Fifteen months later…

"Hadley!"

"What's up?"

"I need you to do me a favor!"

"What is it?"

"Go to the store and pick me up some more diapers and wipes. Grab the cash out of my purse."

"I'm coming too!" Parker said.

Hadley and Parker raced out to Brennan's car and Hadley slid in the driver's seat. She was sixteen now and running errands for her parents was her specialty. Since baby Paxton made his way into their lives, Hadley and Parker were more than filling the roles of dutiful big brother and sister. On more than one occasion, Brennan and Booth had found Hadley holding Paxton in the rocking chair late at night. The baby boy was the topic of several debates at the lab. The main one was whether or not Paxton was a product of the insemination or the partner's budding relationship. The procedure hadn't worked the first few times and Booth and Brennan took out their frustrations on each other in bed. It had become Angela's mission since Brennan announced she was pregnant to find out the truth. Why they had continued with the insemination, no one really knew. For a while, they avoided telling Sweets about the new development in their relationship after Hadley and Parker had given Brennan such a convincing argument in order to save their partnership. The insemination procedures provided a decent cover for them, giving others the impression there was nothing going on. Brennan, who was quite proud of this, was able to fool Sweets until her baby bump began to show. She had been sending her interns to go with Booth, because going through a bout of morning sickness at a scene was unacceptable to her, and the only time she was allowed to go outside the lab on a case was to the interrogation room where the suspects were more in Booth's control. They were surprised Sweets didn't figure it out sooner. Booth said the reason was because Sweets, as a kid who hadn't hit puberty yet, didn't know how babies were made. Brennan made the rational argument that not only was their baby and their relationship none of Sweets' business, but that Paxton might not have been conceived the way Booth believed.

Their family was coming together. The mandatory visits from the Family Services people were dreaded but always went over well. It scared Hadley to death when her case worker would show up but after reassurance from Booth and a few distractions by Paxton and Parker, the moments seemed to pass without incident. The case worker knew she was happy here, and there was no way she was going to break up this success story. Hadley had even broached the subject of adoption, much to Brennan's delight. She didn't know how to approach the topic and completely fine with Hadley making the first move. She didn't want to offend Hadley in anyway by making the girl think there was pity involved or that put any pressure on her. Hadley had even researched things herself, calling Family Services herself to ensure she would never leave.

Brennan's apartment, which once seemed like too much space for a single, uncommitted woman, instantly became too tiny when Booth and Parker moved in officially. Brennan wasn't too fond of sharing her closet and vanity space but Hadley was more than willing to share her room with Parker. The two would stay up late into the night talking about anything and everything. Hadley was just glad she wasn't alone anymore. Her new life was giving her more family structure than she had before foster care. Parker, on the other hand, had wanted nothing more than a sibling, and before Paxton arrived, and Hadley gave him that.

"Are you okay? I heard shouting," Booth asked, rounding the corner quickly into the nursery and Brennan's converted office. Three month old Paxton was lying on the changing table exposed to the world.

"Bones! Put a diaper on him before he pees all over you!"

"I can't! You didn't pick up any diapers at the store yesterday! I just sent Hadley. Parker went with."

"Well…put the dirty one back on!"

"No! I don't want him to sit in his excrement! He'll get a rash."

Paxton watched his parents bicker with a toothless grin on his face.

"What are you doing?" Brennan asked as she watched him run to the linen closet. He pulled out a couple of hand towels and some first aid tape.

"We are going to make our own diaper until your big brother and sister come back," he cooed at his son. Paxton let out a squeal and smiled wider.

"Booth…I don't know if this is a good idea," Brennan said as she watched him wrap the towels around the infant.

"Do you want him to pee on you?"

"No."

"Then this will have to do until Hadley and Parker get back."

"Don't put it on too tight!"

He lifted Paxton off the changing table and held him out at arm's length to get a look at his handiwork. The crude diaper was barely hanging on.

"Okay, little big man, let's go watch that Phillies game," Booth said, pulling him close. Brennan followed them into the living room. They turned the game on and Booth went into explaining all of the ins and outs of baseball for Paxton, who Booth claimed was going to be the next Roy Halladay. It wasn't too much later when, as Hadley and Parker came through the door proud of their success at the store, Paxton's makeshift diaper leaked and a warm puddle formed on Booth's jeans.

He yelped and lifted Paxton in the air in a Lion King-esque hold.

"Take your son," he told Brennan, attempting not to lose his cool.

Hadley, Parker, and Brennan couldn't stop laughing and Paxton joined in. Booth smiled and shook his head at all of them.

"Dad, that's so gross," Parker said through his giggles, "you should go change."

"Yeah, yeah, I'm going, I'm going."

"Nice diaper," Hadley commented, "do you want me to change him?"

"If you'd like," Brennan said and Hadley took Paxton back to the nursery.

She followed Booth back into their bedroom and leaned on the door frame while she watched him peel off his jeans and run some water over the stain.

"So, the realtor called this morning," she said, a grin covering her face.

"What'd he say?" Booth seemed occupied with other issues, like his son's urine on his favorite pants.

"They accepted our offer. We can move in next week."

The news made his head snap up.

"Are you serious?"

"Very serious."

He abandoned the jeans in the sink and pulled her into a steamy kiss.

"So…we're going to have a real house? Like an honest to God house where each kid can have their own room and you can have your office?"

She nodded.

"Dad! Put some clothes on!" Parker said as he, Hadley and Paxton came up behind him. He reached up to cover Hadley's eyes, though she had already adverted them. He blocked her view anyway while Booth slid on a pair of sweats.

"There, all better," Booth said.

Parker lowered his hand and asked, "Are we going to have to change schools?"

"Please, no! Not in the middle of mock trial season," Hadley begged, "We have a major meet coming up and I'm the lead prosecutor! That would not only ruin the entire team's defense but it would totally suck for me too. I already had to change schools once, which was fine by me, but I have friends at this school now."

"No, we're still in the district. It's that one house we looked at together not too far from here."

"The mansion?" Parker squeaked out, "We're going to live in a mansion."

"It's more of an estate," Hadley corrected.

"It's not anything. Just a house," Booth told them, obviously affected by the idea of living in a house he couldn't afford on his own.

"Wait, this is the house that had the yard big enough for us to play football, right?"

"Yes, Parker. It should be big enough to play a game of football. Perhaps it would even be an adequate size to make a baseball pitch."

"Diamond, Bones. Baseball diamond," Booth corrected. He kissed her again, longer than the first one had been.

"Park, come on. I think they're mad at each other," Hadley muttered as she pulled him from the room.

Paxton started to fuss and Brennan pulled away to take him from Hadley.

"Why do you think we're upset with each other?" Booth asked.

"You guys always kiss like that when you're angry."

"That is accurate, Booth. She's right. When we're done fighting, the make-up-ˮ

"Ah, ah, ah!" Booth covered her mouth with his hand. "They don't need to know what goes on in here," he whispered to her.

She waited until Hadley and Parker left to tell Booth more good news.

"I got a call from Caroline today," she whispered.

"Oh, yeah? What'd she have to say?"

"Well, she wanted to talk about Hadley's adoption."

"Jesus, there's something wrong with the paper work, isn't there? Is it because we're not married yet, because we can change that."

Brennan smiled and looked at the ring on her finger. "No, there's nothing wrong. Caroline called some people, cashed in a few favors and moved the adoption date up."

"You're kidding." She hadn't seen Booth this happy since she told him she was pregnant.

"Why would I joke about something like this?"

He kissed her again until Paxton interrupted with a loud protest that he wasn't being paid any attention. Booth chuckled and took Paxton from Brennan's arms. He checked the diaper first, making sure it was secure and leak free before he cradled the baby to his chest with one arm.

"Come on, bub. Let's go tell your sis it's almost official."

When things were final a month later, the Squint Squad assembled at Booth and Brennan's new home to celebrate Hadley's adoption becoming final. It was loud in the large house and Paxton loved all the attention he was getting from the women. Hadley was currently beating Max, Russ, Amy and their girls at the card game she had once thought was impossible to win. And with Parker outside hunting for Dissosteira Carolina, or grasshoppers, Jack and Wendell kept him busy. Booth and Brennan stood alone in the kitchen finishing the big meal they had prepared for everyone.

"You know, Hadley called me Mom last night," Brennan said as she pulled the baked potatoes from the oven.

"She did? Are you okay with this?" Booth asked her, pouring glasses of wine for all that were old enough.

"Of course. I am her mother now."

"Well, you've been her mother a lot longer than you think, Bones."

"I don't understand."

He pulled her away from the baked potatoes and wrapped his arms around her. She followed suit and smiled up at him.

"You're the only mother she knows."

"I'm very glad you convinced Rebecca to let Parker live with us."

"Ha. That was the kids' handiwork. She did say he seems a lot happier when he visits her. That's all she wants for him."

She kissed him, but he pulled away from her. He had a look on his face that she couldn't read. It either meant he was confused or shocked about something.

"What's wrong?"

"I…I went from having one kid I hardly saw to having a fiancée and three kids that aren't going anywhere. Nothing's wrong. I'm just not used to things going my way."

Brennan smiled and pulled him back into a kiss but it was again interrupted.

"MOM!" Hadley's voice snapped them apart.

"I better go see what it is," she said, releasing herself from Booth's arms. "I am still not used to her saying that."

"Well, get used to it, Babe. You're going to be hearing that for the rest of your life."

"You still don't get to call me Babe," she reprimanded with a smile as she sauntered out of the kitchen to see what trouble her daughter was causing.

A/N: So that's it! I'm sorry it took so long to update. With classes, homework and Homecoming week happening all at once, it took me all week to write this. Don't forget, for those of you who read my other fic, A Light On A Hill, look for the one-shots that are coming soon. I already have everything outlined and planned. I also want to say thanks to all who have faithfully reviewed. You guys are amazing!

It's bed time for me so I can get up at the crack of dawn tomorrow and tailgate before our Homecoming game against Penn State. On Iowa and Go Hawkeyes!

Thanks again for reading and reviewing! I love you all :)