Booth walked out of the NICU and down the hallway through the maternity ward to head to the elevator when he heard an exclamation of 'Daddy' coming from the other direction. He turned to see his daughter waving from the window near the nursery, his son standing beside her, and Max watching him with his eyebrows raised. Booth held his tongue, and walked quickly down the hallway toward the three of them. Max had a smarmy grin on his face, and Booth did all that he could not to wipe it off for him.
"I thought you were going to wait until I called." Booth said, his voice was a slight growl as he approached, giving his daughter a smile as he lifted her into his arms. "Hey, princess."
"Hi, Daddy… which one is my baby sister?" She asked, pointing at the babies.
"Well…" Booth said with a sigh, his eyes on Max. "If your Oompa had given me another hour or so, I'd have had mommy in her room all ready to see you guys… but right now she's visiting with the baby, so your baby sister isn't in the window right now." He said, knowing that it would be several weeks still before Grace would be in a crib like the children in the nursery.
"Good, cuz all of those babies are wrinkly and funny looking." She said, obviously not noticing the glances from family members of some of the children who were being viewed.
"Hey, hey… you were wrinkly and funny looking once." Max said, pointing at the little girl. "I remember…"
"Nuh uh… Mommy said I came out of her uterus very cute."
"Alright, alright… no uterus talk in the hallway." Booth said, trying to diffuse the situation, he looked to his son, who was very quiet. He was staring into the nursery blankly. "Parker, are you okay?"
"Yeah." He shrugged.
"Not horribly convincing there, Bub." Booth said as he glanced to Max. "Why don't we all go down to Mommy's room and wait for her, okay?" Booth asked Antonia, who nodded happily at her daddy. Max just smiled and turned as he saw Booth's glare.
"Lead the way, daddy." Max said, smiling as Booth shook his head, walking down the hall toward Temperance's room.
They walked toward the room and Booth bounced the little girl as she jabbered on about this or that, and Booth didn't want her to be concerned when they entered the room and Temperance wasn't there. "…So mommy will be in her room really soon, okay?" Booth asked. "We have to be extra careful with her, okay? Just like when mommy hurt her back."
"She had a herniated disk." Antonia said as Booth glanced to Max, who shrugged, the little girl was looking around the room. "Where is the crib, daddy? Where does the baby sleep?"
"Why don't we wait until mommy gets here, and we can answer all of your questions…" Booth asked as he walked over to the small bench and sat down with Antonia. Parker sat beside him, and Max sat on the small chair in the corner.
"Is she bringing the baby?" Antonia asked.
"That's what we're going to discuss, baby." Booth said, wishing that the nurse would just hurry and bring Temperance already, the questions were making him anxious.
"Daddy, is there really a baby?"
"Toni… shut up." Parker muttered.
"Hey, hey…" Booth said, raising his eyebrows as Parker rolled his eyes at his father, Booth sighed. Just as he was about to ask Max a question, the door opened and the bed was being pushed into the room.
"Bones." Parker said with a smile, she was moving, alive, and talking to the nurse.
"Mommy!" Antonia exclaimed happily as she watched Temperance's smile light up her face. She looked exhausted and pale, but Antonia didn't care.
"Hey guys." She said with a smile, as the nurse ensured that everything was where it should be, she leaned up as Max kissed her cheek.
"You look good, kid." Max said with a smile, he was happy to see that she was generally well, if not exhausted from everything.
"I look awful." She said, watching her daughter wiggle in her father's arms. "You can let her down, Booth." She said, watching Antonia practically run in mid air.
"Hey, hey…" Booth said as he carried her to the bed. "You have to be very careful."
"I will, I will…" She said as Booth let her down carefully, she ran to the bed side. "Where's the baby, Mommy? You don't look so fat as you did before… is the baby not in there anymore? Do you carry it around in a pouch like a kangaroo? Is she a girl? Are you sure she's a girl? Did you check to see if she had a penis?"
"Okay, okay…" Booth said, watching Parker slap his palm over his face as his cheeks turned red. "Why don't we slow down the rapid fire questions and start at the beginning. Mommy had the baby this morning, but she's very, very tiny…"
"Like the size of my finger?"
"Bigger than your finger." Booth said, watching Temperance laugh.
"My hand?"
"Alright, alright…" Booth said as everyone laughed. "She's small, okay? Three pounds… fifteen inches long… and she's got some growing to do before anyone but mommy and daddy see her… okay?"
Parker nodded his head and held Temperance's hand, she smiled to him and gave his hand a squeeze, whispering a 'thank you' to the boy.
"Grandpas can see the baby, I'm sure." Max piped in.
"No." Booth interrupted. "Just Bones and I for now." He said, taking Max's glare in stride. He watched Parker for a moment as he sighed, his hand entwined in Temperance's. His son's eyes met up with his and he gave him a supportive smile. "I told you she'd be okay."
"She's in good health?" Max asked.
"She's doing well." Booth nodded. "But like I said… she's got a lot of growing to do."
"And she doesn't have a penis, right?" Antonia asked, looking up at her father.
"Toni? Seriously?" Parker asked.
"What, I'm just checking! JV has a penis… that is because he's a boy… Parker has a…"
"Alright, alright… two words that we won't say anymore… Penis and Uterus… got it?" Booth said as Antonia looked up at her father.
"They're real words, Daddy. Can't pretend they don't exist."
He narrowed his eyes at her and she grinned looking back at her mother. "You look like a balloon that lost all its air, Mommy." Antonia said, reaching across to touch her abdomen, Booth grabbed her hand.
"No touching…"
"Can I give mommy a hug?" She whimpered, Booth's eyes met with Temperance's and she gave him a faint nod.
"Quick hug, okay?" He said, lifting the little girl into his arms, he carefully hovered her over Temperance, who hugged her daughter close to her.
"Oh, I missed this." Temperance whispered, dropping a kiss on the little girl's forehead.
"I missed you, Mommy." She whispered. Temperance released from the hug, but Booth held the little girl above her for another moment as Temperance took her daughter's face in her hands and rested her forehead against it for a moment. "I'm glad you're okay."
"I'm glad you're okay too, Bones." Parker replied, not wanting to be forgotten. Temperance leaned over and tugged Parker's hand as the boy leaned up and gave her a careful hug. "I'm sorry." He whispered.
"None of this is your fault, Parker."
"But…"
"None of it." She repeated as she kissed his forehead. "I love you."
"I love you too, Bones." Parker replied.
"I'm hungry." Booth said suddenly, getting a confused glance from Temperance. "Parker, do you want to go with me… we'll grab something to eat." He said, watching his son's eyes meet his, he nodded toward the door and back to Temperance.
"Can we visit with Bones more when we get back?"
"Of course." Booth nodded. "She's going to be here a little while, so why don't we let Max and Toni visit… and we'll take a little walk and get a bite to eat… bring something back for everyone." He said convincingly.
"Okay." Parker said, feeling Temperance grip his hand a little tighter for a moment, he looked to her. His eyes implored hers, and she could see the permission that he was seeking in his eyes. The nod was slight and subtle, but he saw it, and her eyes were supportive. "I'll be right back, Bones." He said with a tender smile. Booth glanced to Temperance, and she smiled. The same look that his son held was in his eyes, and she simply shook her head. She knew what he was looking for, and her eyes simply warned him to be open minded, as Booth turned with Parker and the two of them exited the room together.
The two Booth boys walked out into the hallway, and Booth could already tell that Parker was quickly withdrawing. Booth put his hand on Parker's shoulder as they walked, and the boy looked to his father. "Dad?" He said softly, surprising his father at his immediate forwardness. "I'm sorry about Bones." He said softly.
"We can talk about it on the way." Booth said as Parker gave his dad a bit of a sad smile. They made their way downstairs to the lobby and walked across it when Booth touched his son's shoulder. "Hey…" He said, nodding toward the seat. "Why don't we clear the air now? Then we can get our dinner… and visit with Bones with a little less weight on our shoulders, okay?"
"I'm not sure I know what that means." Parker said as he furrowed his brow at his father, eliciting a chuckle.
"Maybe you have been hanging out with Bones a little too much." He said, watching the smile appear on his son's face as they sat down together, and Parker began his tale.
Harding hung the phone up, standing to prepare himself for another crime scene, that the Jeffersonian had already pounced on. He had been drowning in paperwork as of late and was happy to get out of the office, when he swore he heard a shout in the hallway from his office. Upon looking up, he could see through the glass door a very pregnant Temperance Brennan stomping through the bullpen like a woman on a mission.
He started to walk around his desk when she failed to knock or even pause, her hand releasing the hand of the boy with her as she slammed it full force into the glass door and swung the door wide open.
"Doc." He said, his brow furrowed as he looked to Parker and Antonia. Antonia seemed a bit surprised at being practically dragged by her mother to the Hoover building, a place that was foreign to her. Parker knew the Hoover pretty well, he had been here many times before, though as she stood before him, Harding could clearly see that this was not a social visit.
"Who the hell do you think you are?" She snapped immediately, watching him take a step back.
"Doc."
"Don't call me Doc!" She exclaimed. "Answer me!" She exclaimed.
"I thought you were on bed rest." He said plainly, his eyebrows knitted in confusion.
"Don't change the subject, Harding." She snapped, slamming her hand down on the desk, Antonia hopped into one of the chairs and put her hands in her lap, and Parker stood beside Temperance.
"Doc, I have no idea what you're talking about. Do you need me to call Booth?" He said, reaching for the phone.
"Touch that phone, and I'll rip your fingers off one at a time and shove them down your throat." She snapped, not seeing the eyes of her little girl widening. "You tell Booth I was here, and it'll be the last time you talk to someone, do you understand?"
"You think that your secret is safe with those two?" Harding teased, suddenly the focus of an even harsher glare, if it were even possible. The smile fell from his face. "Doc, it would really help if you'd clue me in as to why you're here."
"I understand that you went through hell as a kid. I understand that you spent most of your adult life pining for someone that you didn't think you could have... I understand that you want everything that you missed out on… but you will not… and I want you to listen very, very carefully here. You will not take this child away from his father."
"Parker?" Harding asked, looking at Temperance through a confused stare. "Doc, I don't…"
"I 'get' that you're desperate for a family, okay? And I know that you might think that Booth is a weak man, emotional and controlling… but he is a good man, a strong man… and there is absolutely no way that he would give his child to anyone… to allow someone else to force Parker into calling him his father. You are not his father, Harding! You are not his father! Look at that boy." She said, pulling Parker from the chair, the boy stood nervously against Temperance. "Look him in the eyes right now and tell him that you're going to take him away from his father! Tell him! He is a Booth, Harding! He will never be your son! He will never be your boy, your anything! He is Parker Booth… and for once in this screwed up world, I wish people would just see that and give him and his father a break! If I so much as hear a whisper of an inkling of a thought of you asking Booth to have Parker's parental rights… I will come find you, and I will… I will…"
"Doc… relax…" Harding said, standing up, noticing that she was having problems catching her breath.
"Don't touch me." She growled, seemingly swallowing her discomfort. "I am fine." She said, taking a step back. "He is not your son. He is a Booth, not your boy!" She snapped when he opened his mouth to protest. She could see the agent retreating, giving in to the battle. She had said what she wanted to say, she had gotten her point across. "Are we understood?" She growled.
"Yes." Harding nodded.
"Good." She snarled, turning sharply, she grabbed Parker's hand and Antonia hopped from her seat and waved at Harding.
"Bye, Ace." She said with a bit of smile as she grabbed her mother's hand, and as quickly as she had entered, she disappeared out of the door toward the elevator.
Harding stood up and watched her disappear around the corner, Parker glanced back for a split second before he disappeared around the corner with her.
They entered the elevator and Brennan was breathing a bit heavily, though any pain she may have been feeling was masked by each wheezing breath. "Bones, are you okay?" Parker asked.
"I'm okay." She nodded, resting against the wall, Parker saw her wince.
"Bones, are you in pain? Do you want me to call dad?"
"No… do not call your dad…" She said, still trying to catch her breath. "Don't… I'll be okay." She whimpered as she looked up.
"Mommy, are you okay?" Antonia whimpered, noticing that Temperance was holding her belly.
"Mommy is just fine." She whispered as they got to the parking garage. "Mommy is just fine." She said. "Mommy is fine." The doors opened and Parker stepped forward to hold the door.
"Bones, maybe we should have stayed home."
"No way." She shook her head. "There is no way I am going to sit at home and let anything happen behind my back. There is no way."
"Bones, are you sure you're okay?"
"I just need to sit down… I'm okay." She said, walking toward the car slowly, Antonia continued to watch her mother. Suddenly, Temperance stopped.
"Mommy?"
"No." She whimpered as she took another step toward the car. Instead of opening the door, she rested her head against it. "No." She whispered.
"No? No what, Bones?" Parker whispered. "Bones, are you okay? Are you hurting? Bones?" Parker asked, noticing that she was beginning to sweat, her breathing erratic. "Bones, I am calling Dad…"
"What's going on, Mommy?" Antonia asked. "What's going on? Mommy? Are you okay? Mommy?" Antonia asked.
"Toni, just give her a minute." Parker said. "Bones, do you need me to call Dad?" He said, leaning against the car, her head was resting on the window, he could see the grimace on her face as she suddenly let out a pain filled grunt, turning around against the car, her hands were on her abdomen as she tried to hold her breath against the pain. "Bones!"
"Mommy!" Antonia exclaimed as Temperance let out another pain filled shout and slid against the car, lifting herself to the ground in a sitting position as she tried to control her breathing, control the pain, control her emotions as she burst into tears at the excruciating pain.
Parker grabbed Temperance's bag and rooted through it quickly for her phone. He grabbed it and dialed a number as quickly as he could, trying so very hard to remain calm as everything around him began to fall apart. "Dad! You have to get here now!" Parker shouted into the phone.
Booth patted his son's back lightly and watched Parker stare at the floor as he finished the story, the boy's head was shaking as he sighed and looked up at his father. "I shouldn't have told her, Dad… I shouldn't have told you. I don't want you guys to be mad at Chris. I don't want to cause any trouble."
"Parker." He said, watching the boy's eyes meet up with his as he raised an eyebrow. "There is absolutely no way in hell that I would ever, ever give up my legal rights as your father. Like Bones said…you're a Booth. You're just like your old man…"
Parker gave his father a cocky grin, that grin that matched his father's and held that same glint in his eye. "Aw, Dad… You're not that old." He said, punching him in the shoulder playfully with a full grin.
"Ow… hey… watch it, that hurt." Booth said, teasing his son as he shook his head. "Bones doing alright and the baby is doing alright. As far as I'm concerned, you saved their lives. You're a hero."
"I'm not a hero, Dad."
"Ask Bones… she'll tell you… and trust me, Bones does not take hero worship lightly." He winked.
"Are you going to kill Harding?"
"Nah." He shook his head. "But I may make him think that I'm going to. Fear is always just a little more powerful than actual violence."
"And a lot less messy."
"Right." Booth said, giving his son a confused look.
"I mean…"
"Don't worry about it…" Booth said, standing up. He held his hand out to his son and smiled. "Now let's go get some food…son." He said, as Parker grabbed his hand and pulled himself up.
"Sounds like a good idea, Dad." Parker said, giving his dad another punch on the arm, as the two Booth boys left the hospital together on a search for some real food.