"So you have everything?" Brennan asked Margaret as she loaded her carry all into the back seat of the cab. She was holding Christine's hand as they stood watching them load their bags. Margaret stood up and smiled, her eyes bright with tears "Yes. And even if you find something, just give me a call. We're not that far away." She said hugging Brennan tightly. "Thank you Temperance. Thank you so much for having us." She let go of Brennan and looked at her, smiling "and thank you for helping us find a place." Brennan smiled, swallowing down a lump in her throat.
She had loved having Margaret stay. Granted Nick was a little odd. But deep down, she sensed that he was just a free spirit, still trying to find his way in the world. The main thing was, he loved Margaret and she loved him. And that's really all that mattered. Booth had taught her that.
Margaret stepped over to Booth. He stiffened as she wrapped her arms around him, standing on tip-toes so that she could press her bright red lipstick coated lips against his cheek. "Thank you Booth. For having us and for being so nice to Nick." she said cheerfully.
"No problem. Have fun in the new place" he responded, softening a little.
Nick, wrapped in his new trench coat and sporting a fedora on his head gave Brennan a huge bear hug. "Temperance, it has been a privilege meeting you and thank you for your hospitality. I can see why Margaret loves you so much." he said as he let her go and smiled widely.
Booth gritted his teeth as Nick approached him, arms outstretched. "Booth Man. Seels. The Boothmeister!" he exclaimed as he wrapped Booth up in a hug than made Booth cringe. Booth was not a man who enjoyed manly hugs, especially from strange men with alter ego's. "Thanks man!" Nick exclaimed, rather loudly in Booth's ear.
Booth pushed Nick away from him, his nose screwed up and his lips clamped closed, shaking his head "Enough with the hugging. OK?" he said and held out a hand. Nick looked down and held out his own hand, only to find it crushed in Booths grasp. Nick buckled under the grip and Booth suddenly let him go, smirking. He glanced over at Brennan who was giving him that look. The one where he was going to get in trouble when they got inside. He grinned his best cheeky grin at her and shrugged.
"OK! Well it's been nice seeing you. Have fun in your new place. Take your time settling in. Take as long as you can" Booth said, hoping they got the message that he wasn't in any hurry to see them again soon.
Brennan hitched Christine up on her hip and both Nick and Margaret gave her a kiss on the cheek. "Bye bye Christine. Be a good girl for Mommy and Daddy. Kiss Marie for me?" Margaret asked Brennan, who nodded and felt her eyes prick with tears "Of course I will. Look after yourself and call me soon" she said. "But not too soon" Booth added. Brennan snapped her head around and glared at his wide grin. What? He mouthed silently. She rolled her eyes and turned back to watch Nick and Margaret waving out the back window of the cab as it pulled away from the kerb. Christine's chubby arm pumping up and down as she waved.
"Booth!" she slapped at his arm.
"What? I just want them to take a while settling in before bother. Errr. I mean, calling us!" he said.
"I know what you're doing." She said. "They are going to be living two hours away. I think you're safe. It's not like they are going to be just passing." Brennan said, her bottom lip dropping. She turned and watched the cab in the distance turn the corner "I'm going to miss them" she whispered. Booth felt his heart tug. "Aww Bones. I'm sorry. I know you love Margaret. But really? We need to have some time alone with the kids. We need to settle in ourselves!" he said.
Brennan turned back and nodded. She knew he was right. She had spent two days in hospital before coming home and then they only had the one day alone with Marie before Margaret and Nick turned up. She passed Christine to Booth and then wrapped her arm around his waist as they walked back inside.
Booth was pouring water from a cup over Christine's head while she splashed in the bath. He made sure no more shampoo was in her hair and then grasped her tightly under her arms and lifted her out of the water, her legs kicking in protest. "Daddy No! Bath" she yelled. Booth felt the water seeping through his shirt as she continued to kick her wet legs. "Bathtime is over Christine. Time to put on your PJ's and then I'll read you a story"
Christine stared at him, her brow furrowed, looking exactly like her mother at that moment. He shook his head and grinned to himself hoping that Marie was going to be easier to handle than her sister. He wrapped her in a thick fluffy white towel and rubbed at her body, drying her and then drying her hair. He ran a brush though it and dressed her in her bright purple onesie. "Ok! Off to bed!" he said as he lifted her high in the air above him and then pulled her down and covered her face with sloppy kisses while she giggled and shrieked "Daddy!"
Booth lay Christine in her bed and leaned down and played their game where he tries to bite her tummy off. Her shrieks and giggles making him feel all warm and fuzzy inside. He sat up and pulled her quilt over her and tucked her in. Picking up a book, he started to read to her. It was one that Brennan had bought, about being a big sister. She thought that it might help Christine adjust to having Marie at home.
Booth understood it had been a big adjustment for her. She had literally been in her own room only for a few nights when Marie had decided to make an early arrival. And he admitted, whilst having Margaret and Nick arrive on their second day home annoyed him, it had provided a buffer between Christine and Marie. Margaret made a fuss of Christine and Nick had played with her. She hadn't felt ignored or left out while Brennan had settled Marie in.
He paused reading and looked down. Christine's eyes were closed, her breathing even. He read a few more lines in a whisper, just in case, but she didn't stir. He closed the book and stood up carefully. He smiled as he looked down at her, golden curls fluffed out around her little dumpling face. Her lips pursed forming a little kiss. Long dark lashes curled over her cheek. He felt that pull in his chest. Dear God, thankyou. I'm a lucky man. He prayed silently as he walked out the door, turning out the light and pulling the door closed softly.
Brennan was just settling Marie into her bassinette in the nursery. They had tried having her in their room for the first few nights, but she was a noisy sleeper. Snuffling and making little kitten noises. She kept them both on edge listening to her. Brennan decided that she would be fine in the nursery with the monitor, and she had been. They had both managed to have a few, relatively good nights sleep, apart from the baby needing feeding, which Brennan took care of.
Yes. Life was good right now. Two beautiful daughters. Nice home. Good job. A gorgeous fiancé. He hesitated outside the bedroom door and smiled thoughtfully. Fiancé. We really need to do something about that. he thought to himself as he opened the door and entered the bedroom.
Brennan was laying on her back, her head supported by two pillows. She was reading a book. She looked up at Booth as he came into the room grinning.
"don't you look like the cat that dragged in the cream" she said merrily. Booth stopped undressing for a minute, turned and stared at her, then burst out laughing "I'm pretty sure you mean the cat that got the cream, and not that I look like what the cat dragged in. Two totally different cats Bones." his eyes twinkling. Brennan frowned, "I thought it sounded a bit silly." she said thoughtfully.
Booth jumped and landed on his back on the bed and turned to look at her.
"Alone at last" he said waggling his eyebrows up and down.
"Booth" Brennan giggled, dropping her book onto the floor and turning to face him.
"So, what should we do?" he asked.
Brennan blushed. "Well. I've been given the all clear by the doctor to resume sexual activity" she said matter of factly.
Booth burst out laughing "Bones, are you trying to seduce me? Cos it working" he rolled over and leaned across her, covering her mouth with his, his arm reaching over and turning out the bedside lamp.