Another longish chapter...Enjoy ;)

Booth was sitting on the couch with Ryder on his lap and his laptop balanced on his thigh, his legs propped up on the coffee table and an icepack lay over his knee. He adjusted the arm that was around his son's waist and kissed the back of his head. "Whatcha think, Bub? You think your mom would like this?"

Ryder slapped his face with his hands and shook his head. He looked up at his Dad and pouted, making his eyes wide.

"No?"

Ryder giggled, waving his arms up and down. "Ma-ma."

Booth nodded. "Yeah, ma-ma, you don't think she'll like this?"

Ryder just shrugged and blinked his eyes slowly.

"I guess I should keep looking then, huh? It's not like I'm going to give it to her now anyway." Booth pressed a kiss to his son's cheek and scrolled down the webpage.

Brennan walked down the stairs and into the living room. "What are you two doing?" She asked, approaching the couch.

Booth jerked. "Bones." He quickly shut the screen and smiled. "What? Oh, nothing, just, you know, checking scores."

She raised an eyebrow and shrugged. "You are hiding something, something you obviously do not wish to share with me, so I suppose I can just pretend I didn't see anything."

"That's a great idea."

She looked at him.

"I mean, I'm not hiding anything," he corrected.

She nodded and moved his laptop to the side table before sitting down beside him, running her fingers through Ryder's hair. "You father is lying to me," she whispered to the infant.

Ryder squirmed and whimpered, reaching out towards Brennan, who took him happily.

She tilted her head and kissed him on the ear, eliciting a giggle from the eleven month-old.

"Aka," Ryder jabbered, looking up at his mom.

"His mom is dropping him off soon, RJ.

"Aka," Ryder squealed, bouncing and grinning wide.

She nodded and put the infant on the floor.

Ryder toddled away and plopped down in the corner. He grabbed onto the edge of the bucket with his blocks in it and yanked it down onto its side. He laughed, clapping his hands as the blocks spilled out. He pushed the bucket back upright and began to put the blocks in.

She smiled briefly at Booth and then stood up, walking over to where their son sat. She got down on the floor and started to help Ryder put his blocks away.

The infant reached over and grabbed the block out of her grip, dropping it into the bucket. He smiled triumphantly and went back to cleaning up.

"Oh, I see, you want to do it yourself." She sat back and smiled as her son picked up another block, dropped it in the bucket, and watched it fall into the growing pile before repeating the process with another block.

Ryder cleaned up his blocks and then pulled the bucket over again. He picked one up and extended it towards his mom. "Ma-ma." He paused. "Da," he babbled.

"Now I can help?" She took it from him and smiled. "Thank you." She dropped the block in and watched him reach in and pull it back out, handing it back to her. She raised an eyebrow and shrugged. "This is really not very productive, RJ."

Ryder giggled and picked up one of his blocks. He dropped it in and pushed the bucket towards Brennan. He babbled and demonstrated what he wanted her to do with another block.

"That's all I have to do? That seems simple enough." She dropped the block in and smiled. "That was easy."

Ryder ignored her and went back to cleaning up his blocks for a second time.

Booth, meanwhile, was just sitting on the couch watching the whole thing, trying not to laugh.

As Ryder "played", Brennan turned her head and looked over at Booth. They shared a smile before she focused on the baby again. "Looks like you've got everything under control."

Ryder dumped the bucket out again and let out a deep-throated laugh.

"Can I have a block, RJ?"

Ryder picked up one of his blocks and threw it, it landing in her lap.

"Thank you." She set it carefully in the bucket, watching him pull it out once more and then put it back in. "I will never understand this game, Honey. It doesn't make any sense to me."

Ryder looked at her, his brows furrowed, and then he burst out giggling for no apparent reason. He fell back and rolled onto his stomach. He pushed himself up and lunged forward, taking off in a speedy crawl. He stopped suddenly and stood up, toddling towards the archway leading into the foyer.

She stood quickly and "chased" after him, scooping him up and cradling him in her arms. She smiled as he started to squirm, laugh, and kick his legs as she wrapped her arms tightly around his small body. She kissed him on the cheek and set him down again, facing the living room and nudging his shoulder, encouraging him.

Ryder got the message and took off, toddling back towards his toys.

Brennan sat down on the edge of the coffee table and removed the icepack from Booth's knee. She brushed the tender flesh gently, but quickly pulled back when she heard his sharp intake of breath. She examined his knee with just her eyes and smiled. "The swelling seems to have gone down significantly since yesterday. It's more discolored today, however," she said, noting the bluish-purple tinge. "I assume it is still quite painful, though."

Booth nodded, swallowing hard. "Yeah." She carefully closed his brace around his injured knee and smoothed down the Velcro tabs, before switching positions and sitting beside him on the couch. She straightened her shoulders and brushed her lips against his cheek. "You need to shave," she stated, settling down.

"What? You don't find furniture movers hot?" He whispered.

She tilted her chin and kissed up his neck, grazing his jaw with her teeth before nibbling lightly on his earlobe. Her warm breath brushed against his ear as she lowered her voice and practically growled, "On the contrary, I find a little bit of stubble is very, very arousing."

He swallowed, turning his face into hers, their lips barely touching.

She pulled back, causing him to groan, and said, her voice returning to a normal tone and volume, "However, you are beginning to look like a lumberjack."

"Kiss a lot of lumberjacks, Bones?" He stole a kiss and smirked.

"No. You are beginning to look like a stereotypical lumberjack as represented in popular culture," she amended.

"So now you're a pop culture expert?" He laughed and dipped his head, peppering her neck with soft, teasing kisses.

She tilted away from him and moaned, momentarily forgetting her train of thought. She recovered, pulling away and placing a hand on his chest to stop him. She swallowed, his dark eyes boring into hers, making her forget, once again what she was going to say. She cleared her throat and looked away for a second, composing herself. She met his gaze again; it had softened, but his eyes weren't any less paralyzing. "No, I still have a lot to learn, but from what I know, from books and television, you are beginning to look like a lumberjack."

He laughed and captured her lips in a thought-numbing kiss.

She melted into his side and slid her hand up his chest, snaking it around the back of his neck. She shifted and tilted her chin, breaking contact for a brief second. Then she pressed her lips harder against his and gripped his t-shirt in her free hand, pulling herself even closer to him.

His arm looped around her back and he moaned as she nibbled on his bottom lip. "Bones," he whispered.

"Hmm?" She relaxed her mouth and parted her lips, allowing his tongue access.

"Tempe, you really shouldn't leave the backdoor open. Anyone could just walk—ahem," Max cleared his throat, crossing his arms over his chest and raising an eyebrow, giving his daughter and Booth a knowing look.

She pulled back immediately and looked over at her father. She brushed the pad of her thumb over her red, swollen lips, and swallowed. "Dad, what are you doing here? How did you get in?"

"The backdoor was open." Max stepped into the living room and approached the couch.

"You broke in?"

"No, Honey, it was unlocked. You know, you really shouldn't leave it open like that. Anyone could walk in," Max repeated, giving his daughter a hug and kiss on the cheek when she stood up.

"Like a convicted killer?" Booth asked, offering a nod to the older man as a welcome.

"Hey, I was never convicted."

"So you admit you've killed people?"

"Now, you're putting words in my mouth, son. I did what had to be done to protect my family. I'm not saying I killed anyone, though." Max winked and smiled at his daughter. "I don't have to ask how you and Booth are doing, then, I guess."

Brennan smiled, her cheeks still tinged pink. "Booth and I are fine, Dad. We're happy. I mean, I'm happy and I assume Booth is too—with us, with me," she stammered.

Max turned to Booth, an eyebrow arched. "Are you?"

Booth nodded. "Yeah. Bones is amazing," he said, looking at Brennan.

"Okay, that's enough." Max made his way over to Ryder and scooped him up, messing up his hair and cradling him in his arms. He gave him a kiss on the cheek and grinned. "Hi, RJ," he cooed.

"Seriously, Dad, what are you doing here?"

"I wanted to see my grandson. Is that a problem?"

"No, of course not, but I do have a telephone. You could have called or at least knocked or rung the doorbell. You didn't have to break in."

"I didn't break in, Honey. The door was open."

"You entered with neither Booth's nor my permission. Just because the door happened to be unlocked does not mean you didn't break in."

Max bounced Ryder in his arms. "He is adorable, Sweetheart. You two make cute kids. Is there any chance I'm going to get another grandchild, perhaps this time the natural way?"

"Dad!"

Max shrugged.

She shook her head. "We have not discussed the possibility of another child, but like everything, there is always a chance."

Booth blinked. "There is?"

She shrugged. "Nothing is impossible, Booth."

Max set Ryder down and watched him walk away. "You were just like that, Tempe. The second we put you down, you'd take off. You were such a clumsy walker until you were two and a half, but that never stopped you. You would wobble, most of the time falling down, but you'd get right back up and take off again. Your mom and I used to have such a hard time picking you up because you just wanted to get down and walk. You used to love it when Russ would chase you around the living room; you'd laugh and laugh," he sighed. "You were such a happy baby."

She blinked, swallowing.

"Anyway, I just stopped by to say hello. Remember to lock your doors, Tempe." Max gave his daughter another hug and started walking towards the front door.

"Wait, Dad, you never actually said why you came over. I mean, yes, you said you just stopped by to say hello, but no one just stops by to say hello, especially when they live twenty minutes away."

"I missed you and RJ."

"You just saw us two days ago."

Max nodded. "I won't see you two for a while. I'm taking a trip."

"A trip?"

"Yes. An old friend of mine is getting married. I leave for Houston tomorrow and it's been a while since I had a vacation, so I'm planning to do that. I was thinking Hawaii."

"Oh, well, have a nice time. I'll see you when you get back, I guess." She smiled, a little wary about her father's explanation. He had lied to her about his whereabouts in the past, after all.

"I'll call when I get back and we can have lunch together."

She nodded. "You could have called."

"That would be too easy." Max laughed and waved, leaving the house.

She turned and looked at Booth. "That was very strange. Do you think he's lying?"

"Your dad, he likes to keep people on their toes, Bones. That's probably why he didn't call. He has a habit of just showing up places randomly."

She nodded. "Yeah, you're probably correct." She sat down on the couch and rested her head on his shoulder.

"Don't worry about it, Bones."

She let out a breath and closed her eyes for a brief minute. She lifted her head and kissed him on the lips quickly.

The front door opened again and Max walked back in. "I almost forgot to give you this, Honey." He handed her a piece of paper. "This is my buddy's number if you need to talk to me for any reason." He smiled and kissed her cheek. "Goodbye."

She took the piece of paper and looked down at it. There was a name and number scribbled in her father's messy scrawl on the torn piece of notebook paper. "Goodbye."

"I love you."

"I love you too, Dad. Have a safe trip."

Max smiled and left again, for real this time.

Booth picked up the phone that was stuck between his side and the arm of the couch and handed it to Brennan.

Brennan looked at him, her eyes wide.

"You know you want to check, Bones."

She laughed; he knew her so well. She held the phone in one hand and the piece of paper in the other and dialed the number written down. After a couple rings, a man with a deep voice and thick southern accent answered. "Yes, Hello, is this Hector Rivers?" She nodded. "No, I apologize for the interruption." She hung up and looked at Booth, who was staring at her, an eyebrow raised.

"Well?"

"Based on this phone call alone, I can conclude that my father is telling the truth." She set the phone and the piece of paper on the coffee table and leaned into him, her head falling to his shoulder again, her legs curled under her. "I wish I could trust my father implicitly, but I still have my doubts," she confessed.

"And that's understandable and completely okay," Booth whispered into her hair.

She snuggled into him and glanced up at him. "I trust you."

He nodded, smiling at her. "I know."

"I don't want you to doubt that. I just—I don't like leaving RJ alone with you for too long. I mean, right now. If something happened—."

He silenced her with a kiss. "I know, Bones. If our roles were reversed, I wouldn't want to leave him alone with you either. I get it. It doesn't make it any easier, you know, but I get it."

She nodded, and after a few minutes of silence, she asked, "What were you looking at on your computer earlier?"

"That's for me to know and you to find out."

"Is that a challenge?"

"Maybe."

She reached over him and grabbed the laptop off the side table.

"Bones, don't—."

She ignored him and lifted the screen. She pressed the power button and typed in his password. Once she was logged in, it took a few seconds for his home screen to appear. When it did, the browser was still open to the page that he had been looking at before she walked in. Her eyes widened and her teasing smile completely disappeared. She slowly turned her head and stared at Booth. She swallowed and blinked a few times.

"Bones, let me explain. It's not what it looks like."

"So these aren't engagement rings?"

"Okay, it's exactly what it looks like, but it's not what you think."

"So you're not planning on asking me to marry you?"

Don't hate me, ha ha. I just missed cliffhangers, so BOOM, I decided to give you one, and this idea popped into my head and wouldn't leave me alone.

Thanks for the reviews. You guys are awesome. And I can't believe this story is almost 40 chapters long. That's crazy.

:D