If she is not here, it's because she is on another floor. She was about to give birth. And, if she is in labor, she is not gonna make it until I go there. I know it might sound foolish, this is something she'd never do, but… She promised me I wouldn't miss our daughter's birth. And, when Bones promises things, she never breaks it. No matter what. So, are you taking me to the maternity floor? Or will I have to use my FBI badge to make you do it?"

"Sir, you have a major cut in your head. I can't just take you to the maternity floor. For your sake."

"Listen, Lady. I've been shot, I've been thrown out of airplanes, I've been to wars. I'm sure I can handle a little cut and a wheelchair. So, will you take me there, please?"

"Can I call maternity to make sure she is actually there?"

"Why don't you call her instead? Do I still have my phone? Last time I reached it, it was in my pants' pocket…"

"Yes, it's with all your belongings."

"So, all you have to do is hand me my phone, please?"

She was a blonde nurse. Young, beautiful, talented. She didn't want to do what she was about to, but –somehow- Booth managed to make her do it. Perhaps because he had a cute face, perhaps because he was tough and strong. She didn't know why, but she would hand him his phone and help him with whatever he wanted her to help.

Angela was standing by Brennan's side. Nothing had improved, Brennan was still 8 centimeters dilated. Silently, a phone began to ring. Angela thought it was hers, but Brennan rushed her eyes to her purse.

"Angie, it's Booth calling. It's his ringtone."

"What? "Keep on trying" is Booth's ringtone?"

"Shut up and pick it up, please!"

"Booth?"

"Angie! Thank God you pick it up! Where is Bones? Is she with you? Is everything ok with my girls?"

"Hey, hey, hey! Calm down. They are both fine. Brennan's water broke when she got to know the news about you so I took her to the maternity floor."

"What? She is in labor? For how long has she been in labor? Where are you?"

"Wait, you sound really good for someone that just had a brain surgery. Well… She has been in labor for about 13 hours and we are in the room 447."

No one answered after Angela said in which room they were. Booth just nodded to the blonde nurse and she started pushing the wheelchair. They'd have to take the elevator to the sixth floor.

"What did he say, Angie?"

"Awkward. Awkward, very awkward."

"I hate when you do that. What's awkward?"

"He seemed just fine."

They both laughed for a little while. Brennan almost forgot about the pain she was in. Somehow, Booth being awake was a relief to her pain. Perhaps because now she knew she wouldn't have to wait any longer to see their daughter. Perhaps because now she knew she wouldn't break her promise.

Going up from the second to the sixth floor seemed to be an endless journey. Booth knew Brennan should be nervous and worried. He knew she must have cried, yelled at Angela and asked her many times "why is this happening"? From all those years, seeing each other almost every day, sharing a bond only they could share, had turned Booth into a specialist. He knew exactly what she should be thinking, he knew exactly what she most wanted and he was going to give it to her in just a few seconds.

The elevator stopped. They had reached the sixth floor in about 2 minutes and he barely could wait to see his wife. To help her finish what she had started, to help her bring Sarah to this world, to protect his girls from whatever he needed to.

Angela was standing right in front of the door. Brennan made her go there to see when Booth was coming.

When Booth first sighted Angela, he put his forefinger in front of his mouth, telling her she should not let Brennan know he was coming.

Silently, he started to push his own wheelchair, getting closer to Brennan's bed. She was lying on her left side, therefore she couldn't see who was getting in her room. He approached, she was still with her eyes closed, her right hand holding the mattress while another contraction was making her body hurt from the inside out. Booth stopped, right in front of her, she didn't open her eyes, but she knew someone was there - he took his right hand out of the wheelchair and placed it over hers. Right in that moment, Brennan was able to feel her whole world vibrating with his, she knew those big and soft hands were his. She knew those hands were his, because he was the kindest man she has ever met and those hands were the only ones which have ever given her the chills.

When Booth and Brennan first met, she was not even close to who she is right now. She didn't want to have kids, she didn't want to have a partner, she didn't want to work solving murders, but – somehow – Booth managed to change it all. He showed her that the world was, in fact, a good place. That she was cherished, loved and – on top of it all – very important for all of them. He knew that she didn't mean to say the things she said. That she didn't mean to say she didn't want kids, because, deep inside, she knew she wanted. The problem, among all those excuses, was that she was afraid to do it. She was afraid to have a family, because she passed through a lot since her own family fell apart. She was afraid to commit to someone, because every man she had ever met, disappointed her. First, Peter, who only wanted her for booty calls in the middle of the night, then, Sully, who actually invited her to come with him, who actually named his boat after her, but – also – a man who didn't love her and was only interested on those late nights they had for a couple of weeks.

However, her idea of love changed when she finally get to know Booth. All men she has ever been involved to, always managed to leave her alone. First her father, then her brother, then Peter, Sully… Ergo, she thought that committing to Booth would end up in the same way.

It took her around seven years and a death to make her realize that not all men were like those she had met before. It took her seven years and a real partner, a real man, to make her realize love could actually be something rational and essential for all human beings. But, again, it took her someone really clever and patient to actually be able to show her that feelings do exist and that opposites do attract in life, not only in chemistry.

And, right now, now that she was feeling that hand holding hers, telling her that he was in fact that to help her through it, she was able to say Booth was right and she was wrong. She was able to say that loving someone will never be something completely rational, but will always be true. That you can actually love someone and feel your whole world vibrating with theirs, because in all the three dimensions. you both share the same wave length, the same frequency, and physics can not prove you wrong, because love do break all those laws, specially when you have two bodies, in motion, occupying the same space, at the same time.

She, then, opened her eyes and stared at those giant dark eyes of his. Those eyes she was always staring at after a hard day at work or even after a fully night of love. He was there, as she promised he would be, holding her hand, telling her she should get ready, because their daughter wanted to come out, wanted to meet her.

"You made it." – she whispered. Brennan was with a husky voice and Booth knew the real reason behind it all.

"You cried."

"What?"

"You cried because of me. You know how much I hate when it happens."

"I didn't. I did cry, but it was because I was in pain."

"No. Your husky voice, well, you only get it when you cry for real… Bones, I'm sorry for making you pass through it. I could have told you before, but I thought it wasn't serious." – he put his left hand on her cheek and dried a teardrop that was attempting to stream down her face.

Brennan held his hand, very tightly, another contraction, but this time it was different.

"Booth, I can't."

"Of course you can. I'm here, ok. I'm holding your hand, I'm helping you breathe. I bet this is easier than solving all those cases you solve. All you have to do is push."

Brennan's doctor got in the room. It was definitely time to push. They rolled Brennan on her back, Booth decided to sit right behind her, so he'd be able to hold her legs while she was pushing.

He was there, right beside her, as always, as she always did when he most needed her.

"Ok, Temperance, you're gonna push on three, ok? On three, not after three."

Another contraction reached her. She knew it was time to push, she knew Sarah was pushing her pubic symphysisto open a way out. She knew it would hurt, but it would also be the worthiest pain she would ever feel.

Booth pulled her legs closer to her shoulders and, when the doctor reached the number "three", Brennan gave her first push.

"I can see the head. She has brown hair."

Angela was all alone in the waiting room. She has been there for a while now, then, suddenly, the elevator's door opened and Cam came out of it, pale, breathless, tired…

"Angela, where is Booth? I went to his room and it was a mess. All the wires were pulled off, his bed was undone… Is he de…"

"Whoa! Wait, wait. Don't finish this… He's fine. He is here, actually."

Cam put her hands over her chest, took a deep breath and sit down on the couch.

"Thank God! How come he is here?"

"Well, I don't actually know. He had the surgery, they took it all out and he convinced his nurse to bring him up here. He told her about a promise he made Brennan promise…"

"He made her promise he wouldn't miss the birth?"

"How do you know?"

"Well, I've known Booth for long enough, so… Anyways, is he ok? Will he need treatment after this?"

"He is fine. And, no, he is not gonna need any kind of treatment after this. I don't know much, but his nurse told me it wasn't malignant. But, what about you? You look tired… Are you ok?"

"I'm fine now. I spent the night with Paul, so I'm sort of sleep deprived. Actually, I was going to be here sooner, but Paul called me late yesterday, telling me he was going to have some free time and I had to take his call. I know how this works; I'm a doctor too…"

"Oh. You two seem to be so in love. You must be really happy, Cam. I'm happy for you."

"Well, thank you. Indeed, we are. But…"

"But?"

"Well, I don't know… I want to take it to another level, you know? I believe it's time for me to start thinking about settling down."

"Thinking about starting your own family?"

"I've been thinking about this, yes. But I'm not sure if I can actually do it. I wanna be a part of Paul's life, that's true, but… Having a child, that's a big step. I already have Michelle…"

"Well, it's not the same. I know you love her, but having your own child, someone you'll raise and love, that's totally different."

"I managed to take care of Michelle, not only now. I think I could do it and I know I'd love to do it, but I feel I'm not ready yet."

"Cam, listen, you're more than just ready. I mean, you're taking care of a teenager, what could be more complicated than that? Besides, when you are with Michael, I can see how much he loves it. You should give it a try, it's not gonna kill you."

"Yeah, I should consider this… But, firstly, Paul has to make the first move. He has to take us to another level. I'm not gonna do this… I'm might be old fashioned, but it's who I am."

For the second time in that morning, the elevator's door opened. Parker came running to Angela, knowing she would tell him everything that was happening. The only thing that Parker knew was that Brennan was in labor and that his sister was about to be born.

Angela stood up, Parker came to hug her, running, afraid. Max and Pops were coming right behind him, both frightened and happy at the same time.

Booth had called them while going upstairs to meet Brennan. He didn't tell them why she got into labor 2 weeks before her actual due day, he didn't tell them that he had had a major surgery, but that he was fine. They'd find it out anyways.

"What happened to Bones? Is she ok? Is my sister ok?"

Angela took Parker's hand, driving him to the closest couch. They sat down, Parker us staring at Angela, waiting for a plausible answer, waiting for the truth.

"Well, they're fine. Brennan is pushing right now, so Sarah might come at anytime. Your father is there, helping her."

"Why wasn't he with her when it happened?"

"Parker… Remember when your father had a brain surgery? Back in 2009?"

"Yes, he had a tumor…"

"Well, two days ago your father had a seizure. Brennan brought him to this hospital and they told her his tumor was back."

"Is he ok?" – Parker's eyes were starting to get weepy.

"Yes, he is fine. They took it out, Parker. Your father is gonna be ok…"

"So, that's why Bones got into labor earlier, isn't it?"

"Probably… But, the thing is, they are both fine. Your sister is ready to come to this world, Parker. You don't have to worry, ok?"

Cam was there, sitting in front of them, admiring that moment. She was certain now, it was her time. She was ready to commit, she was ready to write another chapter in her family's book. She was ready…

It would be the last push. Her pain would be healed, her daughter would be in her arms and Booth was there, to help her catch Sarah.

"Ok, Temperance, I want you to push when you reach another contraction, ok? It's gonna be your last push, I promise."

Brennan placed her head on Booth's chest. She knew she'd have another contraction in about one minute and all she wanted was to lay her head on his shoulder, feel his smell, listen to his heart beating before having to do what she was about to. Booth put his left hand in Brennan's forehead, trying to dry all those drops of sweat. She, then, raised her head; her nose's curvature reached his chin. They were sharing a moment, their moment.

She, suddenly, held his right hand. Booth knew that it was a sign of another contraction, so he helped Brennan by pulling her hands closer to her shoulders. She pushed, pushed as she has never pushed before.

A moment of silence was followed by the first sign of a new life reaching the Earth. Brennan backed down, let the weight of her back hit on Booth's chest. She sighed right after Sarah cried for the first time. Tears of joy were streaming down Brennan's and Booth's face. It was their day and their day only.

Booth kissed Brennan's neck while trying to get off bed to cut the cord.

"Do you wanna cut the cord, Booth?"

"Of course." – he took the scissor and the doctor pointed him where to cut it.

From that moment on, Booth had cut the only thing that was still letting Sarah tangled to them. He knew, that from that moment on, Brennan and he would have to be Sarah's cord. They'd have to feed her, keep her hydrated, warm, happy and, especially, they'd have to protect her from everything, from people, from monsters, from illnesses, from sadness. They'd have to love her and she would love them back. They were a family, her family, a brand new one.

"She has your eyes." – said Booth, while handing Sarah to Brennan for the first time.

"How many times will I have to tell you that all babies are born with blue eyes?" – she kissed Sarah's forehead without caring about all the blood and baby slime she still had all over her body.

"Well, she has your eyes for now, then. Is it better?"

"Do you wanna take her to the waiting room? I bet Parker is already there with my dad and Pops."

"Well, I'll let them clean her up first, then I'll go out there to show "Sarah Joy Booth" to the world."

"Since when her name is "Sarah Joy Booth"?"

"Since the moment she brought the joy back to us, Bones. If it wasn't for her, I don't know if we'd have gotten to where we are. I mean, not that fast… Look at us. Who'd have pictured this? A family, a house, a daughter, you and me, together… And, I believe that she was the reason of why I was able to come back from the anesthesia so fast… Because I knew something was wrong, I knew this would affect you. She is the baby you've been dreaming about since 2009, Bones. Our baby, our little girl. I mean, Bones, my life is complete… I have your eyes on a little me and she will be ours forever."

There they were, sitting on a hospital bed, waiting for Sarah to be ready to meet the world, her family, her friends, her brother.

Booth was feeling strong enough to stand on his own two feet. He took Sarah in his arms and walked her to the waiting room.

Parker was relived when he saw both his dad and sister were fine. He came closer to meet her and Booth knelt to the ground to show Sarah to Parker.

"Meet your sister, Sarah Joy Booth."

Parker kissed her on the cheek while she was trying to open her eyes for the second time that day.

Angela sneaked out. She knew it was exactly what Brennan had done when Michael was born, therefore she wanted to do the same.

"Hey." – Angela whispered while sneaking in.

"Hey!".

"How are you feeling?"

"It felt like a dream, just like you told me it would be."

"She's wonderful, Bren."

"She is, isn't she?"

"You two know how to make babies."

Their house wasn't ready, nothing worked as planned, but – most importantly – they were with their daughter in their arms. She was cute, healthy, beautiful. She was Sarah, their Sarah, their joy. Brennan wasn't able to point out a moment as happy as the one she was having in that exact moment. Booth was fine, she was fine, Sarah was fine, they were together, as a family and they'd stick like this for their 40s, 50s, 60s and 100s years.

*Adapted from Shonda Rhimes/Grey's Anatomy graduation speech.