Booth hovers in the doorway of his daughter's room, watching her play with her favorite baby doll.
Christine looks up. "I don't wanna talk to you."
"But I wanna talk to you."
"I don't care."
Booth steps into the room and sits on the edge of her bed. "C'mere, baby."
She shakes her head, taking a brush to the doll's hair. "No."
"Fine. I'll come to you." Booth stands up and walks to Christine. He sits down on the rug and smiles at her. He reaches up and grabs her, pulling her into his lap. He wraps his arms around her to keep her from crawling away, and then starts to tickle her just to see her smile.
She squirms, letting go of her doll. She giggles and hits him lightly, trying to escape. "Daddy, stop! Plea—please, daddy."
He stops, letting her settle down in his lap. He kisses the top of her head and shifts on the rug. "I know you wanted a sister, baby, but baby brothers can be fun too. I have a younger brother."
"But you're a boy, daddy. Boys like baby brothers. I wanna exchange the baby. I want a sister."
"What if Parker said that about you, huh? What if he told me and mommy that he wanted to exchange you 'cause he didn't get the little brother he wanted?"
She draws her bottom lip into her mouth and sucks on it, tilting her head and looking up at her father, scowling.
He touches the tip of her nose with his fingertip. "I'm glad we're having a boy."
"Why? 'Cause you're a boy?"
He shakes his head. "Nope. I'm glad because since we're having a boy, you're gonna be my only princess. You don't have to share that title with anyone else."
She smiles then, leaning into his chest, her head resting against his shirt. "I like the sound of that, daddy."
He laughs, stroking her hair, and kisses the top of her head. "I do too, baby." He pauses. "Are you excited again, princess?"
She nods.
"Let's go say goodnight to mommy and your baby brother and I'll tuck you in."
She crawls off his lap and pushes herself up off the floor. "Catch me, daddy." She giggles and runs out of the room.
Booth jumps up and follows her, lifting her up into his arm when they reach the master bedroom door.
Christine kicks and laughs louder.
He presses his finger to his lips. "Shhh, baby. Mommy might be asleep already." He opens the door slowly and peers inside. He sees Brennan sitting up in bed, reading. He creeps in and smiles at his partner. "Someone came to say goodnight."
Brennan looks up from the pages of her book and glances at Booth, raising an eyebrow.
He nods and sets Christine down on the bed.
Christine sits down on her knees and rests her hand on her mother's stomach. She leans over and presses a kiss to the roundest part. "Hi, little alien. It's me. I like you again. It's okay that you're a boy 'cause daddy says that means I get to be his only princess." She pauses. "Goodnight and sweet dreams." She punctuates her goodnight with a kiss and gives her mother a hug. "Goodnight, mommy."
Brennan brushes her daughter's hair away from her eyes and smiles. "Goodnight, Honey. I love you." She hugs the little girl back and presses a kiss to her forehead. "Sweet dreams."
"Time for bed, princess." He looks at Brennan. "I'll be back."
Brennan nods, her smile faltering.
"Something wrong, Bones?"
"We need to talk."
"Alright." He's suddenly nervous. Most of the time he knows what they're about to discuss, but right now, he has no clue.
Christine climbs down off the bed and grabs her father's hand.
He looks at Brennan.
"Go put our daughter to bed, Booth. We'll talk when you get back."
"You're making me nervous, Bones," he whispers before disappearing down the hallway.
Booth comes back a few minutes later and shuts the door. He wraps his hands around his shirt hem and yanks his T-shirt over his head. He pulls back his side of the covers and crawls into bed. He scoots closer to her and meets her a little more than half way for a sweet kiss.
Brennan closes her book and sets it down on her nightstand. "Thank you for talking to Christine. I figured she'd be upset, but I didn't expect her to be that upset."
"No problem, Bones. I told you I'd talk to her." He pauses. "I know that's not what we need to talk, so spit it out. What's all this about?"
She twists her body so she's facing him more and lets out a breath. "I think it's time."
He tugs on the sheet and looks at her. "Time for what, Bones?"
She swallows. "I think it's time for you to go back to work, Booth."
His eyes flash with something resembling anger. "You think?"
"I understand the reason you haven't gone back to work sooner is because you don't want to leave Parker alone, but he's improving a great deal and he's starting summer school next week. I don't see any reason for you stay at home when he's not here."
He just stares at her. He knows she's right. He's just not ready to admit that yet.
"And I, uh, I miss you."
He blinks. "I'm right here, Bones."
"I miss working with you," she elaborates.
He nods.
"I also think that once you return to work, even if it's only part-time, things might start to settle down. We'll reestablish our old routine and perhaps that will make Parker feel more comfortable here."
She does have a point. He can't really argue with her logic. "You miss me?" He tweaks an eyebrow, smirking at her.
She grunts. Out of all the things she said, that's the takeaway. "Yes."
"Aw, Bones."
She rolls her eyes. "Well?"
"I agree with you. I think it's time for me to go back to work."
She gasps. "Really?"
He nods. "Yeah."
She lets out a sigh of relief and tilts her head slightly.
He lowers his and closes the gap between their lips. He traces her hairline with his fingertips and tucks her hair behind her ear, before he breaks the kiss.
She decides not to bring up fieldwork right now. That's an argument for another day. Instead, she settles into his side and rests her head on his shoulder. "This will be good, Booth."
He nods, reaching over to switch off her light. He turns his off too and shifts down the mattress. He covers them both with the sheets and drapes his arm over her back, looping it around her waist, his hand settled on her hip.
"Goodnight," she whispers into the crook of his neck.
He shivers and closes his eyes. "G'night, Bones." He pauses. "And g'night, little guy."
She smiles, running her hand over his chest.
"Huhmm," he mumbles and slips his hand under the fabric of her shirt, letting his finger slide freely across her warm skin.
She moans softly. A couple minutes later, her hand slows to a stop as she drifts into a comfortable state, drifting between sleep and consciousness, until finally succumbing to her exhaustion.
He yawns and follows right behind her minutes later.
Kind of a short chapter, but I hope you liked it.