This tale of Valentine's Day is actually tied into my story Oblique (hence the title).

And it's probably a good time to restate the disclaimer: don't own any of them, wish I did--'cause then I could keep the show on track.


"Daddy, I want to see Dr. Bones," Parker announced with a mulish expression on his face. "Mr. Max said she's working today."

"Probably is, bub," Booth replied, flicking a glance at his son in the backseat. "She works too much, sometimes."

"But it's Saturday! Saturday isn't for school, or working!"

"You're absolutely right, Parker, but Bones doesn't believe that. I'll tell you a secret--she likes to work."

"Doesn't she like other things?"

Booth hesitated, wondering how exactly he could explain. He couldn't go into the real reasons she often buried herself in her work with his seven-year-old son. "Yes. Yes, she does, but work comes first for her."

"What else does she like?" Parker asked innocently.

"Dolphins," Booth answered. "Daffodils. Karate. Writing. Catching bad guys." Driving me insane.

"Does she like candy?"

"I think so. Why?" When Parker didn't answer, Booth glanced at him again in the mirror. His son was rooting through his backpack, obviously looking for something. Something red peeked around the zipper and he pushed it back down as he kept looking.

"Can we go see her? Please, daddy? Pretty please with sugar on top?"

Parker's pleading look was too much for Booth. "All right, bub, but not for long, OK? Bones does important work and she doesn't always like to be interrupted. And we've got plans this afternoon, too, remember?"

"All right, daddy." He settled back into his seat. All too soon, Booth realized, his little boy would be too big for any sort of car seat. Of course, when he had been that age, he already was deemed too big--the rules had shifted a lot in those thirty-odd years.

They pulled into the Jeffersonian complex, taking a spot a little closer to the door than he usually got because it was so empty. But Bones' car was there, just as he expected. "Well, she's here all right," he announced, opening the back door. Parker bounced right out, backpack on one shoulder, enthusiasm shining from his face.

At the door, Parker got a visitor's badge clipped to him by a smiling guard. "She's in her office, Agent Booth," the man said.

"How long this time?" Booth asked, bracing himself for the worst.

"Oh, only 'bout an hour so far."

"Thanks. C'mon, Parks, let's go."

They had walked past the platform and around the little stations when Booth started to hear music. Strange, since Bones didn't play music while she was working. I don't recognize it. It was soft and lilting, almost inviting, and he found he kind of liked it.

His hand came to rest on Parker's shoulder and he mimed silence when the boy looked up. Parker nodded, a brilliant smile on his face as they neared Brennan's office.

The track changed; to his shock, he could hear her voice, too. His hand tightened on Parker for a moment as he looked around the corner into her office. She was working at something on her computer, eyes intent on the screen, hair pulled up in a loose ponytail, absently singing along.

I wish I was in Carrickfergus
Where the castle looks out to sea
I would swim over the deepest ocean
For my love to be with me

But the sea is wide and I cannot swim over
Nor have I the wings for to fly
I wish I had a handsome boatsman
To ferry me over, my love and I

I wish I was in the land of Erin
Where the mountains meet the sea
Where flowers blossom as I do remember
Where my true love came to me

But the sea is wide and I cannot swim over
Nor have I the wings for to fly
Ah to be back now in Carrickfergus
To be together, my love and I
To be together, my love and I

I wish I was in Carrickfergus
I wish I was in Carrickfergus
I wish I was back home again

"Very nice, Bones," Booth said. She jerked in surprise and stared at him. "Thought we'd come by and say hi," he told her, ignoring the color that ran up her face.

"We?" she managed, reaching for a bottle of water. "Must you sneak up on me?"

"Would you deny me a little fun? Don't answer that," he teased and stepped aside, allowing Parker to burst in.

"Hi, Dr. Bones!"

"Parker! What a nice surprise!"

"You sing really nice," he told her and her color deepened. She actually began to fidget a bit in her chair, and not just because she was uncomfortable with the praise. Bitterness briefly twisted Booth's smile as he understood her discomfort.

"You do, Bones," he couldn't help agreeing. "And look--everything's calm. No explosions, no…trouble or anything like that," he said, voice trailing off uncertainly. "Anyway, we're just here to say hi. Parker wanted to stop by. He can't believe you like to work, especially on such a nice sunny Saturday."

Parker smiled up at her with his father's smile and she felt herself melt a little. He is so cute, and he's going to be trouble when he's older, she thought, returning the smile. Just like his oblivious, obstinate, and so far, unobtainable father! "It's always nice to see you, Parker." She let herself hug him and accepted the slightly damp kiss he pressed to her cheek. "Sometimes it's nice to work on Saturdays because it's quiet," she told both of them; only Booth read her pointed tone, however. "I guess it's time to take a break," she added for Parker's benefit.

"I have something for you, Dr. Bones," he told her, dropping his backpack and digging through it.

She shot a glance at Booth, who shrugged. He seemed to be enjoying the way they were interacting, and she knew he would keep her from saying or doing anything inappropriate. "Go ahead and sit down, Booth," she told him. No point in mentioning just yet that she had been thinking about him earlier. It'd only make him run, and, frankly, the prospect of both Booth boys' company was rather pleasant. She'd take take it, any way she could get it right now. And if that doesn't sound pathetic, she chided herself.

"What'cha working on?" he asked, dropping onto the couch.

"Just some requests from television and movie studios. Every year, we are asked to verify some of the science they want to use. Not that they listen. But it's pretty basic stuff."

"And that's why you've got the music going," he added, understanding. "It won't distract you from such simple work."

"Exactly. It's basic enough that my dad could do most of it, if we could let him. There's a few things for a new forensics show that require a higher science, though. But I hate to waste a regular workday on it." She hesitated slightly. "And somehow the lab seemed extra quiet today."

He let that slide past. "I vaguely remember you mentioning you did that once. Do you ever watch any of these things you set on the right path?"

"No. I've seen enough to know they simplify it down past what is acceptable."

Parker by this point had found what he was looking for and was waiting for them to stop talking, shifting from one foot to another. Brennan noticed his rising impatience and held up a hand to silence Booth. "Yes, Parker?"

"Happy Valentine's Day, Dr. Bones!" he exclaimed, putting a red piece of paper and a small box on the desk in front of her, then took one step back, looking suddenly bashful.

"Thank you, Parker," she replied and slid the box to the side in order to look at the paper. Her mouth twitched as she looked at it, and she let it grow into a genuine smile before leaning over and kissing him. "This is very sweet, and very--sparkly." She turned it to show Booth the heavily glittered and sequined handmade card. Wavery white crayon in the center spelled out "HAPPY VALENTINES DAY."

"Nicky at school says girls like lots of shiny and sparkly things," Parker explained. "So I made sure to put lots on for you."

She ignored the red and silver glitter that fell onto her desk every time she moved it. "It's lovely, Parker." She picked up the little box and discovered it was filled with conversation hearts. "I haven't had these since I was a little girl," she said. "Will you have a couple with me while I see if they're still as good as I remember?"

"Can I, Daddy?"

"Go ahead, buddy. It's long enough after breakfast."

Brennan dumped them out on a clean part of her desk and began flipping some over to read what was printed on them. "I see they've changed some of the sayings. 'Email me'?"

"They're just trying to stay up to date."

She chuckled and popped one in her mouth. "Taste hasn't changed much, however."

Booth couldn't help smiling at the sight of Bones and Parker sorting through the little pile of candy; he didn't notice her pushing a few aside as Parker made his selections. His mind returned to the song she had been singing--it sounded suspiciously like a love song, which really didn't seem like her style. He pondered it as they picked though the candy, with laughter that was strangely close to giggles. Maybe Valentine's Day means something to her. Damned if I know what, considering her usual stance on holidays. He toyed with sending some flowers, or would that be going too far? After all, they were just partners…

Parker plopping next to him with a huge handful of candy brought his attention back to the present. He was busy telling Bones about the Valentines exchange his class had done and how he made a card for his mom, too, but he had glued the red construction paper heart to a paper doily and used stickers instead of glitter for hers.

Brennan, remarkably soft and un-Bones-like the entire time, kept up the conversation, asking Parker about what they were learning in school, nodding at just the right spots, even agreeing to come by and say hello when his class came to the museum for a field trip, and definitely when they were working with Max.

"As long as I'm not chasing bad guys with your dad, of course."

"Mr. Max or Miss Angela would tell me that, right?"

"Of course they would."

"Then that's all right. Emmy says sometimes 'dults say things just to make kids go away."

Brennan shook her head. "I wouldn't do that. It's not right--and you're old enough to understand that sometimes your dad has to work strange hours."

"That's one way of putting it," Booth said, then checked his watch. "Whoops--Parks, it's lunchtime. Hate to leave you, Bones, but we have plans after we eat."

"We're going to see a movie!" Parker told her, excited all over again.

"Then I hope you have fun. I'm glad you came, though," she murmured, standing up to follow them to the door. "Here--do you want a couple?" she asked.

"Sure. Why not?" He held out his hand and she dropped two into his palm. He shook his head. "Temperance Brennan, Queen of the Literal."

"You should always say what you mean," she chided him lightly. "Didn't I just finish telling your son that?"

"Bye, Dr. Bones!" Parker said, hugging her.

"Bye, Parker. Come by anytime." She ruffled his curls before he took his father's hand to leave.

Booth was about to pop the candy in his mouth, but old habits made him look at what was written on them first. Cutie Pie. Be Mine. He blinked and looked back over his shoulder at her. She still stood in her office door, a mysterious smile on her face.


OK, was that fluff or cheese? Actually, this is very loosely based on something that happened to me when I was younger (message via conversation hearts).

The song is "Carrickfergus," the Feet of Flames version (mostly traditional).