This was a really hard chapter to write...but hopefully it's okay. It's a little shorter, but I wanted to get something up, because I'm not sure when I'll be able to update again...please enjoy though! And review!

PS. Be sure to check out my photobucket (dot) com album TemperateJoy, for pictures of everything described! The link in my profile will take you straight to the album! Yay!


Chapter 7 --- Alive

"Mo-om," He shrugged out from under her hand and she laughed. "How come Aunt Angie picked me up today? Were you too busy with work?" He asked.

"No, bub. I-uh, let's go to my office okay?"

"Okay. Where's Jen-Jen?" He asked as he followed her up the stairs.

"She's in Angela's office. We'll go see her in a little bit, but- but first," She took a deep breath as she led him into her office and sat with him on the couch. "I need to talk to you about something."

He looked up at her with wide eyes. "What's wrong? Am I in trouble? Cuz I didn't mean to make Tammy cry."

"You made Tammy- you know what, we'll talk about that later." She shook her head. "Bub-" She took another deep breath, resting a hand on his back. "-we need to talk about your dad." He pulled away from her and walked over to Jenna's empty playpen. "I know you don't want to- but we have to Parker."

"Why?" He interrupted. "Daddy died, the army said so." He said softly.

"I know, but Parker-" She sighed. "Can you come sit down?" He dragged his feet as he made his way back to the couch. "Parker, sometimes even the army makes mistakes." She told him softly.

"What do you mean?"

She squeezed his hand. "Parker, the army told us that your dad was in a car that was blown up by a bomb. But, they didn't know that he wasn't in the car. He was hurt though, and that's why he couldn't come back." Parker was starting to cry, and she knelt in front of him. "Parker, baby, Daddy's okay. He's alive."

He looked up at her with wide, teary eyes. "Daddy's not dead, like the army told us?"

"No bub. He's alive." She smiled through tears of her own as he launched himself off of the couch and into her arms.

Moments later he struggled out of the hug as he thought of something. "Is he still at the war? Does he get to come home?"

"He gets to come home, bub. In fact-" She stood and pulled him up. "He came home today. He's waiting for us in Angela's office." Parker took off running, throwing open the door to Angela's office. He froze in the doorway.

"Daddy." He whispered.

Seeley looked up from the baby in his arms. "Parker." He shifted the baby to one arm, holding the other open to his son as the boy flung himself into his father. Brennan hurried in moments later and scooped Jenna from Booth's arm so that he could fully hug his son, pulling him up and into his lap. The child was sobbing, and Booth was fighting tears as well. Father and son rocked together as Brennan slipped out of the office with Jenna. She made it a few feet down the hallway before she sagged against the wall, tears streaming down her face. She hugged the baby tightly as she slid down the wall.

Jenna eyed her mother, her chubby fingers patting her wet cheeks. "Ma?" Jenna whimpered, catching on to her mother's distress.

"Shh, Jenna-bug." Brennan choked out, rubbing the baby's back as she buried her face in her neck. A few moments later, the sound of footsteps ascending the stairs had Brennan wiping her tears way with one hand.

"Bren? Oh sweetie." Angela spotted her friend curled up on the floor with Jenna and sighed. She sank to the ground next to her and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. Brennan leaned her head on Angela's shoulder, exhaling shakily.

"I keep thinking I'm going to wake up." Brennan whispered. "I'm going to wake up, alone in bed, and I'll still be a widow."

"You can't let yourself think that way. This is real, he's here sweetie." Angela squeezed her shoulder. "He's home, alive and well, and I doubt he's going anywhere anytime soon." Jenna struggled out of her mother's tight grasp and crawled into Angela's lap. "Can I give you some advice?" Brennan nodded against her shoulder, watching as Jenna struggled to get the artist's pendant into her mouth. "You guys have a rare second chance here. Don't let your fear ruin it."

Brennan gave a wry laugh, "Believe me, I'll try." Angela squeezed her shoulder once more, laying her head on top of Brennan's. They sat in silence, Brennan surreptitiously brushing away the tears that continued to wet her cheeks. "He wasn't in the transport." Brennan whispered, breaking the silence.

Angela looked down at her. "What?"

"He wasn't in it. The blast blew him away from it, and he woke up in an Iraqi hospital with no idea who he was."

"Oh sweetie." Angela didn't know what else to say, so the women sat that way for a long time, as Brennan struggled to get her emotions under some semblance of control. They were entertaining Jenna when the door to Angela's office opened. They both looked up when Parker poked his head out.

"Mom!" He exclaimed, hurrying over to sit next to them. Over his head she saw Booth's eyebrows raise. She smiled weakly as he joined them, sinking to the floor beside his son.

"What are you doing out here?" He asked softly.

Angela stood up quietly. "I'll leave you guys alone. Bren?" She looked up. "Go home sweetie." She told her friend softly before walking away and down the steps to the platform.

Booth shifted to lean back against the wall. Parker had settled between them and was talking excitedly to Jenna, who was watching her big brother in fascination. "You okay? You got out of there pretty fast." He commented.

She sighed, automatically reaching out to steady Jenna as she pulled herself up on Parker, and murmured "Careful." She warned. "I'll be okay." She answered Booth honestly. "I just needed a moment, and I wanted to give you two some time alone."

"Thanks Bones." He reached out and stroked his thumb over her cheek. She leaned into his touch with a sigh.

"Mom?" Parker's voice interrupted.

"Yeah, bub?" She tore her eyes away from Booth's and looked down to her stepson.

"I think Jen-Jen needs a new diaper." He made a face and she laughed.

"Alrighty then." She pushed herself up to her feet then scooped up the baby. "I'll go change her. Parker, can you get her blanket and binky from the crib in Aunt Angela's office for me? Then what do you say we take Daddy home, huh?"

---

A half hour later, the little family was loaded up in Brennan's SUV and headed down the highway. The drive was quiet, save for Parker's continuous chatter as he tried to tell Jenna about his game without letting her grab it. Brennan drove one handed, her right holding her husband's tightly. His thumb stroked the back of her hand as they drove along.

"I went to the apartment earlier." He revealed softly, and she glanced over at him, her expression unreadable.

"We moved, right before Jenna was born." She told him softly.

"I got my own room, and a playroom, and we have a backyard Daddy!" Parker piped up from the backseat. Booth looked confused, and she laughed.

"I bought a house." She told him as she pulled onto their street.

"You bought a house." Booth repeated in surprise as she pulled into the driveway. It was a beautiful two story house, with a wrap around porch. There was a big front yard with a brick path up to the front door. "Whoa. It's incredible Bones."

She grinned at him as she killed the engine and climbed out. She threw her purse over her shoulder and lifted Jenna out of her car seat. "Parker, put your game away and you can help me give Daddy a tour of the house okay?"

"Okay!" He grabbed his backpack and clamored out of the car. He grabbed his father's hand, tugging him up the walk to the front door. Brennan grabbed the diaper bag and boosted Jenna onto her hip before following the pair. She was laughing when she caught up to them, waiting on the porch.

"Forgot who had the keys, didn't you bub?" She ruffled his hair and unlocked the door.

"Come on Daddy, come see my room!" He started to pull his father towards the stairs.

"Hold on bub!" She called as she dropped her keys and diaper bag on the floor by the door. "Let me check the messages and we'll give him a tour of the whole house, I promise." She handed Jenna to Booth, who looked surprised for a moment before he settled the child in his arms, and shrugged out of her suit jacket as she headed to the kitchen. The machine beeped and the automated voice filled the room as Parker, Booth and Jenna followed her.

"You have two unheard messages, first unheard message: Hey hon, it's dad. Just wanted to let you know I got to Russ's okay today. He and Amy and the girls all say hi. They can't wait to see you all at Christmas. Call me if you need anything, otherwise I'll see you and the kids for Christmas next week. Give Parker and Jen a kiss for me. Love you honey, bye." There was a beep as she erased it, and the voice continued, "Next unheard message: Hi Tempe, dear, it's Mary. I just wanted to let you know I went to the doctor's today. It's just the flu, as we suspected, so I should be better soon and ready to watch that angel of ours. I'll keep you updated. Everyone is looking forward to seeing you and the kids Christmas Eve. Daniel sends his love. We'll talk to you soon dear!" There was another beep, "You have no unheard messages."

She cleared her throat as the recording completed, taking in the look of confusion and curiosity on Booth's face and Parker bouncing anxiously beside him. She sent Booth a look that promised to explain later, before turning to Parker.

"How about that tour now bub?" She laughed as he grinned and turned to his father.

"This is the kitchen." He pointed out importantly.


A/N: Please, Please, Please check out the pictures I've selected for this story...I got the link in my profile to work, so just click on that and it'll take you directly to the album.