Booth pulled in front of Temperance's driveway. "Okay, we're here. So, could we come in or not?"
"Open the door, daddy! Can we play at your house, Mommy Tempe?"
"Yea, Mommy Tempe, can we?" Booth leaned in towards her and flashed a huge smile.
"I really do have a lot of work to do on my book, maybe the next time. Okay, Parker sweetie?" She jumped out the car when Parker yelled out. Booth rolled down his side of the window.
"Are you mad at me? Cause I fell off the swing? I promise to be careful the next time." A frown appeared on his face.
Booth stayed out of their conversation and just listened. He wondered how Bones was going to get herself out of this situation and enjoyed every minute of his son's begging. She couldn't possibly say no to a little boy, whom he knew she loved.
"No, I'm not mad. What makes you say such a thing?" She ran her fingers through his soft locks.
"Then are you mad at daddy? Did he do something to you?" He looked at his father. "Say sorry, daddy, so we can play!"
"No, sweetheart, I...daddy didn't...we," she tried to answer but was tongue tied. "Okay, just for a little while, okay?" She finally gave in.
As soon as Tempe opened her front door, Parker ran in. Booth followed closely behind her.
"You're a sucker for little kids, aren't you?" He growled softly into her ears which made the hairs on the back of her neck stand.
She caught her breath and exhaled softly. If Parker hadn't been with them, she would have turned around, yanked Booth into the house so quickly as so to continue what they had been doing earlier in the day. It surprised her of certain thoughts she'd been having lately of him and was thankful Parker was in their presence. She wasn't afraid of Booth, she was afraid of herself of what she might to do him.
It was well into the late afternoon when Booth offered to go pick up a few burgers and fries for their dinner. Tempe was on the living room sofa looking over some paperwork when Parker flopped himself on her.
"Can I tell you a secret?"
"Sure thing, sweetie."
"Promise not to tell my daddy?" Parker laid his head on her shoulder and softly pulled at her hair.
"I promise. It's our little secret."
"Okay. I asked daddy if he was going to marry you some day? And you know what he said?"
Something told her even if she didn't want to know, he would blurt it out anyway. "What did he say?"
"He made me promise not to tell you, but, okay, I'll tell you. Only if you loved him, he said. Then, he'll marry you."
"Well, sweetheart, it works both ways. Two people have to love each other first."
"But he already does! He said!"
"Oh, sweetie. No, he doesn't." She smiled at him.
"Don't you want us to be your family?" He fluttered his eyes at her.
She cuddled the little boy. "You're not mines to keep. I wish you were."
"Don't you love my daddy? Cause he said he loves you."
"Oh Parker, no he doesn't." She laughed.
The doorbell rang. "Daddy!"
"Okay, let's go answer the door. Dinner's here."
Booth walked in with his hands full when he nearly dropped everything on the floor. "Daddy! Tell Mommy Tempe you said you loved her, cause she doesn't believe me. Okay, daddy!"
TBC - Chapter 8
Author's Note: Sorry that this chapter is so short. I promise to write a longer one next time.
