Chapter 5

I walked out of the readiness center with Booth who was absentmindedly rubbing his backside. I smiled without thinking. I reached for his hand, and grasped, intertwining my fingers with his. He looked at me, smiled, and opened my car door for me. He stood there, looking at me for a second before he spoke, "We have to go see Parker and Rebecca. I want him to know. Plus, while I'm gone, you can have time with Parker. Becks likes you anyway. You up to going?"

I smiled at him, and decided to try some sarcasm, "No, I don't want to go."

Booth looked at me with surprise, and before he started jumping to conclusions, I stepped up, "I was kidding, sarcasm?"

"Oh."

He breathed out deeply, kissed me lightly and closed my door. Walking around to the driver's side, he ran his fingers through his hair and rubbed the back of his neck. I knew he was stressed, but this was something he had to do. I understood that. When he sat in the driver's seat, I laid my hand on his thigh. Looking up at me, I cupped his chin in my hand and smiled.

"Babe, you need to relax. I know you are stressed, especially since you are telling Parker you are married. I get the stress. But you need to calm yourself down."

I laid my other hand against the back of his neck and rubbed deeply, feeling the tension he was holding in radiating off. He held my hand and kissed my knuckles.

"Bones, this all seems so surreal. You are here with me, in my truck, like usual. But I have a ring on my finger, and you have two. But what is even weirder is that you are my wife. And that is beyond strange for me. I feel like it is a dream and I need to pinch myself."

I couldn't help myself. I pinched him.

"Okay, not a literal pinch."

I sighed, "Booth, I understand what you mean. When I said in my vows that the only person I would ever get married to was you, I wasn't lying. And it does seem strange to be married, especially since I have never seen myself doing this. But I like it, hell, I love it because I love you. So let's go talk to Parker, and everything will be okay. Okay?"

"I never thought that it would be you calming me down, usually it's the other way around. But thank you baby. Thanks for everything you have done for me today."

I leaned across the console and kissed him gently, but filled with passion. He pulled away from me, dropped the truck into reverse and we headed to Rebecca's house. As soon as we pulled up, Parker came running across the lawn. Thinking ahead, I pulled off my engagement ring and wedding band.

"Booth, take off the wedding band. It will make things easier to explain later on. Okay?"

Trusting my judgment, he took off his wedding band and placed it in my hand and just as I was putting it in my pocket, my door flung open and Parker was climbing into my lap.

"Hey Parker. How are you?"

"I'm good Dr. Bones. Hi Daddy. Why are you here?"

Booth sighed lightly, but hid his emotions from his eyes.

"Parks, I need to talk to Mommy. Can you hang out with Bones for a little?"

Parker shook his head excitedly and settled into my lap. Booth squeezed my shoulder and left the car. I turned to Parker who was tracing circles on my leg.

"Parker, can you wait one minute while I get you something that I want to give you?"

His eyes lit up with excitement as I sat him in the passenger seat and I went to my bag in the backseat. I rummaged through my large bag for the small bag I was looking for. I had been carrying it forever. I just hadn't found the time to give it to him.

I returned to the front seat and settled Parker back on my lap. Unwrapping the small box, I held it up for Parker to see. His eyes widened in surprise.

"Parker, this is yours. I wanted to give this to you, so that as you grow up, you will know that you have Saint Christopher and your father looking after you, even if he isn't there. Read the back."

Parker held up the medal and turned it over, "Dad is always there."

"Yes, Parker, your father is always there, no matter what. So let me clip this on, and I want you to wear this everywhere. Can you do that for me?"

He shook his head enthusiastically again, leaning in towards me, brushing his head against my chest. I really felt like a mom. I looked up to see Booth walking toward my car door with a pissed look on his face. He reached into my pocket, put his wedding band on, picked up Parker, and handed me my two rings. He motioned for me to follow him into the house.

I had butterflies in my stomach, why, I don't know, but I think there was a part of me that wanted Rebecca to let me have Parker while Booth was gone. I sat down on the couch next to him and across from Rebecca and Parker.

"Dr. Brennan, I am aware that you and Seeley got married today. He just told me. Parker how do you feel about that? Dr. Brennan being your step mom?"

His eyes lit up, and some of the tension I was feeling let off a little.

"I love it. I love Dr. Bones. She is awesome."

"Becks, since you and Parker both know about my deployment, I would like to ask you a favor. Would you let Bones have my weekends with Parker while I'm gone? Please?"

She looked at me, then back at Parker.

"Parks, would you like to stay with Dr. Brennan on the weekends while Daddy is gone?"

Parker nodded again, and left Rebecca's lap to climb on Booth's. He finally spoke up.

"Mommy, I trust Dr. Bones to take care of me. She isn't as good as you, but she is really good. Can I stay with her, please?"

Rebecca nodded her head, and handed me a list of numbers.

"Dr. Brennan, here is a list of all the numbers you could possibly need to know. Congratulations on your marriage to Seeley. He will make you one happy woman."