A/N Welcome back!

OK, so this is the actual chapter #28, because, as you all know, I had to repost chapter 27 a second time since the first posting had issues. For the simple solution of keeping current with the way FF numbers our chapters for us, although this is chapter 28, we are going to call it chapter 29, so it matches the automatic numbering system of this fabulous website.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything to do with Bones except this story line.

BTW – THANK YOU so much for the reviews! We bypassed 200. YAY!

If you would like me to reply to your comments, please enable your PM capabilities. There were a couple of you that commented and when I tried to reply, I couldn't….

Please enjoy, as we move through our lazy-day afternoon with B&B and Parker.

The afternoon passed pleasantly, as the three spent time together, watching movies and enjoying each other's company. They were all entertained by Parker's choices of movies; 'The Mummy', 'Indiana Jones', and 'Rat Race' were his first three, after which they finally stopped to order delivery for dinner. After Booth called Papa Tony's Italian Restorante ordering their choices, he stood in the doorway joining the kitchen and the living room, and observed his son's interactions with his Partner.

They appeared happy and at ease as they talked to each other animatedly, still sharing the lounge chair. He smiled to himself, thinking of the past 5 hours… They all enjoyed the movies, but for different reasons… Parker enjoyed the obvious adventure and humor; Bones found humor in places that neither he nor Parker understood why she was laughing; and he enjoyed everything simply because the two most important people in his life were both relaxed and content. Several times during each movie, Booth had to explain stuff and decipher jokes for Bones, so she would understand where the story was going; and she, like always, explained to them both, the many historical inaccuracies depicted in the films. They easily fell into the old routine they used to enjoy when they would spend a Saturday or Sunday together. Many of those weekend days were wasted in front of Booth's TV, watching DVDs from his collection, or ones he picked up from the rental store, specifically for Bones' benefit. The Booth-boys loved it when they had to break down a plot line to help Bones follow it, while she may, or may not, have truly enjoyed their movie selections, she always appeared appreciative and excited to expand her "modern cultural" horizons. He didn't realize until just that moment, exactly how much he'd missed these afternoons together. A few times, he had tried to have a movie-afternoon with Parker and Hannah, but she always shunned their DVD and left part-way through a show, unless it was one she picked out herself. It was futile to try to blend their tastes together. The Booth-idea of a good movie was far from Hannah's, and after a while, he just didn't even bother to try.

But now… now… here he was with his son and his Partner, who was so much more than a Partner. They were all together and actually having fun, despite the horrible circumstances that threw them into this mess. He was grateful that his son accepted his Partner as an important figure in his life; however, he was more than a little nervous about breaking the news to Parker that he and Bones were moving beyond their previous relationship. (Well, as far as he knew, they were moving beyond that boundary.) Eventually he would have to tell Parker that he and Bones were in a relationship, and he prayed that it wouldn't change the way his son felt about Bones. He felt confident that Parker would be happy about it, given how much he loved Bones already, but with a newly-hormonal pre-teen, you never can tell how a boy would react.

Parker looked over Bones' shoulder to where his Dad stood, with a strange smile on his lips. He lowered his head back down to the pillow, with a slightly confused look in his eyes and asked, "Bones, is Dad OK?"

"What do you mean, Parker? Did he mention something? Is he upset?"

He whispered, "No, but he's standing over there staring into space and smiling. He looks like he's day-dreaming; like whenever I day-dream in school and my teachers ask, 'Parker Booth, what's wrong with you?' and then I snap out of it…" He giggled when Bones blushed, and he glanced back over her shoulder. This time, however, Parker's eyes caught his dad's… and his dad wanted to know what they were laughing at, because he had a feeling it was about him…

Booth covered the distance between his standing perch and the chair in 3 long strides. "What are you chuckling at, there, buddy?" Booth stood above Parker's head and reached down, grabbing and tickling his son's shoulders, right up against his neck. A healthy belly-laugh erupted from Parker, filling the tiny apartment with a sound of which Booth never got enough. He always found that there was something magical in a child's laughter, when it was natural and hardy. Parker tried to cry mercy, but could only continue to laugh hysterically, finally gasping when Booth eased his teasing grip. As Parker calmed, he looked up at his Dad's laughing eyes, "I was laughing at you Dad! You were spacing out over there!" And the laughter burst loose again, this time not provoked by Booth's tickling fingers, but by Parker's own amusement as he couldn't contain himself and he fell into a giggling-fit that brought tears to his eyes.

"Wow, I must have looked a riot, if you're laughing this hard, kid!" Booth smiled down at Parker, then winked at Bones.

"I was – I was – just imagining – imagining you at my age – Dad…Getting yelled at – by your – teach-teachers for zoning out!" Parker gasped desperate breaths in between trying to complete a comprehensible sentence.

"Ahh…sounds like something about which you have first- hand experience, there, son! Wanna share anything with me?" Booth smiled, knowing that his boy had days that he almost fit the stereotypical 'blond' jokes about spacing out. His Boothy genes definitely provided for day dreaming.

"Nuh-uh, nothin' to tell, Dad… nothin' at all!" Parker still laughed, but had regained a little bit of control, although his stomach and cheeks now hurt from the laughing, and tears had dried streaks along the length of his cheeks. Booth was glad to see they were tears of laughter and happiness, no longer those of fear, as he had witnessed earlier. Kids are so resilient; I wish we all could be like that, Booth thought to himself, as he admired the healthy pink flush of his son's face.

Bones had been watching the whole scene playing out literally right in front of her. Parker was still lying next to her, but he was on his back while having his bout of fun with his Dad. Bones admired how much the younger looked like the older. He's gonna be a heart-breaker, as they say, when he gets older, she thought to herself. Then she turned her gaze quietly up to the man standing over them, leaning down from the head of the laid-back lounge chair. His smile spread across his lips and reached every corner of his face, his eyes danced, little creases formed at the corners, and his silky laugh filled the room. She liked looking at him, and found that when he was carefree like this, he looked so much younger; gone were the lines of concern that caused his forehead to frown and his eyes to darken. He was happy, she realized; this is what true happiness must look like. When he met her gaze and winked at her, she felt her stomach flutter and she blushed. How does he do it? she wondered; how does he make my body react to just a look or smile, or in this case, just a wink? I've been with men who've winked at me; I've been with men who've told me I'm beautiful; I've been with men who've kissed me and taken me to bed; but I've never been with a man who provokes such reactions from my body… Ever… So, how does he do it and why is it that I feel so different with him?

Bones brought herself out of her own day dream and momentarily wondered if it was something in Booth's water that causes people to 'zone out', as Parker so gently put it. Laughing at herself in her mind, she knew that was improbable that Booth's water supply would be tainted with something so unlikely, but it did cause her to pause…

A knock at the door brought everyone's attention to the prospect that food was finally there and Booth gave the order to Parker, "Go wash up and refresh our drinks, ok Parks?"

Booth headed towards the door, grabbing his wallet out of his gun safe, calling out "be right there!" so the delivery guy would know he wasn't forgotten.

"Booth?" Bones tried to catch his attention as he strode by.

"Yeah, Bones?"

"I – I don't have my purse. I don't have my money."

"Bones, I got it. Don't worry about it, babe. I can afford to feed you, you know, it's not like I have to buy the restaurant… do I?" He cocked his eyebrows as he continued to the door and opened it to greet their much-anticipated dinner… The wonderful scents of pasta and pizza filled the room as Booth re-entered the living space, causing three stomachs to simultaneously growl in hunger.

"Bones, do you want to try to sit at the table, like this morning, or do you want to stay in the lounge?" Booth asked, giving her the choice to decide where they would all share their meal.

"Taking into account the staining quality of spaghetti and pizza sauces, should they spill, I would advise that we sit at the table, Booth."

"Always the logical one, Bones… Always the logical one." Booth grinned at her, and took their dinner out to the little table where they had shared breakfast with their 'other' family. "Parker, bring the drinks out here, Buddy, we'll eat in the kitchen. It will be easier for Bones if we eat at the table."

Once Booth and Parker got the table set, Booth went back into the living room to retrieve Bones. "Do you need to use the bathroom, Bones, before we eat?"

"Yes, please Booth, if you don't mind."

"Well, actually, yes, I do mind." Booth stood his hands on his hips, at her feet which were extended on the foot rest of the lounge. His voice sounded firm, and it startled Brennan.

She looked up at him, confusion in her eyes and her jaw slackened. "What? Booth. what's wrong?"

"Aww, nothin', I'm just messing with you, Bones; of course I don't mind." He laughed, shaking his head, and walked around to bend over and pick her up. "C'mon, babe, let's get you up."

"Booth…" Her tone made him pause. He expected a reprimanding lecture aimed at his new nickname for her, but instead, her voice was hesitant and small. Suddenly, he felt guilty for teasing her; her eyes were sad and guilt-ridden.

"Bones?" He squatted so he could look into her eyes, level with his own. "Bones, I'm sorry, I was just kidding…just teasing a little. I didn't mean to upset you." Booth had no intention of upsetting her. He cupped her cheeks in his palms and without thinking twice, leaned in and brushed his lips gently to hers. As he pulled back, his eyes locked on hers and he pressed his forehead to hers, and bringing his lips to her cheek.

"Booth. I'm sorry I can't help myself. I feel useless… And here you are, stuck with dragging me around… I don't want you to start to resent me…" Her tears were not flowing, but they were close to breaking free…

"Bones, don't; stop. Don't let yourself feel like that. What if the shoe was on the other foot and I was the one who was immobilized? Would you mind helping me?"

She looked at him a little confused about his shoe comment, but understood the gist of it, given the context of the sentence. "Booth, of course I wouldn't mind helping you. That's what … that's what we do for each other. We're partners, right?" Realization dawned on her as she was speaking.

He smiled lovingly at her as she finally comprehended the fact that he didn't mind helping. Staying close, he brought his cheek to hers, so he could speak directly into her ear, "Yeah, Bones. That's what we do for each other… as partners… and as more than partners." He allowed his lips to graze the outer edge of her ear, and planted a small kiss just below the lobe.

As a sudden flood of emotion erupted from deep within her chest, she quickly reached up and grabbed him around his neck, bringing him closer. "Booth," she choked before she could say anything more. Giving up any chance of forming a complete sentence, she inhaled deeply and simply repeated his name as she exhaled against the side of his neck, "Booth…"

"It's OK, Bones. Relax. It'll all be alright soon." He buried his fingers into her soft auburn locks as he kissed her temple, then pulled her back a little, so he could kiss her properly again, covering her mouth with his own. He poured all his emotion into the tangling of their tongues and the mixture of their tears as their cheeks brushed against each other's, sharing the evidence of their respective weeping. Breathless, they finally pulled apart and she allowed her fingertips to trace his face, drying the wetness on his cheeks in their path.

"Thank you, Booth. Thank you." She whispered against his open mouth. "I love you." Her big blue eyes spoke only truth as she said the words to him. "I love you more than I ever thought I would be able to love another human being."

His heart soared as she said the words. He didn't think he would ever get enough of hearing her voice speak such a sentiment; especially after so many years that she discarded his belief in the emotion of 'love.' "I love you, too, Bones. I adore you and I will never, ever, get tired of helping you, when you need help. However you need me, that is how you'll have me. I promise you, Bones. I believe in us. I believe we will be wonderful. We will be perfect. Together, we're unbreakable…" He looked deep into her eyes and was relieved when he recognized acceptance in hers.

The couple was caught in a 'moment' when they heard a young "ah-hem" break the silence. Smiling, Booth raised his head and looked over towards the entrance of the kitchen, where is son stood there, half smiling, half frowning in confusion. "Umm… dad, Bones? Are we gunna eat soon? My stomach's really growling."

Snickering, Booth nodded. "Sure, Bud, go ahead and sit down, we'll be out in two minutes." He stood from his kneeling position at the side of the chair and wrapped his arms around Bones' fragile body as he raised her from her lounging position. "C'mon, Bones, my kid's about to pass out from hunger pain, you know, it's been a whole hour since he ate anything…" The laughed gently as Parker rolled his eyes and wandered back out to the table; but Parker could not hide the elation he was feeling inside at the fact that something between his Dad and Bones had obviously changed… He heard them both talking quietly to each other and he thought he heard them mention 'love'. He was used to Bones telling him she loved him, and he had often told both his Dad and Bones that he wished they were together, but he was always guffawed. He knew they loved each other. Angela told him once that the only people who didn't see the love the Partners shared were the very same Partners. But… Finally, he screamed inside his head… something was happening! Finally they both know what he'd known since he was a little kid. He sat at the table and waited patiently for them to join him for dinner. He didn't have a very long wait, as he schooled his features as they entered the kitchen, his dad carrying Bones close to his chest. Parker expected his Dad to place Bones into the one cushioned chair that remained at the table from earlier in the day, but he was surprised to see his dad sit in the chair and hold Bones on his lap. They shared a quiet smile before they turned to see Parker's bright grin spread across his face as he stared at them with sparkling eyes. He huffed comically, "Finally, it's about time!" He dug into dinner and forked spaghetti onto his plate, his smile never leaving his lips.

Booth completely understood the double meaning of Parker's remark, because he knew how much his son had always wanted him and Bones to be 'together'; but to Bones, the growing 11-year-old was just happy to finally eat, and she had to agree. "I know, Parker, I'm starving!"

The three completed dinner without incident, and Booth took Bones back into the living room while he cleaned up the dishes and wiped down the table.

"Parker, pal, go ahead back into the living room and keep Bones company, okay?" Booth smiled to his son, as the younger Booth started to help clear the table and island. "I don't really want her to have to sit by herself, in there."

"Sure, Dad! I love spending time with Bones!" Parker piped up happily as he trotted towards the living room.

Booth chuckled to himself, watching his boy retreat. Yeah, Parker, I know you do…Both you and I love spending time with her..., Booth pondered to himself, let's hope she doesn't get overwhelmed spending time with us and attempt to pull away. I can't let her pull back now... We're finally moving in the right direction… He turned his attention back to the task at hand. The faster he cleaned, the faster he can get back in to his family.

"Bones?" Parker had already snuggled up onto the chair next to his most favorite almost-family-member, and was holding her hand tightly as he faced her.

"Yes, Parker?" Bones rubbed her thumb back and forth across the youthfully soft skin of his hand.

"Um… can I ask you some questions? I mean, am I allowed to? You know, about what happened?"

She smiled and nodded, knowing that he had concerns that he personally had a need to understand what happened during her ordeal. She knew, however, that she may have to censor some of what happened to her; not so much because it's what she believed, because she believed that children should not be lied to; however, Booth believed in protecting the innocence of youth and not always telling the complete truth. "Yes, Parker, you can ask anything you want and I'll try to answer to the best of my ability."

Parker gingerly reached up to her cheek and touched the blue bruise that was spread across the length of her cheek bone. "Umm, I can tell from this that you were hit, so I guess the bad guy punched you, huh? Did he do that?"

"He did, Parker. The man hit me several times in the back of my head as well as in my face, like you see there."

"Hmm… OK, well, I can see that when he hit you, it caused the bruising, and you got a cut here," he pointed to her lip, "but I don't understand something, Bones. Why can't you walk? How come Dad has to carry you?"

"Well, Parker…" She stalled, silently going over verbiage in her mind before she spoke aloud. She didn't want to give too much information to him, and in turn have those images become the things that nightmares are made of. "When, my captor wanted me to comply with his wishes, he immobilized me… he.. tied me down…" Again she paused, choosing her words carefully. "He wanted to make sure that if I broke away from my bindings that I couldn't run away… so, he, uh…he cut my feet in such a way that if I did manage to untie myself I would not be able to escape on foot." She felt oddly pleased with herself; hopefully Booth would agree that she didn't give too much graphic information.

"I'm sorry he did that to you Bones. And I am sorry that you can't walk anymore…" Parker misunderstood that she would heal.

"Oh, Parker, honey, I will walk again. Dr. Saroyan came here last night and helped me. She and your Dad helped to clean my wounds and she gave me some stitches. I will be able to walk again, probably, as long as I'm careful, within the next couple of weeks!" She smiled, hoping to ease the worry she could see in the eyes of her best friend's son.

"OH! I thought that, you know, you wouldn't be able to be, you know, better." He couldn't put the right combination of words together, but he got his point across.

"I'll be OK, Parker. I have some cuts on my back and on my feet and they all got stitched up. Don't worry, sweetie, I'll be back to my old self before you know it." She sounded more optimistic than she really felt, playing down the true extent of her injuries and keeping her voice upbeat for his benefit. In reality, she was dreading the next 2 weeks or so, because as much as she cared about Booth, she was not accustomed to being waited on. And she worried that Booth would tire of helping her, which was the very last thing she wanted to happen. Now that they were both being open about their feelings, she didn't want to drive him away by her neediness.

"Cool… stitches on your feet and back? Can I see them?" Suddenly, his concern for her well-being turned into good old-fashioned boy-fascination with scars and all-things-gross. He smiled up into her eyes with anticipation, hoping she'd let him see the evidence of her recent medical procedures…

"Well, Parker, I don't think that you need to see them right now. I'll tell you what, though, when the stitches are removed, as long as it's alright with your Dad, I'll let you see the scars that are left…Alright?" She hoped that would appease his curiosity because she really didn't want him to see just how many stitches she had to endure, thanks to her recent ordeal.

"Sure, Bones. Thanks!" He smiled sweetly and moved his head towards her chest as she pulled him close. She remained lying on her side, facing Parker as he leaned in, still holding her hand, and she draped her free arm over his shoulders.

"Bones? Can I ask you another question?"

"Of course, Parker."

This time, he hesitated a little longer. "Uh… earlier, you said that you loved me… and then, you said… you said you love me and dad…" He raised his head further back, so he could look into her eyes again. She waited for a question, but it didn't come.

"Well, Parker, you just repeated what I said, but I don't understand your question… Did you have a question about if I really love you? Because I do. I love you as if you were my own." She locked eye contact with him, so he knew she was being honest. Booth always told her that when someone makes eye contact, that is the most common way of confirming honesty.

"No, Bones. I believe that you love me. You know that I love you too, right?" She nodded and he took a deep breath, intent on continuing. "I guess my question, really, is… it's… Well, uh…do you love Dad like 'oh he's a great partner, I love him as a friend', or do you love him, like love him the way he loves you? Because you know, don't you, that he loves-loves you? Like I mean, he really loves you, Bones. He doesn't smile with anyone else the way he smiles when he's with you." He lowered his voice to a whisper, "not even when he was with Hannah. He said he loved her, but he didn't. Because I know that he didn't smile at her that way." He smiled up into her eyes, then launched with dissertation-like diction as he spoke without breathing. "And when he talks about you, his eyes get all twinkly and stuff and his smile is goofy. My mom says he's in love with you, but he just doesn't know it yet. Or maybe he knows it, she said, but is afraid to admit it because maybe you don't love him too. But if you do love him, you know, like that, maybe you should tell him so he knows, and then he could tell you, too. And then you two could be, like, together in-love the way other people are when they're in love. Just – just don't get all mushy and start making out in front of me and stuff. My friend Mark's dad always makes out his girlfriend when Mark's there and he said it's kind of gross the way they kiss and stuff. But it'd be OK if you kissed sometimes, because that's what people do when they're in love." He paused and smiled as he took a much-needed breath, then looked back into her eyes with a grin. "But, I saw dad give you a little kiss earlier, when I was waiting for you guys for dinner, but I couldn't tell what kind of kiss. Was it a 'best-friend' kiss like they show on TV shows, or was it, you know, like a 'kiss-kiss'? Did he tell you that he loves you? If he didn't yet, then please don't tell him I told you, I don't want him to be upset. But I think you should know, because if you know, then you can make an educated decision regarding what you should tell him. You always told me that you take all facts into account before coming to a conclusion; does that hold true for this too?"

His pure innocence on the whole matter and his point-blank line of questioning brought a smile to her lips. "Well, Parker, let me as you a question along these same lines…" He nodded, feeling important that she would ask him something about love. "OK, so, Parker, how would you feel if I did tell your Dad that I love him? And if he told me he loves me too? Would that make you happy or sad? Would you be alright with your Dad and me being together, like a couple?" She thought she knew the answer, but she wanted to hear it from him directly before assuming anything.

"Bones, I think that would be awesome! I would LOVE to see you and Dad together. I've always wanted Dad to be with you. But he told me one time, to forget about it because it would 'never happen.' But I didn't want to forget it, because he always told me that as long as a person has hope about something, there is always a chance it could come true. And I still had hope, even though he told me to forget it. I think he told me that because he was sad about something, but I don't know what… That night, though, when we were watching TV, I remember seeing his eyes get all watery, like he wanted to cry, but he never did. But he really looked sad. So I don't really know what he meant, but sometimes when something bad happens during the day, he gets quiet and says stuff he doesn't always mean. He isn't nasty, like he doesn't yell at me, but he says things that just sound more negative than he means to. But anyway, I think it would be awesome if you love him the way he loves you. Do you?"

Bones was working on wrapping her mind around everything the little-Booth was telling her. "Parker, do you remember when he told you all that? Do you remember when that was?"

He met her eyes with his own and bit his lower lip as he contemplated the answer. "I don't remember exactly, Bones, no. But it was, like a couple of weeks, or like a month, before he took me to the park and told me that he was going back in the Army to teach soldiers to do what he used to do. But I don't remember when that was, the time went by really fast." He suddenly felt like maybe he shouldn't have told her what he just had…

Oh, God, it was then… It was when I turned him away. He asked me to trust him and I didn't… I told him I couldn't change and I turned him down… He had Parker that night… Oh, God, Booth, I'm so sorry… I never meant to hurt you

"Um, Bones, did I just say something I'm gunna get in trouble for?"

"No Sweetie, you didn't. I just wondered when your Dad was so sad. I don't like it when he's sad, it makes me sad too." She stroked his cheek gently. "Parker, your Dad and I talked after he saved me. And I want to make sure that you're going to be alright if he and I enter into a relationship, and from what you just told me, I think you are…?" she wanted to just confirm that she heard him correctly.

He nodded eagerly and a smile began to spread across his lips.

She met his grin with her own. "Parker, I do love your Dad. Like, love-love him, as you put it. I told him and yes, he told me that he love-loves me too…" She laughed as he let out a little squeal and hugged her tightly, wrapping his arms around her neck and pulling himself towards her.

She cringed a little, feeling the strain on her back as he pulled against her. She didn't let on, though, because she didn't want to dampen the child's excitement. She felt her own happiness soar as he mumbled into her neck, "I love you, Bones. Thank you for loving me and even more, thanks for loving my Dad and letting him love you. That's really cool. It's awesome." She chuckled at the simple view of life held by the 11-year-old.

"Parker, thank you for letting me love you and your Dad. Thank you for loving me, even before I understood what it felt like to be loved…Parker, I want you to listen to me for a moment; I have something very important to tell you." She paused, until she knew she had his attention. "You and your Dad are the two most important people in my life. I realized, when I was abducted, that I had never told you that, and I needed to tell you. So, I vowed to myself that if your Dad saved me, then I would be open and honest about my feelings. For many years, I kept my feelings to myself, because I thought I was protecting myself from being hurt. But in reality, by not being honest and open, I was hindering my own happiness. So, Parker… I love you. I love your Dad, very much. And I don't ever want you to forget that. OK? Don't ever forget that I love you, right?"

"Thank you Bones." He snuggled close, feeling a sense of calm wash over him, as his Dad's partner comforted him. He was happy that he told her how he felt, how he thought his dad felt and that she had told him how she felt. He suddenly felt complete; as if a part of his soul that he never knew he was missing, had just been fulfilled.

Bones felt a familiar palm reach her cheek from behind, and a pair of soft lips kissed the top of her head. His masculine scent filled her nostrils and brought chills to her skin. "Bones… I love you too…so much," the silky voice spoke against her hair. "I love you...and I love that you love me and my son…"

She turned her face up to his, "I didn't know you were there, Booth. I hope I didn't overstep my boundary." Her concern was evident to him; he could practically spell her insecurities.

He smiled at her lovingly as he ran his fingers through his soft hair. "You did perfect, Bones. You didn't say or do anything wrong. I love you for what you said; I love you for what you admitted to my boy. I just love you…"

She closed her eyes and smiled, leaning her head back against his torso as he stood behind her. "I love you too, Booth. I think I always have."

Booth smiled down at her; her eyes still closed. Then he looked to his son, who'd moved his head away from her chest and was looking up at him. He reached over and ruffled Parker's loose blond curls. "Thanks, Buddy. I'm glad you're good with the changes that we're about to experience. Now, go take a shower, so you're ready for bed after we're done the next movie… Off with you!" Booth grinned and pointed towards the bathroom, secretly anticipating a few moments alone with his 'girlfriend.'

Postcript A/N

Ahh… another chapter down and … how many to go?

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