Chapter 2-The Discussion
A/N: Sorry it took so long to get this up! I had lots of school stuff and spring break! This might feel a bit rushed, but I really wanted to finally get to Booth's mother's house. We'll see some fireworks there! :) Again, I appreciate all of the reviews and the advice! Keep it coming. Also if you have any ideas or something you'd like to see, let me know!
"This mural is very aesthetically pleasing, Angela", Brennan said as she stared at the scene painted on the wall in the nursery. It was the sky, with clouds and birds and the sun. Angela had done it herself and it was beautiful.
"Thanks, sweetie, that's very nice. However, you are trying to change the subject. What's going on? You called me on the way here and sounded like you were about to kill someone. I'm your best friend, so spill!" Brennan's face twisted in discomfort.
"I just…I feel like Booth thinks that his mother is infallible. I tried to explain to him how she treats me and he told me I 'misunderstood' her. That woman makes me feel so inadequate and Booth just doesn't see it! And now I have to go spend a whole week having to put up with her snide remarks and condescending looks." Brennan sighed in frustration.
"Oh, sweetie, don't be too mad at Booth. She is his mother and you're his wife. He's between a rock and hard place. I think part of the problem is that the topic is sensitive to both of you, but, ultimately, he just wants the you and his mom to get along. I think you should both have a calm, less emotionally charged discussion. Maybe pour you both some wine, wait until Christine's asleep and work it out."
"I don't want to make him choose between me and his mother. I just want him to acknowledge there is a problem and maybe defend me every once in a while. He just doesn't see it. She's very careful to make her remarks when he's out of the room or otherwise preoccupied. Or she makes these clever, back-handed complements. But you're right…I overreacted earlier. We just need to have a calm discussion. Now we better get back to work if we want to finish before you go into labor!" Brennan laughed.
"Hey, now, what are you implying? I'm only seven months along…it's not my fault she's a big girl!" Angela exclaimed. The two women laughed and got back to work.
/
"Okay, Christine, enough TV. Why don't we get your swimsuit on and get in the pool?" Booth asked smiling.
"Yay!" the little girl screamed and hopped off the couch and ran upstairs to her room. Booth chuckled and followed after her. A short while later, after they had both changed, applied an adequate amount of sunscreen, and Christine's floaties had been blown up, they were in the pool. After they had played around for a little while, Booth decided to have Christine practice her swimming.
"Okay, Christine, try and swim to Daddy!" Booth called to her from the other side of the shallow end. She was almost to the point where she no longer would have to use the floaties. Booth watch as the three-year old took a deep breath and began her clumsy freestyle across the pool and into Booth's waiting arms.
"I did it, Daddy! I did it!" exclaimed Christine, the expression on her face full of pride.
"You did, baby! Good job! Why don't you swim back over to the steps and we can get out and make lunch?" Booth asked.
Christine's eyes widened, "Okay, Daddy!" and she hopped out of Booth's arms and swam to get out of the pool. After the had dried off, they headed inside the house to the kitchen.
"Alright, Christine, what kind of sandwich do you want?" Booth asked.
"PB&J, Daddy! Please?" she answered and bounced up and down in her seat in anticipation. As Booth began to get the necessary ingredients together, he heard the front door open.
"Here we go…" he muttered under his breath. Christine hopped out of her seat and ran to greet Brennan.
"Mommy, mommy! Daddy and me went swimming!" the little girl exclaimed as Brennan dropped her bag and picked the little girl up.
"I can see that, baby. You're still in your swimsuit" answered Brennan. She entered the kitchen to see Booth, also still in his swim trunks, in the process of making a sandwich. "And so is Daddy. Are you guys planning to go back in?" asked Brennan, her question directed at Booth.
"I don't know, we'll see. We were thinking of walking to the park after lunch" Booth answered, without looking up.
"Well, that sounds like fun. Right, Christine?" Brennan asked the little girl, who she was currently placing back in her seat so she could eat the sandwich Booth had just finished making.
"Yeah, will you come, Mommy?" Christine asked before taking a massive bite of her sandwich.
"Sure, baby, we can go on the swings" Brennan answered, her eyes meeting Booth's for the first time since she walked in. She could read the surprise in his expression. While Christine was busy eating, Brennan walked over to Booth and slid her arms around his waist. He hesitated in putting his arms around her for a moment, only because he had been expecting a grumpy and pissed off Brennan, certainly not the calm, affectionate one he now had in his arms.
"Well, this is a nice change from this morning" he said, "not that I'm complaining." He grinned down at her.
"I realize that I may have overreacted this morning, however, there are things we need to discuss. But those can wait for now. I want to have a nice day with you and Christine." Brennan responded, leaning up to kiss him. He met her halfway and they shared a nice moment, while a completely oblivious Christine was devouring her sandwich.
"For what it's worth, I'm sorry we fought this morning" Booth apologized.
"Let's put it behind us and we can have a calmer discussion tonight. I'm sorry as well."
"I love you" Booth said.
" I love you too, Booth"
/
Later that night, after they had gotten back from a relaxing day at the park, dinner had been cooked and eaten, and a very sleepy little girl had been put to bed, Booth and Brennan sat on the couch, each with their nightly glass of wine, and began their talk.
"Booth, I never intended to make you feel like you have to choose between me and your mother. She just brings out all my insecurities whenever you're not around. I just don't know what I did to make her dislike me so much." Brennan sighed in frustration.
"Hey, it's okay", Booth said, as he caresses her face and tried to stroke away the frown lines, "my mother is very traditional and you…..aren't. You two are just very different. Maybe she imagined me with someone more like herself, you know. But it doesn't matter what she wanted. She should love you, no matter how non-traditional, simply for the fact, that you are who I want to be with and you're a terrific mother to Christine. This week I'll try and keep a closer watch and maybe we can all sit down and talk."
"Okay. We'll see how it plays out. This is all I wanted, Booth, just for you to listen and maybe acknowledge that your mother and I are not best friends" Brennan chuckled.
"I'll let you in on a little secret. Guys tend to run from any topic that will result in trouble between the women in their life. Maybe I just wanted it all to be okay on its own." Booth chuckled in response.
He leaned forward and gently touched his lips to hers. She responded eagerly, deepening the kiss and soon she found herself straddling him on their living room couch. Booth pulled away to catch his breath, his hand slipping underneath her shirt to caress the smooth skin of her back and waist. She began to kiss and nip at his ear, down his neck, fisting her hands in his shirt.
"Hmmm…I believe you have a promise you need to fulfill, Mrs. Booth." Booth said huskily, his breath catching as he responded to her ministrations.
"I believe you are correct, Mr. Booth. And you know me, I never break a promise."
And with that Booth picked her up, her legs wrapping around his waist, and carried her up the stairs to their bedroom.
