AN: today is a very very sweet day. Exhibit A: my beta friendsidol5 has arrived at college and is set to be our next Bones :D Exhibit B: my beta katiebeth has finished her first week of the new school year unscathed and already smarter. You go girls!

As for me, I am now an official columnist writing news features with my newspaper and on two assignments this week (this is in addition to my 40 hr full-time job and 20+ hr part-time job). I am also under consideration to be an advice columist for an established online source for college students. I'm jazzed. You will benefit with this here chapter to show my love :D

Chapter 26 T Shirt

Temperance Brennan-Booth practically flopped into her apartment, tossing her bag and jacket toward the coat rack; they missed their mark and fell forgotten on the floor. Pushing her auburn locks back and up in a sloppy ponytail, Temperance collapsed on the couch, the beginnings of tears forming in her lovely blue eyes.

She lay there for some time, relaxing into the soft leather and letting her tears well up--but not fall. She hated coming home alone and she hated all the things Booth left behind that reminded her of him. This couch where he forced her to watch hours of mindless television. The new kitchen table where Parker could color without worrying he'd deface the antique tabletop with a box of Crayolas. She made her way through the apartment silently. The office which now held two desks and more comic books than Temperance ever knew existed. She rolled her eyes as she walked along the bookcase, 'sorry, graphic novels,' she intoned silently.

This was her ritual, coming home after a day without her husband and reabsorbing him into her skin, into her mind. She had never been particularly demonstrative with her feelings at work, there were no wedding pictures on her desk or personal knickknacks next to the tribal artifacts on her bookshelf. She didn't need a picture of her husband when she got to see him all day long.

So she came home, reminded herself it had not been a dream, he was real and he was really hers, even while he was gone. She twisted his wedding band round her thumb, the only digit it would fit on.

hey, let me tell you now, ohhhh baby.

And in the same fashion that she'd done before he left, Temperance began a conversation with her husband. Now it was a one sided conversation that took place in her mind. It had started as a work ritual, catching each other up on aspects of the cases they worked at night as they fell into a comfortable routine. Temperance would wash the dishes, the water scalding her hands as she scrubbed away and Booth would dry as they discussed bones and debris and suspects. More than once Temperance was known to drop a glass, breaking it as she ran to her computer in haste, Booth stopping her from searching her records with soapy hands as she followed up a revelation.

This night there were no dishes, no one to eat with as Temperance sat in Booth's office chair, her hands stroking the rough grain of the desk's wooden surface.

Trying to decide, trying to decide if I, really wanna go out tonight.

Temperance pulled her bottom lip with her teeth, unsure how she would fend off Angela's advances tonight. The effervescent brunette was intent on getting Temperance out of the apartment. The anthropologist mocked herself internally, remembering how independent she had been, even in the early days of her relationship with Booth. Somewhere along the way that gave way to staying home and watching the game, reading, or going out together on a date. It had been months since she went out without someone literally holding her hand.

I never used to go out without ya, not sure I remember how to.

Temperance could hear her cell phone buzz somewhere in the lump of things on the floor by the coat rack but she ignored it. Moving to the master bedroom she paused, wishing this had been a normal day without Booth and he were just home sick, ready for attention and content just to hold her and sneeze on her. She missed that. She changed her clothes and knew Angela would be arriving soon but as she looked in the mirror it looked all wrong.

Gonna be late, gonna be late but, all my girls gone have to wait cause I don't know if I like my outfit.

Temperance could almost hear Booth's amused snort as she continued her silent dialogue. "You look good in everything babe," he would have said, "or nothing at all."

The tears welled up again and Temperance pouted like Parker, turning and crawling up on the middle of their bed where she hugged his pillow to her chest.

I tried everything in my closet. But nothing feels right when I'm not with you, sick of this dress and these Jimmy Choos.

She kicked the shiny heels off and they flew across the room, dinging her dresser and the tears returned.

Taking them off cause I feel a fool, trying to dress up when I'm missing you. I'ma step out of this lingerie, curl up in a ball with something Hanes.

Temperance could see her evening turning out very differently from Angela's plan.

In bed I lay, with nothing but your T-shirt on. Oh, with nothing but your T-shirt on.

The doorbell never rang as Temperance cried herself into a weary sleep but when she awoke she found Angela sitting on the bed, watching her.

"Ange?"

"Or her very beautiful twin sister, Angel." The artist grinned, hoping to lighten the mood.

"How did you get in?" Temperance was confused and Angela swept her hand over her best friend's forehead.

"No fever, Sweetie, you gave me a key, remember."

"For emergencies, Ange."

"This IS an emergency." Temperance's doubtful glance caused Angela to sigh dramatically. Pulling her friend out of bed, the women moved slowly and clumsely to the bathroom.

Temperance grimiced at her reflection next to the put together, ready to party artist.

"You have bags under your eyes. Your hair needs to be washed. These clothes are wrinkled and you've been crying." She continued, her voice softer, "you look depressed and you're pale but you're gaining weight. Tempe, this IS an emergency."

Angela's suspicions were confirmed when, instead of fighting or arguing, Temperance cried softly, trying to regain her emotional footing and talked herself through it.

Hey, gotta be strong gotta be strong but I'm really hurting now that you're gone.

Over the next few hours Temperance let Angela run her a bath filled with bubbles and even wash her hair like Christine Booth had done so many years ago. Angela kept her friend supplied with fluids and even some crackers to get her eating bland food again. Still, Temperance seemed purposeless at home without Booth, the guiding force in her personal life gone. At work it was easier, someone said crime scene and she went. There were processes to follow, bones to examine, reports to file. There were no anthropological steps to heal ones heart when your husband is gone.

I thought maybe I'd do some shopping, but I couldn't get past the door and, now I don't know now I don't know if I'm, ever really gonna let you go and I, couldn't even leave my apartment. I'm stripped down torn up about it.

Temperance was tucked into bed early and in the morning when she woke she found Angela sitting on a chair positioned in the bathroom doorway.

"Ange? What are you doing over there?"

"I want you to do me a favor, Bren."

"Oh-kay," she agreed although her reason told her it was a bad idea.

"Go into the bathroom-"

"You're kinda in the way-" Angela glared,

"I'll move. And pee on this." She held up a pregnancy test and Temperance nearly sobbed.

"NO!"

"Evidence A: you're about to cry. Evidence B: you HAVE gained some weight. Evidence C: when was the last time you had your period? Before Booth-"

"Fine!" Before she could finish, Temperance had snatched the pregnancy test from her friend's grasp and slammed the bathroom door behind her. Twenty minutes later the door opened and Angela slid another test, still in the box, toward the toilet.

Twenty minutes after that another test followed.

Inside the bathroom, Temperance was sitting on the floor suddenly compelled to throw up. She told herself that just because three tests said she was pregnant there was a margin of error. A... very small margin of error. She remembered the night before when she wanted nothing more than to go out with her friends and spend one night not thinking about Booth.

Nothing feels right when I'm not with you, sick of this dress and these Jimmy Choos. Taking them off cause I feel a fool, trying to dress up when I'm missing you. I'ma step out of this lingerie, curl up in a ball with something Hanes.

"Ange?"

"Yeah, Sweetie?"

"Can you give me some time? I need, I need..."

"Sure, Bren, I'll, uh, I'll call you later. Okay?" Temperance nodded until she found her voice.

"Yeah, okay. And Ange?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks for being here."

"Anytime."

As Temperance stood, she was dizzy momentarily and steadied herself with the counter. She took a deep breath and went straight to the kitchen, heating up a can of soup and finding some crackers. She was out of most everything to drink, except some of Booth's favorite beer, so she logged on and ordered some groceries to be delivered that afternoon.

"Happy now?" She asked the absent Booth outloud with a faint smile. The rest of the day passed simply, Temperance let her mind whirl with thoughts and ideas and plans as she thought about everything but her unborn child's unpresent father.

In bed I lay, with nothing but your T-shirt on. I'm all by myself with nothing but your T-shirt on. Ohhh, with nothing but your T-shirt on cause I miss you

Temperance selfishly wished Booth could see her now as she stood sideways in front of the mirror, palming her protruding stomach.

With nothing but your T-shirt on, said I miss you baby.

The next morning she woke refreshed, laughing at herself as she examined her skin for signs of "glowing" and eating the last of the Saltines for breakfast.

Trying to decide, trying to decide if I, really wanna go out tonight.

Temperance looked out on the city, the trees were beginning to bloom and birds were twitterpaited. It seemed like a lifetime ago she could see no future before her without Booth by her side.

I couldn't even leave my apartment, I'm stripped down torn up about it.

Bundling up with a light scarf and hat, Temperance stepped out for a walk, a smile gracing her face.

Nothing feels right when I'm not with you, sick of this dress and these Jimmy Choos. Taking them off cause I feel a fool, trying to dress up when I'm missing you.

And despite the overwhelming urge to reach out for his hand, Temperance knew she could be okay without Booth. Years ago her faith was damaged as one by one her family left her alone. Over the years Booth became her family, her constant. But more than making her dependant on him, he opened her up again.

Crossing the street with the light, Temperance headed to the Jeffersonian.

Because of Booth she had stronger relationships with her father and brother. Soon to be a grandfather and uncle. She had Angela and therefore Hodgins. She had so much in her life and she knew Booth wanted her to live it.

So I won't... step out of this lingerie, curl up in a ball with something Hanes.

END Chapter

AN: Now I know y'all hate me for the angst and lack of Booth but do me a HUGE favor. Review this chapter and then read chapter 24. It'll all make sense. Yeah, I wrote them out of order. So sue me. I know much of Bren's behavior seems out of character but trust me when I say I've known many a pregnant woman and they are insane. Completely and totally insane.