Chapter 3: Parker
Rebecca looked over Dr. Brennan's shoulder as she saw that shirtless form of her ex-lover enter the room. He looked the same today as he had looked the day she met him. He still had those same teddy bear eyes that she had fallen for years ago. She did not love him now. Not in the way she did then, but still it was hard to watch him with her.
His love for Brennan was different than their love had been, it was deeper, more pronounced. She had seen his struggle with it, making it more solid. It had, at first, given her peace to have resolved her issues with him. The truth was that Dr. Brennan had come into his life when he needed someone the most. He was still trying to sort out his feelings for Rebecca, even through the other women. He had not needed another lover, he had needed a friend. She had obliged. As a result he became less rash, more accepting of their situation. It was like a heavy weight off of her shoulders.
That changed though, the moment he fell in love. It was no longer easy for her to watch him lose himself in someone else. Perhaps it is because she knew he had never loved her like that, or perhaps it was because in her mind she always thought she would take precedence over other women. She had been the mother of his child, giving him the greatest gift a man could get. She had given him Parker.
Perhaps the reason she was having such a hard time with his new life was that Parker was involved in it. She knew that when Seeley had to deal with Parker's attachment to new men in her life it was hard, but she never really knew how hard it was. Now she had to deal with seeing her son's face light up when he got to see 'Bones'. It was like an arrow through her heart, watching as someone else raised her child, even if it was only for two days a week.
In the beginning it was a way for Seeley to heal. Spending more time with Parker would rid him of the feelings of loss he had from the other child. Somehow though it felt, at least in her mind, like she had lost both of them to this mystery woman with minimal social skills and blunt reasoning. It was hard to share when you could not even relate to the person you were sharing with.
" Daddy!" Parker took off, detangling himself from around Brennan's legs and headed for the strong arms of his father. Seeley was a good man, and a great father. It never escaped her notice that she could have lived the life Brennan had now, if only she had seen it so many years ago.
" Hey Bud, how are you?" Booth was squatting, putting him at eye level with the little boy who was talking a mile a minute. Rebecca was sure that he could not even understand half of what was being said, but he hung on every word. She snuck a glance at the brunette in Booth's clothes. She was smiling with her head tilled to one side watching the scene play out.
The jealousy began to well up in her and she wanted to be anywhere but here. It was time to leave this family alone and cut her losses. She had a great boyfriend and a wonderful son that lived with her eighty percent of the time. All she had to do was remember that and she would be okay.
" I should get going." She said, speaking up. Brennan turned to her, acknowledging her presence for the first time since Seeley had walked into the room.
"Thank you." She said taking the back pack out of her hands and setting it on her couch. Rebecca just nodded and turned towards the door.
" By Parker, Mommy will see you on Sunday night." She called to the pre-occupied little boy. He just looked up and smiled, already in his other life.
" Hey bud, go say goodbye to your mom." Booth said scooting Parker towards Rebecca. He knew how hard to was, watching your son become so enamored so quickly. Hell, he had been there more than once. Parker did not need much more encouragement as it was. He took off into his mother's waiting arms as Booth made his way over to Brennan. Casually slinging his arms around her he faced Rebecca as she straightened up.
"Take good care of him." She said before turning once more to leave. Brennan closed the door softly behind her as Parker made his way over to the plasma TV on the wall.
"Daddy, can I watch cartoons?" He asked looking at the array of remotes on the glass coffee table.
"Sure Bud, but only till Bones and I get ready. " Booth said as he picked up the farthest remote and turned on the TV. Then using a second remote turned on the Disney channel. That was all that it took for Parker's attention to wean and he was lost to them, The Adventures of Phenius and Ferb entrancing him.
"Come one Booth, let's go get ready for the zoo." Brennan said as she passed them, heading to their bedroom. Booth followed behind compliantly once he was certain that Parker was settled. If he could not spend the day in bed with her, at least he got to spend it as a family.