A/N: gahhh I can't get into Brennan's head. She's so psychotic! ok, not really. But she is so hard to write for! Also, sorry if I seem harsh towards Zack, or even like I don't like him. I just… love Wendell? Heh. And I think he would fit in so well with the squad! HOMG, FINALLY DONE. Ok, took forever, and is pretty much a bunch of fluff, sorry! But R&R, please? I NEEDED SOME CUTE PARKER MOMENTS!

Disclaimer: as much as I wish I did, I don't own any of these lovely characters.

"So its official?"

"It's completely, one hundred percent official."

"Well then, Mr. Bray, welcome to the squint squad!" Angela embraced Wendell in a motherly way and smiled happily at him. It was the end of the day and every one was starting to disperse. The last half of the day had been pretty intense. Aside from working the case, Brennan had made a tough decision: the decision to replace Zack, finally after not having a steady grad student for a good year. Of course none of them would ever forget Zack. That was completely impossible. But they needed to move on, because things were getting tight, with the grad students shifting every case. And Wendell fit in well here. "Maybe we can treat you to dinner," Angela offered as she looked towards Hodgins, Cam, Booth and Brennan. Booth and Brennan looked at each other for a moment then looked away. Booth shifted his feet hesitantly and Brennan removed her latex gloves.

"Sorry, Ange, but Booth and I have other plans tonight," She told them with a quick smile that said she was truly sorry. Booth nodded.

"Yeah, reservations and all," He murmured. Brennan glared at him softly and Booth shrugged. "Is it worth hiding anymore, Bones?" He asked. Cam perked up. She was the only one who didn't know, but now that the secret was out, it was useless hiding it from her.

"Hiding what?" Cam asked suspiciously. Her eyes flitted from Booth to Brennan as she slung her purse over her shoulder.

"Bones and I are… sort of in a relationship," Booth explained. Bones arched an eyebrow at him.

"Sort of?" She asked.

"In a relationship?" Cam countered. Her eyes were wide for a second before she just shook her head. "Alright. Just don't let this affect the work area, understand?" She asked. Before they could answer, Cam was already heading towards the door. "So where are we going for dinner?" She asked nonchalantly. She preferred not to get herself too caught up in Seeley's personal life. Sure, she was over him. It had been a while since they slept together. Hopefully nothing would go too horribly wrong. If that happened then things were definitely going to take a change for the worse, the way Cam didn't want to see things go. It was bad enough that she had to deal with Hodgins and Angela's little situation; Cam didn't need Booth and Brennan hating on each other, too. Letting out a soft sigh and shaking her head slightly, Cam exited the lab and turned to make sure the small party of three was following.

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Finally, some peace and quiet, Brennan couldn't help but think as Hodgins, Angela and Wendell followed a tired looking Cam out of the lab. These past two days had been hectic. Not only did she suddenly find herself in a relationship with a man she never would have thought herself compatible with, but she was now replacing her grad student, and that was a big step in itself. Brennan seated herself behind her desk and flipped through some paper work while waiting for Booth. His phone had gone off a few minutes ago and he was now heatedly arguing with who ever was on the other end. She watched him for a moment, her head tilted to the side, her lips curved up in a gentle smile. He made her a lot happier than she had felt since… well, if she was being honest, since Sully had left. Brennan watched Booth thoughtfully. His brow was furrowed and his jaw clenched as he angrily spoke into the phone.

"Rebecca, any other night I would be happy to take him, but tonight of all nights--" Booth was cut off by his angry ex. She talked for a while, chewing his ear off as usual. It took a lot to get Rebecca to give Parker up on a day that wasn't his. Tonight, she was practically tossing the six year old on Booth. Of all nights, tonight was the one. Booth let out a sigh. There was no way he could tell Rebecca no any more. Huffing in a childish manner, Booth caved. "Let me just… check with Bones," Booth muttered. Before Rebecca could say anything, Booth had his hand over the phone and had popped his head into Bones' office. "Hey, Tempe, mind if another guest joins us tonight?" He asked in a guilty voice. Booth normally wouldn't ask a girlfriend if his son could join them on a date. The difference was that Brennan already knew about his son, and Parker actually liked the woman. It took a lot to get Booth to introduce Parker to a woman he was dating, and she was history if Parker didn't approve. Bones was lucky. That test was completely worthless on her because Parker loved talking to the scientist. He always twittered on about how smart the Bones Lady was after they spent time together. His son's enthusiasm for science pleased Booth a lot. He was always worried about Parker not getting the greatest education or getting brought up in a decent environment, but despite his worries, Parker seemed to be doing fine.

Bones arched a brow. "A guest?" She asked some what nervously. Booth nodded quickly.

"Yeah. Rebecca wants me to take Parker early today," He said as he smiled apologetically. Bones, on the other hand, smiled widely.

"Oh, Parker. I don't mind at all!" she always enjoyed the presence of the youngest Booth. Parker's questions always amused her, and she always enjoyed talking to him. For a six year old he had a good grasp of the ideas you presented to him. Brennan smiled and turned back to her computer as Booth returned to his phone.

"Rebecca? Yeah, no. She doesn't mind at all. Can you at least--- You can't even drop him off?" Booth let out a long sigh. "Alright, Six thirty. That sounds good. We'll see you then," Booth muttered into the receiver. With out another word he snapped the phone closed and sauntered over to Bones' desk where she was feverishly typing. Clearing off a spot on the desk Booth seated himself right there and watched her work, a small, odd little smile on his face. "Just finishing some work up?" He asked her. She nodded in response and he sighed again. Now that he had Parker, there was no way they could follow through on their reservations. The restaurant was rather nice, and he didn't think they had anything on the menu his six year old would like. The diner was out, as they ate there this afternoon. Usually when he had Parker, Booth would take the kid out on a picnic then get some ice cream and play in the park. Why change up the schedule because they had a special guest?

Brennan finally stood up and grabbed her purse off of the floor by her feet. She smiled curiously in response to Booth's thoughtful look and came around to rest her hands on his knees and lean against him a bit. Their faces were inches apart as she smiled a bit wider. Brennan had known Booth long enough to know that he was calculating. "What are you concocting up in that head of yours?" She asked him as she placed a gentle kiss on the tip of his nose. Booth smiled his infamous charming smile and took her hands as he slid off of the desk.

"I sort of don't want to tell you, so it's a surprise because we have to cancel our ritzy reservations at your classy restaurant…" Booth scratched his chin before wrapping his arm around her thin waist and starting towards the door. Bones walked a few steps than stopped.

"Why can't you just tell me?" She asked, obviously annoyed. He looked back at her for a moment and seemed to be calculating something. With out a warning Booth scooped the scientist up into his arms, causing her to quickly wrap her arms around his neck in fear of being dropped. "I don't think this is very safe… or very good for your back," She said quickly, her voice colored with worry. He ignored her and waltzed straight out of the doors and towards the car, only letting her down once they were standing in front of her door. Rolling her eyes, Brennan climbed into the driver's seat.

"Pick you up at Six, okay? Dress code is casual comfy," Booth said to her. With out an answer he drove off, as did she. Casual comfy wasn't really her thing, but as she drove home and mauled over it, she did have some outfits befitting of the lovely weather she could wear tonight.

Brennan had forgotten how much she really disliked coming home to an empty apartment. As she disarmed the alarm and tossed her keys onto the counter, Bones couldn't help but feel a tad bit lonely. She was always surrounded by people, and now that she was all alone again, she greatly disliked it. Never before had she wanted a certain some one to be here with her, so that she wasn't totally and completely alone in an empty house. She had an hour until Booth would come to pick her up, and dressing herself would take all of ten minutes. Fifty minutes… how was she supposed to waste fifty minutes? As if on cue, Brennan's phone went off right then. The caller ID read dad. There was always time to catch up with your father, right?

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It seemed unnatural, standing on your exes doorstep holding your current girlfriend's hand. Not really unnatural, actually, more like totally and completely uncomfortable. Booth fidgeted with the sleeves of his light blue and white striped shirt, continually fussed with the cuffs which were rolled up to his elbows. Bones watched him, smirking slightly. "Why are you so worried? Rebecca dates other people and she is never this nervous about you meeting them," Bones informed him matter-of-factly.

Booth let out a sigh. "It's not the same, Bones…" He murmured. He could hear some one walking around inside the house in heels. He bounced on the balls of his feet as Bones continued looking at him like he was crazy.

She opened her mouth to speak right as Rebecca opened the door. Instead of answering she quickly closed her mouth and smiled at Rebecca. The blonde looked at Booth then at Brennan before smiling widely. "Hey, Seeley, Dr. Brennan, right?" She extended a hand towards Tempe. Bones smiled back at Booth and took the offered hand.

"Call me Temperance, please," She said as she shook Rebecca's hand genially. Rebecca looked back at Booth, who had his hands shoved into his pocket, and arched her brows. As if on cue, to save a lot of awkwardness, Parker ran out of the living room and straight for his dad, ducking under his mother at the door. Parker hurriedly threw his arms around his father's waist.

"Daddy!" Parker squealed. Booth picked the boy up, though he was getting a bit too big for that at six.

"Hey, Buddy! How are you doing?" Booth smiled and kissed his son's forehead. Parker wrapped his arms around his dad's neck as his mom kissed him good bye.

"Be good, kay hon? I'll see you tomorrow morning, okay?" Rebecca smiled at Booth one more time. "Thanks for doing this for me, Booth, and Temperance," the blonde smiled widely and turned back into the house as the three started down the walk way. Booth set Parker back down on the ground and took his hand.

"You remember Bones, Parker?" Booth asked. The six year old nodded seriously. "Can you say hi to her?" He urged his son. Parker scooted a bit closer to his dad and looked up at bones.

"Hii, Bones. Are you coming with us tonight?" He asked curiously as he stifled a small yawn.

Bones had never really loved kids. Sure, she liked them, but never been the kind of woman to want one horribly. Booth's son was a bright child, though, and she liked listening to his thoughts and what he had to say. When he posed the question, though, she couldn't help but smile. "Yes, I am Parker. Do you mind if you share your daddy for the night?" She asked him seriously. Bones felt it was a good idea to get approval from his son, because, honestly, she was going to be in Booth's life a lot from now on, and if Parker wasn't comfortable with it, then she would back off for sure.

Parker shook his head and smiled before turning back to Booth. "Are we going to the park, Daddy?" He asked as he messed with the tag of Booth's graphic t-shirt.

Booth nodded and winked at the six year old. "I've got a picnic all packed and ready to go, too," he told the boy, as well as Bones. Tempe arched her eye brows and smiled. It sounded like a good way to spend the night. There wasn't a cloud in the sky and the sun was still high, and Bones hadn't gone on a picnic in years. Every one climbed into Booth's car, Parker in the back, and Booth headed straight for the park.

Once they arrived, every one clambered out of the car, and Booth grabbed a basket from the back, as well as handed Parker a smaller bag. "Remember, Parker," Booth told his son as Bones offered to carry something, "always carry a woman's stuff. She likes it, even if she protests," he finished off as he held the basket out of Tempe's grasp. She let out an exasperated sigh and rolled her eyes.

"I can help, Booth, I'm not completely delicate," Bones protested.

Booth pressed something into her hands. "You can carry the blanket, then," He told her, smirking as he watched Parker run off towards a tall, shady tree. The boy had already dropped his bag on the ground and was pulling toys out of it. Balls, Frisbees, even small tubs of bubbles. Booth smiled proudly as he watched his son and put his arm over Brennan's shoulder. In return she wrapped her arms around his torso, smiling slightly. It had been a while since she had felt so calm and not really minded being out in public and showing affection. Maybe her relationship with Sully had left her a bit bitter. She had turned down dates and a few phone numbers since he had left. That relationship had felt very… right. Very much like it was meant to be. And when he had left, that had impacted her deeply. She hadn't shown it in the work area, or to any one really. But people didn't know about how she stayed up till one, two in the morning feeling lonely and upset. Every day up until recently she had questioned if she'd made the right choice in staying behind. And now she knew she had. If she had gone with Sully, this never would have happened. She never would have realized her real emotions for Booth, and this never would have come about. And this seemed to be going in the right direction. Even after three days, she liked where they were headed.

Booth took the blanket from her arms and unfolded it. Parker grabbed a corner and helped Booth spread out the plaid fabric. As soon as the patch of grass was covered Parker plopped down right in the center and pushed back the lid of the basket. "What did you make, Dad?" Parker asked as he pushed past the plates and grabbed a box of cookies. He was about to stick his hand into the Tupperware container, but Booth stopped him just in time.

"Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches first, buddy, then you can have some cookies," Booth told Parker. He reached into the basket as well and pulled out three sandwiches, handing one to Bones and one to Parker. He then reached into the basket and pulled out another Tupperware container, which he pealed open. Inside were assorted vegetables as well as some ranch dressing. "Parker, you gotta eat some vegetables before the cookies, ok?" Booth pushed the Tupperware towards Parker who grabbed a few carrots and stuck them into the ranch dressing before taking a few bites and then pulling his sandwich out of its ziplock bag. Bones smiled kindly as she watched the boy for a second, and then looked over at his father. The genetic traits they shared seemed to stand out to her. Parker looked more like his mother than he did his father, but he still shared some traits with his father. He was a beautiful child, she noted as she looked back at Booth, who had taken a bite of his sandwich. Bones followed suit and kicked off her sneakers as she crossed her legs Indian style. Booth glanced over and did a sort of a double take. She seemed a lot more natural than he ever thought she would be at a park on a picnic with him and his son. Sure, he loved her and all, but to him she always seemed like the fancy restaurant type. Sort of like the kind who couldn't be comfortable on anything but traditional dates. Of course she was always full of surprises, and this was one of them.

Parker had already devoured his sandwich as Booth and Brennan talked of menial things: if the case would be solved soon, what they were going to do tomorrow night, and how Wendell would adjust to his new position. The adults had paid the child little attention, so when he tossed a football straight at the back of Booth's head and was successful in hitting him, both were a bit surprised. Booth looked at Brennan and winked before standing up slowly then turning and grabbing the boy around his waist and tossing him over his shoulder. "Parker you are in big trouble for that, young man!" he teased his son as he tickled his belly and plopped him down on the grass. The boy squirmed and squealed, but Booth ignored his protests and continued tickling him. "Bones, I think I need your help over here! He's about to escape!"

Brennan smiled at the invitation and stood cautiously. Children weren't really her forte… but she could at least handle this, right? As quietly as she could, Temperance snuck up behind Booth and Parker and, before either of them knew it, was no longer on Booth's side, but Parker's. Instead of attacking the six year old she started tickling Booth, who turned out to be surprisingly ticklish. Parker jumped up off the ground and launched himself on top of Booth, making both father, son and girlfriend laugh hysterically. After a few minutes of this, Booth collapsed onto the grass, giving up the fight. Parker fell down next to him, his little fingers still tickling at Booth's neck. Brennan found herself laid down next to Booth, her eyes staring straight up at the clouds that were slowly passing by. The sun as slowly setting, coloring the sun a gorgeous pallet of bright pinks, oranges and purples. Temperance chanced a look over at Booth. He met her gaze and smiled softly. Parker had wrapped his dad's arm around his shoulder's and was curiously tracing the outlines of the clouds with his little fingers. Booth put his other arm around Brennan, let out a content sigh and stared back up at the sky. He couldn't remember the last time he had just looked at the sun set and appreciated life like he was doing right now. Right now, everything seemed perfect.