Booth hung up the phone and slipped it into his pocket, smiling as he made his way toward Melody and Ace. He swept Melody into his arms and nodded his head toward the door. "Let's go, Ace."
"Nah." He shook his head. "It's okay. Family only. It's okay."
"You saved the kid's life. Come on." Booth said, nodding toward the door. "You're my brother, Ace. Please?"
"Booth." Ace shook his head. "It's okay. You guys go see the baby. I will see him later." Booth carefully set Melody to the floor, and she ran toward Ace quickly, grabbing his hand. "Booth." He let out a whine.
Melody felt his apprehension, and looked up at him. "Are you scared?" She signed to him, watching as Ace made a face and shook his head. "I think you're scared."
"I'm not scared!" He signed back to her, saying it out loud, he threw Booth a faux scowl when he laughed.
"Ace is scared of a little baby, Pops." Melody signed to Booth.
"Ugh, fine." Ace said, shaking his head as he grasped Melody's hand and walked with her toward Booth. "Full disclosure. Your daughter got me onto the family list by saying I was her stepfather."
"What?" Booth asked, laughing as he punched in the code.
"Yeah." He said. "And with the way you nag me, I'm starting to think that she meant that it was you and I that were married, and not me and Doc." Ace said as Booth laughed.
"I'd never marry you." Booth said, taking Melody's other hand as they walked into the Maternity ward. "You are a blanket hog." He said, walking up to the counter to sign themselves in as he listened to his friend's laughter.
Temperance and Charlie talked to one another as Antonia continued to sleep, though occasionally they would be distracted by slight movement on the bed. A head tilt or a sleepy mutter, she was still very out of it. They started talking about the case at at the lab, and Temperance was about to ask Charlie another question when a long whine was emitted from the bed.
"Oh sweetie." Temperance said, standing up, she walked toward the bed to see that Antonia's eyes were open, and she had a scowl on her face as she mumbled under her breath. "Antonia?" She whispered.
"What happened?" She mumbled, rolling her head to look at her mother. "What happened?" She repeated again. Her brow was furrowed, and she smacked her lips slightly as her eyes settled on her mother. "Mom?" She said, seeing the concern in her mother's face, she could feel panic rising up in her belly. "Oh God, the baby." She gasped, trying to sit up quickly, she was immediately in pain, and Temperance was over her. "Mom, the baby!" She exclaimed, wincing in pain. "Where is Aiden?"
"The baby is fine, he's fine. Aiden is with him right now. He's with him right now, it's okay." Temperance said in a very low, very calm voice that seemed to push its way through the fog. "It's okay, I promise." She whispered.
Antonia turned her head slowly, her eyes focusing on the other person in the room, she let out a puff of air that was akin to a laugh. "Charlie?" She said, sleepily. "What are you still doing here?" She groaned a little as she looked at her mother who was still standing over her. "Chuck Morris." She mumbled. "Black belt in getting people where they need to go in an emergency." She giggled, her words coming out sloppy and slurred. "Chuck Morris doesn't drive… he's already everywhere." She gasped as she started to giggle. "When Chuck Morris crosses the street, the cars have to look both ways." She mumbled as she let out a giggle and then a sharp whine.
"That's what you get for making those awful jokes." Charlie said as he stood up and walked toward her bed. "I'm both mortified, and happy to hear them." He said, watching her sleepy smile.
"Where is Melody?" She asked, focusing on her mother for a moment.
"She's with Christopher." Temperance said, watching Antonia nod slightly and try to take a deep breath.
"Daddy?" She mumbled.
"He's with Aiden." Temperance said softly.
"Poor Aiden." She said, looking up at her mother's confused expression. "I just mean…" She said, feeling tears coming to her eyes, her emotions were in tight knots. "I mean… He… I…." She whimpered.
"Do you want me to have the nurse get Aiden, and the baby?"
"Yes, please." She whimpered. "And Daddy…and Melody, and Ace." She whimpered.
"Sweetie, Melody can't come in here." Temperance said softly, watching as tears streamed down her daughter's face. "I know you want to see her, but she's not allowed in the ICU."
"You just don't want me to see her." She sobbed. "You think we did those awful things to her." She cried.
"I will not dignify that with a response." Temperance said, her voice low and serious as she shook her head at her sobbing daughter. "In fact, I am going to just assume that your little tantrum here is a product of a hormonal influx, mixed with the medicinal cocktail that the doctors administered." Temperance said, watching as Antonia closed her eyes and turned her head, crying silently.
"I'll go tell the nurse to get Aiden." Charlie said, standing up, watching Temperance hold Antonia's hand as she tried to calm her.
"Thank you Charles." Temperance said, watching as he quickly ducked out into the hallway.
Antonia turned her head and could see the pain in her mother's eyes, the worry, and fear. She pulled her hand from Temperance's grasp. "Why would you say something hurtful like that?"
"I hurt." She said, her brow furrowing. "You didn't even call me, you sent Dad."
"I had to retrieve Melody, Antonia." Temperance said firmly. "I shouldn't be having this conversation with you right now." She sighed.
"Right, avoid it. Just like everything else. That's fine." She said stubbornly.
"Antonia, I did not take Melody away from you." Temperance argued.
"I just hurt, Mom." She whimpered sleepily. "I…hurt." She said closing her eyes, feeling her mother's touch on her hand again, she grasped it tightly. "I'm sorry." She whispered.
"I know, sweetheart." She said softly. "Close your eyes, rest."
"I love you, Mom." She whispered sleepily.
"I love you, baby." Temperance whispered, leaning down to gently kiss her daughter's forehead.
Aiden was settled in a rocking chair in a fairly small room that was equipped with a small love seat and table. The tiny bundle in his arms had been securely swaddled in his blanket, his eyes closed as his lips smacked slightly after the formula he had just consumed. Aiden gently ran his finger over the baby's cheek, reveling in the wonder of this tiny baby that was half him, and half Antonia. So small, he could fit easily along Aiden's long arm, he watched as a glimpse of the baby's eyes came into view, closing quickly against the harsh light of the room.
"Yeah, it's a little bright out here, isn't it? Not used to all of that, huh?" He said softly, listening to the tiny gurgling and smacking sounds coming from the baby's lips. "Your big sister is going to be so happy to finally meet you." He whispered, gently running his finger along the baby's temple, lifting the little white and blue hat just a bit to see his dark hair. "Your mama said you probably had a good head of hair based on her tummy aches. Another example of how your mama is usually right." He whispered. "I wish she was here right now to tell me how right she was. That silly mama is sleeping. You took a lot out of her, little one." Aiden smiled tenderly. "It's okay though, you will have plenty of opportunities to keep her awake coming up, so don't be too disappointed in missing out on it now." He whispered. "If someone told me a year ago that I would be here right now, holding the most beautiful little boy that ever existed, I'd have told them that they were crazy. I am very lucky to have you, very lucky to have your mama, and all of the things that come with her." He said, watching as the baby let out a big yawn.
Aiden was about to say more when he heard the sound of Booth talking to someone as he came closer. Aiden could feel a bit of a nervous feeling in his stomach as they approached, hoping that this big arrival was everything that Melody was hoping for. The past thirty-six hours had been an absolute emotional roller coaster, and he was so ready to get off of it. He waited patiently, cradling the little boy close to him as he rocked gently, hearing the slight squeaking of little sneakers on the clean linoleum floor.
The door opened slowly, and Booth stepped inside, followed by Melody, dressed in a pink smock and a tiny surgical mask. "Doctor Melody is here for surgery." Booth winked as he held the door open for Ace to enter.
Aiden could tell by her sudden stop and her wide eyes that she was entranced, he beckoned her near, and she didn't move for a moment, until Booth gave her a little push on her shoulder.
"She was practically running a minute ago." Ace laughed, looking toward the baby, he had a tender smile on his lips. Ace stepped forward and took Melody's hand, and she looked up at him. Aiden thought it odd, the look they exchanged, but holding tightly to Ace's hand, they walked toward Aiden.
"Say hi." Aiden said, leaning down slightly so the baby was closer to her level.
Melody stepped toward him and slowly released Ace's hand, stepping into Aiden's knee to look down at the baby. She waved to the baby, though she knew that his eyes were closed so he wouldn't see what she was saying. Aiden carefully rearranged him slightly, and the baby pulled his hand from the swaddle, his eyes opening slightly as he let out a small squawk. "Put your finger in his hand." Aiden said, demonstrating. If he grabs it, it means he likes you." He said watching her read his lips, he looked up at Booth and Ace, who were smiling, shaking their heads at his little trick.
Melody was a bit nervous, looking up into Aiden's eyes and then back to the baby. Slowly she reached forward, touching his hand, her eyes focused on the tiny baby as his little fingers wrapped firmly around her finger. She made a squeaking sound of excitement, clearly grinning beneath the mask, gently taking her finger from the baby. "Cute baby brother." She signed, looking into Aiden's eyes.
"He looks a lot like Aiden." Ace said, knowing that saying that would gain him a glare from Booth.
"He looks like Toni. You're nuts." Booth grunted.
"Actually, most babies look like their fathers. It's an evolutionary way to determine paternity. That's an anthropological fact." Ace said, grinning at Aiden, who was shaking his head laughing as Booth's face turned red.
"If there weren't two children present right now, I would have something to say to you." Booth grunted.
"Okay, okay you two." Aiden said, rocking the baby as Melody let him grasp her finger involuntarily again. She was absolutely enamored by the tiny baby, and nothing could bring her out of that moment.
Ace slipped his phone out of his pocket and managed to grab a few snapshots. He then stepped forward as he slipped the phone into his pocket and crouched down toward Melody. Her bright eyes moved to Ace, and she looked to him. "Do you like him?" He signed.
She slowly pulled her finger from the baby and watched Ace's eyes. "I love him." She signed to him, watching as Ace ran his finger over the baby's hand.
"How do you feel?" He asked, watching her tip her head slightly, her eyes flicking to Aiden, who was not watching their conversation. "Does your tummy feel warm, your heart, is it beating fast?"
"Yes." She signed, nodding her head.
"That's what happy is, Melody." He signed.
"I like happy." She signed. "I love happy." Her eyes were sincere, as she watched Ace very solemnly.
"Don't waste your happy, Melody. Enjoy every minute of your happy." He signed to her, watching her swallow hard, she glanced to Aiden, who was now watching their conversation.
"I love you, Daddy." She signed to Aiden, her eyes filling with tears. "I love happy." She signed, whimpering a bit, she wrapped her arms around him tightly.
"What's that all about?" Aiden asked, looking up at Ace, then Booth, who shrugged as he looked over everyone at the baby.
"I was just reminding her about a conversation we had earlier. It's nothing." Ace said, as suddenly Melody turned and wrapped her arms around Ace. "Aw, come on, kid." He said, kissing her head as she pulled from the hug and turned to hug Booth's legs.
"I think she's happy." Booth said, leaning down to lift the little girl into his arms, she immediately wrapped her arms around his neck.
They talked for a little while longer, and Booth and Ace each held the baby, and in their own way tried to finagle the baby's name from Aiden and Melody. They held strong against the onslaught of threats, begging, and bargaining. There was a light knock on the door as the nurse from the front desk interrupted their conversation, smiling in on the small group. "Mr. Fitzgerald, Ms. Booth is awake, and she's asking about you and the baby." She said with a smile.
"She's awake?" Aiden asked, sitting up a little straighter, his eyes moving to the little sleeping boy in his arms.
"Yes sir." She smiled. "We were going to bring some formula to the room, and transport him there, if you'd like to accompany the nurse."
"Okay." He said, nodding softly, glancing to Melody as he glanced to the bassinet beside them. "I just want to say goodbye to my daughter, and I'll bring him out in a second." He said, watching as the nurse nodded politely, and stepped out of the room. He stood carefully and lifted the sleeping baby into his bassinet, being sure he was swaddled tightly in his blanket. He fussed for a second or two, but quickly calmed, as Aiden turned to Melody, crouching before her.
"What do you think of your new baby brother?" Aiden signed, watching Melody glance to the baby and back to Aiden. "Are you ready to be a big sister?"
"I think so." She shrugged. "What does a big sister do?" she signed.
"You love him, and protect him, and always be his friend."
"You fight, and you bicker, you blame everything on them, and you tell him how unfair everything is." Booth said from behind Melody, catching Aiden's playful glare.
"You know who is a big sister, don't you?" Ace signed to Melody.
"Who?" She asked curiously.
"Ant is Grace's big sister. She can teach you how to be a good big sister." Ace signed, watching Melody's eyes widen slightly.
"Really?" She signed, smiling under the mask.
"She's an okay big sister." Booth muttered with a teasing tone. "Which reminds me. I told Bones that I'd call Grace."
"I already called Grace and Parker." Ace said, accepting another hug from Melody, he lifted her from the ground and kissed her forehead as she rested her head on his shoulder.
"You already called them?" Booth asked.
"Yeah, hours ago. After I called you and Doc." Ace said, listening to Aiden's soft laugh behind him. "I told them that you'd call when Ant was in a regular room and could have visitors." He could see the look on Booth's face as he gave him a surprised look. "What?" He said, a humored grin on his face.
"Son of a..." Booth muttered.
"Okay." Aiden said, nodding toward the door, he started to wheel the bassinet. "It's time to get this little man to his mama." He said, as Ace turned and opened the door, and they all followed Aiden and the baby from the room.