A/N: Just a friendly reminder that this chapter skips ahead two months, as I stated in the previous chapter, and as you'll soon discover, this chapter is different than what I had planned, but I hope you like it anyway...happy reading :)
Brennan's awake earlier than she normally is, and that's saying something. She switches off her alarm, sits up, leaning back against her pillows, and glances at Booth, watching him sleep for a few brief seconds before she places her hand on her stomach, the occupant inside beginning to stir. She looks down and smiles. "Good morning." She rubs the side of her belly and lets out a breath. "Your daddy says that according to an app on his phone, you're the size of a mango this week, which means you're approximately six inches long and weigh eight and a half ounces. Those are just average measurements, of course." She smiles. "He's also convinced you're a boy. He says he's known since the very beginning. There is a greater chance that you have male genitalia, I will give him that, though it is by a small margin, so I don't give his gut much credence," she whispers.
Booth's lips curve into a smile as he listens to her talk, staying still, as to not alert her to the fact that he's not actually asleep.
"We find out today." She looks at the clock on her nightstand and her eyes fall back down to her protruding baby bump. "We find out in five hours and twenty six minutes, to be more exact." She lowers her voice. "You know, I actually agree with your daddy. I think you're a boy too, but I'll never tell him. I won't give him that satisfaction." She slides her hand across her lower abdomen. "I have no preference, though." She laughs when the baby gives her a soft kick and then amends her previous statement. "I am neither confirming nor denying this, but maybe I'm secretly hoping you're a boy."
Booth groans as he rolls onto his back to get more comfortable. He shifts again, lying on his side facing the window, still pretending to be asleep.
She turns her head, somewhat startled by the sudden noise and movement. Not wanting to wake him up, she untangles her legs from the sheets and stands up. She slides her feet into her slippers and wraps herself in her bathrobe. She gives him one last glance before walking out of the bedroom, shutting the door behind her.
Brennan heads down the hallway and stops suddenly, noticing that Parker's door is opened a crack. She takes another step forward and pushes the door open more. She freezes, her chest tightening when she sees that his room is empty. She swallows. "Parker?" Although the teenager doesn't need the assistance of a wheelchair any more, he's still very unsteady on his feet and his muscles are still significantly weaker than they were before the accident. He still needs some help, especially up and down stairs and even walking short distances is difficult for him. Besides his physical limitations, it's barely past five o'clock in the morning, too early for a seventeen year-old to be awake when he doesn't have school.
Parker comes out of the bathroom, supporting himself on his cane. He hadn't heard her calling him. He lifts his head and meets her concerned, but surprised expression. "Morning, Bones."
She blinks, supporting herself on the doorjamb. "Where did you just come from?"
"I had to pee." He hobbles closer to her, stopping a few times to catch his breath and rest his aching muscles.
She just continues to stare at him. She's happy, confused, worried, and relieved all at once. "I don't understand. How?"
He meets her gaze. "I had a dream—a nightmare—and when I woke up, I really had to pee. I saw the walkie-talkie on my nightstand and I almost reached for it, I almost called for my dad or for you, but I didn't want to wake you guys up. I'm tired of feeling like a burden, so I—I—I decided to try and walk to the bathroom without help. I almost pissed myself, but I did it."
"You are not a burden, Parker."
He ignores her and heads into his bedroom, needing to sit down. He doesn't make it to his bed. He reaches out for his desk, dropping his cane and sitting down in the chair. He lets out a sigh of relief, letting himself sink into the cushion.
Tears pool into the corners of her eyes as she watches the teenager catch his breath. The vice around her heart tightens and she walks into his room, shutting the door behind her. "You are not a burden, Parker," she repeats. "Your father and I love you very much."
He shakes his head, flipping a quarter with his fingers. "No, Bones, I am, I'm a burden. Since the accident, you and my dad, especially my dad, have put your lives on hold for me. He hasn't been to work in four months because of me. He hasn't left the house except to take me to the hospital for physical therapy. You switched doctors 'cause of me and you've scheduled your doctor's appointments around my PT sessions just so my dad can go." He flicks his eyes up, looking at her for the first time in three minutes.
She blinks her vision clear and steps closer to him. She pushes his chin up with her thumb and places her hand on his shoulder. "Yes, all those things you've mentioned are true, but I, we, your father and I, don't want you to rush your recovery just because you feel like you're a burden, buddy. We love you. We love you so much. We just want to help you."
"What happens when the baby comes, huh? What happens then? Babies need lots of attention."
She nods, brushing away a tear from his cheek. "We love having you here. There isn't anything either one of us wouldn't do for you. You are not a burden or an obligation. You are part of this family and nothing trumps family. Your dad taught me that." She pauses. "You're progressing nicely. Dr. Hunter believes you'll only need a few more sessions with her and I'm not due for another twenty one weeks."
He shrugs, pulling away from her slightly.
After a couple minutes, she grows tired of the silence, so she breaks it. "I'm proud of you. I admire your strength and determination. You are not the same kid that moved in with us two months ago, Parker. You smile, you laugh, you spend less time in solitude, and you talk to us, you confide in us. You've always been family to me, but in the last couple months, I truly feel like we're a family. You will never be a burden, to me or your father."
He looks up at her again, a small smile breaking through his tears.
She drops a kiss on the top of his head and pats him on the shoulder. "Do you want to talk about your nightmare?"
He shakes his head. "Not really, no."
"If you change your mind, just come find me." She smiles. "I can help you back into bed if you'd like. It's only ten past five. You should try and get some more sleep."
"I can get back into bed myself, Bones."
She nods. "Is there anything else you need to talk about?"
"You're finding out the sex of the baby today, right?" He asks, reaching forward and placing both his hands on her stomach.
"Yes, if the baby cooperates." She rests her hand on one of his.
"Is the baby healthy?"
She nods. "I believe so, yes, but my last appointment was five weeks ago. There's a lot that can happen in five weeks."
He drops his hands and bites his bottom lip. "Bones?"
"Yes, Parker?"
"Do you believe in God?"
That's not something she was expecting. "No, I don't, but your father seems to have a lot of faith in him. Why do you ask?"
"Do you think he really listens and grants every prayer?"
"I can't answer that, buddy. That's a question better suited for your dad." She pauses. "Why?"
"I—my mom—."
"You can tell me."
He sighs. "I used to, when I was younger, I—." He swallows. "I used to pray that I could spend more time with my dad. After Teeny was born, I prayed a lot more. I asked God to make it possible for me to spend more time with you guys. Did I do this? Is this my fault?"
"Absolutely not. If God existed and if he was capable of listening and granting every single prayer, he'd have found a different way for you to spend more time with us that didn't involve anyone getting hurt." She pauses. "Is that what your nightmare was about?"
He nods. "It's been a recurring nightmare."
She gives him another kiss, this time on the forehead. "This is not in any way your fault."
He shrugs.
"You are not responsible for what happened, even indirectly." She smiles at him. "I'm going to go get ready now. If your father isn't awake when I get out of the shower and if you're still awake, I'll help you downstairs." She starts to walk towards the door.
"Bones."
She turns back to him, pressing her lips together and arching an eyebrow.
"I—it's easier to talk to you than to my dad for some reason, right now, at least about this stuff, so thanks for listening."
"You're welcome." She walks out of the room, closing his door halfway and disappearing down the hallway.
Next up: Booth and Brennan find out the sex of the baby
