After pushing the eleven year old on the swing for about fifteen minutes, Booth was able to convince Jett to go play some football. They were able to find a clear area a few yards away from where Mattie was sitting to throw the ball around.

"Okay, Jett, any rules you want to lay?"

"Nope."

"Okay, well, how about two- hand touch at least?" Booth supplied. He was pretty sure that his aunt and uncle would be pissed if he squashed the eleven year old.

"Fine, and while we're at it, do you want me to spot you a few touchdowns?" The innocence was definitely feigned.

"Nah, I don't want to beat you too badly." The cousins were giving each other identical, smug grins.

With that their one-on-one game began. Booth held back most of his talent from the game, giving the boy a fighting chance. Half the time, the soldier wasn't even paying attention to the game; he was too preoccupied with trying to figure out the babysitter that was sitting nearby. He knew she was keeping something from him. And why wouldn't she? He mentally pointed out to himself. She's just my cousin's babysitter who I've only known for a couple hours; why do I care so much? Then a small voice answered the question for him. Because she could be number one on your cosmic list. Booth was brought back into reality with Jett boasting about the touchdown Booth had been oblivious to.

The game continued for another thirty minutes or so, Booth making sure to keep the score about even. He and Jett were about to start another round, when Jett froze. He was looking at an empty park bench.

"Where'd Mattie go, Seel?" Booth realized the bench his cousin was looking at was the one that the babysitter had been sitting at all morning.

"I don't know. You want to go look for her?" Jett's head suddenly reminded Booth of a bobble head moving up and down.

Booth headed towards the bathroom complex he thought he saw as they entered the park, and Jett was right on his tail. Once they arrived they waited about five minutes before a woman, Booth guessed around forty, with dark hair, eyes, and skin wondered towards the bathroom with her daughter.

"Excuse me," Booth stopped her. "My, uh, friend might have gone into the bathroom. Could you check for us?"

"Sure, Cherie. What's her name?"

"Mattie Johnston," Jett answered. The woman entered, and returned a few minutes later.

"Sorry, but your girlfriend isn't in there."

"She's not my girlfriend," both cousins answered, before looking at the other oddly. The woman let out a small laugh, while her girl who was around seven or eight, looked at the two skeptically.

"Right… If you need help, Cherie, we'll be here for another hour or so."

"Thanks," Booth answered, still looking at his cousin. The mother and daughter walked away, leaving a smirking sniper and awkward boy. The moment they were out of earshot, Booth had to ask, "So, you like Mattie, huh, Jett?"

"No! Girls are annoying and like to play with dolls and wear makeup and-"

"But who can resist an older woman who doesn't mind getting dirty to make you happy?" Booth prodded, a knowing smirk plastered on his face, at least until he realized how that could be taken the wrong way.

"Mattie is pretty cool. And really pretty- Hey! That's not nice to do, Seeley!"

"Look at that, bub. You have a crush on your babysitter."

"Can we just go find her?" Jett said pulling his laughing cousin by the hand. They looked for about ten more minutes; and each minute that passed made Booth worry. He was worried that she had been kidnapped; she wouldn't run away from Jett. She cared about the kid. And she seemed to be looking forward to starting school in a few months- something Booth would never understand, so there was no reason to flee. Then a sound barely hit Booth's ears.

"Jett! Jett, where are you? This isn't funny! Booth!" The man grabbed Jett's hand and followed the voice. The noise until it led it right back to the open field they had been playing football in; standing in the middle of the open area, was a very worried Mattie. The moment her eyes met Booth's, she ran over to them, first hugging Jett (leaving him a bright red color) and then Booth. She released Booth after several seconds, before her relief- filled face turned to one of anguish. "Where did you guys go? I thought you abandoned me here!"

"What? No, we noticed you weren't on the bench, so we went looking for you."

"I didn't think you'd notice if I went to get you water. It's rather warm out here." Booth noticed despite her words, she was still wearing her jacket. "When I came back you were gone. I thought you forgot about me." Booth sensed more trouble behind the words then there should have been, and made a mental note to ask her about it later.

"We wouldn't do that. I don't think that Jett would let that every happen, anyway." When her face didn't improve, Booth added, "And neither would I. You're memorable, Mattie. No one will forget you."

Her face still remained in the same position. Booth reached around her upper body and gave her another hug, and, to his surprise, her arms immediately flew around his neck.

"Thank you." Booth almost didn't hear it, she said it so quietly. He gave a small squeeze to assure her.

"Cherie," the voice made Booth and Mattie both jump out of each other's arms. "Is this your girlfriend?"

"She's not my girlfriend."

"He's not my boyfriend."

"They aren't dating." All three spoke simultaneously.

"Good, because I was wondering if it was legal."

"I'm seventeen; it would be legal, but that doesn't matter because we aren't dating."

"Yeah, we're just friends. Right?" Booth asked; it was more directed towards Mattie.

"Right," two voices answered. One from the older woman which sounded skeptical, while the other came from the babysitter who agreed that in a matter of hours, Booth had made a new friend in a smart, seventeen year old foster kid.

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