AN: I got the idea for this from the first fanfic challenge I participated in at Bonesology, which ended up being a conversation in the diner about bucket lists. The newest challenge had me headed back there so, okay, I give up. I concede the power of the diner.

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CHAPTER 1
The Booth Moms

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Brennan smiled her thanks at the waitress who'd just placed a steaming bowl of soup in front of her. She stirred it absently, her attention on the new chapter she'd just begun reading in the pregnancy book that lay open in front of her. The sound of her name interrupted her concentration.

"Dr. Brennan?" Rebecca stood beside the table, offering a friendly smile.

"Hello, Rebecca," she responded, nodding at the other woman's questioning gesture to the chair immediately opposite. "Yes, of course, please join me."

"Seeley told me he was meeting you here for lunch so I offered to drop by, too, for the Parker exchange," her smile widened. "It saves everyone some time in the car." She motioned to the bowl. "Please don't let your soup get cold, though. I didn't want to interrupt your meal."

"I was hungry and decided not to wait," Brennan smiled back. "But it's still a little too hot, anyway." A moment of slightly uncomfortable silence followed, before Rebecca nodded to the book Brennan had closed when the other woman sat down.

"How are you feeling, with the baby?"

"I've experienced the common effects of pregnancy, a few weeks of morning sickness, a tendency to tire easily and a somewhat annoying emotional instability but nothing out of the ordinary." Brennan dipped her spoon into the thick soup and blew softly before taking a bite.

"I'm glad to hear that." Rebecca watched the other woman thoughtfully. "You know, I always knew there was something going on between you two."

Brennan shook her head. "Then you were incorrect. There was no romantic relationship between Booth and me until now."

Rebecca's look was disbelieving. 'Oh, come on. There was a little something behind all that "we're just partners" line you both fed everyone."

"We were partners, Rebecca. At various times, we also both pursued other romantic interests, but our relationship with each other was as partners. And friends," she added, stirring the soup.

"And now you're . . . what, exactly?" Rebecca asked archly.

Brennan considered the question for a moment. "The word partner still applies. We will still be working together, of course, but we are also partners in a new relationship that will include this child." She pursed her lips in thought. "I would say that we have added deeper layers to the meaning of the word partner, but the word itself is still appropriate."

"Hmm." Rebecca sat back in her seat. "Your relationship with Seeley is your own business, of course, but I am concerned about the effect it might have on Parker."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, it was just a few months ago that Seeley introduced Parker to Hannah, because he was in love with her and he wanted her to be in Parker's life, too. And now there's you, and a new baby. Seeley just can't keep introducing new women into Parker's life. It's confusing to a young boy."

"He seems to have managed quite well meeting all of your different boyfriends over the years."

Rebecca drew a sharp breath and met Brennan's steady gaze for a long moment. "I will give you the benefit of the doubt that you didn't mean that to be as insulting as it sounded," she said finally.

"It wasn't meant as an insult at all," Brennan replied. "It was a simple statement of fact. Over the seven years I have known Booth you have been involved in several more relationships than he has, and I know for a fact that not only has Parker met them but at various times, some of those men shared a residence with you until the relationship ended. If you're concerned about Parker's confusion over family dynamics, I might suggest you consider your own behavior and not Booth's."

Rebecca's face was a mask of irritation. "You're very blunt, Dr. Brennan."

"I'm merely stating the facts. You accused Booth of behavior of which you, yourself, have engaged in even more frequently. I'm sorry if those facts are unappealing."

"I am a good mother, Dr. Brennan. Parker is very well taken care of." Her jaw tightened in anger.

"Yes, I believe that." She sipped delicately at her soup. "But more importantly, Booth also believes that. He has commented several times on your skills and aptitude as Parker's mother." She hesitated a brief moment and then added, "I wish you'd allow Booth the same opportunities."

Rebecca straightened in her chair. "What do you mean? Seeley has a very generous visitation schedule. I allow him . . ."

"Exactly," Brennan interrupted. "You allow him to be Parker's father at your convenience. It's unfair to him. It's unfair to both of them."

"I don't know what you're . . ."

"Have you ever felt threatened by Booth physically?" Brennan put down the spoon and stared at Rebecca.

"Of course not!"

"Has Booth ever given you reason to think he might harm Parker?"

"No!" Rebecca's voice was shocked.

"Do you fear for Parker's safety when he's with Booth?"

"Seeley would die before he'd let anyone hurt Parker," she said fiercely.

"Then I think you should stop trying to control their relationship." Brennan picked up her spoon again.

"I don't . . ."

"Yes, you do." Brennan sighed and put the spoon down again. "You hold him strictly to the visitation schedule you originally proposed. You have a habit of conveniently forgetting to inform him of consultations with Parker's teachers until it's too late for him to make arrangements to be there. You have deliberately made holiday plans that affect Booth's time with Parker without consulting him in advance." She stared intently at Rebecca. "You behave as if you're doing Booth a favor allowing him to act like Parker's father. He is Parker's father. Let him be."

"You seem to have given this a lot of thought," the blonde woman said quietly.

Brennan shrugged. "I love Parker. It's difficult enough to accept a new sibling into a family. I don't want Parker to compare his father's behavior with him with Booth's behavior with the baby. Especially when the difference is something Booth can't control." Holding Rebecca's gaze, she continued. "Booth is an excellent father. We both know that."

"Mom!" Parker raced into the restaurant and to his mother's side. "Dad can get tickets to the baseball game next Saturday! Can I go? Please, can I go?"

Rebecca's head began to shake as she started to respond, then she paused and looked at Brennan. "Of course," she said finally. "Who am I to stand in the way of a father and his son?"

The two women exchanged faint smiles as Parker and Booth slapped hands and whooped happily.

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This is for all the times I've wanted to verbally bitch-slap Rebecca. I've got to say...it felt pretty good. :-)

Thanks for reading!