As Parker came into the house, he could hear the girls upstairs, and he went into the big room.
"Parker, Bones and I want to talk to you, please."
"Okay." He answered and followed his dad.
They sat beside him on the couch.
"Is everything okay, Dad?"
"Oh, yes. Sorry…didn't mean to worry you."
"Parker, your dad has something he'd like to give to you." Brennan told him.
"Oh, all right."
Booth reached in his pocket and pulled out a velvet box.
Confused, Parker opened it to find a simple gold band with a large, circle cut diamond.
"Uh, Dad?"
"I wanted to give this to you, son."
"Bones, did this belong to you or something?"
"No…Parker. I bought that when I asked your mom to marry me." Booth told him.
Parker was shocked. "You asked mom to marry you?"
"Yes." Now Booth was shocked. He gave Brennan a surprised look before turning back to Parker. "You didn't know that?"
"No. I always just thought, you know…"
His mom had always been nice about Booth, for the most part. They didn't always get along, especially when he was really young, but, since he'd married Bones, everything had been fine…
"I asked, son. Twice." Booth said seriously. "If I'd known you didn't know that, I would have told you thirty years ago."
Parker looked into his dad's eyes and smiled. He'd always known he wasn't planned, that was obvious, but it was nice to know that he'd never been a seen as a mistake.
"Your mom, well, she was smart. She knew better. I loved her very much, and I always will a little, you know…" He kissed Brennan on the cheek "Because you are so amazing, son. I really thought you knew."
"Dad…thanks, but what am I supposed to do with this ring?"
"Um…well…" He turned to his wife for support.
"Parker, your dad just thought you might like to have it. You know, for whenever." Brennan answered.
"Oh, thanks."
"So, things with Lauren…" Booth said.
"Dad…I don't know. We kind of just had a fight, but somehow it feels like a step forward and a step back."
"Well, son…that's tough. I don't really know what to say."
"Booth, you don't?" Brennan spoke up.
"No…he's in a tough spot, Bones."
Brennan started laughing. Both men looked at her confused.
"It's not really funny, Bones."
"Booth, I know what to say."
"What?"
"I can't believe it. I actually know the right thing to say." she laughed again.
Booth smiled a bit. "Oh yeah? And what would that be?"
"Give him the 'everything happens eventually' speech. It's the right time, right?" She raised her eyebrows and smiled, obviously pleased with her human interaction skills.
Parker laughed.
"Yeah, Bones…it's the right time. But, he doesn't really need to say it. I think I've got that one memorized; I've heard it enough in my life."
Parker and Brennan both laughed at the look on Booth's face.
"Hey, it's a good speech." Booth defended himself.
Brennan kissed him on the cheek and pulled him out of the room.
"Yes, it is…a very good speech."
He smiled and looked back at his son, sitting and staring at the ring with a contemplative look on his face.