A/N: I'm baaacccck! And I come baring the sequel to "Desert Storms". If you haven't read that story, you might want to. I hope you enjoy this continuation.
Thanks to my good friends Effie and Melissa for their help and encouragement to post this.
Disclaimer: I still don't own Bones. I'm coming to terms with the fact that I probably never will.
ooo
"I can't believe he's turning one today," Angela gushed as she hurried around her large kitchen, "I mean, really it feels like he was just born yesterday."
Brennan who held the little boy in question watched her best friend fly around the room, "he has grown up rather quickly. I'm quite surprised how easily I am able to understand that figure of speech."
"I'm surprised you can call it a figure of speech," Angela added with a laugh. "So much as changed in the last year, hasn't it?"
Brennan smiled down at Zander Brennan Hodgins who was happily chewing on his fist and nodded. When she looked out the window to the backyard where Booth, Hodgins, and Parker were attempting to assemble a swing set and clubhouse combination in the warm Saturday afternoon she felt her smile grow more. "Yes Angela, so much has changed."
Angela's hand paused over the cake she was frosting as her eyes studied her friend, "what's wrong?"
"Nothing is wrong Angela."
"Are you sure?" Angela asked, "Because you don't seem totally okay."
"I've been thinking…"
"About?"
"Having a baby," Brennan replied quietly and Angela squealed at an ear piercing decibel. Zander looked at his mother strangely as Brennan tried to cover his ears. "Angela!"
"You can't expect me to not react to that Bren," Angela argued the pitch of her voice still higher than normal, "this is fantastic!"
"I'm only thinking about it…"
"Why do you look like you are terrified?" Angela asked forgetting about the cake she was supposed to be icing and sat next to Brennan on a barstool. "You're fantastic with kids, Parker loves you. Zander loves you. Your nieces love you. You'll be an amazing mom."
"Thanks Ange," Brennan said with a small smile as her lips grazed over the blonde curls of Zander's head. "I guess I'm anxious about Booth's reaction."
"What? Why?"
"Because I'm unsure of how he will take this development," Brennan replied with a shrug. "It's something that hasn't been discussed in years."
"The last time you talked about having his baby sweetie, you were going to get pregnant with a turkey baster," Angela replied with her hands on her hips. "And you didn't want him to participate in the baby's life. You don't still feel the same way do you?"
"Of course not!" Brennan exclaimed, "Booth and I are in a committed relationship and we have lots of practice for creating a baby the natural way and he is an excellent father. Any child would be lucky to have him…"
"Okay," Angela interrupted impatiently, "then why not jump him and go for it."
"I don't know…"
"What don't you know?" Booth's voice asked as he stepped into the kitchen his shirt damp with sweat. "I didn't think there was anything you didn't know Bones."
"We're just talking about decorations Booth," Brennan answered quickly with a look to Angela and with a laugh asked her boyfriend, "What are you doing in here? The swing set doesn't look done yet."
"Hey!" Booth cried as he rubbed his arm over his forehead, "it's hot out there, I'm just coming in to grab us some beers."
"Do you think it'll be done by the time the party is supposed to start Booth?" Angela asked as she took her place in front of the cake she had been working on. "I was hoping…"
"We'll be done by five Angela," Booth assured her, "I promise. How many people are we expecting for the little guy's celebration?"
"Only about fifty," Angela answered coolly, "most of which are board members of the Cantilever group and their families. The set up crew will be here at about four thirty to get the sets up before guests start arriving at five and then the clown will be here at six."
"Wait, clown?" Booth asked his face paling. "You didn't tell me there was going to be a clown."
"Booth," Brennan said with a smile as she choked back her laugh at his face, "the clown will only be here for a little while and you can come into the house while he's here. You will be fine."
"You're going to traumatize the poor kid," Booth commented loosely and grabbed two beers and one juice box from the fridge. Booth turned to Brennan and continued, "Parker wants to go swimming, his bathing suit is in our bag, do you think you could grab it for him?"
"Of course Booth," she answered immediately, "do you want me to get yours out now too?"
"No, I'll get mine after we're finished with the swing set. Thanks babe."
"Don't call me," Brennan started to protest as he smirked and shut the door behind him before she could finish, "babe."
"You two are sickeningly cute," Angela observed with a sigh. "I can just picture a little girl with your eyes and his dark hair, she'd be a beauty."
"I concur," Brennan answered with a smile. "Or a little boy with Booth's eyes…"
"You really should talk to him sweetie," Angela said pointedly. "He's going to be thrilled that you're thinking this way."
"I don't think he will want to have another child out of wedlock and I'm not ready to give that to him. I don't know if I ever will be."
"Brennan," Angela interrupted with a sigh, "Studly out there is not going to not want a kid with you just because you won't legalize your relationship. You are committed to him, he's committed to you. You both know it and it's not going to change. Adding a child to the mix isn't going to change that."
"But…"
"No buts," Angela interrupted again, "talk to him Bren. Tonight."
"I'll consider it."
"I'm not accepting that," Angela argued, "you have to talk to him tonight. You shouldn't be worried about it. And besides, you can't wait too long or our kids won't be able to grow up close in age."
"Zander is already one," Brennan replied logically, "he would almost certainly be two before I gave birth. And that is only if we conceive quite easily."
"That's not what I meant."
"I don't know what you are trying to tell me."
"We weren't going to say anything yet," Angela whispered as if afraid of being overhead, "but I found out on Friday that I'm pregnant again."
ooo
Booth tossed Hodgins the extra beer in his hand as he rejoined his friend in the backyard. "They're up to something." Booth added with a glance towards the house.
"They are always up to something," Hodgins responded without hesitation, "what makes this time so special?"
"Brennan deflected."
"What?" Hodgins asked his head snapping up, "She never does that."
"I know," Booth agreed with a sigh. "Is it bad that I'm worried about what could happen when they are together?"
"No," Hodgins responded, "because I always worry about that with Ange."
"Dad!" Parker called from across the yard, "can I go swimming yet?"
"Yes," Booth answered, "Bones is getting your swimsuit out, go change."
"He's a great kid Booth," Hodgins said after a second while Booth watched Parker race up to the house. "I'm glad that Zander is going to have him to grow up with."
"Thanks," Booth replied his grin growing, "I'm a lucky guy."
"We both are," Hodgins assured him and then glanced up to the house guilty, "I've got to tell you something, but don't tell Angela, I promised I wouldn't say anything, but I have to."
"Hodgins, slow down and just tell me."
"She's pregnant again," he whispered loudly, "we found out on Friday."
"Congrats man!" Booth boisterously said with a slap on the smaller man's back and lifted his beer in a toast. "That's great."
"Thanks," Hodgins replied with a happy grin on his face. "I'll bet you anything that Angela spilled the beans already to Bren. She can't keep a secret."
"Neither can you apparently," Booth replied with a laugh and a glance at the house, "maybe that is what they were talking about when I was up there."
"Very possible," Hodgins agreed with a nod, "when are you and Dr. B going to procreate."
Booth's face squinted up in disgust with Hodgins' wording, "do you have to say it like that man? It sounds so…wrong."
"Fine," Hodgins laughed, "when are you two going to have kids? Angela and I figured you two would announce one before we got around to having a second."
"You didn't leave us a ton of time," Booth countered, "ZZ is only turning one."
Hodgins shrugged, "we weren't actively trying but we weren't really preventing either. I know Angela wants more kids."
"If you're not careful she'll have that mansion of yours filled before you even know it."
Hodgins nodded, "surprisingly, I'm not as terrified by the thought as I once was. But back to you and Dr. B."
"I don't know Hodgins," Booth answered with a sigh. "I guess I always figured the next time I had a kid it would be after I was married. And I know that isn't going to happen with Bones, but we really haven't talked about kids either."
"Do you want to have a baby with Dr. B?"
"Of course!" Booth insisted, "I've always wanted that."
"Then talk to her," Hodgins reasoned, "she wanted to have a kid with you before."
"No," Booth corrected with a coolness to his voice that Hodgins didn't recognize, "she wanted me to donate sperm."
"And that was before you were together," Hodgins answered calmly, "you know it won't be like that now."
"I know."
"Then what's stopping you?"
"I don't want to rush her," Booth replied with a shrug. "I see the changes in her but sometimes I'm not sure that she does and I want to make sure she's confident in us before I spring something like that on her."
"Please," Hodgins' scoffed, "you've been living together for nearly a year, that isn't rushing."
"I never know with Bones."
"You should broach the subject."
"I'll think about it," Booth agreed with a shrug. "But I'm not guaranteeing anything. No matter what Angela wants, Bones can't be rushed."
"Believe me," Hodgins laughed, "I know that."
"I'm supposed to tell you," a third voice entered their conversation, "to quote, close your mouths and get your asses in gear. Angela is worried you won't finish before the party starts."
"And she sent you to tell us," Hodgins asked the young psychiatrist and Sweets shrugged, "I guess they've been watching us."
Booth nodded with a chuckle, "that really shouldn't surprise us, should it?"
"Nope," Sweets replied and the three men glanced back up to the house. "What can I do to help?"
"You can test it out once we finish," Booth teased, "it's made for kids."
"Very funny Booth," Sweets responded, "are you ever going to get tired of the kids jokes?"
"No." Hodgins and Booth answered at the same time and Sweets huffed in exasperation.
Booth patted their baby duck on the back before continuing to piece the swing set together. "Did you bring Julie with you?"
Sweets nodded, "Of course. She's in the house with the girls. They didn't let her get past the kitchen."
"When are you going to put a ring on her finger, huh Sweets?" Hodgins asked and watched Sweets stammer around an answer. "I figured it would have happened already."
"Uh," Sweets hesitated, "we're not ready for that yet."
"What are you shuffling your feet for Sweets?" Booth questioned, "you're not having doubts about Julie now are you?"
"No!" Sweets exclaimed, "I just…"
"What?"
"It's just that when I got engaged I figured it would be the only time," Sweets responded, "and that obviously didn't work out. And I'm happy now, really. I love Julie and I know that she's the one for me, but I don't know how she'll feel having a ring that someone else wore."
"You just have to ask her," Hodgins told him, "and if she's not there is always the option of using the same diamond and just having it reset."
"That could work," Sweets said his voice trailing off in thought. "Thanks Hodgins."
"Eh, no problem. Between the two of you though I've got enough practice giving relationship advice I should start a business."
Booth kicked Hodgins in the leg to shut him up but it was too late and Sweets had latched on to Hodgins' statement.
"Is everything okay with your relationship with Dr. Brennan, Booth?"
"It's fine Sweets."
"But Hodgins…"
"Hodgins doesn't know when to keep his trap shut," Booth growled glaring at the curly-haired scientist who only shrugged. "It's nothing."
"You know," Sweets started, "if something is wrong I need to know…"
"Nothing is wrong Sweets!" Booth exclaimed. "But if you must know, Hodgins and I were discussing children and whether or not I thought Bones and I were ready to think about that. Nothing has been discussed or decided and we might never have children…"
"Sorry Booth," Sweets apologized quickly, "I didn't realize you were interested in having more children. It doesn't seem like anything Brennan would have a problem with. She wanted to have your child before…"
"I'm not discussing this anymore," Booth interrupted. "Let's get this stupid swing set put together before Angela has a coronary. Okay?"
"Got it g-man," Hodgins agreed and Sweets nodded his eyes not leaving Booth. "Stop staring Sweets and get helping."
ooo
Zander had been passed to Julie when she entered as she joined Brennan at the table and she was letting the boy play with the necklace that hung loosely as she spoke to the two older women.
"He is one spoiled little boy," Julie noted with a smile, "as much as we all dote on him."
"I know," Angela agreed with a sigh, "and I can't seem to have any desire to change that."
"It's only because he's the first baby in the group," Brennan noted, "that'll change once you…"
Brennan stopped short when Angela sent a piercing gaze her way but the damage was already done and Julie was staring at them both wide-eyed. "Oh my god, Angela! Congratulations!"
"Thanks Julie," Angela said with a smile, "but if you could keep it under wraps, we had decided not to tell too many people yet."
"Oh, of course. I won't say anything," Julie assured her. "Do you know how far along you are?"
"About six weeks I'm guessing," Angela supplied with a happy sigh, "but we'll know for sure when I go to the doctor on Monday."
"Congrats again," Julie said smiling, "that really is great."
"Thanks, we're excited."
"Excited for what?" Cam asked as she entered the kitchen her hand entwined with Paul's. "What am I missing?"
Julie and Brennan started laughing, which sent Zander into a fit of odd giggles and hand clapping while Angela just groaned.
"What?" Cam asked again and with a shrug turned to Paul to give him a kiss before shooing him outside with the other men. "Okay, spill."
"So much for keeping it a secret," Angela said with a sigh, "Jack is going to kill me."
"Let me guess," Cam answered with a smirk, "you're pregnant again."
Angela nodded, "we weren't going to say anything because it's still pretty early. But oh well."
Another round of congratulations went around and Angela couldn't keep the grin off of her face. "Well this makes it easy asking for Monday morning off."
"Just come in whenever you're done," Cam assured her, "we're in-between cases so it'll be fine."
"Alright ladies," Hodgins exclaimed busting into the kitchen from the porch, "the swing set is completed and ready for ZZ's big party!"
"Thanks babe," Angela said with a smile and pressed a kiss to his cheek. "You should have Parker test it out. And if you want to take ZZ out, that's fine."
Hodgins looked around the room at the faces of the four women and sighed. "You told them, didn't you?"
"It just sort of popped out with Bren," Angela answered as she giggled a little bit, "and then she spilled it to Julie by accident and Cam overhead something about it so I had to tell her."
"I guess this means we can tell the guys then," Hodgins answered with a grin and turned around to the men behind him, "Angie and I are having another baby."
"Well on your way to a million," Booth joked with a pat on the back and a kiss on Angie's cheek. "Congrats."
"Very funny G-Man. Very, very funny."
ooo
Booth pulled the covers down on his side of the bed and slipped in next to Brennan who was reclined against the large pillows her laptop resting on her legs. Booth leaned over and pressed a kiss to her neck and she smiled lightly turning her attention from the screen of her computer.
"Parker fell asleep almost as soon as his head hit his pillow," Booth told her with a yawn. "I've never seen a bigger blowout for one year old before."
Brennan chuckled against his chest, "Angela and Hodgins might have gone a little overboard with ZZ's birthday."
"Might have?" Booth questioned, "I don't think there is any question about it. It was a full carnival theme complete with petting zoo and rides. I can't wait until they have a girl. Hodgins will really be whipped."
"I know Angela wants this one to be a girl," Brennan whispered sleepily. "I'm so happy for them."
"Me too," Booth replied with a nod and stretched lazily. "You should have seen Hodgins when he told me. He was practically radiating his excitement."
"Angela was the same way," Brennan assured him with a large yawn, "she told me that we can't wait too long."
Booth's eyes popped open at her words and eyed her face carefully. "We can't wait too long for what?"
"To procreate ourselves," Brennan mumbled and Booth knew that she was fading into sleep quickly. He pressed a kiss to her forehead and her eyes opened slightly. "Do you want to have children with me?"
"Yes," Booth said as he exhaled quickly, "more than you could ever know."
"I have a secret to tell you."
"What?"
"I love you."
Booth laughed quietly, "That's not a secret Bones. And I love you too."
"I didn't take my birth control pill today."
"Okay."
"I'd offer to start trying right now," Brennan whispered, "but I'm incredibly worn out. Tomorrow?"
Booth smiled brightly, "It's a guarantee. Happy Birthday Bones."
ooo
A/N: This is merely a introduction to where I plan on taking this fic and I hope that is sparks interest. We will be seeing some cases, bickering, family and a whole lot of BB fluff. Hope you take the ride with me!