A/N : Ok, I'm not going to make any more lame excuses as to why it took me so long to post this. Just - sorry, I'll try to do better, and grab your blankets and popcorn because here's another monster. Hope you like.

Thanks to tansypool and 206 my PM buddies for their invaluable assistance. Thanks also to sweet psychologist for the help with the names. To Queen of True Love and princesskag03 for their suggestions and ideas. Again to all of those who have been awesomely supporting me and my stories since the beginning, you have my gratitude and love. Hugs and kisses to you all. To those new to the series - welcome to the family and hope you have fun reading this.

Just checked my email, my mail, under every rock and tree in my neighborhood, and interviewed as well as annoyed several people - all to make sure that I still do not own Bones or it's characters. Damn. Don't own Heroes either. I only own the TV I watch it on.

On with the chapter

The Recollections of Fate

Ange had stayed at Hodgins house for awhile after they left the restaurant and watched amusedly as Hodgins made Sweets remove the gum that fell from his mouth and on to the floor of the car. It wouldn't have been that bad if not for Sweets accidentally grounding the gum in with his stockinged feet when the events taking place in the restaurant excited him. When Hodgins smelled the gum in his car, he was already suspicious of Sweets. Ange had been lectured by Hodgins so many times on the food issue that he knew she wouldn't have chewed gum in his holy shrine to the automotive deities. Add to that was the guilty look on Sweets face. Hodgins ordered Sweets to lift his feet, and when he did so, long, stringy tendrils of gum clung tethered from his dark sock to the floor of the car. With one hand, Hodgins whipped the sock off of Sweets foot and threw it out the window.

"Hey!" exclaimed Sweets. "Those were seventy dollar socks! What am I going to do with the remaining sock?"

"Make one hell of a pricey sock puppet!" yelled Hodgins. "Just be glad that I didn't throw you out with it. You'd think that with all of the doctorates and degrees I didn't think I needed to put it into plainer terms than you are not allowed to consume any food or beverages while in my car. I believe that I expressly told you that gum is also forbidden!"

"I was hungry!" whined Sweets petulantly. "I didn't get to eat before we left, and you took all of my snacks. All I had was one stick of gum. What else was I supposed to do?"

"There was a bunch of fast food restaurants just down the street." Hodgins pointed out.

"You made me take off my shoes!" declared Sweets. "What am I supposed to do? Walk down the block in my socks?"

"When you see what I have in store for you, you'll wish you had." Hodgins retorted, a vengeful grin on his face.

When they got to Hodgins house, Hodgins gave Sweets a bucket of ice, a plastic container, a pair of tweezers and a flashlight. He then told Sweets he had to pick out every piece of gum from the carpet until Hodgins was satisfied. Sweets had to climb into the car, and with one knee on the seat, one on the middle console, his elbows on the floor of the car, and his butt in the air, Sweets had to carefully pick and scrape at the offending clump. Sweets looked adorably awkward, and of course Hodgins felt the need to document this moment, and took several pictures for future reference. And a video clip, with commentary.

Sweets was still picking and scraping while Hodgins was having entirely too much fun with his digital camera when Angela finally left. It was after midnight when Angela finally got home, and despite the fact that she was exhausted, she knew that sleep was not forthcoming. There was far too much on her mind.

She dropped her keys on her kitchen island, shrugged her coat off of her shoulders and let it fall to the floor. Kicking off her shoes, she headed for the bottle on the kitchen counter that she was saving for the league's victory over this very despicable arch enemy. She was going to bring it over to Booth and Brennan's when they finally moved in together. She actually pictured hiding it in their fridge, and after a long day of hauling boxes she would ceremoniously pull it from its hiding place and they would all share in the toast. Of course Brennan and Booth would think that it was all about the move. The league members would know better. For them, it would be another victory for the JustUs league.

Only, right now, she didn't feel that victorious.

She opened the bottle, and took a giant swig. She had done it. She - Angela Montenagro - had sunk so low that she had used a child, a sweet little boy to aid her in her efforts to protect her friends from Talia's little surprise. Angela had outsmarted the Alien Queen, but she felt like absolute crap. The day that she made little Parker Booth an honorary member of the JustUs League, she never thought that she would actually call him into service.

She had been babysitting for Brennan and Booth, who were yet again called in on a case. It was a Saturday, and Angela was home when they asked if they could drop him off. The crime scene was in a mud filled ravine and it would take hours before they'd be able to excavate the remains from all that mud and ship it to the Jeffersonian. They only team members they needed at the moment were Wendell and Hodgins. Ange had nothing to do until they cleaned off the bones enough for her to do a skull reconstruction or had enough data for the Angelator.

Well, not nothing. She had the little Baby Booth to watch over. They spent the first hour or so with Angela giving him art lessons, and teaching him how to draw his favorite cartoon characters. Then came the questions - about art, about tv shows, about the action sequences in movies, and about what was so great about kissing. Ange had to admit that made her jaw drop. He did have his father's mesmerizing eyes and his charm smile, but for some reason Parker was starting to remind her of Brennan when it came to being forthright. Just like Bren he looked you in the eye and asked his questions point blank, and expected an answer. Boy was Booth going to have trouble with this one, Ange thought to herself as she explained the reasoning behind why adults kiss.

As Parker nodded his acceptance of her answer, a thought occurred to Angela.

"Parker, do you like that Bren is dating your dad?" she asked tentatively.

"Yeah!" was Parker's enthusiastic response. "She's so cool! She knows everything about everything, she's so smart! I like it when she helps me with my homework because she really knows about this stuff. She's really pretty too and she's nice to me and she really loves my dad. We have a lot of fun together and it's like we're a family. That's why I want her to be my step-mom."

For a second time that morning Angela felt her jaw drop.

"You want her to be your step mom?" confirmed Angela.

"Yeah," nodded Parker as he concentrated on drawing two taller figures, one with spiky hair, the other with long brown hair who stood alongside a shorter figure carrying a fuzzy.....thing. "I used to be kinda worried about dad when I wasn't with him. My mom has Brent, and dad had no one. And then he met Bones and he was a lot happier, and she promised me that she would watch his back. Dad says that she knows karate and can kick a bad guys butt. I wanted her to be his girlfriend when I met her. I liked her loads better than Tess."

"Really?" Angela smiled. The kid's got taste.

"Uh huh," he muttered, putting more detail on the fuzzy thing. "She doesn't talk to me slow and in a cartoon voice, like she thinks there's something wrong with my brain. Tess used to do that. I'm glad that dad and Bones are finally together but I want them to get married, and get a house together and a dog. And I want a little brother."

"Have you mentioned that to your dad?" Angela half laughed, imagining how that conversation must have gone.

"Yeah," Parker replied, pausing to scratch his head in frustration. "He said that Bones loves us, but isn't ready to get married yet. He said that we have to just keep showing her how much we love her and are always going to be there for her and when she was ready she would let us know. Do you think that's true?"

"Absolutely," agreed Angela. "Getting married is a big decision. It's not something a person should run into. You should be absolutely sure that you're ready for that kind of relationship."

"Do you think that the JustUs league could help Bones get ready?" asked Parker.

"What are you talking about Parker?" asked Angela, stunned.

"Ange, I know about the JustUs league," replied Parker with a shrewdness that belied his years. "I overheard Sweets and Dr. Jack talking about it while I was hanging out at the Jeffersonian with Bones. She was on the platform and she told me that I could do some drawing in her office, but I didn't have any markers. I was looking for you, and in the room that I'm not allowed into - the one with all of the bottles - Sweets and Dr. Jack were talking about how the JustUs league helped Bones and dad get together."

"They did, did they?" smiled Angela while trying to figure out how to drill into their overly educated heads that they couldn't talk about league business where someone who wasn't supposed to know could overhear.

"Yeah," nodded Parker. "What is the JustUs league and how did they help dad and Bones get together?"

There was no point in lying to the kid or denying the league's existence. Parker already showed signs of inheriting Booth's ability to read people as well as Brennan's talent for making a well thought question seem oddly random. Ange also had to tell Parker what she could in order to assure his secrecy.

"Well Park, as much as you wanted Brennan to be your Dad's girlfriend, their friends wanted them to get together too," Ange began, trying to figure out what she could tell him and what she should keep from him. "That's why the JustUs league was formed. It's made up of the people who care very much for your Dad and Brennan and want to see them happy."

"Like a family?" asked Parker astutely.

"Exactly." Ange nodded.

"Then why are you guys called the JustUs league?" Parker mused. "It sounds like a bunch of superheroes."

"I guess because we considered it our mission to get them to realize that they're meant to be together," admitted Angela. "To make it sort of fun and so they wouldn't find out we used code words and handles and things like that so they wouldn't find out. Most of us ended up using a name that sounded like a superhero so we just went with it. We called ourselves the JustUs league because we figured that if we left it to them, they'd keep being stubborn and thinking that they should stay partners so it was up to us - the people that love them. Just us - get it?"

"I think so," replied Parker. "Can I join?"

"We could make you an honorary member," offered Angela. "How about that?"

"Ok," Parker accepted. "Do I get a superhero nickname?"

"You know a lot about comic book superheroes," mused Angela. "Why don't we call you Marvel Boy?"

"I like DC comics better," said Parker, shaking his head. "Can I be called Rebel?"

"Rebel? Hmm," paused Angela. She wasn't a comic book geek, but with her having been close to Zack and Jack she somehow absorbed some of their comic book knowledge. Rebel sounded like it could be a superhero name, but at that moment she couldn't remember if there actually was one named Rebel. "What are Rebel's powers and is he a member of the Justice League?"

"No, he's on a show called Heroes," Parker informed her, temporarily abandoning his drawing which now included a huge house. "He's a technopath - it means that he can make computers and anything electrical do whatever he wants. He became the rebel after his mom died and he wanted to help all of the other people with powers that were being rounded up and put into prisons by the government because they thought that the people with powers were dangerous, even though not all of them are. Rebel warns them, and helps them escape or if there's another person with abilities he sends them to help. And he's just a kid."

"So, basically he comes in and helps people when they need it," pondered Angela. "And he's a kid. Sounds good to me Rebel."

"Cool!" exclaimed Parker. "So, when do I get an assignment?"

"Whoa, hold your horses buddy," laughed Angela. "First things first. Before you become a member of the JustUs league, you have to take up an oath."

"What's an oaf?" he asked.

"An oath is like a pinky swear without the pinky," explained Angela. "Ok, repeat after me - I, Rebel promise to stay a loyal and brave member of the JustUs league, to be there for my fellow JustUs leaguers and to keep the secret of the Justus league close to my heart."

He repeated to Angela the words she had instructed him to say, and with the typical solemnity of a child his age added a hand over his heart to show his sincerity.

"Ok, now that I'm a member do I get to know who the others are?" asked Parker, clearly excited to be a part of the team. Angela told him about his fellow league mates and their handles as well as their nicknames for Booth and Brennan. He seemed rather pleased at their choices for his dad and his intended step mother.

"Do I get an assignment now?" he asked enthusiastically.

"Well Rebel, so far things are going as planned," Angela said, not really wanting to involve him in the scheming that was typical of league missions. "However, if we happen to be in need of your particular talents you will be contacted. Think of yourself as our secret weapon. Okay?"

"I am at your command Lady Fate," he announced solemnly, giving her a salute that warmed her heart. "Whatever you need me to do I will."

Angela wished that he didn't have to prove it. Weeks after his declaration, she found herself desperate and in the section of the Jeffersonian where the after school science class was housed. She was chatting with Max, trying to steel herself for the conversation she was going to have with Parker. She wished that there was another way, and she could have taken the high road and left Parker out of it. Then again, Parker would be heartbroken if Ange allowed Talia to get in between Booth and Brennan. It sounded to her ears like self justification, but she decided to go with it.

"Hey, there you are Parker!" she greeted him warmly, giving him a little hug. "How was school?"

"Pretty good," smiled Parker, setting down his backpack down. "I just found out that I got an A on the science project that Bones helped me with. The science fair is in two weeks, and if I do well there I get to go to the regional science fair!"

"That's awesome Park!" Angela congratulated him.

"Is Bones at the lab? I want to tell her about our project." he said, putting his jacket on a nearby chair and grabbing the strap of his backpack. "Could you take me to see her?"

"Sure," Angela nodded. "In a minute Park, I just want to talk to you about something first."

"Class begins in twenty," Max reminded him. "I'd better go set up."

Max then left Ange and Parker to talk.

"Parker, remember the day that your dad and Brennan dropped you off at my place?" asked Angela, taking a seat in the lounge and pulling Parker next to her.

"Yeah," Parker exclaimed, then continued in a whisper. "That was the day that I became a member of the JustUs league."

"Exactly," replied Angela, mimicking his tone. "And remember when I told you that when we need you we would call on you?"

"What do you need me to do Lady Fate?" Parker asked, excited at the idea of being able to help in some way.

"Ok," began Ange, taking a deep breath. Final chance to back out, she told herself before reluctantly continuing. "Parker, there's something that I need your help with..."

She didn't want to tell him too much about Talia and her manipulative ways, he didn't need to know about that or what Ange and the rest of the gang had been up to. She simply told them that Brennan and Booth were having dinner with someone that wasn't a very nice person, only Brennan and Booth didn't know this and she needed help cutting their dinner short. She needed him to come up with a way to get them both to leave the restaurant, and she needed Parker's help.

"That's all?" asked Parker. "I can do that, no problem."

"Parker, I don't want you to do anything that could get you into trouble or anything that might end up with you getting hurt," warned Angela. "I don't want you wandering out on the street like you did that Christmas so you could spend it with your dad, or pretend to disappear so they would go looking for you. It's too dangerous and I wouldn't want anything bad to happen to you."

"Okay," shrugged Parker, with the faintest smile on his face. "What do you want me to do?"

"Well," sighed Angela. "It would have to be something that your mom would have to call your dad for, so it can't be about you faking a tummy ache."

"Tummy ache?" smirked Parker. "I am eight years old Angela, I use the word stomach. Besides, if I faked being sick the only way that I could get my mom to call my dad about it is if I had like a hundred degree fever and needed to go to the hospital. I'm not faking something so that they could take me to the hospital. I don't like hospitals."

"Me neither." smiled Angela sadly, having a pretty good idea as to why Parker would have an aversion to the hospital, considering how many times he's had to visit.

"I used to dream that something bad was going to happen to my dad, that the bad guys would gang up on him and...." he paused, emotion starting to seep into his voice as he looked away from Angela. "But he has Bones and you guys to look after him now, right?"

"You bet buddy," promised Angela. "You, me, Brennan, your dad, Jack, Wendell, Sweets, Max and Cam, we're like a family and we'd do anything for each other. If you ever need anything, you know you can always come to one of us. You know that right?"

"Yeah, I do," he replied, giving her a warm smile. "But right now you need my help, and I think I know what to do."

When he first told Angela what he planned to do to interrupt the dinner, Ange was skeptical. She had doubts that he could really sell it, but tonight - when she saw Booth and Brennan haul ass out of the restaurant - part of her was proud at how good Parker did, the other part was mildly disturbed. She would definitely have to have a talk with him about this.

She looked down at the bottle and noticed that almost half of it was gone. She groaned, stuck the cork back in the bottle and grabbed herself a pitcher of water from her fridge. She had to make sure not to get dehydrated from all that wine or risk waking up with a monster hangover tomorrow. And tomorrow wasn't that far off.

As she was on her third glass of water her cell phone rang. On the screen was a picture of Brennan, and Ange immediately answered it.

"Hey Bren, what's up?" Ange asked, hoping that Brennan wouldn't notice that she was faking her cheerfulness. "How was dinner?"

She half listened as Brennan relayed the events of the evening, since Ange had already witnessed it. Ange relayed what she felt was an appropriate amount of surprise when Brennan told her about Sully showing up at the restaurant, the reason that he returned to DC. She said that it was nice to see him again but that she no longer felt any romantic interest in Sully - which Angela already knew. Brennan did notice that Booth was behaving jealously and aggressively towards Sully, however he didn't allow it to ruin the evening and she was proud that he didn't goad Sully into a fight or punch him. She mentioned that Jack dropped by their table as well, and that their dinner plans were interrupted by a call from Parker about a dream that he had in which Brennan and Booth were killed by 'bad guys'. According to Brennan, Booth could barely understand what Parker was saying, so Rebecca took the phone from Parker and actually asked Booth and Brennan to come over and calm the boy down. When they reached Rebecca's Parker clung to them as though he were afraid to let go. Rebecca allowed them to take Parker over to Brennan's place since it was closer and it would be just the three of them there - no other guests. That was where Brennan was calling from.

It had taken some chicken noodle soup from the Diner and an hour of reassurances before Parker fell asleep in Brennan's bed with Booth and Brennan on either side of him. She and Booth discussed it and they agreed to talk to Rebecca about being able to spend more time with Parker. On top of that Brennan managed to extract a promise from Booth that he would be more careful out in the field. He now had two people who were emotionally invested in his well being, and for their sake he had to be more cautious. He sealed that promise with a kiss before finally falling asleep himself.

"I know how it feels, to be concerned for Booth's safety," said Brennan quietly. "I don't like the thought of him being hurt, or worse..."

"I know sweetie," replied Angela with a sigh. "He feels the exact same way about you. You should get some sleep though. You guys have to drive him over to Rebecca's in the morning and we have a case to solve. I'll see you at the lab."

They said their goodnights, and Angela had one more glass of water before heading to the bathroom, then to bed to get as much sleep as she could. Tomorrow they would figure out who killed Talia's boyfriend, close the case and send the Alien Queen back to her home planet. If she refused to go, Angela wasn't going to rely on Parker, her fellow league members or anyone else.

No. If that bitch refused to leave, then she would have to deal with Fate herself.