Thank you all so much for the wonderful reviews. I am now back in the states (after being overseas for roughly a month) so hopefully I will have more time to update. And thank you for those who have thanked me for my service in the military. I appreciate it very much.
Chapter 43
He took a moment to regain his breath then made sure that she came as well. When she did, he rolled off of her and she rolled on her side to rest her head on his chest. And sighed contently.
"You never told me how things worked out with your dad," Booth spoke after putting an arm around her and pulling her closer.
"Well, I came out of the bathroom, thanked him for waiting and then he left."
"Just like that?"
"Just like that." Brennan sighed again. "I'm used to him leaving. It's finally starting to sink in that he isn't. Now we just have to figure out where to go from here. I told him that I was trying and we'd go from there." She kissed his chest. "Then I asked him to leave."
Booth chuckled. "At least you and he are working things out. There was a time when I thought you'd never be happy with him in the same room."
"No you didn't. Not with you pushing me the way you have been."
"What? Me-push? Never."
This time Brennan chuckled. "Don't ever stop. I like it that you challenge me." She sighed again and closed her eyes. "I'm going to have to get up early tomorrow—I do need to finish my book. But I don't have the energy to do so right now."
"Are you complaining?"
"I will never complain about making love with you. I just need to go to sleep."
"Then to sleep, you shall go." Without another word, he picked her up and carried her to bed. "Now get some sleep."
"Mmm…" Brennan was too tired to protest as he picked her up and set her down, so she closed hers drifting off to sleep almost right away.
The next morning Brennan got up quietly and finished her book in an hour—writing the last scene based on what she had experienced with Booth the night before.
She smiled as she got in the car and left for work. She would see Booth later for lunch if a case didn't come up. For now, she had work to catch up on.
She walked into her office and started on her email when Angela walked in. "Good morning Angela."
"Morning." She sat down a cross from Brennan. "How was your weekend?"
"I'm fine Angela. Really."
"It was a long weekend for you. You didn't come into the Jeffersonian once. That's not like you."
"I was busy," Brennan said simply and continued to work through her email.
"OK, yeah. That might work with someone else but not with me. Did Booth kidnap you and lock you up somewhere?"
"Don't be ridiculous Angela. Booth wouldn't dare do anything like that."
"Then why didn't you come into the Jeffersonian?"
"I told you—I was busy."
"Busy doing what exactly?"
"You really want to know?"
"Well, yeah." Angela replied.
"Fine." Brennan smiled inwardly though she dropped her hands, having them ready to move to her ears when Angela shrieked. "I had dinner with my dad, Booth and Parker, talked to my dad about what happened—some of what happened while I was in the system and when I was kidnapped, gave Parker some advice on finding church more interesting and went shopping for a new place," she paused. "To move into with Booth."
Then there was the shriek and Brennan covered her ears as Angela jumped out of her seat. "That is wonderful Bren," Angela said as she calmed down. "I am so happy for the both of you. So does that mean that marriage isn't too far down in the road for you?"
"Angela," Brennan rolled her eyes. "Now you're beginning to sound like my dad."
"Well, you didn't exactly promote the idea of love before and now you are moving in with him. I know your dad is going to push for grand babies."
"I told him not to."
Angela let out a laugh. "Bren, sweetie, that is every parent's right—to want their children to be happy and to have children of their own. Get used to it."
"I don't have to like it."
"No, you don't. None of us do. But that is what parents do. So things are better between you and your dad?" Angela asked after a moment.
"They're getting there. We had a long talk—well, I mostly talked and he listened—about what happened to me in the system and why I was kidnapped."
"I didn't know that your kidnapping had to do with your time in the system."
"It's not that I purposely didn't tell you Angela. My time in the system is just not something I talk about."
"Honey, there's a lot that you just don't talk about."
"Well, this particular thing—I blocked it out. Completely. Believe me if I had remembered something sooner I definitely would have told Booth enough to track down the men who got away. And he would have too. And I would have told your part of it. More than what I told my dad. In truth, I didn't tell him much. Some of it I won't ever talk about. To anyone. But," Brennan smiled at Angela softly, "there are some things that you don't keep from your best friend."
She leaned back. "How much are you familiar with what was going on eighteen years ago in the papers with kids going mixing and winding up in the sex trade?"
"I vaguely remember my mom being worried about me going out at night and who I was with—but she never told me why. I found out at school. Then Max--" Angela stopped. "He was killed and everything went back to normal. Only it didn't did it? Not for the kids involved. Not for you. You were one of them, weren't you?" Brennan nodded. "Oh sweetie, I am so sorry."
"Please Angela," Brennan held up her hand. "I've cried enough as it is. I practically fell apart in my dad's arms. I don't want to go there again."
"Of course you don't," Angela said softy though it was also said with understanding. "So what does this have to do with you being kidnapped?"
"The man who kidnapped me, he was in on it. He was one of the men in the ring who got away. The FBI didn't believe me when I said some of their agents were in on it. They thought I was just another messed up foster kid. I completely forgot about it eventually. Just buried it in my mind. It wasn't until I saw him that I remembered everything. You know the rest."
"That is awful. So absolutely awful."
"Yeah," Brennan sighed. "But you move on. You can't live in the past."
"No, you can't." Angela agreed silently. "I'm so sorry you had to live through that."
"I'm dealing with it. I may not like it but Booth has made me realize that I have to deal with it."
"Good for him and for you. So," Angela's eyes widened. "Did you two decide on a place?"
"We're debating between two. They're only $150 difference in price range. One is closer here and one is closer to Parker and Rebecca. The one closer here has a bigger backyard than the other but other than that, they are pretty similar. Booth was going to ask Rebecca if he could have Parker one day after school this week to see which place he likes better. And I think that's the one we are going to go with."
"I think it's wonderful that you and Parker get along so well."
"I didn't think I would—when Booth introduced us at the beginning. But he's a great kid and has a very inquisitive mind."
"You are going to be a great step mom."
"Angela! Booth and I are moving in together. We are not getting married. You know how I feel about marriage."
"Whatever you say sweetie." Angela got up and gave Bren a hug. On her way out the door, she threw over her soldier. "Just remember that not too long ago you didn't believe in love either."
"Why does no one believe me?" Brennan mused aloud then decided that that one wasn't worth her time and went back to work.
Three days later, Booth had Parker and they showed him the houses. He liked the one with the bigger backyard. They signed the papers and brought him home. When they did so, Rebecca asked to have a word with Dr. Brennan.
"Parker told me about your idea for church. He's really excited about it."
"He's a very intelligent boy."
"Yes, he is. Thank you. That's actually why I wanted to talk to you. Do you think—that is, would you mind coming up with some other activities to help him with school? He's losing interest and his grades are slipping."
Brennan's eyes darted toward Booth who was playing catching Parker. "Booth never said anything."
Rebecca flushed a little guiltily. "That's because I haven't told him yet. I just got a call on Monday. So what do you say? Will you help us?"
"I will. But you have to tell Booth. I won't keep this a secret from him."
Rebecca smiled. "I was a little worried about you at first when Seeley started to fall in love with you. But you're good for him."
"Thank you," Brennan felt warm at the compliment. She knew that towards the beginning of her and Booth's partnership that Rebecca didn't want her anywhere near Parker.
"I'll talk to Booth. Parker just got a new computer—I'm sure he'd like to show it to you." Rebecca added when Brennan didn't react.
"Oh, of course." She started to walk over to father and son. "Hey Parker…"
