Thank you for your patience in waiting for this chapter.
Thank you shout outs: kareneb, Nelapl, RobinAngelena, 554Laura, LoveShipper, GalaxieGurl (I chalk it all up to a 12 episode season and trying to "fix" everything quickly), FaithinBones, regbride12, aadams00, yoshimi0701, ZinaR, Julie SBXMomX and guests. Thank you for your reviews. As always I always look forward to reading what you all think about my work.
Booth woke the next morning feeling disorientated. Out of habit, he reached for his wife. Her side of the bed was empty. He blinked and as he began to feel more awake, he remembered the events of the past few days. Suddenly worried she had forgotten everything and left him, he sprung out of bed, wincing as his ribs protested his actions. Grimacing he walked out of his room, fearful that he would find the house empty.
"Booth. You're awake."
Her voice flooded him with relief. She was seated at the island at the center of their kitchen. Evidence of a breakfast eaten was on the counter.
"Bones." He slowly walked up to her. "Why didn't you wake me?"
"I wanted to let you rest."
"Yeah um, thanks." He stared at her for a moment, afraid to ask. He figured if her amnesia was gone, it would have been the first thing she told him.
"Do you feel better?"
Booth nodded. "Yeah. I think."
"Coffee. You always need your coffee to help you become more fully awake. You were like that even when we were partners."
She poured him a cup, handing it to him. He accepted, sipping the hot liquid as he stood opposite her.
"I managed to find most of the things in the kitchen. It took me some time though."
"So um… sleep okay?"
"Yes. Although when I woke up, I forgot momentarily that we are married and wondered if we were undercover."
"Right." He stared at the black coffee in his mug. "Remember when we were forced into therapy with Sweets? We said if there was no more crime in the world…"
"We'd still meet for coffee." She offered him a smile.
He smiled back, recalling that their friendship had already been solid then and the burgeoning feelings of love were already growing inside him, even if he hid them well. "Yeah."
"No matter what happens we're the center and the center will hold."
He grinned back at her, glad that she was bringing up the past that she remembered.
"Angela is coming by with Hank and Christine later this afternoon."
"You sure about this?"
"Our children have to come home Booth."
"Yeah they do."
"If my memory doesn't come back – "
"Bones you gotta stop saying that. It will all right? Just give yourself some time."
"If it doesn't," Brennan continued, ignoring him for a moment, "I would need time to get to know them again. Keeping them away from their home hasn't been fair to them."
"You're right. And, I'm sure you'll get your memory back Bones."
The couple spent the rest of the day catching up on the reality of being a married couple with two young children. Much housework had been neglected in the past few days since the Kovac case and they set about doing the laundry and changing the sheets on Christine's sheets and Hank's crib.
"He's gonna need a big boy bed soon." Booth remarked as they exited Hank's room. "He's getting big."
Brennan took Booth's hand, surprising him. "Thank you."
"For what?"
"This past couple of days has been stressful. I've wanted my memories back so desperately. Doing these mundane chores by your side has reminded me how much I enjoy just being with you. You have patiently reminded me where everything is and where everything goes."
"Nothin' to it Bones. I love you." He shrugged somewhat shyly. "Never knew housework could be enjoyable though."
Before she could decide on an appropriate reply, the doorbell rang.
"That must be Angela." Brennan let her hand slip from Booth's grasp, heading for the living room. He sighed. She was so near yet a part of him missed the old her. The woman who had slowly evolved over the years, the woman who had been his wife. Now it still felt as if she was holding him at arm's length. Booth pushed his feelings aside, hoping that their children would not detect any changes in their mother's behaviour. As Booth entered the living room to join Brennan, Angela walked in with Hank and Christine.
"Door was unlocked." Angela explained.
"Mommy, Daddy!" Both children squealed.
Hank flung himself into Brennan's arms. Christine seeing that her mother was holding her little brother, started running towards Booth.
Worried that Christine would injure Booth's cracked ribs, Brennan called out to her daughter in a voice harsher than she had intended, "Christine, no! Your father is injured."
The little girl stopped in her tracks just before she reached Booth. Tears started to well up in her eyes, slipping down her cheeks.
"You're hurt Daddy? You promised you won't be!"
Booth quickly crouched down, gathering Christine into his arms gently.
"It's okay Pumpkin. Mommy's right. I was hurt, but so was Mommy. I told you that night when you came home for a little while remember? We got hurt before you had the sleepovers with Uncle Aubrey and Auntie Angela. I kept my promise that I made to you that day at my office. I didn't get hurt again."
"You promise Daddy?"
"Of course. Since when did I break any promises to you huh? I just can't carry you in my arms now, cause you're getting so big. But I sure can give you a hug. So you've got nothing to worry about. And once I'm all better, I'll pick you up and swing you round the way you like okay?"
Brennan watched guiltily as Booth held their daughter, certain that she had did something wrong as a mother. In her arms, Hank began to fuss. Whining, he rubbed his eyes.
"What's wrong Hank?" Brennan wrecked her brain, trying to figure out what was wrong with the boy. "Are you hungry?" She remembered baby Andy that Booth and her had taken care of so many years ago. She was fairly certain dancing phalanges would not satisfy her son. Afterall, he was older than baby Andy.
"He's probably tired Bones. It's close to his nap time."
"Oh." Brennan was starting to think that having her children home was a mistake. She didn't know how to be a mother to them at all. Leaving all the parenting to Booth alone didn't seem fair, given that he was recovering from his injuries.
"I should put him down for his nap." Brennan offered.
"Monkey!" Hank wailed.
"Monkey?" Brennan asked her son who looked like he was close to tears. He buried his face into the crook of Brennan's neck.
"I got this." Booth turned to look at Christine. "How about you and Mommy go read a book on the couch huh? I'll put Hank down for his nap then we can make some PB and J sandwiches."
"Okay!" Christine jumped onto the couch, patting the space next to her. "Read to me Mommy!"
Brennan glanced at Booth, then Angela, looking unsure.
"Sweetheart, you go pick the book and bring it here to your Mom okay?" Angela suggested.
"Okay!" Christine bounced off the couch, running to her room.
"I'll take him." Booth lifted Hank from Brennan's hips.
"No Booth your ribs – "
"Hank's smaller than Christine." He tried to hide the discomfort on his face. "It's just a short walk down the hall to his room. It's not a problem."
"If you guys need me to stay and help, I'd be glad to." Angela offered.
"You've helped us a whole lot Angela. Thanks." Booth was quick to reply. "You need your rest too."
"Yes, you're pregnant. It must be exhausting." Brennan added. "Although I still can't recollect much of that part of my life."
"Things will be okay Sweetie. If you're in any doubt, or have a question about anything, anything at all, you call me." Angela gave Brennan a hug, then kissed Hank on the cheek. "Be good baby Booth."
Brennan turned to Booth after Angela left.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset Christine. It appears I don't know how to be a mother."
"Don't be so hard on yourself Bones. You're a quick learner. You're smart. The children would be okay. They just are happy to be home."
Christine returned with two books in hand. "I'm ready Mommy."
"You'll do great Bones." Booth nodded encouragingly at her.
Christine took her mother's hand, leading her to the couch. "I'll be gentle with you Mommy. You and Daddy got hurt and need to get better."
The little girl's words almost made her cry. "Thank you."
Christine giggled. "Why are you thanking me Mommy?"
Brennan shook her head. It was evident their little girl had inherited her father's sensitive, caring spirit.
"I'll be right back." Booth smiled at the two women in his life, then turned towards Hank's room.
Little Hank was so tired and at the same time so happy to be in his own crib that he fell asleep without fussing soon after his father laid him down in his crib and kissed the top of his head. Booth returned to the living room, watching from a distance as Brennan read to Christine. He smiled to himself, glad that his family was now all together under one roof. Brennan was a wonderful mother, she had doubted her abilities to be mother when she was pregnant with Christine, but she needn't had worried. He wished she could remember that.
As the story ended, Christine snuggled up to her mother. "I'm happy to be home Mommy. I'm hungry though."
"Would you like the sandwiches your father mentioned?"
"Yes and apple slices. You always give me fruits for snacks."
"Thank you for reminding me again Christine."
The little girl giggled. "Daddy said we need to help you remember things now. He said it'll take some time before you can remember things, just like an elephant!"
Her comment made Brennan laugh.
"Hey don't listen to her Bones. I never said you were an elephant. I said your memory was like an elephant's." Booth spoke, making his presence known. "Now let's get something to eat okay?"
"Yeah!" Christine jumped off the couch, heading to the kitchen counter, leaving her parents to themselves for a brief moment.
Booth offered a hand to Brennan. "You did great with her, Bones."
An idea hit him. "You know how we've been trying so hard to do stuff to help get your memory back. Why don't we forget about that for now huh? Maybe there's too much pressure on you. On us. Let's just assume for awhile, we aren't trying to make it all come back."
"Why?"
Booth shrugged. "For fun. Cause the kids are home. Cause I told the FBI I'm not going back to work till you're you again. Cause you don't have to go back to the lab till it's fixed. Tomorrow, let's do something fun, like old times. Without the kids... I know! Let's go on a date."
"But Hank and Christine just got home."
"We could spend the morning with them. I'm sure Aubrey wouldn't mind coming over to watch them for the day. We've got lots of food in the fridge. I'm thinking lunch at the Royal Diner, maybe a trip to any museum of your choice. Then, dinner some place nice. Just us."
"You sure?"
"Yeah. It'll be fun. Whaddya say Bones? Go out with me?"
"Okay I think. You sure you won't be bored at a museum?"
"Not with you around Bones."