Author's note: Just look at the length of this thing here … °gasps in awe° It's been a while since I've written such a long chapter! My creativity is back. :-) I hope you all enjoyed the first part of The Postcard Series! Without further ado, chapter 25 of LOTL! It contains my take on Parker which should be quite hilarious since I don't have a clue about four year olds. :-) If you guys could point out your favourite quotes (or favourite scenes - if you don't find a particularly good sentence) that would mean a lot to me.

For my reviewers: I've got so many people to thank here! I'm still recovering from the shock of seeing all those reviews in my inbox! Thank you my dear bb-4ever, EternalConfusion, squinter, bandbfan24, Bellabun, BonesDBchippie, Spuffyshipper, goldpiece, Bones4life, willgirl, Egyptianautumn, krisnina77, I hart Booth, Lady Elanya, phi4858, Addictt, saz89, angel6 and Amasayda! Oh yeah, happy b-day saz89:-)

Disclaimer: °impatiently taps her foot° I'm still waiting for the day Fox claims that Bones isn't theirs but mine.

- Week 4: Wednesday -
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Booth propped himself up on one elbow. I can't believe how beautiful she is. He cocked his head to the side and continued drinking in her beauty. And she's mine. Two fingers tiptoed up the sheets covering the sleeping woman lying beside him. Reaching the point where the covers ended and her skin started, he began a back and forth stroking motion across her collar bone and the nip of her neck. Temperance stirred. He smiled and tiptoed his way over her neck to her face where he playfully tapped her nose. Temperance yawned and cracked one eye open.

"Morning, beautiful." he softly said.

She mumbled something while stretching her arms out above her head. After she had yawned again, she turned her full attention on Booth.

"Hi." she finally said, propping herself up on one elbow as well and leaning her head on her hand.

"Did you sleep well?"

"The few hours I got with you around, yes."

"Good." he answered as he leaned in for a kiss. He put his hand behind her neck to steady her so that he could kiss her properly. Pulling slightly away, he mumbled against her mouth "Say it again, Bones."

"What?" she softly asked.

He briefly slid his mouth over her lips. "You know what."

With gleaming eyes and an amused smile she retorted, "Make me."

He grinned. "Consider that challenge accepted."

After having given her a passionate kiss he slid his mouth down her neck to her collar bone. His hands pushed the sheets down in the mean time. Temperance moaned when his mouth landed on her breasts. He stayed there long enough to torture the pink nipple on top of each creamy hill with his tongue. Her breath hitched in her throat with every shock of pleasure that he sent coursing through her veins. He moved further down her body, swiping his rough tongue over her skin and momentarily dipping it in her belly button. Her fingers found his hair at which she helplessly tugged.

Booth took this as his cue to retrace his steps until he was kissing her again. Somewhere in between gently biting down on her bottom lip and sucking her tongue into his mouth, he managed to slide between her thighs and running his thumb over her. A very low and animal-like growl rumbled in her throat. Booth smiled against her lips. Never expected her to make those sounds.

She panted his name as he went back to swirling his tongue over her breasts and stomach. The tender stroking of his fingers was slowly but surely lifting her higher and higher. She vaguely realised what he was going to do but didn't expect the breath-taking explosion when he finally rained down small kisses on the most sensitive spot of her body. Gripping his hair again, she cried out in passion and let wave after wave wash over her until she was nothing more than a trembling but very satisfied woman.

---°---

"What time do we have to pick up Parker?"

"Around 9.30."

Temperance nervously bit her bottom lip. In just a few hours time she would have Parker around. She'd finally have to deal with all the motherly feelings that had been stirring around in her gut for a week. What if Booth wasn't right? What if Parker didn't like her? What if she did something to repulse him? She wasn't exactly the girl-next-door type that spent every free minute babysitting on the kids from the neighbourhood.

"Why do you want to know?" Booth added.

She shook her head. "No particular reason."

He studied her face for a second. She's nervous. He hadn't seen that side of her very often but he knew that when the nervousness reared its ugly head, his partner did stupid things. Like rambling on about every possible way you could break the bone of your big toe. Or like describing every detail about how flesh-eating bugs feasted on the flesh of a corpse. Nervous Bones would unintentionally freak out his son and that was something he couldn't allow to happen. I have to distract her.

"We still got one hour before we have to get ready." he murmured. Temperance nodded but kept her stare on the ceiling. "You up for round two? Because I think I didn't quite meet the challenge last time."

She turned her head to look at him, a smile beginning to form on her face. "Yes, as a matter of fact, you didn't get me to say it."

"Let's have another go at it then." he answered back before descending his mouth on her body again to make her writhe in pleasure and scream out in ecstasy afterwards.

---°---

She was panicking. She obviously was judging the blank expression on her face, the crossed arms and her spine held stiffly straight. He placed a comforting hand on her lower back.

"You'll do fine, Bones. I know you will."

Temperance turned to look at him. Her face remained blank but he could see the small hint of uncertainty swimming in the depths of her eyes. He couldn't understand why some people called her cold. Sure he had once believed that as well but that was until he had caught on with her facial expressions. She wasn't the type of person who jumped up and down with excitement or burst out in crying over nothing. No, with Temperance it was all in the small things. A flick of her hand, a tensed muscle, a glint of emotion in her eyes, … He wondered why everyone thought his partner was insensitive while it was obvious she wasn't.

He put his hands on her face. "You'll do brilliant, Bones." he said again before leaning down to kiss her.

Temperance didn't know where to stay with her hands except somewhere on his body where she could feel the warmth of his skin. They slowly crept up his chest and around his neck so that her fingers could play with his hair.

"Mommy, why is daddy kissing her?"

The voice of a four year old asking his mother that innocent question was like a cold shower for them. Their eyes flew open and they slowly turned their faces, their mouths sliding apart in the process. He cleared his throat while glancing at Temperance's shocked expression.

"Hey, bud. Hey, Rebecca." Booth said with a sheepish smile. He slowly moved his hands down to Tempe's waist, a less compromising place than her face. Making out at the front door, what was I thinking?!

He should have known that Parker would open the door. He always did when he heard the large SUV pull up in the drive-way. But Booth hadn't been able to stop himself from seeking the warmth of her mouth. He had to steal one last kiss before they met up with Parker because, without a doubt, the young boy would continuously interrupt them for the rest of the day; just like he had done two minutes ago. He dared to steal a glance at Temperance's face. A strange mix of embarrassment, fear and anticipation was playing over her features.

Temperance let her hands slide down to her sides. She stared at the two people in the doorway. What a perfect beginning of the day …she sarcastically said in her mind. She greeted Rebecca and then settled her gaze on Parker, who was staring up at her.

"Hey, Parker." she softly articulated.

The effect was immediate. His cheeks reddened and his shoes suddenly became very interesting things to look at. Rebecca put a hand on his shoulder.

"Could he spend the night at your place, Seeley? I have to go out of town for work and I won't be back until tomorrow afternoon."

"Yeah sure, no problem."

Rebecca thanked him and went inside to retrieve the bag with Parker's things. The four year old was still staring at his shoes. Booth bent down to pick him up. He settled him on his side. With a smile he darted his eyes from his son to his partner and back. Temperance's discomfort was radiating from her in large waves. Was she thinking about running away? She didn't honestly think he would let her bail out on them? Or maybe she was still insecure about her spending the day with them. She had more than once mentioned that she didn't want to intrude on his precious time with his son. Bones, if you only knew …

He was about to inform her that he'd drag her along at her hairs if she'd so much as take a single step in the wrong direction but the blond-haired kid in his arms beat him to it.

"Daddy," he asked in a small voice. "Is Tempre … Tampere …"

"Tempe." his partner helped. Booth sent her a grateful smile.

Parker blushed again. "Daddy, is Tempe going with us to the zoo?"

"Yes I am, Parker." Both Booth-men turned in surprise to the anthropologist. Temperance shrugged. "I am, am I not?"

Booth flashed her a charm smile; a nervous smile tugged at Parker's lips. "Alright bud, let's get you in the car. I've already put your seat in." While he was talking, Booth had moved to the SUV with Temperance in tow. He put Parker in the car seat and was fiddling with the straps when Rebecca called him back to the front door. "You do this Bones. I'll go get his stuff." the FBI agent threw over his shoulder, already jogging back to the blonde woman in the doorway.

After staring at the child for a minute she came into action, picking up two ends and trying to click them together. Temperance furrowed her brow in concentration. I can identify 6000 year old skeletons but not strap in a kid?

Parker bit his bottom lip, trying to hold back his laughter as he watched the anthropologist fight with the car seat. "Daddy says you're smart."

"I am." she absentmindedly responded.

"But that clip doesn't fit there. You're trying to put a square block into a round hole."

Temperance stared at him. Cheeky kid. Definitely Booth's son.

"Let me help you." Parker offered.

Thanks to Parker's help she had him securely strapped in by the time Booth returned to the car. He gave Temperance an admiring look as he got behind the steering wheel. "I didn't think you'd manage to do that, Bones. It took me a month before I could handle all those straps."

"Well, I had a little help, isn't that right Parker?" she said, smiling at the child in the back. The young boy returned her smile, grinning widely and with a light pink blush on his cheeks. He had clearly forgotten his earlier shy approach towards the anthropologist.

Booth reached out to squeeze her hand. He didn't say a word but Temperance knew he was telling her that she had done fine, just like he had predicted.

"Right, who's up for a day at the zoo?" he exclaimed while moving his hands to start the car. The cheering in the back was enough to make him chuckle and drive away.

---°---

"Remember where we're parked."

"I think you can hardly miss a large black SUV standing in between a pink Beetle and a bright yellow Mini Cooper." Temperance remarked with a hint of sarcasm.

"Lot C, number 112." he continued undisturbed. "Remember that one, Bones. You get Parker, I'll get our things."

"What things?" Confusion was written all over her face but Booth didn't pay any attention to it. He left her to unfasten Parker. "Right." she sighed.

Unfastening him went a lot faster than strapping him in. In no time she had loosened all the straps and had lifted the boy onto the ground. Booth emerged from the trunk of the car with a video camera in hand.

"Booth, what is that?"

"It's a camera, Bones." he answered matter-of-factly. "Say cheese." With a flick of his wrist he flipped the camera into film-mode.

"That is something you say when they're taking your picture, not when they're taping you."

Booth shrugged but kept the hand with the camera steady to zoom in on Tempe's face. He then moved on to Parker who was staring wide-eyed at him. Next he began circling around them with large steps.

"Daddy what are you doing?" Parker laughed. Booth grinned back at his son and bent over to pick him up. He then pointed the camera at their faces.

"I am filming the people I love, bud." Booth retorted, quickly glancing at his son before turning his face back to the lens. "My name is Seeley Booth and this lil' fellow here is my son, Parker Booth. We are going to tape a day out with our favourite anthropologist" he briefly swayed the camera to the right to bring Brennan into the picture "to the zoo. Who's ready to have some fun?" he cheered. Parker joined him in the cheering, laughing loudly without holding back like only happy four year olds can do. "Alright, let's go then." He flipped the camera off and put Parker back down.

The boy grabbed his father's hand as they moved towards the entrance. Temperance had watched the whole scene with a smile playing around her lips. They adore each other. She felt a pang of loss at the realisation of what she had missed with her own father. All those missed moments …I'll never get them back. With a vehement shake of her head she tossed the thoughts back into a dark corner of her mind. I'm not going to reminisce over the past while I'm here with Seeley and his son. I'm going to have fun. she silently decided. A fun day out with the man I love and a boy that adores me. I just have to make sure I don't screw things up. Temperance sighed. No pressure there …

She walked on beside Parker who was holding onto his father's hand. The crowd at the entrance was unbelievably dense. Booth warned his son to not let go or they would lose each other between all those people. Parker nodded and took a firmer hold of Booth's hand while reaching up to clutch at Brennan's hand as well.

Temperance froze as she felt Parker's small hand slide into her own. Instinctively the young boy had searched her hand to make sure he wouldn't be alone just in case he lost his father. She drew in a deep breath. There's a scientific explanation for this. She glanced down at the boy. There has to be. Panic and maternal instinct fought for first place in her gut. When Parker shyly looked up at her the panic faded away, leaving a warm fuzzy feeling to take her over. She sent him an assuring smile and squeezed his hand.

Connected through the hands of a four year old, the two grown-ups made their way into the zoo along with dozens of other young couples with their children and grandparents with their grandchildren.

---°---

"Look daddy, nelephants!"

Booth ran a hand through the boy's ruffled curls. "Elephants, Parker."

Parker watched in awe how the large mammals strode by and picked up food with their trunks. Suddenly he let out an excited shriek. "Look daddy! A baby!"

From behind one of the legs of a large elephant a smaller version of the animal appeared. The baby elephant made soft typical elephant sounds while staying close to his mother. Booth had his camera up and running in no time. He moved it from the shy elephant to his son who was bobbing up and down with excitement. To his surprise he saw his partner kneel down. Then he smiled. Kneeling down to be at eye-level with him. You have no idea what a psychological move that is, Bones.

Temperance pointed at the baby elephant. "Do you know how long he was inside his mommy before he was born?" Parker shook his head. "His mother carried him around for 22 months."

"That's a long time!"

She nodded. "Your mother could have two Parkers before that baby elephant would be born."

Now the four year old was even more fascinated by the small elephant pressing itself against its mother's leg. A frown appeared on the boy's face. "More Parkers …" he mumbled. He turned around to his father who was still filming him. "Daddy, when will there be another Parker?"

Booth nearly dropped the camera. "I erm …" He glanced at his partner who seemed to have frozen to the spot, still leaning on one knee beside his son. "I don't know, bud." He put the camera away and faced Parker again with a broad smile. "Let's go see the koalas."

Parker forgot to whole subject as soon as he heard the words koala. The same couldn't be said for Temperance. She slowly rose to her feet, avoiding Booth's apologetic smile. Having children, another subject I'd like to avoid today.

"Come on, daddy! Come on, Tempe! Koalas!" Parker shouted, unconsciously chasing away Brennan's unwanted thoughts. She straightened her shoulders and took off after the two Booth-men who were already in deep conversation about whether the koalas were real bears like Yogi and Boo-Boo or not.

---°---

Temperance's feet were beginning to hurt. They had already visited nearly every single animal in the zoo. They had seen the giraffes, the seals (which Parker referred to as 'the seeleys' which had made her laugh uncontrollably hard), the rhinos, the lamas, the penguins and finally, the dolphins. Temperance had surprised Parker with a detail about everything they had seen. To her own surprise she didn't mind sharing facts with the four year old. She had even managed to put everything in simple words.

Booth had of course been filming the whole thing. Everything on his tape proved that Temperance was capable of being a mother. Throughout the entire day he had watched Parker go from shy and quite distant to warm and affectionate towards his partner. With every new animal they came across, his son took one step closer to the anthropologist. That was until they had visited the snakes and other reptiles. Parker had been amazed by that fact that Temperance wasn't appalled by the creatures. Without hesitation he had tugged at Brennan's shirt to ask her to tell him something about baby snakes. Temperance had told him all about how baby snakes were born while ruffling the boy's hair up. The whole scene had been unbelievably adoring. And I have it all on tape! Booth thought satisfied.

"Look Tempe, monkeys!" Parker exclaimed. He grabbed Brennan's hand to drag her along.

They came to a stop in front of a large cage with two monkeys inside. "These are chimps, Parker. They show the most resemblance with human beings. That one over there looks a lot like your daddy, come to think of it."

Booth grumbled. "Thanks a lot, Bones. Thanks for comparing me with a chimp."

"You once did the exact same thing with me. I looked like King Kong, remember?"

"Touché."

In the mean time Parker was furiously hopping up and down, trying to get a glimpse of the chimps. The cage was build one meter above ground level so he couldn't really take a good look. Temperance bent down to pick Parker up.

Settling him on her hip, she said "Look over there Parker. I bet that lady takes care of the monkeys."

The lady in question made her way over to the threesome. "Hi, I'm Becky. Like you said, I take care of these fellows here. The left one's called Marty. The right one is his mate, Maggie. We're trying to get them to make a baby."

"Like the elephants!" Parker happily said.

"Would you like to give Marty a banana?" Becky offered.

The boy nodded his head enthusiastically. Becky handed him a banana that Parker carefully stuck through the bars. Marty the monkey quickly jumped forward and snagged the fruit away from Parker. Just before Parker had gotten the banana, Temperance had motioned Booth to take his camera and tape this moment but the FBI agent had already had the device out. He had secretly been filming the whole exchange between his son and his partner.

"Can daddy give a banana as well?" Parker asked. Becky nodded and gave Booth the requested piece of fruit. He handed the camera over to Temperance before taking the banana and approaching the cage.

Maggie the monkey immediately came forward. Before Booth knew it, the female monkey had stuck her hairy hand through the bars to tug at his clothes. She gave him an adoring look as she pursed her lips, as if she was asking for a kiss. Booth's mouth fell open. He gave first the monkey and then his son and girl a bewildered stare.

"Looks like Maggie likes you." Becky stated.

Marty was extremely disgruntled because of Maggie's attention for the FBI agent. Emitting an angry shriek he threw the banana he had been munching on through the bars, flinging it at Booth's head. The half eaten banana hit Booth square in the eye with a faint 'splat'-sound.

Temperance had trouble controlling her laughter. As for Parker, he was giggling madly at the sight of his father being attacked by a monkey.

"Looks like Marty doesn't." Temperance said, pointing the camera straight at her partner who was wiping the banana out of his eye while muttering something under his breath. "Angela is going to love this."

Booth's head shot up. "Please tell me you didn't …" He grunted at the lens that was pointed at him. "The squints are going to feast on this one."

---°---

"You have to admit that Marty throwing a banana at you was a nice display of alpha male tendencies."

"Bones …" Booth warned as he sat down at a table of the only diner the zoo counted. "I don't want to hear another word about that monkey."

"Alright alright." she shushed him. "I'll shut up about the monkey." Just wait until I get this tape to Angela. Whatever Angela says or does, isn't my fault, right?

A waitress came by to take their order. They all said what they wanted to eat and then continued their animated discussion on what they had seen today. Booth noted with pride that his son was dividing his attention equally between his father and Temperance. Way to go, Parker. Bones won't be able to tear herself away from you by the end of the day. The waitress soon came back with their drinks. Parker was telling them about the rhino that he claimed had winked at him for the hundredth time when he, all of a sudden, spilled his drink all over the table and on his clothes.

Booth shot up right. "Bones, go get some napkins to clean up this mess please."

Temperance immediately left on the search of said napkins. Booth lifted his son from the chair and away from the table to make sure the orange juice spilled on the plastic surface wouldn't drip onto his son's clothes and make them even dirtier. Temperance rapidly returned with about five napkins. Booth devoted himself to the task of dabbing the yellow wet spots on Parker's T-shirt while Temperance cleaned up the mess on the table.

"I had a great day, daddy." Parker suddenly blurted out.

Booth looked up with a smile on his face. "Really, bud?"

Parker nodded. "I'm glad Tempe came with us. She's nice."

Booth stole a glance at Temperance who was attempting to get rid of the huge pool of orange juice with only three napkins. It didn't seem like she was listening to their conversation.

"She is, isn't she?" Booth agreed.

Parker leaned forward and said in a hushed voice, "She's pretty, daddy."

He couldn't help but grin. "She is, isn't she?"

He dared to glance up again at his blushing partner who was now swiping the napkins over the table with such vigour that the orange juice nearly splattered against the nearby wall. Apparently she had heard Parker's whispered words. Booth rose to his feet and put Parker back on his chair.

"She is very pretty, Parker." he said decisively. "In fact, she's one of the prettiest women I've ever seen." His words made the blush on her cheeks turn a shade darker.

Parker giggled and nudged Temperance. "I think daddy likes you." he whispered loudly. This made Temperance blush even more.

Booth laughed. "Where is the camera when you need one? This was something Angela would've loved to see!"

---°---

A freshly-washed Parker in his pyjama's padded into the living room. Nervously biting his bottom lip he came to a halt at the couch where Booth and Brennan were sitting on.

"You ready for bed, bud?" Parker nodded his head but kept his gaze fixed on Temperance. "Let's get you tucked in then."

"Daddy …" Parker hesitated for a moment. "Can you and Tempe read me a story?"

"Erm, I don't …"

"Sure, Parker." a smiling Temperance intervened.

"Are you sure about this?" Booth whispered.

"I have to learn the read-him-a-story-give-him-a-kiss-goodnight routine someday, Seeley." she whispered back before standing up and following Parker to his room.

Booth smiled. That's my girl.

---°---

"That's very far, thought Little Nutbrown Hare. He was almost too sleepy to think any more. Then he looked beyond the thorn bushes, out into the big dark night. Nothing could be further than the sky. 'I love you right up to the moon!' Little Nutbrown Hare said and closed his eyes." Temperance read.

" 'Oh, that's far,' said Big Nutbrown Hare. 'That is very, very far.' Big Nutbrown Hare settled Little Nutbrown Hare into his bed of leaves. He leaned over and kissed him good night. Then he lay down close by and whispered with a smile, "I love you right up to the moon - and back!" ' Booth finished and closed the book.

Parker was lying in his bed with a satisfied smile. "Thank you for reading my favourite book daddy and Tempe."

Booth bent down to place a kiss on Parker's forehead. "My pleasure, bud."

The four year old quickly scrambled onto his knees to give his father a hug. Then, to everyone's surprise he turned to the anthropologist to smother her in a hug as well. Temperance hesitantly returned the affection. She did even more; she pressed a tender kiss on the boy's curls. Booth felt a tug at his heart. And she says she can't be a good mother …

"Night night, Parker." Temperance whispered after she and Booth had put Parker back under the covers. The boy smiled at them one final time before rolling onto his side and closing his eyes.

---°---

"You did wonderful, Bones. Just like I predicted."

Temperance slid under the sheets next to Booth. "Don't act so smug, Booth. We're lucky that Parker didn't notice how uneasy I am around children."

"I told you that he adores you. You could've talked him to death about ancient mummies and he still would've liked you." Booth said while taking her into his arms.

Temperance wrapped her arms around his waist and placed her head on his chest. "He's an affectionate kid." she mumbled.

"He sure is." Booth agreed. "Talking about affection, what about my kiss goodnight?"

"Knowing you, we're not just talking about a kiss."

"Damn right." Booth shot back before flipping her onto her back and kissing her senseless.

After a minute or two, Temperance pushed him back. "Seeley, we can't. Parker is sleeping down the hall."

"Of course we can. You just have to be quiet. That means no purring sounds."

"I do not purr!" Temperance huffed.

"Sure you do." He kissed her so thoroughly that Brennan couldn't suppress a growl from rolling over her lips. Booth pulled back smiling broadly. "See, I told you. You purr."

Temperance rolled her eyes. "Fine, so maybe I do. I'll keep things quiet in the future."

"Like hell you are! You have no idea how much it turns me on to hear you moan and grunt."

The playfulness disappeared from her eyes and was replaced with a sensual fiery glint. "Really? Why don't you make me then?"

Booth chuckled before leaning down once again to capture her lips. "Ah, another challenge I'm more than happy to accept!"