A/N: Last chapter. Yes, this fic is done! Remember, there's two more fics in the trilogy. So be on the look out.
Shout outs: Goldy, Siapom and avaleighfitzgerald.
Sunday...
Booth lay on his back on the couch. His arms crossed over his chest, his breathing slow and steady. His feet were propped up on the arm of the couch, crossed at the ankle. The movement behind his closed eyelids slowed, and finally his eyes cracked opened. The sun came through the living room window, washing the room in bright colors. Booth stretched his arms over his head, took in a deep breath and smiled as the smell of Brennan filled his nose. He gave a yawn and then looked at his watch. 7:34. He sat up on the couch and listened. Booth stood and walked through the silent apartment. Brennan's bedroom door stood a jar, and Booth stopped so he could see inside. Brennan sat on her bed, knees pulled up and Piper resting on her thighs. She held the child's hands in hers and made soft baby sounds at the baby, making Piper laugh. Booth smiled at the scene. He watched for a few minutes and then gave a sharp rap on the door. Brennan looked up and met his smile. "Morning," she said happily.
"Morning." Booth pushed the door open and walked in. He noticed the empty bottle on the nightstand and the damp towel at the end of the bed. "Wow. Changed her, bathed her, and fed her all by yourself. I'm impressed."
"Wasn't too hard," Brennan said, turning her attention back to baby. Booth sat down on the bed.
"Morning, Sweet Pea," he said, reaching out and rubbing the top on Piper's head. Piper giggled. "So, what do you two ladies want to do on our last day together?" Brennan looked over at him. Booth was still playing with Piper so he missed the cloud that passed over her face.
"I'm, um, not sure," Brennan said, dropping her eyes back down. "What do you think we should do?"
"Well, I was thinking," Booth said. "Maybe we could take Piper on a picnic."
"A picnic? That sounds like fun."
"Good."
XxXxX
Brennan sat in the back of Booth's SUV beside Piper's infant seat. "So where are we going?" she asked. Booth caught her eyes in the rearview and smiled.
"It's a secret," he said, and then laughed at the look Brennan shot him. "We're almost there. So don't worry about it." Brennan shook her head and the turned back to Piper.
"He's a pain in the neck, isn't he, Sweet Pea?" Booth laughed again. They drove in silence for another ten minutes, before Booth pulled off the main road. He followed a small dirt road and then came to a stop. Brennan looked out and took in where they were. A large pond shimmered under the sunlight. The green of the grass was a strong contrast against the darkness of the water. "Where are we?"
"A private pond," Booth said opening his door. "Parker and I do a lot of fishing here." Brennan undid the infant seat and removed the whole seat with Piper in it.
"It's beautiful here," Brennan said, meeting Booth at the front of the SUV. He held their picnic basket, and smiled at her.
"Yeah. Come on, I know the perfect place to eat." Brennan followed Booth and soon they came to a stop under a large tree. Booth spread out the blanket they had brought, and they both sat.
"How do you always know the best places?" Brennan asked after they had ate lunch. Piper was asleep in her infant seat, and Booth laid on the blanket, arms crossed behind his head.
"I know a lot of people," he answered, dropping his head to one side so he could look at her.
"I know a lot of people, too" Brennan said. "But I don't know about places like this." Booth laughed.
"I do a lot of trading off," he told her. "It's all about knowing what somebody can offer you when they come looking for a favor. The guy that owns this place, I met him a long time ago."
"How did you meet him?"
"He had a flat tire," Booth said. "And he needed to get his wife to the doctor."
"And is his wife's name Sarah?"
"Very good, Bones." Brennan smiled at him and then turned to look out over the water.
"I'm going to miss, Piper," Brennan said after a moment. Booth looked over at her.
"Yeah, me too."
"Don't get me wrong," she quickly went on. "I still don't want children, but it was nice…being like an aunt."
"Well, maybe Russ will have kids one day."
"Maybe," Brennan said.
"And there's Parker," Booth said. "He likes you a lot."
"I like him too." Booth sat up and pushed his shoulders back to loosen his back.
"What time do we need to drop Piper off at CSS?"
"The lady said anytime after noon. I told Cullen that I wouldn't be in until late."
"I think… I think I want to go with you. When you take her."
XxXxX
Booth looked up from the book he was reading and noticed that he was alone in the living room. He put the book down and set off to find Brennan. He found his partner in her room, standing over Piper's playpen. Her arms were crossed, her head slightly tilted, and she stared at the sleeping child. Booth walked over to her and smiled down at Piper. "She looks so peaceful," he said. Brennan took a deep breath and then let it out. Booth placed a hand on her lower back. "I know how you feel about the foster system," he began. "But this is what's best for her."
"I know, Booth. It's just, how could someone just leave her? Just walk out of her?"
"It happens all the time, Bones. Luckily, there're good people out there. They'll find Piper a good home. She'll be happy."
"I hope so," Brennan said.
"Come on, Bones, come back into the living room." Brennan nodded, and let Booth lead her out of the bedroom.
"Thank you for helping me this weekend," Brennan said, as they settled onto the couch.
"You're welcome, Bones. You know I'll do anything for you." Their gaze locked for a brief moment before Brennan had to drop her eyes.
"You're a good…friend." Booth smiled and slid over closer to her.
"We're good friends," he corrected.
"Yes, we are."
XxXxX
Monday...
Booth and Brennan walked slowly out of the building that housed Child Social Service. "She'll be okay," Booth said again.
"I know, but…I guess I've grown to like her."
"It's not a bad thing, Bones," Booth said with a smile. "Perfectly normal to like a baby." They took the steps in union. "I bet you're happy to get your apartment back." Brennan gave a shrug.
She surprised Booth by saying, "It wasn't so bad having company. Just don't let anybody know that."
"Just between us." They climbed into Booth's SUV, and Booth headed over to the Jeffersonian. "You want to grab some supper tonight?"
"That sounds good," Brennan answered, her attention focused on the world outside the passenger window. She jumped when Booth reached out and grabbed her hand. Brennan looked at their joined hands and then up to his face. Booth glanced over at her.
"She's going to be fine, Temperance," he said. "And so will you. Promise." Brennan gave him a smile and nodded.
"I know."
XxXxX
Angela watched Brennan and Booth walk into the Medico-Legal Labs. Her eyes never left the couple as they made their way to Brennan's office. They were deep in conversation, and didn't bother to say hello to anybody. "They look cozy," Hodgins said coming to stand next to Angela.
"They sure do," Angela agreed. "That baby sure brought them closer." Hodgins nodded.
"Yeah, looks like that tot did in one weekend what you've been trying to do for over a year." Angela turned to look at her friend. Hodgins offered her a wide smile. "Maybe, what do they call her, Piper? Maybe Piper is the next Angela." The artist stared at Hodgins for a moment, then turned to look at Booth and Brennan.
"You know," she began, turning back to Hodgins. "Maybe you're right. Piper is a matchmaker who's just cleverly disguised as an infant."
I know a lot of you asked if Brennan was going to keep Piper. Heck, I think some of ya'll wanted to keep Piper. But that just wasn't in the storyline. No worries, though...We haven't seen the last of Piper. She'll pop up a few more times.
Thanks for reading!
Wolfy and Branwyn
