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Hannah watched worriedly as her friend swept past her in a teary mess. She had just seen the last of Seeley and Temperance's conversation through his office blinds and, although she could not hear what had been said, Hannah knew that whatever was – it had been upsetting for the both of them.
"What's wrong with Temperance, Seeley? She was so distressed she didn't even see me."
Booth ran a hand uneasily over the back of his neck, clearly troubled, "Ah, she's hurt. She's upset that I told you about her feelings. I don't know, dammit!" he struck his chair in frustration, "I think I've really made a mess of it."
Hannah soothed, "She'll calm down, Seeley. Maybe it's for the best anyway. Perhaps you both need a break from each other… give her some time to move on properly."
Booth's gut dropped at the thought, "Yeah, I don't know if that's such a good idea Hannah." More to himself he mused, "We're the centre… we've gotta hold."
…
Despite Booth's objection, the decision was made for him when Brennan arranged with Cullen to have a temporary reprieve from her duties as a liaison for the FBI under the guise of completing her latest novel by her editor's deadline.
It had been almost a month since Brennan had fled his office and Booth had been eaten up with guilt. He knew through Hannah, who'd had lunch with Brennan a couple of times that she appeared well on the outside but it did nothing to ease his concern.
And so, on a particularly quiet Friday mid -morning, Booth tentatively entered his partner's office to find her, laptop in hand, on the sofa with headphones in her ears. Completely engrossed, Brennan didn't notice her visitor until he was right behind her peeking over her shoulder, "What are ya reading, Bones? Is that some sort of a dating website?"
Brennan yelped with fright, slammed the laptop shut and pulled the music out of her ears, "Booth! What are you doing here?"
He circled the sofa and sat beside her sheepishly, "I Ahh, I came to apologise Bones… I'm… I'm sorry for the whole egg thing, ya know… I've been missing you and I… I want my partner back."
Brennan smiled faintly, a blush dusting her cheeks, "Well, I just sent off my final draft to my editor so that means I am ready to resume my duties with the FBI…" feeling the need to excuse herself, she stumbled through an explanation, "…I had a deadline that I was required to meet… but now that that has been met… well, I am available now… to continue… working with you… as your partner. That is, if you are still amenable to the idea."
Relief flooded his body and he smiled fully for the first time in a month, "Of course! That's great, Bones, that's really great. Must be some book, huh?"
"Yes, my editor anticipates that it will be my highest grossing novel yet."
He smiled proudly for a moment or two then tapped her laptop with his knuckles, "So, you're looking at online dating, huh? Make sure you run 'em by me first and I'll do background checks okay? I don't want you dating anymore cult recruiters or axe murderers, Bones, it's risky business that is."
She rolled her eyes and opened her computer, "I'm not looking at dating, Booth. I'm perusing prospective sperm donors… I'm ready for a loving, meaningful, mutually beneficial relationship and I believe that a child will fulfil that role."
Booth's eyebrows shot up, "A kid? Are you sure, Bones? I think you need to think about it a little more…"
Brennan smiled sadly, "I'm… I'm lonely, Booth. I haven't stopped wanting a child since we discussed it last and I… I honestly can't see myself being with anyone other than you so I doubt it will ever happen unless I take matters into my own hands. I'm ready for attachment, Booth. This is my way of fulfilling that."
Booth sighed and nodded resignedly, "Ah, Bones… under any other circumstances you know I'd offer to, you know, but…"
She waved him off, "No, no, of course Booth, I know. I know. And you and Hannah - you'll have beautiful babies together. They'll be just… perfect."
They sat in silence for a bit before he chuckled, nudging her affectionately with his shoulder, "God, Bones, just imagine… if I didn't end up getting the brain tumour… we'd probably be running after a little toddler right now! Can you imagine? A little baby Bones!" he paused then added wistfully, "God she would have been so… beautiful."
Brennan sniffed and nodded as a fat tear rolled down her face, "Yeah… hmm."
Pulling her into a hug, Booth's heart broke a little, "Aw, Bones. God, I wish things were different."
…
About to walk through the door to Brennan's office for an impromptu lunch, Hannah held back and listened to the couple on the couch. She discovered their secrets… of brain tumors, baby desires and shared dreams. It was then that she realised that Seeley and Temperance had something special… something that she'd never share with him nor him with her.
It hurt, but Hannah was no consolation prize and she knew when it was time to step aside.
So she did.
Booth went home that night to an empty house.
Yet in the months that followed, through serial killers, rogue snipers and the death of an intern, a future full of potential opened up to Booth in the unexpected form of a single sperm meeting an EGG in the FACE of tragedy.
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You see what I did there?
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