This should go without saying now but you guys are AMAZING. I was blown away by all those reviews last chapter. I'm so glad you like this story. Your feedback really makes me want to do my best with these chapters. I hope the wait wasn't too bad! Most of this chapter poured out of me about an hour ago so please excuse any mistakes. I wanted to get this up ASAP. Enjoy!
It was early afternoon when Brennan, Booth, and Parker arrived at the merry-go-round in the center of the Lincoln Square Zoo. The animal kingdom was the first destination planned for their weekend of Chicago tourism. Once Parker found out they had children's rides however, the exotic creatures were briefly forgotten about. He rode the children's train twice and ran the entire way to next amusement. Brennan waited in the small line with Parker and then walked him to the cheetah he insisted on riding on. She lifted him onto the colorful feline when his small voice asked, "Is daddy mad?"
The five year old and the scientist shared a look. Her first instincts told her to deny it, but she knew the child was just as perceptive as his father. Dissimilar to them, Brennan could rarely understand others emotions, but when it came to Booth, he was an open book to her.
His attitude had been unpleasant since they had woken up. She didn't know the cause. The conversation the night before between she and him was a bit intense, but his mood was still elevated when he fell asleep. From what she knew, there hadn't been an upsetting phone call during the night. For a moment she even considered that he'd had a bad dream, but when she asked, he laughed sarcastically and refused.
"Why do you think he's mad?" Brennan asked, avoiding answering his question.
"Cuz when we went to see the chimps he didn't make his funny monkey sounds and he always does."
She smiled at his innocent response. "I don't think he's mad, but if he is I promise he's not mad at you." Her assurance made him grin. "Have fun." She stepped off the contraption and headed towards the bench where his father was seated.
Booth couldn't stop hearing it. The four words had played on repeat through his mind all night and morning. Goodnight Mommy. Goodnight Baby. When had that started? They sounded way too comfortable saying it for it to have been the first time. But he would have known, wouldn't he? He hadn't forgotten overhearing Emma tell Russ that Parker wanted to call Bones…that. Wanting it and actually doing it, however, were two very different things. What truly boggled his mind more than his son was Brennan. Did she actually want him to call her…that? The title didn't surprise her like it did him, so it must not have been the first time she heard it. It would definitely startle her. This was Bones he was talking about. Dr. Temperance 'I don't want to have kids' Brennan wouldn't ever be okay with being called…that.
He watched as Brennan helped his son onto the ride and sighed. The mental back and forth in his mind settled for the first time since the words were spoken. He followed his own advice and put his heart into overdrive. No matter how worried he was about Parker's attachment, he couldn't deny the sight in front of him.
He was looking at family. His family. If there was one thing he knew, it was that you couldn't control family. If Parker wanted to call her…mommy, then he wouldn't stand in his way. It wasn't his choice. Deep down, Booth finally let himself feel what he'd been trying to ignore. Goodnight Mommy. Goodnight Baby. He loved hearing those words.
Brennan approached him and left a foot of space between their bodies when she sat. Not a word was spoken. The merry-go-round fired up and the atmosphere was overcome with the sound of cheerful music and happy children calling out to parents. Parker waved in their direction the first time he circled past them.
When his son became entranced with the ride, Booth found the courage to ask the question that had been teasing him all day. "When did it start?" His voice was sturdy and clear.
His sudden, ambiguous question confused her. "When did what start?"
"Parker calling you…what he called you last night." Booth clarified though he shied away from the exact word.
"I'm not sure of the exact time he began to call me Bones, but I assume when he heard you refer to me that way." She answered to the best of her knowledge.
Booth let out a frustrated breath. "Not Bones." He closed the space between them; his brown eyes pierced her light blues. "Last night after Parker woke up form that nightmare, you came to bed and right before you both fell asleep, he said…goodnight mommy and you said goodnight baby."
Brennan's internal need for distance manifested itself when she moved away from him. "We said that?"
"You don't remember?" He asked incredulously.
Her stoic expression gave nothing away. "I was extremely tired last night, more than I thought." She looked at the merry-go-round and then focused on the ground. "I-I'm sorry."
He could practically see the brick wall going up around her. Her voice was steady, but he could still pick up on her panic. "Whoa, Bones, relax. I'm not angry. I just thought that it had been going on and I didn't know."
Without looking at him, she responded, "He's never said that before. It won't happen again, Booth. I'll tell him it's inappropriate."
Booth reached over and took her hand in his. The gesture forced her attention back to him. "It's not inappropriate."
"Of course it is, Booth. All of it was. I'm not sure why I used the term of endearment, but I apologize."
"You don't have to apologize for that. It's okay." He assured. Truthfully, he had no problem with what she had said.
"No, it isn't. I'm not…I'm not his mother." Her voice hitched when she spoke.
The father felt his heart twist by the fact that she could hardly get the words out. "Maybe not biologically, but over the past seven months you have been exactly what a mother should be, Bones." The music from the children's ride silenced. He knew Parker would be running over to them in just a second. "I shouldn't have brought this up here. I'm sorry. We'll finish this conversation later."
She nodded in agreement and was quiet while she composed herself. Finally she spoke, "He thought you were mad because you didn't make monkey sounds."
Booth gave her a genuine smile. "We'll swing by the apes one more time before we leave."
(-)
"Ok, now remember to keep your water wings tight on your arms. If you feel them pop or get lose, you call me." Booth warned his son while slipping the inflatable safety devices onto his tiny biceps. "And don't jump in too close to the edge." Parker nodded and dived into the pool the moment his armbands were secure.
After their long day of sightseeing, the trio decided to relax in the indoor swimming area of the hotel. Parker chose to take a dip the large pool while the adults chose to unwind in the hot tub adjacent to it. Booth watched his son quickly make friends with two other children. The boy and girl were being watched by their parents and he had a clear view of the entire area from the jacuzzi, so he had no reason to worry. When he set his towel down on a plastic chair, he watched Brennan do the same.
From the time of their conversation earlier that afternoon, she had regressed to her guarded self. She faked a level of enthusiasm to keep Parker in the dark about her sudden changed mood. Booth guessed that she hoped she could fool him as well, but he knew her far too well. Her real smile and fake smile were day and night to him, totally different and easily distinguishable.
He slipped out of his flip flops, but his movements stilled when her hands went to the hem of her sundress.
In one swift move she pulled the material over her head. The sinful two piece bathing suit she wore wasn't one of those trashy, string bikinis like the women in Sport Illustrated. It was reddish purple like an aged, fine wine. The top was halter style and the bottoms were just as simple. It had a sporty presence, but his mouth still watered like a dog desperate for water on a hot day.
She didn't seem to notice his reaction because she tied her hair up and stepped into the bubbling water without a glance in his direction. Booth refocused and stripped himself of his tee shirt before getting in. They sat facing the pool and watched Parker splash around. The father let his head fall back against the edge. He closed his eyes and soaked in the feeling of the warm bubbles massaging his body. He didn't think anything could feel better until his sixth sense picked up on a pair of eyes staring in his direction.
Despite her inner tension about what Booth had told her, Brennan couldn't keep her eyes off him. She knew everything about the human physique and Booth's was truly magnificent. His pectorals were well defined. His shoulders, she had always loved their wide expansion. The muscles of his arms were toned but not too big. Physically he was perfect.
She lost track of the world around her while she gaped at him until his voice broke the trance. "Like what you see, Bones?" He laughed and lifted his head back up.
Shyly, she looked away with feelings resembling a teenage girl who had been caught staring in class. She took a breath to regain composure. "You know that I think you're structured well."
His eyes narrowed as he took in her appearance. "You're blushing." He teased.
With confidence she met his gaze. "I am not. We're sitting in a hot tub, Booth. I'm just-"
"Hot?" He finished. With gathered bravery, his appreciative eyes raked her body up and down, making sure he was obvious just to rile her up. "I agree with you there."
Her lips parted at his blatant flirting. A smug grin crept onto his face. Instead of calling him out on his behavior, she just smiled.
Both of them watched Parker swim for a few minutes. Brennan's unsure voice finally cut into the silence. "I don't want to disappoint him."
Booth turned to find an expression looking back at him that could only be compared to a terrified little girl. He suppressed the overwhelming desire to wrap his arms around her and never let go. The water splashed around his body when he scooted closer to his partner. "Bones, you haven't ever disappointed Parker in all the time you've known him."
"Because I've only ever been Bones to him!" Her tone was a bit unnerved, but she kept it low enough not to cause a scene. "He knows me as his father's partner. He expects me to act according to that role. If he's changed the way he thinks of me then he'll expect more." She almost broke his heart as she voiced her vulnerability. "I can't be a mother to him, Booth. I don't know how."
His eyes widened at her admission. That was the reason she didn't want him to call her mommy? Not because of her personal feelings about having children, but because she was worried about Parker being let down? "You don't know how? Bones, yes you do. You take care of him like he's the most precious thing on Earth. You've stepped up morning, noon, and night for us. I couldn't think of anyone I'd rather have be his mother."
"Besides Rebecca."
Brennan knew what bringing her up would do to him. He had the same reaction every time: clenched jaw, tight lips, and darkened eyes. Though the scientist knew Booth seethed about her often, it was rare that the blonde was brought up in conversation,
"No, not Rebecca. She might have given birth to him, but she is not his mother. A mother doesn't leave her child without even a warning."
"Mine did." She retorted.
"To keep you safe not because of a selfish, immature desire to live the life she missed out on." Booth wouldn't let her argue her way out of this. "All a mother has to do is love their child, Bones. It's the little things you do, like the way you make sure to hold his hand when you cross the street and how you comfort him in the middle of the night when he has a bad dream that proves that you love him, that you can be a great mother."
Brennan absorbed his words and replied, "I trust you, Booth. I trust what you say, but I still don't know if I can be enough for the both of you."
He couldn't ignore the urge any longer. His strong arm came up from the water and draped itself over her shoulders. To his delight, she leaned into his embrace and rested her head on his shoulder. He kissed her hair and whispered, "Take all the time you need, Bones. What he wants to call you, it's you and Parker's decision, but you know how I feel." Booth felt her nod against him.
He took a deep breath. "This thing is pretty relaxing. One of us should get one when we go home." He spoke in regard to the bubbling tub they were in.
"That would be pointless since we both live in apartments." Brennan replied.
Booth didn't think before the words casually slipped through his lips. "Maybe we'll change that one day."
Before Brennan could comprehend his words, Parker yelled from his place on the diving board. "Daddy! Mommy! Watch!" He ran down the ramp, jumped with all his might and cannon balled into the water.
THREE MONTHS EARLIER
Booth collected all the energy he had to unlock the door of his apartment. It was only 9 pm, but a case had kept him awake for at least 35 hours. He was desperate for sleep. Once he opened the door, he dropped his keys on the coffee table and threw his jacket over the back of the couch.
Realizing that the living room was empty, he sauntered down the hall and pushed his son's bedroom door open. A lazy grin spread from cheek to cheek when he found Parker lying against his partner, who was resting against the headboard of the twin child's bed. Her head was titled a little to the right so she had a clear view over his shoulder, to the book that lay in his lap.
They looked up at him simultaneously. He imagined that the two smiles they greeted him with were the work of angels. Nothing less could conjure such brilliance. "Hi daddy." Parker spoke, on the verge of falling asleep.
"Hey bub." He returned, stepping into the room. "Were you good today?"
"He was very well behaved." Brennan assured him. "Did the case end in your favor?" She was always curious about his work that didn't involve her.
"I'll find out tomorrow but it better. I wouldn't be able to sleep at night knowing that piece of trash was free." Booth sat on the end of the bed. He felt her feet under the blanket against his hip.
"From what you told me, I doubt Caroline will fail in court." She pulled her arms from under Parker and glimpsed at her watch. "It's late. I should go." Carefully, she extracted herself from the bed and let Parker fall back against the mattress. "I'll see you after school tomorrow." She kissed him on the forehead. "Goodnight."
"Night, Bones." The boy replied, snuggling his head into his pillow.
"Thanks for watching him." Booth told her.
"It was my pleasure. I'll be sure to lock the door on my way out." With that, she walked out of the bedroom.
Booth listened to her move through his home until the front door clicked shut. He moved forward so he had a better view of his son. "Did you have a good day?" He asked in a hushed voice, brushing his dirty blonde hair form his eyes.
"Uh-huh, Angela showed me how to make pictures on her computer and then she went with me and Bones to get pizza for dinner." Parker told him smiling.
"Sounds awesome, buddy. Did you say your prayers?"
"Yup. Bones listened and said I did 'em right."
The father should have been more surprised because of his partner's beliefs about their religion, but lately she had turned a blind eye when it came to Parker and simply did what made them both happy.
"Good job." He kissed his cheek. "Sweet dreams, buddy. I'll see you in the morning."
Before Booth stood up, Parker's sleepy voice asked, "Is she my new mommy?"
Thinking he misheard, he shifted to look straight at him. "What?"
"Is Bones my new mommy?"
"No, of course not." He denied, although the idea struck a nerve in him that was incredibly open to the concept.
"Oh." Parker sighed.
Booth was confused. Was that discontent he heard in his voice? "No one is ever going to try to be your new mommy, but Bones does love you. You know that right?" Parker nodded. "Alright, now go to sleep. Goodnight, bub."
"Night daddy."
Good? Bad? Needed more (insert what you want here)? Let me know!
And since you've all been so great here's a little info for next chapter: BB bring up the 'mommy' thing to Parker and we get to see how this week of seperation will work ;)