Assuming Brennan went to college right after high school at age 18 she would finish with a bachelors degree after four years at age 22, and then 2 to 3 years more to get a masters, age 24/25 and depending on how many years it took her to write her dissertation up to five more years to earn her doctorate, she would be about 28/29/30 when all her schooling is done unless she finished early. In season 4 she is 33 years old. For the purposes of this story I am going on the assumption that she finished a little early and earned her Doctorate at age 28, and her friend asked her to donate when she was 29.

Disclaimer: I don't own Bones.

Title: Home

Author: ReadingRed

Chapter Two: Losing Her

Booth and Brennan had just put Parker to bed for the night. After his breakdown earlier in the day the boy was tired and went to sleep without a fuss.

"Bones we still have to talk about what you were telling me earlier. You never told me what your answer was." They were both in the hallway outside of Parkers room. Booth had his hand on her shoulder trying to be supportive. She nodded.

"Not here though, let's talk in the living room." Booth followed her and they both sat on the sofa. Her took her hand in his and waited for her to begin to speak.

"When they asked me to donate, it really wasn't a big deal. At the time I was not planning on ever having a child myself and yet I did not want my family tree to end with me. It seemed like the perfect solution. I would give my egg to someone else thus continuing my family line, and a friend of mine would get what they wanted, a baby."

She looked at Booth to try and gauge his reaction to this news. He was calm, like he understood. Bones then started talking again.

"Grace and her husband John both said that I would be able to see the child as often or as little as I'd like. They said that they would leave it up to me if I wanted to play any part in the baby's life. I did not want to have my own baby and yet I could not imagine never seeing this child. I knew that I had to be able to see the baby at least a few times or I would spend my life wondering what it looked like or if he or she enjoyed science like I do. Everything went well, I donated and nine months later they had a baby."

"They named her Harper Joy, she was a beautiful baby. I saw her about once a month. I would go to their house and spend time with her or take her to mueseums, I was acting more like a aunt than anything else. If I had payed attention I would've notice Grace and I drifting apart. We were both focusing more on other things and our friendship was just left to the way side. Maybe if I had been a better friend to her she would not have done what she did."

"Anyway, I was splitting my time between work, study, and Harper and when Harper was two Grace asked me if I would consider donating again so Harper could have a younger sibling. At the time I thought everything went so well the first time so I didn't hesitate. I said yes. I donated and everything was ok until Grace was about five months along. I was visiting them at their home one day and playing with Harper. She called me 'mommy' Grace heard and got very mad. Harper wasn't very old, and I know now that children that age often call other adults 'mommy' or 'daddy' but at the time I didn't so I was just as shocked as Grace. She rushed over, picked Harper up and told me to get out. She said that I could never see Harper again, that she didn't want me anywhere near her baby. I didn't have a choice, I left and I haven't seen any of them since. Losing her, it broke my heart but I had no say in the matter, legally I have no rights to either child. I don't even know if the second baby was a boy or a girl."

At this last omission Brennan started to cry. Booth pulled her to him and cradled her in his arms. He could not imagine having a child, let alone two, that he never got to see, even when Parker was little and living with his biological mother he was able to see the boy once or twice a week.

"Bones I am so sorry that this all happened to you. Don't blame yourself. I don't care how smart you are, you can't see the future. You couldn't have stopped her no matter how much time you devoted to your friendship. But what does it have to do with the papers you received?"

Bones looked up at Booth, tears in her eyes and she said "Grace and John, they died. Grace left both of the children to me in her will. I get to see the children." Bones was crying. A part of her had been hoping that Grace would change her mind and let her see the children. At first being around Parker made it so much worse. It seemed like every time Parker would do something her mind would flash to Harper and the baby and wonder if they liked doing the same sort of activities.

"Bones you don't just get to see them; you get them for keeps." Booth said wiping away the tears on her face.