Booth opens his eyes just as the ending credits for the movie appear on the screen. He stretches, curling his toes in his slippers and letting out a groan as his back twists and cracks.
The loud popping sound causes Brennan to stir. She shifts and looks around, her eyes beginning to adjust to the hazy darkness surrounding her. She's confused for a second before she comes to the realization that she must have fallen asleep on the couch while watching the movie. She pushes herself away from Booth's chest and glances at him, seeing if he's awake. She catches him staring at her, a smile spread across his masculine features. "Hey."
He lifts his hand and pulls a few soft waves away from her cheek, delicately caressing her skin with his fingertips. He leans forward and presses a small kiss to her lips. "Hey," he says back to her, his voice still groggy.
She turns her head and looks at the recliner, noticing that both Christine and Parker are fast asleep. "Booth, we should probably put Christine to bed and wake up Parker so you can help him upstairs. We can talk to him tomorrow before the wedding."
He lets out a breath, his smile evident in his eyes now at the mention of their wedding. "Ah, I can't wait."
She gives him another kiss and struggles to separate herself from his warm embrace. Not only is her body sore and weighted down by fatigue, but she just doesn't want to move. She stands up and covers her mouth when a hushed burp escapes. She presses her palm to her still flat stomach and swallows hard. She closes her eyes and takes in a couple deep breaths through her nose, letting them out through her mouth.
He sits up straighter and looks at her, his smile fading. "Bones? Are you okay? Hey, Bones?"
She waves her hand at him and swallows again. She turns her head and opens her eyes. "I'm fine, but it appears as if my body isn't going to let me wait until morning to regret eating half a bowl of movie popcorn." She lightly rubs her stomach and blinks. "I'm fine."
Even in the darkness, he can see that she's beginning to sweat a little. His concern for her is growing. "Are you sure you're okay?"
She nods. "I am simply experiencing a symptom of pregnancy that is common in the first trimester; however the popcorn has undoubtedly exacerbated it. I'll be fine. It'll pass," she reassures him. After another minute, she moves towards the recliner and carefully extricates her daughter from the seat and sets her down on her hip.
Christine squirms at first, but then flops back down against her mother, clinging to her and resting her head on Brennan's shoulder. "Mommy," she breathes out.
Brennan presses a kiss to her daughter head and adjusts her position. "Shhh, Honey." She glances at Booth and smiles. "I'll see you in the bedroom." She turns and disappears out of the room and up the stairs.
He nods and walks over to the recliner, shaking his son awake, seeing as the teenager hadn't as much as stirred when his little sister was removed from the sliver of space beside him. "Parker, bub, wake up."
Parker groans. "I don't wanna watch Cars again, Teeny," he mumbles.
Booth laughs. "Hey, buddy, wake up."
Parker wakes up with a start, letting out a hushed whine. "Ow." He pauses and looks around. He catches sight of his father standing above him. "Oh, dad."
"Come on, bub. Let me help you upstairs."
"But you said that you and Bones had something to tell me."
"We'll tell you tomorrow."
Parker nods and sits up, keeping his arm flush against his stomach. He scoots to the edge of the recliner and waits for his father to help him stand up. He bites back a yawn and blinks slowly, feeling himself fighting sleep.
Booth guides his son to the stairs, taking a few short breaks along the way. He winces as the two of them make the familiar trek up the steps, into the bathroom, and then into Parker's bedroom. Once Parker's settled under the covers, Booth leans over, pressing a kiss to his son's forehead and turns off the light. "Goodnight, bub."
"Night, dad," Parker slurs, drifting off to sleep again.
Booth smiles and leaves the room, pulling the door shut. It's somehow easier tonight than it has been. He turns immediately and makes his way to his bedroom.
When Booth enters the bedroom, he finds the sheets wrinkled and disturbed, but finds the bed itself empty. His chest tightens when he hears the muffled coughs coming from the bathroom, followed by a flush. He rushes over to the adjoining bath and pushes open the door. "Bones." He gets on his knees and immediately pulls her hair back, resting his hand in between her shoulder blades, adding light pressure as he rubs her back soothingly. He cringes as Brennan continues to empty her stomach contents into the toilet. "It's okay, baby."
After a few minutes, Brennan toggles the flusher and leans back against the wall, out of breath and sweaty. She groans, resting her hand on her stomach, as if that gesture alone can quell as queasiness.
He gets up and walks over to the sink. He wets a washcloth with cold water and brings it over to her. He sits down beside her and lightly sops up her sweat with the cool towel, brushing it against her face and neck. He presses a soft kiss to her temple and sighs.
She turns her head towards him and opens her eyes, a faint smile on her face. "Thanks."
"You need anything?"
She shakes her head. "No, I'm fine." She slumps against him. "Actually, could you get me a cup of water? A Dixie cup will be fine."
He nods. "Sure thing, Bones." He hands her the towel and stands up, walking back over to the sink. He grabs a small paper cup and fills it with tap water. He sits down again and holds it out for her. "Here."
She throws it back, swallowing hard. "I don't remember vomiting when I was pregnant with Christine. I was nauseous until I was fifteen weeks along, but I don't think I ever actually got sick," she whispers.
"Maybe that means we're having a boy," he says with a grin, placing his hand on her belly, brushing his thumb against her shirt.
"All it confirms is that every pregnancy is different and that I shouldn't have eaten that much popcorn."
"Or it means we're having a boy this time." He laughs, kissing her hair.
She rolls her eyes.
"We should go to bed. We have a busy day tomorrow."
She nods.
"Nervous?"
She shakes her head and laughs. "No. Why would I be nervous?"
"Most brides are nervous on their wedding days, Bones. It's normal."
"I'm not normal."
"That much is clear," he teases under his breath, taking the damp towel from her grasp and brushing it against her still clammy skin. "So you're not even a little nervous?"
"Are you?"
He shrugs. "A little, yeah, I guess."
"Why?"
"Why? Well, Bones, because I've been waiting a long time for this. I'm anxious. It's all happening really fast, you know, and I guess I'm scared that you're gonna wake up tomorrow and change your mind."
She rests her hand on his and smiles. "I'm not going to change my mind because my reasons for marrying you are strong, Booth. There's no way I can justify not going through with this."
"Good."
She pushes herself up to standing and walks over to the sink. She stands at the counter and brushes her teeth, glancing at him through the mirror. "What?" She mumbles, her mouth full of toothpaste, when she notices the amused yet adorable look on his face.
He shakes his head. "Nothing. Just thinking about how tomorrow night when we get into bed, we'll be husband and wife."
"On paper," she points out before gurgling mouthwash. She spits the green liquid into the sink and wipes the corners of her mouth. "I don't see why anything has to change. We're still us, right? We'll still be us tomorrow after the judge stamps the paper."
He nods. "Oh, come on, Bones. Things are gonna change. Maybe not hugely, but they will change. It's like the first time we slept together. Things changed."
"Booth, you cannot compare that to this. Those are two completely different situations. Of course things changed between us after we had sex. It'd be odd if they didn't."
"Can you just admit that things will change even just a little bit?"
"I will not admit that because I cannot assess something that hasn't happened yet."
"Ah-ha! So you admit that things may change."
She nods. "Yes. I never said they wouldn't. I simply said I don't see why they have to. A piece a paper should not have the power to alter a relationship that's already well-established."
He shrugs and stands up. He walks over to the sink and drops a kiss on her exposed shoulder, his hands on her hips. He pulls back and pulls his toothbrush from the conch shell. He kisses her on the cheek before he starts to brush his teeth. After he's rinsed out his mouth with water and set her toothbrush back into the toothbrush holder, he says, "Let's go to bed."
"Now, that's something we can agree on."
He laughs and follows her into the bedroom.
"Is your back bothering you?"
"What? No."
"Booth."
"Okay, maybe it's a little sore, but it's fine," he says, wincing as he gets into bed.
"Am I supposed to believe that?"
"Yes?"
"Would your back still be fine if I offered to give you massage tomorrow night, while being completely naked?" She asks, one eyebrow arching suggestively.
He swallows. "Uh, God, no, ow," he utters as he shifts in bed, making it a point to look at her, feigning extreme discomfort.
She scoots closer to him, curving her body around him and nuzzling her head into the crook of his neck. "That's what I thought."
He hooks his arm around her and switches off his light. "You're evil, you know that, Bones? Teasing a guy like that right before bed. You're pure evil."
She laughs, sending vibrations through his body. "Goodnight, Booth."
"Uh-huh. Goodnight, Bones," he grumbles.
She smiles, her body hugging his closer. She lets out a breath and drifts off to sleep.
He stares up at the ceiling, unable to sleep. Thanks to her, he's now imaging her naked, rubbing her hands all over him. Plus, he's anxious about tomorrow morning, so it takes a couple hours until he finally succumbs to his exhaustion.
This chapter isn't necessary at all, but I thought I owed you guys some more fluff. Actually, the next couple chapters are relatively lighthearted too. Hope you liked it.
Next up: An unexpected guest shows up and Booth and Brennan get married :)