Some more B&B family fluff for your reading pleasure :)
Brennan's sitting on a blanket in the shade, leaning back against the trunk of a tree, taking a break. She's fighting to keep her eyes open and conceals a yawn behind her palm. She looks over at Booth, who's chasing Christine around. The little girl has a football tucked under her arm and a smile plastered on her face as she runs in a zigzag pattern, trying to avoid her father's extended arms. She had been upset that Michael Vincent couldn't come because of a cold, but she's all smiles now. Brennan smiles at the pair and then takes a sip of her water bottle. She glances at Parker, who's lying down, his arms folded behind him, his head propped up on them slightly. "Why don't you go join them, Parker?"
Parker shifts and tilts his head towards her. "Huh?"
"Why don't you go join your father and little sister?" She repeats, looking towards the aforementioned pair.
"I—I don't think so, Bones."
"If you're just going to lie there, you could have done that at home." She pauses. "Is your hesitation a result of your physical limitations?"
He shrugs. "Um, yeah. I'm just learning how to walk without assistance. I—I don't—my hand-eye coordination sucks and I get tired easily. It's—I'm good with just watching from the sidelines."
"Are you really good with just watching? You love playing and watching sports, but you haven't done either since the accident."
"Just forget it, Bones, okay? I'm just gonna lie here and watch. I'm good with that."
"There's no need for an attitude, Parker."
He sighs. "Sorry." He pauses. "I wanna join them. They look like they're having so much fun."
"Then go join them. You're not going to improve your motor skills by just lying on this blanket, buddy."
He smiles. "I guess you're right." He sits up and twists his body so he's looking at her. "C'mon, Bones," he says, as he stands. "If I can't just lie on this blanket, neither can you."
She eats a couple grapes, caps her water bottle, and stands up, tugging on her shirt when it rides up a little bit. She drapes her arm around his shoulders, pulling him into her. She nudges him forward and follows him over to Booth and Christine, who are now lying in the grass, the latter climbing over her father as she tries to regain possession of the football.
Booth lifts up his head, still holding the football over him. He smiles at his partner and son. "Catch, Bones." He tosses the football to her and sits up.
Brennan fumbles with it, but recovers, drawing the football to her chest, a triumphant smile on her face. She takes a giant step back and looks at Parker. "Catch, Parker."
"Bones, wait, I—."
Brennan tosses the football to her stepson and claps when he catches it without much trouble.
Booth's beside himself. "Good catch, bub." He pushes himself up to his feet and backs up, so the four of them are in square formation. "Toss it here, buddy."
Parker swallows and hesitates. He looks at his dad, gauging the distance, and takes a deep breath, letting it out slowly in attempt to find the courage to make the somewhat long-distance throw.
"You can do it, Parks. I believe you can," Brennan says, flashing him an encouraging smile.
Parker nods and grips the football, his fingers overlapping the laces. He closes his eyes for a second and composes himself. He blinks his eyes open and winds his arm back. He takes a step forward and brings his arm forward, releasing the football and following through. He feels a slight twinge of pain and the ball doesn't reach his father, but despite that, he's smiling. "Did you see that spiral, dad?"
Booth bends down and retrieves the football, nodding. "Oh yeah, bub, I did."
Brennan smiles. "It was very nice, Parker."
"It was pretty, Parky. I wanna learn how to do that. Teach me. You said you would." Christine runs over to her brother and clasps her hands together, pouting her lips. "Please? Pretty please?"
Parker nods. "Yeah, sure. I'll teach ya."
"Princess, catch." Booth waits for her to look at him and then throws the football gently towards her.
Christine reaches out her arms and catches the slowly moving object. "I catched it, daddy!" She holds it up as if it's a trophy and looks at Parker, a huge smile on her face. "Did you see that, Parky? I catched it. I didn't drop it or nothing."
Parker nods. "Pretty awesome, Teeny."
"Can you teach me now?"
"Yeah." Parker slowly gets down on one knee beside her and smiles at her. "Okay, so put your hand up there like that, spread your fingers wide." He pauses, helping to reposition her hand. "Now, put your other hand here to steady the ball."
"Like this?"
Parker nods. "Just like that."
"My hand's too small."
"It'll grow, Teeny. Now, put the ball up to your ear."
Christine smiles. "Now, what?"
Parker stands up, using his cane as support. He turns around and puts a good distance between them. "Now, you throw the ball to your big brother."
Christine winds her arm back and tosses the football.
Booth walks over to Brennan and snakes his arm around her waist, pressing a kiss to her cheek.
Brennan leans into his side and looks at him.
His eyes sparkle with pride as he watches the two of them. He turns his focus away from them and glances down at Brennan.
She meets his eyes and leans her head against his shoulder.
He kisses the top of her head and lets out a breath, his eyes drifting back to his son and daughter. He drops his hand, placing it on her stomach and lets out a contented sigh.
She subconsciously rests her hand on top of his, brushing her thumb against his knuckles.
"Just think, Bones. Christine's gonna be teaching this little guy how to throw the perfect spiral in a few years, just like I taught Parker and Parker is teaching her."
She lets out a chuckle. "You taught me too."
"It's not perfect yet."
She pushes him. "Hey!"
He shrugs. "You just need some more practice—if only we had another football."
"I'm quite good."
He nods, twisting his mouth. "Yeah, Bones, you're good, great even."
She smiles. "However, more practice would make me even better."
He lowers his head and presses his lips against hers. He breaks the soft, warm kiss and immediately pecks at her lips again. "When Parker and Christine are finished tossing the 'ole pigskin around, you and I can practice some more."
She nods. "Yes, okay." She hooks her arm around his waist and shifts her weight.
"I think this might be the best day Parker's had in months. Look at that smile."
She nuzzles into his side more. "He does seem happy and like he's enjoying himself." She looks up at him, smiling a little bit more when she sees just how happy and proud he is at this moment.
"C'mon, Bones. Let's go sit down on the blanket."
She nods and turns around with him. They link arms and make their way to the blanket set up under the shade of the tree. She resumes her position and he sits down beside her, looping his arm around her. She leans into his side, resting her head on his shoulder and keeping her eyes on Parker and Christine.
He looks down at her for a few seconds before turning back to the two kids. He leans back against the trunk of the tree and listens; he can hear their laughter from here.
She steals a glance at him and smiles, her lips pressed together. She takes his hand and intertwines their fingers. She lets out a breath and closes her eyes.