Okay... so some of you were upset with the last chapter... really upset. But you know what? I don't mind if you don't like the way the story is now. Because maybe, MAYBE if you stuck with the story for a while here, you'll begin to understand why what happened, happened. I hope you don't stop reading, and keep reviewing! I don't care if you have long reviews, I LOVE long reviews. Long reviews inspire me to write more! so... review to get chapters.

Chapter 2

"I Missed You"

Booth stood, absolutely shocked by the sight unfolding in front of him. This scraggly looking man, with 5 o'clock shadow and tangled hair, was the father of Brennan's child. It was strange though, the child at Brennan's legs looked like a mirror image of her, but the only difference was the green gaze that pierced his heart. In the child's face, he saw innocence. But in this man's face...

"Booth?"

Brennan's voice interrupted his thoughts, and then he realized he had frightened the little girl by staring at her, who was now completely hidden by her mother's legs.

"What?" he asked, finding his way back to reality.

"Booth? That's your name?" Asked the man, who he did not really want to talk to at the moment.

"Last name," Brennan said before he had time to respond, "His first name is Seeley. We used to work together."

Booth looked back to the half dressed man, who was eying him suspiciously.

"This is Eric," She said, walking up to the green eyed man, introducing him to Booth. And dragging her daughter along with her leg. "And this, uh, this is Jade," She said, looking down to her legs where the little girls head was poking out from.

Booth could feel the awkward radiating from the situation. It was as thick as cotton, thick enough to strangle him. And it almost was.

"What are you... doing here?" She finally had the courage to say something.

Booth could see her eyes filling with tears.

"I'm... back from Afghanistan."

This wasn't working out at all how he thought it would. She was supposed to be here, alone. She would be angry with him, say a few harsh words, and then fall into his arms. They were supposed to be watching a game, eating Thai food. Talking about how they were glad to see each other again. And how much fun it would be to start cases together...

This was not how it was supposed to happen.

She wasn't supposed to be with this guy Eric. They weren't supposed to be together, living together, have a child...

Had she even missed him while he was gone?

"Come inside," She said hesitantly, "I don't want all the AC to go out the door."

Booth nodded, stepping inside and letting Eric close the door behind him. Eric went and stood next to Brennan, whispered something in here ear, and walked towards her bedroom. Jade stayed until Eric called her, and she rushed off towards his voice with quick baby steps.

Brennan looked over her shoulder, until she heard the bedroom door click shut, then turned back to Booth. He stood silently, as did she. He could see it in her eyes, she was about to shout at him until his ears bled. He braced himself for an argument, giving her a guilty expression.

He was surprised though, when she hugged him. Her arms wrapped around his torso, squeezing him in the tightest embrace he had ever felt from her. He wasn't quite sure what to do, should he be happy that she wasn't angry? He tried, but he was just left confused.

"I missed you," He heard her whisper, so quietly he wasn't even sure if he was supposed to hear it.

Booth then returned her gesture, enveloping her in his well muscled arms. They stood there like that for what felt like a minute, and then Booth saw something appear. Eric had come from the bedroom, and was standing there, Jade by his side. His green gaze dug into his own brown one, and Booth could feel the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. He slowly let go of Brennan, and she turned around, seeing that they were being watched. He could see her stiffen, and she grabbed her arms with the opposite hand.

"Tempe?" Eric said, obviously confused by their hug.

"He's an old friend," And that's all I'll ever be, he thought.

"Let me talk to you alone, Tempe," Eric said softly, motioning towards the bedroom.

Brennan hesitated, but then went forward. But before she rounded the corner, she looked at him. "Can you watch Jade for a second?"

"Uh, yeah. Sure," He said, looking at the quirky little girl, who was wearing a green sun dress.

And with that, they were off.

Jade stood quietly, twisting around uncomfortably. The name fit her well, her eyes were a beautiful shade of green, and they contrasted well with her dark hair.

"Hi Jade," he said, smiling.

"Hi," She said shyly, giving a small wave.

"How old are you?" Was the first thing he asked of course.

"Two," She said, walking towards him slowly.

Two? Brennan had met this man three years ago? And immediately had a baby with him? She'd known him for five years, and the closets they'd come to this was kissing. He was angry with her alright, but he pushed his anger aside for the moment.

"Cool. My name is Booth," He smiled, holding out his hand.

Jade looked at his hand, but didn't motion to shake it.

What was he thinking? A two year old didn't know what shaking hands was. He quickly retracted it.

"How old are you?" She asked him, tilting her head to the side.

Booth chuckled. She was so curious, just like her mother. "I'm forty three."

"You're older than daddy," She stated logically, "And older than mommy."

"How old is your daddy?"

"Forty," She said, holding up four fingers in the process.

"Does he go to work?"

"Yes."

"What does he do?"

"Don't know," she shrugged.

Booth felt like he was interrogating her. But with much easier questions. He was impressed with the two year-old's social skills, and vocabulary. Most two year-olds didn't speak half of what she did. No surprise there though, Brennan probably had her in one of the best, most expensive pre-pre-schools around, that taught the children french and math or something.

He felt like he should know everything he could about this Eric. We wasn't bad looking for a guy hitting his forties. Booth couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy prick at his heart. This man had achieved what he'd always wanted, and in such little time too.

His attention was drawn away from Jade when he heard a faint Bonesish giggle from down the hall, and his heart sank even more. He left what was going on in that room up to his imagination.

Before he knew it, he was sitting cross legged on the floor while Jade showed him all of her toys.

But he was distracted from the task at hand, because the only thing he could think about was how he should've come back when he said he would. Maybe then, he would be the one with her, and their daughter would be sitting with them.

He could've changed it.

But he didn't.

Confused by her reaction? You'll figure it out :)