WOW! I am truly impressed, guys. For all of you who have stuck with this through my insufferable writer's block, thank you. And the reviews! Thank you, thank you, thank you.

I have J written, and will post tomorrow.

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Temperance Brennan was, as usual, working. Her partner was out of town for a case – he was due back tomorrow. She had told Angela that she was happy he was gone for a while because it gave her a chance to work in peace, but in truth she felt like something was missing. Booth and her had grown exceedingly close over the last few weeks. The shift in their relationship was quick but pleasant and his sudden absence in her daily routine left Brennan with a deep ache of longing.

Just as she had started to brood moodily and glare at the bones on the table in front of her, her cell phone rang – a welcome distraction. Flipping it open, Brennan turned around to lean against the railing of the platform.

"Brennan." She answered in monotone.

"Dr. Temperance Brennan?" An unfamiliar voice asked.

"Yes?"

"Hello. I'm Principal Sam at Hillside Elementary. You are listed as a contact for Parker Booth, are you not?"

Brennan stood up straiter at the mention of her partner's son. "Yes. Is he ok? What happened?" She asked, her maternal instincts for the boy kicking in.

The principal chuckled. "Nothing is wrong. His mother never came to pick him up and we couldn't reach his father." He explained.

"His father is out of town, but I can come get him." She offered.

"That would be great."

"I'm on my way." Hanging up, Brennan stuffed her phone into her pocket and ran to grab her keys.

"Bren! Where are you going?" Angela asked as the anthropologist hurried past her.

"Parker!" She threw over her shoulder. The artist wrinkled her nose in confusion before the name registered.

"Parker Booth?" She yelled at a retreating Brennan. "Bren! I need an explanation!" But she was already out the door. Sighing, Ange turned around. Looking at the platform, she threw her hands up in defeat and said aloud to the lab. "She left her bones! I need an explanation!"

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Tempe pulled up to the school. Getting out of her little silver ports car, she headed into the building. After some quick directions form a friendly passing janitor, she was opening the door to the principals office.

"Dr. Bones!" Shrieked an excited Parker before he launched himself into her arms. Balancing the bot on her hip, Brennan turned to the smiling principal.

"Thank you for coming, Dr. Brennan." The middle aged man said.

"Anytime." She replied. Heading back out to her car, she put a bubbly and talkative Parker on the ground and grabbed his hand as they crossed the parking lot.

"And Jimmy, he didn't wanna eat the bug, but Billy told 'im to. And he did, Dr. Bones! He ated the whole think!"

Brennan checked as she buckled the boy into his booster seat. Some how she felt better now that she was with him. Maybe it was because he possessed so much of his father's charm.

"It sounds like you had an exciting day." She said. "What do you want to do now?"

I donno." He shrugged. His expression was so much lie his father's when he wanted pie that Brennan couldn't help but to ruffle his sandy-blond hair.

"How about Wong Foo's? Sid can make us sundaes..." She suggested. His enthusiastic 'Yeah!' made her smile. Getting into the drivers seat, she put the top of the convertible down, earning a squeal and a 'Your car is so cool, Dr. Bones!'

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Sid watched as the unlikely pair entered his restaurant, Parker once again balanced on her hip as Brennan made her way to the bar and sat down on a stool with him in her lap.

"What can I do for you today?" Sid asked.

"Hmmm. What do you think, Park?" Brennan asked, tickling him. He giggled and squirmed in her lap.

"Ice cweam!"

Nodding to Sid, she agreed. "You heard the man. One hot fudge sundae, two spoons please." Bowing and adopting a deep voice, Sid replied.

"Coming right up, Ma'am and Sir." He headed to the kitchen for their order as Brennan and Parker chatted about his school.

"What are you learning in science, Parker?"

"We know how to make it rain!" He exclaimed. "You takes a cloud and squeeze it an rain comes out! I saw it on 'The Magic School bus!" He stated proudly.

"Wow. I didn't know that." Tempe said, and his eyes widened in amazement.

"But I thawt you knew everwything!" The little boy said. Sid returned with their ice cream.

"Here you go, you two." The bartender said, handing each of them a long sundae spoon. "Enjoy."

"It has m and m's!" Parker squealed in delight, digging around for a prized chocolate. Tempe mouthed a silent 'Thank you' to Sid before digging in herself.

Half an hour, two full stomaches and a stack of napkins later, the ice cream was gone. Parker and Brennan both said goodbye to Sid and headed back out to her car.

"How about we go back to my apartment and watch some TV?" Brennan suggested. Parker nodded sleepily from the backseat. He was asleep by the time they pulled into her parking space. Opening his door, she picked up the napping Parker and carried him up the stairs, contemplating her mothering instincts.

It just seems so natural to pick him up and to talk to him. I always thought I was no good with kids, but Parker is so easy!

She opened the door to her apartment on handed and went inside, kicking it shut with her foot. Placing the sleeping boy on her couch, she noticed the light on her answering machine blinking.

I'll listen to it later. She thought. I don't want to wake Parker.

Should I try to get in contact with Rebecca? I don't know her number, and Booth is out of town... But he'll be back tomorrow, so I can just keep Park overnight, bring him to school in the morning, and inform Booth of the situation when he shows up at the lab.

Besides, Rebecca is most likely busy if she couldn't pick up Parker. She can always call the school, they'll tell her that he's with me. And it's not like I haven't watched him before.

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Meanwhile, Seeley Booth was frantic. He had gotten a call from Rebecca explaining that she had had a meeting, and therefore hadn't had time to pick up Parker. But by the time she got to the school, he wasn't waiting out front for her.

Booth had gotten on the next available flight and was currently on his way back from the air port. He had called Brennan to see if she had seen his son, but her cell was off, she didn't answer her work phone, and her home phone went strait to voice mail. Now worried about the whereabouts of his partner as well, Booth dialed Angela.

"Angela Montenegro-Soon-To-Be-Hodgins, how may I help you?"

"Ange, it's me. Have you seen Bones? Parker is missing and Bones isn't picking up her phone."

"Parker?" Angela asked. "Bren went running out of the lab at three yelling something about Parker."

"Three..." Booth did some quick calculations. "Park gets out of school at three. Bones is on his emergency contact list. Do you know where they are? She didn't pick up at home."

"I'd check Sid's. When she watches Park she usually takes him there for ice cream."

"Thanks a million, Ange. I owe you."

"Say thank you with gifts!" The artist said cheerfully before he hung up.

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Booth screeched into the parking lot at Wong Foo's. Hopping out of his SUV, he ran inside.

"Sid!" he yelled.

"G-man! What can I get for-"

"Have you seen Parker and Bones?" He cut off.

"Sure. They were in here for ice cream this afternoon. Hold on-" The bartender bent down and shuffled with something behind the bar. A minute later he came up with a picture. Handing it to Booth, he said,

"I think they went back to her plate. They were deep in conversation over Spongebob when they left."

Booth took the picture and felt his heart melt right onto the floor.

There, on a 4x6 piece of paper, where the two most important people in his world. Parker was in his Bones' lap, ice cream on his nose as they ate from the same bowl. The thing that captivated him was Brennan. She had a happy, care free laugh on her face as she gazed down at his son with a look of pure adoration. In that instant, he knew where he needed to be.

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"I spy something blue." Tempe said, wiggling her eyebrows and scrunching up her face in a way that made Parker laugh.

"A camel!" He exclaimed, pointing to a statue that was sitting on one of Brennan's bookshelves.

"That's right." She praised. "I spy..." She trailed off when movement out the window caught her eye. "Your daddy."

"Daddy?! Where?" Walking over to the window, she picked him up so he could see.

"See the black car? That's your daddy's car." They both watched as Booth quickly strode into the building. A minute later, he knocked on the door. Brennan made her way over to unlock it, Parker still balanced on her hip.

The door opened and Booth stared at them.

This was a sight he wanted to see everyday. His Bones and his son, identical ear to ear grins, both looking like they had the time of their life. He did the only thing he could think of to show her how much it meant to him. He stepped through the door and kissed her hard on the mouth. The sparks, fireworks and hallelujah chorus were all but short by an 'Ewwww, Daddy!' from Parker.

"Hey bud! You miss me?" He asked, taking his son from his partner.

"A lot, daddy. Dr. Bones and I got ice cweam with m and m's!"

"I know, bud. Did you say thank you?"

"Thank you, Dr. Bones!" Parker said loudly, diving back into her arms. "I had alotta fun."

"Me too, Park." Brennan grinned.

"Thank you, Bones. You don't know how much-"

She cut Booth off. "It was nothing. He's a sweet, adorable boy." Booth was grinning so much at the praise for his son that he almost missed her next sentence as she walked back into her apartment.

"Just like his father."