welcome to chapter 11 2.0 where I added to it in hopes to not hate it anymore. is it better? eh BUT it did give me motivation to start on chapter 12 so yay me!

Chapter Eleven || Smurfette

Booth knew he was taking a risk when he walked into the toy store looking for smurf figurines. He and Bones had been going through this rough spot for far too long and he knew that there wasn't a way he was going to make laughing at her embarrassing moment better. What he did know was that he hated that she preferred Smurfette and not Brainy Smurf.

Staring at the display cases of all the tiny figurines he picked up one of each. Smurfette symbolized beauty and the standards the world held on women while Brainy Smurf was nerdy and didn't have anything particular going for him. It bugged him that Bones didn't like Brainy Smurf and he put Smurfette back on the shelf, she'd probably hate him for not buying the one she wanted, but he had a plan.

They were continuing to do well at dating and keeping their relationship a secret. There was a particular romance to hiding their true feelings from their friends, but he also knew that there was a part of her that wished she could talk about him to someone. They both knew that after working so closely together that going from partners to husband and wife was a giant leap and now backtracking to just dating, well it would be confusing for anyone not just them. Booth knew that she did well with hiding how she felt, but he couldn't help but stand back and wait for the volcano to rupture with everything she was holding. He was not ready to be burnt by that lava.

He knew he was the one who put silence on their relationship, he didn't want anyone to know that they were dating and he had very valid reasons for that. The second one other person knew the entire team would soon and they would never have a moment to themselves again. There was also the grand secret of their marriage that he feared would come out the second people knew they were dating. Of course he wasn't sure how that would happen, but the subject of the true status of their relationship was one that didn't come up often. They avoided it very well.

Fingering the figurine he put it in his pocket after he paid for it and smiled as he walked out of the store. They hadn't been having a good few days ever since Sweets made them tell embarrassing anecdotes about their childhoods. Meeting with that kid was like going into hell every time he entered the room and he cursed the FBI for making them see him once a week. He hated him even more for having so much power over them and knew that it would take one phone call for their partnership to be disbanded. He really disliked Lance Sweets.

Of course he knew that Brennan had a hard childhood and sure maybe she was right that he was 'that jock' in high school and well he hadn't changed too much since then. However that didn't mean that he wasn't immune to embarrassing stories, he just couldn't for the life of him think of any that would make her feel better after he stupidly laughed at hers.

"Well Smurfette was a stupid, shallow Smurf who only had her looks. Look, you're better than Smurfette. You have your looks and a whole lot more." He grinned at her holding out the figurine for her to take as he leaned across the table hours after purchasing it. "Come on Bones, I'm sorry I laughed and you're right about well, you're right about everything." Booth whispered. When she finally took it he laughed and sat back watching her admire it.

"I have my looks and a whole lot more?" She asked almost like she didn't believe him and he nodded, picking up his fork to poke at his pie. "I suppose this is a valid form of an apology and I accept your gift as well. Thank you."

"You're welcome." He replied easily as he snuck his hand over to hers and squeezed it. The diner was relatively empty for the time of night and he needed her to know how sincere he was. Even if he was overly cautious of someone walking in on them. Booth knew she could feel his cautiousness too as she turned her hand over and squeezed his back before pulling it out from under it.

She smiled sadly at him as she admired Smurfette, delicately moving her fingers over the small features trying to distract herself from his fear of people finding out about their relationship. There was a lot at risk, which she knew and understood, she just wished that during the first time in her life where she felt happy and in love she could share it with others. Though neither of them had said the words of love or even hinted at it, she knew she had fallen in love with Seeley Booth and that she was wrong about it not being real.

Brennan just refused to let herself truly feel it when he did everything in his power to make sure their relationship was well hidden by every single person in their lives. Including his son.

"So I have Parker this weekend so I won't be able to see you much." He told her and she nodded already knowing it was his weekend with Parker and had made separate plans of her own. "Though I was wondering if you wanted to go to the zoo with us? Parker loves when you tell him everything about the animals." Smiling, she shook her head.

"As much as I would love to, I have a deadline for my book I need to meet as well as an article for Anthropology Monthly that I need to make revisions on. I also told Angela we could have a girls day." She had planned every second of her weekend knowing that one moment that was free she would let herself feel sad that she wasn't with her husband-boyfriend-partner-whatever, wasn't with Booth. If there was anything she refused in life it was to be dependent on someone and she hated that she had let herself be dependent on the man sitting in front of her.

"Oh, well I didn't know you had a lot going on. Though I guess it's good you have a lot to do while I have Parker." He laughed lightly and she laughed along with him though she was feeling less than happy inside. She longed to spend time with both him and Parker the way that they spent time together privately, but for now she respected Booth's wishes and knew that when the time came the wait would be more than worth it.

Looking down at the figurine in her hand she ran a fingertip over it and thought of where she would display it. The simple gesture, the fact that he thought of her and respected her enough to get her a silly fictional character that didn't want, it really did mean a lot to her.

"You still have a lot of evolving to do though." She said out loud causing him to raise an eyebrow. "I suppose we both do." Brennan added. "Perhaps I can spare some time to go to the zoo with you and Parker? If the offer still stands of course." He was putting in some effort, it only felt right that she do the same no matter what her feelings were.

"Of course it still stands, he is going to be so excited to see you there." He paused "I am going to be very excited to have you there. It'll be fun."

They decided to "meet" at his place, she had stayed that previous night and left long enough for him to go get Parker and then knocked on his door as if she didn't have a key an hour later. She had made sure before there was no signs of her being there regularly and felt confident as she was met with an enthusiastic boy. "It's nice to see you too, Parker." Brennan grinned as she hugged him.

Booth could feel something different between them as they walked through the zoo. Parker bounced in front of them as if it was his very first time there as he and Bones walked maybe a little too closely to one another. Sure they were prone to walking as close as possible but he couldn't help but feel hyper aware of their closeness, and that maybe someone else would notice too.

A part of him was starting to realize that maybe that was the issue, their secret was starting to make him paranoid. He just had no idea how to navigate their relationship without it being completely hush hush.

Stopping at Parker's favorite exhibit he smiled over at his partner and put an arm around her waist, pulling her close. "Thank you for coming with us" He whispered to her before pressing a kiss to her hair and then stepping back just a tad. Baby steps, maybe that was the answer to his problems. The smile that radiated from her certainly made it all worth it.