Of Jolly Ranchers and Fertility Statues
AN: My thanks to all reviewers. This chapter is ridiculous in the fluff content. I'm going to keep on this story much longer. It's fun to write and seems fairly well liked. It was put under complete by mistake. Enjoy.
After Booth picked up some meds for Parker's stomach, the three returned to his apartment. Since Becca and Brent were on some romantic cruise, Parker was his for two straight weeks. Which was really nice. Parker was on the chair half asleep. He had slightly more color than a piece of paper.
"Did he take something?" Bones asked.
"Yeah. He'll sleep a while too, and that'll make him feel a bit better. I'm sorry Bones." He sighed.
"What for?" She sat on the couch next to him.
"For ruining tonight. It was supposed to be us three hanging out. You had to juggle all those squints and clean up vomit." He sighed.
"Admittedly, it wasn't all that relaxing, but it nice to see everyone. If it makes you feel better, you'll probably spend the next few days wiping up vomit." She pointed out matter of factly. He groaned.
"That's a fun time." He said and rolled his eyes at her playfully.
"I'm sorry." Brenn remarked genuinely. It took his breathe away when she was solemn and sweet instantaneously. It was remarkable how she could do that. Come to think of it, a lot of what she did left him breathless. He cleared his throat nervously, as though she could read his previous thought and spoke to her.
"I just feel bad for him. Little kids get so worried when they're sick." He glanced at the chair's worn out occupant. He was fast asleep and looked like a sad puppy. Poor little devil.
"The concept on microscopic germs is still radically abstract. Children can't completely explain why their bodies feel ill and that unnerves them. It helps if someone can reassure them" Bones said, looking away afterwards. He knew she had offered a piece of herself to him without meaning to.
"It really sucked when your parents left, didn't it? Your foster parents either didn't care when you got sick, or you didn't let them get close enough for them to help." He meant to phrase it as a statement, but it a was a calm statement. That happened often when they talked.
"How do you even know me this well?" She asked. Her tone was defiant but her eyes pleaded for an answer. He looked into them, thankful when she didn't evade his gaze.
"I know how it is when your parents are distant." He admitted.
"Your mom was under stress because she couldn't help your father stop drinking. He likely would have told you to tough it out when you were ill." Her bluntness only made him see how true that was.
"How do you even know me so well?" He winked at her and she gazed at him fondly. Suddenly a pitter of feet announced that Parker was awake and sprinting.
She followed Booth and watched in silent admiration an as this man, who had been beaten and ignored as a child, spoke soft words into Parker's hair. This man who could and has shot many people was leaning over his son and rubbing his back.
And it hit her so hard that she could hardly breathe. She loved Booth more than anything. More than it was rationally possible and times twenty. She wanted to fall into bed with him fully clothed and be barefoot and pregnant because of him.
It was terrifying to feel that way, but she had for a long time if she thought about it. As Angela had predicted, she had caught onto her own reality.
Darting silently out of the bathroom, she got her purse from the living room. Digging out her cell phone, she debated who to call. Angela to kick her into shape? The airport for the nearest flight to Guatemala? It was then that she caught sight of her first speed dial. It was then she remembered who hugged her when she got scared and who saved her life. He understood. He had taken liberties for her. Bullets for her.
And she'd always do the same. She went back in the bathroom. There was only one thing to do, and that was to stay.
Booth hadn't noticed her disappearance. He had stayed with Parker. As she watched he picked up Parker and settled him on the couch with a blanket on top of him.
"You want to watch a movie with me and your dad, Parker?" She knew she was basically inviting herself to stay. She just couldn't seem to put her brain in place now that her heart was in overdrive. Parker nodded and she was elated. Booth came near them.
"Thanks Bones." Booth sat next to her, slinging an arm casually around her. Without thinking, she snuggled into him. He didn't seem all that surprised.
"Anytime." She felt her cheeks warm. Was she blushing?
"Can we watch 'Spiderman?" Requested Parker.
"You game, Bones?" Checked Booth. She didn't know what that meant, but if he was going to watch the film with his warm, hard body so close, she couldn't deny him.
"Okay." She agreed, groaning internally as he got up to put the movie in. Her side was shockingly cold.
At his return he sat just as close, but no arm around her.
So she sat closer and put hers around him. In a freakishly long moment, he wound his around her once more. The movie was odd and a nauseous child slept adjacent to her.
Everything was just so perfect.
AN: I know she's a tad bit ooc by not running like a bat outta heck, but I think love does change people. I hope you all think it made sense for her to have acted the way she did.
