Okay...the angst train is around the bend...one more fluffy chap to keep you happy...cuz man...that train is looooong.

---

I know it's stupid. I've only been here a few hours and there's been absolutely no hinting at any of this becoming permanent…but I can't help but hope.

I woke up today and I was warm. I went out and three people smiled at me, welcomed me into their day. I had breakfast, and now I'm hanging out with the smartest, cutest four-year-old in the world.

I know it's stupid…but I can't help but hope this lasts.

---

Brennan put the last of the plates in the sink and started the running water. Reaching for the sponge, she took to washing the remnants of bacon and eggs down the drain, humming to herself softly.

She was starting in on Parker's plate when two strong arms wrapped around her waist and pulled her backward into a warm chest. Leaning back, Brennan closed her eyes as Booth bent to tenderly kissed her neck and thanking his lucky stars that he was now allowed to do so.

"You don't have to do that you know." He mumbled against her pale skin. Brennan only nodded, her warm wet hands clutched his, dish soap running down their arms.

"I know."

Brennan turned around and pressed her lips to his, hungry for his taste. His scent. She'd spent all of the night before and that morning with Seeley and they had only kissed once. She didn't think she couldn wait any longer. A beast had been awakened and it wanted to feed, no longer content with watching their tentative romance from inside a gilded cage.

Momentarily startled, Booth allowed himself to be turned and his back pressed into the counter. When his head caught up to her advances, he responded whole-heartedly.

The kiss lit them on fire and they were reluctant to break the current of heat and longing seeping into the depths of their stomachs, even for air.

Brennan's hands were fisted in his hair and Booth's hands roaming the flesh under her shirt when oxygen was finally deemed non-negotiable. Remaining as close as physically possible, they gasped, smiling with their eyes closed. Both started to speak, but words failed them when attempting to describe that searing kiss, so they settled for the pulsing electricity coursing through their veins, and silence.

Booth leaned in for Brennan's lips once more, having decided they'd taken a long enough break and knowing Parker was busy with April and their Lego castle. But before he could capture them, a cell phone chirped loudly in the living room.

Brennan groaned and Booth cursed, hesitating a few seconds before he moved. It chirped a second time and Brennan pushed him so he reluctantly left her to go retrieve the offending device.

"Booth." He snapped, sending his menacing glare through the phone with his voice.

"Agent Booth we have one Rodger Dickens here for questioning per your request." A young woman's voice told him, obviously undeterred by Booth's clipped tone.

He closed his eyes and replaced lust with anger in a matter of moments. When he opened them again, it was all business.

"Yeah thanks, keep him there. No one talks to him until I arrive. I'll be there in half an hour." He hung up and turned to Brennan, who folded her arms across her chest, recognizing the change in Booth's demeanor.

"Rodger?"

He nodded and smiled apologetically.

"I know you said you don't like to wait but…"

"…for April, I will." She cut him off and determination lit her face. "Just let me change before we go. I've got some clothes in my trunk I was going to use after going to the gym yesterday, but I never made it." She went to the door and grabbed her keys while pulling on her shoes.

Booth headed back to Parker's room.

"There gotta be alley-gaters in the river 'round the castle." Parker pushed a couple green Legos into place on blue Lego water.

"It's called a 'moat' Park." April corrected absently. She had settled away from him a bit, leaning against the wall with some of Parker's drawing paper and a naked purple crayon.

Not seeing his father in the doorway, Parker looked up from the castle to April.

"Can I see your pit'ure?"

April glanced up and saw Booth behind him at the doorway. Smiling, she nodded and lifted her drawing, turning it so both Booths could see.

Drawn mostly in purple with green highlights and blue shadow, was a still life of Parker. The colors were odd, but somehow appropriate. April managed to capture Parker's childlike exuberance for his toys, along with a determined concentration few children of his age had. She'd captured his spirit, not just his face.

"Wow! That's SO cool!" Parker said, rushing over to look at the drawing closer.

"You really like it?" April asked him, glancing between his face and her drawing, evaluating her accuracy.

Not bad. She thought, pleased.

"Hey April?" Booth stepped inside his son's racecar bedroom. "I've got to head into work for a while, could you watch Parker for me?"

"Yeah, no problem Uncle Seeley." April nodded and returned to her drawing, not noticing the pained look reflected in the eyes of both father and son when Parker realized what was going on.

The little boy dropped his Legos and leapt to his feet, ramming into his father's legs.

"But Daddy I thought we was gonna play today."

Booth nodded, giving his son a serious look and kneeling down to be on eye level.

"I know buddy, but Daddy is working on a really important case right now. You know I wouldn't normally put work before our weekend together right?"

Parker nodded and wiped his eyes bravely, trying to get a hold of his tearful disappointment.

"So this must not be a normal case right? This is a special case that I can't take a break from. I've got to catch the bad guy Parker." And break every bone in his pathetic body. "You understand?"

Parker took a deep breath. "Yea. Guess so."

Booth smiled and ruffled his son's hair. "That's my boy. You take care of April okay?"

Parker straightened and nodded dutifully. April let a small smile crack on her lips, she hadn't realized how close Parker and Seeley were. She felt bad knowing her case was most likely the one keeping Parker from his father and Booth from his son.

"Okay. We ready?" Brennan appeared at the door fully dressed and placed a hand on Booth's shoulder.

"Yeah. I just need to change real quick."

"What are we gonna do April?" Parker returned to his Legos while Brennan watched from the doorway, smiling at how April almost looked like a child herself, sitting cross-legged at Parker's child sized desk coloring her purple drawing.

"I don't know Parker…we could watch TV. I haven't been able to watch much of that lately." She shifted so she was sitting on her legs and winced, immediately regretting the choice to do so.

Parker didn't look thrilled at the idea of watching TV all day.

"Hey Parker, have you ever played 'Will it Float?'" Brennan queried, discreetly helping April into a more comfortable position.

Parker shook his blonde curls from side to side and April smiled.

"I have. I like that game."

"How do you play?"

Brennan crouched down to be on eye level with the boy and no one noticed that Booth had returned from his room and was leaning against the doorway with his arms folded, watching the domestic scene play out happily.

That's my girl Bones. Look at you, you're a natural.

"Well, first you fill up a big bowl or pot with water."

"Or we could use the bathtub." April chimed in, looking almost excited at the idea. Parker saw April getting keyed up and imitated her enthusiasm.

"Yes, or the bathtub, and you go around the house finding different objects and try to guess whether or not they'll float. Then you put them in the water and see if you were right."

Parker's eyes brightened. "Cool." He got up and went to April, attempting to pull her to her feet, although he was only as tall as her waist. "Let's go do that!"

April nodded and stood up. "I'll meet you in the bathroom Parker, why don't you start going to find stuff?"

Parker did and brushed past his father to go on his search.

"Bones." Booth spoke for the first time as Brennan rose to her feet. "I can't believe you just came up with a squinty activity to keep my son occupied."

Brennan smirked. "You're welcome." Then, glancing at April who was shifting nervously from one foot to the other, and back to her now tense looking partner, she continued, "I'll meet you at the car Booth." And I'll be driving.

Booth nodded and leaned down to kiss her as she walked past. "Thanks."

She smiled, patted his arm, and disappeared.

After a few moments of silence, April lifted her eyes to Booth's but immediately dropped them again.

"I um…you can have this if you want. It's one of my better ones I think." She shrugged and gestured to her drawing while her eyes roamed the room absently, "I know you have tons of pictures of Parker but…I don't know. You can have it or… or whatever."

Booth smiled at her and stepped a bit closer.

"I love it April, I'd love to keep it if you'll let me." She smiled at the floor and Booth lifted her chin, "Why so shy all of a sudden?" He asked gently.

Again April shrugged as best she could and glanced at him. "I'm…I…feel guilty I guess. For…Parker and all."

Booth frowned for a moment before placing her meaning. He pulled her into a gentle hug.

"It's not your fault April. I need to do this. I promised your father I would watch out for you and I've got a lot of making up to do. Timing could be better, but it's not your fault. None of this is."

April nodded and hugged him tighter, afraid to let go.

---

I'm fascinated by the air of absolute certainty that seems to follow Seeley around. The feeling of safety whenever he is near clings to your clothing like a thick blanket.

And it's not just me either. I can tell Parker and Dr. Brennan feel it too. Especially the latter, she must feel it or else she wouldn't have let Seeley get so close. I know that for a fact.

I wonder how he does it.

---

April waved from the front door as Booth and Brennan pulled away from the curb, Brennan somehow having been coaxed back into the passenger seat. When they were out of sight she turned back inside the apartment.

"So what did you find Park?"

"A lotta stuff April! C'mon!" Parker called from the bathroom.

---

Wait a second...where are the couch cushions? Shit!

---

Her ears perked up to water running in the bathroom.

"Parker! Wait for me!"

R&R...yup...that was definitly a train whistle I just heard. Didja hear it?