Disclaimer: Don't own. Shame, because I'm sure I'd be a great boss.
A/N: I wrote this one a while ago, but just got around to posting it. And I find that now I'm obsessed with Booth. But, hey, who doesn't like angsty Booth? I know I love him, because I can't stop writing fics with him as the star. That and angsty fics, but...Oh well. Review if you have any opinion at all.
My life is like a fairy tale. Or it could be compared to one. Unfortunately, I don't think that mine is the handsome-prince-saves-the-day-and-lives-happily-ever-after story.
I guess I really started thinking like this when Parker asked me to read him some bed time story. Rebecca was spending time with her boyfriend Drew, and I had taken him in for a while. Every night that week I read a different book and the next few times I saw my son we watched every fairy tale movie I could find. Parker got a kick out of seeing the happy ending and I was just glad that he was enjoying it.
One of those nights Parker asked me if I had a Princess to rescue. He looked so hopeful I couldn't say no. Beaming he said, "Then you'll have a happy ending too Daddy!" My five year old son is already concerned about my life. That blew me away.
And it made me wonder about my relationships. What have I accomplished? I dated a bunch of blonde lawyers and a pathologist while semi-chasing my partner, a forensic anthropologist.
If Bones is the Princess what does that make me? A Prince or a devoted Knight? Or am I the bad guy who has a thing for the girl? Who are the squints? Her family trying to set her up with someone who will take care of her?
I'll play the Knight who is afraid of his feelings, the person who ignores his affection for the Princess, but hates to see her with anyone else. I hate to admit it, but the role suits me, just as Bones is the Princess who can't show what she really feels. So Sully is the Prince who is arranged to be married to her. Angela can be the concerned friend, and Hodgins and Zach are court jesters. Cam is my previous lover and every man Bones dated are suitors who didn't make the cut.
All I can do is sit back and watch my story collapse into hers. I have to watch my face as I see Sully steal her away from me, even though she was never really mine. I have to watch Angela question me silently with her eyes every time I let her walk away with him.
She can't understand why I don't act. She can't understand why I don't end my story with a happy ending with Bones. I can't bring myself to ruin her story. I'm a guest in her life and I don't want to overstep my bounds.
If it means becoming the lonely Knight to make Bones happy I'll do it. After all, self-sacrifice comes hand in hand with being a Knight. If it'll make the Princess happy I'll stay her Knight. The Prince can have this time with her, but I noticed something from reading all those stories with Parker. The Knight always gets a second, even third, chance for her heart.