(The Signs in the Silence)

I don't own Bones.

Ooooooooooooooooo

Entering the Retirement home, Booth signed in at the front desk and proceeded into the social area. Carrying a container of cookies, he waved at Abigail Burroughs and smiled. "Hey Abigail. I heard it's your birthday and I brought you some cookies. Pops told me you love butter pecan cookies so there are a dozen in this box along with a dozen chocolate chip cookies and some oatmeal cookies in case you want to share them. Happy Birthday."

"Oh Seeley, you didn't have to do that." Standing, she placed her book down on the chair, walked over to where the agent was standing and kissed his cheek. "You're a good boy, Seeley and so kind."

Booth knew that Abigail didn't have any family left and if he didn't bring her something for her birthday then she probably wouldn't get anything. Reaching into his jacket pocket, he pulled out a small box and handed it to her. "Thank you and this is from Pops and me."

Surprised, she took the box, opened it and found a watch. "Oh, you and Hank shouldn't have done this. This is just too much."

"Nonsense, Abigail. Hank told me your watch stopped working and he wanted to get you a new one to replace it. It's self-winding so all you have to do is just wear it. I'm going to go see Pops now. You enjoy your birthday." Booth smiled, kissed her cheek and left the room.

Staring at her watch, Abigail felt a tear slide down her cheek. "He really is a good boy a good man and Hank is such a dear friend."

Oooooooooooo

"Abigail liked the watch, Pops." Booth entered Hank's room, walked over to where the old man was sitting and handed him a box. "I brought you some cannoli and some lace cookies."

Taking the box, Hank smiled and placed the box on the coffee table in front of him. "I'll go see what watch you bought later. Thanks for buying it for Abigail. She's been alone since her husband died five years ago. She was an only child and her only child died in Operation Desert Storm so no one visits her. She doesn't have anyone but us so we have to make sure she has a good birthday."

"Yeah . . . we did, Pops." Booth sat down and faced his grandfather. "So, Pops, I've got some news . . . good news for once."

Curious, Hank shook his head. "What kind of good news?"

Amused, Booth chuckled. "Honest Pops, it's great news . . . Bones is pregnant."

Shocked, Hank stared in wonder at his grandson. "Pregnant? Wow . . . um, are you going to get married now?"

"No . . . Bones doesn't believe in marriage." Booth sighed. "I'll never make her unhappy by making her do something she doesn't want to do . . . we're fine though. She just found out she's pregnant on Thursday . . . we weren't as careful as we should have been, but anyway. I'm going to be a daddy again and Parker will finally have a brother or sister. You know he hates to be an only child."

Since it wasn't his life to live, Hank accepted the fact that his grandson wasn't getting married. "Yeah, I know. He's asked me in the past to get you to get him a baby brother or sister, but I had to tell him life doesn't work that way . . . Our family is small and he needs a sibling to help with that . . . Congratulations, Seeley. I never expected to get another great-grandchild, so thank you." Feeling emotional, he pulled a handkerchief from his pant's pocket, wiped his damp eyes and blew his nose. "Thank you."

"You're welcome, Pops." Relaxed, Booth leaned back against the couch. "Bones is worried that she might be a terrible mother, but I talked to her last night about that. She thinks she lacks empathy, but she's wrong about that. I told her so, too . . . Kids like her. I've seen that for myself and you know Parker loves her. He thinks she's cool . . . Anyway, I need to help her gain some confidence about what's going to happen. She's strong, but her mother is gone and so is mine and . . . well, Mom's not dead, but who knows where she is? Bones doesn't really trust Max yet and Russ is unreliable, plus she didn't have any contact with them for over 15 years, so she doesn't really know them anymore . . . well, I'm the only family she has that she can rely on besides you and Parker . . . It's up to us to help her see she's going to be fine . . . I don't want her worrying about nonsense, so I might get Angela to talk to her too. She's Bones' best friend and she'll make sure Bones is okay."

"Temperance is just nervous. Marie was that way when she was pregnant with Edwin." Hank sighed. "Marie worried that she would break our baby, but she had a mother to help her so yeah, I can see why Temperance is nervous. I wish you had contact with your mother, but it is what it is."

Slowly shaking his head, Booth knew Hank meant well. "She hasn't been in my life since I was seven years old. She doesn't need us and we don't need her. We're going to help Bones and she's going to see that she's going to be fine, our baby is going to be fine. Angela is pregnant so she knows what Bones is going to go through and that will help. Plus, I can always call Rebecca and talk to her."

Hank wasn't a fan of Rebecca but he knew she was a good mother. "Temperance is going to be alright. We'll make sure of that . . . Now, how about a game of dominoes. I believe I beat your ass the last time we played and I plan to do it again this time."

Laughing, Booth retrieved the dominoes from the dresser and carried them back to the couch. Once he was seated, he looked at his grandfather and smiled. "I'm going to be Daddy again . . . I am so lucky to have Bones in my life. A baby . . ."

"Yeah." Hank felt that his grandson was finally in a good place in his life.

Ooooooooooooooo

Successful in identifying the body for the Pentagon, Brennan boxed the bones back up and placed them in their resting place on the shelves for the moment. Once she was in her office, she sent emails to Cam and Angela letting them know the job was done. She then sent an email to Colonel Ben Nelson and let him know. She sent him an attached file containing the information needed and the fact that the body was confirmed to be Sargent Clayton Mankiller. His family would get closure and Clayton would get a proper burial. The colonel could make arrangements to have the body sent to the Mankiller family as soon as it was possible.

Done for the day, she removed her lab coat, grabbed her purse and drove home. She had eaten a light lunch and planned to skip dinner hoping that would stop the regurgitation issue. She and Booth still had Sunday to be together and she didn't plan to go anywhere. She wanted to be with her man. His company was all she needed at the moment and she knew he would stay home if she asked him to.

Once she was home, she found Booth in the kitchen slicing vegetables. "I'm home, Booth."

Glad to see her, Booth placed his knife down and walked over to where his partner was standing. "You're home earlier than I thought you would be." Kissing her, he smiled and pointed at the crockpot. "I made you some roasted corn soup. It's vegan and has ginger in it. Susan told Harris to tell me that ginger is good for nausea . . . anyway, I'm making a salad too. You can eat the soup or just the salad. It's up to you, but I think you should try the soup. I found it in my grandmother's recipe book and I just substituted the ingredients you don't eat. She made it a few times when I was boy and it's pretty tasty."

"Thank you, Booth." The soup smelled good and she knew she'd have to try it. If Booth was willing to make a vegan dinner for them, then she would have to show her appreciation and at least try some of it. Tasting the soup, she hummed. "It is very good, Booth. Thank you. I'll just eat a small cup of the soup and a small salad. Before I go to bed, I plan to eat some toast. I'm hoping that will help me."

Pleased that she liked the soup, Booth smiled. He really didn't want to give up meat, but he could do it for a little while and if it helped Brennan then it would be worth it. "Good, sounds like a plan . . . We can eat in the kitchen if you want to. I'll be ready in about fifteen minutes."

After she patted his posterior, Brennan left the room and checked her mail. Nothing very important in the pile of envelopes, she returned to the kitchen. "I'd like to sleep late tomorrow and stay home . . . I think we could both use the rest."

"Fine by me." There was a game on he planned to watch, but that was in the afternoon. "Max called and said he wants to come by tomorrow and watch the game with me. I said it was okay. If you don't want him here, let me know and I'll call him and tell him not to come . . . Um, do you want to tell him you're pregnant?"

"He can come and no, not yet." Brennan sat down at the table, while Booth finished making the salad. "I don't want to tell anyone until the second trimester. If the pregnancy is successful then we can tell them."

A chill running down his back, Booth swallowed hard. "Hey . . . hey, you're healthy and strong and the baby is going to be fine. You're going to be fine."

"Yes, I will be fine." Brennan knew that her partner was superstitious and believed in jinxes so she wouldn't mention the possibility that the fetus might not survive. Why needlessly upset him. She wanted a pleasant evening with her man. A cup of soup in front of her now, Brennan took the proffered spoon from Booth. "I know you don't care for vegan meals . . ."

Waving his hand, Booth placed a bowl of the soup on the table along with a salad for him and for Brennan. Sitting down, he tasted the soup and found it was okay. "Bones don't worry about it. You have to come first right now. It's all good."

The soup was delicious and Brennan planned to look at Booth's grandmother's cookbook to see if there were other recipes that she could use and modify.

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