Hey, just want to thank everyone who reviewed, added this as a fave story or me as a fave author, I'm flattered and I sincerely appreciate everyone who is reading this. Thank you. The next few chaps are dialogue heavy, but bear with me! I promise it'll all work out for our fave couple :)

5 –

"Hey Bones," Parker greeted cheerfully as he bounced into the SUV, "Daddy said we could sleep at yours tonight!"

"That's right Bub," Booth agreed as he supervised Parker buckling himself in, "Bones is going out though, so we've got to be good."

"No throwing popcorn then!" Parker laughed, watching as Bones narrowed her eyes at his Dad. "I'll be good Bones."

"I know you will Parker," Brennan smiled at him, "but I'll need you to keep an eye on your Dad for me, can you do that?"

"Hey!" Booth protested as he buckled his own belt and pulled away from the sidewalk, watching Rebecca wave to them as they drove away, "I'm the adult here," he grinned at his son over his shoulder, "We'll be good won't we?"

"F'course!" Parker practically shouted back, "What's for dinner?"

Booth smiled, it was good for Bones to have this time with them, contrary to her protestations; he knew she secretly loved spending time with them, taking her role of 'enriching' his son very seriously. He glanced over at his silent partner, watching as she turned back to face Parker, informing him that they were going to a nearby restaurant for dinner if he didn't mind.

Booth nearly laughed at that, as if his son would mind eating anywhere, as long as it was food! He truly was a Booth boy, he could eat and eat and not feel the effects of the plate loads of junk he consumed. That thought was sobering to Booth; having recently turned thirty-six, he was starting to notice his weight fighting back against his strict exercise regime. It was only a matter of time before middle age set in, no matter how much he wanted to deny it.

"Brennan," Bones' cell phone had vibrated, her curt greeting stirring Booth from his musings as he drove towards his favourite steakhouse. "Thank you," Brennan replaced her phone in her pocket, turning to face him, "That was Bancroft, the investigation has been terminated, we're free to return to working with the FBI as of Monday morning."

"And Hodgins?" Booth queried, wondering if Brennan really had compartmentalized her feelings of anger and blame over his kidnapping,

"I assume that he'll probably receive another verbal warning regarding his conduct," Brennan replied, "Hodgins is a valued member of the team; his knowledge and expertise are irreplaceable."

"Even though this is the second time he's been exposed for stealing evidence, which has had an effect on the reputation of the lab?" Booth couldn't help but push, Parker hanging off every word that was said in order to know what was going on,

"He won't make the same mistake again," Brennan was firm, her voice demanding that Booth let the subject drop.

"We're there!" Parker finished their conversation as the SUV rolled over a speed bump in the car park, jolting the three occupants, "Can I have a steak Dad?"

"Parker, red meat is considerably high in-" Brennan was forced into silence by Booth's hand firmly clamped across her mouth.

"Don't," he whispered fiercely, "Parker enjoys real food, and when he's old enough to know the facts and make his own choice, you can tell him whatever you like. Got it?" Brennan nodded, her eyes glittering furiously at Booth.

Removing his hand from her face quickly, Booth turned back to face his son, "Let's go eat!" He bellowed, making Brennan jump and Parker shriek with laughter.

Staring at Booth and Parker, Brennan was entirely distracted, following them blindly across the car park, into the restaurant and to the table, just considering what had been said and done between Booth and herself in just that day.

Booth had told her that he had been chasing her for years, which in and of itself was an innocent comment that she was aware she may have read too much into. No matter what she hoped he had meant; she knew her limitations on understanding subtext were far below a normal persons.

She knew that Booth was unaware that she was listening when he had told Sweets that she would have protested if she didn't want Booth to pay for her coffee, and she knew Booth knew her well enough to understand. It wasn't that she allowed him to pay for her all the time, it was that Sweets didn't understand that it would be a wasted effort to try to persuade Booth to let her pay for it, when it was only coffee. The very coffee Booth was so sure would keep them together if their work together ever ceased. She had understood Booth when he had told Sweets that she would have paid if she wanted to, and she was pleased that Booth really did know her so well. She would protest and pay whenever she felt like it, but in Booth's mind, coffee was special for them, and she understood the importance of letting him pay for it.

"Bones, you having your usual?" Booth's voice interrupted her internal dialogue. She nodded at him, looking around to see how full the restaurant was. "Yes, please." The waiter nodded as he scribbled down what Booth was ordering and then scurried away from the table, leaving Booth and Parker chatting about school and Brennan to her thoughts.

They had walked through the capitol together, light conversation and comfortable silence was easy when they were together, it was when other people were around that things became considerably more complicated. It was easy to forget themselves and just enjoy each other's company, but she knew it was getting harder and harder to tear herself away from the woman she wanted to be and to revert to the scientist she actually was; especially when her familiarity with her team pushed her to be that woman, both in and out of the lab. She actually hoped Angela might be able to help her with that later; she was an expert at those kinds of conflicting emotions.

Booth had then gotten her emotions even more conflicted and her hopes up when he had told her he would move in with her, and in that split second, she had known that that was exactly what she wanted. Those hopes- and dare she even admit it- dreams, were then ruined when he revealed the truth of his joke. He didn't want to cohabit with her. His words had been careful after that, his eyes revealing what she already knew; he felt sorry for her.

He had liked the apartment they had viewed, and Brennan was ultimately conscious of the fact that it was most likely the place where Booth would be living soon. This had prompted her into the polite and impartial comments she knew she had made. It was true, the apartment was nice, she had lived in places like it before coming to DC and knew how comfortable Booth would be there; but she couldn't help the knowledge that he had liked the apartment she had wanted more, from taking over her thoughts. He had loved the entire apartment, as had she, and it was confusing to say the least, that he was letting others dictate what he would and wouldn't do, just because of gossip and speculation, which she knew he hated.

"Booooones?" Parker's voice tore her away from her thoughts, "Bones?"

"Yes Parker?"

"Why aren't you talking?" Parker smiled as he spoke, genuine curiosity fuelled his question, which was almost mirrored on the face of his father.

"I was thinking about the apartments your father and I saw today," Brennan told them, leaning back slightly as the waiter placed her plate in front of her.

"You gonna get a new apartment?" Parker asked; looking at Bones as his Dad cut up his steak for him with the sharp knife. "I like your apartment."

"I like it too," Bones smiled, holding her fork half way to her mouth as she spoke, "that's why I'm not going to move."

"I think her new apartment is even better than the one she's got," Booth spoke with his mouth full of steak, his eyes fully focused on hers in an almost challenging way.

"Cool!" Parker exclaimed, before falling silent for his meal, completely oblivious to the silent tête-à-tête playing out between his father and Bones.