This story is a sequel to "Casualties of War" and is about Booth and Brennan learning to be parents and partners in life while still doing their very stressful jobs and dealing with their families.
You don't have to read "Casualties of War" before you read this story. The only thing you need to know is that Hank is living with Booth and Brennan and they have a daughter named Joy Christine Seeley Booth. (I wrote this story before Booth and Brennan had their baby on the show.) They have a daytime nanny for Christine whom I will mention once in a while. Her name is Sue.
I don't own Bones.
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After Brennan had her baby, Rebecca realized that she was no longer in the driver's seat when it came to Parker. Up until the birth of Christine Booth, Rebecca had total control of Seeley Booth's only child. She dictated when Booth saw Parker or even "If" he saw Parker. With the addition of another Booth child this situation had to change. Booth had a daughter and he was living with that baby's mother. He saw his daughter every day and Rebecca knew that if she continued to try to limit the amount of time that her son had with his father, that it was going to cause a problem with her relationship with her beloved son. Parker was already asking why he only got to see his father two weekends a month. Now that he had a half-sister, Parker was starting to feel jealous of the amount of time his father spent with his half-sister.
Two months after the birth of Christine, Rebecca finally saw what Booth had been seeing for weeks. Parker was beginning to resent his mother. This was devastating to Rebecca. Her little boy wasn't little any more. He was eleven years old and he was becoming a little man. He wanted to be with his father and Rebecca had no choice, she would have to start sharing custody of Parker with Booth or eventually lose her son.
Rebecca waited until a few days before it was time to take Parker over for his visit with Booth, to call Booth and let him know that if he wanted to try, she would be willing to increase the amount of time that Parker was allowed to see him. She had decided that a growing boy needs his father and she would like Parker to live with Booth two weeks a month. Parker would still go to the school he was going to now, so it would be Booth's responsibility to make sure the boy got to school on those days Parker was staying with Booth and Brennan.
Much to Rebecca's surprise, Booth had told her that he would have to talk to Brennan about this new offer. He explained to her that he didn't live by himself any more and he had to take Brennan's feelings into account before he agreed to accept her offer. A little stunned, Rebecca had told Booth that she understood and that she would like him to let her know about his decision before she brought Parker over for his visit.
Ending the call, Rebecca knew that she resented what Booth had told her. She understood, but she resented that Booth now had to think of some other woman's feelings and wishes when he made big decisions. "My feelings and wishes no longer matter to Seeley Joseph Booth. That hurts more than I thought it would."
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Driving home from the Lab that evening, Booth brought up the subject of Parker to Brennan.
His gaze flicking between the road ahead and Brennan, Booth broke his big news to her. "Rebecca called me this morning . . . She wants to change my visitation time with Parker."
Disgusted with Rebecca's selfishness, Brennan shook her head. "That's not fair, Booth. You only get to see Parker two weekends a month as it is. If anything, I think she should increase the amount of time you get to see Parker."
Surprised and hopeful, Booth blurted out, "Yeah . . . uh, Rebecca said she thought it was time that we share custody of Parker. She wants Parker to stay with me two weeks a month instead of four days."
Pleased to hear that bit of news, Brennan smiled. "Good."
A little confused with her reaction, Booth frowned. "Wait . . . What? That's it? Just Good? You don't have any concerns about having an eleven year old living with us?"
Puzzled, Brennan turned to stare at her partner. "No, why should I? I love Parker and I would like to see him more often than four days a month. It's not like we don't already have a room for him and he would be able to see his great-grandfather more often as well as his sister."
Happy with his Bones, Booth pulled his SUV over into a bank parking lot, parked the truck and turned to stare at her. "You surprised me. I thought for sure I would have to talk you into it."
Amused, Brennan chuckled. "I know you did."
Her smirk hard to miss, Booth smiled. "You did huh?"
"Of course." Brennan patted his knee. "I know you better than you think I do, Booth. I've been studying you for a very long time."
Interested, Booth decided he wanted to know more. "What else do you know about me?"
She hoped her love for him was plain for him to see, Brennan smiled at him. "I know you love me and our daughter Christine. I know you love Parker and you love Hank. I also know you love Jared although you don't like him . . . I'm not really sure how that works, but it seems to work for you."
Not really sure how that worked either, Booth laughed. "Well, Jared is a whole other kettle of fish. Let's not spoil my day by talking about that idiot."
Nodding her head, Brennan accepted his reluctance to talk about his brother. "Of course, except I should warn you that Jared called me this afternoon and told me he's going to drop by to visit Hank and Christine this evening."
Pursing his lips, Booth exhaled deeply. "So he isn't going to visit us . . . just Pops and Christine?"
Brennan shrugged her shoulders. "Yes, I didn't understand that either. I asked him about it and Jared told me that visiting with us is boring. He said when we're together, most of the time, no one else exists. He said it's become worse since we started living together."
Certain that they'd been insulted, Booth growled in irritation. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
Just as confused as he was, Brennan shrugged her shoulders once more. "I have no idea. I was hoping you would be able to explain it to me."
Shaking his head, Booth decided that Jared was full of shit. "It sounds like some of Sweets bullshit to me."
Relieved that Booth had come to the same conclusion that she had, Brennan gripped hs knee. "I though so too. I just wasn't sure. We don't really ignore people, do we? That sounds like an exaggeration to me."
Leaning over and kissing Brennan, Booth didn't want her to worry about his brother. "Nah, we don't ignore anyone. Jared is just trying to be a smart ass like usual."
His kisses always welcome, Brennan returned his kiss and then leaned back against her seat. "Well, if we don't have to entertain him then maybe we can entertain ourselves."
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Any good? Does this sound interesting? Please let me know. Thanks.
