A/N: Sorry...meant to add the note in Chapter 11. Added a new chapter 9 and moved the rest of the chapters back by one. Hope you enjoy and it's almost over!!!
"Would you mind taking him for the night?" The question had surprised her and she still felt the shock roll through her system when she thought of it. It was her weekend with Parker and upon picking him up, Rebecca had asked that simple question.
She had agreed quickly, without much thought. Of course he could stay the night. So they went for their customary dinner at the diner. He rambled on about his friends and for the first time, a crush he had on a girl named Claire. She was in the same grade as him with long blonde hair and sea green eyes. She thought liking blondes must run in the family.
After dinner, he changed into his swimsuit and she read by the pool while he played in the water. After ten minutes of begging, she finally gave in and got in with him. They played Marco Polo and other games until finally, it was his bedtime.
She made up the guest bed with the sheets she'd bought just for him. Spiderman sheets and a new matching comforter. A few toys and things that had been left from other visits were relocated to the room as well. It wasn't so much of a guest room anymore, but a room for him. She knew Booth would be proud of her.
After hair had been combed and teeth had been brushed, he settled into the bed with a book. She thought nine a bit old for a child to be read to still, but she readily agreed to read to him as she settled down on the bed, with him curled up against her. She read out loud the adventures of Harry and Hermione, dragons eggs and an evil wizard. When she glanced down thirty minutes later, she saw him sound asleep, his chest rising and falling calmly with each of his breaths. She closed the books and turned off the light on the bedside table until just the moonlight filtered in through the blinds. She ran a finger gently along his cheek, running her hands through his now dry and unruly curls. She brushed a kiss to his forehead, then gently dislodged his grasp from her. Just as she was about to close the door and head to the living room to finish some paperwork, his voice caught her attention. Barely a whisper, but she still heard it. "I love you, Bones." Tears welled up in her eyes as she returned the sentiment and left the door open just a crack, in case he needed or called out for her.
She sat heavily on the couch and wiped at her eyes as she glanced towards the gold padded envelope that lay on her table. Like the small package that had arrived in December, this one had just her name hand written on it. She hadn't had the courage to open it since her arrival a week before. She reached for it and slid her nail beneath the opening.
Her breath caught in her throat as a note, followed by a heavy object wrapped carefully in jersey cloth fell out onto the table. The note was on a plain white card. No envelope or address. Again, only a short message in his writing, telling her he hadn't forgotten his promise to her. She opened the package and found a heavy glass object, twisted into a graceful figure eight. She looked at the message again, tears rising to her eyes as she realized what it now meant. The message was only a few words. "Always and forever". The sign of infinity. Her hand flew to the ring she wore on the chain around her neck. A symbol that reflect two of the things most important to him. His faith and her. The object in her hands reflected two of things most important to her. Science and him.
She lifted the cloth it had been wrapped in and inhaled. The scent of his cologne, body wash and a smell she could only associate as him overwhelmed her senses. Suddenly exhausted, she picked the glass item up from the table and went into her room. Pulling on the shirt that had come in the package, she turned off all the lights and climbed between the sheets. Moonlight through the window reflected off the infinity sign. As she hugged the shirt closer to her body and closed her eyes, for a moment, she was able to imagine he was with her once again.
When she woke in the morning, she found Parker wrapped around her, his head buried against her neck. As she stroked his hair and he awoke, she asked him what was wrong. What had caused his eyes to be so bloodshot.
He told her he had a nightmare. His dad being taken from him. When he'd walked past her room to use the bathroom, he recognized the scent from the shirt she wore. It was all she could do to not lose it right then and there. She him closer, kissing his head and finally, felt him fall back asleep. She closed her eyes, falling asleep shortly behind him. So much of him surrounded her. For the first time, in a long time, her dreams were better than reality. And she fell asleep with a smile.