A Week Later

"I hate child cases," Booth said as he looked at the x-ray with Brennan. They had found a child in a warehouse earlier that day.

"Me too," Brennan agreed. She felt nauseous inside as she thought of Parker. Who could hurt a child? She never understood it.

"You're focused on the neck bone," Booth noted, looking at her. "What do you see?"

"Arthritic lipping," she answered.

"As in arthritis? But she's a child..."

"Yes, arthritis. It would be acquired by her looking up like this," Brennan said, demonstrating.

"Praying?" Booth suggested.

"If so, then she's been praying between four and six hours a day," Brennan clarified. "That's a lot of time asking for something."

"Maybe she's asking for her father," a voice said. Both Brennan and Booth spun to see Max standing in the doorway.

"Dad?" she said.

"Hi, baby," he smiled.

"Max, you're under arrest," Booth said, pulling out and aiming his gun at Max.

"Oh, and here I was hoping to squeeze a drink in before this happened," Max sighed.

"Booth!" Brennan exclaimed.

"Get the cuffs out of my back pocket," Booth instructed.

"Absolutely not," Brennan replied. He gave her an incredulous look.

"No? Why not?"

"He's my father. I'm not handcuffing him. And don't you remember how he saved your life?"

"I did do that," Max agreed. "Rather well, if I may add."

"You may not," Booth retorted. "Up against the wall."

Max obeyed, and Brennan watched as Booth handcuffed him and started to Mirandize him.

"What are you even doing here?" Brennan asked her father. He smiled.

"Oh, I'm always around, but I did hear you were getting married, and I didn't want to miss it," he answered.

"I'm not getting married," Brennan said, confused. "Angela is. To Hodgins."

"Oh," Max said. "Well, that was a really big misunderstanding on my part but good for Bug Boy. He got a great woman."

"I'm sorry, Bones," Booth said, looking at her. "I have to. It's my job."

"I know," she nodded.

"We'll talk later," Max smiled at her before Booth led him away. Angela passed them as she came in, and she did a double take before looking at Brennan.

"Um, isn't that your father?" she asked.

"Yes."

"What is he doing here?"

"He thought I was the one getting married," Brennan explained. "He came to see me."

"Aw, that's sweet," Angela said. She felt nervous. She knew Max had been checking in on Parker at school and hadn't told Brennan.

"What's wrong?" Brennan asked, sensing something was up.

"Nothing," Angela said quickly. "I just had the drawing finished for our girl, and I wanted you to see it."

"Let's go out here then," Brennan gestured, and Angela followed. She looked towards the receding backs of Booth and Max, and she wondered what was going to happen next.

"Hang on, Brennan," Angela called, making Brennan turn around.

"Yes?"

"I have something to ask you. I know you're not all into weddings, but...I do need a maid of honor, and I was hoping..."

"Yes!" Brennan exclaimed instantly. Angela stopped talking, taken aback.

"Yes?" she repeated.

"Yes! I would love to be your maid of honor. I am so honored you asked me!" Brennan cried, grabbing Angela into a tight hug.

"I'm so glad," Angela said, hugging her back.

"I want to celebrate, but we still have this case..." Brennan said.

"I know. We can celebrate later," Angela smiled. They continued walking to her office. Angela couldn't help but laugh at the giddy grin on Brennan's face along the way.

...

Brennan was vibrating with excitement when Booth returned. She didn't even wait for him to speak before she started talking first.

"Angela asked me to be her maid of honor," she blurted. "I wanted her to ask. I really wanted to do it."

"Really?" Booth asked. "I thought you weren't exactly a fan of marriage."

"People can change their minds," she said vaguely.

"Have you?" he asked, curious. He felt his stomach flip. If she was okay with marriage, then there was hope after all if he did ask her.

"Where is my father? Is he in jail?" she asked, changing the subject.

"Um, no."

"No?"

"No. It would appear he is Art MacGregor, a law abiding electrician."

"Oh," Brennan said. Booth saw she was a little happy at this news, and it made him feel even worse about the fact he was trying to prove Max was Max Keenan.

"I think he's going to be stopping by your place later," Booth mentioned.

"I would like to talk to him," Brennan said. "So maybe it's best if you don't come over tonight."

"I agree," Booth nodded. He'd give her time with her father.

"Is it okay if Parker is there, though?"

"Yea," Booth answered. "So long as Max doesn't get him onto the idea of being a felon."

"Ha, ha," Brennan said, nudging him. "He won't."

"So what's up with our victim?" Booth asked.

"Angela has drawn her as an old woman, and I know this isn't true, so we're trying to figure it out," Brennan explained.

"I see."

"Do you think Hodgins will ask you to be his best man? Then we could be up there together," Brennan said with another grin.

"Oh, I doubt it. I think Hodgins is afraid of me," Booth answered.

"Well, don't count yourself out yet," Brennan said.

Booth shook his head and smiled as she went back to her work. It was different to see her excited about a wedding.

It definitely gave him hope.

...

Parker was coloring when Brennan opened the door that night to let in Max. Parker was on his feet in an instant.

"It's you!" he cried.

"Hey, there," Max replied cheerily. "Parker, right?"

"Yup," Parker smiled wide. They shared a secret smile. Parker didn't want to tell on him for watching him at school.

"He's my foster son, but I share custody with Booth. It's still kind of in the works," Brennan explained.

"Why do you share custody with Booth?"

"He's Parker's biological father."

Max digested this information with a thoughtful expression on his face.

"Well, all the more reason you should get married," he finally said.

"Dad," Brennan warned.

"That's what I said!" Parker exclaimed. He liked this man already.

"Are you two dating?" Max asked. When Brennan's ears went slightly pink, he had his answer.

"It's new," she answered.

"I'll have to give him the talk then," Max said.

"No, no," Brennan shook her head. "No talk."

Max ignored her as he went to see what Parker was doing. Brennan watched them interact, and she noticed that Parker really seemed to like her father. They spent the evening with Parker until he went to bed. Then it was just the two of them. Max gave her a ring that was her grandmother's, and Brennan felt emotional looking at it.

"I should go," Max said, noticing the time.

"You can stay here," she offered.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes," she nodded.

"Well, thank you," he smiled.

"Good night," she said.

"Good night," he said back. She went to bed, leaving him standing there watching her with a smile on his face.

The Next Day

Brennan was rushing around feeling flustered. They were going to be late. Parker was standing by the door waiting to go to school while Brennan hunted for her keys.

"Hey, sweetheart," Max said, making her look at him. "I can drive him to school. If that helps."

"Yea!" Parker said gleefully.

"Um, okay," Brennan agreed right as she found her keys. "If you really don't mind."

"I don't. You want to do lunch later?" he asked.

"Okay."

"I'll see you at the Royal Diner. Noon."

"Okay," Brennan said again. Max put a hand on Parker's shoulder and steered him out the door. She could hear Parker chattering away with him as they went down the hall. She texted Booth that she was on her way, and she threw her shoes on and went out the door.

...

"Mom is happy you're here," Parker said as Max drove. Max looked at him in the mirror.

"She is? You think so?"

"She seems happy to me," Parker reasoned. "I think because you keep coming back she knows you're going to stay."

"That's the plan," Max said. "I'm not leaving her again. Her and Russ are the best thing that ever happened to me, and me leaving them behind was the worst mistake I ever made. I love her and Russ very much."

"Why did you leave them?" Parker asked.

"I had to. They needed to be safe, and if they stayed with me and their mom, they wouldn't have been safe."

"Oh."

"It's a long story," Max added. "Maybe one day I'll tell it to you."

"Okay," Parker smiled. "Are you gonna tell her you're staying?"

"Yes, I think I will."

"I didn't tell her you were watching me at school," Parker added.

"I hope I didn't scare you," Max said.

"Nope. I knew you were just making sure I was okay."

"I was," Max agreed. "I keep an eye on my family."

"If your Mom's father, that makes you my Grandpa, right?"

"Sure does."

"Can I call you Grandpa Max?"

"Absolutely! I'd love nothing more," Max beamed. Parker was grinning too, and then he started talking about his friends at school and what they were going to play at recess. Max felt connected to this boy already, and it sealed the deal for him that he was indeed going to stay.

...

The case went along as smoothly as a case could go. They found out their victim was Chelsea Cole, who suffered from an aging disease. Booth and Brennan went to speak to Chelsea's mother, Cynthia, who told them about Chelsea's caretaker being inappropriate with Chelsea one day and was removed from their home. Booth and Brennan went to speak to the caretaker, Joe, who advised he hadn't been inappropriate but had simply helped Chelsea get soap out of her eyes and put a towel around her before giving her privacy again.

"Well, I believe him," Booth said as they left the interrogation room. Brennan was looking at her watch. "What are you doing?"

"I have to meet Dad for lunch," she answered. "We're at a bit of a standstill anyway."

"Okay," Booth agreed. "The diner?"

"Yes."

"Have fun," he gestured. Brennan moved to give him a light kiss when no one was looking and smiled at him.

"Thank you," she said. Booth could tell she was enjoying having her father in her life. It made him feel really guilty for arresting Max and trying to prove who he was.

Brennan met her father at the diner and sat down across from him. She was wearing the ring he'd given her the night before. She had questions for him.

"You said we didn't have grandparents," she started.

"We were on the run and had new identities. Of course you had no grandparents," Max said. "But, with our real identities, I will tell you that your mother was the oldest of three, and if you find them, they'll let you into their lives."

Brennan didn't know what to do with this, so she let it go for now.

"And your side?"

"My only family was you, your brother, and your mother," Max replied.

"And you abandoned me for 15 years."

"I'm trying to make up for it now," he said.

"You're on the run from the FBI," she pointed out.

"Your mother wanted you to have this," Max said, ignoring the comment. He handed her a video tape.

"What's on it?" she asked.

"No clue. She said it was for you when you're ready."

Brennan took it from him gingerly. The idea of seeing her mother on tape was making her feel emotional.

"That is one hell of a boy you've got," Max went on. "Smart as a whip, and funny too."

"He is," Brennan agreed.

"Are you gonna marry Booth?"

"Dad..."

"What? I'm just curious. I like Booth."

At this point, Booth came into the diner and went over to them. Brennan gave him a quizzical look until he explained he was there for Max's DNA.

"I'm sorry," he said to Brennan.

"It's okay," Brennan replied. Max gave her a wink as he complied.

"Also, Zack needs to show you something on the skull," Booth said one he'd received the DNA.

"Okay. I'll be there soon," Brennan promised.

"Go save the world," Max gestured. "I'll be around. I'm not going anywhere."

Brennan looked unsure, but he gave her a smile and a pat on her hand to reassure her. She reluctantly got up and followed Booth to his SUV. She didn't say much as they drove back to the Jeffersonian. She was thinking about the tape from her mother and how badly she wanted to watch it.

...

Zack had discovered the hole in Chelsea's skull was not from a bullet. When they went back to speak to Cynthia, she explained Chelsea had brain surgery when she was young after falling out of her crib. Brennan noticed that Booth was looking at Cynthia like she may have done something to Chelsea, and she felt intrigued. What was Booth seeing that she wasn't?

"What are you thinking?" she asked when they were back in his SUV driving.

"Something just doesn't feel right," he answered. Then his phone rang. "Booth. Oh, hey, Hodgins."

Brennan studied him as he listened to Hodgins on the other end. He looked at Brennan after a moment, smiling.

"Yea, sure. Why not? Let's do it," he said. "Is there anything you need me to do?"

Brennan started to smile. Hodgins was asking Booth to be his best man. She just knew it.

"Okay. Thanks," Booth said, hanging up.

"Well?" she prompted.

"You called it," he chuckled. "I'm the best man."

Brennan made a noise of triumph and reached to grab and shake his shoulder playfully while he laughed.

"Hey, I'm sorry about your dad," he said again once she had calmed down.

"I know it's your job, Booth. I'm not angry at you," she promised.

"I don't want you to get hurt again," he said. "If he takes off."

Brennan didn't say anything. She had this feeling, a gut feeling, if you would, that her father was going to hang around. She really wanted her gut to be right, but she felt confused at the same time.

"I think I love my father," she said.

"That's usually a normal feeling a child has towards their parent," Booth agreed. "But it's okay if they don't too. It depends on how the parents treated the child."

"I'm confused as to why since he hurt me and Russ so badly."

"He abandoned you...that makes it hard to trust. It's understandable."

"Am I a bad person for not wanting to care what happens to him?"

"Not at all, Bones. You're not a bad anything."

"It makes me think of Parker. He's had so many people abandon him, and yet he loves us. He trusts us. If he can move past that hurt, then I should be able to as well, right?"

"If Max shows you that you can trust him somehow, then it's okay to start trying to trust him again," Booth said, looking at her. "He has to earn it first."

"Okay," Brennan nodded, thinking.

"We all make mistakes, Bones," Booth added. "Some mistakes are bigger than others, and some take longer to forgive because of how big they are. Forgiveness isn't for the other person anyway, it's for you. It doesn't mean forgetting or condoning what someone has done. It doesn't mean you have to have them in your life. It means moving forward in your own life without that burden of hating someone because hating someone only affects us, not the other person. Maybe one day you'll find out Max leaving you and Russ was a mistake, and it'll be easier to forgive."

Brennan didn't say anything as she took this all in. She didn't exactly hate her father, but she didn't have all warm and fuzzy feelings towards him yet either. She was somewhere in the middle. Booth reached to take her hand, and she let him. He made things make sense, and she liked that.

Then she realized something.

"Cynthia has AIDS or HIV," she said.

"Really? How do you know?" he asked.

"I recognized one of her pills, but I will double check with Cam," Brennan said.

"Oh, man," Booth sighed. This niggled at his feeling a bit more, and he couldn't explain why.

...

Angela found Parker at school waiting to be picked up. He eagerly ran towards her after seeing her.

"Hello, you," Angela smiled. "Good day?"

"Yes! Are you excited for your wedding tomorrow?" he asked as he buckled himself in. Ever since he turned six, he insisted on doing it.

"I am," Angela smiled.

"You're going to be a really pretty bride," he told her.

"Aw, thank you," Angela gushed. She turned in her seat to look at hi. "Hey, I have a special job request of you, if you're up for it."

"I'm listening," Parker said, leaning forward. His eyes were shining.

"Will you be our ring bearer?"

"I get to carry the rings?"

"Yes," Angela nodded.

"Of course!" he exclaimed. "I can do that."

"You're the best," she beamed at him.

"So are you," he grinned back. "That's why I love you."

Angela felt her heart melt at this. Hearing him say he loved her was the sweetest thing ever.

"Let's get you home," she said. "You can show me how your art project is going."

Parker started to talk to her about it as she began to drive. Angela found herself thinking about when she would have children, and she smiled. She hoped they would be just like Parker.

...

In the end, Booth's gut was right. Cynthia had killed her daughter with her medication. Hodgins and Zack had done an experiment with Sea Chimps to find this information, and when Booth put the "I love you" rock on the table in front of Cynthia, her face gave it all away. Brennan was on the phone with Cam confirming the medication in the background while Booth stared at Cynthia.

"I loved her," Cynthia whispered.

"I find that very hard to believe right now," Booth said. He looked at Brennan, who confirmed it was Cynthia's medication that had killed Chelsea, and he arrested Cynthia.

Inside, he felt horribly nauseous.

...

Parker was with Booth as he got his tux. He was looking around at everything in there while Booth finished with his tux and searched for a suit for Parker.

"I really like Max," he said out of the blue. Booth looked at him, surprised.

"You do?"

"Yea. He's funny. He told me he loves Mom very much."

It was still new, hearing Parker call Brennan "Mom." Booth loved it, though.

"Uh huh."

"He said he wasn't going to leave again," Parker went on. He left out that he had seen Max watching him at school. It felt like a secret that was okay to keep. Max hadn't been doing anything wrong, just checking in on him to make sure he was okay. Parker liked knowing that someone cared enough to watch out for him.

Booth didn't say anything as he watched Parker get fitted for his suit. He had been given key evidence by an agent earlier, and he was going to be arresting Max right after he was finished here. He still felt guilty, but his duty as an FBI agent was more pressing.

"I'm glad Angela is marrying Hodgins," Parker said happily.

"Me too," Booth nodded.

"Are you gonna marry Mom?"

"One day at a time, son," Booth chuckled.

"Is that a yes?"

"Just stand still for the man, will you?" Booth gestured, and the man measuring Parker gave him a thankful look. Parker obeyed, but he was excited inside. If his father did marry Brennan, they'd be a family, and he wanted that more than anything.

...

Booth found Max easily enough. He held up his piece of paper once Max saw him.

"Oh, that," Max said. "Right. Well, I guess this is it."

"Max Keenan, you're under arrest for the murder of the deputy director of the FBI," Booth said.

"All right," Max sighed. "Arrest away."

"Just like that?" Booth asked, surprised.

"Sure, why not?"

"All right," Booth said, going for his cuffs. Max stepped back then.

"Actually, no. I can't go down without a fight. Sorry. If you must shoot me, then aim for my leg, please."

Booth was incredulous as Max got into a fighting stance. He hesitated before taking off his jacket. They began to punch at each other until Booth knocked Max to the ground. Then Max did a cheap shot and kicked him in the groin, making him fall down whimpering.

They both were laying there panting and groaning for a moment.

"I'm not leaving her," Max said. "I promise."

"Okay," Booth replied.

"And I approve."

"Of?"

"Your dating her."

"I didn't know I needed it," Booth said.

"Well, you got it. You have my permission to marry her too."

"Okay, whoa. Let's not go there just yet," Booth said. "We're just dating right now."

"Yea, yea. Fine," Max huffed. "Can you arrest me now? This pavement is killing my back..."

...

Brennan was watching the tape from her mother, who was telling her it was her idea for abandoning Russ and Brennan. She asked Brennan to forgive her father, who wanted to keep them all together but was forced into leaving them behind. She was crying when her mother explained they had done what they did out of love. It made her think of what Booth had said, that maybe she'd find out Max leaving was a mistake. It also made her think of Cynthia and what she had done. She realized Cynthia had thought she was dying, so she ended Chelsea's life out of mercy after realizing no one could care for her. She was guessing on that part but felt it was right.

"Mom?" Parker said, seeing her cry. Brennan wiped at her eyes quickly.

"Yes?"

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Brennan promised.

"Is that your mom?" he asked, pointing to the frozen screen where Ruth Keenan was.

"Yes. That's my mother. How did you know?"

"She looks like you," Parker answered. "And you're crying."

Brennan gave a small laugh. Parker was still perceptive as always. She pulled him into a tight hug, and he rested his head on her shoulder.

"Grandpa Max loves you," Parker said. "He told me so when he took me to school. He told me that you and Uncle Russ were the best thing that ever happened to him and that he wasn't ever going to leave you again."

Brennan felt even more emotional hearing this. Then her mother's words echoed in her mind, and she knew what she wanted to do.

Hodgins and Angela's Wedding Day

Booth was standing and waiting with Parker when Brennan rushed out. Parker was proudly waiting to be given the rings. He had talked about nothing else in the last 24 hours since he found out he was the ring bearer.

"Oh, let me," Cam said, reaching to fix the bow on Brennan's dress.

"Where were you?" Booth asked.

"I went to see Cynthia," she answered. "Long story. I'll tell you later."

Booth was admiring her in that dress too much to process what she'd said. He was looking forward to removing it from her later. Then Zack started asking him questions about Iraq, which distracted him.

"Okay, let's go," Brennan said once she was fixed up. She linked arms with Booth and headed down the aisle behind Parker. Cam and Zack were behind them. They got to the end and stood on their respective sides.

"You're sure you're okay that I arrested your father?" Booth asked. He hadn't had time to talk to Brennan about it last night.

"Yes, Booth," she nodded. Booth shifted on his feet for a moment before stepping towards her and speaking again.

"He could have escaped."

"What?"

"Yea. We got into a fistfight."

"You fought with my father?" she asked, incredulous.

"Yes. He could have gotten away."

"Because he beat you?"

"No," Booth said, affronted. "Why would you assume that?"

"It was the only conclusion I could come up with," she shrugged.

"Well, no. He didn't leave because he said he didn't want to abandon you again. He didn't want to lose you, Bones."

"Oh," she said. Parker had been right.

"Ahem," Angela coughed, making them look to see her and Hodgins standing there together. "I'd like to get married, if you don't mind."

"Sure," Booth said easily, stepping back over to his side.

The wedding was getting started when someone interrupted and asked to speak with Angela and Hodgins right away. It left everyone confused and looking around at each other. Zack started in on Booth about Iraq again, much to his annoyance. Then he realized that Zack was going to be going there, and he felt slightly alarmed.

"What is going on?" Brennan asked, looking at him once Zack had stopped talking.

"I have no idea," Booth answered.

"Are they getting married still?" Parker asked.

"I don't know," Brennan answered. Then, the doors flew open, and Angela and Hodgins told everyone to go to the reception and have dinner on them.

Surprised, Brennan looked at Booth, who was looking back at her. The minister was looking at the two of them with a smile on her face.

"What do we do now?" Brennan asked.

"Go to dinner, I guess," Booth answered.

Everyone started to get up slowly and make their way to the reception area. Booth was walking down the aisle behind Brennan before he stopped and caught her hand.

"What's wrong?" she asked, seeing his face.

"Nothing," he answered. Everyone was still walking away from them, and they were soon alone. Parker had gone with Cam.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" she asked, sounding nervous. Was he going to break up with her? She hated that her mind went there, but sometimes it all felt too good to be true.

"Being around all this wedding stuff has got me thinking," he started, and she felt her heart start to race. Was he going to do what she thought he was going to do?

"It has?" she asked, playing along.

"Yes."

"About?"

"Well, Bones," he said, smiling. "I guess I'm just wondering if one day you'd like to get married. To me."

"Are you asking?" she questioned.

"I'm asking if you'd like me to ask one day," he said.

"I see," she nodded, getting it. He was checking to see if she was open to the idea of it. She started to smile slowly. "Yes, Booth. I'd love it if you would ask me to marry you one day."

"Good," he smiled back. He leaned in to kiss her tenderly, his hand on her face.

Now that he knew, he could start planning.

...

Booth carried Parker up the stairs to Brennan's apartment. She let them in, and he carried the sleepy boy to his bed. Brennan followed as he gently set Parker down into his bed. He smoothed Parker's forehead with his had and marveled at his son. Then he kissed the boy's head.

"Love you," he said.

"Love you too," Parker said sleepily.

Brennan came to kiss him next.

"Sweet dreams," she said after saying she loved him.

"I don't need them when I'm already living one," Parker said back. Booth felt the tug on his heart at this. Brennan even looked emotional.

"I'm glad," she said, rubbing his back softly.

Parker rolled over and fell asleep, and she got up and took Booth's hand. They stood watching him sleep for a moment before turning off the light and going down to her bedroom together.

This was her family, and Brennan couldn't ask for more.

Stay tuned for the epilogue! You won't be waiting long ;)