Brennan's sitting on the edge of the sandbox, mindlessly sifting the granules between her fingertips, as she stares at Christine and Michael Vincent run around in circles a few feet away.

Angela snaps her fingers in front of her best friend's face. "Yoo-hoo, sweetie! Hey, you in there?"

Brennan tweaks an eyebrow and blinks. She turns her head and nods. "Hmm, excuse me?"

Angela sighs. "The whole point of you coming to the park was to have a little fun."

"This was your idea, not mine." Brennan pauses and shakes the sand from her hands. She shifts and brushes her hair away from her eyes. "I'm finding it difficult to think about anything else besides Booth and Parker." She sighs, blinking away moisture.

Angela pats Brennan on the knee, resting her hand there. "You love them, that's normal, sweetie."

"I used to be able to compartmentalize during periods of a high stress. I was able to perform tasks without being bogged down by emotions. Sometimes I miss being able to do that."

"Honey, the reason you were able to do that was because you were emotionally stunted."

Brennan's face deflates.

Angela continues, "I mean, at least when it came to expressing yourself. You were afraid. Do you really wish you were still that person?"

"It made things easier."

"That's where you're wrong, sweetie. It didn't make things easier. You just thought it did."

"I'd like to change the subject now."

Angela flashes her best friend a small, warm smile. "So when are you and Booth getting married?"

Brennan coughs. "Angela."

"You said you wanted to change the subject."

Brennan rolls her eyes. "You know how I feel about marriage. I don't need a piece of paper to prove my commitment to Booth and I certainly don't need it to prove I love him."

Angela raises an eyebrow. "Well, I heard from someone that Booth had to resort to threatening a few people to let you stay in Parker's room past visiting hours."

Brennan's eyes widen. "What? I didn't know that. Who told you that?"

"I have my sources." Angela smiles. "I'm just saying if you were married, that wouldn't have been an issue."

"I'm serious. Who'd you hear that from?" Brennan pauses. "My father? Did my dad tell you that?"

"Maybe."

"You're making this up. I would know if Booth threatened anybody on account of me. Besides, Booth was in no shape emotionally."

"I heard it got ugly and that security had to come down and break up the fight."

"Your source is obviously very unreliable, Ange. I would think twice about trusting him in the future."

"You know, sweetie, you always said you weren't going to have children or be in a monogamous relationship, and you didn't think love was anything more than a chemical reaction in the brain."

"I don't see your point."

"My point is you've changed. Your views on love, on relationships, on children, they've all changed."

"Things change, Angela. People evolve. I still don't see what this has to do with my views on marriage."

"Never mind, Brennan."

"Just because I don't want to get married, it doesn't make me any less of a person and it doesn't mean I love Booth any less." Brennan pauses. "Yes, there are certain benefits to marriage. I've looked into all that—."

Angela's eyes widen just a little bit, her jaw dropping. "Wha, uh, whoa, what? You looked into all that? You looked into the benefits of marriage? You?"

"I don't know why you felt the need to repeat what I said three times, but yes, I looked into it."

Angela catches her breath and swallows. "Wow."

"I haven't changed my mind on the subject."

"But you considered it?"

Brennan nods. "Of course. Not because of love, or commitment, or anything like that, but because of the federal benefits, rights, and responsibilities associated with it. There are over one thousand reasons why a person should get married, aside from love and companionship."

"That's a lot." Angela smiles.

"Why are you smiling?"

"You just told me that there are over one thousand rational reasons why a person should get married."

"Yes, that's what I said. I'm glad you're listening."

"You know what would get Booth out of his funk? Proposing to him."

Brennan rolls her eyes. "I take back what I said about you listening to me."

Angela laughs. "Oh, come on, Bren. You just said you read up on all the benefits to marriage and you're still sticking with your 'I'm never getting married' attitude? Now, that's not logical."

Brennan nods. "I admit that I thought about it, that I think about it, but—."

Angela's eyes brighten. "Think? As in present tense? As in you've been thinking about it recently?"

Brennan nods.

Angela slaps Brennan's knee and bounces up and down a couple times. "Sweetie!"

"Christine had to do this assignment for school about her family a few months ago and the subject came up."

"Did you talk to Booth about it?"

"No, there wasn't anything to talk about. There was no pressing need to discuss it."

"I'm so being your Maid of Honor. Oh my God, oh my God, Christine can be the flower girl and Michael Vincent can be the ring bearer."

"Slow down, Angela. I never said I was getting married."

"Someone doesn't look into the benefits of marriage if they're not getting married, Bren. What you meant to say is that you just haven't asked Booth yet."

"That is correct, I haven't, but it doesn't mean I will."

Angela shakes her head. "Oh, you will." She pauses. "You can't give him an engagement ring, obviously, so let's see, um, how about an engraved pocket watch or just a plain old wristwatch or he likes sports, right, so how about a—?"

"Angela, you're getting ahead of yourself. There are many more important things I need to worry about, and whether Booth and I get married is not one of them."

"I think that is important, giving the current situation, Bren. Did you not hear me when I said that Booth had to beat somebody up so you could visit Parker? It's not like you haven't been thinking about it. You said it yourself."

Christine runs over. "Mommy, can we go see Parker now?"

Brennan nods. "Sounds like a good idea. Your aunt is getting too excited about something that hasn't even happened yet," she pauses, glancing at Angela quickly before looking back at Christine, "so it's a perfect time to get going."

Angela squeals. "Yet. You said yet."

Brennan ignores her best friend and scoops Christine up, setting her down on her hip. She kisses her cheek and smiles. "Let's go see how daddy and your brother are doing."

Christine smiles. "I don't want them to be sad, mommy. When's they gonna stop being sad?"

Brennan shrugs. "I don't know, Honey. Soon, I hope."

"Me too."

Brennan looks at Angela. "I'll call you later and let you know how Parker's doing."

Angela nods and smiles up at her, tweaking an eyebrow. "And feel free to tell me anything else that happens."

Brennan laughs, shakes her head, and adjusts her daughter's weight on her hip.

"What's she talking about, mommy?"

Brennan ignores the question, hoping that her daughter will get distracted by something and forget she even asked in the first place. It's a small chance, nearly improbable, though. She knows her daughter well enough to know how curious she can be. Christine hardly ever lets any question go unanswered, but Brennan's hoping this will be one of those rare occasions where Christine forgets and moves on. She doesn't want to lie to her, and she certainly isn't ready to bring this issue up with Christine, seeing as the five year-old still has yet to forget the last time it was mentioned.

Lighthearted enough? Hope this is a welcomed change from the last couple chapters.