Okay, you guys knew the angst train would be steaming down the tracks for this fic too didn't you? Well...there is fluff around the bend...but there's a long stretch of track before there...ALL ABOARD!

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I wish it could be easy all the time.

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The car ride was mostly silent on the half hour drive back to town. Brennan had switched on the radio and was exchanging warm glances with Booth every so often, their hands laced between them.

April sat behind absently coloring her nails black with a marker, rolling her eyes at the adults' mushy expressions, though she couldn't help the smile on her lips.

"So how have the cases been? You like working with Zack?"

Booth snorted. "Oh yeah, we're best pals."

Brennan raised an eyebrow and turned to April in the backseat.

"Was that sarcasm?" Then, turning to Booth, "I think that was sarcasm." She and April both grinned.

"You know Seeley, sarcasm in the workplace can be highly stressful." April said in a matter-of-fact tone she'd learned from listening to Brennan talk.

Booth groaned.

"If you guys are going to gang up on me you're not going to be allowed to play with each other any more."

The girls giggled and Booth turned onto a familiar street.

"We're getting Parker?" Brennan asked curiously.

"I hope you don't mind, he was really excited when he heard you were coming back today."

Brennan flipped open the visor mirror and checked her appearance.

"Yeah that's fine." She said, adding a quick swipe of lipstick.

Booth chuckled.

"Getting all dolled up for my son Bones? I think he may be a bit young for you."

Brennan huffed. "No, I'm not getting "dolled up" for Parker. I've been told that women without make-up tend to frighten children and small animals." She said in all seriousness, proper air-quotes in place.

April was set to laughing out loud at this but Booth only turned a warm smile on her as he pulled up in front of the house. Reaching over, he took her chin between his thumb and forefinger and pulled her to him.

"Let me tell you Babe, those rules don't apply to you." He kissed her gently. "You look beautiful all the time."

April saw them leaning in for another, deeper kiss, and decided to give them a break. As quietly as she could she sipped from the car and ran toward the house.

Booth's seatbelt quickly became a hindrance and Brennan leaned over, undoing both his and hers in a single motion.

He felt a twinge of embarrassment getting hot and heavy with his girlfriend while sitting in front of his son's house, but quickly got over it when Brennan began making those little noises that drove him wild. She tipped her head back and to the side, making it easier for Booth to get to the sensitive skin on her neck and closed her eyes. She moaned when he began to nip it lightly and moved her hand higher on his thigh, causing Booth's discomfort to grow…literally.

His hands worked their way under her shirt and touched her spine gently, sending tingles of anticipation racing across her skin. When she reached for the button on his pants, his brain was suddenly jumped started and one of his hands disentangled itself from her hair and caught her wrist.

"Later Temperance." He rasped. "We have continue this…later."

She rested her forehead against his, knowing he was right. She nodded.

"Okay. But remember…I don't like to wait." She quickly smoothed her hair and joined him outside the car.

He only grinned as he took her hand and started up the pathway toward the door.

Rebecca flung the door open before Booth even had a chance to knock.

"Seeley, Temperance, come on in." She smiled, stepping aside so they could enter the house.

Brennan followed Booth inside, grateful that the tentatively polite relationship the trio had developed had not grown awkward in her absence. It had been six weeks afterall.

"April just ran upstairs with Parker, do you want coffee or anything?"

Booth shook his head. "No thanks, we'll just grab Parker and head out. We're going on a picnic."

Brennan raised her eyebrows but remained silent and Rebecca shrugged, returning to the kitchen.

"Well you know the way. Seeley, try and have him back by six okay?"

Booth agreed and lead the way upstairs.

"Now c'mon Parker, you know the Power Rangers and the X-men can't be on the same team!" April's soft voice worked it's way around the corner and Booth smiled, he could tell she was playing with his son, probably more engrossed in the game than he was.

"Yes-huh! They can so, they gotta work all together so dey catch the bad guys!"

"Parker…The Incredible Hulk is NOT a bad guy. He's just…misunderstood."

The adults slowly poked their heads around the doorframe and watched the kids inside.

Parker sat kneeling on the floor, reaching into a big purple bag of action figures and talking animatedly with April about who was, and was not the bad guy. April sat next to him, cross-legged on the floor and carefully setting up a scene with the little men that had already been chosen.

"Oh No! Parker look!"

Booth watched his son whip his head out of the bag at the sound of April's cry, just in time to see Magneto carry a wounded Storm away to the Bat-mobile.

"We gotta save 'er!" Parker said, worry and determination in his tone.

Sounds just like his father. Brennan noted. I guess the orange doesn't fall far from the tree.

Brennan furrowed her brow in concentration as Parker grabbed a small plastic man, whom Booth would have told her was named RoboCop, and sent him flying into the other two figurines while making a loud explosion noise with his mouth.

She leaned up to whisper in Booth's ear. "Why are those ones wearing pajamas."

She pointed to a few abandoned figures in the middle of the room, Booth grinned.

"Those are the Power Rangers, Bones. That's their uniforms."

Her frown deepened. "How are they supposed to be taken seriously by criminals if they dress like that?"

Booth laughed out loud and caught the attention of the kids.

"Daddy! Dr. Bones!" Parker launched himself across the room and after a moment's hesitation, Brennan crouched down and met his hug, the force of which sent her flying backwards on her butt.

"Parker be gentle." Booth reprimanded.

Parker immediately began talking a mile a minute and as usual Brennan was thoroughly engrossed in what he was saying, trying to catch every muddled word.

Booth watched the concentrated dent between her eyebrows warmly and grinned at the way she flinched every time Parker made one of his wide, enthusiastic gestures. Slowly the pair rose and walked downstairs, assuming Booth and April were right behind.

April quietly threw the rest of Parker's toys back in the bag and shoved it under his bed before joining Booth at the door.

"Hey Angel-face."

April flicked her eyes toward him but immediately turned away.

"Hi."

Sensing her mood was not as light as she made it out to be, he dipped his head to look at her again.

"You okay?"

She sighed and crossed her arms over her chest, making her small frame even more compact beside him.

"Did you…did you tell her?" She asked, apprehension reflected in her tone and face, a lock of dark hair falling down the middle of her forhead and into her eyes.

Booth swallowed and nodded. "Yes…She's a part of your life now April. She has the right to know."

Clenching her teeth, April visibly fought to calm herself.

"Fine. Let's go." She started down the stairs ahead of him and Booth eyed her back for a moment before following.

Bidding farewell to Rebecca, he exited the house to find April striding purposefully down the walkway toward his SUV.

"April, hold on a second." He called out. Brennan looked up as she shut the back door after buckling Parker in but decided to let Booth handle the situation and got into the car.

April whirled around, long hair hitting her in the face, dark eyes flashing with white hot rage he'd rarely seen.

"You had no right Seeley! Some things are private!" She her scream shook with emotion causing both occupants in the car to turn and look out tinted windows.

Booth stepped toward her calmly, doing his best to keep his body neutral, not wanting to scare her off or make her shut down to him.

"It is private. It's staying within the family. For now."

Her hands remained in tight fists, arms straight at her sides. "What do you mean 'for now'?"

Booth took a deep breath, careful to keep his voice low.

"I mean, that when you are doing things to hurt yourself, your safety takes precedence over your privacy."

April's eyes widened in horror.

"Don't. Seeley Booth if you say word one to anyone about this…"

"April I'll do what I have to. I'm not letting anything happen to you." He held her gaze steadily and reached out to push some of her loose hair behind her ear.

Something sad and dark fell across the girl's face and she looked at the ground for a moment before bringing her gaze back to his.

"Too late Seeley. The damage has already been done." She whispered in that calm voice that always sent shivers down his back. She pulled out of his reach and practically ran the rest of the way to the car.

Booth remained still, searching for a handle on the moment. His gaze caught Brennan's and held it, hoping they were strong enough to teach this girl how to love again.

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Maybe it would be easy if I wasn't so damn afraid. Afraid of the dark. Afraid of heights. Of spiders and dogs. Afraid of being hurt, of being alone…afraid they'll grow tired of me and throw me away, just like everyone else.

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I know, already it's angsty...well...it's kind of my thing. lol. Press the button and make me happy and I'll try to do the same!