Third week of November (Moving Day)

There was a knock at the door and begrudgingly, Brennan climbed out of her bed to answer it. When she did, the person standing on the other side of the door was in uniform. Her heart began to pound, thinking her husband had finally come home. She smiled and said, "Hello."

The man looked up, but it wasn't Booth. The man was a chaplain and she soon realized what that meant.

"Dr. Brennan?"

"No…where's Booth?"

"I'm sorry, ma'am, but-ˮ

There was a knock at the door and thankfully, Angela got up to get it. She was sweating and was having problems getting her breathing under control. Angela looked back over her shoulder, worried but opened the door. Jack was standing on the other side and greeted Angela in a way that made her miss Booth even more.

"Hey, Bren! Oh…you alright? You don't look so good."

"Sweetie, if you're going to get sick, you should get into the bathroom. No one is going to want to step over a puddle of vomit while we move."

Brennan just shook her head. "I'm…I'm fine. I'm just going to get ready," she said, getting up and heading to the shower.

Under the calming flow of the water, Brennan finally let go. She had had nightmares like that before, but for some reason, that one just got to her. She was sobbing, her tears being washed away by the water pouring over her.

"Bren? Are you okay?" Angela's voice came from right outside of the bathroom.

She stopped crying and shook off any remaining feeling of self-pity she felt. "Yeah," Brennan called, "I'm fine. I'll be out in a minute if you want to shower."

"Take your time, sweetie."

She stepped out of the shower and dried herself off. That dreaded feeling of morning sickness came on and she worshiped the porcelain gods for just a while longer before stepping out of the bathroom.

"Damn, Bren. That's some nasty morning sickness," Jack commented. She simply nodded and went into the bare kitchen to make toast. Most of the apartment was packed, boxes stacked everywhere.

"Hey guys, I need to run down to the anthropology office on campus. Hank and Jared should be here in about an hour. Will you guys let them in if I'm not back yet?"

"Of course! What time are we getting the keys to your house?" Jack asked.

"About two. We could load up our cars with some boxes and Hank's going to rent a truck for the bigger things, we can probably get everything over there in one trip. Angela, what are you doing tomorrow?"

"Not much. I don't have anything planned. Why?"

"Want to go shopping? Booth and I definitely do not have enough furniture to fill the house plus I need to start looking at cribs and changing tables and other things for the nursery. Want to come with?"

"Asking me if I want to go shopping is like asking me if I need to breathe. Of course I want to go shopping!"

Brennan smiled at her friend. "Okay. I'll be back soon," she said, grabbing her bag full of textbooks and papers and ran out the door.

"Is she going to be okay? I mean, you coming here early and leaving me in Evanston was bad enough. I can't imagine being as far away from you as Booth is from her. And for so long. I feel so bad for them," Jack lamented.

"Yeah, sweetie, I know. We just need to be there for her. She just needs her family around."

Jack looked confused. "Her parents are gone. Her brother won't come back. Booth is her family."

"She has us. Me and you. And she has Hank and Jared. Don't forget about the baby, either. She just needs us around. She needs us to keep her company and keep her mind off of what Booth is going through. She'll be fine. I just don't know if it'll be easier or harder once the baby comes," Angela said.


"Dr. Kent, do you have a minute?"

"Temperance! Of course, come in please. How are you doing? Getting ready for our African safari?"

She had arrived to the Anthropology building in record time that day, heading straight to Kent's office rather than her own. She stepped in and took a seat across from him at his desk.

"That is actually what I wanted to talk to you about. I'm not sure if I should be going anymore. I'm afraid I'm going to have to put my dissertation on hold for a while."

He was confused. Dr. Temperance Brennan was not one to put her education off to the side and she didn't let anyone forget that. "Can I ask why?"

"I'm expecting. I'm due July twelfth and I'm not sure if I should be making the trek down to Africa. I've done enough research and talking with my doctor to know that I would be safe, health-wise but…safety as in security from the armies there. It's a war torn country and…"

Dr. Kent smiled. "You're worried about the safety of your child."

She nodded and looked away. "I don't want to quit my research for this dissertation, but I just don't see how I can continue without going on digs."

"Well, we modified your thesis the last time you needed to leave the dig early. I'm heading up this dig again so here's what we're going to do. Your thesis is for cultural anthropology, correct?"

"Yes. I'm looking at how mass graves from civil unrest shape the culture of the society."

He nodded in understanding. "I'm sure you could participate in the dig by using video feed we'll have set up. We can converse a few times a week and you can look over the findings that could help your thesis. Does that sound reasonable? That way, you can continue to work on your thesis and stay in the states."

She smiled at him. "Thank you, doctor. Thank you for being so understanding. I really appreciate it. My husband wasn't thrilled with the idea of me going to Africa."

Dr. Kent chuckled. "Well, tell him not to worry. We'll keep you and the little guy or gal safe."


Brennan checked her watch as she took step after step up to her apartment for the last time. It was pushing noon and she wanted to get something to eat before they started to move. She approached the door and she could hear Hank and Jared laughing at something Angela said.

"Hi, Hank. Hey, Jared, lookin' good without the cast," Brennan said as she walked in.

"Hey there, Bren!" Hank stood up and clapped his hands once, gesturing for her to give him a hug. She dropped her bag quickly and walked swiftly to Booth's grandfather, giving him a long, tight hug.

"How's my great-granddaughter doing? You know, Shrimp is convinced it's a girl," Hank told her.

Brennan rolled her eyes and smiled. "I know. I wouldn't be surprised if he was already picking out names."

"Oh, he is," Jared said, standing to give his sister-in-law a hug.

"He is? What are they?" Brennan asked.

Jared laughed and shook his head, "Sorry, sis. Seel said he'd kill me if I told you. He wants to tell you."

Brennan groaned. "I guess I'll have to start thinking of some names too."

"Alright! Let's get this show on the road! Come on, Bren, I'll come with you to get the keys and we can meet everyone else at the house," Angela said. Brennan looked around and realized everything had been moved out apart from the kitchen chairs they had been sitting on.


"Oh. My god! Bren! This house is gorgeous!" Angela said as they pulled up to Brennan and Booth's new house. It was in the Georgetown neighborhood, where the sidewalks led right up to the front steps and the house was sandwiched between the two next door.

The two women got out of the car and Brennan walked up to the front door. She turned around to face Angela and her friend snapped a quick picture.

"What are you doing? I thought last time we used your camera was just for Booth. I don't need random photos scattered around my house. Moving is a messy job anyway."

"Whoa, Bren, take a chill pill. I was going to send this to Booth. I wanna send him a letter anyway so we can start our planning for the nursery. The moment we find out if the baby is a boy or girl, I'm buying the appropriate color of paint and you will not be allowed in the nursery until the baby comes. That is, unless you change your mind about wanting to know the gender…" Angela said.

"I think its cool Bren wants to kick it old school," Jared said as he and Hank approached the house, boxes in their arms.

"Alright, you ninnies, let's get these boxes in the house before my back gives out," Hank shouted.


Hours later, late into the night, everyone had unpacked each box and put everything in its place, all while exploring the house and taking dozens of random pictures to send Booth.

"I guess we're going shopping tomorrow, Ange. We never did go," Brennan said, putting the toaster in one of the cabinets.

Angela laughed a little and said, "Yeah, this house is awesome, Bren. We are going to decorate it and make it perfect for when your hubby comes home."

"Just a little at a time, though. Our cars are little and I'm on a budget. Doing one at a time would make the most sense," Brennan told her.

"Yeah, that's fine. Where should we start? I mean, you have a decent living room set and practically everything for the kitchen. So what first? Office, nursery, your room, or the in-laws suite?"

"In-laws suite?"

"Sweetie, did you not see the second kitchen and entire other master suite right off the kitchen? It even has it's own front door."

Brennan gave it a thought. "Oh," she said, still thinking it over, "I just thought it was a continuation of the kitchen in here."

Angela smiled and shook her head. "So what's first for decorating?"

"Well, I have enough for an adequate office and bedroom for Booth and I so the next logical thing would be to decorate the nursery. Wouldn't you think so? What are you grinning at?"

"We are going to have so much fun shopping for your little guy!"

"Or girl!" Brennan protested. "God, why is everyone so convinced they know the gender?"


A/N: I know this is kind of filler-ish but I'm just planning on covering all of the major points until Booth comes home. And I apologize there isn't any Booth is this chapter. More than likely, he'll be in the next chapter. Let me know what you think! :)