A.N: I own nothing of Bones...

Sorry for taking so long to update, but life has been busy!

CHAPTER 24- SWEET

Temperance Brennan woke up slowly, her eyes adjusting to the small light that started to show through the window. She sighed deeply, sleep still all over her body, and tried to stretch only to find herself caught on the most wonderful trap. Seeley Booth. There was her so called just partner laying by her side, his arms holding her strongly as if afraid to let her go, one of his legs passing above her own,his chin touching her forehead as her head rested by his chest,using it as a big pillow. She concentrated on his breathing for a while, his chest up and down, lulling her sweetly in the first hours of the morning. It sure was a nice way to wake up, she realized. Having someone so close and warm,so protective. She had always been a woman who didn´t appreciate very much too much intimacy and touching. She certainly wasn´t a woman made for cuddling. At least, that´s what she had always told herself and any man that had shared her bed in her life. She never felt the need to have a man embracing her all the time, to fall asleep with his soft breathing over her neck and to wake up with his body glued to hers. She had always had the feeling that such a thing would be utterly annoying and unnecessary. But that was all before she ever shared a bed with Seeley Booth. With him, it seemed to easy. She didn´t feel irritated by his presence and his touch, quite the contrary. She felt herself eager for it. She was actually afraid of the moment she wouldn´t be able to sleep with him again. Which was coming closer and closer, considering how much better she w as starting to feel day by day. And Temperance suddenly started asking herself what the hell she was supposed to do with an empty bed, a bed without Booth´s heat and smell. How could she ever would be able to sleep so well again?

She disentangled from Booth´s arms carefully, her legs moving beneath his in swift yet gentle moves in order to not bother him. Lord knows that he needs his rest, with all those days taking care of her without interrupt. She knows that Booth would rather die under torture before admitting that he is tired. Hell, he has to be. He is the one who keeps waking up in the middle of the night to check her temperature, to give her correct medication, to make sure that she is all right. He is the one who doesn´t let her lift a finger and do everything for her. She is sure that he would actually walk in her place if he could. That´s just who Booth is, and despite she usually gets angry with such a protective behavior, she knows that she wouldn´t even try to ever change a thing in him. He is perfect just that way. Perfect for her, at least. She inhales deeply by this realization, blaming on the sleep still in her mind and the lack of discernment caused for the combination of medications and disease. But deep down, she knows that it has nothing to do with those silly reasons. It´s actually very simple; she is finally coming to terms with the fact that she has much stronger feelings for Seeley Booth than friendship. And for the first time in her life, she realizes that such feelings do not scares her so much as they used to. Temperance shakes her head slightly, wondering what Angela would have to say about it. She could use some advice. She surveys the man sleeping by her side for a long time, just admiring the way his lips twitch into a soft smile, as if he was dreaming with something marvelous. The way he searches for her even in his sleep,placing his hands at the side of the bed she now takes. She smiles a little before finally getting up, still being extra careful to not make any noise. This time, she will surprise him without any disturbance. She will do something for him, as little as it may look, but that still shows him how much she appreciates the way he looks after her.

This time, she takes her time in the kitchen, working slowly, only glad to realize that there´s no dizziness or nausea taking over her. Sure, she still isn´t at her hundred per cent. Her legs are still a little shaky, which she supposes it´s because of the amount of time she has been passing laying down or seated, and her muscles are still a little sore, but nothing that she can´t handle. She smiles a little more, humming to herself in celebration for her health improvement. Her doctor will sure be surprised. Maybe she even will allow her to go back to her beloved work. And maybe, just maybe, feeling much stronger and with her judgment on the right place again, she can also seat with Booth and decide what the hell is happening with them. But she is sure as hell that there´s no turning back point. Things have changed. And she actually feels ready to try and embrace that change.

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Booth is having the most amazing dream. He´s seated by the grass, watching as Parker runs and laughs around him, playing soccer with other kids and waving at his father from time to time. He waves back, amazed to realize how much his boy has grown up, and just as he is ready to get up and join Parker on the game, a soft, small hand grabs his, as if asking him to stay a little longer. He turns his head, and there she is, seated by his side, her hair down to her shoulders, her blue eyes shinning in the sun, her smile so big that it dazzles him. And in his dream, he leans intimately and kisses her, their lips touching and a wave of electricity trespassing his body as he tastes her. Bones´s lips are like velvet, and he feels her fingers roaming at his hair, his own hands resting on her waist, traveling there until stopping on her belly. Her beautiful, big, pregnant belly. He rests his hand there, feeling the baby kick with energy, and she covers his hand with hers, the metal of her wedding ring cold against his skin. He opens his eyes and sees his own wedding ring, realizing that parker had stopped running and had seated by their side, his small fingers also touching Temperance´s belly, laughing as the baby kicks even more strongly. And Seeley Booth is sure he is in heaven.

He is still reveling on that amazing moment when Bones´s very own voice comes to his ear, mixing with the one of his dream, and for a moment he is confused, reality and fantasy way too close. But then, he smells food and Bones´s voice becomes louder, and he feels a gentle hand shaking him slightly, making him open his eyes to find the same cerulean ones he had contemplated on his sleep. Temperance smiles at him, and he has to fight with every strength not to kiss her fiercily, the images in his head still way too vivid.

" Booth. Wake up. It´s past nine. Parker will be arriving soon." Her voice is full of joy and vivacity, and he realizes that she´s actually excited with the inpendent arrival of his boy. The thought of having Parker, mixed with being with Bones is enough to make him wide awake, and he seats at the bed, immediately gaping at the sight in front of him. There is Bones, looking refreshed and better than what he has been seeing in days, with a very large tray of what looks like every possible kind of food resting between them.I guess I am indeed in paradise. Maybe I´m still dreaming. Except that dreams do not smell like fresh coffee,do they?

" Breakfast in bed, Bones? I thought we had settled that. You are not supposed to be overworking yourself. The situation should be otherwise. I should be the one nurturing you, remember?" He tries to sound chiding, but it´s too damn hard to hide the smile that keeps forming down his face. His Bones has made breakfast for him. And she is bringing it for him in bed. She´s just full of surprises. She just smiles and adjusts herself better in front of him, a smug expression at her face.

" Well, in case you haven´t noticed, I´m doing much better. And I have told you I would pay you back somehow. Breakfast sounded like a good start. I even made those silly pancakes that you are so fond of." She points to the tray, and Booth can no longer fake anger. It´s too freaking good to be ruined.

" Fine. But you´re eating too. Here, try the silly pancakes." He waves the fork in front of her mouth, and she actually accepts it. Which is, indeed, a great improvement. A few days ago she would just twist her nose and refuse to eat at all. " This is great, Bones. Really. Thanks." She shakes her head dismissing it, as if saying that it´s no big deal, and they start eating in a comfortable silence. She is glad to see that he had appreciated her gesture and didn´t complain too much about her doing a small effort. He is happy to see her fine , his mind still in the dream, asking himself if maybe it wasn´t a premonition of a not so far future.

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He watches as she starts to nod off, the book in her hands dropping by her side as her breath becomes soft and slow, and he just adjusts her head better in the pillow so her neck wont hurt by the time she wakes up again. Booth looks to the clock, working with the possibility of maybe taking himself a little nap too, the vision of Bones lying there too appealing to be ignored. But it´s past ten, and he knows that Parker is about to arrive. He smiles a little as watching Temperance sleep, remembering how great he felt by waking up by the sound of her voice and the big tray of food she had settled for them. Now, the bed is free from anything but her, and all he seems to want to do is join in her peaceful slumber. But then, the doorbell rings, and her eyes are wide open with surprise as he gets up fast.

" Stay here. I´ll be right back." Booth doesn´t wait for an answer,wishing to give her a few more quiet moments before having a seven years old full of energy boy around her. He checks on the peephole and opens the door, an enormous smile forming at his lips by the sight in front of him. There is his boy, his hands full with so many flowers that he could very well start his own business. But that´s not the only thing that parker is carrying, he realizes between surprised and amused as his son´s arms grab firmly what looks like a teddy bear and a balloon in the shape of a heart. It´s almost difficult to see his boy´s fac e with all that stuff, and Booth just raises his eyebrows to Rebecca, who shakes her head and rolls her eyes.

" I told him that the flowers would be enough, but he just kept insisting on giving all the get better soon kit." The blonde smiles at the boy, and all Booth can think is how much Parker is like him. Because he sure as hell would do the same if he was in his boy´s place. Nothing was ever too much for his Bones.

" Hi daddy! Do you think dr. Bones will like my gifts? I picked daffodils, just like you told me to. But then, I saw this big balloon and remembered that when I was sick you gave me one of these and a bear too. Mommy said that it was too much, but presents always make me happy,so I figured that Bones would be happy too." Yeah, trust a child´s logic on the conceit of what took you to be happy. Booth can only begin to start to imagine Temperance´s face as receiving an actual teddy bear and a heart shaped balloon. Ok, he may had suggested to Parker that he brought the flowers, meaning daffodils. He was sure that Bones would appreciate the gesture.

" Sure, buddy. Bones will love everything. Just remember what daddy said about her having to rest, making too much mess or speaking too loud." He watches as Parker nods while rolling his eyes, his expression clearing saying "You´ve told me all of this already", but one can never be too careful." Bones is in the bedroom, buddy. You can go there if you want." That´s everything Parker Booth needs to hear, and the boy quickly kisses his mother and runs to the corridor, disappearing from sight. Booth tries to wipe the silly smile that keeps forming in his face, but it´s a useless task. Having Parker around always make him giddy.

" Well, he´s all yours from now. How is dr. Brennan, by the way? I only know her very little, but I imagine that it must be driving her crazy to have to stay at home." Rebecca smiles kindly, and Booth suddenly remembers how observant his ex is. He agrees with her, his ears careful to any major sound that might come out of the bedroom.

" She´s getting better day by day,which I´m glad of. Because you´re right, it´s driving Bones crazy. And speaking of crazy, I think I should go inside, you know…to make sure that Parker isn´t jumping up and down in the bed or something…" He tries not to sound too much desperate, but Rebecca is one of the few people that can read him like a book. So, she just sighs and shakes her head, taking her cue to leave.

" Sure. I´ll be back in the evening to get Parker. You three have a nice day. And Seeley, just so you know…" The mother of his son gives him a wide knowing smile, her eyes twinkling." I think it´s great what you´re doing. It´s the right thing. And one of the sweetest acts I´ve ever witnessed. Very typical of you." She does not gives him time to retort, sliding down the hall to the elevator, vanishing in a blink of eyes. Booth could have stayed standing there for a long time, but the sound of a child´s laughter caught his attention, and in no time he was following, poking his head in the bedroom door to find Parker seated in front of Bones, who looked amazingly cute while holding everything that his boy was once carrying. He wishes he had a camera right now, because it´s too freaking amazing to see temperance Brennan hugging a giant brown teddy bear, her eyes shining like a little girl in Christmas morning, her other hand grabbing carefully the bouquet of daffodils and the balloon.

" Hey, Bones. I see that you have your hands full." Booth raises his son in the air, making the boy giggle and finally adjusting him in his lap, seating himself by her side, as she surveys both Booth boys with surprise.

" You are quite right. Parker was kind enough to bring all of this for me. He says it´s a kind of tradition when people get ill." Booth thinks that he will never get tired of the "I don´t know what that means" look that she manages to form every time . It´s endearing. " But as I was saying, Parker. I love everything, thank you very much. How did you know that daffodils are my favorite flowers?" Parker bounces happily , his little fingers placed at his father´s much bigger one. And just by looking at it, temperance Brennan feels lost. As if she could do anything for any of these two people.

" daddy told me. But the bear and the balloon were my idea. Can I tie it by the bed?" He points to the red heart, and Bones just smiles and agree, giving the boy her permission, their fingers touching as Parker carefully ties the balloon. It´s quite a sight now. Booth suddenly feels her hand over his, and raises his eyes to find her blue ones gazing at him warmly, in a silent thank you. Both of them are extremely surprised when Parker just looks at them and take their hands gently, entwining their fingers with a mischievous smile, propping himself in the bed so he can seat between the couple. " This is how you should hold hands, daddy. Mommy says that this is how girls like it." Booth has to fight the urge to burst out laughing, because he can only imagine what Bones would have to say about such an idea. But blissfully, she seems to be biting her tongue not to answer and contradict the boy. Booth is also amazed by how naturally his boy seems to be taking things. He was getting ready to a bunch of curious questions, such as why is Bones in your bed, using your clothes,and so on. But Apparently, parker is either too distracted by the situation, or much wiser than Booth supposed. " Are you still very sick, Bones? I was very sad when dad told me you weren´t feeling well a few days ago. It sucks to be sick. Does your tummy hurts?"

Temperance gazes at those big brown eyes, so alike his father´s, and gets the feeling that she can be very well melting inside. There´s so much caring in there,so much worry. And she suddenly realizes that, if it´s true that , like Angela said a while ago, she had Booth wrapped around her finger, then otherwise was also true. Booth had her. Worse, both Booth boys. Because seriously, how could you just not feel like hugging Parker Booth by just looking at him? Especially seeing him so worried about her welfare,so eager to make her feel better. She was always one to say the she was no good with children. But with this particular child, she realizes that she wouldn´t mind spending her life with. And it makes her both happy and scared.

" I don´t feel any pain anymore, parker. Your father has been taking very good care of me, just as he does with you. Can you understand that?" She directs her voice to Parker, but her eyes are set on Booth´´s her way to show him how much she appreciates every single gesture since she got sick. Booth gives her the charming smile, the one that makes her feel dizzy and somewhat aroused.

" That´s good to hear, temperance. Right,Parker?" His boy seems perfectly comfy seated between both of them, his head resting lightly by Bones´s arm as he nods fervently. " So, how will you name your bear, Bones? You have to baptize it, you know." But before Temperance can master an answer, Parker´s voice raises again, happy and calm.

" I named it already, Bones." He seems quite proud of himself, and both adults cannot suppress a laughter as Parker touches the stuffed animal and moves in front of them. " This is Seeley. I named after my dad, because he will do what dad always does when you´re not feeling well. He will take care of you and make you feel better very soon. So, when daddy is not around, you can think of him with the bear, Bones. And then, you´ll be ok. That´s what I always do." Booth is left speechless. Never in his life he thought he would listen to such a sweet thing from his boy. He pulls Parker in a hug, not knowing what else to do, as you sometimes feel around a smart child. And all temperance Brennan can do is nod and squeeze Booth´s fingers a little harder, her other hand carefully holding the bear.

" It´s a perfect name,then." Parker nods fervently at her answer, and she moves a little, her legs stretching as she tries to get out of bed, immediately being stopped by the always present alpha male.

" And where do you think you´re going?" She rolls her eyes, showing him the daffodils in her hand.

" I´m putting the flowers in the water, so they wont dry." He doesn´t even give her time to react. Booth just takes the flowers away, and with a swift movement he is at the door, grinning at her.

" I´ll do it. Make sure she stays quite, parker. Take care of her, will you?" Parker actually puffs his chest proudly, and right at that moment, she sees a mini Seeley Booth seated by her side. The boy is just a marvelous copy of his dad. They watch as Booth disappears, and temperance contemplates the situation for a moment. A while ago, she would think it was nothing but scary, to be so open and intimate with Booth and Parker. But there she is, sharing the bed at nights with that man, right now seating with his son, and not an ounce of her body feels uncomfortable. Maybe the disease came for something good,after all. She is immersed in thoughts , and it´s in complete surprise that she reacts when Parker´s voice comes to her ears with the most amazing question.

" Bones? Do you like my dad? I mean,really like him?"

TBC…