As always you guys are amazing! We couldn't ask for better readers! Some of you are asking questions that'd we'd love to answer, but we can't give too much away. We hope you enjoy this chapter!
Early morning sunlight stained the creamy walls of Brennan's apartment with an orangey yellow tinge. The deep silk curtains that were purchased to keep the rooms dark merely diluted them. The apartment ached with silence; one that was broken merely by the ticking of multiple clocks and bare feet carefully padding down the hardwood hallways. A nose poked itself out from behind a doorframe followed by a set of dark brown eyes. They focused on the bed pushed up against the wall opposite of the door and, more importantly, on the softly snoring woman curled up inside of it.
Booth smiled as he slowly tiptoed through the doorframe and to the edge of Brennan's bed. She shifted slightly in her slumber as his presence settled next to her. Booth lifted his hand towards her mussed bed head and ran his hand through the few strands that fell in front of her face. Brennan slowly opened her eyes and as soon as they met his she mumbled, "Good morning."
"Back at you, sleepyhead." Booth cocked his head to the side as Brennan stretched her legs out under her sheets. "It's time to start getting the best birthday ever ready."
Once Brennan had managed to open her eyes and crawl out of bed, she and Booth quietly relocated to the living area of her apartment. There wasn't much to do considering Parker's party was at Hodgins' house, but they wanted the morning to be special as well.
"Thanks for letting me and Park spend the night, Bones. I want this day to be perfect and I know that won't happen unless the three are together from the start. I am just so excited to spend every moment of this birthday with Parker. They used to be such a battle with Rebecca. " Booth said before he sucked the open end of a blue balloon into his mouth.
Brennan stopped stirring the pancake batter that she was preparing and looked up at Booth as he leaned against the counter in front of her. She could see the anxiety in his wrinkled forehead.
"Booth, you know you can stop thanking me for allowing you to sleep here. This is a second home to Parker and I hope it can be for you as well. As for today, disregard Rebecca. The two of us are more than capable of making this day everything that Parker deserves."
Her blatant attempt at soothing sobered Booth. He felt all of his apprehension fall away as he knotted the air filled balloon and watched Brennan return to her stirring. Booth considered picking up another deflated balloon but decided that looking at his partner was a better use of his time.
He thought she was gorgeous first thing in the morning. Her hair was tousled and a slight pink still remained on her cheeks from being pressed against her pillow. As if to punctuate his thoughts, Brennan suddenly yawned and rubbed her left eye with the back of her hand.
"Bones, why don't you go lay on the couch for a little while? I just finished the balloons and I can finish the stirring."
Usually Brennan would shoot him down and argue that she was capable, but her fatigue took over. He did wake her up early. Maybe it wouldn't be such a bad idea to let him finish the batter. "Okay. Thank you, Booth. That's very kind of you."
Booth was surprised that she accepted his offer. Happy, but surprised. He walked around the counter and took the big wooden spoon from Brennan's hand, scooting her towards her living room. He began to lazily stir the mixture in the red mixing bowl in front of him. The only thing that could make these better would be chocolate chips, he thought. Although Parker loved pancakes, he knew no one liked regular pancakes more than chocolate chip ones.
Booth carefully watched Brennan as she curled herself up on the couch, tucking her knees towards her chest and burrowing her head into a throw pillow. He knew she had chocolate chips somewhere he just had to be quiet enough not to disturb her.
He kept one eye on her resting form as he soundlessly shuffled through her refrigerator. After a few minutes he spotted a yellow Nestle bag behind some jars filled with jam. He pulled it out, grinning with victory, and poured half of the bag into the pancake batter. He could smell the chocolate sinking into the concoction and he licked his lips in anticipation.
It smelled so good that Booth considered starting to cook the pancakes, but he listened to the emptiness echoing around him and decided that Parker wasn't going to be waking up anytime soon. He thought that the excitement that his son had exhibited in the weeks before his birthday meant that he would have been up at the crack of dawn. However, it seemed like God wanted them all to get some sleep.
Booth considered going back to bed with Parker until he looked at just how comfortable and warm Brennan looked sleeping on her couch. He reevaluated. That couch was definitely big enough for them both. It had to be. He silently crept towards the couch, watching as Brennan's soft, peaceful features became clearer as he neared her. Booth balanced a knee on the cushion below Brennan's bare feet and slid his body into the space between her and the back of the couch.
Almost immediately, Brennan's body relaxed back into Booth's. She stretched out her legs and rested her head under his chin. She fit into his body perfectly. Her knees bent where his could bend into their gap. The top of her head was close enough that he could smell her hair without moving. Booth could feel her breathing; he could feel the slow beating of her heart against his own chest. As he laid his hand upon her stomach, he could feel just how warm she really was.
It was intoxicating yet it was also incredibly soporific. It was merely moments before he joined Brennan in her state of slumber.
(*)
"IT'S MY BIRTHDAAAAAY!" Parker cried as he hurtled towards the living room couch and threw himself on top of his parents. Brennan cried out in surprise as Booth simultaneously grunted from receiving the majority of his son's impact. "It's my birthday!" He repeated, slightly lower in decibel then the first scream. "I'm six now!" Parker bounced up and down, shaking Booth and Brennan in his wake.
"Yes, you are bud!" Booth managed to get out despite both his shocking awakening and his worry that the boy would soon start to question why he had been found spooning serenely with Brennan on her couch, instead of in his own bed.
"I'm a big kid now!" Parker replied and he crawled off of them and started to bounce once again in a standing position next to the couch. I guess he has better things to think about, Booth thought, relieved that the morning wouldn't start with desperate explanations.
Brennan tried to focus on Parker's joyful excitement, but her body was on fire. She could feel every single spot that Booth's body was touching hers. It was as if she was hyper sensitive to everything Booth. Well, the bigger Booth. If she could pay attention to the smaller one then she would feel more comfortable. She had to move now or else she was going to find it impossible to move at all.
"Well, I don't know if I'd say a big kid quite yet…" Brennan began as she jumped up off of the couch and picked her son up in her arms. "…because if you were then I wouldn't be able to do this would I?"
Parker stuck his tongue out and smiled at Brennan before he leaned in rubbed his nose against hers. From his new position in her arms, Parker had a clear view of the bowl of pancake batter that had been left forgotten on the kitchen counter.
"Pancakes?" Booth nodded his head, knowing how much his son loved the dish. "Yay! Let's make them now!" Parker cheered as he wriggled himself down and ran into the kitchen. Booth sighed, swinging his legs across the couch so that they were resting on the ground. A sudden rush of bliss washed over him as he could feel in his gut that it was going to be a great day.
"Booth! Where did these chocolate chips come from?"
Yeah, Booth thought, today was going to be perfect.
About twenty minutes later, the pancakes were finally cooked and Parker's birthday breakfast began, despite Booth's multiple attempts to eat batter directly off of the stirring spoon behind Brennan's back.
Parker shoveled bites of pancake into his mouth so fast that it seemed the chocolate was already heightening his birthday high. "Park, slow down. You're going to give yourself a stomach ache before we even get to your party…and if you get sick I'm still going because there is going to be a lot of fun stuff at Dr. Jack's house." Booth said with a fake certainty.
"Daddy! I'm slowing down!" Parker laughed at his father while he actually did start to eat at a normal pace.
As they ate their pancakes and drank their respective juices and milks, Brennan and Booth shot down Parker's pleading questions as he tried urgently to find out any small detail that he could about his approaching party.
Booth reached across the table and ruffled his son's hair. "Don't try to rush through your day, bub, the time's gunna fly by."
"Because time does that when you are having an enjoyable time," Brennan smiled, proud of herself for recognizing a common colloquialism. Booth laughed outwardly as she continued, "Your father is right though, baby. Today is going to be a very fun day and I want you to enjoy it all. Didn't we already have a fun morning?"
"Yeah! We did. I didn't think birthday wishes would come true so quick." Parker's face lit up in a way that made it slightly brighter than it had been all morning.
"What was your birthday wish?" Brennan questioned Parker, pushing the impulse to prove that wishing was fruitless to the back of her mind.
"That you, me and Daddy could wake up together every morning."
Booth and Brennan instantly looked at one another. Waking up in one another's arms had felt so natural that neither could deny that the idea had run through their minds that morning. They stared at one another, boring into each other's minds trying to find a way to explain things to Parker, but both came up empty. Booth and Brennan could see in each other's eyes that neither of them could come up with a good reason that it couldn't happen.
"Oh, wow!" Booth exclaimed, changing the subject and shaking his gaze from Brennan's and redirecting it towards the clock on the wall. "Is it eleven already? I'm supposed to be over at Hodgins's in a half hour to help set the party stuff up." He pushed his chair out from the table and kissed Brennan's forehead, muttering in her ear. "Just focus on the party, Bones. It's okay."
"What'd you say, Daddy?" Parker piped up as Booth made his way around the table to place the same kiss on his forehead.
"Nothing, buddy. Just be good for Mommy, okay? Don't drive her up a wall before your party. I love you, kiddo and happy birthday." Booth punctuated his last statement with a fist bump against Parker's knuckles before he walked over to the front door and slipped his shoes on. With one last wave and a charm smile, Booth was out the door and on his way to perfecting the next stage of his little man's big day.
(*)
Brennan darted back and forth across the floor of her apartment, frantically trying to remember everything she needed to bring to Parker's birthday party. Hodgins's home was a good thirty minute drive from hers and their time constraint wouldn't allow her to turn around if she forgot anything. In her bag already sat her digital camera, batteries, and an extra t-shirt for Parker just in case he dove headfirst into his cake.
"Mommy, can we go now? Pleeeease?" Parker begged, standing by the doorway dressed his best in a short sleeved, casual button up top and khaki shorts.
"We can't leave until Russ drops off Hayley and Emma." Brennan told him for the hundredth time before sending Angela a text message to remind her that one of the children attending was allergic to nuts. She glanced up to find the birthday boy leaning against the brick wall beside the door, anxiously tapping his fingers on his stomach. "Parker, the party isn't for another hour. It can't start without you. Why don't you watch one of your animated children's programs while we wait?"
"Just call it a cartoon, mommy." The boy sighed in frustration before his face turned sour. "I don't wanna watch TV and I don't wanna wait for the girls! I want my party!" He punctuated his desire with a stomp of his foot.
His bitterness broke her continuous trance of birthday party essentials. She crooked a finger at him. "Come here, please." He skulked over, frowning. Brennan stooped down to sit in her knees, making her eye-level with the child. "Daddy and I have worked extremely hard to make your birthday special. I do not appreciate that attitude. Haley and Emma are very excited to come to your party, so we are going to wait here for them, patiently." Her unwavering tone held Parker's full attention. Disciplining him was still very new to the anthropologist, but she knew it was necessary to being a proper parent. "Now can you promise me that you'll behave today?"
He nodded, obviously ashamed of himself. "I will, sorry mommy."
"Apology accepted." Brennan kissed his cheek, bringing a smile back to his face.
Before she had time to rise to her full height, a knock sounded against the apartment door. Giggles could be heard from the hallway. "I'll get it!" Parker insisted. He ran over and twisted the knob.
Hayley and Emma burst into the room, attacking him with hugs. "Happy Birthday Parker!" They squealed. "We got you something really cool!" "We wore our pretty dresses!" "When are we going to your party?" "Our daddy said it's gunna be at a castle!" The jumble of words flew from the little girls' mouths at the speed of light. Parker just laughed at them and flew into a long description of the 'castle' they were heading too.
Brennan stepped towards the children, expecting to find her brother standing on the other side of the doorframe. Her breath caught in her throat when she saw someone completely different. "Dad."
Max Keenan's grin reached his eyes as he raised his line of vision from the kids to his daughter. "Hey, baby." He greeted, stepping into the apartment. Parker pulled the sisters to the opposite side of the living room to show them the mass of birthday balloons he'd woken up to.
"What are you doing here? I thought Russ was bringing them." Brennan spoke, feeling the sliver of uneasiness flutter within her that often arose with her father present.
"He got a call for a job interview this morning. He asked if I could drive the girls over. Plus, I couldn't help but come and wish Parker a happy birthday." Max reached into the inside of his jacket and pulled out a small gift. "This is for him." He trailed off, unsure of the appropriateness of his gesture. He had met the child a few times in the past and thoroughly enjoyed his presence.
"That was very thoughtful of you." Brennan told him as she turned to the boy. "Parker, would you like to open a present early?"
"Yeah!" The birthday boy dashed towards her, jumping with excitement. The wrapping paper was shredded under his hands. He lifted the lid off the little box and pulled out bag which tied at the top. He loosened the knot and reached inside. When he pulled back, there were several glass marbles in his palm. "Neat!" He exclaimed, lifting each one to examine them further. His mouth formed into a 'O' shape as he watched the colors inside the clear spheres dance.
"They belonged to Tempe's brother when he was your age. I've held on to them for a long time. I thought you might like to start collecting them." Max explained the sentiment behind the gift.
"These are awesome. Thanks..." Parker finally took his eyes off the marbles and looked to the right at Brennan. "Mommy, do I call him Max or grandpa?"
Awkward silence flooded the apartment in an instant. Brennan could find any words and neither could a stunned, but smiling Max. Parker tugged at the bottom of her shirt when it took too long for a reply.
"Parker, why don't you and the girls go to your room for a minute? Put your marbles on the nightstand so you don't lose them." The scientist spoke, addressing all three of the children in the room. He nodded and waved for Hayley and Emma to follow him.
When the kids were out of earshot, Max spoke. "Russ told me what you were doing for Booth and Parker."
Before he could say another word expressing his opinion over her life, Brennan started to speak, "I would prefer to discuss this at another time, but since you are already aware of our situation I feel comfortable telling you that I have stepped into the role of Parker's mother." Her arms crossed as she spoke, anticipating words of negativity. Everyone she had talked to about this had shared their concerns, so she expected no less of her father.
His reaction, however, couldn't have shocked her more.
Max walked over to his daughter and placed both hands on her cheeks. Looking directly into her eyes that reminded him so much of her mother he said, "I am so proud of you."
"You are?" She asked in a small voice, suddenly feeling like a little girl again.
"Of course, honey. You are doing something so wonderful for that boy. You mother always dreamed that you'd know the love and happiness that came with being a parent." He lowered his hands, hugged her tightly before taking a step backward.
Brennan breathed back her tears. A new confidence burst within her knowing that her mother would be pleased by the new direction she was taking her life. "I'm hesitant to let you into Parker's life as a grandfather figure." She spoke clearly.
Max nodded. "I understand."
"I'll have to discuss it with Booth, but I would feel comfortable letting him build a relationship with you that is if you-"
"I do." He interjected. "Parker is an amazing boy. I'd be honored to be anything to him."
Suddenly a very eager voice sounded from the back of the apartment. "Mommmmmmy, can we come out now? Daddy's gunna eat all the cake and ice cream if we take forever!"
Both adults laughed. "You better get going." Max urged her. "Tell him happy birthday for me again. Russ will be here to pick up the girls at seven. Kisses, baby." He stepped to the door and walked out without another word.
(*)
Brennan stood on the stone patio leading off from the back of Hodgins's house overlooking the birthday party currently in progress. Her eyes found Parker in the crowd. The birthday boy was running towards a giant, inflatable moon bounce with a slew of his friends behind him. As he started to jump, the SpongeBob party hat he wore slipped off the crown of his head and hung loose around his neck. The rest of the children's did the same. Angela had surprised them by renting the attraction that in all honesty almost enthralled Booth more than Parker. Watching the happy scene unfold, the scientist made it a note to thank Angela with the spa weekend she had declined months ago.
All of Hodgins's property that was visible from the backyard was decorated. A towering balloon archway served as an entry way to the main party area. Boat netting strewn across the bushes with happy sea creatures knotted within in to maintain the SpongeBob theme. Blue and yellow streamers were wrapped around every stationary item including the outdoor furniture, gazebo, and even the trees that lined the estate.
The dining room that was situated just inside of the glass doors leading to the backyard was also clad in regulation SpongeBob birthday attire. Balloons floated all over the room and a large, colorful banner that read 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY PARKER' hung across one of the walls. A few centerpieces of the cartoon characters sat in a row the middle of the long dining table. At every seat there was a goody bags spilling with candy and trinkets for Parker's friends.
All of Parker's guests were having the time of their lives. Even the parents who were in attendance seemed to be enjoying themselves as they conversed with one another and watched their kids play.
"This is amazing!" A cheerful voice sounded beside Brennan. Booth approached her with a green blowout hanging between his lips. The noisemaker had the face of Squidward, the cartoon's antagonist Brennan had learned, printed on it. He blew it once before sticking it in his shirt pocket.
She smiled affectionately at him, taking complete pleasure in the way his inner child had revealed itself since the festivities began. He pouted like an infant when he found out he exceeded the weight limit for the moon bounce made specifically for children. "The party appears to be a success."
"This is more than a success, Bones. I heard two of Parker's friends talking by the punch bowl. He's the coolest kid in town." Booth proudly boasted. From the time he woke, he prayed that the day would go off without a hitch and so far it had been nothing short of perfect.
"The party should heighten his status among his peers." She agreed.
Booth suddenly flashed forward to the next few years. "You know, we're probably going to have to rent out Disneyland next year if we're going to top this."
Brennan felt her insides warm at the thought of the three of them celebrating Parker's birthday for years to come. "I'm sure that would be doable."
The father's eyes widened. "You want to rent-" He stopped when he saw the smirk on her face. "Bones, did you just make a joke?"
"I'm becoming quite amusing."
Before they're conversation could continue, Hodgins came bounding towards them. Initially he resisted hosting the birthday extravaganza, fearing that his beloved secret identity as a billionaire would become public knowledge, but from the way he grinned like a schoolboy with a pair of party hats sitting on his head, both parents knew he was enjoying himself. "Parker wants to know if he can open his presents."
Brennan's face scrunched. "Why didn't he just ask us himself?"
"He's six, Bones. There's a moon bounce. The only way were getting him off is if he's getting toys." Booth placed the blow out back between his teeth and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. Together they stepped off of the patio onto the lush, green grass. Booth blew a lungful of air into the device, snatching the attention of all the guests. "Time for presents!" He yelled.
(*)
"Cool! Hot Wheels! Thanks Ben!" Parker grinned at a little boy with freckles and shaggy brown hair.
"You're welcome." He politely replied, making his mother grin. "They're like the ones I took to school for show n' tell. You said you liked 'em."
Parker continued ripping open presents from his friends. Angela was the designated photographer for the day, so snapped pictures after every toy was revealed. Brennan knew that Parker was a very sweet with a lot of school friends, but she had no idea that their parents would be so generous. Legos and small figures of odd creatures a child had called Pokemon were just a few of the items he'd received. By the time he was finished with his friends' presents, Hodgins and Angela announced that it was their turn to top off the gift giving.
The man of the house strode over to his garden shed and when he re-appeared, he was pushing what looked like a miniature version of his famed batmobile. The ride on car forced gasped from every child in attendance. Parker jaw dropped as he raced over to hug him. "Thanks Dr. Jack!"
"You're welcome little dude. Happy Birthday!" The entomologist said, hugging the boy tightly.
Brennan looked at Angela with an expression the artist could read a mile away. She guessed it had something to do with the cost of the battery operated vehicle. "Don't even say it, sweetie. We love him. It's his birthday. He gets a cool present."
The scientist was suddenly aware of Booth's presence standing extremely close to her. "Where the hell are we supposed to put that?" He whispered in an amused tone.
Brennan shrugged suddenly aware that she and Booth would have to fit all of these toys into the two single apartments. "I think it's time for cake." She replied.
(*)
The party began to wind down around five in the evening. Many of adults had other children and families that needed to be attended to. Most of the energy levels of the five and six year olds had also diminished since their stomachs that were full of pizza, cake, and ice-cream settled.
Brennan stayed in the backyard with Parker as he bid farewell to his guests while Hodgins and Booth hauled all the presents to the garage so pile them into the SUV. Angela was off by the pond with Hayley and Emma pointing out all the turtles and fish that called it home.
Parker talked animatedly with a little girl with red hair and green eyes who if Brennan remembered correctly gave him 3D sidewalk chalk. The girl's mother approached her smiling. "This really was an amazing party. My little Sadie is definitely going to expect something just as big for her sixth birthday." She said with a laugh.
"It actually wasn't supposed to be this extravagant, but Parker's father and I have very kind friends who insisted on hosting it."
"You're lucky. Not just for that, but for Parker. He's a wonderful boy. Sadie always tells me how he made everyone laugh in school, even the teacher."
Brennan smiled as an eruption of delight grew within her. She experienced that same feeling every instance she heard another parent talking fondly of her son. "He is very humorous for a child."
The woman's expression turned more serious. She tightened her hold on the strap of her purse that hung from her shoulder. "My daughter also told me that he was teased because of some family issues and I don't mean to stick my nose in where it doesn't belong, but I just wanted to let you know that if you ever need another mom to talk to I'm more than willing to listen."
Brennan was taken aback by the woman's openness. Parker had refrained from calling her mommy in front of most of his friends. She understood. They all knew Rebecca as his mother, even though she had been absent for so long. Children their age wouldn't be able to process the change. No one was supposed to know about her role in his life, so Brennan has no idea why this woman was even speaking to her the way she was. "I'm sorry, how did you-"
"I know the way a mother looks at her child." She told her in an all-knowing tone. "My phone number is in the school directory if you ever need it. It really was a great party." The woman turned to her daughter whose lips were cherry red from the lollipop she was enjoying. "Come on pumpkin. We have to go pick up your brother from baseball practice."
"Ok, momma." The little girl said, reaching for her mother's hand. "Thanks for invitin' me!" She told Brennan with a big toothy grin. "Happy Birfday Parker!" With that, the mother and daughter retreated from the party.
(*)
It was way past his bedtime before Parker's combined sugar and birthday party high finally tapered out enough for him to fall asleep. Still, by the time his eyes closed, he was virtually knocked out.
"That kid isn't going to move for days." Booth chuckled as he leaned up against the refrigerator in Brennan's kitchen. He watched Brennan as she filled up a glass of water under her sink faucet. The look on her face could have been mistaken as fatigue but Booth knew better, it was melancholy.
Brennan could feel his gaze. "Would you like a glass?"
"No, I'm good. Thanks." Booth looked at his feet and balanced them on their sides. "What's going on, Bones? I can see a lot of thoughts running through that pretty little head of yours."
Brennan brought the glass of water to her mouth and took a heady gulp, finishing half her glass in one shot. Whether she was actually that thirsty or she was merely using it to buy time was imperceptible. Something was on Brennan's mind though and she was tired of being dishonest. She was tired in general.
"I hate that today was the first birthday I've spent with Parker. I hate how much I've missed. I hate that there are so many birthdays and Christmases and regular days that I've missed."
Brennan stopped and cradled her head in her hands. Booth knew she wasn't done speaking her mind but he wouldn't have been able to say anything either; her bluntness shocked him. He wasn't able to move his mouth but he was able to move his feet. He slowly walked towards her and took her in his arms, hugging her to his body as hard as he was able.
"There is so much of his life that I was not able to experience and there is still so much that I do not know about him. I feel as if I am being irrational and foolish, but I cannot ignore this feeling anymore. I know how small a human is as an infant, but I want to know how tiny he was on the day he was born. I am aware that a child's first words are often incorrectly pronounced and distorted, but I still wish I could have heard the first words that he first spoke. I…I just…I don't know how I can ever make up for that. For him and for myself."
At that point, Brennan had to stop speaking simply in order to calm down. There were few things in the world that she disliked as much as becoming helpless to her emotions. She buried her head in Booth's chest and started to force a steady pattern in her breathing. Booth felt crushed. He clutched the back of her head and kept it in its place, pressing soft kisses to every inch of her head that he could reach.
"Parker was born at 4:23 in the morning, 9 pounds, 5 ounces, 21 inches long." Booth whispered in her ear. Brennan looked up into his eyes with the remnants of started tears in her own. He wound his fingers through her hair and continued. "He was a big boy. It wasn't an easy birth. He pretty much gave Rebecca as much trouble as he could. Yet the first thing he did when he was fully in the world was smile, like he knew what he had done and he was already trying to charm us into forgiving him. For the first few months after he was born he smelled like baby powder no matter how much we bathed him. I could wash his hair with lavender baby shampoo but the moment he was dry he smelled of baby powder again. The first steps that he took were actually with me. He stumbled and fell the first few times that he tried to get up but he was so determined that he simply wouldn't give up until it worked. When he was four he wouldn't let anyone read him anything besides Love You Forever. If Rebecca or I tried another bed time story he would cry until we got that one from the bookcase. Mac and Cheese is his favorite food but the only reason he actually tried it for the first time was because they were shaped like Scooby Doo characters."
"I knew that one." Brennan smiled, staring tenderly up at Booth's gracious brown eyes. He reached the hand that was not anchored in her hair to her cheek and he ran his thumb over it.
"See, you know more than you think you do."
Brennan chuckled approvingly. "I guess I do have a somewhat comprehensive knowledge of his life."
SIX MONTHS EARLIER
"Mmmm, this is really good." Parker complemented after he took his first taste of Brennan's famous macaroni and cheese dish. The little boy sat at her dining table, swinging his legs under the wooden chair that was a little too high to allow his feet to touch the floor. "Mac and cheese is my favorite. Before I didn't like it when it was regular so daddy got me the Scooby doo shaped kind." He took another bite. "But now I like all the shapes."
Brennan took a bit off of her own plate from her seat at the head of the table, diagonally across from Parker who sat at the side. She too thoroughly enjoyed the meal and it pleased her to know that Parker could enjoy food that probably tested his taste buds. She assumed that leeks, pancetta, and nutmeg weren't normal flavors of his diet. The anecdote he told made her smile though despite not knowing what Scooby-doo was. "That's very interesting." She said in regard to the tale.
Parker's dirty blonde eyebrows dipped together. "It is?" He sipped from his glass. When he put the cup back down his upper lip shined with a juice mustache.
Brennan laughed and reached over with her napkin to wipe it away. "I would like to learn more about you. Stories like that give me a better sense of who you are."
The little boy looked at her curiously for a moment. "We're still kinda strangers, huh?"
"In a sense yes, but I believe that most parents tell their children to fear strangers and you shouldn't be afraid of me."
Parker chuckled. "I'm not scared of you, Dr. Bones, but if you don't wanna be strangers then we gotta learn about each other."
"I agree." She said, finding his proposition very logical. "What would you like to know about me?"
He took another bite before asking, "Bones isn't your real name is it?"
Brennan laughed. "No. Bones is a nickname your father gave me because of my job. My first name is Temperance."
"That's pretty." He flattered. "Daddy should call you that more. But he really likes nicknames. He's called me bub forever." He paused before adding, "What do you wanna know about me?"
Brennan shrugged. "Anything you'd like to tell me."
Parker nodded and took another bite of his dinner before launching into ten minute long speech about everything he could think up about himself, from life as a kindergartener to his favorite games and toys. Brennan found out that he really liked learning but he hated it when he had to write with chalk because of the way it made his hands feel. She learned that no matter what time it was, his dad always let him stay up to watch the ending of a Flyers game. "What's your favorite sport?" He suddenly asked.
"I don't watch or play sports." She disclosed.
His reaction mirrored Booth's when he found out the same bit of information. "That's weird." He honestly replied.
"I understand why you'd think that."
Moving on, he posed, "What's your favorite animal?"
"Dolphins." Brennan answered immediately. His expression told her that he'd like to know more so she cautiously explained her affection for the sea creature. "When I was young my mother and I liked to look at the stars. The constellation, Delphinus, was our favorite. Its shape resembles a dolphin."
She expected him to push for more information about her parents or memories involving her as most people did, but instead he innocently responded, "Would you show me one day?"
Brennan smiled tenderly at the child, touched that he'd ask to share something so personal. "Of course."
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Also, this is being publish on one of your author's birthdays! Happy Birthday to Kimmy :D