CHAPTER 29. Ties & Dresses


It's hard to defeat a woman in love.

- Destin Figuier


Brennan stood in front of Booth, helping him with his tie. She tugged the bottom of it gently as she finished and pulled him closer to her.

She encircled her arms around his neck and kissed him softly.

"I must say, Mrs Booth, you look extremely beautiful tonight," he whispered, running his lips over the white column of her neck. It was true; Brennan had shifted her baby weight in a very impressive period of time and she had regained her athletic figure, although Booth always found her astonishingly beautiful.

"You don't look to bad yourself," she grinned, pressing a hard kiss against his jawbone.

He took her hand and walked her into the living room.

Max sat on the sofa with Violet nestled in his arms, tickling her stomach. She waved her arms around delightedly and her face glowed with a smile.

"Your dad's great with her," Booth whispered into Brennan's ear, and she nodded in agreement.

Parker ran across the room and climbed into Brennan's arms, careful not to crumple her dress.

"Mommy, grandpa says that we can order a pizza tonight," he beamed, tracing her cheekbone with his finger.

Brennan looked across at Max who grinned, before turning her gaze back to Parker.

"Well, you'd better be on your best behaviour then, buddy, otherwise daddy will eat all of the pizza when I get home," teased Booth, messing up Parker's hair.

Parker nodded. "Mommy, can you tell grandpa I'm allowed to feed Violet tonight," he begged, his bottom lip protruding from his mouth, "please, please, please?"

She laughed and swung him onto her hip, turning to Max. "Yes, he can feed Violet tonight," she smiled.

Parker beamed and buried his head into her neck. "Thanks, mommy, you're the bestest," Parker squealed happily.

Booth touched the small of her back and pressed it lightly. "We'd better get going, Bones. Angela will be mad if we're late, seeing as she got roped into organising this cookout. You know how scary Ange can get," he chuckled.

She nodded and kissed Parker's face, setting him down on the floor softly.

While Parker hugged Booth, Brennan walked over to where Max was seated and kissed Violet's forehead, stroking the baby's tummy tenderly.

"Bye, beautiful," Brennan whispered, kissing Violet's hand. Brennan stretched back up and kissed Max on the cheek.

"Thank you, dad," she smiled, thankful that he had offered to look after his grandchildren that evening.

"It's a pleasure," he murmured, winking at Brennan.

Booth wrapped his arm around Brennan and waved to Max.

"Bye, kids, have fun tonight," Max smiled, nodding his head at them.

"You too," grinned Brennan, "don't let him stay up too late, he'll be cranky in the morning."

"Don't worry, I'll take good care of him," laughed Max.

"Who said I was talking about Parker?" Brennan teased, sticking out her tongue as they slipped out of the door.

It had been two months since Violet was born, and tonight was one of the rare evenings that Brennan had agreed to go out. It was the Jeffersonian fund raiser and Angela had been pressured into setting things up, so they had felt obliged to go.

Angela came running over to hug them as they arrived, a relieved grin plastered onto her face.

"Thank god you guys are here. I was afraid you'd decided to leave me with these people," grimaced Angela.

"Of course not, Ange. You know Booth doesn't pass up on free food," chuckled Brennan. Booth shot her a glare and Brennan smirked happily.

"Now, now, Booth, that look doesn't suit you," she teased, kissing his cheek.

"It's a good job I love you so much," he muttered, narrowing his eyes at her playfully and wrapping his arm around her waist.

"You guys are so damn cute," smiled Angela, observing their bickering.

She pointed them over to the area of plastic chairs and they made their way over to sit down. They hadn't been seated for long when Angela beckoned Brennan over to her.

"Sorry, sweetie, but I'm stuck here at the entrance with no-one to talk to. Hodgins is off talking to someone from the staff of the Aztec exhibition. He's spotted some kind of flaw in the display or something like that. It was getting pretty lonely," she groaned, hugging the guest list to her chest and stretching her legs.

"Anyway, how do you feel about leaving Violet with your dad tonight?" Angela asked, trying to start up a conversation to distract herself from her job.

"She really loves him, and so does Parker. Somehow my dad can make even the most tedious things seem fun, so I am sure they will have a great time," she smiled, wondering how things were going at home.

As they spoke, Brennan became aware of a thin, blonde woman sitting down beside Booth. She was leaning a little too close to Booth for Brennan's liking.

She turned her attention back to Angela and just managed to catch "…what do you think?"

Brennan bit her lip, not having the slightest idea what the question was. "Umm... sure, Ange," she answered, not having a clue what might have just agreed to.

"You weren't listening were you?" Angela said knowingly, raising her eyebrows at her best friend.

Brennan blushed. "Sorry, Ange. Who is that over there?" she whispered. Angela followed her gaze and nodded her head with realisation.

"That's Paige Wang, she organises correspondence between the museum and other historical trusts," replied Angela.

Brennan nodded, biting her lip as the woman got even closer to Booth, almost brushing his ear with her lips.

"Oh right, sorry, Ange, what were you asking me before?" asked Brennan, not wanting to take her eyes of this Paige woman.

"Nothing important really, I was just wondering whether you thought I should wear my red dress or my blue dress to the Dunmore convention?" she repeated for her friend.

"Definitely the sapphire one, you'll look like a knock down," Brennan smiled.

"Thanks, sweetie, although it's knock out by the way," Angela laughed.

Brennan didn't reply because she could feel her blood boiling. The blonde's hand was now running up and down the outside of Booth's thigh.

Angela was greeting someone, so Brennan excused herself, strutting over to where Booth was sitting.

She sat down sideways on Booth's lap and looped her arms around his neck, kissing him softly on the lips. She smoothed one hand over his cheek, clearly displaying her wedding ring to the blonde twig, making her writhe with envy. Brennan pulled back satisfied and she smiled.

"Hey, gorgeous," Booth grinned, as she released one of her hands from his neck and rubbed it over his chest, keeping the other one firmly hooked in place. Her eyes glittered with a mixture of fear and mischief.

"Hey," she smiled, nuzzling his cheek with her nose.

"Who's your friend?" she whispered, looking up at the woman.

"Oh right, this is… umm…" he mumbled, trying to rack his brains for her name. The woman looked extremely annoyed that he didn't remember it.

"Paige," the woman uttered, clearly jealous of Brennan. "Well, I should get going," Paige said, standing up and straightening out her jacket, "see you again sometime."

Brennan narrowed her eyes at her as she turned her back on them and walked off. "Don't count on it," she muttered, loudly enough for Booth to hear.

"Aww, Bones, you're cute when you're jealous," grinned Booth, kissing her cheek.

"What? I was not jealous," she protested.

"Whatever you say," he smirked.

"I wasn't jealous because I trust you, Booth. I was, however, appalled by that woman's behaviour. She clearly does not know her place," she stated, frowning deeply.

"What do you mean?" asked Booth, confused.

"She was all over you," Brennan whispered, "and your wedding ring isn't exactly easy to miss when you display it so proudly."

"Oh, I display it proudly do I?" he smiled, tracing her top tip with his index finger.

"Yes," she grinned, kissing his ring then lacing their hands together, "and I like it. It shows everyone that you are mine."

"Bones, are you getting possessive?" he asked, gasping playfully.

She kissed his temple. "Yes I am. You are all mine, Booth," she beamed, her eyes twinkling, "and I'm all yours, if you want me."

He matched her grin. "You know I do," he smiled, taking her other hand and kissing her ring, mimicking her earlier movement.

"Now, where's the free food I was promised?" he asked with a chuckle.


This chapter is dedicated to: corik80

Daisies for everyone. :D

A review would be stunning.