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Coming home…

Chapter 17:

I heard the door bell ring and instantly, I got more nervous. I knew that Rebecca's sister was dropping off Parker. Parker was going to spend the day with us…. And I was nervous about what we had to do. Telling him that the baby in my womb was his little half sibling. There were so many ways this could go wrong, but despite my worries I had to smile as I thought back at how he had asked me about my big belly.

Obviously one of his class mates had explained that women trade the big belly for a burping and crying little baby that was constantly in need of changing diapers. I explained to him that the baby was in there, growing, waiting until the day it was ready to be born. Parker was a bright boy and had quickly grasped the concept… he had however never asked who might be the father of my child. Things like that seemed not to worry a child his age. And he had never seen me with a man… how was he supposed to suspect his Daddy was also my unborn child's father?

How was he going to react now? I wondered. We not only were going to tell him about Booth being the father of the baby, but also that he was going to move in with me… in fact he had not really left my apartment in the past three days. In total he had been gone about four hours for a meeting with Cullen at the Hoover building, then a visit at Rebecca's. When he had come back he had thanked me for making Cullen talk to the insurance companies. It had been four weeks after Parker's birthday when they had finally settled their argument and come to a reasonable decision… and Rebecca and Parker could try to live as normal as possible considering the circumstances. At least now, they had

But now the stability the boy had gained was going to be shattered. I was afraid of Parker being mad at me or his father. As always, the baby took offense at my uneasiness and rewarded me with strategically well-placed kicks in the general direction of my bladder and the sudden urge to go to the bathroom arose. Again.

I closed my eyes, straining my ears to hear what Parker and his father were talking about in the living room… and ignored the need to use the toilet. I was not going to let myself get dictated like that, I told myself. Whatever would it be like to be nine months pregnant? Would I have to use the toilet every ten minutes?

Parker and Booth's voices grew louder as they approached my bedroom and I took in a deep breath. "Hey Bones." Parker greeted me and gave me a worried look. "Is your baby-tummy still upset?"

I had to smile at his question. "Yes. That's why I still need to be in bed, you know."

"But the baby is not sick?" He asked and I shook my head. "No… this is just precaution." I explained and the seven year old frowned. "What's pre..gotshon?"

Booth laughed. "It's like wearing a helmet when you're driving a bike, buddy. You may not need it, but it's better to wear it in case something happens. Bones has to stay in bed, just to make sure everything's alright. Better safe than sorry."

He sat down on the edge of my bed and his son nodded understandingly, obviously he had heard explanations like that one quite often. Parker moved closer his eyes fixed on my abdomen thoughtfully for a while. "Doesn't it have to come out for air?" He blurted.

The question took me aback. Of course – seen from the view point of a seven year old – the inquiry was perfectly logical. Distantly I remembered lecturing him on dolphins and whales and why they had to come to the surface from time to time. "No, Parker. " I shook my head. "Not yet."

Booth and I exchanged a look. Both of us hoped that the boy would be satisfied with this answer, but we knew better. "Why not yet?" Came the next question, as anticipated.

Under different circumstances I would have laughed at the panicked look at Seeley's face, but unfortunately I shared the sentiment. I could hardly let him do all the explaining, when Parker had addressed the question at me…. and had still no idea that Booth was the father of the child.

An idea struck. "Parker, you remember how you got the medicine when you had the stomach flu?" I asked and the boy grimaced and nodded. "Uh-uh. I got an intrusion."

I bit back a smile. "An infusion or IV, yes. Well, that's similar you know. The doctor gave you the IV so that the medicine could enter your blood. And the baby gets all it needs through my blood until it's ready to be born."

Parker shot me a horrified look. "With needles?"

"No, no" I hurried to assure him. "Not with needles. It's more like…." I took in a deep breath and gazed at Booth for help, but he was simply staring at me and his son, a mixture of surprise and confusion on his face. No help at all, I decided.

"It's more like…a hose, you know." I said and Parker shot me a dubious look. Inevitably, the next question came. "But how 's that work?"

I sighed. Children that age were far to inquisitive…. On the other hand without curiosity nobody would learn anything… so Parker's question were probably a good thing. Uncomfortable right now, but a sign of interest.

"Your belly button is where the hose was cut off when you were born." I explained gently. "You didn't need it anymore then, you know." I tried to explain as gentle as possible. Parker frowned, dragged up his shirt and gave his belly button a long look, poking at it gently. "Did it hurt?"

"Cutting it off?" I asked and he nodded. "Do you remember that it hurt?" I continued and he shook his head. "Then I guess it didn't." I said and he bit his bottom lip, considering my words. Then he nodded. "Good. I don't want my little brother to hurt."

My eyes widened and I blinked, trying to make sense of what he just had said. My eyes darted to Booth, but he seemed just as shocked. "Parks…. ah...What did you just say?" His father asked.

"I don't want my little brother to get hurt." The boy emphasized as if he was talking to slow-witted fools. Maybe he was. "Could be a sister too, but I hope not, cause brothers are cool."

"How do you …. You know that I'm the father of the baby?" I heard Seeley gasp. He sounded surprised and confused… just like I felt, too.

"It's not a secret now, right? Mommy said when you're back and talked to Bones it's not a secret anymore." Parker frowned. "Did I do something wrong?" His lower lip quivered suspiciously. Since the accident Parker had become a little more sensitive and was easily upset.

"No, no." I shook my head. "YOU didn't do anything wrong, Parker."

I exchanged another look with Booth, at a loss of what to say now. Rebecca had promised me to keep quiet about the child's parentage, at least towards the boy. We had both agreed that it was the best solution to have Seeley explain things to Parker.

"Good." Parker sighed in relief. "Cos I'm not suppos'd to eavesdrop."

"Eavesdrop?" Booth repeated, his eyes narrowed at the boy and Parker fidgeted a little. "Mommy and aunt Rachel talked about Bones' baby. I shoulda been in bed, but I was thirsty and got up." He admitted hesitantly.

"You overheard them talking? Your mother didn't tell you?" I asked, just to make sure and Parker nodded. "But Mommy was right… right? You're the baby's daddy, too?" The blond boy gazed at his father with wide eyes, as if it only just occurred to him that what he had overheard might have been wrong.

'"Yes, I'm the baby's Daddy too." Booth said earnestly and a smile blossomed on Parker's face. "Cool."

"You're…. okay with that?" Seeley continued after a moment and Parker nodded. "Mommy told me Bones is having a baby… and then I asked her if I get to have a brother but she said she couldn't have any more babies cos of the accident. She said I had to ask you, Daddy. And then I heard her with aunt Rachel."

My face fell. I never had thought of how Rebecca's accident had also affected the possibility of her ever having children again. I clenched my teeth as a wave of compassion for the other woman hit me. Seeing me, knowing I was pregnant must have been painful for her. My eyes met Booth's and I knew he thought the same thing.

Parker didn't seem to notice our silence and merrily chattered on. "I'm going to be a big brother, right Daddy?"

"Yeah, kiddo." Booth said, his voice hoarse. "You're going to be a big brother."

"That's cool." Parker said, but then frowned a little. "But I don't have to share my room when I'm with you, Daddy, right?" He scrunched his nose thoughtfully. "Cause I don't want to. Mike says babies cry all the time." I suspected Mike was the class mate that had told the wonderous tale of bellies traded for babies.

Booth shot me a look. I kept my mouth shut, convinced that I had done enough explaining and that it was his turn now.

"Buddy, that's something else we need to talk about. You don't have to share your room. But… you know, I don't want Bones to be alone with the baby. So I thought I'd move in with her. Here in this apartment, so that we can be together. You can have your own room here and the baby too."

Parker narrowed his eyes a little and started to chew on his bottom lip, lost in thoughts. After some time he asked. "But I get to keep all my things?"

Booth smiled at his son. "Of course." He reassured the boy and Parker took in a deep breath. "Guess it's okay then. Where is my room?" I had to laugh… children were so easily distracted. Suddenly the fact that he was going to be a big brother was less interesting than the prospect of a new room. "Show him." I said and smiled at the two of them. "I need to go to the bathroom anyway."

"You've been there thirty minutes ago, Bones." Booth sent me a half-exasperated, half-worried look.

"Pregnant." I said in lieu of a lengthy explanation and he smiled at me. "I know." He closed the distance between us and brushed a kiss against my lips.

"Ew." Parker commented and Booth pulled back, laughed and ushered his son out of the room, while I pushed myself up and aimed for the bathroom. Again.

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