Thank you. Thank you . Thank you.

It's all I can say, really. Thank you for reading, thank you for reviewing, especially people who actually review on every single chapter – you're my heroes!!! Glad you liked the way I had them talk it out!

So, here we go, the next chapter is ready.

Coming home…

Chapter 15

I woke up to the sound of suppressed, but still audible laughter. I blinked, wondering who would be laughing in my bedroom. And it almost sounded like…. Quickly, I turned. Or at least, I tried to, once again – in the haziness of waking up – forgetting about my big pregnant belly. What was supposed to be a quick flip ended as an ungracious move with my feet tangled up in the comforter. I grunted in discomfort, but when I looked up at the man who was sitting in the bed beside me, I forgot about everything else.

"Booth." I whispered and he smiled down at me. "Hey sleepy head." He replied gently and I had to clench my teeth tightly to contain the – embarrassing – tears that were threatening to gather in my eyes again. "What's wrong, Temperance?" Booth asked me, of course noticing that I was trying to fight some kind of emotion. "It's just… you're here. I…" I took in a deep breath. "… I'm not dreaming?"

"No." He said, leant down and covered my mouth with his, kissing me gently. "But maybe I am." Booth said after he had pulled back and I shook my head. "No, you're not." We grinned stupidly at each other for a while, neither of us saying a word.

"Why were you laughing?" I asked, remembering what had woken me.

"I'm reading your journal." Booth answered. "And it makes you LAUGH?" My eyes widened and I felt a little affronted. Hours and hours of writing down my feelings – and it had been very hard for me to analyse myself - and he was laughing?

"It made my cry too." Booth answered and covered my stomach with one of his big hands. "What you wrote in here, how you describe everything. It's… a wonderful gift, Bones. I'm so glad you did this." He gave me a smile that made me feel warm from head to toe. "I was laughing at Angela dressing down Cullen. Only she could get away with something like that." I had to smile, remembering the various occasions when Angela had yelled at Cullen.

"Which time?" I asked, stifling a yawn and trying to sit up. Booth helped me, stuffed a pillow behind my back. "Thank you." I said and he just smiled at me again. The situation felt somehow unreal to me. I was happy he was here with me, I was glad the father of my child had come home safely… but it still felt as if it could just … turn out to be a dream any minute.

"What do you mean which time?" Booth asked, frowning a little.

"Angela went with me to see Cullen… at least three times. And ended up yelling at him every time." I answered and had to chuckle as I watched his eyes widen in shock. "Don't worry, Cullen seems to like her, despite all that."

"Thank God for that." Booth commented and then his gaze settled on my stomach.

"Thank God for that." He repeated, but his tone had changed, was gentle now and still full of wonder. A few moments ago he had just reached out and covered my abdomen with his hand without thinking. Now he gazed at me, questioningly. "You don't have to ask." I said, biting my bottom lip. "It's… still awkward, isn't it?" I whispered after he had overcome his hesitance and his hands were on my belly.

"Yeah… " Booth answered slowly. "You know… I had all these fantasies of how we would meet again. None of them …" His voice trailed off as he stared down at my abdomen.

"You didn't exactly dream of this." I sighed and closed my eyes. "I understand."

"No… Bones. You don't understand." Suddenly I felt one hand move away from my stomach. He cupped my cheek with it, the feeling of his warm, rough palm against my skin oddly comforting. "None of these fantasies was quite so perfect. I dreamed of you and me having a family. Minus me going away for half a year, though. I always wanted this with you… but you were the one talking about NOT ever having children. And I wasn't even sure you want to… be with me, Temperance. So, I thought it would just always stay exactly that: a dream."

I blinked back tears, once again amazed – and a little annoyed – at how easily I was driven to cry these days. On the other hand, what Booth just had said to me was beautiful and full of emotion… certainly the most touching words anybody had ever said to me.

"I want to be with you." I whispered. "And… I didn't actually plan to have a baby… but when I found out…. I just couldn't …" I frowned a little. A few months back I had thought about abortion… for a short time only, but I had considered the possibility. The easy way out. Now I didn't even want to say the word. My hands moved – as if on their own volition – to my belly, covering it protectively, brushing against Booth's hand.

"I read it." Booth whispered. "You wrote it all down. All your doubts and how you made your decision. I'm so glad you didn't give up on this. On us." He gazed at me and I saw sincerity in his brown eyes.

"Aren't you… you know…. I mean in three months we're going to have a baby." I swallowed hard. "I can't even really believe it myself and I had months to get used to the thought. You only had… what? Three hours?" I glanced at the alarm clock beside my bed. I had been asleep for about two and a half hours.

"I'm overwhelmed. I'm excited and … I won't lie to you, Bones, I'm also a little afraid. But… I've never been more positively shocked in my life. It's… amazing. Yeah, that's it… I'm amazed." He gave me an intense look. "I will need time to get fully used to this. But it's way easier to get accustomed to a dream come true than anything else." Then he suddenly moved closer and kissed me… deeper than before, hungrily. "I love you." He whispered against my lips. "I always wanted you in my life."

"How long?" I asked, my curiosity taking over.

He touched his forehead to mine. "I don't know. A long time, Bones. I don't remember how it was before anymore." A soft kiss to my lips followed this statement.

"Why did you… never…" I stopped because I knew the answer myself. Cullen's shocked and angry reaction at Booth being 'unprofessional'.

Booth's next words surprised my however. "I didn't know how you'd react. I feared you would just… run away from me or rationalise this. I thought I'd give you time and… see what happens."

I blinked slowly. "How long would you have waited?" I asked, amazed by what he had told me.

"I don't know. I'm glad I don't have to think about it anymore. The night I had to say good bye to you… I couldn't just leave without letting you know how much you meant to me. Just… in case." He answered seriously, his eyes darkening for a moment. "You know, I came to your apartment and all I wanted to do was to tell you that I love you. Instead I jumped you like an animal."

I had to smile, my body temperature rising as I remembered how we had spent that night. "We were both there, Booth. I don't regret anything. Except, that when you left, I was too… afraid and surprised to tell you what you mean to me. That's all I regret." I had barely finished the sentence, as his mouth covered mine. He kissed me both tenderly and passionate, a mixture of feelings only he was able to convey with a kiss. Warmth spread through me… warmth that was going to turn into heat soon, if he kept on kissing me like that.

"Ow." I made as the baby kicked.

"Hm?" Booth made and pulled back. "Did I hurt you?" The concern on his face was obvious.

I shook my head. "The baby kicked." I explained and a soft smile spread on his face as he looked at my stomach.

"Not used to sharing your mother, hm?" He murmured. Then he slid down and slowly and carefully tugged up the hem of my shirt. He did not ask for permission, not with words, not with his eyes. I had no objections to it… and though it might not be rational, my heart actually jumped at his action. This was how it was supposed to be between us, I thought. No awkwardness, no asking for permission. It was his child growing in me and I had been hungering for his contact for months.

He crouched in front of me, gazing at my midsection and then slowly, very slowly he leant forward and gently kissed my rounded belly. "I'm here now, baby. You'll have to get used to sharing your Mum because I plan to stay." He looked up into my eyes then and I saw the raw emotion in his…. wonder and love. "Can it actually hear me?" He asked, his voice hoarse

"Yes... voices, music… it can sense sound already, but of course it doesn't make any sense to the unborn baby. Though… It sounds stupid, but I think the baby likes Foreigner." I had to smile as he gave me a stunned look. "Foreigner?" He repeated.

"Yeah." I nodded. "I've been listening to the CD quite often. It reminds me of you."

Booth just looked at me for a very long time, then he laughed. "God. Who would have thought. You always tried to explain everything with science and in reality, you're sentimental and romantic."

His words surprised me… and I was not quite sure if it had been a compliment or not. Was being sentimental good?

"Don't look at me like that." He grinned. "I think it's great, Bones. I'm glad you don't hide behind science but tell me what you really feel." Then his gaze slid to my stomach again.

"Guess I should be talking to our baby frequently… you know… to make sure it's getting used to my voice."

"I doubt it makes a difference if you talk to me or to the child, Booth. It might be able to hear sound, even get used to the timbre of your voice, but it doesn't actually know what you're talking about." I threw in and he chuckled. "I know, Bones. And I guess… we do have a lot to talk about."

"Yes… yes we have a lot to talk about." I nodded. "But for now, it can wait, right? Because I'm… really hungry." I was almost ashamed to admit to something so mundane when we had important things to discuss. But I was really hungry and the baby tended to get restless when I didn't eat regularly.

"Well, then I better make sure you get something to eat, right? Can't have you two starving. What should I get you?" Booth asked eagerly and I closed my eyes and considered the possibilities for a moment. "There's lasagne in my fridge, I think. Yes… lasagne…" I nodded, my mouth watering at the mere thought.

He laughed at my face. "God, you've got a dreamy look on your face." He kissed me quickly "I'm glad I'm here now. I'm glad I can take care of you now. I'll just go heat up that lasagne, okay?"

"Don't make it too hot. It tastes better when it's only lukewarm." I informed him and he grinned. "Can't argue with that. I love you, Bones. God, I can't tell you how much." He kissed my forehead and left the room, but he paused in the doorway, looking back at me and my still bared belly. The look he gave me was full of … love.

It took my breath away... as impossible as it sounds.

Soooo, hope you liked this chapter. Enough of the fluff-stuff? Reviews would be GREAT!