A/N: Thank you for your review Princess Isabella Flynn!

Chapter 36: I Feel Good

It was months later. The children were sleeping peacefully in their beds. Angela was sleeping beside him. For the first time in a long time, Jack was content. Angela's white count had climbed steadily over three months to 1,000 and she was released home to them. She had complained of fatigue and a loss of appetite for a while. There had been one scary relapse and she had been hospitalized for another month. Jack had been worried that her body was rejecting the donor marrow but her white blood cell count had recovered and she had returned home. She still didn't have as much energy as usual and had begged off work for another month. She bruised more easily as well and would turn black and blue from bumping into their nightstands and coffee tables. Mary Catherine had stayed on and looked after the kids when Ange needed to rest. But tonight MC was off duty and Angela had returned from her first day back at work in high spirits. It was nice to be able to just walk into her office to talk and be able to sneak out on their lunch hour. Angela had come home exhausted at eight pm and had crawled into bed. When he had joined her, Angela insisted that work was where she wanted to be when the kids were in school. After all, my friends and my husband are all thereshe had told him. Jack looked at her once more. He loved to watch her sleep, her whole face smoothed out at ease. She had woken up once and told him to stop and that it creeped her out. It was the one request he had ever refused. Jack threw the comforter out over them both and closed his eyes.

The next day was a Saturday and they were having a party. It was Angela's cancer-free pool party. In fact, Jack realized the guests would be arriving soon and Angela was nowhere to be seen. Jack checked on the catering team and Nicky who was sneaking licks of the frosting. Then he checked on the twins who were putting on the table clothes. All of this checking had taken Jack on a tour throughout their home and he still hadn't seen Ange. Backtracking he asked his children if they had seen her. They had all said no. Finally, Jack found her in their bedroom staring into a mirror. Jack came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her. "You look beautiful," Jack murmured kissing her neck. It was true, Angela had gained enough weight to look thin instead of skeleton-ish. Angela started at her feet and scanned her body in the mirror. Long legs, flat taunt tummy, thin arms, long thick brown hair, clear skin free from wrinkles or acne, her eyes flashed as they landed on the one imperfection. Angela gently rubbed the red, ugly inch long scar. It was from the implanted port that had given her chemo meds. The scar was on her right, just below her clavicle bone. "Angie" Jack said softly, startling her. Jack could feel her jump in his arms. "Ugly" she spat out the word staring at the mark that would forever remind her that she had cancer. "Survivor" Jack said in her ear, close enough that she could feel his hot breath. She shook her head stubbornly. Staring in disgust at the red bikini that would show the scar, Angela pulled on a black cover-up. There all better, Ange decided, as long as she couldn't see it she could pretend it wasn't there.

Long after all the other guests had gone home, the Booths were still there. Angela was in the middle of washing the plates when Brennan came up beside her. Bren carefully took the plate from her and began to wipe it dry. "I didn't see you in the pool" Brennan said softly. "I was busy talking to everyone who came. It was a bigger turn out than we expected" Angela replied scrubbing the barbecue sauce off one plate fiercely. Brennan didn't say anything and accepted the dish from Angela, but Ange could see she didn't buy it. "Jack talked to you, didn't he?" Angela said suspiciously. Brennan shook her head no in response. "Don't lie to me," Ange prompted her. Bren shook her head again "Promise. Why what's wrong?" "Oh Sweetie," Angela said the words spilling from her lips with a laugh, "You'll think I'm being so silly and vain, caving to Darwinian pressures..." Brennan shook her head once again, "I've learned that it's okay to be a little bit conceited sometimes. And I've caved to Darwinian pressures too, I got married, didn't I?" "You and Booth caved in to a little girl's wish for her Mommy and Daddy to be married and have the rings to prove it. Anyway," Angela paused and steeled herself. "I have a scar from the port and I think it's horrific looking. I don't need all those people to be thinking of it every time they see me. I'm finally better, I don't want to see the scar everyday and be reminded that I have cancer. It's in remission but it might come back. I know that's a fact, it's not going to change but I don't want to explain it to strangers" she said quickly. "Let me see" Brennan said reaching forward and pulling down Angela's cover-up without hesitation.

Jack walked in at that exact moment. He was drying off his curly hair with a towel and froze abruptly. Brennan pulled back and said hello. Jack decided just to go with it "We have people to do that" he said pulling the towel out of Brennan's hands, "The kids are asking for the two of you. They're in the pool, Booth is flipping them". Angela looked worried she had managed to stay out of the pool so far but it looked like she was going to have to go in. "I'm watching them. I promise your babies are safe," Jack said mistaking the reason for the worry on her face. "I like doing this Jack. Go on" Ange prompted Brennan "I'll finish up and join you". "I'll stay and we'll finish twice as fast," Brennan offered. "See you soon" Jack said kissing Angela "I'll leave you to your girl talk". "It's not that bad" Brennan insisted her fingertips once again grazing the mark. "I have scars too. Do you think that people are always wondering how I got them?" "No, Sweetie. Anyone who knows that you work with the FBI and is with you for more than five minutes knows the type of person you are. You rush into danger to protect Booth and that's how they would think you got them," Angela answered with a smile. "But you know that some are from foster homes before I met him. Do you think of me differently?" Brennan probed drying the last dish. "Of course not!" Angela responded immediately. Brennan grinned triumphantly and put the plate away "And we won't either. Come on" she insisted pulling Angela out the door.

It was just the eight of them outside, everyone else was gone. Angela took off her cover-up and stepped onto the stairs. As she slowly entered the water, Brennan did a crisp dive into the pool. Angela's feet had just touched the floor when she was pulled under by her ankles. Ange came up sputtering water and felt an arm wrap around her shoulders. "Gotcha" Brennan teased as Angela put her hair up into a ponytail. "You're going to pay for that Bren," she playfully threatened beginning to lunge toward her, before feeling arms encircle her waist. "Hey Mom" Addison cooed happily hugging her tightly. Olivia swam closer and jumped on Angela. Liv locked her legs around Ange's waist and her arms around Angela's neck. "Mom" she exclaimed and Angela's arms moved to hold her automatically. Nicky and Katie each came and swung on one of her arms. Jack swam over and flipped the two little ones quickly. He then reached for Olivia who let go and fell into his arms. "Watch me!" Olivia whooped loudly as Jack threw her up into the air. Addison came closer to Angela and Ange let her arms encircle her daughter protectively. Jack reached for Addison who immediately said no. Shrieking and giggling Addison hide behind Ange. "Don't pull me into this" Angela insisted pushing Jack away with a laugh. Addison squealed and wrapped her arms around her mother. "You're already involved. Help!" she begged darting away from her Dad. Addison's hand was slippery wet and it slid on Angela's skin sliding to her scar. To Angela it seemed like time slowed down as Addison glanced down perplexed. And then time raced to the present as Addison's voice brought her back, "Mom! Help!" she shrieked unfazed. Angela curled into Jack's arms and whispered softly "Let her be, Jack". Hodgins stopped playfully chasing Addison and kissed Angela "You're a good mommy" he said sincerely. Addison drew near and clung to Angela, "You're the best mom" she declared proudly smooching her loudly on the cheek. "Thanks Sweetpea" she cooed back.

Olivia was doing handstands with Katie side by side. Bren was honest and non-biased which made her the de facto judge. Booth was tossing Nicky up in the air and letting him fall into the water. I can do this Angela decided. Ange knocked Olivia over by lightly pushing on her legs. "Addison!" Olivia yelled coming up from the water and looking for her twin. Addison was safe beside Jack at the other end of the pool. Liv caught Brennan's eye and Brennan looked toward Angela. "Mom!" Olivia complained looking at Angela who was silently laughing. "Katie wins" Brennan declared when Katie came up looking confused. Olivia swam quickly over to her mom in the deep end and placed both hands on top of her head. Liv pushed her full weight down hard and Angela went under. She came up choking on the water and couldn't catch her breath. Jack sprinted over and treaded water while holding Angela's head above water carefully. When Ange could finally talk she said, "I didn't think you would actually dunk me" in a hoarse voice. Jack began to swim back to the shallow end until he could stand. "Sorry Mom" Olivia said shyly. Jack kept Angela safe in his arms "I'm fine" she answered a response that had become typical of her during the past year. Ange saw everyone's eyes on her and wiggled out of his arms. She kissed Olivia's cheek to show she forgave her.

Then Angela asked if anyone wanted s'mores. Everyone gathered around the outdoor fireplace wrapped warmly in thick cotton towels. Brennan and Booth were sitting on the outdoor couch with Katie snuggled between them. Katie was offering a bite of her s'more to Booth who pretended to chomp her fingers eliciting giggles from the six year old and smiles from her mother. Nicholas was sprawled out in one of their two chairs. Melted Hershey's chocolate was all over his lips and both hands were sticky with marshmallow. "Only you could make a mess this big" Katie teased showing off her clean hands and face. The twins were each still roasting their marshmallows. Addison's was golden brown when she finished; Olivia's was charred black. The girls gave their parents the s'mores and sat on the brick wall beside the fireplace to roast one for themselves. Angela and Jack were sitting together in the remaining chair. Angela was settled in his lap contently. Jack took one look at their s'mores and switched them so Ange had the one Addison made. "I like mine more done. This is perfect Ladybug," he said upon seeing Olivia's face. Jack then proceeded to choke down the black s'more with a smile as Olivia looked on. Jack had the stereo on low. As the group finished, their s'mores Jack turned up the volume and helped Ange to her feet. Booth pulled Brennan up as well. The twins stole their seats with Olivia on the chair and Addison beside Katie on the couch. The grownups were still in their swimsuits. The next song came on and Jack used the remote to make it even louder.

Whoa-oa-oa! I feel good, I knew that I would, now
I feel good, I knew that I would, now
So good, so good, I got you

Whoa! I feel nice, like sugar and spice
I feel nice, like sugar and spice
So nice, so nice, I got you

The parents began to dance together. Angela and Jack were spinning and Brennan and Booth were doing dips. Addison and Olivia began to laugh. Katie and Nicky jumped up to join in the fun and held hands twisting and turning to the upbeat tune. As the song ended the twins clapped loudly for them. The parents pulled all the children onto the dance floor. They paired off Brennan and Katie, Jack and Olivia, Booth and Addison, and Angela and Nicholas.

Loose, footloose
Kick off your Sunday shoes
Please, Louise
Pull me offa my knees
Jack, get back
C'mon before we crack
Lose your blues
Everybody cut footloose

They danced and giggled in swim trunks and bikinis. Katie stood on Brennan's feet as they danced back and forth. Nicky copied her and Angela shuffled from side to side "You're getting too big for this Nico" she teased him ruffling his hair. Olivia was jumping all over the place and swinging Jack's hands wildly as she laughed. Booth lifted his arm Addison did a 360 degrees turn as she held on to his fingers with one hand. Booth then turned himself around slowly, switching the hands that were holding Addison's behind his back. They had both now been "spun" and began to sway back and forth. When the song ended everyone, fell on the couch. The four adults were smushed together under a heap of kids. Everyone was laughing and squirming around. They were unbelievable tangled and squished. Laugher ensued as everyone was poked and tickled. This was happy, Angela realized as Nicholas' elbow jabbed into her ribs, this was home.

A/N: We are going to jump ahead in the next chapter!