A/N: This is the sequel to 'Secret No More' and it's set a year later. B&B are still together. Let me know what you think.

A New Secret

Chapter 1

Brennan hung up and sat staring off into space, stunned by the news she'd just received. She couldn't believe it—her mind simply wouldn't accept it. She had been so careful to take her birth control every day, but as her doctor had warned, it was only 97 effective. It would seem she was now a part of the 3 who still managed to get pregnant on the pill. Pregnant. She repeated it to herself a few more times, thinking repetition might help her grasp the concept, but her mind wasn't cooperating.

What her mind was telling her, urgently, was to go find Angela. She needed her best friend to tell her what to do. She started searching the lab for her, trying to stay calm. Angela would know what to do.

She found her in her office, working on her computer. She glanced up with a distracted smile as Brennan came in. "Hi, sweetie. I haven't finished with that cellulose that was found with the victim. It was pretty badly degraded, so it isn't likely there will be much—"

"I'm pregnant," Brennan blurted out.

Angela sat with her mouth hanging open, staring at her in shock. After a moment, she shut her mouth and narrowed her eyes at Brennan. "You aren't happy," she said. It wasn't a question.

Brennan sighed. "I don't know, Ange. I should be, shouldn't I? I mean, Booth is an incredible father and I love him and he loves me, so I should be ecstatic. But I'm—not sure."

Angela jumped up and came around the desk, putting her arm around Brennan and leading her to a chair. Angela leaned her hips against the desk and gave her friend a level look. "Look, sweetie, you've been through a lot in the last few years, done a lot of growing. Your relationship with Booth really shows how far you've come. Give yourself a little time to get used to the idea," she advised gently with a soft smile.

Brennan folded her hands in her lap tightly, using every bit of her self control not to 'lose it' as Angela would say. "It's not that I don't like children, Ange. You know I love Parker like he was my own, and the idea of having Booth's baby—part of me really wants it," she confessed, her voice cracking with emotion.

Angela leaned forward to squeeze her arm in sympathy. "Then what's the problem?"

Brennan looked up with tears in her eyes. "Doing what I do, knowing the horrible things that happen to people, the atrocities people commit—how can I bring a child into the world? I've always been categorically opposed—"

"Have you ever considered that you might be carrying the person destined to discover the cure for cancer?" Angela argued. "Or maybe he'll be instrumental in bringing about world peace. Even if he or she is just the one person who can be someone else's everything, then that is a good enough reason to give them a chance at life."

Brennan looked at her thoughtfully. "I didn't know you were pro-life."

Angela sighed. "It's a very complicated issue. I can't say I'm pro-choice or pro-life. But I do believe if the mother and father are healthy, there's no reason to end the pregnancy. Especially if the parents are financially able to raise the child. Why don't you talk to Booth?"

Brennan jumped up and started pacing as she became more agitated. "No, I can't, not yet," she said firmly. She paused midstride to pin Angela with a stern glare. "Don't tell him. If I decide to—terminate the pregnancy—I—I'm not sure I want him to know. It could be the one thing he would never forgive. It might be the end of us," she said, choking on the last word as a lump blocked her throat.

Angela felt tears gather in her eyes. "Just promise me you won't go through this alone. No matter what you decide, I'm here for you."

The tears she'd been holding at bay broke free at her friend's generosity. Angela hugged her as she cried, stroking her hair as her own heart ached for her. She felt helpless. She couldn't break her friend's confidence, but she wished there were some way to let Booth know. If he did, she knew he would find a way to convincer her to keep the baby. If only there was a way to tell him without actually telling him.

BBBBBB

I know, its short and angsty, but I'm already starting on the next part. Please R&R and feed musie so she'll cooperate. Thanks for reading!