The Future...

a/n So this is how I think it should go. 'CAUSE THEY SHOULD BE TOGETHER! *evil laugh* So imma make it happen, folks!

Dr. Temperance Brennan peered down at the bones, gleaming white despite the wear and breaks.

This was what remained of Tracy White. She and Booth had arrested the nineteen-year-old gymnast's killer only hours ago. But before the remains were packed up and returned to the family for burial, Brennan took a moment to imagine. To imagine her, alive and well and smiling, like in the picture of Tracy that Angela had drawn.

A soft sigh escaped Brennan, and some of the tension that pulled at her muscles eased. They had done a good job and Scott Barker would be tried for taking Tracy's life. For the moment, that was enough.

Then she checked her watch and gasped. She rushed to her office, switching her lab coat with the dark blue jacket he had given her for Christmas. Frantically gathering her things, she called a quick goodbye to her team as she hurried out of the Jeffersonian.

FBI Special Agent in Charge Seeley Booth tapped his fingers on the steering wheel. His dark, standard FBI issue SUV was stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic. Any other time, he probably would have switched on his lights and turned on the siren, then muscled his way through traffic. But his 10-year-old son Parker sat in the passenger seat. Pulling the "emergency call" routine would teach Parker the wrong thing.

Not to mention, Rebecca would kill him if she ever found out.

So he continued beating out a rhythm on the wheel and glaring at the back of the car ahead of him.

Parker had watched the signs of his father's growing irritation, and laughed. "Calm down, Dad. It's okay to be late. I'll be here the whole weekend, remember?"

Booth rolled his eyes, then turned and smiled at Parker. "Sorry, buddy. I guess you're right."

Still a little impatient, Booth made the rest of the drive home carefully, but as quickly as he could manage.

Brennan listened as the front door swung open, tossing the salad, adding blueberries and honeyed almonds.

"Bones, we're here!"

She spun around as Parker came flying into the room. He reached his arms around her and she smiled, tousling his light curls. From the front room, she heard a bellow.

"Parker, come back and hang up your backpack!"

"Just a minute, Dad," Parker called back. He stepped back from Brennan and smiled impishly. "What's for dinner?"

"A salad for me, and lemon-honey chicken for you and your dad. And some rolls. Does that sound good?"

Parker nodded, grinning. "Will you help me with my homework, Bones?"

Brennan laughed, pushing him back toward the front room, then pulling out a vinaigrette to splash on the salad. "You know I will, Parker. Now, go do what your dad said."

With a quick nod, he ran back in the other room, passing Booth.

Booth stood for a moment, watching Brennan move around the kitchen. Her dark hair was pulled back in a loose bun, and she wore a pair of jeans that hugged her slim legs, and a grey blouse that would set off her lovely blue eyes. The shirt curved over her enormously swollen belly.

She spun to find him watching, and glared. He knew it annoyed her when he didn't announce his presence, but he loved watching her when she was unaware. She was beautiful, and every gesture and movement made him love her more. He grinned at the thought, then stepped forward, pulling her tightly into his arms. She continued to frown, until he leaned down and pressed a tender kiss to her lips. His hands slipped down to rest over hers on her pregnant stomach. "How's the little guy today?"

"Anthropologically speaking, the need for males to pass on their genes through their sons is highly dominant. It's a primal requirement for the continuation of the species. But I would like to remind you that we do not know if this child is a boy or a girl."

He raised an eyebrow and gave her a pointed look. "And exactly who's fault is that again?"

Brennan brow furrowed, "If you are trying to place blame over how this child came to be-"

Now his grin was wide and his eyes were teasing, stealing her breath. "Believe me, Bones, I know how the kid got inside you."

She tried to get back on topic. "However, if you are referring to why I insist on not knowing whether the child is going to be a boy or a girl, it's because of Angela."

"Angela?"

She nodded firmly. "She told me that it would be much more exciting and wonderful if it was a surprise as to which gender the child would be."

"Baby, Bones. Our baby," he softly answered, dark eyes going soft and revealing the tenderness he felt for her. Then he looked confused. "How did we get on this subject, again?"

"You were asking me how the child was acting today."

"Oh, yeah." He backed up and pulled the baked chicken out of the oven, grabbing a knife and fork and checking how well they were cooked. Satisfied, he pulled out several plates and dished out the different food. "So, are you ever going to answer?"

"About the child?" she asked, putting tongs in the bowl and carrying it into the other room. "Parker, will you help set the table?"

He smiled and rushed in, bumping into Booth. "Move, Dad. I'm helping set." Then he turned back to Brennan. "What should I set, Bones?"

"Grab some forks and knives, okay, bud?" Booth answered, while he laid out the plates on the table, then headed back for the cups.

"What about napkins, Dad?"

"Yeah, those, too," Booth nodded.

Finally they all sat down to dinner. Booth closed his eyes and bowed his head for a minute in prayer, then met Brennan's laughing eyes. He knew she didn't believe, but she didn't mind him praying, if he wouldn't do it out loud.

Parker was already tearing happily into his chicken and had grabbed two rolls, slathering them with butter and jam. "Thanks for the food, Bones," he got out between bites.

Bones smiled. "I'm glad you like it, Parker. I've never made this before."

Booth raised an eyebrow, then looked the chicken over carefully. "This isn't gonna be another on of those meals like the Casserole Surprise, is it?"

"That was one time, Booth!" she retorted. "One time."

"Yeah, Dad," Parker chimed in. "Bones is a good cook now."

"Now," Booth repeated. With a dubious look, he cut a piece of chicken and popped it into his mouth. He started chewing slowly, then sped up and grinned. "This is awesome, Bones!"

She huffed. "I've told you before that I can learn to do anything if I decide to focus my intellect."

"Uh-huh, well, I'm glad you can. Now about the baby..."

"He or she is fine. There was quite a bit of kicking today and I had to spend an absurd amount of time sitting, so as not to strain my back and to take weight of my ankles, but there was no problem."

"Nothing like contractions, right?" He met her puzzled look and continued. "It's just that it's coming up so fast. I can't believe the due date's next week! It's seems like yesterday that we found out about him."

"Or her," she responded.

"Yeah, yeah," he smiled. "This baby."

Parker swallowed what was left of his third roll. "I think a little brother would be cool. But a little sister would be cute and girls like babies."

"Girls?" Booth chuckled. "Who've you got a crush on this week, kiddo?"

"He is at the age between being disconcerted by the physical differences between the sexes and when his hormones will make him desire–"

Booth cut her off, knowing exactly where she was going. "Ix-nay, Bones!"

"What, Booth? It is a natural part of life."

"He's ten, Bones. It's not really something for him to be concerned with just yet."

"Are you talking about sex?" Parker asked innocently.

Booth threw his hands up. "We are not talking about this!"

Brennan rolled her eyes. "What should we talk about then?"

"Parker," Booth turned his eyes to his son, "How was school today?"

Parker bit his lip and looked down at his hands.

"Buddy?"

"Parker, what is it?"

"I failed a test," he whispered, flinching, as though expecting a yell.

Booth opened his mouth, but Brennan caught his hand. Carefully leaning sideways, she patted Parker's bowed head. "Don't worry, Parker. Max and I will make sure it doesn't happen again. You're smart and you learn fast."

He looked up at her, eyes hopeful. "Is Max going to hang out with us today?"

"No," Brennan grinned. "Maybe when we go to the beach tomorrow."

"We're going to the beach?" Parker yelled excitedly, forgetting his worry about the test.

Booth shook his head at Brennan's surprised look, and laughed. "Sorry, Bones. I was keeping it a secret."

"Why? How would that benefit-?"

"Why don't you want us to know what the baby is?"

"I already told you. Because Angela said-"

"That it would be better as a surprise, right?"

"Yes?" Her blue eyes were still puzzled.

Parker shook his head, and spoke in a proud tone, happy that he understood something Brennan didn't. "He wanted it to be a surprise. But I'm excited anyway."

"Oh," Brennan's lips fell open. "That makes sense."