AN – I'm not sure if there is anyone still out there wanting to read this - And although it felt pretty complete when I left it, I did promise to wrap it up. So, here it is… a very short little epilogue of sorts. I've been working on a new piece, but I won't start posting it until it is completely finished—or almost so. I'm not going to leave anything left unfinished again. That said, I'm working on wrapping up "The Gain in the Growing Pains," too. Hopefully there are still a few of you out there who'd like to see that happen.

Chapter 14

Booth held Brennan's hand as they followed the real estate agent through the house. He could tell the moment she'd decided this was the one. He still wasn't sure, himself. The place was huge and the neighborhood was pretty pricey.

"I'll leave you two to look around," the agent said. "I'll just be outside if you need me."

He looked over and watched the smile spread across the face of the woman he loved.

"This is it, Booth."

"I don't know, Bones," he replied, reaching up to rub the back of his neck.

She smiled, and squeezed his hand. He still wasn't used to the amount of money at their disposal.

"This house is exactly what we need," she told him. "It has five bedrooms, an office for each of us, as well as plenty of space for the children… room to add that pool that I know you've been thinking about…"

"And a hefty price tag," he said, admitting his hesitation.

"One that we can afford," she reminded him. "We got a hefty advance from the publishing house on our novel, and when the book is published we'll be well-compensated." She paused, rubbing her hand over her rounded belly. "Besides, we don't have much time… the four of us are stumbling over one another in the condo as it is…"

"And we're gonna be busting at the seams in about a month."

"I'm not familiar with that particular idiom," she said, "but I do understand your meaning."

"Okay, Mrs. Booth," he replied, pulling her to his side and placing a kiss against her temple. "I guess we're doing this."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~BnB~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Brennan walked up to the man leaning against the balcony railing, looking out over the yard and the pool at the assembled friends who had become family.

"What are you doing up here?" she asked, wrapping her arms around his waist. "The party's down there."

"I know," he replied, turning in her arms and wrapping his arms around her. "I just stopped to check in on the kids."

"And?"

"They're all asleep," he said. "It's been a long day."

"So why haven't you come back down to join the rest of us?"

"I don't know," he answered. "I guess I've just been thinking."

"That's dangerous," she said, laughing as she squeezed him a little tighter."

"Very funny, genius," he replied. "Laugh it up."

"I'm sorry," she said, "What are you up here contemplating?"

"Life. Have you ever heard that adage about making plans? Something about God laughs when we make plans… I can't think of it right now. But look at us. Ten years ago, I was a cocky soldier stuck on a crap assignment in the jungles of El Salvador… you were a genius grad student on her way to great things. We made plans and everything went to hell. Five years ago, we found each other again. And now, here we are - partners at work, married with three awesome kids, co-authors of a hugely popular book series… " he leaned in to kiss her. "Thank you for that, by the way. We both know you didn't need me to write those books…"

"Of course I did," she replied. "Without you, I would never have come up with the idea… your expertise lends authenticity to the police work in the stories. And although I don't understand why, the publishers say that the most popular part of the books is the romance between the lead characters," pausing, she leaned up to kiss his lips, "… and you absolutely contribute to the creativity found in the love scenes…"

"Bones!" he exclaimed, a faint blush rising to his cheeks.

She laughed out loud.

"I will never understand your prudish tendencies," she said, still laughing. "We are standing in on the balcony right outside our bedroom. You do remember what we do in there, right?"

"You of all people know that I am not a prude, baby," he said, pulling her in for a passionate kiss.

"I do," she answered, kissing him again. "And that reminds me, I do need to correct one fallacy in your recounting of our life together…"

"What?" He flashed her one of those killer smiles that he knew she could never resist. "There was nothing wrong in what I said."

"Yes, there was," she replied, flashing a coquettish smile of her own. "You said we had three awesome kids…"

"I know they can be a pain sometimes," he replied. "But our kids are awesome, babe."

"They are," she agreed. "But there aren't three of them… or at least, there won't be in about seven months…"

AN 2 - So, there you go. I know it's not much, but I think it wrapped up the story I intended to tell so long ago. Thank you for going along for the ride. Let me know what you thought of this little blurb- and if anyone would be interested in something else from me in the near future.