Brennan's standing at the kitchen counter, loading the dishwasher, listening to her daughter as the little girl eats her snack and tells her mother all about the crazy dream she had the night before. Brennan's not fully listening. She's distracted, thinking about Parker, worrying about him. She's beginning to realize that this whole party thing might be a mistake. She sighs and pours out some dish cleaner.

"Mommy, mommy!"

Brennan tweaks an eyebrow and turns her head towards her daughter. "What is it, Honey?"

"You're pouring sudsy soap on the floor."

Brennan jumps back as her eyes drift to the floor. She blinks, swallowing. "Oh," she mutters. She shakes her head and pours some cleaner into the dishwasher slot, her original target. She sets the bottle down on the counter and presses the button on the kitchen appliance.

"What's wrong, mommy?"

Brennan's lips twitch into a soft smile. "Nothing's wrong, sweetheart. Mommy's just thinking. I'm worried about your brother."

"Is he okay?"

Brennan nods. "Parker's fine."

"Are you lying to me to spare my feelings?" Christine asks. She doesn't even really know what she's asking. She's just heard her parents utter those exact words on more than one occasion.

Brennan blinks. "No, Honey. Parker's fine. I promise." She pauses and bends down to clean up the puddle of thick, blue liquid. "I'm going to go upstairs and see what's taking your father so long. You sit there and eat your snack. I'll be right down."

"Okay, mommy. Tell Parky I love him."

"I will, sweetie." Brennan smiles at her daughter and then she heads out of the room and up the steps.

Brennan knocks on Parker's bedroom door and then pushes it open, stepping into the quiet room. She notices Parker's not in his bed and then spots two pairs of legs sticking out from the closet. She bites back a laugh and raises an eyebrow. "Booth?"

"In the closet," a muffled voice echoes.

She walks over to the closet and slips her hand between two shirts, pushing them in opposite directions. "Why are you two sitting in the closet?"

Booth glances at his son and then up at his partner. "It's oddly calming in here. You should try it."

"I think I'll pass." She pauses. "That doesn't answer my question."

Booth sighs. "When Parker was little, he'd have me take out all the monsters in his room. I'd have to check under the bed, behind the curtains, and in the closet. After I'd taken care of all the monsters, we'd sit in the closet for a little bit. I told him that if we sat here long enough, we'd scare away any of the other monsters that were trying to get into his room." He smiles. "He'd always feel better when we'd just sit here. We'd either talk or I'd show him some magic tricks until he'd get so tired he could hardly keep his eyes open."

Brennan takes a step back and sits down on the wooden chest at the foot of Parker's bed. "Well, obviously Parker's too old to believe in monsters, so why are you in the closet?"

"He doesn't want to go to the party, Bones."

She glances at Parker, who's running his hand through his collection of ties. "Why not?" She knows why. She just wants to confirm her suspicions.

"He's not in the mood."

"Oh. I suppose there's no need for the party, then, seeing as I arranged this for him so he could get closure. I'll just call everyone and tell them not to come."

"It's too late to cancel the party, Bones. People worked their schedules around this."

She nods and stays silent for a few minutes, her eyes unfocused on something in the distance.

"Bones, what're you thinking about?"

She snaps back to him and smiles. "Hey, Parker, would you want to take a ride to the cemetery?"

Booth looks at her, a faint smile creeping onto his face at her suggestion.

"It doesn't make any sense, but I have to admit that sometimes I feel better when I visit my mother's grave and talk to her headstone. Your father and I will drive you to the cemetery if you'd like. It's up to you."

Parker lifts his head and looks at Brennan. He separates his lips to speak, but nothing but a wisp of air escapes as tears roll down his cheeks. "The cemetery?" He finally manages to say.

She nods. "We have plenty of time before everyone arrives. Does that sound like something you'd like to do this morning?"

Parker swallows. "Um, yeah."

She smiles. "Okay. Just get dressed and I'll see you two downstairs in a few minutes."

Booth looks at her and his faint smile has morphed into a full-blow grin. "I didn't know you still visit your mother's grave, Bones."

She nods. "I do. Every year on her birthday, in fact. I took Christine with me last time."

Booth blinks, still smiling at her.

She stands up and walks towards the door. "Come downstairs when you're ready. I'll be waiting." She leaves and heads down the steps again.

Booth looks at his son. "What's wrong?"

Parker tugs on a green tie, keeping his eyes trained on it. "How long would it take for us to walk to the cemetery?"

Booth sighs, resting his hand on his son's thigh. "It's going to be okay. It was just an isolated event." He pauses. "This was the first major accident you've been in, right?"

Parker turns his head and nods, not completely sure where his father is going with this line of questioning. "Yeah."

"And before the accident, you felt comfortable, safe, at ease in a car, right?"

"I always loved long car rides and driving. You know that. I was practicing for when I get my license in a few months."

"And you've seen Bones drive to work and drive back home, right?"

Parker nods. "Yeah."

"Everything's gonna be fine. Try and think about those times before the accident when cars weren't scary, when they weren't the enemy. I know it's easier said than done, but try it."

Parker leans against his father. "Is Teeny coming with us?"

Booth shrugs. "I'm sure we can drop her off with a neighbor."

"Good 'cause I don't—I don't want to scare her. I don't want her to see me like this more than she already has."

"Parker, she loves you, and you'll always be her strong big brother, her protector, no matter what." Booth presses a kiss to his son's cheek. "She worships you, and I hate to break it to ya, bub, but now that you live with us, she's going to want to see a lot more of you and you're not going to be able to stop her." He stands up and helps his son up from the floor of the closet. "Get dressed and I'll help you downstairs."

Parker nods and watches his father leave his bedroom, shutting the door behind him. He lets out a breath and closes his eyes for a split second before getting dressed.

Brennan's sitting in the driver's seat, tapping her fingers on the steering wheel, looking at Booth and Parker through her peripheral vision. Nothing much is happening. She can hear Booth whispering some encouragement, but Parker's just standing there, staring, trembling, looking as if he's going to vomit any second. She turns her head to get a better look.

Booth sighs. "Bub?"

Parker closes his eyes and swallows, his father's words coming back to him. Don't let your fears rule your life. You're strong. You're so brave. It was an isolate incident. He opens his eyes and takes a step towards the car, then another. You're strong. You're so brave. Another step and then another until he's right next to the car, his hand pressed against it. He takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly.

Booth watches his son for a minute and then helps him into the car. "You okay, bub?"

Parker nods, his eyes closed. He takes in deep breaths and lets them out, his hand clutching the seatbelt strap.

Booth folds up the wheelchair and puts it in the trunk before walking around the car and hopping into the backseat. He holds out his hand for Parker, but the teenager just shakes his head.

Brennan smiles and puts the car in reverse. She doesn't back out of the driveway until she hears the click of Booth's seatbelt and sees his thumbs up. Her eyes drift from looking out the rear window to looking at Parker. She makes it to the end of the street before Parker speaks up.

"Stop!" It's hushed and half of the word gets lost in Parker's throat, but it's clear and desperate. "Stop, please, Bones. Stop," he pleads, a little louder, a little more frantic.

Brennan nods and pulls over to the side of the street. She puts the car in park and turns her body towards Parker. "What's wrong?"

"Sorry."

Brennan shakes her head. "An apology isn't necessary, Parker. Let me know when you're ready. Take your time. There's no rush."

Parker turns his head and stares out the window. He fixes the position of the seatbelt and closes his eyes, catching his breath. "Dad?"

Booth's on high alert. He turns his head the second he hears his son's voice and straightens his back. "Yeah, bub?"

"Could you, can you, uh, sit in the front seat?"

Booth nods and unbuckles his seatbelt. "Okay, buddy, sure." He opens the car door reluctantly and walks around the back of the car. He slips into the passenger seat and looks back at Parker. "Better?"

Parker nods, feeling less closed in. Another three minutes pass and then he looks at Brennan. "Okay, Bones. I'm ready. You can keep driving." He opens the window, allowing the cool to brush against his clammy skin.

"Are you sure?"

"Mmhmm."

"Okay." She shifts gears and looks before pulling back into the middle of the street. She flips on her blinker and heads for the highway.

Parker continues to orient his head towards the window, but he keeps his eyes closed.

Booth switches on the radio and turns up the volume, figuring the music will act as a good distraction. It works—at least for a little while. They stop three more times before finally making it to the cemetery.

Brennan and Booth walk over the hill with their arms linked, while Parker walks beside them with his walker. It's not a far walk from the car to Rebecca's headstone and his wheelchair doesn't roll well on grass. Booth looks at his son and separates from Brennan slightly. "Are you okay, bub?"

Parker nods, struggling a little, but he's managing. His muscles are tight and sore, and it's taking a lot of energy, though. He grunts and pushes through the pain. He's still a little unsteady on his feet.

Brennan stops suddenly and pulls Booth back. "He needs to do this alone, Booth. Stay here."

Booth takes a step towards the tree and nods. "We'll be here, bub."

Parker nods and continues heading in the direction of the headstone. He stops in front of his mother's grave and grips his walker tight in one hand. He clears his throat and looks back at Brennan and his father and then back at the gravestone. "Hi, mom. I miss you." His words hang in the air as tears begin to roll down his cheeks. "I love you so much. I think about you all the time. Is Heaven nice? Is it paradise? Is God a good poker player?" He smiles, running his hand across the top of the slab of marble. "I really miss you." He swallows. "Guess what, mom?" He waits a few seconds before continuing. "I drove in a car today. I haven't been able to do that since, since, well, since you know. I did it."

Booth squeezes Brennan's hand, listening to his son's faint voice. He can hear almost every word and can see his son trembling from the distance he's at. He just wants to pull him into hug. He takes a step forward, but Brennan tugs his hand.

Parker shifts his weight, wincing slightly. "It's not fair. It's not fair at all. I miss you. I wish you didn't have to die. In my dreams, the ones that aren't scary, everything is different. I wish they were real." He pauses. "Bones and dad got married and Teeny's really happy that I'm around more, but I really miss you." He glances back at his dad and stepmom and sighs. He glances up towards the sky and smiles. "I'm okay, mom. I'm doing okay. I just don't feel like doing much, you know? I don't feel like myself. I'm trying. I really am. Bones and dad are trying too, trying to include me in stuff and being there for me, but it's just really hard. I just wish things were different." He wipes away a few tears and swallows, his eyes drifting to the stone again. "I don't know if you can hear me, mom, but I hope you can."

Brennan glances at Booth and hooks her arm around his, pulling him closer. She smiles at him and rests her head on his arm.

Booth looks down at her and smiles back, letting out a breath. "This was a really good idea, Bones," he whispers.

She holds his hand with one of hers and cups his arm with the other.

Parker swallows again and sucks back tears. His muscles are locking up and pain vibrates through his body as he stands there. "I'm gonna be a big brother again too, mom. Bones is pregnant. I've always wanted a brother, but I'm gonna be so much older than the baby and I sorta feel like an intruder. They have this family unit and I know I'm welcome, but I sorta feel like an outsider. I love them, they're my family, and it's not like I'm a stranger, but I hope you know what I'm trying to say."

Booth gulps and looks at Brennan, who's looking at him too. "What is he talking about?"

Brennan shrugs. "I have no clue."

"I hope you're happy in Heaven, mom. I love you and I miss you. You don't have to worry about me. Bones and dad are taking care of me. I'll never stop thinking about you, though." He smiles. "Say hi to grandma for me, tell her I miss her. Bye, mom." He takes a step back and turns around, walking towards Brennan and his father. "I'm ready to go."

Booth nods. He grips the flowers and walks over to the grave. He sets them down and looks at the gravestone. "Bones and I will take care of him, Bec. I promise. He's in good hands," he whispers. He runs his hand over the top of the stone and sighs. "We'll take care of him," he whispers into the air. He turns around and walks back to where Parker and Brennan are standing. "Let's go home." He links arms with his wife and squeezes his son's shoulder before they head back to the car.

I'm thinking of doing around four more chapters (including an epilogue), but that number is tentative. We'll see.

Hope you liked this chapter. Thanks for reading/reviewing!