WOW! Thanks so much for all the amazing replies. You know y'all ROCK!!! Sorry for the delay in updating, but hope it's worth the wait.

Chapter 11

Brennan was lying on the bed with her arms wrapped securely around the little boy who had snuggled his head into her shoulder; his tiny hands burrowed under her arms. Booth watched the scene for a moment; wishing away the memories it brought. Struggle as he might, he couldn't forget.

ooOoo Flashback ooOoo

The forecast was predicting a large snow storm for the DC area, but as Booth and Brennan readied themselves for work not even a flake had graced the sky.

"Looks like they missed it again," Booth commented as he stood by the window buttoning his shirt.

"Parker's going to be disappointed," Brennan remarked from the bathroom sink. "He was looking forward to spending the weekend playing in the snow."

"You absolutely amaze me," Booth replied sneaking up behind her.

"Why?" she was confused.

Wrapping his arms around her waist, he whispered in her ear, "Because…you love so much."

She tossed him a smile in the mirror and then turned her head meeting his lips in a slow gentle kiss.

They worked; all three of them.

After one more lingering kiss, both said their goodbyes.

Since Zach was sick, Brennan found herself stuck in the lab that day while Booth was left with questioning suspects alone. Only a few hours had past when the much anticipated snow storm hit the DC area. Unable to reach Booth or Rebecca, the elementary school called Brennan. She left the Jeffersonian without another thought and rushed to get Parker home safely.

Upon arrival at Booth's apartment, she called every known number leaving messages for Booth. She didn't want him worrying about either of them.

The two peas in a pod found countless games to play to occupy themselves while waiting for Booth to get home. Finally exhausted, they settled on the couch to watch Finding Nemo; Parker loved the turtles. And that's how he found them; curled up together on the couch fast asleep. Brennan's arms hugging Parker; keeping him safe. They were his, his family, his life.

ooOoo Back to Present ooOoo

Every fiber of his being wanted to walk through that door, hold her, and pretend that the past two years never happened. The more rational side of his brain was urging him to leave before she woke up and saw him standing at the door. Although he had both sides battling for action, it was a little too late. Brennan stirred awake slowly opening her eyes to take in her surroundings. Booth stood frozen as her gaze made it around the room to the door. A small grin danced in the corner of her mouth as she nodded for him to come in.

He was certain that his heart would not stay in the confinements of his chest as he opened the door. Moving ever so quietly across the room, he came to a stop beside her. Reaching out, he smiled at her as he brushed a strand of hair that hand fallen into her face. Surprisingly, she returned the smile.

"I'm so sorry," she whispered, but his finger covered her lips.

"Don't," he quietly pleaded.

She released a sleepy sigh before asking him to help her out of the bed. Booth moved around to Ben's side lifting him ever so gently and placing him back to the warmth of the mattress once Brennan had moved. She slipped on her flip-flops and gathered her belongings. Booth reached out for the bag and Brennan gratefully accepted his offer. Leaning over to kiss Ben goodbye, she whispered into his ear and turned to leave. Booth followed; along with a million questions.

The journey back to the parking lot was done in complete silence. Brennan was trying to figure out exactly where to start with her explanation and Booth was trying to figure out which question was "less pushy". Once at her car, Brennan broke the silence.

"We need to talk about this," she stated.

He nodded in agreement, "Yeah, we do."

"Take out at my place?" she asked.

"I'll pick up Thai," he answered.

Smiling, they climbed into their separate vehicles and drove off.

Arriving home, Brennan kicked off her flip-flops at the door and collapsed on the couch. She tried to rest her eyes, but her overactive brain just wouldn't allow it. She thought about being angry, but couldn't. She had to accept that Booth was back and with that came all of his protective tendencies, wanted or not. She tried to figure out how to tell Booth about Ben. An explanation was going to be difficult without discussing Parker. How was she going to do this? What questions would he ask? Her mind was spinning with questions and thoughts. Too late to run; the doorbell rang.

The pair tiptoed around the hovering questions. Chitchat varied between the whether, sports, and new restaurants in town. But when the food ran out, so did the conversation. Booth tossed his chop sticks in the empty carton and said the only thing he knew to say.

"I'm not going to push. I think I've done enough of that for one day. You tell me what you want me to know, and I'll be okay with that."

He was leaving things on her terms, her choice, and her decision.

"I've become very good at two things in my life," she began. "Keeping people at a distance and keeping secrets, but I don't want Ben to be a secret anymore."

"Is that…." He started to speak, but could find the exact wording.

She settled into the couch, crisscrossing her legs.

Letting out a sigh, she began, "Get comfy. I know Ange told you some, and I'll just try to fill in the gaps."

Getting a nod of approval from Booth, she continued.

"At some point in time, you and Parker filled every corner of my life, and I didn't realize it until it was too late, until I was alone. I'm not blaming you, and I don't want you to feel sorry or guilty. It was my fault. I let it happen, but when you both left I was that 15 year old girl all over again."

She paused and looked down at his hand that had come to rest on her knee. Booth considered a retreat, but decided against it. If he'd stepped over any lines, she'd let him know.

"I considered going back; back to the way I was before. I knew I wouldn't have another relationship like we shared, but Parker… was different. I missed that; I missed him. It started out as a means to an end. I thought if I spent some time around other children that I'd discover they weren't like Parker and I'd return to my life of bones. It didn't happen."

Booth finally interrupted, "He loved you so much."

"What about you?" the words flew out of her mouth before she could think about them.

"I still do," he answered. "but we'll get to that, I promise. Why didn't it happen?"

"They were like Parker," she said. "Then the butterfly kit Parker and I ordered came. I couldn't send it back so I took it to the hospital. I started a science class with these kids who were like little sponges. That's how I met Ben. Booth, he's so smart and….."

She couldn't stop the tears that rolled down her cheek. Booth reached up and rubbed his thumb across the trail left on her face.

"It's okay," he soothed, "take your time."

"Time," she whispered. "That's something I seem to be running out of. He has cancer, and he's a foster kid."

Booth hung his head knowing what this had to be doing to her, but the next words out of her mouth shocked him even more.

"But not for long," she stated as a matter of fact. "He's got the best doctor, but he needs a family and I want to be part of it."

"Are you saying you want to adopt him?" Booth asked.

"If that's what Ben wants, then yes," she replied.

Booth paused before speaking, "Don't you think it's a bit too much to take on. He's not well Temperance."

"I remember what it was like, Booth," she stated. "All he wants, all he needs is to be loved."

Booth could only nod, "I'd like to meet him."

"He'd like that very much," she stated; her eyes sparkling.

"I missed that," he said with a smile.

"What?" she wondered.

"Your eyes, the way they sparkle when you are completely happy," he commented.

"Happy hasn't been used in describing me for a long time," she replied.

A heart felt look graced his face, "I know and we can't pretend the past two years didn't happen. Hopefully, in time, we'll be able to sort through the baggage and do some repairs."

"I hope so too," was all she knew to say.

Realizing that the exhausting afternoon was gone, Booth left for the evening with the promise he'd call tomorrow.

If I'm not mistaken, there's a little button down there begging for some attention. LOL :) I have some good time set aside for writing the next chapter, so let me know what you think. Reviews equal quicker updates :):)