A/N Thank you for all the kind reviews, and for those who have favourited/alerted this fic. Means a lot :)

Chapter 10

Booth was half way through his next beer by the time Lillian had returned. She gave him a smile and settled herself in next to him, making sure she was facing him again. Booth gave her a resigned smile and waited for her to begin.

"So friend...how's that idiot brother of yours?" she asked with a smile and giggled at the look of confusion on his face.

"Have to ease you into it big guy...I know what you're like! So...Jared?"

He sent her a grateful smile.

"He's good Lil. Less of an idiot now, thanks to his fiancée!"

Lillian was in the middle of taking a swig of beer when he said this and nearly choked.

"Fiancé? Jared? God you go away for 6 years and the world goes mad!"

Booth laughed at this.

"Yep...my baby brother is in love and getting married. You'll like her. Padme is her name. Very pretty...she's good for him...you know?"

"Yeah I do."

"And you know he's gonna be psyched you're back in town. I think he missed you as much as I did!"

Lillian grinned.

"Damn straight he did! Now you know what I wanna know next?"

Booth just smiled.

"How's my favourite godson! Skype just isn't the same you know? I bet he's gotten so big!"

At the mention of his son Booth's smile widened and his eyes shone with pride.

"He's amazing Lil...just amazing. He's such a good kid, ya know? And I know he's missed you...every time you spoke he asked when you were coming back!"

"That must have pleased Rebecca! How is the bitch, anyway?"

Booth sent her a warning look.

"Oh come on Booth. I'm sure she says worse about me! And what do you expect...all the times she's kept you from your son...or made you beg. She's lucky I haven't kicked her ass yet!"

"She's just as complimentary of you; you'll be pleased to know!"

Lillian just grinned. Booth let out a resigned sigh knowing any further discussion on Rebecca was pointless. He was well aware that those would never see eye to eye!

"What else do you wanna know Lillian?"

"Oooooh where to start?"

At Booth's look she stopped smiling and sent him an apologetic smile.

"Sorry Booth...I'll try and behave. Is Parks still close to Dr Brennan? Along with you he's told me so much about her I feel like I know her but having met her...she doesn't come across like the woman you two told me about."

Booth smiled.

"Those two adore each other...they really do. When they're together I feel like the third wheel! And Bones...well, the woman you met...that's not my Bones. You know? She's not normally like that...she's kind...loyal...compassionate...she just cares. Maybe too much."

Lillian gave him a dubious look.

"Look if you get to know her, you'll see that. I promise..."

Lillian nodded.

"I trust you Booth. If that's what you say she's like, then I'll put our first meeting down as a fluke. Now Booth...we need to talk, and I mean really talk, about that night."

Booth gave her a weak smile.

"We already had that conversation...remember?"

"Yes but a phone call doesn't count! And that was less a conversation more...you venting and me listening."

Booth stared at her waiting for her to begin, hoping to get this conversation over with. When she stayed silent, he grabbed another beer and took a swig. Lillian grabbed her own beer and finished it off, then placed it on the table deliberately. She had a determined look on her face and turned back to Booth.

"I want to get this clear in my head, so just...tell me if it's wrong. Ok?"

Booth nodded.

"You saw this...Sweets right? About the book he wrote on you two, yeah?"

Again Booth nodded.

"And after the whole session he dared you to gamble on her?"

Booth shrugged.

"Basically yeah..."

"OK, remind me to have a little word with him at some point. Anyway...you told her you wanted a life with her, kissed her, she panicked and said no, you said you had to move on, she asked to remain partners and you agreed. Is that the gist of it?"

"It was a tad more complicated but...yeah"

Lillian stared at him for a moment.

"And you know I love you, don't you."

Booth sent her a small smile.

"We've established that yes."

"OK...so...my diagnosis is...you're an idiot!"

Booth's smile fell and he looked like she's just shot him.

"But...I don't...what?"

He stood up and went to storm off to the kitchen but she grabbed his arm.

"Sit back down and listen. Really listen...not that thing you do where you nod and ignore anything I have to say...sit down Seeley!"

Booth sent her a glare but sat back down, further away from her this time.

"You've spent the last 6 years telling me all about the great Dr Brennan. At first you wanted her. Then you hated her. And then unbeknownst to yourself, you fell in love with her. I may have never met her before this week but, I feel I know that woman better than I know myself."

Booth just continued to glare.

"You spent those 6 years giving me a bloody play by play of your every interaction and...this may surprise you...but I actually listened! And one thing I learnt is that you don't rush her...ever! And you knew that Seeley...you knew and you did it, anyway."

Booth glared for another moment before his face crumpled and he allowed her to see the pain he was hiding. He leant forward and put his head in his hands.

"God, you think I don't know that? As soon as the words left me I knew it was a mistake...too soon. It just went so wrong after that..."

Lillian edged a bit closer to him not totally sure of the reception she would get. She knew that she was hurting him but didn't see another way to get through to him.

"It wasn't just you, Booth. Sweets should be hung for his part and she...well, she risked the best thing that will ever happen to her in a moment of blind panic. But she loves you, Booth...I know it and I think somewhere deep down you know it. It's the reason she panicked!"

Booth raised his head to turn tortured eyes onto her.

"I want to believe that Lil...every bone in my body is begging me to believe it I just...can't. I mean if she loved me...really loved me, would she be seeing Hacker? And, would she have said no so...definitively. I just needed something...some scrap to let me know there was some hope. She wouldn't even try!"

Lillian gave him a kind smile.

"You told her you had to move on, Booth. She probably thinks you already have."

"What...why would she? I haven't even had a date..."

Lillian pointed to herself.

"You?"

Lillian sent him a mock glare.

"Nice big guy. Good to know a relationship with me is so repugnant to you!" Lillian laughed.

Booth's mouth turned up slightly into a small smile. At the sight of it, Lillian edged even closer and poked him in the arm.

"There's that smile, big guy."

The tension that had previously been in the room started to drain away, and Booth started to relax. Lillian sighed at the sight, relieved that they had gotten through it without any major casualties. Simultaneously, they both reached for another beer. They were quiet for a moment until Booth asked.

"Deep conversations over for tonight?"

"Definitely...I am wiped!" and with that they went back to being just them.

Past conversations packed away into a little box in their minds to be pondered over at a later date, so they could just enjoy each other's company.

"Lil...where are you staying at the moment?"

"Just some cheap hotel."

"Well that's just stupid. Stay here."

Lillian gave him a long considering look.

"Nah, you're alright, Booth. Don't wanna cramp your style!"

Booth went to protest but she cut him off.

"Alright, I know what you're going to say! I won't stay here, but I'll make you a deal. You help me find an apartment and a job."

Booth grinned at these words.

"You're back for good?"

Lillian couldn't help but grin.

"Yeah baby!"

Booth jumped up, pulled her from her seat and wrapped his arms around her. They stayed like that for a minute or two until Booth leaned back and looked down into her face.

"This is gonna be so good Lil. I've gotten so many places we have to go. People to meet. Gotta take you to see Parks, he's gonna freak. Ooooh and you have to meet Padme, you'll love her and..."

Booth paused.

"Wait...you said deal? So i'm doing this for you...what do I get?"

Lillian gave him a sneaky grin.

"I'm going to get you one Dr Temperance Brennan!"