Flowers For A Ghost

You disappear with all your good intentions
And all I am is all I could not mention
Like who will bring me flowers when it's over
And who will give me comfort when it's cold

She took a plane to somewhere out in space
To start a life and maybe change the world
See I never meant for you to have to crawl
No I never meant to let you go at all

Don't ever say goodbye

See my head aches from all this thinkin'
Feels like a ship God, God knows I'm sinkin'
Wonder what you do and where it is you stay
These questions like a whirlwind, they carry me away...

Who will bring me flowers when it's over?
And who will give me comfort when it's cold?
Who will I belong to when the day just won't give in?
And who will tell me how it ends and how it all begins?

Don't ever say goodbye

I'm only human
I'm only human
I'm only human

Booth had arrested the murderer in the Peterson case. Bones and her squint squad had pulled enough evidence to convict yet another person. Leaving Sweets and Booth to interrogate the suspect now turned convicted murderer all less than an hour ago. Booth had already taken the guy down to the precinct. Now, he was stuck filling out paperwork. It was absurd that he couldn't just turn him over to local pd but it was what it was. It was also six thirty and time to pick up Ash. He reluctantly called Brennan.

"Brennan." Brennan was standing in the threshold of Angela's office as she waited on her. Angela was planning on picking up Piper and Brennan was planning to pick up Ash. As promised they were going to bring the girls back to Hodgins to see the bugs.

"Hey I'm stuck down town. Can you pick up Ash and let her hang out with you for a bit until I get back?" Booth asked.

"Of course Booth, Angela and I were about to walk down to the daycare and get the girls right now. I promised them they could see Hodgins bugs before we left. It would be wrong to break a promise." Brennan said and Booth inhaled.

"Yeah, okay. Thanks Bones. Just don't let Hodgins let her touch those beetles with the horns." Booth said.

Angela walked out of her office and across the platform telling Hodgins they would be back with two munchkins. She didn't bother talking to Brennan as she followed her like a child does a parent in a grocery store. Brennan was lost in banter on her phone with Booth. Angela knew the conversation was far from finished.

"Booth she should be able to touch or hold whatever bugs she would like too, unless they are poisonous." Brennan argued as she walked down the corridor following Angela and not paying attention to where she was going, but blindly trusting her best friend. Angela shook her head back and forth.

"But they have horns and stuff Bones, and some spray that smelly stuff. Don't let Ash get sprayed." Booth argued.

"I can't one hundred percent tell you it won't happen."

"Bones!"

"What Booth? What if she wants to be an entomologist? Hodgins makes very good money." Brennan stated.

"Okay. Why bugs? She can play with bones. You play with bones. She can be a scientist just no bugs. She is a girl Bones, not Hodgins." Booth said and he knew he shouldn't have as soon as he did.

"So, just because she is a girl means she can't make an efficient entomologist? That is ridiculous Booth. Plus, an entomologist is a scientist. Are you going to restrict what kind of scientist she can and can't be?" Brennan asked.

Angela had already started a conversation with Eve and told her she was picking up Piper and Brennan was picking up Ashley. Eve looked to Brennan who was so in depth in her phone conversation she didn't even think she realized she was at the daycare's door. Eve cleared her throat, "Ms. Montenegro you are on Ashley's contact sheet why don't you sign her out?"

Angela looked at Brennan.

"Just don't let her get sprayed by the stinky bugs Bones." Booth argued.

"I can't be one hundred percent sure she will not Booth."

"Bones."

"What Booth?"

Angela looked to Eve, "That sounds like a wonderful idea." Eve passed the girls contact sheets to Angela and soon they had her signature on them and the girls spotted her.

"Auntie!"

"Mommy!" Piper and Ashley said simultaneously as they raced to see Angela.

"I have to go Booth. I have to get Ash." Brennan said; her voice subconsciously softer at the mention of Ashley. Their banter of bugs left in the past, like so many other things.

"Tell her hi for me and that I will see her soon." Booth's tone had softened as well.

"You aren't sure when you are able to see her Booth."

"Just tell her I love her." Booth said.

Brennan nodded quietly forgetting he couldn't see her, "I will."

Then Booth ended the call, seconds after he did so did Brennan. Brennan looked at Piper in Angela's arms and Ash holding Ange's leg in a tight hug. She smiled. "Hey Ash."

"Auntie Bwen!" she said upon spotting Brennan. Brennan picked her up and Ash fingered Brennan's large square shaped pendent that was made out of shell. The necklace itself was burgundy bamboo with beads. "I like this."

"Thank you Ashley, the pendent is made from conch shell and the necklace is bamboo and beads. I received it on a dig in Indonesia." Brennan said brushing Ashley's bleach blond bangs out of her face again. "You need a hair cut Ash."

"I want it long." Ashley said.

"Okay, but you need your bangs cut." Brennan said.

Ashley grew quiet and dug her head into Brennan's shoulder. Angela was walking the corridor toward anthropology with Piper now on the ground besides her telling her about her day. Brennan was quiet a bit then bent her head to look at the little girl. "What's wrong?"

Ash's voice was a whisper, "My mommy use to cut it. Now who cuts it? I don't want daddy too. He can't even cook dah pancakes." Brennan smiled and kissed the top of Ash's head. She breathed in the smell of a child. It was comforting and at times she wasn't sure who was comforting who.

"Is it okay if I cut it or maybe Angela?" Brennan asked carefully and Ash nodded her head yes in Brennan's shoulder. Brennan felt such warmth in her heart for the little girl on her hip. Then again she always had.

Before they knew it they were walking through the automatic doors and toward entomology. Brennan hadn't even noticed until the doors opened and the smell of the lab hit her full force along with Ashley's quiet, "Where is my daddy Auntie Bwen?"

"He had to run an errand he will be here soon. I spoke with him on the phone and he told me to tell you that he loves you." Brennan said.

Ashley smiled and Piper turned around to look at Ashley and walked over to her and Brennan causing Angela to turn and follow. "We are going to see my daddy's bugs Ash!" she said in a loud whisper.

"I know." Ash said.

"How?"

"Auntie Bwen said when she came and gotted us, dat later we would go see'um." Ashley said and Brennan smiled.

"Oh." Piper was reduced to a two letter word. Then she grabbed Angela's hand tugging her toward Hodgins' office.

"Hey munk!" Hodgins said affectionately as he bent down and held his hands out to Piper who ran as fast as she could into them.

"Do you want me to put you down Ashley?" Brennan asked and Ash nodded yes.

"Yes please. I want to see Hodgie's bugs too." Ash told Brennan and Brennan set her down watching her run to Hodgins.

"Hey munchkin! How are you doing?" Hodgins said to Ash and she smiled shyly. Her lips spreading wider and wider to show the charm smile she hid behind rose petal lips. Between Hannah and Booth's smile, she was destined to have a pretty smile as well.

"Daddy! Daddy! Can we see your bugs? We will be on our bestest behavior." Piper asked.

Hodgins smiled, "Sure munk come on let's go." Piper grabbed her dad's hand and skipped along next to him into him his office as she took hold of Ashley's hand leading her along as well. Ash glanced behind her and met Brennan's eyes then looked back to Piper.

Angela and Brennan were standing next to one another when Angela crossed her arms, "That girl, she loves you. You know that, right?" Angela asked and Brennan inhaled at her words exhaling slowly. Her response was supposed to be Ditto. Those are the exact words Booth used when he first told her he loved her. I love you, you know that right?

"She is just use to me because she is staying with me Angela." Brennan explained to Angela or more tried to rationalize Ash's actions to herself.

"Okay, whatever you say sweetie." Angela said, "Just as long as you know you need to be there for her. It does her good to have a constant female role model in her life to lean on. I mean Hannah's…Hannah's…her…" Angela was having a hard time getting it out.

"Her funeral is this weekend." Brennan finished and Angela nodded looking away and inhaling.

"You know Bren, she didn't hate you. She never hated you. You might have been jealous of her-

"Stop Angela." Brennan said and started to walk off toward her office. Angela followed.

"No. You need to hear this." Brennan turned around glaring at Angela once she followed her into her office.

"What if I don't want to hear it? Please Angela just leave." Brennan said fuming.

Angela only stepped further inside Brennan's office and shut and locked her door. Brennan walked past her to unlock it. "What has got into you?" Brennan asked Angela.

"Brennan she knew." Angela said quickly and Brennan turned around not unlocking the door.

"Knew what?" Brennan asked slowly, carefully…she had an idea.

"She told me she asked Booth one night. She asked if I knew-
"Knew what?" Brennan had an idea, but she had to be sure she needed specifics.

"Knew about you and Booth." Angela confessed.

"Did you tell her?" Brennan asked nervous.

"No and neither did Booth. Bren, Hannah wasn't stupid. She knew Booth wasn't thrilled about the pregnancy. He tried to fake it as best he could, but then there was you Bren. Hell Ash is all that kept him going." Angela said.

"Stop, just it's enough already Angela…Booth living with me. Just stop please." Brennan more of demand and pleaded at the same time. "Besides if no one told her how did she know? Why would she stay with Booth if she knew he wasn't happy? If she wasn't happy? Why stay with someone when you don't have their whole heart?" Brennan asked confused, a naïve woman or was she just that far blindsided she didn't see? Angela wondered.

"Bren, honey life goes on it gets heavy and fragile. He was trying to pick up the pieces sweetie. He was trying his best to make it work." Angela explained, "He was trying to make it whole again."

"Yeah well he lost some pieces along the way!" Brennan shouted at her best friend who wasn't expecting that answer or for her to shout.

"Yes, it's hard to put a puzzle together when the pieces are scattered across the world Bren." Angela countered softly.

Brennan leaned back against her desk and wiped at a tear she tried to hold back. "Ashley needed him." Brennan was convincing herself that Booth had done the right thing.

"Back to what I said Bren, Hannah knew you and Booth were more than partners and she was jealous of you." Angela said and chuckled softly, "And here you thought you were jealous of her."

Silence lingered in Brennan's office until Brennan's soft yet stern voice cut through the silence. "Why did she agree to marry him? Why? If she knew she didn't have all the pieces to make the center hold?"

"I don't know what you mean." Angela said.

"Booth said the center must hold and we are…or were…I don't know…he said we were the center." Brennan explained and Angela inhaled an ahh.

"Oh, the engagement? Think about it a minute sweetie, why do a lot of people that break up get back together and get married and try to make it work?" Angela said.

"Ash." Brennan whispered looking at the ground.

"Correct."

"Rebecca didn't marry Booth." Brennan argued.

"Rebecca wasn't done playing. Plus, she isn't Hannah." Angela said, "Hannah is smart and she knew that Booth and she had chemistry. She also knew he is a great guy and great guys are few and far between. Booth asked her to marry him and so she said yes. They let everyone know. Hannah couldn't fail at marriage, she was terrified too fail. Once married you are supposed to work it out. She had a baby on the way and had discussed the wedding date already. She was trying her best to pick up the scattered pieces as well, but it's hard to make the puzzle work when a piece of the puzzle is missing." Angela said remembering back to a conversation Hannah and she once had at the Founding Fathers.

It was five and Angela and Hannah had a girl's night out at The Founding Fathers. Hodgins and Booth were watching Piper and Ashley at Angela's place.

"He was talking about Temperance again, last night. I only asked if he had heard from her. He got in another one of his aloof moods because of it too. I should have known better than to mention her." Hannah said and Angela sighed empathetic.

"I try and I try to make us work. Hell I know he tries too. Ashley is the best thing that ever happened to me and I am bound and determined to give her a wonderful family. I know Seeley wants to as well. It's just…" Hannah exhaled on the bar stool staring intently at the olive in her drink. She looked up to Angela, "…How am I supposed to pick up the pieces when I don't even have all the pieces to puzzle to begin with?" Hannah said and Angela looked confused momentarily.

"Oh." Angela wondered, "Brennan?"

"Yes, she still holds a large piece of his heart. How does he ever expect to make us work? When he is still working on a different puzzle altogether Angela?" Hannah asked, "Because if you have an idea I'm all ears. I have no idea what to do."

"I don't know Hannah. I'm sorry." Angela said, "Another drink?" Angela suggested and Hannah nodded yes.

"So, they were never happy?" Brennan asked and stated in one, her voice snapped Angela back to reality.

"No…no they had their good days. Hell they had great days and God she was a great mother. She was awesome in that department even when she thought she didn't want kids. Ashley was her favorite mistake. She loved that little girl to pieces." Angela said.

"Then what pieces were missing?"

"You Brennan, you were the missing piece, you still hold a large piece of his heart and Hannah knew she wouldn't ever have Booth's whole heart like you did."

Brennan swiped at another tear as memories flooded her mind. "Please leave Angela?"

Angela looked a bit surprised and opened the door to leave, but found two little girls, one who scooted past Angela and ran up to Brennan. "Auntie Bwen look I have a stink bug! He makes smelly stuff." Ash giggled as Brennan kneeled down in front of her. Brennan watched as Angela took Piper to her office and closed Brennan's office door.

Ash cocked her head sideways and put her little hand on Brennan's cheek, "Why is you sad? Don't cwy."

Brennan said nothing only embraced Ashley as the little girl hugged her back as hard as she could, "Uh-Oh."

"What?" Brennan pulled out of their embrace.

"I quashed Stinkah on yous shiwt. Oh-no he smells bad." Ashley giggled and Brennan lifted her up and kissed her nose. "You smell bad too Auntie."

Brennan tapped her nose, "Ditto."

"What does ditto mean?"

"You too or the same." Brennan explained.

"I smell too?" Ash asked.

"Yes." Brennan smiled.

"We need new clothes." Ash informed Brennan.

"That's okay Ash, we will change your clothes when we get to my house." Brennan assured her.

"Dats a long time. I need to get woof-woof." Ashley said and glanced at a perfume bottle on Brennan's desk. "Can I weaw dat?" She pointed to the bottle. "It makes you smell good. Mommy gave me some sometimes." Ashley asked politely and Brennan smiled.

"Sorry Ash, that is evidence. The case is still open. After I'm done working the case, if it smells good. I will bring it back to you." Brennan said.

"What's evidence?"

Brennan thought about it a second when Angela walked in, "Here, Hodgins gave them stink bugs…he obviously wasn't thinking. Here is some of my perfume." She looked at Brennan smelled her and sprayed her too.

"Angela!" Brennan said.

"Sweetie, you smell like the girls." Angela sprayed her once more and Ash coughed.

"Auntie, your pewfume is smelly." Ashley waved her hand back and forth in front of her face.

It was at that moment Booth walked through Brennan's office door with Piper leading him in. "Ta-da! Found them!" Piper announced.

"Who smells? Oh, geez Angela. Did you get a hold of your mom's perfume again Piper?" Booth looked to the pint sized little girl.

"Daddy!" Ash ran to Booth who lifted her up. "Auntie Bwen smells."

Booth looked at Brennan and raised an eyebrow, "Does she?"

Ash nodded her head yes, "Uh-huh."

"Cause she got sprayed by a stink bug!" Piper added.

Booth smiled knowing that is why the girls had perfume on them. He mouthed, 'told you so' and grinned.

"It's not that bad Booth." Brennan argued.

"Daddy are we getting woof-woof tonight?" Ash asked and Brennan looked up for the answer.

"Um, I..I maybe." Booth said not wanting to bring Ash by the apartment tonight. HE didn't know if he could handle going by the apartment right now.

"I can get woof-woof if you want Booth." Brennan jumped in. It was actually a nice offer, he was tired. He had a key to her place and she knew where the key was to his place. That way Bones could get in and out of there where Booth knew with Ash they would linger. Quick drop by was not in the vocabulary of a two and a half year old.

"Yeah! Daddy Auntie Bwen can! Auntie Bwen can! Pwease?" Ash begged.

Brennan was watching Booth for an answer as well. Booth inhaled as two sets of blue eyes watched him intently. One was dark and haunting, a reminder of yesterdays and the deep blue sea. The other light and care free, a zephyr in an otherwise motionless desert. A strong breeze blowing in from the South East region.

"Please?" Ash asked again as she begged to be put down.

"Okay." Booth set her down and Ash ran up to Brennan grabbing her hand then ran to Booth grabbing his. She looked up to both adults with a smile then started to spin in a circle. Booth looked down to the light breeze that was spinning them in circles. Booth and Brennan went around and around connected by Ash's hands which held tight. She was still too sore to swing by their arms. Booth glanced at Brennan and she held his eyes for a second then looked back down to Ashley who was giggling.

Angela walked close to Bren's window. Her blinds were shut, but she could here laughter from Ashley, Bren and Booth. That was good enough for her. The oceans dark depths were in a downward spiral, which was fine because it was going to be high tide soon. The deep sea would rise eventually. And the breeze was small enough, yet mighty enough to keep a hurricane of that magnitude spinning. To be the center and hold tight, when no one else knew what to do. It was far beyond sufficient.

That little breeze held tight, became a light for the lost and just as she had unintentionally split the sea by being born. She unintentionally became the center, the eye of the storm. Where she had unintentionally pulled two people in the path of the storm she had created. A storm born into the warmest of waters, inviting waters, a storm that was in a little of all of us because everyone needed a little Faith sometimes even if one didn't believe in fate, they could believe in Ash. Ashes to ashes dust to dust. That's all we are and what we do in between that time is what matters most.

Brennan found herself in Booth's apartment walking towards Ash's room. She walked slowly, taking in the place. Hannah's presence still lingered throughout it. Pictures of her, Ashley and Booth littered the walls. Pictures of Parker and Ash playing in the park as well as pictures of Angela, Piper, Hannah and Ash all smiles. Brennan exhaled not realizing how painful this was going to be for her as well. She made her way into Ashley's room and grabbed woof-woof. She looked around at even more photos and sighed as her eyes locked onto one in particular.

"Hannah, Booth said it helps if you talk to the dead." Brennan sighed walking over to a picture of Hannah and Ashley. Her cell phone was dialing Booth on accident, his number was speed dial and her screen wasn't locked.

"Booth." Booth said picking up his phone figuring Bones couldn't find woof-woof. Though, all he heard was her voice speaking to someone and he could tell she dialed him on accident. He waited a moment, listening.

"I think it's a stupid idea, but psychologically I believe it helps." Brennan touched the picture of Hannah and Ashley. "I just want to let you know I'm so sorry. I'm sorry, and I didn't mean to be the missing piece. Just like you didn't mean to get pregnant…" Brennan said not really knowing where she was going with this little speech. "I'm glad you made me Ash's Godmother. She is doing good Hannah. I think you would be proud of her. I'm taking care of her perforation." Brennan exhaled along with Booth.

"… I'm trying to take care of Booth too. I think you would want that….I don't know what to do about Booth. I don't think I can let myself love him it's too soon, way too soon. He loved you, you know that? I just can't, not now. Angela said you knew, knew of Booth and I." Brennan sighed and Booth pressed the phone closer to his ear, listening. "She said you're a great mother as well. I'm trying to help Ash with her R's. She is doing better."

Booth ran his hand over his face pinching the bridge of his nose as he listened to Bones talk to his dead fiancé. "I…I…I don't know what to do about Booth. I'm scared, scared it's too soon. I'm scared of failing in our relationship and of me hurting him or him hurting me again." Brennan sighed and rubbed at her thumb, maybe because she was nervous. She didn't know.

"Angela said you were scared of failing too. Just know that Angela and I will always be here for Booth and Ashley. I still love him and I love Ash too, everyone loves her. I'm going to get her bangs cut, but she says she wants her hair long. I hope that is okay with you and I'm glad you made me her Godmother...I will take care of her. I won't leave her…I won't leave them." Brennan corrected, adding the word them instead of her.

Booth looked up toward the ceiling as he ran his hand over his face. Brennan continued, "…I feel strange speaking so I'm going to go now. If Booth were here he would say hi. I brought these, they will only die but it's supposedly the socially correct thing to do. I had them in my office." Brennan explained for some reason as she laid a couple flowers next to the picture of Hannah that she spoke too.

"Bye Hannah." Brennan said exhaling and making her exit from his apartment.

Tears welled in Booth's eyes and he brushed them away as quick as he could then went back to dishing out dinner. It was Thai take-out that he and Ash had picked up on the way back to Bones' place. The smell wafted through the apartment and Ash came running into the kitchen.

"That smells yummy daddy!" Ash said smiling and Booth picked her up and set her on the island counter.

"It does doesn't it?"

Mmm-hmm." Ash nodded.

Booth brushed her bangs back and kissed her forehead. "I love you."

Ashley smiled a big smile and leaned into Booth's chest, "Ditto"

Booth's eyes grew large as he pulled out of Ash's embrace to look her in the eye, "Where did you learn that word?"

"Auntie Bwen told me it. It means you too." Ashley explained as Brennan walked in the door of her apartment.

Booth thought of the conversation he wasn't meant to hear between Brennan and Hannah. He thought of the words Brennan had said and how she had told Hannah she would take care of Ash and him. Though, mostly he thought of the word Ditto-thought of what it meant to him. Because to Booth it meant much more than you too it meant; I love you. Was that wrong to feel that way? Was he a bad person for realizing he still loved her? No. He was only human and it's hard to say goodbye to a true love. Booth was wondering if Cam was right? Wondering if one ever really says goodbye to their true love? He had a gut feeling, but he was scared of the answer.

Ditto. That one word was filled with so many unsaid words. Words he wasn't sure he was ready to revisit just yet. He looked at his daughter swinging her legs back and forth on the counter top. Her kaleidoscope baby blues were changing from light to lighter blue. Her eyes a cool breeze that mixed with a warm current, and as they united ebbing and flowing together the storm grew.

A sudden gust of wind blew and the storm picked up. Brennan walked in the kitchen quietly, almost unnoticed. Her dark blue eyes locked onto Booth's. The two froze a moment. Booth's mind still spinning of the conversation that wasn't meant for his ears and of a single word his daughter said. Brennan stood, taking him in, she could tell he was looking at her differntly, but she didn't know why. He looked almost weary or stunned to see her. It made things a bit ackward.

"Hey." Brennan smiled shyly holding up woof-woof.

"Hey." Booth couldn't think of anything else to say.

Yes, it was evident the storm was growing, but where was it going? It's final destination was still as unknown as the winning lotto ticket's numbers were to the general public. What path was this thing on? It had a warm current, warm waters, but where and when would it hit land? Or would it never get that far? Would they just spiral around one another in the ocean forever?