Thank you all for reading and for the feedback - it's really appreciated! :) Here is the next chapter . . .

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Two weeks had gone by. Booth was out of the hospital and back at his apartment. Brennan had opted to work strictly in the Jeffersonian until Booth was well enough to be cleared for the field again. Given the previous events, no one questioned her request.

As far as their relationship went, Brennan had all but moved in with Booth in order to take care of him – going back and forth between the lab and his apartment during the weekdays, making sure he had food and anything else he needed. It was different to see that side of her – the nurturing, overly caring side of her. He loved it – except when it cramped his style – like going anywhere outside of his apartment. He was going stir-crazy.

"So I'm feeling a lot better, Bones. What do ya say we take that trip this weekend? I promise I'll get you back on Tuesday," Booth suggested, flipping through the channels on the TV.

"Booth, I'm not sure traveling for that long is practical in your condition," Brennan objected, putting the last of the groceries in his fridge. "If you think you are up for outdoor exposure, we can take a short walk along the Mall."

"I don't wanna take a walk along the Mall. I see the Mall a thousand times a week," he complained, scratching an itch inside of his splint.

"That is definitely an exaggeration," she pointed out and took the metal probe away from him. "Stop scratching, Booth!"

He looked at her with pleading eyes.

"But, Bones, it itches . . .!" he whined.

She didn't budge, only gave him that disapproving look she got when she knew that even he knew he was being childish.

"Fine . . ." he pouted. He couldn't wait for the damn thing to come off. "Anyway, the point is I wanna go somewhere I don't get to go very often - somewhere with beer and hot dogs and sweaty men hitting a ball with wooden stick in an old past time game. I wanna go somewhere far away from labs and the bureau and possible crime scenes and people we have to hide this from – somewhere we can just be us for a while. C'mon, Bones. You know you want to . . ."

Brennan sat beside him and contemplated his request for a moment.

"You can't mix alcohol with vicodin and you don't even get your splint off until next week –" she reminded him.

"But you were about to say 'yes' anyway, weren't you?" Booth eagerly anticipated.

"I didn't say that. The most logical decision is to wait until after then. After all, we were supposed to make the most of this time away from everyone else, I am correct?" Brennan asked, teasing his lips.

"That's true," he muttered into her mouth. "Waiting until I'm fully mobile again might be a better idea for both of us."

"I would very much like to experience a round of coitus when we are both at our highest physical and emotional peaks," Brennan smiled as she kissed him again.

"Me, too. But do you have to call it that? It sounds so clinical and . . ." Booth complained.

"Dirty?" she laughed. "Booth, that is a proper term for the act we would be engaging in."

"Yeah, but can't you be . . . I don't know . . . improper when it comes to that?" he pleaded.

"I prefer not to use colloquialisms as a common practice. However, considering our new arrangement, I will try to be more accommodating of your sensitivities on the subject," she conceded.

"I'm not sensitive, Bones. I just think that when you have sex with someone you care about . . . someone you love, you shouldn't label it like one of your scientific experiments – that's all," he clarified.

"I suppose you have a point. We aren't lab rats," she said.

"Definitely not," he agreed.

"We are two consenting adults engaging in one of the most physically and emotionally intimate practices one can have," Brennan stated.

"Exactly. And since we both want to fully enjoy that experience as well as the others I mentioned, maybe you're right. Maybe we should wait on the trip," Booth decided. "But we're still going. Nothing is gonna stop us from taking some real time off."

"I agree. I would like to have a chance to get away at some point. Perhaps we could go to New York for the holidays. It's beautiful at Christmas time from what I've heard," Brennan suggested.

"Whoa! Bones – that's like seven months away! I meant soon – like after I get all these splints and crap off but before they clear me for the field again," he told her.

"Oh. I was only thinking that we had more vacation time during the holidays," she said.

"Are we having this whole argument all over again?" he groaned. "Take some personal days, Bones. You have like a thousand of them. You never miss a day of work – even when you're sick. And thanks for that, by the way, 'cause I love being exposed to the flu and everything else. I don't get nearly enough of it with Parker . . . Parker! Damn it! I almost forgot! Rebecca would've killed me!"

"Is this your weekend to have him?" Brennan assumed.

"Yeah . . . It was supposed to be two weekends ago, but I was in the hospital and the weekend after, she and her new boyfriend had already planned some sort of trip with him," he answered and searched for his keys.

"Where are you going? You know you can't drive, Booth," she warned him.

"I know – you are," he said and tossed her the keys with his good arm.

"Me? Is that wise? Perhaps I should go back to the lab or to my apartment," she said, hesitantly.

"Why? Parker won't mind. He likes hangin' out with Dr. Bones. He thinks you're cool," Booth assured her.

"He does, doesn't he," she mused. "However, considering the new development in our relationship, I think it might be best if I go home. He or Rebecca could suspect something if I am there with you to pick him up."

"Bones . . . Hey, don't think that I want to hide you from anyone. It's the exact opposite – I wanna tell everyone we know how much I love you and how happy we are together. In fact, I was just gonna suggest that we go ahead and tell Parker and Rebecca tonight. They have no ties with our co-workers, so them finding out won't be an issue," Booth said.

"Are you sure you want to do this so soon? Shouldn't Parker be prepared a little more before we start showing up for his visitations together?" Brennan wondered, unsure.

"How 'bout this? How about I take a cab to Rebecca's, have a talk with her and then one with Parker on our way to meet you at the diner? We'll have dinner, hang out, and see how it goes, okay?" he bargained.

"That sounds reasonable. I will meet you there in an hour," Brennan agreed.

"Good. C'mere," he grinned and gave her a lingering kiss. "It'll be great – I promise."

"Booth, you have no idea what anyone's reaction to our union will be – especially Parker's. He's a child in his pre-teenage years. They can be very sensitive to change," Brennan replied.

"Parker's different – we're different. It's not like he doesn't know you. We've all hung out over the years. The only difference will be that you're now a bigger part of my life than before. It won't change his relationship with me. He knows that. Everything will be okay – don't worry," he assured her.

"But Booth, I think –" she began to object.

Booth pressed his lips to hers, leaving her slightly bewildered.

"No thinking allowed, okay? Just trust me," Booth insisted.

Brennan nodded, still unconvinced as he left.

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"Hey . . . Parker ready to go?" Booth asked as Rebecca opened the door.

"He's upstairs getting his bag. You sure you're up for him?" she wondered, skeptically eyeing his injuries.

"Not a problem. I'm much better than before . . . Uh . . . can we talk for a minute?" he requested.

"Okay . . ." she said, inviting him in. "Is something wrong?"

"No – no. Everything's great – really great . . . I . . . I found someone," Booth began.

"Oh?" she replied.

"You know her, actually . . . It's Brennan," he said.

"Temperance Brennan . . . your partner? The woman who rejected you a year ago, causing you to traipse off to Afghanistan despite the fact that you had already fulfilled your duties in the military and had a son? Are you sure this is a good idea, Seeley? I know you're getting over Hannah, but is this really a good decision for you or for Parker? I'm not sure he should get too attached to her until you're positive she'll stick around," Rebecca advised.

"I'm not doing this with you, Rebecca. I'm not fighting, okay? Bones has changed – she's ready to commit. I appreciate your concern, but you don't need to be," he insisted.

"I just don't want to see you or our son get hurt," she told him.

"We won't. I wouldn't bring Parker into this if I didn't think it was serious. Bones is the one . . . we're not rushing things, but she's the one," Booth confessed, unable to keep the grin from forming on his face. It was the first time he'd said it out loud . . . but Temperance Brennan was the only woman he wanted to be with for the rest of his life.

"It's really weird that you still call her that . . . but I'm happy for you, Seeley," she smiled. "I'll go get Parker."

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"Did they have to break your bones and put them back together again?" Parker asked while he and Booth rode in the cab.

Booth shuddered at the thought.

"Yeah, bub, I think they had to do something like that to set them for the splint. I wasn't awake for it though, so I'm not sure," he told him. "But listen, there's something I need to talk to you about."

"Are you asking another girl to marry you?" Parker guessed.

"Where'd you get that idea?" Booth chuckled.

"That's usually what happens when you get all serious – that or you're going away," Parker answered.

"No, pal, I'm not going away. And I'm not getting married either - but would it be so bad if I did some day?" he asked his son.

"I guess not . . . But you just seemed so sad after that Hannah lady took off . . . Why would you wanna ask a girl again?" Parker wondered.

"Because when you love someone very much and you want to spend the rest of your life with them, you ask them to marry you. Not knowing if they'll say 'yes' or not is the chance you take," Booth explained. "So back to what I wanted to tell you - you remember Dr. Brennan, right?"

"The bone lady? Yeah, she's awesome!" Parker's face lit up.

"How would you like it if we started hangin' out with her a little more?" he asked.

"That'd be sweet! Wait – are you gonna to ask Dr. Bones to marry you?" Parker questioned.

"No, buddy . . . not for a long time, anyway. But she is gonna be my girlfriend. Is that okay with you?" Booth asked, hoping for the answer he needed to hear.

"Sure, Dad – she's cool," Parker said, unsure.

"Good. Thanks, Parks," Booth smiled, oblivious to his son's uncertain tone as he continued to guide him into the diner.

"Hey, Bones," he smiled and sat down opposite of her.

"Hi, Booth," Brennan greeted him nervously.

Parker sat down beside his father and stared at his sneakers.

"Hi, Parker – it's been a while since I've seen you," she said.

"Are you gonna leave my dad, too?" the boy looked up at her.

"Parker! That's very inappropriate. Apologize to Dr. Brennan," Booth reprimanded his son.

"It's okay, Booth. Parker obviously has a lot of concerns and I feel it's best to answer them directly," Brennan told him, then turned Parker. "No, Parker, I do not plan on leaving your father anytime soon."

"So you want to marry him?" Parker assumed.

Brennan hesitated for a long time, obviously not expecting that question. Booth held his breath at what she might say, considering her past views on marriage.

"Your dad and I are just starting our relationship. While we love each other, the discussion of marriage is something that occurs later on in a couple's union," she replied.

"Does that mean no?" Parker questioned, confused.

She paused.

"It means not right now," she smiled and looked at Booth.

"But if you love each other now, why don't you wanna get married now? Dad says that when you love someone, you ask them to marry you," he inquired.

Brennan turned to Booth for help. Booth took a deep breath and attempted to explain their situation the best he could.

"Because couples need time to be together before making that big of a promise to each other," Booth explained.

"Oh," Parker said.

"Is there anything else you'd like to discuss, Parker?" Brennan asked.

"Are you gonna live with Dad, like Hannah did?" Parker wondered.

"I . . . have been staying over at your father's in order to help him out while he's been injured. The question of our official living arrangements has not been discussed yet . . . How would you feel about it?" Brennan asked.

Parker shrugged.

"It'd be okay, I guess," he said. "Would you have to give up your pool?"

Brennan and Booth both laughed.

"One step at a time, buddy, okay? Now what do you wanna do this weekend?" Booth asked.

"Can we go swimming?" Parker asked.

"Of course! Your dad will have to stay out of the water, due to his splint, but we can swim if you'd like," Brennan told him.

"Cool! Thanks, Dr. Bones! . . . Is that what I should call you?" Parker inquired.

"You can call me that, or Brennan, or Bren - my family calls me Tempe . . ." Brennan offered.

"I like Bren," Parker smiled. "Can we eat now and then maybe you and Dad could teach me some more stuff about dead bodies and crime scenes?"

"Sure," Brennan laughed and caught Booth's eyes.

Booth took her hand across the table. He'd never loved this woman any more than he did at that moment.

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"You were amazing this weekend," Booth kissed Brennan's temple as they walked into his apartment after dropping Parker off. "I told you it'd work out."

"You were right. Our announcement went well. But I still maintain that it could have gone in a different direction," she pointed out and sat on the couch. "Is it normal behavior for an eleven year-old boy to voluntarily embrace his father's new intimate partner?"

He sat beside her and rubbed her leg affectionately.

"Girlfriend, Bones. And I don't know . . . it's never happened before," Booth shrugged. "But he does know you a lot better than anyone else I've introduced to him. And you're great with him."

"Do you think I'd make a good mother?" Brennan asked.

"Mother? Whoa! Bones, where'd that come from? Did Parker's questions about marriage get to you or somethin'?" Booth asked, completely caught off guard.

"No . . . but spending time with Parker made me wonder if I would be a sufficient maternal figure for a child of my own," she clarified. "I assume that if we are to stay in a relationship for a significant amount of time, that children wouldn't be out of the question?"

Booth shook his head, trying to wrap his mind around the weight of the conversation. How in god's name did she always manage to take a fairly light-hearted conversation and throw him for a freakin' loop?

"I do want children, Booth. And if you do not, then I believe that it will become a problem at some point during the development of our relationship," Brennan stated and got up to leave. "Perhaps this is not the best situation for either of us."

"Hey! Bones, just sit back down. You didn't even give me a chance to respond! We're in this together, okay? So you can't just unilaterally make a decision for us and walk away. Relationships are about give and take . . . compromising . . . honestly discussing issues before making choices . . ." Booth told her.

Brennan nodded and sat down again.

"Look, I never said I didn't want kids with you. But now? We've barely had time together with the case and my injuries and everything else . . ." he said.

"I didn't mean right now, Booth! I just happened to think of it while we were with Parker," Brennan clarified. "But I will not be able to wait too much longer, as my biological time to have a healthy child is running out. My reproductive eggs are aging -"

"Can we not talk about biology and eggs and women's reproductive stuff?" Booth cringed.

She nodded, reluctantly.

"We will have to have this discussion, Booth," Brennan insisted.

"Just not now, Bones. We've been together two weeks – this discussion usually happens like two months into a relationship – and that's only mentioning whether you want them or not – not 'Hey, let's have a kid together!'" Booth said. He knew he was flipping out at her, but he couldn't help it.

"We have known each other a lot longer than most couples. I believe that justifies most of our serious discussions being held at an earlier time," she contended.

He forced himself to calm down. He reminded himself that she was insecure when it came to long-term relationships and he could scare her off if he didn't watch it.

"We'll talk about it, Bones - I promise. But right now, I just wanna relax and have a normal night with my new, sexy, scientist girlfriend, okay?" Booth said.

"But this is normal for us, Booth," Brennan argued.

"Stress-free, Bones," he clarified.

"Oh," she answered. "I can do that."

"Good. So what are we havin' for dinner – Thai? Chinese?" he asked.

"I thought I'd make my mac and cheese. I was going to make it for Parker, but he seemed to want burgers and pizza more at the time," Brennan replied.

"You can make it for him next time – besides, this just means there's more for me," he grinned.

"I'm glad I can make you happy," she smiled.

"Just being with you makes me happy, Bones," Booth assured her, brushing her hair back and kissing her earnestly.