It was dark out when Hadley woke up. She could hear some commotion coming down the hall from the kitchen. Hadley climbed out of her bed and put on some more comfortable clothes before going to see what the noise was about. She found Booth and Parker scurrying around the kitchen, making a mess she was sure Bones wouldn't be thrilled with. Pots of water were boiling over, the bread that was heating in the oven were burnt, and a bowl full of pasta was upside down in the middle of the floor.
"Where's Bones?"
The two looked up and smiled at her.
"Bones went to the store. Dad dropped the pasta and she didn't have any more. Plus, she's going to pick up some meat sauce for us 'cause Bones doesn't eat meat."
"Does she know you're burning the garlic bread too?" Hadley pointed to the oven.
Booth and Parker turned to look and Parker shouted, "Dad, I told you there was something burning! I'm gonna call Bones and have her pick up some bread too. We're really bad at making dinner, Dad."
"We are not!"
Parker laughed as he ran over to his Dad's suit jacket to find his phone, leaving Hadley and Booth to begin the clean up the pasta on the floor and the bread in the oven.
"Are you alright, Hadley?" he asked quietly.
She shrugged. "I'm fine."
"You sound like Bones. If you wanna talk, and you don't wanna talk to Bones, you can always call me."
She gave him a small smile. "What was your dad like?"
"He was mean. Strict. He wasn't around much. He wasn't a good dad," he said, sparing her the details of his childhood filled with whiskey bottles and black eyes.
"But you are."
He smiled at her, thankful that Parker was running back to the kitchen. He didn't want to talk about his old man, but hearing that from Hadley made his heart ache for her a little more. She shouldn't have to go through this. It wasn't fair to her.
"Thanks, Hadley."
"Dad! Bones just wants to go to the diner! Can we go? Please? I want some of that apple pie!"
"Alright, let's go! I don't want to make dinner anymore anyway."
"Bones is waiting in the car downstairs! Shotgun!" Parker called dibs as he dashed out the door.
Booth and Hadley didn't even bother racing the boy down the steps. When they emerged from the building, Brennan and Parker were waiting in the front seat. Parker was anxious, bouncing in the seat and waving for them to hurry up. Brennan was laughing at him and seemingly telling him to be patient. Booth's mind automatically went back to what Cam had said earlier about playing house. It was an image he couldn't get out of his head. Since waking from that coma, and realizing Bones wasn't his wife and she wasn't pregnant, his mind would occasionally wander to what would've happened if they had gone through with it. They would have a baby by now and most likely, he wouldn't be part of this kid's life either, just like what had happened with Parker. He couldn't go through that again and Brennan respected that. But this was different. Now he had Parker, for at least a few weeks. And now she had Hadley. For how long, neither of them could be sure, but he knew Brennan was going to do anything she could to keep Hadley with her. He knew Bones wouldn't want Hadley going through what she had dealt with.
He was brought out of his thoughts when Parker yelled at him again. "Dad! Come on! Our pie's gonna get cold!" Hadley and Booth slid into the back seat and Parker couldn't stop talking until Hadley promised to try a slice of the Booth boys' favorite apple pie.
Brennan's mind was wandering as she drove to the diner on autopilot. She kept checking the rear view mirror, not to check the cars behind her, but to see what was going on with Hadley and Booth. Not long after they left Hadley alone to sleep, Parker declared he was hungry. Brennan began to make some pasta, but Parker and Booth insisted on helping. While her kitchen was adequate enough for one, it wasn't meant to accommodate two headstrong adults and one rambunctious eleven year old. Booth dropped the bowl of fresh pasta on the floor and Brennan was forced to leave for the store. She knew Hadley would be okay without her for a while. She knew Hadley liked Booth and felt safe with him. He reminded Hadley of her father, something that shocked Booth, but knew it was comforting to her. Brennan was glad Booth was spending this newly granted time with his son with them as well. In the back seat, Hadley was ready to fall asleep again to the repetitive rhythm of the car, but the two were talking quietly. About what, she couldn't tell. She'd ask Booth later, but Brennan was just happy Hadley had found some solace.