After the girls had been reacquainted with their mother, Booth took them down the hall to the pediatric unit so they could be examined by the doctors. Brennan remained in the hospital room with Emily, and was perched on the end of her bed.
Emily looked up at Brennan and smiled with tears in her eyes. "Thank you so much…all of you. Thank you for finding my daughters," she said.
Brennan smiled widely, trying to hold back tears of her own. "You are welcome Emily. I'm glad we found them too. They look like they are in good shape, physically I mean," she replied.
Emily nodded. "They look so different from when I last saw them…yet so much hasn't changed. It's like I just saw them yesterday. I'm just so glad they are safe; I can't tell you how much it means to me that they are home, and I don't know how I'll ever be able to thank you," she said honestly.
Brennan shook her head. "We're all just doing our jobs Emily. Most of the cases I work are of murder victims, so I don't usually get to see a happy ending like this. But I promise we won't stop working until we find your husband," she promised.
Emily smiled slightly. "I hope you can find him. Now that I have the girls home…I just want him home too. I just want my family back," she said softly.
"I know you do. Do you know when the doctors are going to release you?" Brennan asked, changing the subject.
Emily shook her head. "Not for a few days, unfortunately. I'd love to be able to bring the girls back home right now, and just spend time with them, but the doctors say I need to stay here and let my head heal," she replied.
"You just had surgery; that's probably the smartest thing to do. You'll need a lot of rest for the next two or three days. I'm sure the girls will have to give their statements to the police. If you like, I'll go with them and Booth down to the station, and then afterwards we can take them back to your house. Is there anyone; family or friends that you'd like me to call for them?" Brennan asked.
Emily shook her head. "James and I are both the only child in our families, and both sets of parents are gone, I'm afraid…" she said, hesitating.
Brennan thought for a moment. "If it's alright with you, Booth and I can watch them until you get out of the hospital. We're scheduled to stay up here for another week anyway," she suggested.
Emily's face broke out into a large smile. "Oh, would you? That would be so great. I know the girls would adjust faster if they were able to get back to their old routines and be back in the normalcy of our home. We've got two extra rooms that the two of you can use…or one, depending on your preference," she said with a wink. "That would be amazing. Are you sure that's okay with you? I mean I only ask because I trust the two of you, and I really don't have anyone else."
Brennan shook her head. "No, it would be no problem at all. Booth is great with kids; his son Parker is almost 5. I must admit that I don't have very much experience with children, but your daughters seem very well behaved, and I would love to stay with them," she said, before being interrupted by her cell phone.
Emily smiled. "I'll let you go. Thank you so much. Just call me and let me know how the girls' statements go," she said.
Brennan nodded. "Of course. And we'll be back by here so many times that you might get sick of us," she teased.
Emily shook her head. "I doubt that. Thank you," she said, before Brennan left the room to answer her phone.
"Brennan," she said into the phone.
"Hey Bones, it's me," came Booth's voice.
"Hey Booth. How are the girls?" Brennan asked.
"The pediatrician just finished with their exams. Surprisingly they are both in great shape; very healthy. He updated their vaccinations, and took some blood for further test results. Those should be back within the day, but for now they are good to go," he informed her.
"That's great news," Brennan replied. "I just talked to Emily. Her doctor wants her to stay here for a few more days, mostly to rest up and recuperate from her surgery. I offered to watch the girls until she could go home…she said she didn't have anyone to take care of them, and that it would be best for them to get back into their routine at home. Is that okay if we do that? It would just be for a few days, and we would stay at her house with the girls, and of course bring them to visit her," she told him.
"Oh Bones, I think that's a great idea. If you want to meet me downstairs, we can go back to the hotel and get our things before bringing the girls home. Sound good to you?" Booth asked.
"Sure thing, I'll meet you downstairs in five," she said before hanging up.
Brennan stepped back into Emily's room for a moment. "That was Booth. The pediatrician said that both girls are perfectly healthy. He updated their vaccinations, and did some blood work. We're going to go now, if that's alright," she said.
Emily smiled. "Okay. Tempe, thanks again," she said.
Brennan returned the smile and squeezed her hand. "No problem. We'll call you once we get back to your place, okay?" She replied.
Emily nodded. "Alright. Have fun!" She said.
Brennan laughed as she left the room.
Later that Day
Brennan and Booth sat on the floor of Emily's living room with Elizabeth and Bayley. They had just finished a dinner of macaroni and cheese, which Brennan had made from her friend's recipe, and were watching A Little Princess, one of the girls' favorite movies.
Elizabeth, the youngest, sat on Brennan's lap, while Bayley sat on Booth's. Bayley looked up at Booth innocently.
"Are you guys married?" She asked.
Brennan blushed, and Booth laughed. "No, we're not," he replied.
"Well why not?" Bayley asked.
Booth looked unsure of himself, and hesitated for a moment before answering. "Well, we've worked together and been friends for a few years, but I don't think we'll get married," he told her.
This time it was Brennan's turn to speak. "Well why not?" She asked, causing both of the girls to laugh.
Booth blushed. "Well I thought you never wanted to get married," he said to Brennan.
Brennan shrugged. "I don't know anymore," she said honestly.
Booth raised his eyebrows. "I think we'll continue this conversation later…"
"Shhh…I can't hear the movie," said Elizabeth, who was sucking her thumb as she rested her head against Brennan's shoulder.
An hour or so later, the movie had ended, and everyone but Booth had fallen asleep. He gently lifted Bayley into his arms, and turned off the television. He turned around and smiled as he watch Brennan sleep soundly with Elizabeth nestled in her arms, a sight which tugged at his heart a bit.
He left the room and put Bayley to bed, before going back and gently taking Elizabeth from Brennan's arms. Brennan woke at the movement, and looked around, confused for a moment.
"It's okay," Booth said soothingly. "I'm going to put her to bed. Why don't you meet me in our room?" He asked.
Brennan rubbed her eyes and nodded, following him out of the room. She changed quickly into her pajamas before sliding into the bed.
A few minutes later, Booth joined her there. "Hey," he said softly, kissing her lightly on the lips.
"Hey yourself," she replied, resting her head on his bare chest, which was her new favorite position to sleep in.
"When we were talking with the girls earlier…did you mean what you said…about getting married I mean?" He asked.
Brennan nodded. "Yeah, I did. I mean I've always thought that I'd never get married…it's not been because I haven't wanted to – even thought I've told everyone that. I just never thought I'd fall in love, and find someone that I would want to marry; someone who would feel the same way," she confided.
"And now?" Booth asked.
"And now…I find myself changing my mind, and it's all because of you Seeley," she said softly.
"That makes me happy…you make me happy," Booth told her.
Brennan smiled. "I said something earlier today, but I didn't even realize that I had said it until later. It just felt so natural coming from my lips…and I like saying it. I love you Seeley, I really love you," she told him.
"And I love you too Temperance," he replied, before they both fell asleep.