A half hour later, as promised Brennen came out of the kitchen carrying a pot of steaming hot macaroni and cheese. Booth walked up behind Brennen hugging her from behind. "Looks great Bones" he said into her hair. Brennen laughed and swatted Booth. Sully stood in the doorway of the dining room unsure of what to do.
"Hey Sully come on lets eat." She smiled and walked hesitantly towards the table where Booth patted her on the back and pointed to where she could sit.
As Booth sat there he couldn't help but feel how natural it felt to be in a family situation with Bones. His Bones. He still couldn't believe she had told him she loved him back. After all those times she told him that love was just a chemical reaction of the brain. He also couldn't help it feeling natural with Sully there. The poor kid hadn't said a word since they found her in the woods earlier this morning. But somehow, Somehow this kid brought him and his Bones together.
Brennen looked at the table and its guests. She had been struggling against her feelings for Booth for what seems like years now. Other men she had dated just seemed so bland compared to Booth. Even Jared and Andrew seemed small and insignificant compared to Booth. He was perfect. In every way. She knew he'd give her life to save her, and she would do the same for him in a heartbeat. Yes, this relationship was different, Booth was the only one who ever cared enough about her to tear down the walls that she had built up to protect herself from the outside world. Now Sully, she was different. She remembered the first time Angela had told them that this was Sully and she could practically feel every muscle in Booth's body tighten even though he was an arms length away. This Sully, she was special. She knew what it was like to be in the system to face the horrible people that were there. Brennen felt like she owed Sully because she too felt like Sully brought her and her Booth together.
Sully looked up from her plate at the people who were so generous to open their home to her, to care about her. Sure she had been in foster homes before, but she never felt like she fit in. The only reason a lot of the homes were bearable was because of Robert. Now Robert was reduced to a pile of human remains and she felt it was her fault. She had no idea what Robert had gotten himself into, but she felt that now in this home with people who cared so much about each other she felt like she fit. These people had know each other for five years and been "dating" for maybe four hours yet they seem like an old married couple that knows each others strengths and weaknesses. She wanted to stay with them. This is what felt like home.
Brennen insisted that Sully didn't do anything strenuous until they could get a proper cast on her wrist so she sat in the living room reading one of Brennen's science magazines will Booth and Bones cleared dishes. "Hey Bones, can I tell you something?" Booth asked as he reached over his sort-of-in a way-girlfriend, to put a plate away.
"Sure" she replied as she turned to face him. Since he still had his arm over her in a way he rested both of his arms on the counter top, so his face was barely centimeters from hers.
"Can I tell you, how natural it feels to be with you eating dinner, doing dishes even when there is a kid sitting in your living room?"
"I feel the same way, Booth, I'm curious as how tomorrow is going to go. Seeing as tomorrow is a Saturday and we have to go to Sully's doctors appointment since Cam can't." Booth brought a hand up to run through his hair. Tomorrow was Saturday. It was his weekend with Parker. He knew Rebecca already has plans, he would have to take Parker with him when they went with Sully. He knew Bones wasn't going to give Sully to child services until she was sure she was in a safe environment. Brennen noticed Booth's sudden panic.
"Booth what's wrong?" Brennen said pulling his shoulders so he looked her in the face again.
"I have Parker this weekend" Booth stated it as a fact.
"Okay so what's the problem we'll take him with us." Booth couldn't help but smile, thats his Bones.
"So we'll go as one big happy family, hows that sound Bones?" Brennen laughed as Booth pulled her closer to his body.
"That sounds wonderful Booth."