Surprise, Surprise

Sophia was thoroughly shocked by Caroline, the puckish lawyer. She at first found her and her rambling highly amusing but when Caroline caught her smile she asked, "What are you smiling at Cherie?" This wiped that smile off immediately. Booth had to bite down on his tongue to keep from even chuckling. He asked Caroline to get a warrant and she was off again mumbling and grumbling as she left the office. Later she met some other people that her father at times would work with on different cases. Many of them told stories about him that she had rather not know and blocked them out of her head. She met the head FBI person…nice but scary. She also met some of the judges, and saw a few of the criminals they bring in for questioning. Booth has one interesting job and an interesting work place. Now she was sitting in his office looking at the variety of the pictures while Booth went to go get some files or something. There was a picture of some scene from a hockey game; Sophia never went skating in her life. It was a rather scary concept, to wear shoes with thin metal things on frozen ice. Who knew when you might slip, fall and break open your skull? Seriously, scary news.

"Do you ice-skate?" Booth asked, slightly scaring Sophia. She turned around quickly and saw him close the door behind him. He came up next to her, a huge grin on his face.

"No, I'm rather scared of it…" Sophia sighed.

"What, really? Next time I go to my hockey game, I'm bringing you with me," Booth chuckled.

"Oh…no…you really don't have to," Sophia shook her head. "I may be graceful on land but frozen water is suicide for me."

"A little practice from your hockey playing father and you will be just as graceful on ice," Booth patted her on the back. "Do you want to go home? Cam called and said she can swing by, take you home and stay with you until I get home. I might have to stay here a while longer." He was shuffling through some papers now.

"Um could I just stay here and wait for you?" Sophia asked hopefully. She was tired of being in the company of others apart from her father. All she had was her grandfather and he was at times too strict with her. During her ballet practices he would not let her stop until she got the move right and she did it gracefully as a swan, sometimes it felt as if her toes were bleeding. Sometimes she would want to cry but that would just make her lose her lunch for that day. A ballet dancer was not to shed tears while onstage. Dr. Brennan was right; Booth is really here for her. He loves her; the only other person who did that was her mother and she is gone.

"Of course you can stay," Booth was slightly shocked but happy. She wanted to stay…with him. Booth could not describe this level of happiness. It was a whole new thing to him. Now only if Parker were here, he would have to name this other level of joy. "Um, we have coloring books and toys for little kids. We don't have anything for teens really…but…"

Sophia smiled, "It is okay, I just want to sit here. I sometimes did this back home when I was home in my room waiting for mom. She had to work really early morning, late into the night. Moreover, I want to sit here with you, even if you are working." She shrugged as she plopped onto a chair; she pulled her feet to her chest. Booth watched as his petite child curled up into a chair placed in front of his desk. Maybe he should bring up her cutting issue. She was too beautiful to be his child, beautiful but weak. He should help her to become stronger so that she will know how to defend herself from men. No, he will always be there with her. No man will ever touch or harm Sophia in any way. If anyone dares of thinking of it, they will be 6 feet underground. However, didn't Bones saying something about Zack being "taken" by her and that little kiss on the hand. It was just a polite gesture French people do, that is what Sophia said and Angela said not to worry. Then why is he worrying?

"Sophia…" Booth began but did not know what to say. "What was life like in Michigan, with your mom and grandparents?"

"Oh um…" Sophia did not know what to say. Should she tell him about how her grandparents would treat her strictly, because they never approved of her mothers' choice to keep Sophia? How there were times where they would treat her so strictly when her mother was not there she would often go without lunch if she made a mistake in one of her lessons. She loved her grandparents but they had their flaws and being prejudice was their big one. They never believed in a mother raising a child without a husband but Sophia mom was not the type of mom to date other men on her free time. Her only time was reserved for Sophia. Sophia, her bright shining light that shone her path on those dark, dreary days. "It was fun, we all had our great times and sad times. Ma was only allowed one day off the whole week, which was more than she could ask for. She told me that no matter what, she would be happy just to spend an hour with me. Ma was working hard to make a better future for me and her but mainly me. I know grandma and grandpa would be there for us, Ma knew that too but she dreamed of her own place for me and her; a place where we could make our very own special memories. Although I loved making memories with her out on the rooftop eating marshmallows with hot chocolate, or in my room under my blanket reading some new story book. Sometimes we would just sit back and look at the star in a blissful silence." She sighed, tears lined her eyes, and they threatened to spill over. Sophia wiped them away quickly and smiled at Booth. "She was such a beautiful woman, so strong and willing. I swore that the sun only came up for her and the moon would fight just to shine upon her beauty."

"And you are just as beautiful," Booth smiled and then added in his thoughts 'you just need to be stronger inside.'

Booth was killing Sophia, she knew he knew about her cutting but he isn't saying anything! Sophia did not understand why he wasn't saying anything. It is driving her mad inside. She expected him to say something earlier but all he did was ask what it was like living with her Ma and grandparents. She did not dare show her frustration, which was hard but managed, for he might notice it and ask her what is wrong.

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At home, Booth had to carry Sophia in; she fell asleep on the car ride home. As he laid her down softly in her bed, one of her sweater sleeves slid up revealing those hideous scars. There were no fresh ones, a few were still red, but who knows how long it will be before she grabs for a blade again. The moonlight shone through her window making her glow but those scars stuck out like sores. The ugliness of it all made Booth beat himself up mentally, if only he had known. He would have been there for her every day, at all times. He could not help but blame himself. Booth pulled the blanket over her and kissed her forehead, whispering softly a goodnight. Sophia mumbled something and turned over to her side, she was in a deep sleep. Booth crept out of her room lightly and quietly closing the door behind him.

----

To Sophia the week went agonizingly slow, every time she was alone with Booth she feared he would bring up her cutting subject but he never did. She tended to avoid Dr. Brennan and always made sure her sleeves stayed in place. She began wearing bracelets and hair bands to keep the sleeves in place so that no one would notice or say anything more about her little scars. However, thankfully, it was Friday; the day Booth brought home the special guest. Sophia waited at home, her fingers dancing over the piano keys, Angela sitting on the couch smiling. She finished playing Fur Elise and looked over at the awed Angela.

"You are amazing; did I tell you just how amazing you are?" Angela's mouth was wide open in awe. Sophia laughed.

"Yea, a hundred times now." She shook her head.

"Well now it is a hundred and one times I have told you." Angela smiled sweetly. "Hey, you seem rather nervous. What is wrong?"

"N-nothing," Sophia stammered out. Angela raised her eyebrows seeing right through Sophia's lie. "Okay, I'm sort of nervous about this special friend of Booth's…" Sophia's violet eyes glanced over to the clock, it is only 2:30, one more hour until Booth comes home.

"Don't worry, he is a great person, I am sure you'll like him," Angela reassured the nervous girl. "Sophia is you do not mind me asking…" Sophia tensed up. "What are your feelings of Zack?"

Sophia let out a breath of air she did know she was holding in, she thought Angela was going to ask her about her scars. "Um he's sweet, didn't we go over this? Plus, isn't he with Naomi or whatever her name is?" She felt a tinge of jealousy in the pit of her stomach but was happy for Zack.

"From what I know, it is an on and off thing between those two. Mainly because…" Angela bit her lip to keep her from laughing at the next part.

"…I'd rather not know…but it really does not matter to me," she waved her hands in front of her while smiling like an idiot. "Heh heh, he is an adult; his personal life does not concern me." Angela came forward and grabbed Sophia's hands in hers.

"Sweetie, you don't have to worry, it is not illegal to care about him. Just illegal if you two get together," those erratic lavender eyes grew wide in surprise. Angela giggled, "I am just kidding sweetie."

"Funny Angie, funny," Sophia glared at her best friend, she absolutely adore Angela.

"Awe Sophe, don't give me that look, I know you like him," she said in a singsong voice. "You want to kiss him-

The door opened startling both Sophia and Angela. In came Booth looking nervous as hell, somewhere just out the door was a voice that Sophia vaguely remembered. They sat there on the piano seat looking at Booth, waiting for him say something. Instead, a small little boy came in laughing. A small boy with blonde hair, brown eyes and looked to be about six, he still looked the same from when Sophia bumped into him at the store. Before Booth could introduce Sophia to Parker and Parker to Sophia, they both exclaimed at the same time.

"Parker!"

"Sophia!"

They smiled at each other but then those smiles turned into looks of confusion; they both looked at Booth waiting for him to explain. However, he was busy looking in complete and utter shock trying to think of what to say.

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Sorry for the shortness of the chapter but I hope that you enjoyed it all the same. Review please~ ^-^