A/N: Here we go chapter 2! It definitely took me longer to get this up than I was anticipating so I'm sorry for that. School has just gotten really difficult and left me with little to no time to write. To those of you who have left a review, thank you! You mean the absolute world to me and I'm so happy you've expressed interest in this story :) Let's keep going, shall we?

Brennan had fallen asleep halfway through reading her book. Not that she was bored, reading her anthropology journals and other intellectually stimulating reads always left her excited and invested. This time though, she was just exhausted. Spending all day helping her children with school and then trying to entertain them when needed had knocked her out.

She loved her children no doubt and remembered the days they came into this world vividly. It was an experience she never thought she would get, motherhood. Much less with Booth by her side and the father of her children. More than that though, she cherished her children, adored them. They pushed her to be the woman she was today, helped her break down her socially awkward walls even more. She still stumbled here and there but she wouldn't change anything about it. Well, except maybe now it wouldn't be so bad to get some time away from her children.

As a scientist, she knew it would take time to find a vaccine and a long-term effective way to fight back against the virus but as a mother, she wished they would hurry so her children could get back into a routine. Brennan was grateful that both she and Booth were able to take the time off and be home with their children and be together as a family.

She knew not many families had that luxury so every time she realized that, how lucky she and Booth were, she thanked the God she didn't believe in. She had no idea what she would do if she didn't have Booth with her. He had been amazing with the children and with her. Granted, there were times their bickering had blown up a little more than usual but being in the same space 24/7 for about six months, what could they have expected? She didn't love him any less though, in fact, she loved him even more that he had been willing to work out most of their arguments and that while they did, he ensured their children were out of earshot and not subjected to their heated moments.

Last night, however, had been a little rougher than she would like to admit.

They had just finished dinner and were washing the dishes and putting them away. Brennan's phone rang and she left to go answer it. She sat down at the edge of the bed and answered.

"Brennan."

"Hey Tempe, it's Russ."

"Russ! Are you okay? You sound… something." Brennan asked worriedly.

"Yeah umm… listen I just want to let you know that Hayley is back in the hospital. It's not the virus so don't worry but she umm… her condition relapsed..." Russ trailed off.

"Oh no. Russ, I'm so sorry. What can I do? Do you need me to contact Dr. Goetz?"

"I don't want you to go out of your way too much Tempe. Besides, it's been a while since she was a patient of his, it might not…"

"Nonsense Russ. Dr. Goetz is a colleague of mine and a good doctor. I'm sure he would not see an issue with caring for Hayley again."

"Ahh, yeah in that case, yes, please. We could use the help."

"Of course. I'll contact him in the morning. If I remember correctly, which I'm sure I do, he should be starting another clinical treatment cycle soon with improved medication for Hayley's condition. I can get her a spot in it."

"Thanks, Tempe. Really. Amy and I, we - we truly appreciate it."

"You are both welcome. It's no trouble at all. Is there anything else I can do?"

"Do you… Can we just talk for a minute? I don't want to keep you back or burden you with more issues-" Brennan cut him off before he could say more.

"No Russ, stop. You or Hayley, Emma, or Amy are not a burden. You are family. We all are. Our family isn't an isolated unit because we live in separate homes or states."

Russ smiled, when did his sister become so sentimental? "Thanks, Tempe."

"Alright. Tell me everything that's been going on."

The siblings sat on the phone for a couple more minutes filling each other in on their lives. With each minute that passed, Brennan's anxiety and distress seemed to heighten. Russ had fallen into some pretty tough times. He had started up his own mechanic company a couple of years ago and things had been going steady until the pandemic hit and his business took a deep dive. He was still able to do a couple of odd jobs here and there but with the rate the trade was plunging, he and his family had been living paycheck to paycheck literally.

Amy still had her job with the accounting company she worked for but with cut hours and staff furloughs, it wasn't like she was making much more. Brennan had immediately offered some help financially knowing that due to the success of her books over the years, she was in a place to do so without fearing her own family's financial well-being. After a couple of convincing words, Russ accepted her help.

"Well, it's getting late Tempe, and Amy and I need to drive over to the hospital. They're only letting one of us in to be with her but it's a family affair ya know?"

"I know Russ. I do. Go. Give Amy my regards and pass my love to the girls. Let Amy know I'll be contacting Dr. Goetz. I first reached out to him when she came to see me while you were still a fugitive."

"You of course gotta bring up our twisted past huh?" Russ joked trying to lighten the tense mood that seemed to settle over him and his sister over the course of their conversation.

"Well, seeing that I went on the run myself while evading arrest, it's confirmed. Our family is one of fugitives." Brennan laughed at the absurd reality that was her family.

"Mom and Dad would be proud."

Brennan threw her head back laughing. "Yeah. They really would. I can only imagine what Dad would say." At the thought of her late father, Max's crinkled eyes when he laughed, his bold yet calming presence, she sighed and spoke softly. "I miss him, Russ."

"Me too, Tempe. Me too."

A few moments of silence passed, almost reverent in memory of their father before Brennan broke it.

"I'll let you go, Russ. I love you."

"Love ya too, Tempe, and thanks for the support."

"Always. You're welcome, Russ."

Ending the call, Brennan closed her eyes and sighed. She fell back on the bed staring up at the ceiling. The universe had a knack for breaking people this year and while she hoped - something she rarely did which proved her desperation - that nothing happened to her family, here they were. She stood up and walked outside, the tension rolling off her threatening to break. Christine and Hank's raised voices could be heard and she walked in to find them grumbling over the remote and something in her snapped.

"Both of you, enough! NOW! Put that down and go to bed."

Resounding Mom and Bones echoed in response. Temperance Brennan never raised her voice at her children. Never.

"No! I do not want to hear it. You both have no idea how lucky you are to be here, safe at home, healthy where your biggest worry is fighting for the television remote to watch a mindless show. Go. Bed. Now."

She walked over, picked up the remote from the floor where the kids had dropped it, and shooed them without another word.

"Whoa, Bones what's going on?" Booth questioned. "You never raise your voice at them." Booth stood gazing at his wife with concern.

"Well, there's a first time for everything. But seriously Booth? Arguing over the TV? Do they have any idea how lucky they are to even be able to just relax and watch TV?" Brennan could feel the last bit of her sanity breaking and she didn't know how strong she was to hold it back.

"Bones, baby, where is this coming from?" Booth discarded the towel he was using to wipe down the sink and made his way over to his wife.

"What do you mean where?" Brennan's voice went up a notch. "Do you not think that our children should know how lucky they are? You're the one that believes in a religion focused on blessings and numbering them or whatever it is."

In the back of her mind, Brennan knew that she made a mistake by dragging Booth's beliefs like that. It was a low blow coming from her given how much she had tried to accept this part of him and allowed him to share it with his children. She had always respected him, as an anthropologist her job required her to accept a myriad of cultures and beliefs and people but as his wife, as his partner, she did so because she loved him. At this moment, however, she was neither. She was just plain pissed and tense.

"Wait Bones now this is unfair. Why are you attacking me?" Booth scoffed, now utterly confused and frustrated.

"I'm not attacking you, Booth."

"Verbally attacking, accusing. Whatever you're doing now counts."

"And what exactly am I doing?" she pushed him. God, she knew this was not going to end well. Her subconscious begging her, pleading for her to take a breath.

"Bones listen, I don't want to argue. It's late and we've had a long day. Who was it on the phone?" Booth pleaded with her in a gentle voice. He did not want to argue tonight right before they went to bed and went to put the kids to bed. But, Temperance Brennan had a way of instigating a fire within him he did not know existed.

"Neither do I Booth. Just… it's nothing Booth." realizing that she wouldn't be able to articulate her thoughts well, Brennan thought it best to just walk away from the discussion. She squeezed past her husband who was now standing directly in front of her.

"Bones come on. Don't shut me out." Booth reached for her hand, but she pulled away.

"No Booth. Not now."

"Bones…"

"Just leave it, Booth! God, do you need to run after me so much? Are you so much of an alpha male you need to step in and fix everything?"

"Oh God, Temperance here we go again. Well, excuse me if I care about my wife and want to be there for her. Because what? To you, it's just some alpha male bullshit, right? It's never something more."

"Don't you dare Seeley Booth." she whipped around glaring at him incredulously.

"What huh? You know what, forget it. I'm going to go put our children to bed. You remember? The same ones who you chased away with no explanation? Goodnight Bones." Booth stalked off down the hall leaving Brennan standing in the living room.

They had both slept restlessly that night. Brennan tossing and turning until she got out of bed and headed back to the living room. She pulled out her laptop, made herself some tea, and sat down to write. Pouring every bit of anxiety and frustration into her characters.

After hearing Brennan leave the room, Booth rolled over and stared at the ceiling. He hated arguing with her, going to bed angry but they were both so temperamental, one of them with the actual namesake to claim, that it would have taken much more out of them to do damage control. He resigned himself to spending the day in the backyard working to avoid any more blow-ups. Brennan, as soon as both her children were awake and in the kitchen waiting for breakfast, had apologized to them for yelling. She hugged them both close to her, kissing their heads and reassuring them that they had done nothing to warrant her yelling.

As for her and Booth, she could still feel the tension buzzing around them and decided the best thing she could do for the two of them was to leave him outside and spend time with her children.

Crouching down, Booth brushed away a few strands of hair that had fallen into his wife's face. Though his touch was light, a gentle breeze across her face, Brennan sensed Booth was nearby and blinked a couple of times waking up.

Peering up into his eyes, she whispered a simple, "Hey."

"Hi, beautiful."

"Booth," Brennan whined blushing at his compliment. "Are you still angry?" she asked bracing herself for the worse. They really had yet to apologize and she didn't want to be shocked.

"Are you still impervious?" a soft smirk graced his face.

She chuckled, the memory of a night filled with admissions, promises, candles, and wishes flooded her mind. She shook her head and leaned it against the side of the tub. Her face mere inches away from Booth's. "I haven't been impervious for quite some time now. But seriously Booth, are you?"

"Angry at you? No Bones. Yeah, I got upset last night but I could never stay angry at you."

"Good." Brennan couldn't help but raise her left hand out of the tub and trace a line down Booth's face. Water dripped onto the bath mat but neither could care. After a night of being away from each other, just a simple physical connection like this was needed. It was craved by both of them; it wasn't anything sexual, a precursor to something more. No, it was simply a need to just be there with each other. To share in a connection greater than any of them had experienced before they had gotten together and one they would find themselves starved for if deprived of it for too long. Reaching up, Booth held her hand in his and rested both against his cheek. She could feel the roughness of his beard. It'd been a while since he shaved, not really seeing much of a need for it since he'd been home and it only took Brennan a little to get used to it. She liked the rugged edge it gave him.

Neither of them spoke for a while. Booth had shifted so that he was sitting on the floor next to the tub, leaning against the edge.

Eye conversations.

It was something that they had both perfected over the years they had known each other. For anyone else, it could have been uncomfortable but for Booth and Brennan, it was a comfortable silence. It was Brennan who broke them out of their bubble.

"I'm sorry, Booth. It was never my intention to push you away like that. I -"

"Hey, it's okay. It really is. But how about we spend some time talking and you tell me what's going on? I can see it in your eyes that you're still upset."

"Okay but first I'd like to get out of the tub. The water is now significantly cooler than it was and- why do you smell like baby powder? Hank and Christine, are they okay?" Brennan scrunched up her nose and eyebrows.

"They're fine Bones. Really. They both showered off. Hank is taking a nap and Christine is getting some much-needed alone time outside watching TV. I can't say the same for the bottles of baby powder though." Booth stood up and grabbed Brennan's towel holding it out for her.

Unplugging the drain stopper, Brennan stood up still a bit confused and then realization dawned on her.

"Oh no. Booth, you don't mean…"

"Yeah Bones, it was a winter wonderland but don't worry I cleaned it up and spoke to the both of them. You may want to check in with Hank though. The little tiger is really restless."

"I can only imagine. He's used to being around much more people, interacting with children his age, and having a routine that doesn't make the weeks seem like one big time-blob." She wrapped the towel around her and stepped out of the tub grabbing another one for her hair. Booth, taken aback by her use of the word "time-blob", stood watching her. It was the kind of watching that could really be studying. He mostly did it in the early hours of the morning if he got up before her or at night when she had fallen asleep before him.

For a woman who was constantly moving and doing things, he enjoyed the simplicity of being able to watch her. And in the moments like these when she managed to say the most adorable thing like "time blobs," he loved just taking a minute to take her in.

Brennan saw him looking at her in the mirror and she raised her brows as she pulled the towel off her hair to begin drying it.

"What Booth?"

"Nothing. Nothing, baby. Just." He walked over to where she was standing and stood behind her. He looked at her in the mirror that was in front of them. She was looking back at him with curiosity and he smiled at the way her nose scrunched up.

"Booth?"

"I love you Bones. I don't want any fight we ever have to cause you to forget that okay. I love you always."

"I love you too Booth." she smiled back at him. He stepped even closer to her and wrapped his arms around her from behind and rested his chin on her shoulder. Brennan tilted her head to rest against his and intertwined her fingers with his that was splayed across her belly. Booth closed his eyes and took a breathe inhaling the sweet smell that was his wife and lifted his head ever so slightly. Brennan's head lolled back to rest against his shoulder and Booth turned and kissed her neck. He spent a few moments trailing kisses across her neck, spending extra time on the sweet spot just below her ear. The roughness of his beard adding to the sensations. She moaned arching her back slightly but was held back by Booth's hands that were holding her securely to him.

"Booth," she whimpered.

"Yeah, baby?" he murmured continuing his ministrations against her neck.

"We uhh… weren't we…. Oh god Booth…" all sense of coherent thoughts left her and she could only focus on the pleasure her husband was giving her. Oh, he is such a talented kisser she thought absently. Booth nuzzled her neck and kissed her soundly before lifting his head. He chuckled warmly at the flush that was now all over Brennan. Her eyes were still closed and her breaths were more like pants. In all the years they had been together, it never ceased to amaze him how responsive she was to him.

Her eyes opened after a few more seconds and she gave him a lazy smile and shook her head.

"Let me go take a quick shower then we talk okay?"

Brennan hummed her response and began finishing her post-shower routine. After Booth had jumped in the shower and she had changed into some yoga pants and one of his FBI shirts that were three sizes too big on her, she wandered outside to check on her children.

Hank was still fast asleep in his bed clutching the stuffed tiger Booth had gotten him when he was born. He had spent so much time calling him their little tiger while Brennan was pregnant that when he saw it in the show window of a shop downtown, he simply had to get it for him. She smiled and pulled his door leaving it open a crack.

She then went to check on Christine and found her daughter sleeping on the couch, the TV still playing. Brennan smiled at how Christine was just sprawled out on the couch and thought to herself that there was no way she could be comfortable. Turning off the TV, she bent down and shifted her daughter to a more comfortable position, propping her head up on one of the pillows and placing the throw blanket from the back of the couch on her.

Christine stirred a little bit. "Mommy?" she muttered sleepily.

"Shh baby. Go back to sleep." Brennan cooed rubbing her daughter's back.

"I love you, Mommy," Christine mumbled and closed her eyes instantly falling asleep again. Brennan bent down and kissed her daughter's temple. "I love you too baby girl."

She went back to her and Booth's room at plopped down on the bed waiting for him. She felt herself getting frustrated thinking about Russ' situation again but forced herself to calm down. However difficult it might be right now, she tried to get herself to not focus on it but the fact that she could help her brother and that Booth would support her.

Thanks for reading! Hope you enjoyed it! As always, please leave me a review and let me know what you think! I'm trying to catch up on them and respond as quickly as I can! 3