I never thought I'd get so many reviews for that last chapter! I LOVE YOU GUYS! In return here is an EXTRA EXTRA EXTRA LONG CHAPTER. If you don't like it, I apologize, but I got carried away.

Be warned: This is a very Parker light/ BB HEAVY chapter, but I had to establish what was going on in their relationship.

AND TO MY AMAZING, FANTASTIC, PERFECT BONES SOULMATE...I LOVE YOU KIMMY AND I COULD NOT HAVE WRITTEN THIS WITHOUT YOU!

In the past nine years that Brennan had worked at the Jeffersonian, she had never missed it so much. As she leaned over the metal table examining the ancient remains, she longed for the laboratory that she considered her true home. Surly, the scientist didn't like being away from the rest of the squints, but it wasn't just the people she missed. The Jeffersonian was one of the most prestigious institutes in the world and it had the resources to match. In D.C. she worked with the best tools, the best team, in the best environment. Here at Northwestern she was expected to work to the best of her ability with mediocre equipment, incompetent assistants in a room without windows, under fading fluorescent lighting.

Brennan knew the reason why the remains were sent here and not to her glorious lab. Dr. Blake had been leading the dig where the skeletons were recovered before returning last fall to instruct his college courses. She didn't want to believe such favoritism existed in her world of science but she wasn't ignorant to reality. It wasn't reasonable that she was forced to work in less than favorable conditions. This discovery, however, would be acknowledged by anthropologists everywhere and providing an identity to the set of bones would no doubt solidify her status as the best in her field.

Fortunately, that goal was very close to being accomplished. She'd been working from morning until the late hours of the night for the past four days. Her colleagues for the week would suggest she take longer breaks, but none of them were as stubborn as Booth when it came to making her rest, so she easily dismissed their concern.

Dr. Garret Blake was the only person to notice when she would independently choose to pull herself away from their work.

Every evening at exactly 8:00 pm, he'd watch Dr. Brennan step away to a secluded area of the area of their work space and pull out her cell phone. He hadn't figured out who she called ever day like clockwork. His natural curiosity of course spiked at the mystery. All he knew was that the doctor would always laugh during this time. She never did at any other time even when a genuinely funny joke was told by someone on his team. Each night she would return to work with a content smile as well. It was the only time he saw her display real emotion.

The two doctors worked in silence, until Brennan glanced at her watch and straightened her back, moving away from the table. "Dr. Blake, if you'd excuse…"

"Phone call." He interrupted with a knowing look. "Take your time. I think I'll take a break myself."

She nodded and walked to a lounge area on the opposite end of the room. It reminded her slightly of their lounge at the Jeffersonian. On a counter were a coffee machine and a small refrigerator. There was a coffee table was surrounded by a couch and couple chairs in front of it.

Garret watched out of the corner of his eye as she pulled out her cell phone, held down one button, and lifted it to her ear. The secrecy was beginning to bother him. He had no intention of prying, but unlike almost every scientist he's worked with, he knew literally nothing about Dr. Brennan's home life. He decided to investigate.

Dr. Blake pulled his latex gloves off and quietly approached the refrigerator to retrieve a bottle of water. He casually unscrewed the cap and took a few sips, trying to appear oblivious to the world around him. The proximity between him and Brennan was smaller than most nights during her conversation, so he picked up on a few words.

"Daddy did what...I'm glad you had fun…I hope I can meet them one day…It's past your bedtime…Yes, you are tired…I believe I just heard a yawn…Same time tomorrow…I miss you, too…Just one more day…Goodnight, baby."

Garret's interest skyrocketed. His first guess was that Brennan had been sneaking off to call a boyfriend, seeing as she wore no wedding ring and hadn't changed her name since she was publishing papers in the very university they were standing in. Now, however, he had a very good idea of who was on the other side of that line.

Brennan returned back to their work without a look in his direction. He drank more water and checked his own phone for any missed calls or messages from his wife. After that, he re-joined her at the table. His green eyes glanced upward to see that content smile playing her lips just like their previous nights. They worked in silence for a few minutes before he spoke, "Dr. Brennan?"

"Yes, Dr. Blake?" She replied, without breaking eye contract from a delicate femur.

"I couldn't help but overhear the last bit of that conversation and I know we aren't here to discuss our personal lives, but I'm surprised you never mentioned you had a child."

His words were enough to pull her attention from the bone. Her head snapped upward and she met his kind expression. "I…" Brennan was at a loss for words. She was never one to lie. Truthfully, she didn't thinks he was capable of actually saying she didn't have a child. As of a few days ago, she was a mother. She had spent the last new nights lying awake, marveled by the concept that she, Dr. Temperance Brennan, was somebody's mother. Despite knowing the truth, she didn't want to feed into the incorrect picture in Dr. Blake's mind. He wouldn't understand without a lengthy explanation and now was not the time to share such personal information. "Because I don't." her half-fib left her feeling uneasy. It was like she was hiding what she now was and that wasn't right.

Garret was surprised. "Forgive me for the assumption. I just hope it wasn't an adult you were talking to about bedtimes." He chuckled while carefully removing a sample of the dust that lightly covered the remains.

"It wasn't" She spoke honestly, before changing the subject. "I'd like to send some of these x-rays to my team at the Jeffersonian. They're expertise will be extremely helpful."

(*)

The next night, Brennan tossed and turned in the hotel room's large bed. She realized the night after Booth and Parker had flown to Philadelphia that it was too big for just one person. The scientist stared up at the ceiling and focused on breathing slowly in and out, hoping that sleep would take her. Twenty minutes later, she gave up on the technique. She felt extremely anxious. This time tomorrow she'd be done with the project. The identities of the remains were confirmed and paperwork was the final step to complete before she could part ways with Dr. Blake's team. By this time, she'll also have her boys back.

Her boys.

The sense of possessiveness she felt was irrational. A case could be argued as to why she would feel overprotective for Parker. He was a young child who she was responsible for. He was hers to care for. Booth however was a different story. Brennan knew she had no right to claim him. All her adult life she looked down upon men and women who would claim that their significant other was 'theirs.' Her core belief was that one person could not own another. She never accepted that one person could be another person's everything.

Until now.

Her brain and her heart, no matter how metaphorical it may be, were at odds end. She couldn't call them her boys. But she was sure they wouldn't object to it. Booth didn't belong to her. But she couldn't even picture him with anyone else. They weren't even a couple. But they acted like it. She didn't want Booth to think he owned her. But would it be so bad being his?

The mental back and forth was wearing her down. How could she be a proper mother and be so unsure of herself at the same time? She couldn't. She had to decide once and for all what she wanted. It was time to make a choice. The choice. Brain or heart.

A sudden electronic beeping distracted her thoughts. The front screen of her phone shined brightly with the word Booth written in bold letters. Late night phones calls normally meant one of two things: there was a case or something bad had happened. Since she knew it couldn't be the first, she panicked.

Flipping open the device she spoke like rapid fire into the receiver. "What's wrong?"

"Whoa, calm down, Bones. Everything's fine."

Brennan breathed a sigh of relief and relaxed into her pillow. She wouldn't have been able to forgive herself if something had happened and she wasn't there. "Booth, it's almost eleven o'clock. Why are you calling?"

"Can I just say I missed your voice?" He teased.

With a roll of her eyes, she replied, "You talked to me three hours ago so that's very unlikely."

"Alright, I do have a reason for calling. My cousin Renee came in to town when she heard Parker and I were coming. She lives in Des Moines and on her way back home she's bringing her three kids to this water park in Pittsburg, called SoakZone or something like that. Anyway, she asked if she could bring Parker." He paused, expecting a retort. When she made no noise, he continued, "She offered to drop him in Chicago on the drive back to Iowa since it's on the way. What do you think?"

Brennan had to admit she was disappointed that she'd have to spend another day away from Parker, but she knew this opportunity to bond with his family was one he needed. "I think that Parker would enjoy that. As long as you trust your cousin with him, I think it's a pleasant idea."

Booth almost scoffed. Of course he could trust family. He almost said the words until he remember his partner's experience with her own family. "Yeah, Bones. She's pretty good with him."

"Then I think it'd be wise to let him go." She replied, before another possibility crossed her mind. "Will you stay another night in Philadelphia?"

"Oh, no. I don't really want to pay the money to change my flight. It'll cost enough to cancel Parker's ticket and before you say anything, you're not paying for it. We already decided that Philadelphia was my thing."

"I wasn't going to object, Booth." Brennan softly spoke.

"You miss me don't you?"

She could practically hear the cocky grin emerge on his face. "I do not miss you." The good-hearted lie didn't affect her near as much as her lie earlier that day.

"Do too."

"Do not."

"Well I miss you." Booth held his breath waiting for her reply. When she did, her words were far from what he expected.

"Booth, why did you ask me what I thought about letting Parker go to that water park?"

"I guess I just…thought I'd run it by you, you know, before I gave him my answer." The uncharacteristic hesitation in his voice surprised her.

"You're more than capable to make that decision on your own." Brennan stated plainly.

"I know, Bones, but things are different now. You and me…we're different now. We're supposed to make these decisions together."

Brennan felt her breath catch in her throat. The feeling she'd been experiencing the past week crashed over her, more powerful than ever, this special feeling that she couldn't have even dreamed about before. "Thank you for thinking of me, Booth." The combination of his overwhelming consideration and her lack of sleep quickly produced the stinging sensation of impending tears behind her eyes. She squeezed them shut before they escaped.

"You're welcome, Bones." He was silent for a moment as he listened to the sound of her breathing. "You need to get some sleep. I can hear how exhausted you are. I bet you're working non-stop, aren't you?"

"I am working as much as needed." She countered. "But I am quite tired."

"I'll let you go then. See you tomorrow."

"Goodnight, Booth."

"Night, Bones."

(*)

Brennan maneuvered through the busy airport in record time. She weaved in and out of crowds of travelers, determined to get to the gate Booth would arrive at as soon as possible. Dr. Blake had kept her longer than expected and there was a horrible back up on the highway. The scientist had driven into the parking garage at the exact time the plane was scheduled to land. She practically ran her way through the building and opted for the stairs instead of riding the slow escalator. Her eyes connected with the electronic board listing all the airports flights.

Arrivals-American Airlines-Philadelphia, PA- Landed

Checking her watch she saw that ten minutes had passed since the plane's arrival time. She cursed inwardly, knowing that he'd probably already gotten off the plane. He'd sent her a text message earlier explaining how he was changed his ticket to first class since he canceled Parker's. She glanced around the area, trying to spot anything familiar, dark hair, broad shoulders, ones of those beloved jackets he wore on a regular basis.

Brennan glanced again at the board and decided to look for him at the baggage claim designated to his flight. She pushed past other bodies, probably irritating many people, but she didn't care. All she could think about was Booth walking off his plane to find no one waiting for him.

She found the carousel of bags moments later but was once again unsuccessful in her search for her partner. Bags were just being loaded onto the conveyor system so she decided to stay put and wait. He'd have to come here eventually.

(*)

Booth saw Brennan before she saw him. He had stopped by the men's room before finding his way to place to collect his luggage. He had been wondering why Bones hadn't greeted him at the gate. They never agreed that she'd meet him, he'd just assumed.

To his delight, when he strode past the other carousels, he'd stopped his partner standing about five yards away from him, facing the crowd of his fellow passengers. He could see her head slightly moving back and forth. He smiled, realizing that she was looking for him.

Utilizing his sniper training, he quietly approached her, careful to stay out of her line of vision. He knew he was taking a chance doing what he was about to do. It would end well or with a black eye. When he was only a few feet from her he quickened his step and before she could sense anyone behind her, he stepped directly behind her, wrapped an arm around her waist, and planted a kiss to her temple.

(*)

Brennan tensed the second she felt someone touch her but when she recognized the familiar scent of his aftershave, she calmed and leaned into his embrace as his lips touched her.

"Hey, Bones." He whispered in her ear.

"Hi." Brenna replied, turning around to find a charm smile staring her in eye. They moved their arms simultaneously into one of their 'guy hugs.' "I'm sorry." She spoke, with her chin resting on his shoulder.

Booth pulled back with a confusion ridden expression. "For what?"

"For not being here sooner. I wanted to greet you at your gate but there was very heavy traffic going into the city." She explained apologetically.

Booth raised one hand to brush her hair behind her ear, hoping the gesture would rid her of remorse. "It's no big deal. I never said you had to meet me."

"But I wanted to. Angela has surprised me several times when I've come home after a trip and it always felt good to see a familiar face. I wanted to do the same for you." Brennan admitted.

He could see the pink flush on her cheeks, a telltale sign of embarrassment. "Tell you what, how about you have dinner with me to make up for it?"

"Will you let me pay?" She challenged.

"Only if you're good." He joked. "Now let's get my bag and blow this pop stand."

"I don't know what that means."

(*)

"Anyway, my aunt was kind of sick all week, so last night I was filling up the humidifier for her when Parker walks up to the bathroom door and asked what I was doing. I told her it would help clear up her sinuses and then he says, 'Dad, how is she supposed to fit that up her nose?'" Booth chuckled.

Brennan giggled at the anecdote. "A couple of weeks ago when he was saying his prayers before bed, he said 'lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from e-mail.'"

The father let out a hearty laugh. "Oh, I bet the big guy upstairs just loved that one."

Throughout dinner Booth and Brennan talked about his trip and her work. They exchanged guesses about what was going on back in D.C. but most of their talk was centered on Parker. They had been exchanging amusing stories about the five year old since they'd left the restaurant. Now they were making their way into their hotel room, wearing matching grins, still entertained from the tales they'd shared.

Both adults had also indulged in a few drinks, beer for him and wine for her. It had been the first chance they'd gotten to drink together in a very long time. Neither was drunk, the last thing they wanted was for Parker to come home to a hungover mother and father, but they were both a little off their game.

Booth walked into the room and immediately flopped back on the bed, sighing contently. Brennan rested her hand on the wall and stood on one foot to remove her heels. When her feet were bare, she reached to remove her earrings, tilting her head in the process. She hissed when a painful sensation suddenly ran down her neck.

The FBI agent rose up on his elbows. "What's wrong, Bones?"

Brennan put her hand on the back of her neck and squeezed slightly, trying to relieve the soreness. "I'm experiencing tension in my trapezius muscles."

He didn't know what exactly those were, but from the way she tried to rub her neck, he guessed that was where the pain emitted from. Standing up, he strode past her, towards the bathroom. "Change into your pajamas and put your hair up. I'll be out in a minute." He instructed before pushing the door closed.

His command caught her off guard, but she did as told. His order was a part of her nightly routine to get ready for bed anyway, so it wasn't too outlandish to follow. When Booth walked out of the bathroom, she saw he carried her bottle of lavender scented lotion. "What are you-"

"Lay down on your stomach." He interrupted her question with another demand. Inwardly, he knew the alcohol running through his veins was giving him the extra push that was making him so insistent.

"Why?" She questioned.

"You're about to be the lucky recipient of a world famous Seeley Booth massage." He told her with a signature cocky smile.

Brennan considered the offer for a split second before scooting backward on the bed. She turned over to lay on her front and let her head fall onto the fluffy pillows. Turning her face to the side, she declared with a comfortable sigh, "I'm doubtful that they're world famous."

Booth shook his head and crawled onto the bed to sit to the right side of her. He squeezed a dollop of the body cream into his hand and rubbed his other over it, spreading the substance. "I think you'll be singing a different tune in no time, Bones."

A moment later his fingers stared to work their way into the knots on her neck. The balls of his hands concurrently applied pressure to the very top of her spine. Booth was careful not to push too hard; he wouldn't be able to live with himself if he hurt her. His eyes remained locked on the profile of her face, letting his sense of touch take over control of his hands. He tried to read her expression, needing to know if she was enjoying this or not.

Booth's answer came when a moan echoed from deep within her throat. His inner caveman banged his fists against his chest, knowing damn well that it was a sound of pleasure, not pain. He was making her feel good. He made his Bones feel good. The rush of power was dizzying. That, along with the mix of the strong lavender aroma and the smell that was simply Brennan, was enough to make his head spin. "Feel better?" He asked, egotistically seeking the response he already knew.

"Yes…" She groaned when his knuckled started moving in circular patterns outward against his shoulders. "You're very talented at this, Booth."

He smirked. "I try." His thumbs worked the skin of her neck that had now gone soft. "Looks like those trapezius muscles are all taken care of." A barely audible whimper escaped her lips. "Want me to keep going?"

She hesitated before quietly asking, "Would you?"

He leaned down far enough for his lips to ghost the shell of her ear. "I'll go as long as you want, Bones."

Booth slowly moved his head away from her ear and accidently brushed his nose against it, making Brennan whisper out a small, yet distinctive, sigh. Booth hadn't expected that. A sigh. Sure, she had groaned in response to his ministrations a few moments earlier but that could have been out of alleviation. A sigh was different. A sigh was relaxation, utter contentment, and to Booth in that moment, whether due to the alcohol that was currently warming his body or the woman below him that was setting it on fire, an invitation. He returned his hands to her back, pressing the pads of his fingers into the soft muscles that he had already loosened and continuing to apply his strength into them.

Suddenly something flashed in his eyes, a hindering something, a white something. The strap of the pretty, flowy thing that Brennan wore as her shirt. He had an idea. Brennan groaned again, yet this time in frustration. Booth had stopped that wonderful things that he was doing to her back and he had better had a good excuse for it. Yet her groan was cut off by a question. "Can I move this?"

"What?" Brennan replied, unsure of where Booth was coming from.

"Your shirt, it's in the way. If you want the full experience, I'm going to need access to more than your neck and shoulders." His voice was strong, but it was a façade. Truthfully, he'd never been so nervous to speak in his life.

Brennan looked over her shoulder, casting Booth a look that could only be described as playfully seductive. He kept his gasp silent. Did she know what she was doing to him? "I suppose I should have, what you call, the full experience. Especially considering how highly renowned and esteemed you tell me it is."

Booth hooked his pointer finger under the obstructing strap, its silkiness almost distracting him from the fact that he was beginning to undress his partner. Yes, they were only the straps of her shirt and yes, he had imagined this sort of situation with a more, satisfying, ending, but Booth couldn't deny that he felt his heart beat faster than it had in a long time.

For the next 20 minutes Brennan fell into a place between consciousness and sleep, a place where the only thing in the world that mattered was the way her partner's strong hands manipulated her flesh.

After what, to Booth, felt like hours of being given unrestricted access to what had to be the smoothest back he'd ever felt, he couldn't take it anymore. So he decided not to. Without lessening the pressure from his hands, he leaned his face so close to Brennan's back that had she been of right mind she would have felt his five o'clock shadow dancing on her skin.

His lips grazed the skin between her shoulder blades. He allowed his mouth to linger for the shortest second of his life before pulling back so little that his breath still warmed her nerves.

The unexpected contact pulled Brennan from her dreamlike world. Her eyes opened, but she remained still, wondering if she'd imagined the kiss. Her mind was certainly creating multiple fantasies that included the move.

A wave of confidence crashed over the FBI agent when she offered no opposition, so he pushed the envelope even farther and started a trail of feather light kisses up to the nape of her neck. As he came back down, he parted his lips, turning light pecks into hot open mouth caresses.

Brennan arched her spine, thanking every god from every culture she knew of that this was no hallucination. Desperate for a taste of her own, she turned her torso just enough to catch his lips with her own before they descended on her once again.

Booth's mouth dueled with her for dominance. Every instant he thought he was in control, he'd feel her suck just a little bit harder, lick just a little bit faster. He was addicted to her. The little touches and tastes he'd snuck here and there since Parker had become a son to both himself and his partner had all built up into one large and nagging addiction that distracted the hell out of him. It was this addiction that distracted him, that made him forget of how his hands creeping closer and closer to her breasts would usually make him fearful for his life.

His hands stopped on their own volition, just as they had started their ascent without his permission as well. Booth applied the slightest bit of pressure with his thumbs and felt the curve of Brennan's breast beneath his grip. He was going to pass out, he was sure of it. He was a fully grown, and sexually adept, man and he was going to be rendered unconscious from grazing the underside of a woman's breast.

The touch of calloused fingertips against side of her chest sobered Brennan back into reality. Her dragged her swollen lips from his and unconsciously wrapped her hands around his wrists, ceasing his actions.

With a heaving breath, Booth realized what direction his greedy palms were moving. "Oh God, Bones, I'm sorry."

"It's okay." She replied, steadying her own breath as well.

"No, it's not. I just got a little carried away." He couldn't believe he allowed his hormones to rule him so easily. For years he'd become an expert of suppressing his sexual desire around her and now he was behaving like a teenager.

"It's alright, Booth, really." She paused. "But, we've discussed this before."

THREE MONTHS EARLIER

"We need to talk about what happened the other night, Bones."

From the moment Brennan's lips disconnected with his own, she had consumed their thoughts. The heated make out session on his couch took place over a week ago and he's been itching to talk about it ever since. Unfortunately, every moment Brennan was in his presence, they were either at work, or with Parker, or they just didn't have the time he wanted to devote to the issue.

This night however was different. Parker had just fallen asleep and before Brennan could step through the front door, he halted her with his words.

She turned and met his pleading eyes. For seven days she had been hoping that Booth chose to forget about the incident and move on. Clearly, she'd been mistaken. "I don't see why. It was a moment of poor judgment which I believe was caused by my exhaustion and your need for physical intimacy that has been denied since you've taken on Parker full time."

The father's jaw extended. "Is that seriously what you think that was? That you were sleep deprived and I was just looking for a little action?"

"I wouldn't have said it if I wasn't serious." She stated a fact that he should already know.

"That's a load of crap, Bones. I would never just use you like that." Booth was disgusted at the thought. He'd never use any woman as a means to end, especially her. He stepped into her personal space, claiming it like it were his own and grasped her forearms. "What happened between us…there was a lot more behind it. Please tell me that on some level you know that."

He felt Brennan tense under his hold. Their gazes locked. Booth could see the fear in her eyes. She wanted to run. He tightened his hold on her, trying desperately to get her to realize what he already knew. "I-I'm aware of the attraction between us." Before he could speak up, she continued, "I concede that the attraction has deepened over the course of time because of our partnership, but…"

"But what? You feel it, Bones. I know you do."

"A romantic relationship is too much of a risk." She straightforwardly told him. "Parker comes first."

"He still can."

"Not if we're focused on each other. I care about you Booth and I know you can reciprocate those feelings, but we both need to care about him more."

Booth finally let his arms fall. He took a few steps away from her, soaking in the significance of her words. Standing in front of the window, he uttered a question he'd been wanting to ask from the moment Brennan offered to help him raise his son. "You really love him don't you."

A beat.

"More than I ever thought I could."

So, there you go :) There will be a ton of Parker fluff next chapter guys, so if you missed him this time, don't worry!

Please let me know what you think!