I own none of the characters of Bones.

Bones' POV

"Go, daddy." Parker shouted from the bleachers that we were sitting on. "Shoot it."

Parker and I were at a local high school gym watching a basketball game that Booth was participating in. Hank had talked Booth into joining a wheelchair basketball league that he had been playing in for years. At first, Booth didn't want to join but now, by the look on his face, I could tell that he was enjoying himself. I guess the argument we had was worth it.

"You won't believe what Hank just suggested." Booth said, wheeling himself into the living room.

"What did he suggest?"

"He wants me to join a basketball league." He sounded furious. "A league full of other men in wheelchairs. A handicap basketball game." He spat.

"What's wrong with that? I think that it's a great idea." I told him and he glared at me.

"No, Bones, it's not a good idea. In fact it's a really, really bad idea."

"I don't understand why playing a game is a bad idea."

"Of course you wouldn't." He snapped and I rolled my eyes. Here we go again.

"Then why don't you explain it to me." He sighed.

"The point of a basketball game is to run up and down the court dribbling the ball. The key word is 'run', Bones, and I can't run."

"From what you have explained to me everyone that you will be playing with will also be in a wheelchair, so no one will be running."

"Exactly; so it's not really a game. What challenge is it to place a ball on my lap and roll up and down the court? I am not spending my free time with those people."

"Those people? Did you really just say that?" He just stared at me. "I hate to break the bad news to you, mister, but you are one of those people. You are in a wheelchair just like those people."

"I'm not doing it."

"You are acting like a child, Booth." I snapped.

"Don't start, Bones."

"I'm not starting anything. I'm just trying to figure this out. You love playing sports and I don't understand why you won't take this opportunity."

"I used to love playing sports before I was put into this damned chair."

"You can still love to play sports. You'll just have to play them differently."

"I don't want to play them differently. I want to play the same way I used to."

"Well you can't so you might as well get used to it." He opened his mouth to respond but instead of saying something he would regret, he wheeled himself away from me and into our bedroom.

An hour later, he returned to the living room where I was curled up on the couch working on my book. Even though I heard him I never lifted my head up and acknowledged him. I listened as he went into the kitchen and opened the fridge. I heard the beer bottles clank together and he returned to the living room.

"Peace offering?" I looked up from my computer and he was sitting beside me holding out a beer. Placing my laptop on the coffee table I reached out and took it. "I called Hank."

"And?"

"I told him to sign me up. Practice starts tomorrow."

"What changed your mind?"

"I realized that I was regressing and being a stupid ass."

"I won't argue with that."

"I thought that I had gotten to the point that I've accepted being in a chair but obviously I haven't. I guess I freaked out a little at the thought of joining an activity that is designed for people in wheelchairs."

"A little?" I smarted.

"Okay, I freaked out a lot but I think I'm over it. Hank said that it's a blast and I can get rid of some pent up frustrations."

"Do you have frustrations, Booth?" He reached out and took my hand.

"Not about you or us."

"You're just frustrated with things you can't do anymore or things you can't do like you used to." He nodded and we sat in silence drinking our beer.

"Are we okay, Bones?" He asked after a few minutes.

"Yes, Booth. We are fine." I reassured him but I knew in my heart that he would never be okay as long as he couldn't walk.

"Bones." Parker whispered pulling me out of my memory. "I have to go to the bathroom."

"Would you like me to go with you?"

"You're a girl. You can't come into the boys' bathroom." I smiled at his innocent comment.

"You're right, but I can walk with you and wait outside."

" Bones, I'm eight years old. I can go by myself." He told me proudly.

"You're right. Hurry back though; you don't want to miss the game." He smiled his father's charm smile and clomped down the bleachers.

"Your son is adorable." The woman next to me said.

"Oh, you've misunderstood. Parker is not my son. He is my boyfriend's son." I almost giggled like a schoolgirl when I said the word boyfriend.

"Which one is your boyfriend?"

"Seeley Booth. He is the one that has the ball right now."

"You must be Dr. Brennan." I wasn't comfortable with this strange woman knowing who I was when I didn't know who she was.

"Do I know you?"

"I'm sorry. I'm Alicia, Hank's wife."

"I apologize for my rudeness." I held out my hand and she took it.

"You weren't rude, Dr. Brennan. It's very nice to meet the woman that finally won Seeley's heart."

"Please call me, Temperance. Your husband has been such a wonderful help to Booth."

"Hank and Seeley go back a long way. They served together and Seeley was there when Hank got shot. He's always felt guilty about that. After Hank was shot, they shipped him back here to Bethesda and Seeley was sent home with him because he was shot in the arm. He sat with me through the hours of endless surgery and blamed himself. He told me numerous times that it was his fault, that it should have been him."

"Booth's like that. He carries the guilt of the world on his shoulders."

"For years after Booth was discharged, he always came over and visited Hank and our family; kind of a surrogate uncle to our children. I always wanted him to find the perfect woman and I knew it was you before he did." Alicia told me as Parker returned to his seat.

"Did I miss anything?" He asked me.

"I honestly don't know, Parker. You know I don't understand this game."

"It's okay, Bones." He turned his attention back to the game, cheering his dad on as I resumed my conversation with Alicia.

"You were saying?"

"I knew that Seeley was in love with you before he knew it, or at least admitted it."

"How did you know?"

"Well, every conversation we had he always found a way to bring you up and when he spoke about you he got a wistful look on his face. He had it bad, and apparently, from what Hank tells me, he still has it bad."

"What does Booth have bad?" I asked her and she laughed.

"Oh, wow. You really are a literal person. What I meant was that Booth is very much in love with you."

"The feeling is mutual." I whispered.

"Do you guys have plans for dinner?" Alicia asked.

"We didn't plan anything."

"After the games, we all go out for pizza. You should come with us."

"I think that's a really good idea. Parker and Booth love pizza." Suddenly everyone around us stood up and began cheering. Not knowing what else to do, I stood and joined them. "Parker, what's going on?"

"Daddy's team is down by one point and they have the ball. If someone makes a basket Daddy's team will win." He told me excitedly. I nodded without understanding and I watched the game. I found myself being drawn in when Hank tossed Booth the ball and he wheeled himself down the court. "Go, daddy, go." Parker shouted.

"Go, Booth." I yelled with everyone else. I was holding my breath by the time Booth made it down by the hoop at the end of the court. The gym seemed to fall silent as he lifted his hands and the ball, threw it in the air, towards the basket and it dropped it in the hoop.

Booth's teammates on the gym floor went crazy. The people around me in the bleachers went crazy. Parker went crazy and Booth went crazy. From his spot on the gym floor Booth turned his chair around and looked up at Parker and I with one of the biggest smiles that I had ever seen. As Parker raced down the bleachers to meet his father I had to wipe away my tears of happiness.

"Come on, Temperance. Let's go congratulate the boys.' Alicia said and I agreed. We followed the crowds down to the gym floor. I quickly found Parker on Booth's lap, talking a mile a minute whilst holding the basketball.

"Bones." Booth called waving at me. I weaved my way through the well-wishers over to Booth and Parker.

"Congratulations." I told him as I leaned forward to embrace him around Parker, gently and quickly brushing my lips against his cheek so Parker wouldn't see. We still haven't told him about the change in our relationship yet but I couldn't resist kissing him. "You played a wonderful game."

"I'm glad that you were here." He told me when I pulled away.

"I wouldn't have missed it. I met Hank's wife Alicia and she invited us to join them for pizza. Is that okay with you?"

"That sounds like fun. I need to shower and change and then I'll be ready."

"We'll be waiting."

"Daddy, can I go to the locker room with you?" Parker asked.

"No, bub, wait out here with Bones." Parker reluctantly climbed off of Booth's lap. "While you're waiting, you should teach Bones how to play basketball." Parker's face lit up with excitement.

"Come on, Bones." Parker grabbed my hand and led me away. I could hear Booth laughing behind me.

--

An hour and a half later, we were at the restaurant and we were halfway through our pizza when my cell phone rang. Sighing I reached into my purse and answered it. "Brennan… Having dinner… Don't apologize. It's not you're fault… Address?… I'll be there in thirty. Don't let them touch my crime scene."

"Work?" Booth asked when I disconnected the call. I nodded. "Do you need me?"

"Not tonight. I'm just going to the scene and then have everything sent back to the lab." I stood up and put my coat on. "Hank, Alicia, this has been a real pleasure but I have to go to work."

"I'll walk you to the car." Booth said with a smirk after I had said my goodbyes.

"Oh no." I just realized that I was his ride home. "Call me when you're done and I'll come back and pick you and Parker up."

"Don't worry about it. We'll take a cab won't we Parker?"

"We sure will." Parker loved taking a cab with his dad.

"Parker, I'm going to make sure Bones gets to her car. Can you wait in here and be good?" Parker nodded. "Listen to Hank and Alicia."

"Yes sir." I waved to Parker. "Bye, Bones."

"Bye, Parker." As soon as we were beside my car, Booth reached out, pulling me onto his lap and kissing me deeply.

"My God, I've missed this." He groaned breathlessly when we broke apart.

"If you would tell Parker then we wouldn't have to go without."

"I know. Since I got shot, things have been changing so much for Parker I just don't know if he is ready for such a major change."

"He's used to us being together. Hell, you've been living with me for the past six months, Booth. Would it be such a major change to tell him that we're dating?" I asked him.

"I don't know. Parker and I are good again and I don't want to risk losing that again."

"I understand." I pulled myself off of his lap. "I need to go. Charlie will be waiting for me. I don't know how late I'll be." I leaned forward and kissed him. "Don't wait up. I'll see you in the morning."

"I love you, Bones." He told me softly as I climbed in my car. "Drive carefully."

" I will and I love you too."

--

I finally returned home about three in the morning, thoroughly exhausted. This new case right from the start has proven to be difficult. The victim's remains were discovered in a park off of a hiking trail. Of course there were parts of the skeleton missing so we had to bring in cadaver dogs to sniff out the surrounding area for the rest of the skeleton, which we found as far away as a mile from the original site.

Three hours after I arrived at the scene I was back at the lab. I did as much work as I could on my own so I wouldn't have to work tomorrow. A few hours later, there was nothing else for me to do. I left instructions for Zach for Monday morning since I would be with Booth at his doctor's appointment and then I finally left.

I walked into my apartment more tired than I had been in a long time, so tired in fact that I didn't remember that Parker was staying with us. My only thought was climbing into bed as fast as I could and getting a few hours of sleep. I automatically went to our bathroom to shower off the stench of the decomposing body. Once I was refreshed, I grabbed one of Booth's tee shirts and climbed into bed. I laid my head on his chest and even in his sleep he must have known I was there because he wrapped his arm around me. In the security of his embrace and the sound of his soft snores, I quickly drifted off into a deep sleep.

Booth's POV

"Daddy." I felt small hands on my arm shaking my body. "Daddy, I'm hungry." I forced my eyes open and rolled my head over to look at my son.

"What time is it?" I mumbled sleepily.

"Seven thirty." I groaned. My son is such an early riser. Suddenly I felt movement beside me on the bed and I realized Bones was in bed with me.

"Booth, what's wrong?" Bones asked lifting her head.

"I…uh…"

"Daddy, why is Bones in your bed with you?" Parker asked me.

"Oh no." I heard her whisper.

"Parker, let me get up and I'll meet you in the living room and we'll talk okay?"

"Okay." He mumbled as he walked out of the room.

"Oh God, Booth, I am so sorry." Bones said pulling herself up. "I got home so late and I was so tired. I forgot that Parker was here." Tears spilled down her cheeks. "I'm sorry. I know that you didn't want him to know. I just wasn't thinking. I was so tired." I pulled her into my arms.

"Don't be sorry. You're right. Parker needs to know and this accident is the perfect opportunity to tell him."

"Booth…" I lifted her face and kissed her.

"Get some sleep, sweetheart. " She still looked devastated. "Bones, quit worrying. Everything will be fine." She nodded. "I love you, Bones." I told her.

"I love you too." She mumbled as she settled back down in bed.

I pulled myself out of bed and into my chair. I went to the bathroom to pee, wash my face and brush my teeth and then I quietly snuck out of the room, careful not to wake Bones.

"So what are you hungry for?" I asked Parker.

"Waffles."

"Waffles, huh?" Parker nodded. "Okay, I'm going to need your help. Grab the stool and get me the waffle maker and a big mixing bowl." Parker did as I asked and we both worked in silence until the waffles were made. Parker set the table while I pulled the butter and syrup out of the fridge.

"All right, bub. Let's eat." I said placing a waffle on his plate.

"What about Bones? Isn't she going to eat with us?" He asked.

"She worked really late last night so she is sleeping. Do you want the butter?"

"Yes please." I passed my son the tub of butter. "May I have the syrup?"

"You got it." I handed him the syrup. I watched as Parker saturated his waffle with syrup. When he took his first bite syrup dripped down his face and the front of his shirt. He was going to need a shower after breakfast.

"So is Bones, like, your girlfriend?" Parker asked with a mouthful of waffle.

"Parks, don't talk with your mouthful." He quickly swallowed.

"So, are you and Bones boyfriend and girlfriend?"

"What makes you ask that?" I knew I was stalling and Parker probably knew it too. He found us together in bed and my son is a smart kid.

"The last time I was here I woke up and needed a glass of water and I saw you guys on the couch kissing." I felt my face turn red. "And then this morning she was sleeping in the same bed as you. Mommy and Brent sleep in the same bed and kiss and they are boyfriend and girlfriend."

"You're right, Parks. Bones and I are boyfriend and girlfriend."

"Do you guys love each other? 'Cause mommy says that you do."

"Your mommy said that did she?"

"Yup. She also said that you were too thickheaded to see it for yourself." I couldn't help myself. I burst out laughing.

"That sounds just like your mother."

"What does thickheaded mean?"

"It's her way of saying that I'm stubborn." He nodded in understanding. "Parker, I love Bones very much and she loves me. Are you okay with that?"

"Yeah, daddy. I'm okay. You smile different when you're with Bones."

"I do, huh?"

"Are you going to get married?" I choked on my orange juice.

"Probably not, bub."

"Why not? Don't you want to get married?"

"It's complicated, son."

"That's always what grownups say when they don't want to talk about something."

"Is it working?"

"I guess so."

"All right, little man. Let's clean up our breakfast and then you can start on your homework."

"I don't wanna do my homework." He whined.

"Hey, we had a deal, Parks." I told him sternly. I wanted him to do his homework on Friday when he came over but he really wanted to go to the movies so we made a deal - movie on Friday and then homework on Sunday.

"Yes, sir."

"After you're done and it's right we'll play your football game. I owe you a rematch." He grinned.

"You're going down, daddy."

"Bring in on, little man. Bring it on."

--

It was probably around eleven thirty when Bones made her way to the living room, freshly showered and ready for the day. Parker and I were in the middle of a heated, intense football video game match. We were both talking major crap to each other which I really had no room to be doing because Parker was kicking my ass.

"Good morning, boys."

"Morning, Bones." We both answered, never taking our eyes off of the TV.

"Are you guys hungry?"

"Yes." We answered again at the same time.

"How does macaroni and cheese sound?"

"I love mac and cheese." Parker answered.

"Well, I'll call you when it's ready."

I heard Bones disappear into the kitchen and start gathering the ingredients for our lunch. Since her macaroni and cheese was our favorite food she always had the stuff in the kitchen to make it. I paused the game because I owed Bones a proper good morning.

"Hey! Whatda do that for? I was winning?" Parker asked me.

"I need to go talk to Bones."

"Are you going to kiss her?"

"Probably." I answered with a grin.

"Gross." He said making a face that was so cute I almost laughed.

"Then don't watch." I placed my controller on the coffee table, ruffled his hair and wheeled myself into the kitchen. "Did you sleep well?" I asked her back. She turned around and smiled.

"I slept very well. How are things with you and Parker? How did he take the news about... uh… us?" She asked nervously.

"Come here." I held out my hand and she slowly took a few tentative steps towards me and took it. I tugged her over to me, pulled her down and kissed her.

"He took it very well." I told her with a smirk when we broke apart. "The last weekend that he was here he woke up for some water and busted us making out on the couch."

"Oh, God." She clamped a hand over her mouth. I held tightly to her other hand.

"Bones, it's fine. Everything is fine. You have nothing to worry about."

"Are you sure?" I don't want to upset him."

"Parker, come in here please." I immediately heard his little feet running towards the kitchen.

"What? Are you coming back to our game?"

"In one second. First, tell Bones what you think about her being my girlfriend."

"I think that it's cool."

"Thanks, Parks. You can go back to the living room and I'll join you in a minute." He nodded and returned to the living room.

"Do you believe me now?" She nodded. "Parker told me that I smile different when I'm around you" Tears fell from her eyes. "Bones?" I asked her. She quickly wiped her eyes.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to cry."

"Are you okay?"

"I've never been better." She murmured as she leaned forward and pressed her lips to mine."

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