Author's Note: This is my first Bones fanfic. It is AU from the Critic in the Cabernet. Imagine everything in that episode happened up until the last interrogation scene. In my story, Booth does not hallucinate Stewie in the interrogation room and realize he can't father Brennan's child. The case is solved and Brennan goes ahead with insemination even though Booth has unvoiced misgivings about the plan.

Prologue

"Hey, Bones," Booth said, sliding into their booth across from her. They didn't have a case, but Bones had called him to meet her for lunch at the diner. She had sounded happy on the phone and he smiled. He loved any excuse to see Bones, but it was always nice when the opportunities didn't involve a decomposing body or an upsetting personal crisis. When she was happy, he was happy.

"Hey, Booth," she said, pushing towards him the cup of coffee she'd apparently ordered for him. Thanking her, he took a sip and watched her. She looked beautiful today. Her auburn hair curled softly on her shoulders and her blue eyes were bright and clear. He sometimes thought he could stare at her forever, although she would no doubt deny the feasibility of the idea if he mentioned it.

"So, what's up?" he asked, after taking in his lovely partner for a few moments longer.

"I, uh, I just got back from seeing my physician," she said hesitantly and Booth froze with the coffee cup at his lips. Ever since he'd given her his sperm, he'd tried to subtly press her for information about her plan to have a baby—their baby. So far, she'd remained oblivious to his desire for more involvement. Until now, apparently…

"Oh, is everything okay?" he asked, thinking of Bones all alone at the doctor's office. He felt a painful twinge every time the thought of Bones having their baby alone crossed his mind, but so far he'd brushed it aside. This was what she wanted and deep down, he knew he'd do just about anything for her. When she was happy, he was happy.

"Yes, everything is fine," she replied evenly, before allowing her face to split into a wide smile. "I was inseminated two weeks ago and today my blood tested positive for rising levels of HCG."

"You, you're pregnant then?" Booth stuttered. He hadn't expected things to move this quickly. He'd given his sample at the end of May and it was now mid-July. According to what he'd read on the internet, artificial insemination could take a few tries. He'd thought he would have more time… More time to convince her that he should be involved… That he should be this baby's daddy.

"Yes," Bones said, happiness still lighting her features.

"That's great," he said, trying to keep his conflicted feelings out of his voice. He truly was happy. Happy for Bones and happy that he was going to have another biological child. But he was worried too. What if she never let him be involved? He knew when he'd agreed to donate that there was a chance she'd never change her mind, but the thought of her having another man's baby had been far worse.

"That's great?" a loud, sarcastic voice with an English accent interrupted Booth's thoughts. Bones didn't react to the rude interruption, but Booth jerked around to look for the speaker. He felt a falling feeling in his stomach, like he was on a roller coaster. Stewie was back, sitting in his high chair beside their booth.

"Booth, what's wrong?" Bones asked, the radiant smile on her face dimming.

"Why are you here?" Booth demanded, ignoring Brennan. He hadn't seen Stewie since he'd gone to make the donation. He'd dismissed the hallucination as an extreme nervous reaction. After all, Sweets had said it was normal to be nervous about that sort of thing.

"Booth, who are you talking to?" Bones sounded more upset now, but it barely registered with Booth. He was too busy focusing on the evil baby that wouldn't leave him alone.

"So, this is actually happening then?" Stewie was saying. "She's going to have your baby and you're going to let her do it all alone! You're going to abandon your child!"

"No! That's not what I'm doing!" Booth insisted. "I'm not abandoning anyone!"

"You are! You're going to let your child never know his father!"

"No! Shut up! That's not going to happen. I can't let that happen!"

"Booth!"

Booth's eyes snapped away from Stewie and back to Bones. She was on her feet now and tugging at his arm. Realizing that everyone in the diner was now staring at them, he allowed her to drag him outside.

"Booth, what were you seeing?" she demanded once they were outside on the sidewalk. He could see tears in her large blue eyes and he wanted to comfort her, but despite the tears she had that determined look on her face that told him he'd better answer the question.

"Stewie," he said.

"Who?"

"Stewie Griffin… You know, from Family Guy," he said. As soon as the words left his mouth, he knew how stupid they were. Of course Bones didn't know what Family Guy was. "He's an evil cartoon baby," Booth elaborated before asking, "Are you alright? Everything is okay with your pregnancy?"

"Yes, but that's not important right now, Booth!"

"What do you mean? Of course it's important, Bones…"

"Booth, you saw a cartoon baby! Something is wrong!" she insisted, a tear finally spilling down her cheek.

"No, I'm fine, I just—

"No, Booth. First you saw Luc Robitaille, then a dead friend, and now a cartoon baby! Trust me! Something is seriously wrong! We need to go to the hospital! Trust me!"

Her desperation was apparent and Booth felt the falling in his stomach come back. Of course he trusted her. And if Bones said something was wrong… Something had to be wrong.

Author's Note: So, obviously this short little prologue was inspired by the interrogation scene from Critic in the Cabernet. I didn't re-watch that episode, so I don't think the dialogue is verbatim, but it's definitely similar. Things will diverge further from canon in the next few chapters, obviously.