(After The Pain in the Heart)

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I don't own Bones.

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The Space Center was everything they had hoped it would be. There was a tram tour that allowed them to see a Saturn V Rocket and the Historic Mission Control as well as the New Mission Control. There were so many things to see that Parker felt a little overwhelmed and got a little over excited as the morning progressed. Booth knew how the boy felt and decided that a little quiet time would be good for all of them. After talking to Brennan, they decided to eat lunch at the Zero-G Diner and allow Parker a little time to decompress.

Over their meal, Parker talked between bites as he exclaimed over everything they had seen so far until Booth finally asked him not to talk with his mouth full. "Sorry, Dad." Parker had never seen so many exciting things related to the Space program and he was having a hard time remaining calm, but as the meal progressed he finally seemed to find his balance.

Brennan had never seen Parker this excited before and she felt a little closer to the child since it was science that was making the boy so enthusiastic. She knew Parker was too young to be thinking about a future profession, but if he was this excited about science then she would see if it was possible to get him into some of the science programs at the Jeffersonian. She would check with Booth and Rebecca to see if it was okay, but she was certain they would see the benefit of expanding Parker's interests into science.

After lunch, they continued the tour and Booth was shocked to see that the Space Center had the Galileo Shuttlecraft which happened to be the largest prop from the original Star Trek television series. "Oh man, I can't believe that this still exists. I love Star Trek and to get to see the Galileo is just so cool."

Amused, Brennan followed Booth as he studied the prop from the television show. She had never seen the television show Star Trek until she met Booth and she thought it was wonderful that there were some things about science that excited Booth. He was definitely a man of many layers. Sometimes she felt that if he had been raised in a household that loved science then he might have found a profession other than with the army and the FBI. He was definitely smarter than her fellow employees at the Lab realized, but she knew.

As the day progressed, Booth noticed that Parker was starting to tire and both he and Brennan decided that they had seen enough. The boy had finally run out of energy and Booth carried him to the rental car for their trip back to the hotel. While the boy slept peacefully in the passenger seat, Booth and Brennan used the trip back to talk about the rest of their vacation. Brennan wanted to take Parker to the Children's museum and Booth agreed that Parker would like it, but he worried that she was planning things for Parker and nothing for herself. "Bones, you need to pick someplace you want to see. Don't worry about me or Parker. We want you to have fun too, so make sure you pick stuff you want to see or do."

"Well, I did want to see the Space Center, but I do see your point." Brennan thought about it for a minute then smiled. "I would like to go to the Cockrell Butterfly Center at the Houston Museum of Natural Science."

Surprised and yet not, Booth glanced at Brennan and then back at the road. "You want to go to a butterfly museum." It sounded so girly and though Brennan was a beautiful, confident woman, she rarely did girly stuff. "Well, sure it sounds cool."

"Oh it is." Brennan was pleased that Booth wasn't balking since he wasn't that much of a naturalist. "It has paths that you can walk while you see the butterflies in a natural habitat. There is a waterfall which might interest Parker and you, but the main activity of the center is to observe butterflies."

"Well, we gotta go see that." If Brennan wanted to see butterflies then they were going to go see butterflies. "If you want to see something else, just say so. This is your vacation too."

Pleased that Booth was being so considerate, Brennan reached over and placed her hand on his thigh. "I will." Their vacation had proved to be very relaxing and interesting and Brennan was enjoying herself immensely. "Perhaps we can go to a sporting event. From what I understand, Houston has several professional sports teams."

"Well, um . . . yeah, if you want to, but we don't have to, Bones. I know sports isn't your thing." Booth was really surprised that she had mentioned a game, but now he was worried that she was trying to please him and not herself. "Thanks for the offer though, but I don't think you'd really like it. I mean, um, you don't watch games with me when I watch them on television and that's okay. It really is. I mean I'm a jock and we both know that, but I don't want you to think you have to watch games just because of me and you being a couple."

Puzzled, Brennan stared at Booth momentarily and then realization hit her. He was trying to be nice to her and forego a game because he thought she would be bored. "No, Booth, I'd really like to go to a sporting event. We're a couple and I know you like sports and I think I should learn more about them. At this moment I really only know the rudiments of hockey. I am willing to learn more about other sports. It might be interesting, but I won't really know until I go to a game or two."

His heart felt like it would burst and he knew it was because Brennan loved him so much she was willing to do things with him that she might not really care for. If he was a careful teacher, they might find a sport they both found entertaining and could go to games together. He vowed to himself not to push her and just see what happened. "We'll do that Bones. We'll see if the Astros are in town and if they are we'll go to a baseball game. Parker loves baseball. So he'll have fun too . . . Thanks."

Brennan squeezed his thigh and smiled at the joy on his face. She had almost lost him to a deranged stalker not too long ago and she was determined to make sure he was happy and satisfied with their relationship like she was. When he had almost died, for a short while she had faced the possibility that she would have to live her life without him and it had seemed like it would be a very bleak future. She loved her man so much and she wanted what they had to be a true partnership, which meant that they would do things the other loved to do and try to be happy doing it. Booth already attended specials at the museum and benefits for the Jeffersonian with her even though she knew he thought they were boring, so it would only be fair if she tried to find a sport they could attend together. They were a couple and she felt they should do things that couples did, though she wasn't really sure what those were. Since they were both unique individuals, Brennan knew that their outings would not have to necessarily be what other couples did. They could reflect their own personal interests and she knew that would be satisfactory for both of them.

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Dinner was eaten in their small living room. Room service was excellent and they were all satisfied after dinner was finished. Since Parker was more alert and didn't seem to be as tired as he had been earlier, Booth suggested they all go swimming which caused Parker to whoop with joy and race into his bedroom to change into his swim trunks.

"Well, I guess that's a yes." Booth and Brennan took turns changing into swimsuits in the bathroom and were ready to go by the time the boy had appeared in trunks, a t-shirt, flip-flops and a towel draped around his neck.

The evening was warm, it was Houston after all, but the water was cool and refreshing. There were a few other hotel patrons swimming, but not too many so they had plenty of room to dive and play with each other. Brennan enjoyed the outing and was pleased that Booth and Parker recognized what a wonderful diver and swimmer she was. She considered herself to have natural talent when it came to water sports.

Parker had found a young friend and was playing with squirt guns with the girl which left Booth and Brennan alone. Ducking under the water, Booth came up behind her and engulfed her in his arms. "Hey there gorgeous."

Turning in his arms, Brennan placed her hands on Booth's shoulders and kissed him. "This is quite exhilarating. I am enjoying myself immensely."

"I'm glad." Booth returned her kiss and when Parker called out to him, Booth released Brennan and smiled tenderly at her. "Maybe we can have our own water sports later tonight. The shower is pretty big."

A grin followed that statement since Brennan knew that Booth was talking about sex. "Yes, that seems like an excellent idea."

"Oh, I'm filled with excellent ideas." Booth swam over to where Parker was, lifted him in the air and threw him a few feet back into the water. The boy squealed with delight and swam back over to where his father was standing so he could do it again. "Do it again Dad."

After a few more tosses, Booth finally swam back over to where Brennan was treading water. "That kid is going to wear me out."

"Well, I hope not too much." Brennan bit her lower lip and hoped Booth was just exaggerating. She was looking forward to Booth's plans for the shower and she didn't want him to be too tired.

"Ha, I'm not that tired." Booth chuckled and shook his head. "Let's go back to our room. By the time Parker gets a shower and into his pjs he'll be too tired to stay up to watch TV."

Waving for Parker to swim over to where they were, Brennan knew that Booth was right. The boy had had a very active day. "We're going to our room Parker."

Once he was closer, Parker grabbed Booth's arm and beamed with happiness. "This was fun, Dad. Can we do it again tomorrow?"

"We'll sure try, Parker." Booth moved over to the steps leading out of the pool, towing Parker behind him. "If it doesn't rain, we'll come back tomorrow night if we can, but it will depend upon what we're going to be doing tomorrow. Bones thinks it would be cool to go to a baseball game."

"Oh boy!" Parker loved baseball and this was the best news yet. "That's better than swimming."

Brennan followed Booth and Parker out of the pool, found her towel and wrapped it around her body. "We're also going to go see butterflies in their natural habitat tomorrow morning after breakfast."

His eyes large, Parker turned to stare at his father who poked him in the ribs. "It'll be fun."

"If you say so Dad."

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I hope you are enjoying my story.