Okay, so apparently just because you're on spring break doesn't mean you have all the time in the world to write up some new chapters as I had thought. But, I finally have it finished! And there's a major cliffie! :O But unfortunately for you all I will probably be taking a little bit of a break while Bones is back on, unless I have time out of nowhere. Don't worry though, I'll be back soon. You probably won't have to wait until Bones has finished out its 7th season before I'm back with new stuff either. Alright I'm going to stop rambling now so enjoy! :)
Roxie's funeral was a week and a half after her death and to Angela's surprise, the entire squint squad showed up bearing solemn looks and nervous actions. They had all touched her shoulder or hugged her tightly on their way out as if she was the one who had suffered the great loss. In reality, she saw Roxie's parents broken and torn apart just across from her and Hodgins and she knew that what she was feeling was nothing compared to what they were. They were unmoving, even after the service was complete and their daughter's body had finally been laid to rest. She hadn't really known them all that well, having only met them a few times during college when Roxie had invited her back to her house for Christmas or Thanksgiving dinner, but somehow she felt the need to express her condolences.
"Jack?"
"Hmmm?" he asked.
"You should take Michael to the car. I'll catch up with you in a bit."
He turned to look at her, slightly confused, "Where are you going Ange?"
She looked in the direction of Roxie's parents, having had pointed them out to him when they arrived, "Just something I have to do."
His face softened, "Okay, I understand." He kissed her cheek, "Love you."
She smiled, "Love you too Jack." Then she waited, watching her husband and son head back to the car before making her way over to Roxie's parents. She approached them nervously, careful not to startle them. But they didn't seem to notice her, too busy staring off in the direction of their departed daughter.
"Excuse me," she said, gently trying to get their attention. Sure enough they turned to look at her, momentary surprise on their faces. "Sorry to disturb you Mr. and Mrs. Lyons. My name is Angela Hodgins, but you might remember me as Angela Montenegro."
Mrs. Lyons' face lit up, "Oh my goodness! Yes, Angela it is so good to see you again. Tom, it's Roxie's girlfriend from college, don't you remember?"
"Ahh yes. You broke our daughter's heart."
Mrs. Lyons elbowed her husband gently in the ribs, "Tom!"
Angela smiled slightly, "It's okay. It's true. I was a wild spirit back then, but I've done a lot of growing up since then."
"Of course, dear. So what brings you here?"
"Well Roxie came to visit me and my husband last month and my team is the one working to solve her murder. So, I thought it was only right that I come say goodbye."
"I hope you catch the bastard who did this to our Roxie then," Mr. Lyons said.
"Don't worry Mr. Lyons; my team is the best in the business. We'll get her justice."
"Please call us Linda and Tom," Mrs. Lyons told her, setting a hand on her shoulder.
"Right. Well Linda, Tom, I am truly sorry for your loss. Roxie in no way deserved to be taken from her family this way. She had so much still to live for."
Mrs. Lyons had tears running down her cheeks now, "Thank you Angela. That means so much more then you'll ever understand."
Angela smiled, tears on her cheeks as well, "You're welc- OOOOOHH! AHHHH!" She cried out, bending over, her hands on her stomach.
"Oh my! Are you alright?" Mrs. Lyons asked.
"Yessss. Oooooh. Just-just a ahhhh Braxton- a Braxton Hicks contraction."
"Here sit down," Mrs. Lyons told her as she and her husband helped Angela over to one of the benches.
Angela took a few deep breaths and finally sat back. "Wow. I'm sorry about that."
"Oh no need to apologize dear. It's not something you can control."
"Are you sure you're alright?" Mr. Lyons asked, displaying the typical male behavior when encountering a pregnant woman.
Angela laughed, "Yes, thank you Tom, I'm fine." She shook her head, still laughing, "It's a good thing my husband isn't here. He would be totally flipping out right now."
Mrs. Lyons nodded, understanding. "Is this your first?" she asked, gesturing towards Angela's swollen stomach.
"No, we already have a son, Michael. He's four. My husband is just a little bit overprotective of me."
"Oh that's wonderful. I'm sure he's absolutely adorable," Mrs. Lyons replied, clearly reminiscing about when Roxie was that age.
"Yeah he is." She stopped, contemplating an idea. "Hey would you like to join us for dinner tonight?"
Mr. Lyons stepped in, answering for his stuck-in-the-past wife. "Oh we couldn't possibly impose on you."
"You wouldn't be imposing at all."
He sighed, "Thank you Angela really, but we actually need to catch our flight. It was really nice seeing you again though."
Angela knew that the real reason they didn't want to come to dinner was because of the grief more so than a flight. But, she understood that she couldn't push them. People needed to grieve properly before they could get on with their lives. "Of course. Again, I'm sorry for your loss."
Mrs. Lyons was back in reality now, "Yes, thank you Angela. You should come up and see us whenever you're in the area. We'd love to meet your husband and son."
"If we're ever in the area, we'll make sure to look you up."
Mrs. Lyons smiled, "Okay dearie. We must be off. Good luck with the remainder of your pregnancy."
"Goodbye! Have a safe flight!" She watched their retreating forms heading off into the sunset, hoping that she had said something right. She sighed and looked down at her protruding stomach. "Way to make your presence known kid," she told her unborn child, laughing, a smile on her face. Taking a moment to admire the way the setting sunlight hit the trees in the cemetery, she finally headed towards the parking lot to join her husband and son.
She approached the red Mini Cooper and heard Jack and Michael singing along to some Disney song or another. She smiled and got into the car.
"Hey babe. You ready to go?"
"Mhmm," she sighed, debating whether or not she should tell him about the Braxton Hicks. When she was pregnant with Michael she had promised to keep him in the loop, but she wasn't quite sure if that promise still applied. She knew if he somehow found out about it, knowing that she hadn't told him, he'd probably be upset. She sighed again. She would tell him, but not right then when clearly he was as relaxed as she'd seen him in awhile.
"Everything alright Angie?" he asked, taking note of the smile on her face as she ran through it all in her mind.
"Tell you later."
He looked worried for a second, but when he still saw the smile on her face, figured it was probably nothing. "Who wants ice cream?" he asked.
Michael's hand shot straight up in the air and he was practically bouncing up and down in his booster seat. "Me! Me! Oh me!"
"Did you hear anything Ange?" She shook her head, playing along with his game, "Oh I guess no one wants ice cream then."
"Daddy! Daddy, I want ice cream!"
Angela turned around to look at her son, laughing at the look of horror on his little face. "Daddy's just kidding Michael. We're definitely getting ice cream. Mommy needs some good ole mint chocolate chip."
Jack laughed. The only ice cream flavor she ever craved was mint chocolate chip. That was a probably a good thing, though. At least he didn't have to walk through the grocery store carrying a tub of carrot flavored ice cream or anything and get the weird looks from the rest of the shoppers.
Later
Jack and Angela were cuddling in bed, aimlessly watching a movie while simultaneously talking about each other's day.
"So what were you going to say earlier?" Jack asked.
She turned to look up at him, "Huh?"
"When we were in the car."
"Oh! Right. Ok don't freak out, but I had another Braxton Hicks contraction when I was talking to Roxie's parents." She braced herself for the breakdown anyways, knowing her husband extremely well.
"WHAT!" He sat up and stared at her, eyes wide and mouth open.
"So much for not freaking out," she muttered before sighing and sitting up as well. "Listen honey it was nothing okay? I'm fine, the baby's fine, everybody's fine."
He noticed her slightly annoyed look and mentally told himself to calm down. Angela was under enough stress as it was. She certainly didn't need him to be freaking out over a perfectly normal Braxton Hicks contraction. "Yeah, okay you're right. I'm sorry Ange. You know me, I worry too much."
She smiled, seeing him struggling to keep his worrying to himself. "And I love that you care so much." She reached out and caressed his cheek with her hand.
"Of course I do. You're the love of my life Angie."
"And you mine Jack." She leaned towards him and his lips met hers. Every time they kissed it was as if they were back in their perfect first date yet at the same time they were deeply in love. From the urgency in his kisses, she could tell he ached for her, but she knew that they both needed to get some sleep. Even though tomorrow was Saturday, the case hadn't been solved yet so they both had to go in. She pulled back regretfully and he sighed, feeling the same way she did.
"We need to get some sleep Jack."
He gave her that slight smile that just made her heart melt every time and quickly kissed her again. "I know. Love you Angie."
"I love you too Jack." She laughed as he leaned down to give her belly and the baby their customary goodnight kiss as well.
"Sweet dreams babe," he whispered in her ear, reaching over her to turn off the light and the television.
The next day
Angela walked into Brennan's office, hoping to do some catching up with her best friend, but to her surprise, Booth, not Brennan, was seated at the desk, swiveling around in the chair like a child.
"Booth, what are you doing here? And where's Brennan?"
He stopped spinning and almost looked embarrassed at having been caught even though everyone knew he could be extremely immature at times. "Uhh waiting for Brennan to come in? She took the kids to breakfast."
Angela set her file down on the desk and carefully lowered herself into the chair opposite Booth's. Booth raised his eyebrows but didn't say a word and she glared at him. "Why didn't you go with them?"
"We've got a suspect. I had to bring him in, but I have to wait for Brennan to interrogate him."
Angela laughed, "You're not even married and you're whipped g-man." She winked.
"Yeah yeah," he attempted to brush it off. "So where's Michael Ange? I swear it feels like I haven't seen that kid in years."
"Hey, I could say the same thing about Kevin and Karissa!" she teased. "He's in Jack's office, not so patiently waiting for Kev and Risa to get here."
Booth laughed, "They act like they don't ever see each other."
"I know. Wait until they're all in school together. Now that should be a fun time."
He groaned, "Why did you even have to mention that? I don't want them to ever grow up."
She giggled, "It's not so bad actually, but I'll probably be singing a different tune when Michael starts middle school or something."
"Right. So how's the pregnancy going? Hodgins said something about Braxton Hicks contractions?"
Angela sighed. Of course he had told Booth. In fact, he had probably shared that bit of information with the entire lab. Not that it was a big deal or anything though. "Yeah I've had a couple, but everything's going pretty smoothly. Only two months left."
Booth smiled at her excited face. He had experienced the long months of just waiting and knowing Angela, it was probably much worse for her. She was the least patient person he'd pretty much ever met. Before he could reply, his girlfriend walked in, a confused look on her face.
"Umm, Booth? Angela? Why are you here?"
"Sweetie!" Angela squealed, jumping to her feet with a bit of difficulty and wrapping her arms around her best friend.
"Ange," Brennan said, pulling back after a few moments and looking at Angela's ever-growing stomach, "Wow, you are getting quite large."
Booth shot her a panicked looked and Brennan looked back at Angela who frankly looked a little pissed, "In a normal way of course. You look absolutely radiant Ange."
"Don't lie to me Bren." Angela laughed, putting her hands on her stomach, "I look like I should be giving birth any day now. I can't even imagine how much bigger I'm going to get in the next two months."
Brennan looked at Booth, unsure what she should say. She wasn't sure if she'd actually hurt Angela's feelings or if she had just been playing around with her. He shrugged, but lucky for Brennan, Angela wasn't done talking.
"Where are Kev and Risa? I thought you said you were bringing them in today?"
"Oh I brought them to Hodgins' office to see Michael. I'm quite sure your son is giving them the tour of his fort."
"No way! He built a fort!" Booth's eyes lit up and both Brennan and Angela rolled their eyes at him, pointedly ignoring him.
"Oh god! Poor Jack," Angela laughed, imagining what her husband was going through with three four-year-olds running around in his office pretending to be kings and queens of the land.
"Are you going to go rescue him?" Brennan asked.
"Nahh, he'll survive. He needs to get used to dealing with more than one kid anyways." She turned to Booth who was still in shock over the fort information, "So hot shot, what do you have planned for Valentine's Day?"
He stuttered nervously, running his hand through his hair.
"Angela, we've discussed this. Valentine's Day is not a real holiday," Brennan said.
"It is when you're in a relationship," Angela muttered, audible only to Booth.
"Besides, it isn't for another two weeks anyways," Brennan continued.
Angela just nodded, content to let the subject drop, at least for the moment. She sighed, "I suppose I ought to go give my husband a hand. Lunch later Bren?"
"Of course. I'll meet you there Ange."
"Sounds good, see you guys!" She exited the office and headed towards Jack's.
"Hey babe. Where are the kids?" she asked, seeing Jack seated at his desk working on something with no children in sight.
He motioned her over, vacating his seat so she could get off her feet, before leaning down and whispering in her ear, "They're under the table over there. They think I can't hear them and that I don't know where they are."
"Oh is that so? Well I guess if Michael, Kev, and Risa aren't in here they can't possibly get a piece of candy," she raised her voice, well aware that that would do the trick.
"Aunt Angela! Aunt Angela! We're over here!" Risa yelled, struggling to climb out from under the table, her brother and Michael joining her.
"Can we have candy Mommy?" Michael asked, giving her a sweet smile.
"Hmmm I suppose, but first I need a hug from everyone."
Kevin and Karissa dutifully hugged their metaphoric aunt and Michael even added in a kiss to his mother's cheek for good measure. Angela gave them each a Reese's cup before eating one herself.
"What I don't get anything? I see how it is," Jack teased.
She smiled, "You don't like Reese's babe, but I can offer you a kiss." She leaned into him, pressing their bodies against his desk and kissed him sweetly, ignoring the 'ewww's from the kids.
"Mmmm, thanks babe," he said, his eyes closed, still breathing in the scent of her perfume. "Much better than chocolate."
She sat back down, a look of discomfort on her face.
"Braxton Hicks?" Hodgins asked, immediately going to her.
She shook her head, "No, just kicking."
"Are you okay Aunt Angela?" Kevin asked and Angela rolled her eyes. Apparently the typical overprotective male behavior towards a pregnant woman started at an early age.
"Yeah sweetie. The baby's just kicking a bit." She saw his look of awe, "Do you want to feel?"
"Can I?" he asked.
"Mhmm, come here," she beckoned him over.
"It's the coolest thing in the world Kev! There's actually a little person in there!" Michael loved feeling his little brother or sister move around and kick.
Kevin stood next to the sitting Angela and she took one of his little hands, gently setting it on her belly. She watched as his eyes lit up when the baby kicked right where his hand was.
"Whoa! That's awesome! Risa, you have to feel this!"
His sister came over and had her turn as well and the effect was the same again. Hodgins watched it all play out, chuckling to himself, remembering the very first time he had been able to feel Michael move around when Angela was pregnant with him. He had reacted in very much the same way as the twins, in complete awe.
"Hey Mommy?" Michael asked quietly, fiddling with his thumbs.
"Yes?"
"I left my walkie talkie in the car. Can me and Kev go get it please?"
"There's no way you and Kev are going to the parking garage by yourselves Mikey. If you can wait until lunch I will take you, but your dad and I are working right now."
"But we need it for our game! Risa and Kev already have theirs!" he whined.
"Michael…" Hodgins warned.
He sighed, "Fine."
"I'm sorry baby," Angela said, stroking his cheek before he went and joined Kevin and Karissa in their "fort" again. She sighed, "Well I gotta go finish a reconstruction. Are you gonna be okay by yourself with the three of them?"
Hodgins shrugged, "Yeah, gotta get used to it anyways," he said, bringing his gaze onto her protruding stomach.
"Come get me later for lunch?" she asked, starting to get up.
He grabbed her hand, helping her to her feet. She smiled gratefully at him.
"Yeah if I don't go crazy first with these three troublemakers," he teased and kissed her goodbye.
Two hours later
"Hey Ange?" Hodgins poked his head into his wife's office, "Have you seen Michael and Kevin?"
She turned her chair to face him, confused, "Huh? I thought they were with you?"
"Well they were, but I don't know where they are now. I thought they might have come to play in here or something."
"Nope. Did you check with Brennan and Cam? You know they like to explore."
Hodgins scratched his head, "Yeah, they're not there."
Angela was getting worried now, "Oh damn! They probably went to the parking garage! Jack, we need to get down there!"
"Shit!" he yelled, following her line of reasoning. He started running out of the office, Angela hot on his heels as best as she could. "BOOTH!"
Both Booth and Brennan looked up from where they stood on the platform talking.
"Kevin and Michael went down to the parking garage!"
Booth was already sprinting to catch up to Hodgins, the two men hurrying to find their sons. Angela and Brennan followed, exchanging worried glances.
When they got down to the parking garage, the first thing they saw was Michael and Kevin crumpled on the ground near Hodgins' car. Somehow being faster than Booth, Hodgins saw them first and immediately ran towards them, but before he got there, a car came out of nowhere, hitting him full on. Angela and Brennan appeared just as the car hit and Angela screamed, dropping to her knees. Booth acted quickly, shooting and shooting at the driver until finally he hit him or her.
The last thing Angela remembered before she blacked out was Booth saying it was the Gravedigger. The lives of her son, her husband, and her best friend's son hung on the line and she had absolutely no idea if they were all going to come out of this okay…
I'm soooo evil I know! I'm sorry, but I've had this planned for a LONG time. The name of the story is Unexpected so tell me, did you see this coming at all? Hey this is like a real Bones season finale almost, major cliffhanger lol. Please review and tell me what you think that way you can guarantee I'll finish :p blackmail I know.
Wldwmn: Neither did I! LOL But thank you sooooo much! I'm sorry about the delay in the update, but hopefully this chapter made up for it :)
Ciza: I know, I'm sorry. I wouldn't say it's going to end soon because once it is done, if I have enough support (and I have the time) I may consider doing a sequel. But don't worry when I come back from my break, I'd say there's probably AT LEAST 5 more chapters if not more :)
HPNCISVictorious14: Yupp, finally a Gravedigger encounter! lol
09Echo: Thanks soooo much! I appreciate it! :D
- Willie