"Why can't we go get the kids?"

"Because, Max! He'll kill them or use them to hurt us. We have to let them be safe."

"They'll hate us for abandoning them, Ruth."

"I'm sorry, Max. This is really what's for the best."

...

"I hate you! Don't you get it?! You LEFT us!"

"Tempe..."

"You're a murderer and a criminal. I don't want you in my life, and I don't want you around my children."

"You have kids?!"

"Go away, Dad. You shouldn't have gotten off those murder charges. You belong in jail."

"I hope one day you experience what I have. Then you'll understand why I did what I did."

...

"I'm special Agent Seeley Booth. Can I come in? It's about your daughter."

"What about her?"

"She's missing."

...

Max opened his eyes, and he saw his daughter sleeping in the chair beside him. He blinked. While he was unconscious, he felt as though he'd relived the worst conversations of his life. He swallowed, his mouth dry. Where was he anyway?

"Dad?"

He turned to see Temperance looking at him. Obviously she hadn't been sleeping.

"Hey," he croaked.

"You're okay," she said, relieved.

"I hurt," he groaned.

"You were shot."

"Really?"

"Yes, but he's dead now. You're in the hospital in Italy."

"Oh, that's gonna cost a fortune."

"I can cover it."

"No, no, I didn't mean..."

"It's fine, Dad. I'm just glad you're okay," she said, reaching to take his hand. "You really scared us."

"I'm surprised to see you here," Max admitted. "I thought you hated me."

"I did for a long time, but after all this, I realized that I was wrong in judging you so quickly. You were right. Once my children were in danger, I did what it took to get them back."

"You didn't kill anyone," Max pointed out.

"I did in Maluku," she said softly. "When I escaped."

"I think, Tempe, that you had good reason. That's all I'm going to say."

"I understand why you did it now."

"Then let's leave it at that, okay?"

"I love you, Dad."

"I love you too."

She leaned in and kissed his forehead then. He smiled. Then he realized the kids and Booth weren't there.

"Are the kids okay?"

"Yes. Agent Booth has them right now. They went to get something to eat. Nora didn't want to leave you," Brennan chuckled.

"She's a good kid."

"She is."

"And Dom's very brave."

"He is. I believe he is experiencing guilt over you being hurt. He feels all of this is his fault. I'm going to have Dr. Sweets talk to him once we get home."

"Poor kid. It's not his fault."

"I know."

"Did I have surgery?" he asked.

"No. The bullet went through you, so they just stitched you up. You had passed out from loss of blood, though, so they gave you a transfusion."

"I see."

"Grandpa?" Nora's voice said. He looked to see her in the doorway.

"Hey, you," he smiled. She hurried over. Booth and Dom came in behind her.

"I've never seen a kid eat so fast in my life," Booth told Brennan. "She didn't want to be away from him any longer than she had to be." He settled in the chair next to her, and Dom crawled onto her lap. She hugged him tightly.

"Are you better now?" Nora asked Max.

"Right as rain."

"I'm glad."

"Me too."

"The doctor said once you woke up and were hydrated again, they'd release you," Brennan told him. Max nodded in response. He hated hospitals.

"Mom, Dominic, and I are staying to see some of the sights," Nora said. "Can you come with us?"

"Any other time I'd say yes, sweetie, but I think I should get home and rest up."

"Oh."

"Another time, Nora," Brennan said to her.

"You guys are really staying?" Booth asked, looking at her.

"Yes," she nodded. "I feel after all this we could use a break."

"That's nice," Booth responded. He didn't know what to think or feel. He suddenly didn't want to lose Nora and Dominic even though they weren't his. Well, Nora was, but he hadn't talked to Brennan about that yet. He felt awkward about it. He looked at the three of them then, and he felt left out all of a sudden. He swallowed. It wasn't his family, though.

"What are you going to do?" Dominic asked Booth then.

"I'm going to go home. I have to pick up Parker and spend some time with him before his mom gets back," Booth answered.

"Can't you stay?" Dominic pleaded.

"Aw, bud, I can't. I'm sorry. Maybe I'll see you when you play with Parker."

Dominic hung his head, crying. Brennan rubbed his back in slow circles. She looked at Booth, and she realized just how attached her children had gotten to him.

"I'm gonna book my ticket," Booth said. "Max, I'll do yours too so I can make sure you get home in one piece."

"Thanks," Max grinned. Brennan watched him leave, and she noticed how distraught Nora had become suddenly. She wondered if her daughter was finally ready to have a father.

A Few Hours Later

Booth was out in the hallway giving Brennan and the kids some alone time with Max when Nora came out of the room. She spied him sitting and joined him.

"What's up?" he asked.

"I don't want you to leave," she answered, looking at him pointedly.

"I'll see you again. You have to come get your stuff from my place, remember?"

Nora fiddled with her fingers, trying to figure out how to say what she wanted to say. It was unusual for her to feel upset, and it made her realize that she didn't want to say goodbye to Booth even though she had given him a run for his money most of the time.

"What's wrong?" Booth asked, seeing her face.

"I...I do want a dad," she said finally. "I know I said before I never wanted one, but I was lying. I always wanted one. When Dominic had his dad for a little while, he said he felt really good. That was before he realized his father was a liar and tried to hurt Mom. I was jealous of him when he hung around Cole...sorry...Jamie, and I realized that it's what I wanted. A Dad."

"Are you saying what I think you're trying to say?" Booth asked her.

"Would it be okay if I hung out with you sometime? Mom's okay with it."

"If she's okay with it, and you're okay with it, then I'm okay with it," Booth smiled. Nora's face lit up then, and she grinned.

"Okay," Max said, coming out. "They've set me free. I'm ready to go home."

"All right," Booth responded, standing up. Nora gave him a tight hug suddenly, surprising him. He hugged her back. Dominic wanted one next.

"Thank you for saving us, Booth," Dominic said, looking up at him.

"You're welcome, son. Now, go have fun with your Mom, okay?"

"Okay!"

Booth caught Brennan's eye, and Max gestured to the kids to follow him to the elevators.

"Thank you," she said once they were gone. "I presume Nora spoke with you? About her visiting you?"

"Yes."

"Is that all right?"

"It's more than all right."

"I'm glad," she smiled. She shifted on her feet then, not knowing what else to say.

"I'll see you when you get back," Booth said.

"Yes."

"We better catch up to them before they hatch a new plan to ditch us," Booth grinned. She laughed.

"You're right."

They ran to catch the elevator, squeezing in next to Max and the kids. Brennan felt a little disappointed that Booth wouldn't be staying, but she knew he had other commitments. She also wanted to spend time alone with her children. She would see him again.

Two Weeks Later

Booth dropped Parker off at his mom's, receiving a high five before he disappeared into the house. Rebecca gave him a small smile.

"You guys had fun while I was away?"

"Sure did," Booth answered. It was her second trip she had taken in a short period of time. She was working on a high profile case apparently, and it required her to travel.

"I'm glad he has you," Rebecca said. Booth looked at her curiously. She didn't normally say nice things about him.

"Thanks. Me too," he agreed. She gave another smile and shut the door then, leaving Booth to wonder why she hadn't been her usual snappy self. Perhaps her case was getting her guard down. He got into his SUV and drove home. He missed Nora and Dominic. They were arriving back home soon. He wondered how their trip went. When he got home, he was surprised to see them standing outside his door.

"Hey," he smiled. "You're back!"

"We are. We came to get their things," Brennan answered.

"We saw Anne Boleyn's tower!" Dominic crowed.

"Oh don't start," Nora groaned. "Enough with the history lessons!"

"You liked it too," Dom argued.

"I liked it then. The constant chatter about it now is getting annoying."

"Okay, you two," Brennan said, interrupting. "Dom, let's hold off on the history for a bit, okay?"

"Okay," he grumbled.

"Go get your things," Brennan instructed. They obeyed.

"So, good time?" Booth asked. He was happy to see her again. He'd forgotten how good looking she was.

"It was," she answered, nodding. "They needed it. I needed it. I'm also glad to be home, though. I miss my work."

"You identify bodies from bones, right?"

"Correct."

"Why have we never partnered up before?" he asked.

"What do you mean?" she frowned.

"Well, you look at bones...I solve murders...we'd be an epic team."

"I'm not interested, thank you," Brennan said politely. "I'm more into archeological bones."

"Bones," Booth pondered. "That'd be a cool nickname."

"No, it wouldn't."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm positive. Anyway, thank you again for looking after them."

"It was my pleasure," Booth told her. The kids returned with their bags, and Brennan helped Dom with his.

"Take care," she said, going out with Dom.

"Can we hang out this weekend?" Nora asked him after Dom and Brennan had headed for the car.

"Sure. I'd like that," he answered.

"Okay. I'll tell Mom."

"Nora!" Brennan called.

"Coming! See you later," Nora said to Booth before she disappeared. Booth suddenly couldn't wait until the weekend came.

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