July 4- 6:30PM-
Antonia sat on the small blanket in the grass. On her lap sat Melody, tucked up against her body snugly as they watched some of the children playing a pick up game of kickball out on the lawn as employees of the Jeffersonian and their families milled about laughing and eating as they visited with one another. She let out a laugh as the ball hit one of the players in the head, sending him onto the ground laughing. She cuddled Melody a little closer and looked up when she saw something appear in front of her face. Her smile dropped a bit and she narrowed her eyes.
"What do you want, traitor?" She said, her voice stern, but her eyes still playful.
"I brought you a peace offering, an olive branch, a truce treat." He said, handing her the small bowl of ice cream with sprinkles and four cherries. "I even bribed them for more cherries." Aiden smiled, watching as her glare turned into a brilliant smile. He offered Melody an ice cream bar that she took eagerly, wiggling out of Antonia's arms to sit in Aiden's lap as he sat across from her on the blanket.
"You think this is going to work?" She asked, scooping a spoonful, she popped it into her mouth and groaned with satisfaction. "Bribery with food?"
"I know the way to your heart." He smiled, handing her a bottle of water. "Got you this too." He said, watching her roll her eyes. "Got to keep my girl hydrated."
"What is it with you and water? Why not a beer or a glass of wine. No, you bring me water." She grumbled, taking the bottle, she smiled. "Thank you, traitor."
"I can't believe you're still mad at me." He said, laughing a little. He stopped when she lifted her eyes from her ice cream with a playful scowl.
"You teamed up with my mother for the three-legged race, giving her full advantage!"
"Grace offered to watch Melody!" He laughed. "Your mother asked me very politely. I couldn't refuse your mother!"
"Why? You're already taking me off her hands. You don't have to suck up to her anymore!" She said, trying to sound offended, she let out a laugh. "It was unfair! It was a travesty! It was illegal!" She exclaimed with a laugh.
"It was none of those things." He laughed back.
"Then… THEN!" She exclaimed. "Then, you were on her team again when we did the tug of war. You and dad at the front on opposite sides… and what do you do? You make him lose his footing by making an innuendo about our relationship under your breath, making him lose his concentration… and then we lost again! You made me into a loser, Aiden! We never lose! You're a ringer." She grumbled, taking the last scoopful of ice cream from her bowl, she handed him the empty bowl. "I'd like a hotdog with sauerkraut and relish, and maybe if you can find some hot sauce. Then I may think about forgiving you." She smiled innocently.
"That sounds absolutely disgusting." He said, making a face, she lifted an eyebrow and he tipped his head watching her for a moment to see if she was serious. "Your father still hasn't said anything to me."
"About the engagement?" Antonia asked, looking around to see if her parents were nearby.
"Anything. He has said nothing. I've talked to him, but he won't say anything to me. I think he's trying to think of a way to kill me."
"My dad always knows exactly how he'd get rid of someone if he needed to, within the first five minutes after he meets them." She said seriously, watching Melody's eyes widen, Antonia realized she was reading her lips and quickly amended that she was joking around. "I promise, he's a nice man." She said, laughing nervously as Melody watched her suspiciously for a moment and looked up at Aiden, who confirmed what she said with a laugh. She turned her head toward Antonia, and her eyes widened again, before she turned and buried her head into Aiden's chest.
"What happened?" Antonia asked, looking to where Melody had been looking before she became upset, and saw that Booth was heading in their direction.
"See what you did there?" Aiden teased her, rubbing the little girl's back as she turned her head and watched Booth suspiciously as he approached.
"Hey, Dad." Antonia said, smiling up at her father as he walked up to them. He immediately noticed that Melody was hiding from him.
"Hey, what's going on with her? Is she okay?" He asked, crouching down to the little girl. She looked up at Booth's kind eyes and watched him for a moment. She quickly signed something to him and looked to Antonia, knowing that she would be the one to tell him what she said.
"She said…" Antonia sighed, letting her eyes meet Aiden's as she completed the sentence. "She said, please don't hurt me." Antonia shook her head, and immediately signed to Melody. "My dad won't hurt anyone, baby. He is a super hero." She signed back, watching her for a moment, her brow furrowed. "He will protect you. I was teasing Bean. I promise." She said as she signed to the little girl. "Pops is a big stuffed bear." She said, looking up at her father as he gave her a faux suspicious look.
"Fitz. You have a second?" He asked, watching as Aiden glanced to Antonia and back to Booth.
"Uh yeah." He said, lifting Melody toward Antonia, she cuddled the little girl and watched as Aiden stood up. "I'll be right back." He said, dropping a kiss on Antonia's head. "I'll bring you that disgusting hot dog that you requested on my way back."
"That sounds like a deal." Antonia laughed, watching as Booth and Aiden walked away together. Antonia watched them disappear into the crowd after a couple moments as she cuddled the little girl in her arms. "Come on, Dad." She whispered to herself. "Don't make a liar out of me."
Booth and Aiden walked across the crowded Jeffersonian lawn side by side, dodging frisbees and running children while they stepped over toward the building and away from the throngs of people. "If this is about what I said when we were playing tug of war, I was really just kidding." Aiden said, glancing to Booth, who had a very pensive look on his face.
"What?" Booth asked, clearly in his own world as he realized what Aiden said, a smile rose on his lips and he shook his head. "Oh, no." He said, laughing a little. "No, I understand. That was a good strategy, caught me off guard." He laughed.
"So what is this about?" Aiden asked, stopping as they approached the building, Booth took one or two more steps, and realized Aiden had stopped.
Booth turned around and stopped, glancing at the picnic for a moment, he sighed. "It's about Melody." He said seriously. "The boy, Mitchell. He woke up this morning. At first he was a bit groggy, but I guess he started to panic, and he kept asking about her."
Aiden straightened slightly, watching the concern in Booth's eyes. "Is she in danger?"
"Yes." Booth said softly. "Apparently, Mitchell was being held for information. It almost looks like he was released as a warning. They think she has something that they want."
"What?" Aiden asked, glancing in the direction from where they came, his eyes filled with a gentle concern. "She's just a little girl."
"That's what we're not sure about." Booth said softly. "I just know that she's in good hands right now, safe hands, and that's good. But we need to be vigilant, and be sure that she remains safe." He said, watching Aiden nod. "Now this morning, it was Ace and another agent in there talking to the boy, and they were able to get at least far enough to know she's in danger, but he was very tired, and partially sedated. He hasn't been told about his parents, though he's asked for them. We may get another chance to talk to him tomorrow, but I was thinking that if he saw Melody, that may help him feel a little better. We might be able to figure out what they're after, and keep both children safe."
"It may make her feel a little better too." Aiden nodded. "She hasn't really communicated much about the event, but I know that she felt guilty. Her interview was heartbreaking." He said softly. "Crap." He mumbled, glancing to Booth. "I have to pick up my sister in law and Fiona at the airport in the morning. Do you think Antonia could bring her to the hospital? I could probably catch up later."
Booth paused for a moment, and nodded slightly. "That actually might be a good idea, someone to communicate to her what's going on. I can meet her at the hospital in the morning and we can do it together. Bones wants her to take a break from the lab for a few days." Booth said softly. "Any idea what has been going on with her?" He asked, watching Aiden's eye movement as he answered, he watched him carefully.
"You know Antonia. She works hard, sometimes a little too hard. I think a break will be good for her." He said, noting the scrutinizing stare of the older agent. "I love her very much, Booth." He said suddenly, his eyes strong and full of truth. "I'm going to take care of her. I promised her, and I promise you."
"I know you will." Booth nodded. "Thank you for watching over her when I can't." He said, watching Aiden nod. "But for the record, I'm still going to mess with you about this for a very long time."
Aiden let out a laugh and shook his head. "It's only natural." He said shaking his head as he laughed again. "I should probably go get your daughter that disgusting hot dog that she requested."
"Sauerkraut and relish?" Booth asked, knowing his daughter's proclivity for odd food.
"And hot sauce." Aiden said, making a face, he watched Booth's expression match his own.
"It doesn't get easier." He laughed, as the two of them walked together toward the food vendors.