Thirty seconds after Seeley leaves Temperance wanders into the room with a bundle.
"Where did Seeley go?"
"He said that something came up and that he had to leave," he lies.
"Oh. So..."
"He told me."
"Oh good."
"So is that him?"
Temperance looks down at the sleeping baby.
"Yeah," she nods.
"Can I hold him?" he questions.
"Sure," she agrees as she places her sleeping son in Max's arms.
"So what's his name?"
"Liam Isaac."
"He looks like you when you were a baby."
"Really?"
"Definitely. He's got your nose, and those funny ears."
"Funny?"
"You grew into them."
As she prepares to sit down the phone rings. She quickly grabs it.
"Hello?" she answers.
"Hey Tempe it's me. I know that you're not talking to me but I thought that I should call to warn you."
"About what Russ?"
"Dad is on his way."
"I know."
"Did he call?"
"He says that he did."
"What do you mean he says that he did?"
"He's sitting on my couch right now."
"Oh. Surprise!"
"Thanks for the heads up Russ," she says sarcastically.
"Don't hang up," he pleads.
"Why not?"
"I want to apologize. I'm sorry that I freaked out. I was wrong to ask you to leave your baby to come be with dad."
"I know that."
"So how is he?"
"Who? Dad?"
"No the baby?"
"Oh Liam's fine."
"Good. Is dad ok?"
"Yeah he's fine."
"Tempe I'm really sorry."
"It's ok Russ."
"No it's not. I was wrong."
"Yeah you were."
"So did you tell dad?"
"Yes."
"How did he take it?"
"Fine. Why didn't you tell him?"
"It wasn't my place."
"You could have told him."
"I thought that you should tell him. I know how you are about people invading your personal life."
"So how are the girls?"
"They're good."
"Good."
"So do I get to see this baby?"
"Now you want to see him?"
"He is my nephew."
"I'll send some pictures of him to your email."
"Ok. I've got to go the girls are hungry."
"Bye Russ," she hangs up.
She looks down at Max as he holds Liam.
"Russ?" he questions without looking up.
"Yeah."
"Booth is pretty protective of you."
"Yeah. He's a good guy. He's been really supportive. I don't know what I'd do without him," she admits.
Max says nothing. He just smiles devilishly.
"Why are you smiling like that?"
"No reason."
"Dad!"
"So this is one handsome guy."
"What?" she asks seeming distracted.
"The baby."
"Oh... right."
"Who did you think I was talking about?"
"I don't know. I guess that the sleep deprivation is making me a little bit crazy."
"Your mother would be very proud of you."
"Can I ask you something?"
"Tempe you can ask me anything."
"Are you done?"
"Done what?"
"With your criminal ways?"
"What?"
"I can't have you around him if you're going to be a bad influence. I only want positive influences in his life."
"Tempe he doesn't know of my past indiscretions, nor do I intend to do anything that would bring them up. I would never bring him into that."
"So..."
"If you'll let me I'd like nothing more than to just be his grandfather."
"What would your definition of that be?"
"I don't know. The guy who smells funny, and tells really pointless stories on holidays."
"Right."
"I'm serious."
"So you're not going to kill anyone else?"
"Temperance that is a rather insensitive question."
"I'm sorry but I have to ask."
"I'm done with that."
"It's me you can be honest with me."
"I am being honest with you."
"I won't let you disappoint him like you..."
"You can say it, it's ok. I know that I've disappointed you."
"I won't let you be in his life if you think even for a second that you might possibly one day in the far off, or not so far off future disappoint him."
"I won't. I swear to it. I won't. I won't to anything to hurt him."
"You know that I'll kill you if you do."
"I know."
"I'm serious."
"I know Temperance, I feel the same way about you and your brother."
"Oh..." the lightbulb finally flickers on for her.
"Do you see why I did it now?"
"No, but I feel that I may understand it a little bit more now."
"I'm going to take him fishing."
"What? He's not..."
"I don't mean now. I just mean eventually. A boy needs to go fishing with his grandfather at least once in his life."
"But..."
"Just let me have this Tempe."
"Yeah ok. One day I'll let you take him fishing."
"I want to ask you something."
"Ok what?"
"What is wrong with Booth?"
"What? I don't understand the question."
"Why don't you want to be in a relationship with him."
"I am, he's my partner."
"I don't mean that kind of relationship."
"What do you mean then?"
"This little guy is going to need a father, and you seem to be pretty confident with Booth's abilities..."
"What exactly is your point?"
"You don't see it do you?"
"See what?"
"I just don't understand how you can't see it."
"See what?"
"That he loves you."
"He's my partner... there is a line... he doesn't love me."
"He does, and you love him back."
"I do not."
"I don't believe you for a second. You don't fool me."
"Just drop it please," she begs.
"You should let him be a father to your son."
"But..."
"Temperance, Booth is a good man."
"I know that."
"Then show him."
"When did you become such an advice columnist?"
Max just chuckles at her.
