Bonding Time

Booth anxiously waits at home for Sophia to return from her shopping trip. He looked at the newly polished white grand piano before him. Closing his eyes he hoped for the perfect reaction from Sophia, a shocked/happy/excited/'give dad a big hug' expression. Okay, now he was taking this a bit too far, 'give dad a big hug?' Wow Booth, getting a bit unmanly there? Booth chuckled; he just wants to make her happy. He wants her to forget about the pain and the hurt so that she does not reach for the blade every time those feelings come back. Booth knew he should talk to her about it, but what could he say. What should he do? Put her in therapy? That would probably hurt her in some way. He started grumbling mainly to himself but stops when his phone rings. It is Sophia again.

"Hey Sophia, you almost done?"

"Yea, Hodgins is coming to pick us up in half an hour, more or less," She said taking a sip of something.

"What are you drinking?"

"A smoothie, do you want me to buy you one?"

"Oh, no thank you but Sophia…isn't that going to ruin your dinner?" the slurping stops.

"Huh?"

Booth chuckled, "Never mind, just keep drinking it; I am sure a little smoothie won't do anything."

"Right a little large mango smoothie won't do anything," Sophia giggled nervously. She sighed and gave Angela her smoothie before she could order her own. Angela looked at her confused but shrugged it off and started drinking from it.

"Sophia, do you like Italian food?"

"Does spaghetti from a can count?"

"You never had actual Italian food before?" Booth was slightly shocked.

"Um well…not really…"

"Well you will be amazed tonight," Booth wore that genuine grin, nodding his slightly.

"Are you going to cook some for me?" His grin fell.

"Oh, well…not exactly…there's this restaurant and I ordered and it should be arriving in an hour or so…"

Sophia laughed, "Okay, well I got to go. It seems like there is a great big sale on…girl essentials um at VS and Angie wants to get some things…"

Booth got the clue, "Okay, well, see you at home soon enough."

"Okay bye." She hung up. Booth looked out the window; it was still light out. The sun has barely reached the horizon and it is only 5:05. Growing bored, he decided to waste time playing his x-box.

----

Back at the mall, Angela pulled Sophia into Victoria Secret. Sophia blushed at the sight of half naked women displayed in the pictures.

Noticing the blush Angela comments, "Sophia, are you uncomfortable in here?" Sophia nodded her head and kept her eyes focused on the floor. "Oh, sweetie we can get out of here if you want to." Sophia shook her head but then an idea popped into her head.

"Um you can stay here, I actually wanted to go get this thing I saw earlier," Sophia said quickly. "Mind giving me the remaining fifty dollars? I forgot how much it is."

Angela looked at her suspiciously but did not want to press her for answers, "Okay, it is your money but you sure you don't want me to come with you?"

"Yea, it will just be a minute; I'll meet you at the fainting couch?" Sophia referred to the white couch out in front of Bath and Body Works, the one they, well mostly Sophia, kept fainting on so they decided to call it their personal fainting couch.

"Yea okay, see you in a bit?" Angela questioned warily. She did not know if it was a good idea for her to let Sophia go somewhere without her. Sophia nodded her head and was out of the store in a flash.

Sophia walked off into the all men's store; it was basically a safe haven for man. The second she entered, all eyes were o her; she had ventured where no female bothered unless forced, which rarely ever happened. Without looking at anyone, Sophia headed into the clothing section. She had to buy Booth a gift, something to tell him how thankful she is for him to even except her and treat her so kindly. She had noticed his unique belts, as well as socks…and many rock band tees and countless x-box games. For an FBI agent he sure acted rather as a teenager at times, of course Sophia did not mind that, she thought it rather humorous. As she ruffled through the shirts, a man in a green polo tucked into blue jeans walked over to her. His nametag read 'Hello my name is Jonathan.'

"Hello," he said with a big smile. Sophia did not look up but instead nodded a small hello to him. He continued, "May I help you with anything?"

"No thank you," Sophia said politely as possible. The guy was looking her over always pausing in areas that made Sophia extremely uncomfortable. She hit her head mentally, how stupid it was of her to walk into an ALL MEN'S store. She should have brought Angela along.

"You sure you don't need any help?" he walked closer to her with a grin on his face. Sophia stepped back scared.

"Y-yes I am sure," she stuttered out frightened. She hurried away in the opposite direction; she glanced over her shoulder to see him still watching her. Before she knew it she bumped into a small child, both stumbled back with an 'oomph.'

"Oh, I'm sorry," said Sophia quickly helping the boy up. He had messy blonde hair, brown eyes and looked to be no older than six years old.

"No, I'm sorry," he said in a cute child's voice. Sophia could not help but squeal in her head at his cuteness. "I was running in the store and now I know why my mom says not to."

"Oh, well I guess we both learned a valuable lesson," Sophia giggled. The small boy let out a laugh. Sophia squealed in her head again. "So, watcha running from? A big scary monster?"

"I guess you could my mom's boyfriend that, although he's not that scary," he laughed again. Sophia frowned but forced a small smile.

"Why are you running from him?"

"I don't like him."

"Oh…why?" Sophia could not help but ask; she started to worry.

"Dad doesn't approve of him," he shrugged. Sophia decided not to push him any farther. "So are you running from a big scary monster as well?" The boy put his hands up and roared at her.

Sophia laughed, "Not exactly."

"Then what are you doing in a boy's store?"

"I'm trying to find a gift for my dad," Sophia sighed; this was the first she actually called Booth her dad out loud but it was not to his face. Her thoughts began to wander to when she would call him dad to his face, but she returned her attention to the little kid in front of her. "So far I'm out of luck. Nothing seems to scream out 'this is definitely your dad!'"

"Well, if he's anything like my dad who wears a suit to his job like every day, you could buy him a tie," the kid shrugged. Sophia nodded her head.

"Not a bad idea, but what kind of tie?" Sophia giggled pointing out the hundreds of ties laid out on a table. There were solid colors, multi-colors and some with designs on them.

"I say pick the snoopy tie," he said pulling up a tie with the little white dog smiling in a diagonal line pattern.

"Oh gosh, okay," Sophia smiled nervously. The little kid sensed her nervousness and patted her arm, the only part of her body he could reach.

"I'm sure he'll like it as long as you give it to him from the heart."

Sophia laughed and patted his head, "You sound like an old wise man." He smiled and shrugged. He liked it when this girl would laugh; it made him feel happier as well.

"Okay, well I should be going, nice meeting you…" Sophia stopped realizing she did not even know his name. He stuck out his hand.

"Parker."

"Sophia." They shook each other's hand smiling. Sophia started heading off to the register with the tie. "Maybe I'll see you around?" Parker shrugged.

"Maybe," with that both parted and went their separate ways.

----

Finally, after Sophia met up with the anxious Angela at the fainting couch, they met up with Hodgins out in the parking lot. Zack was with him.

"Um…there's no more room, it looks like one of us is going to have to sit on someone else's lap," Hodgins said breathless; he just stuffed over a hundred bags into his car. "Zack does not drive and I'm not about to sit on his lap, so it is either Sophia or Angela on his lap…" Sophia eyes widen in horror, blushing at the thought of sitting on his lap. Angela noticed and hugged Sophia from behind and giggled.

"Nah, Sophia can sit on my lap, Zack can't have her," she winked. Sophia thanked her silently. Zack felt relieved as well. He knew if she were to sit on his lap, it would be beyond awkward for both him and her. After all, he still needed to figure out these weird feelings inside him whenever he is around her. Hodgins shrugged his shoulders and all four climbed into the car, Sophia was placed in between Angela's legs and she pushed Sophia back into her chest so that the tired out drama teen queen could rest. Sophia closed her eyes and soon was asleep to the rhythm of Angela's heartbeat. Angela stroked her silky hair, a small smile on her face. 'Booth is lucky he has such a beautiful daughter, in and out' Angela thought as she continued stroking her hair.

----

Booth paced around in the living room nervously. He just got off the phone with Hodgins; they are five minutes away. Five minutes until Sophia sees her piano, five minutes until he gets to see hear about her exhausting day at the mall over dinner, five minutes until they are to bond a bit more…hopefully.

All thoughts vanished the second he heard car doors open. Both rushed to the door, yanked it open and saw Hodgins and Zack open the trunk; bags toppled out making them for them wildly so that they do not hit the ground and get dirty. Booth shook his head and chuckled. Hodgins and Zack grabbed them by the armloads; Booth opened the door wider for them so that they can get in easily. After he told them to set it in the living room, both went back to get more but Booth held Hodgins back.

"Where's Sophia?" he asked noticing his daughter was nowhere in sight.

"Asleep in Angela's arms, in the backseat," Hodgins nodded his head over at his car.

"Asleep?" Booth could not help but sound disappointed. He was hoping to surprise her tonight.

"Yea, shopping with Angela must have exhausted her…" Hodgins shrugged.

"Mmm," moaned the petite girl in Angela's arms. Angela had carried her in from the car; Booth immediately rushed to her side and took Sophia into his own arms. The petite girl snuggled up into him as he stared down at his own little sleeping beauty. She began to stir and after a few moments, her eyes fluttered open.

The first thing she saw was the deep brown eyes of her father. He was still holding her, "Mmm where am I?"

"Home," Booth whispered. "You fell asleep in the car."

"Oh…may I get down?" she asked as it slowly processed in her slightly asleep brain.

"Will you be able to stand?" asked Booth knowing she was not the most stable person when just waking from a nap or even a goodnight's sleep. Sophia nodded her head. He put her down slowly, Angela and Hodgins watched as Zack huffed into the room carrying more bags.

"The trunk…is...1/3 empty," Zack huffed out. Angela and Hodgins quickly went out to help Zack as Booth helped Sophia stand without falling.

"I have a surprise for you," Booth said as he helped the half-asleep Sophia into the living room. "Close your eyes."

"I might fall asleep if I do."

"I'll risk it," Booth chuckled. Sophia gave a half shrug and closed her eyes. After a few moments of shuffling around she heard Booth whisper, "Okay, open your eyes."

She slowly opened her eyes; revealing her purple orbs to the great beauty before her. "Oh Booth. She gasped out; her hands trembled as she reached out to touch it. "It is amazing…you shouldn't have. You really shouldn't have."

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bet you weren't expecting that!! ...unless you were then dang lol (im on a sugar high) anyways the ending to this chapter kind of sucked (don't you agree?) but I promise the next chapter will be more exciting and better~

Btw I'm not sure on Parkers age...I'm pretty sure he's around 6 years old...

Oh and if anyone wants to I'm typing up this story and posted it on my fictionpress account, it's called Seven Deadly Sins...the link to it is on my homepage so yea~