Disclaimer: They're not mine, I just borrowed them for some super writing fun! I promise to return them when I'm finished. No infringement intended.
The drive to the Royal Diner was relatively quiet. For Booth and Parker it seemed to be a calming silence, however, for me it was extremely uncomfortable. All I could think about was what Rebecca's death would do to the relationship I was trying to pursue with Booth. I didn't know if I was ready to be plunged into the new mother-like role in his son's life. I had never been very good at dealing with children and the thought of becoming, in part, responsible for this innocent boy intimidated me.
Parker and I sat in our booth in silence after his father left to go to Rebecca's house. He was mourning the passing of his mother, and I was unsure of what to say to comfort the young boy. Sure, Parker was a wonderful kid. I had spent enough time around him through the years to know that he was just like his father in many ways. Some of the facial expressions he made when he didn't understand something I had said were exactly like the ones that Booth would give me.
"Dr. Bones?" I heard his soft voice call out to me. I looked at him and gave him a reassuring smile. "What was it like when you lost your parents?" I was shocked by his question and had no idea how I should respond. What if what I said was all wrong and I upset him? Would Booth get angry? Wait, how did he even know about my parents? Booth. He must have said something to Parker.
I reached across the table and placed my hand on his. I was at a complete loss as to what I should say, but I figured the best approach would be honesty. "It was extremely difficult for me, but you have your father, Parker. I am sure he will do everything he can to be there for you." I had nobody.
The waitress placed his plate in front of him and he almost seemed to inhale it. Though, of course that couldn't be possible, he would have choked on it. "Aren't you gonna eat, Dr. Bones?" He motioned to my untouched plate of food. I gazed down at my salad, which no longer held the appeal that it had ten minutes ago. Nevertheless, I forced it down.
How would the change of events affect the future I wanted to have with Booth? I was emotionally in no condition to care for Parker and I was afraid of how my awkwardness towards him could be perceived by Booth. What if I'm not good enough for Parker and Booth pushes me away? I don't know how I would handle myself if I entered into a relationship with Booth and things fell apart because of my unease. Booth had become my world, but I had to face reality; Parker would always be the center of Booth's 'hypothetical' universe. That's how it should be, so who was I to interfere? Parker needed a family, and I wasn't the type of person to participate in that kind of normality. Marriage wasn't something for me. I had no desire to engage in the antiquated ritual and I had expressed that to Booth in the past.
Parker's voice broke through my thoughts. "Am I going to have to change schools? What about all of my friends?"
I looked over at him and gave him a sympathetic smile. "I don't know what's going to happen, Parker." I took a bite of my salad, using it as a distraction to come up with something to say. "Maybe I can talk to your father and see if we can work something out."
The boy beamed at me happily. "Really? That would be so cool, Dr. Bones! Thank you!"
"I can't make any promises. It will ultimately be his decision, but I will talk with him, okay?" If something so little as requesting to Booth that his son stay in the same school made him happy, I was delighted to help this traumatized boy. Maybe this was the first step in learning how to be a mother. Not his mother, but a motherly person. I could never replace Rebecca, but I could try to help make the transition easier.
A/N: Please, please leave me feedback and thanks to all those people who put my story on alert!