3 Years later

Booth, Brennan Lilly, and Parker had settled into be a family Booth and Brennan had bought a house the year before when Parker started spending weeks with them rather every other weekend. It was a Friday morning; Brennan was peeling an apple for Lilly's preschool snack, Lilly was trying not to make a mess with her cereal Booth was reading the comics and drinking coffee.

"Mommy?"

Brennan looked up, "What Lilly?"

"How come I don't look like Daddy? Parker does, but I don't."

Brennan put the apple down and crossed to Lilly's chair, picking her up this wasn't a question to be answered at the kitchen table with milk on your chin. On the short trek to the couch, Brennan thought of how to answer the question. She could say that it was all genetics, that even though Booth's genes were the dominate ones hers were stronger, lie to Lilly. Or she could try and simply the truth, down to something her 4 and a half year old could comprehend. Brennan sat Lilly in her lap, tucking her hair behind her ears. Brennan hugged her gently gathering the courage to tackle the question," Lilly, you know that Parker has two moms, right? "

"Yeah, Daddy loves her because they have Parker, but he doesn't love her like he loves you."

"That's right, you have two dads; I was married before you were born."

"To Daddy?"

"Not to the person you call Daddy, but to your Father. When we found out we were going to have a baby, you, your father decided he didn't want to be married to me anymore, and so he left. Then it was just me until you were born, then Daddy came back when you were four months old and we've been together ever since. Daddy and I were friends for a long time before I got married to your father, we might even have gotten marred a long time ago, if Daddy hadn't had to go away for a while." Brennan looked at Lilly she didn't look too confused or upset, Brennan wasn't sure what to say next, Lilly beat her to it. "Mommy, how come I don't see my other Dad like Parker sees his other Mom?"

Brennan tensed up, quickly relaxing before Lilly noticed, "Because your father decided he didn't want to see you."

"Why?"

"I don't know why Sweetie, he loved you. I think he was scared."

"How do you know he loved me, Mommy?"

"Your Father used to tell me he loved you every night before we went to bed."Brennan smiled at the memory. "Stay here, I'll be right back." Brennan kissed the top Lilly's head as she sat her on the couch. Booth watched her go into their bedroom giving her a thirty second head start, before going behind her. Booth found Brennan rummaging through the closet, he wasn't sure what to do he could see she was a bundle emotions. Carefully and gently Booth laid a hand on Brennan's shoulder "Bones are you okay?"

"I think so; I've thought of this moment, I always pictured Lilly being at least 10 before she brought it up, not 4 and a half! Part of me hoped she'd never question if you were her Father, you we're here before she was old enough to remember that you weren't always here."

"Bones Lilly is all you she probably figured it out before she could talk."

Brennan put her arms around Booth's waist and he hugged her to him. "You just said that to make me feel better didn't you?"

"Did it work?"

"A little, yes."

"My work here is done. What are you looking for?"

"A box of pictures I saved for this moment to give Lilly, some wedding photos, mostly candid's of John and me together."

"You check the top shelf?"

"No it should be pink box with butterflies on it."

Booth took the description as a cue that Brennan wanted him to look for the box he stepped to the closet and looked, quickly spying the box. Booth cleared the dust from the top and brought it over to the bed, Brennan looked at him Booth knew she was silently asking him if he was okay with what she was going to do, he was, he knew this would come up , but like Brennan he thought they had a few years. "Bones go ahead, its fine." She smiled a little and opened the box, reaching in and extracting a few photos. Booth couldn't help looking, "Bones, you married Attorney Jonathan Mackey?"

"Yes, are you surprised?"

"Kind of I've known Mackey for years-"

"Booth I really want to hear this, but can we talk later? I need to make sure Lilly is okay."

"Sure, I need to get ready. Are you going in?"

"I don't really feel like it today and it's not like I can explain this to Lilly and drop her off at preschool, you never know what is gonna pop out of her mouth."

Booth chuckled, "True you want me to stay?"

"No, but would you bring lunch from the diner?"

"Usual?"

"Yes, thanks."

Brennan left with the box in hand, Booth found Lilly in Brennan's lap listening as she told her a little about each picture. Not wanting disturb them Booth went to the kitchen and cleaned up the dishes, Lilly wasn't done with her cereal, but it was now too soggy to eat, Brennan cold make her more later if she wanted it. With the kitchen clean Booth went to the couch and lightly placed a kiss on Brennan's head, Lilly leaned over, wrapping her arms around Booth's neck, he pulled her from Brennan's lap, hugging her tightly.

"Mommy and I get to stay home today. "

"I know Pumpkin, have fun, I love you."

"Love you Daddy."

Booth gave Lilly one last kiss and sat her back in Brennan's lap; he noticed Brennan had tears in her eyes. He whispered, "Are you okay Bones?"

"I'm fine, this morning has been extremely odd, and it's not even 9."

"I know I love you."

"Love you too." they shared one more kiss.