"I'm sorry for getting so upset Daddy."

"Oh, sweetie, it's okay. I just wish you could have told me what was wrong in the first place. You know you can always tell me."

"I know…I will from now on. I promise."

"So…what do you want to do about the party?"

"Do you think, maybe, you could come?"

"Of course I can."

"And maybe…Bones too?" She met his eyes, almost pleading.

Booth quickly looked at Brennan who hovered nearby in the doorway. Am I asking too much of her?

But she quickly chimed in, "I'd love to come."

He felt a sense of relief wash over him. So they were going to their daughter's Christmas party. Together.

Together. I could get use to this, he thought to himself.

- - - - - -

The party went off without a hitch. Booth had been secretly nervous in the hours preceding the event. What if people ask questions? Or what if they notice the smile thing? But there were no problems. Everyone seemed to accept the fact that Brennan was a family friend and nothing more.

Tempe left the party beaming.

"That was the best party ever!! I think it might have even been better than my birthday party last year!"

"Wow, better than a birthday? It must have been good," Booth said, chuckling as he looked down at her.

"I'm so glad you both came!"

"Well, it was our pleasure. Right Bones?"

"Absolutely," she replied, calmly and seamlessly.

- - - - -

"Hey, kiddo, I think maybe you should think about going to bed."

"But daddy, I'm not even tired," she replied through a long and drawn out yawn.

"If you get ready really quick, I'll read you a story before sleepy time."

"Can Bones read to me tonight?" she asked eagerly.

"I…I think maybe you should ask her."

The little girl raced over to Brennan who sat comfortably a living room arm chair.

"Bones, would you read to me before sleepy time?"

Brennan hesitated, but a reassuring look from Booth pushed her words out. "I'd love to read with you."

Tempe rushed back to her father, "Are you sure it's okay if Bones reads to me?"

"It's absolutely okay. Why wouldn't it be?"

"Well, reading is our special time and I don't want you to think that I don't want our special time anymore."

"I would never think that," Booth said with a smile as he lifted her into his arms.

She put her small hand on his cheek.

"Nobody loves you like I do Daddy."

"And nobody ever could."

- - - - -

Almost an hour later, Brennan returned to the kitchen to find Booth mindlessly stirring a spoon in his cup of tea.

"That took a long time…Would she not go to sleep?"

"Um…she actually fell asleep very quickly."

"What took you so long?"

"I…well…I, uh…"

He cut her off, "You know, it's okay if you want to spend time with her…She is your daughter."

"But that's the thing Booth…She's not my daughter. She's your daughter. I wasn't there when she said her first word or when she took her first step. I wasn't there for her first day of school or any of the other things that make up who she is. A mother, a real mother, would have been there for every moment."

"She doesn't care about that…She just…wants you now."

"What if it's not enough?"

"It is."

"Booth, this isn't fair to you. I in effect, abandoned you. I left you to raise our daughter alone and you've done…such a wonderful job with her. I mean, she's amazing Booth. And now, you're just going to let me waltz in here and…pick up where I left off…and pretend like nothing's happened?...Can you really do that Booth?"

"I've been worried about that from the moment I got that call from Angela….I knew, that when I brought you here, she was going to fall for you…just like I did. I was almost dreading it. I thought I would be jealous…maybe even a little angry that she welcomed you with such ease, but it doesn't feel that way at all. I feel…happy…I can't begin to tell you how happy it made me to see you both together. This is what I've wanted more than anything for the past five years…I wanted us to be a family."

"But we're not Booth…I'm this crazy and dysfunctional woman and I probably shouldn't even be around her…I mean, what if…I mess her up or something?"

"You've been doing so well though, you haven't had a single panic attack since you've been here…You smile more. I see you coming back a little more each day…And I've watched you with her Bones, and…you're a natural."

"You're just saying that."

"No, I'm not. You're so laid back with her. I've never seen you act that way with anyone. Ever. It's like you've been doing it every day of your life. And she trusts you, I can tell. After all, she won't let just anyone read to her."

"It does feel easy. Being with her…being with you…it's easy. I haven't had that in a very long time...But Booth; she doesn't know who I am, not really."

"So let's tell her."

"Are you serious?"

"As a heart attack."

"I don't know what that means."

"It means yes, I am serious," Booth replied, smiling to himself at her comment.

"How can you trust me so easily? After everything that's happened?"

"Because Bones, despite everything, I know you…You are Dr. Temperance Brennan, forensic anthropologist. You are smart and beautiful and talented. You have an enormous capacity for love that I think even you don't fully grasp sometimes," he paused and took her face in his hands. "You are the mother of my daughter and I am in love with you. There is not a doubt in my mind that you, Temperance Brennan, are the woman that I am meant to be with. And I will do whatever it takes; I will wait for however long you need, if it means that I can be with you. If it means that you and me and Tempe can be a family."

"Booth…"

And with that he pulled her into a deep kiss. It was powerful, yet gentle.

When they finally broke apart, she whispered in his ear, "I love you too Booth…I don't think you'll have to wait much longer."