A/N : ? Season 7 somewhere before "The Prisoner in the Pipe"
Booth was on his hands and knees under the kitchen sink of the Mighty Hut when he heard a familiar voice "Yoo hoo! Where's my favorite G-Man?"
"In the kitchen" he called out not straying from his task. He was almost done installing the faucet and the last thing he wanted to do was drop the damn wrench again. "Be right with you" he said as he heard her entering the kitchen.
"Take your time, I'll just enjoy the view" came the reply. Since it was Angela, and his ass was in the air, he blushed but didn't reply.
She did not need the encouragement anyway. "So, why is it, if the plumber weighs 300 pounds and has a beer belly, there is no avoiding the butt crack, but when you wouldn't mind a glimpse of ass, the shirt stays firmly tucked in. The universe really isn't fair sometimes."
He finished with the faucet, took a deep breath and fixing a neutral expression stood to face her. "You do remember you have a husband right?"
"What's your point? As my dad always said, just because you ain't hungry don't mean you can't look at the menu." She handed him a paper cup from a drink carrier as she unloaded 2 thermoses, paper cups, napkins and pink pastry box from a bag on the counter. "I brought sustenance for the crew this morning."
He took a sip. "Thanks. What brings you here so early?"
"I wanted to get measurements and take pictures before I'd be in the way. Bren and I are going to figure out paint and window treatments today for the living room, nursery, bathrooms and master suite today. Things are really shaping up in here. Assuming your little girl doesn't decide to arrive early, this place should be ready when she is."
"Thanks for helping out. I know Bones is going a little nuts not being able to supervise but the fumes from the floor varnish really makes her sick."
"No worries, I'm having a great time. I had once considered interior design as a career, but after working at it one summer decided I wasn't cut out to deal with snooty clients. "
She glanced at her friend. He had been scarce around the lab the last couple of months between work and personal issues. He looked tired.
"Haven't seen you around much lately. How are you holding up?"
"I'm fine." She rolled her eyes, of course she wasn't expecting to hear anything different.
"Right, because rennovating a house, expecting a baby, combining 2 households, having your dad die and your son moving across the ocean is not the least bit stressful." She squeezed his arm gently and then in a softer voice "I was really sorry to hear about your dad. I know your relationship was...complicated, but he was still your dad. And I know you'll miss Parker. It's gotta be rough dealing with everything on your plate right now, even the good stuff, but you know Hodgins and I are here if you need us."
He stared intently at the counter top, giving her hand a quick squeeze "I know Ange, I appreciate it."
She returned the squeeze, grabbed her camera and measuring tape and headed into the living room. He started pulling out the light fixture to install. He could hear her recording notes on her phone as she debated the merits of cardinal, burgundy, moss, seafoam or cerise paint colors and whether the curtains should be ecru or ivory. He prayed that he would not be called upon to give an opinion on any such matters. Just the other night Bones had pulled out 56 paint chips in various shades of white and had been exasperated with him when he told her he couldn't tell the difference. He heard Angela head up the stairs to look at the master suite and nursery and he figured he was off the hook.
He was finishing up the wiring when she returned. "You guys are going to be incredibly happy here. I can imagine the kids running down the hallway giggling. I can see your daughter crawling around this living room and learning to walk here. I can hear Parker thumping a basketball out back and Brennan singing the baby to sleep. I can picture the two of you cooking dinner in here and bickering over breakfast. Cuddling on the couch with a glass of wine while keeping an eye on the baby monitor. It's going to be a real home. You are giving Brennan the dream she had before she stopped dreaming."
The two looked at each other. Both had suspiciously bright eyes. She was grinning broadly, he had a small smile as he focused on whether or not he could respond with the lump that had suddenly arrived in his throat. She had put into words everything he was hoping for.
She stared at him for a moment. "It's not just her dream is it? You don't talk about your past, so it's easy to forget, but you've gone through some pretty awful times. Did you ever think your life would turn out this way?"
He gave a small shake of his head. "Nope."
She raised her coffee cup in a toast "To living your dreams." They tapped the cups together and sipped.
