The light creak of Brennan's bedroom door sent her quickly out of her dream. Her body jerked up, silly grin planted on her face. It had seemed like just yesterday she had shared her bed with the man she loved but now as the cool sheets permeated her body, she slowly shivered.

She had hoped above hope that he would beat her to her apartment, declare his undying love and they would live happily ever after but hope was for romantics and Brennan was way too logical to fall for that line again. He had made his decision and she would have to live with it, even if she loved the man more than any logical rational told her she should.

"Angela I told you it was fine…" Brennan sat up, eyes attempting to focus on the shadowy figure before her. Her eyes quickly focused and she gasped, the figure was much too large to be Angela. "Freeze! I know karate and I will hurt you…"

Her body jerked forward and practically toppled onto the man who was staggering before her. Her hands grabbed the intruder's arms and almost instinctually they ran down his shoulders, tugging and teasing at the trim of his shirt.

"Honey, I'm home." Booth's cheesy grin went wide as he pulled her off the bed and into his arms. "What's for dinner?" He whispered into her ear and Brennan coughed as the pungent smell of stale beer filled her nostrils.

"Booth… do you even know what time it is?"

"Uh…" He glanced at the closed shades and shrugged, "Late."

"And you are where?"

"Home." He grinned, pulling her face down to his, "Want me to show you?"

The air caught in Brennan's throat as soft, warm air flooded in. His lips were mere millimeters from hers and as his tongue darted out to moisten his lips it lightly dragged across hers, bringing back memories she had long since suppressed. Without any hesitation she locked her lips on his, tugging and teasing him for answers she knew he was too drunk to provide. It had been years since she had ever kissed anyone remotely as passionately as she was currently. There was just something about him… that even though he was drunk she just craved him even more.

He was more than just the father of her child. He was the completion of her puzzle, the long last sought after missing piece. With him she could finally soar and reach limits otherwise unobtainable.

His hands ran over the very thin attire, boiling her blood from inside out. She just had to touch him. Just one touch and she knew she would be gone, lost in the eyes of heartbreak. She knew how wrong the situation was but it felt so right. Her hands slowly ran across his shirt then slipped under, running her hand over every well defined muscle almost from memory.

"Oh god Bones…" He growled, "You don't know what that does to me…"

She her eyes shot open as she quickly chastised herself and stood up, leaning against the bed frame.

"Now what did you do that for?" He sat up and frowned, "It was just getting to the good part."

"What did you come here for, Booth?" She tried to sound clinical but the panic in her tone was quite evident. She eyed the poor state of the man before her; he was in no shape to drive. They both knew it the second he walked into her bedroom.

"Can't we discuss that later?" He wiggled his eyes at her, "I am sure my body can do enough talking for both of us."

"That is what got us in this situation in the first place. Sex."

"You have to admit, Bones it was good… very good."

Her cheeks turned a bright red hue as she slightly turned into the shadows, trying to mask the infectious giggles that filled her being.

"Admit it… come on… admit it! Admit it!" He chanted, pumping his fists obnoxiously, "I will."

"Fine, fine. If it will stop this silly little game I will concede that it was very good sex…" She slowly walked toward the door, trying to get as far away from the source of her feelings as she could, "It was the best I have ever had." She slowly whispered as she reached the door.

"Where ya going?" He lunged at her, grabbing her ankles and halting her stride.

"I need to check on Maggie." She shook one foot free but he just clung to the other tighter, "She should be waking up soon for her juice."

"Oh." His voice sounded almost shattered, breaking the carefree mood of the room, "Okay."

"You want to see her, don't you?" Her words were more of a statement then a question and that slightly frightened him.

"I don't want to impose on your bonding time…" His voice had a hint of wistfulness.

"Booth, you're her father. She needs to bond with her father to have a fully functioning sense of self."

"So… what you're saying is I can come?"

"Correct." With a slight nod Brennan walked out of the room and down the hall, stopping at a door covered in flowers and pictures of microscopes.

"So this is it." Booth breathed in deep, walking quickly to catch up with her.

"Yep. You don't have to go in here if you don't feel comfortable."

"Bones…" He let out an exhausted sigh, "I have missed too much already. I cannot let my fears stop me from wasting another second with my daughter."

Brennan hesitated but soon pushed the door open, revealing a green painted room covered with flowers of all different sizes and shapes. She slowly stepped into the room and stood next to the child, not even causing the young child to stir. Her hands pulled a few stray hairs away, Maggie cooed and turned toward her mother, pacified with her just being in the room.

Booth watched this all unfold in awe, she was the epitome of the perfect mother. As the days turned into months, she had learned to be a full family unit rolled into one. Did he really have a use more then just a sperm donor?

"And you just stand here and watch her sleep?" He forced the words out, trying to break his slippery slope to self degradation.

"Yes. Until she wakes up then we get her juice together." Brennan beamed, pointing toward the child sized coaster on the side table.

Booth's eyes focused on the bed then they were quickly drawn to Brennan's soft, soothing movements. She seemed to practically float across the room and the glow that she radiated was like a beacon, drawing him to the serenity of her arms.

"You can come closer, Booth. She is a sound sleeper until around four then she shoots up demanding juice."

Booth took a hesitant step closer but stayed a foot away from the doorway. Hearing the footsteps stop, Brennan turned and extended a hand to her partner.

"She doesn't bite." She lightly giggled. "I promise."

Booth slunk into the room and toward his girls. Regret was weighing heavy on his heart and he knew he only had one chance to do this right. If he screwed up, he would never be able to face himself in the mirror. His feet quickly carried him until he was standing directly behind Brennan. As much as his mind fought it, his paternal instincts kicked in and forced him to face his child… his reality.

"Bones…" He gasped as he lightly trailed his hand down her short locks, "She looks like an angel." With a smile firmly implanted across his lips for the first time in months, Booth wrapped his arms tightly around the woman standing before him. He lightly pulled her back until their bodies were flush before leaning down and resting his head on her shoulder.

"Thank you."