Parker came in that morning with his grandmother.
"Can I see her, Daddy?" he asked as soon as he saw Booth. Booth picked up his son and swung him around.
"Sure, Bub, but we have to be quiet because she's still sleeping." Booth carried the almost six year old over to the bassinet that held Evangeline.
"Hi, baby sister," Parker cooed, "I'm Parker. I'm your big brother. We have a really cool daddy, and you have a very pretty mommy." Parker turned to Booth.
"What's her name, Daddy?" the boy asked.
"Evangeline Christine Booth," was the response. Parker screwed up his eyebrows in thought.
"That's a really big name for such a little baby," he commented. Temperance heard and chuckled.
"What do you think we should call her for short, Parks?" she asked. He thought for a moment.
"Lynn," he said, "We should call her Lynn for short."
"Lynn," Temperance considered it, "I like it." Booth's cell phone rang loudly and woke the baby. Booth let the phone ring while he lifted Evangeline from the bassinet and passed her to Temperance. Then he stepped out in the hallway to take the call. Mary moved next to Temperance so she could study the crying baby, and Parker had no qualms about climbing up on the bed to get a better look.
"It's okay, Lynnie," he said, "That's just Daddy's phone. When you're older, I'll teach you how to use that phone, but you've gotta learn to talk first." Evangeline slowly stopped crying and stared out at the world with dusky blue eyes that looked as though they'd soon darken to a chocolate brown.
"May you always see the world the way your father does," Temperance thought lovingly. The subject of her thoughts strode into the room at that moment, a concerned look on his face. Booth flipped on the television without saying a word. Max Keenan's face flashed on screen.
"In a surprise move today," the female announcer said, "treason suspects Max Keenan, Russ Brennan and Michael Detringer were cleared of all charges and released from federal custody. No explanation was given for the sudden pardon, but experts today are speculating that new evidence has arisen in these cases and new suspects have come to light." The news report shifted to a media mob.
"Mr. Keenan," one of the reporters called out, "Do you have anything to say to your second kidnapping victim, the one who didn't press charges?"
"Only that I'm sorry I didn't trust Booth." He then turned and pushed his way through the crowd. Temperance felt Booth's hand on her shoulder. The silence that had fallen over the room was broken by Evangeline's cries for food. Temperance moved to provide for her daughter while Booth took Parker out for ice cream. Mary elected to stay behind and keep Temperance company. Five minutes later, a phone rang.
"Brennan," she said, shifting Evangeline slightly to make both of them a bit more comfortable.
"Hey, Sweetie," Angela said, "How's she doing?"
"She's wonderful," Temperance gushed, in a very un-Brennan like fashion, "She's already got Dad and Big Brother wrapped around her toes."
"Finger, dear, wrapped around her finger," Angela laughed. Evangeline fussed a little.
"Shh, Lynnie, You're alright," Brennan cooed.
"Lynnie?" Angela asked, "That's adorable!"
"Well, Parker decided Evangeline Christine was too big, so we let him choose a nickname."
"Sweetie," Angela said, "I know you've had a long day, but have you by any chance turned on the news?"
"If that's your way of asking if I know that my father is out of prison, then yes."
"Okay," Angela said, "feelings on this development?" Evangeline shifted on her own, slowly falling asleep again.
"I really can't think about it right now," Temperance said, "But I'd prefer he didn't come near us. Last time I was around my family I wound up on crutches for a month and a half. Have you heard anything about Sully?"
"Nothing at all. Your FBI husband isn't talking?," Angela asked, the momentary silence was enough. "Sweetie, enough about Sully. Tell me about your little Lynnie! Don't forget to send me a picture!"
"Angela," Brennan breathed, "I never knew anything could be so beautiful. She's going to have her father's eyes."
"That's great!" Angela enthused, "When do Jack and Kenna and I get to meet her?"
"Seeley and I haven't really talked about it, but I know he wants us to lay low until Sully is apprehended." Angela's disappointment was clear in the silence that followed.
"Ange, I'm so sorry," Temperance said. Just then, Booth knocked on the door. Behind him were two equally well-built men, one who looked a few years older than the agent and another who was clearly the men's father. Parker was sitting in the oldest Booth's arms, chattering happily.
"Temperance, look!" he exclaimed, "Grandpa and Uncle Jared are back from Alaska!" Booth's older brother had paid to make one of his father's fantasy's come true and had spent the last 12 weeks in Alaska, hunting game and ice fishing with his father. They had invited Seeley as well, but between work and the baby , he'd decided to decline. Mary rose to greet her husband. Parker wiggled down from his grandfather's arms and crossed over to the bedside. He leaned his elbows on the bed and stretched up on tiptoes to see Evangeline. Temperance reached down and ruffled his hair affectionately.
"Would you like to hold your sister?" she asked. Parker nodded.
"Grandma says I have to go back to school tomorrow," he observed, clearly hoping for a different answer. After their stay was extended past a week, Temperance and Booth had worked out an arrangement with the local school district and Parker had been attending the closest public school.
"Your grandmother's right," she said, motioning to her husband that he should come help Parker. Booth led his son to the oversized easy chair then returned to the bed to get Evangeline. He paused and took a moment to simply study the life in his arms. She was beautiful, with her mother's mouth and wispy hair which looked like it too would replicate Temperance. Parker wiggled impatiently, so Booth gently surrendered his little girl to her big brother. Parker was so sweet, naturally supporting her head and smiling down at her. He beamed up at his father and Booth chuckled at the resemblance he saw to pictures of himself at that age. He reached for the camera and snapped a few photos, then noticed that Temperance was fading fast. He kissed her on the cheek.
"You did good," he said, "and no one is going to blame you if you get some sleep. I've heard that having a baby is hard work." Temperance nodded and closed her eyes. When Parker
grew restless, Mary offered to take him home. Booth took Evangeline from Parker and soon the room was empty save for the small family. Booth thought that Temperance was sleeping, so he started speaking softly to Evangeline.
"Hey there, princess," he said. He paused and considered. The name didn't seem to fit his daughter. Normally it only took a moment for Booth to come up with a suitable nickname, Sweets, Pritch, Bubba, even Bones had come naturally off of his tongue. But this little one deserved something perfect.
"What am I going to call you, Evangeline Christine?" he asked her.
"Her name is a good place to start," Temperance joked sleepily from the bed.
"Bones, you know what I mean," he said.
"I have observed your habit of creating nicknames as a display of respect and affection," she stated in her "squint" voice.
"Now Bones," he teased, "We need to agree that you're not going to turn Evangeline into a squint."
Evangeline wiggled in her sleep almost contentedly and gave an almost happy sigh. Booth was taken aback at the action.
"You want to be a little squint?" he asked. Evangeline snuggled again.
"Well then, Squint it is," he said, chuckling. He sat down on the bed next to Temperance and let her rest her head on his shoulder. Just before she drifted off, she muttered against his shoulder.
"You are not seriously going to call our newborn daughter Squint are you?" He just chuckled.
"She clearly likes it." He didn't have to see the eye-roll.
--
Temperance and Evangeline came home the next day. The plan was still for the family to stay with his parents, but Jared's apartment had been seriously damaged while he was gone, so he needed a place to stay while repairs were underway. The Booth house was large, but five adults, a five year old and a newborn made the house a very crowded place. One night, when Evangeline was a week old, Temperance spoke up.
"Booth," she said, curling further into him, "Do you think we could go back to D.C.?"
"Bones," he said, "You know it's dangerous. We're safe here."
"Seeley, that's all true, but we can't keep hiding like this. Parker needs to see his mother and I need my best friend." Booth feigned hurt.
"I thought I was your best friend," he remarked half heartedly in a teasing manner. Temperance pushed against him playfully.
"Seriously though, Temperance," he said, "I'm terrified that something is going to happen and I'll lose you."
"Seeley," Temperance said, "Sometimes we have to face what we fear the most or we'll keep living in fear and we won't ever escape."
Booth had no argument to that. He simply pulled his wife into a tighter embrace and ran his hand up and down her arm. Just as she slipped into sleep he whispered softly.
"We'll leave in the morning."
--
Dun Dun Dun… They're going back home with her family and Sully on the loose… Seems exciting, don'cha think? This should wrap up in the next few chapters, but, as my mind tends to do, there's a sequel that started itself ages ago "The Boy in the Museum" which will follow all of our characters as Parker has trouble while on a field trip to the Jeffersonian. Thanks for reading!