This chapter is long, but I got really carried away. My warning is that it's not as fluffy as the previous chapters...Enjoy.

On Wednesday morning, Brennan's in the bathroom, standing at the counter with a towel wrapped around her, running a comb carefully through her damp hair. The door is slightly ajar, so she can hear Booth cooing softly to their week-old son.

Father and son are currently lying in the middle of the king-sized bed, having a "conversation". This is quickly becoming part of their daily routine. Brennan wakes up to Henry's soft cries through the baby monitor, she brings him back to bed with her, and then breastfeeds him while Booth sleeps beside them. At some point, Booth wakes up, and once she's done feeding the newborn, he'll change him while she takes a shower or relaxes in bed, sometimes she'll even drift back to sleep. He comes back into their bedroom and lies in the middle of the bed with their son and talks to him, tickles him, makes funny faces at him, it varies.

She sets her comb down on the edge of the sink and walks over to the door. She pulls it open all the way and smiles at the two of them, paying close attention to the pure joy on her partner's face, but not overlooking the sadness lingering in his brown eyes. She sighs.

He looks up and smiles back at her. "Hey," he whispers. He glances down at his son. "Can I have my finger back, Little Guy?"

Henry's response to that is just to grip his father's finger even tighter and suck on his bottom lip.

"You think you're funny, don't ya?"

"I'm done in the bathroom if you want to take a shower." She takes a seat on the edge of the mattress, the change in weight startling and displacing the newborn slightly.

Henry begins to fuss, squirming, and looking around.

She turns her head and sighs, reaching over and rubbing his stomach. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to startle you."

"He's fine, Bones. You just weren't expecting that, huh?" Booth pecks at his son's cheek and touches the tip of his nose.

Henry wrinkles his face and sneezes.

Booth laughs. "God bless you, bud." He takes the tissue that Brennan graciously gives him and wipes the newborn's nose. He balls it up and sets it to the side, going back to entertaining his son.

There's a knock on their bedroom door and then it opens slowly. "Mommy? Daddy?" Christine whispers as she enters.

"Good morning, Honey."

"Are we still gonna go see Popsicle today, Mommy?"

Brennan nods. "That is the plan, Sweetheart. Why?"

"Is he gonna die?"

Brennan blinks. Of all the things that she expected to come out of her daughter's mouth, that certainly wasn't even close to one of them. She sighs. "We're all going to die one day."

"No. Is he gonna die soon?" The six year-old clarifies. "I heard you and daddy talking. You said he had a bad heart, but mommy, Popsicle is a nice man, he can't have a bad heart. Only mean peoples have bad hearts, right?"

Booth stiffens and tries to find solace in the squirmy baby boy beside him. He kisses his son on the top of his head and scoots closer to him, rubbing his hand against the baby's stomach and breathing in the scent of baby powder.

Brennan glances at him and even though his face is mostly hidden, she can see the tears forming in his eyes. She feels her chest tighten at the sound of his breath hitching slightly. She sighs. "Your great-grandfather is very sick, Sweetheart. His metaphorical heart is in great shape, Christine, it's his real heart, his muscular heart, that's the issue."

"Can't they give him medicine, mommy? Medicine will make him better. Doctors give sick peoples medicine and it makes them all better. Can't they just give him medicine?" She repeats.

"His doctor has given him medicine, Honey, but his heart is very weak and he's having difficulty breathing."

"So he's gonna go to heaven soon?"

"I don't belie—I don't know," Brennan whispers. "There's a good chance it'll be soon, Sweet pea, but we don't know for sure when."

Booth closes his eyes and showers his baby boy with soft, sweet kisses, ignoring the tears that are building up behind his eyelids and the sobs that are rising in his throat.

Christine taps her father on his calf. "Daddy, are you sad?"

Booth just nods in response, afraid to open his mouth.

"About Popsicle?"

Booth nods again and manages a weak, "Bones, please."

Brennan nods. "Uh, Sweetheart, why don't you go to your room and wait for me. I'll be there in a few minutes to help you get dressed."

"I wanna wear a pretty dress, mommy. Popsicle likes when I wear pretty dresses."

"Pick out the dress you want to wear, okay? I'll meet you in your room in five minutes."

Christine leans over and kisses her father's calf. "Don't be sad. Don't cry, daddy. We're gonna go see Popsicle today. I'm gonna sprinkle him with magicky dust and it will make him all better, okay, daddy? Please, don't be sad. I love you."

Booth swallows hard, burying his face in the sheets, his shoulders starting to shake.

"Go wait for me in your room, Honey."

Christine nods and bounds down the hallway.

Brennan sighs. "I couldn't lie to her, Booth." She pauses. "If this is too painful for you, I can take them to visit Hank by myself."

Booth shakes his head and turns, his face pressed against Henry's cheek. He kisses him and gently caresses the newborn's bare arm.

"I'm going to get dressed now." Brennan disappears into the closet, glancing back at her partner every few steps, the vice around her heart tightening. "I love you."

He lets out a breath and smiles faintly. "Love you too, Bones," he whispers so quietly that she almost misses it.

She sighs louder and begins rummaging through her collection of clothes, trying to find something that fits her, better yet, something that fits her correctly.

Booth tickles his baby boy and then wiggles his fingers in front of his face. "Phalanges. Phalanges, phalanges, phalanges. Dancing phalanges." He pauses. "Yeah, don't give me that look, bud. I know that's your mom's thing. We should just leave the bones stuff to her, huh?"

She pokes her head out, smiles, and then silently returns to the closet, her partner unaware of her spying.

Booth and Brennan make their way down a long hallway towards a wing of the retirement home they've never been to before. It's set up much like a hospital and doctors and nurses are constantly going in and out of patients' rooms. She's holding Henry in his infant carrier in one hand, her other arm hooked around her partner's. She tilts her head and looks up at him, sighing at the far-away look on his face. "Booth."

He shakes his head and glances down at her, faking a smile. "Yeah?"

"Nothing."

"I'm okay, Bones."

"You're not very convincing."

"Just drop it, okay?"

The harshness is his voice startles her, causing her to jerk back a little. She swallows and loosens her hold on his arm, but keeps them linked.

He lowers his voice. "I don't want to talk about this right now, not here."

She nods. "Don't shut me out, Booth."

He drops a kiss on the top of her head and sighs. "Thanks for coming with me, Bones."

She nods.

The five of them turn the corner and head down another hallway, stopping at the third door on the left.

She gives his forearm a squeeze before she steps to the side, detangling herself from him to allow him to turn the knob and open the door.

"Is this Popsicle's room, mommy?" Christine whispers, remembering what her father told her before they walked into the building.

Brennan nods. "Yes, Honey."

Christine follows her father into the room and wrinkles her nose at the distinct smell of urine and disinfectant. She walks up to the bed and peers out from behind her dad. "Popsicle?"

Hank coughs, squinting at the little girl standing there. "Cheese Puff," his voice is soft and raspy.

"Mommy says you're sick."

"You could say that, Pipsqueak." Hank coughs again, wheezing a little. He looks at her and smiles, admiring her pink and purple floral dress. "That's a pretty dress."

Christine twirls around. "Thank you, Popsicle." She pauses and pulls something out of her little purse she has slung over her shoulder.

"What's that?"

"Magicky dust. I'm gonna sprinkle it on you so you can get better."

Hank nods. "Give it a try, Pipsqueak."

Christine smiles. "Okay." She unscrews the top and tilts the vial, letting some sparkly confetti fall into the center of her palm. She tips her hand, the pieces of confetti falling onto the blanket.

"Now what do we do?"

"We pray and then we wait."

Hank bows his head and clasps his hands, closing his eyes.

"Are your eyes closed, Popsicle?"

"Yeah. Are yours?"

Christine nods. "Yep." She whispers something and then opens her eyes. "All done."

Hank shrugs. "I don't feel any different."

"That's 'cause you didn't wait long 'nuff, silly." Christine smiles.

Hank smiles at her. "Well, I hope this stuff works."

"Oh, it does. When mommy and daddy weren't looking, I sprinkled it onto Parky and he got all better again."

Booth and Brennan share a look and a sigh.

Booth turns his focus to the frail man in the bed and lets out another sigh . "Hey, Pops, how you doin'?"

"I'm doin' okay, Shrimp." Hank lifts his hand to pat his grandson on the arm, but barely manages a soft tap before lowering it again. "Temperance." The older man beams at the sight of his grandson's beautiful wife. "You look just beautiful, Sweetheart."

Brennan steps forward, glancing down at the newborn, who's currently asleep in the carrier she's holding. She then looks up at Hank and smiles. "Good morning, Hank. Thank you." She lifts the carrier when she catches Hank trying to crane his neck to see the baby.

"Are you finally gonna tell me this little boy's name?"

Brennan nods. "Hank, this is Henry."

Hank's eyes well up with tears and he looks up at his grandson. "You named him," he sucks in a breath and coughs, "after me?"

Booth nods. "Yeah, Pops."

Parker sits at the foot of the bed and sighs. "Hey, Pops."

"Look at you. You got yourself a girlfriend yet?" Hank laughs, coughing in between.

Parker smiles. "Yeah, actually, I do. Her name's Cody." He takes out his cell phone and pulls up his pictures. He searches for the best one and holds the phone out for Hank to see.

"Oh, she's pretty. Did you kiss her yet?"

Pink rises in Parker's cheeks and they grow warm. "Uh, yeah. She kissed me first."

"She's got balls. I like her already."

"Ovaries, actually," Brennan interrupts, correcting him again.

"Right, she's got steel ovaries."

Parker laughs.

Christine looks at her great-grandfather. "Do I have steel ovaries too, Popsicle? I want steel ovaries."

"Oh, you do, Pipsqueak." Hank coughs and sits up a little more.

Brennan sets the carrier on the floor and scoops her son up into her arms. She knows she should just let him sleep in peace, but she knows this is important to Booth. She places the newborn into his great-grandfather's arms and leans into Booth slightly, looking up at him.

Booth looks at her and kisses her quickly on the lips. "He sounds better than he did on the phone the other day, doesn't he?"

To her, Hank sounds the same, maybe even a little worse, but Brennan nods anyway. "Yes, Booth."

"He's in good spirits today," Booth observes, to which Brennan just nods again.

Hank turns his head away and coughs, swallowing the phlegm. He looks down at his great-grandson again and smiles weakly. "He looks just like you, Shrimp."

"That's what everyone says," Booth chokes out, tears returning to his eyes at the sight of his grandfather holding his newborn son.

Brennan takes out her camera and snaps a few photos.

Booth turns around, closing his eyes and clenching his first. He leaves the room a minute later.

Brennan turns her head and watches the door click shut.

"Go after him, Temperance," Hank croaks out.

"You're going to be okay? With the kids, I mean."

Hank nods. "Go. Make sure he's alright."

Brennan sighs and then looks at Christine and Parker. "Stay here, you two. Parker, keep an eye on your brother and sister, please." She walks over to the door and leaves the room in search of her partner.

Brennan doesn't have to go far to find Booth. He's sitting on the floor, slumped over, right next to Hank's room. She slides down the wall beside him and leans into him, resting her hand on his bent up knee. She doesn't speak. She just lowers her head onto his shoulder.

Booth turns, letting his jaw rest against her forehead. Tears silently fall from his tired eyes as his arm snakes around her back, pulling her closer to him. He swallows and clears his throat. His lips part in anticipation for the words he has swirling around his head, but nothing but a sigh escapes.

She rubs his knee with her thumb and tilts her head, lifting it off his shoulder. She presses her lips against his rough, stubble-clad cheek and nuzzles her face into the curve of his neck.

"I'm not ready to say goodbye," he finally manages, his voice barely above a whisper.

"At least you get to say goodbye. There are a lot of people who don't get that opportunity." Her tone is soft, caring, and she kisses his neck.

"You miss her."

She lifts her head and raises an eyebrow. "Miss who?"

"Your mom."

"Yes, I do, but I wasn't talking about me, Booth, or Parker. I wasn't talking about anyone specifically. I was just trying to offer you some perspective." She sighs. "I've been thinking about her a lot recently."

"Makes sense."

She nods. "Yes. I just gave birth, so it makes sense that I would be thinking about my mother at a time like this."

He lifts his hand and brushes his thumb across the apples of her cheeks, whisking away the tears as they fall from her red-tinged eyes. He presses his lips against her forehead, his lips curving into a soft smile.

She straightens and looks him in the eye. "Hank got to watch the boy he rescued and raised grow into a loving, ambitious, determined, protective, selfless, successful, and courageous man, he got to watch him start a family of his own and get married, and he got to meet and hold his three great-grandchildren," she says, offering him some more perspective. "If I believed in luck, I'd say he's pretty damn lucky, Booth."

He smiles, kissing her delicately on the lips. "Doesn't make it any easier."

"Death is never easy, Booth."

He nods. "God, he saved my life, Bones."

She lowers her head to his shoulder again. "I know." She slips her hand in his, their fingers laced together, and tightens her grip. "We should probably get back in there."

"Can we, can we just sit out here for another minute?"

She nods. "We'll go in when you're ready." She kisses his shoulder and smiles. "You know I'm here for you, Booth, right?"

"I know, Bones, and you have no idea how much that means to me." He leans his head back on the wall and closes his eyes, listening to his partner's soft, even breathing, which for some reason comforts him greatly. "I love you."

She nods. "I love you too, Booth," she whispers, finding herself on the verge of falling asleep against him.

Close to fifteen minutes later, Booth and Brennan return to the room, their arms linked.

Hank looks up from his youngest great-grandson and smiles at the couple. "How are you feeling, Sweetheart?"

Brennan smiles at him. "I'm good, Hank. I'm exhausted, but I'm feeling okay." She pauses. "And you?"

Hank shrugs. "I've been better, but I'm not dead yet, so I guess I'm good too."

Brennan sighs and gives him a slow nod. "You want me to take him?"

Hank shakes his head. "I've got him, Temperance. Have a seat, put your feet up, and relax a little." He pauses. "How's Little Henry doing?"

Brennan pulls out the chair and takes a seat beside Hank's bedside. She glances at her newborn son and smiles. "He's wonderful."

Hank coughs and swallows. "I remember the first time I held Seeley. He threw up on my shirt."

Brennan tilts her head up and smiles at her partner, biting back a chuckle.

Booth rolls his eyes.

Hank leans forward and kisses Henry on the forehead.

Brennan looks up at Booth again and reaches for his hand.

Booth glances down at her and smiles, squeezing her fingers.

"Is he sleeping okay?"

Brennan nods. "Yes. He's a very good sleeper."

Christine climbs up onto the bed, sitting between her great-grandfather's legs and leaning against the footboard. "Do you like Little Alien, Popsicle?"

Hank looks up at her. "Little Alien?"

Brennan shakes her head. "Christine calls Henry Little Alien. When we first told her she was going to be a big sister, we showed her the ultrasound photograph. She thought he looked like a Little Alien, hence the moniker, and she's been calling him that ever since."

"I take it you're not too fond of the nickname?"

Brennan shrugs. "Not particularly, no, but I don't believe she's trying to be mean, she's showing affection, so I'll allow it. I've grown to love my nickname, so perhaps Henry will someday appreciate his moniker, as well."

Booth kisses the top of her head. "So you love your nickname, huh, Bones?"

Brennan tilts her head and smirks at him.

"So do you like him, Popsicle?" Christine asks again, realizing her great-grandfather never answered her question.

Hank nods. "Yeah, Cheese Puff. I like him a whole lot."

"But not more than me, right?"

Hank shakes his head. "Nope. I don't think I can like anyone more than I like you, Pipsqueak."

Christine smiles. "Good."

Hank sucks in air and adjusts his hands. "So Parker, tell me about this girlfriend of yours."

Brennan starts to stand up. "Here, let me take him, Hank. He's heavy."

Hank shakes his head. "I'm fine, Sweetheart."

Brennan sits back down with a huff and nods.

Parker smiles. "She's real great, Pops. She's from Cali and she was kinda bummed about moving to D.C. Her dad was a cop for the LAPD, she's got a little sister, who's two, and she wants to be a calculus and physics professor when she's older. Um, let's see, she likes to play videogames and soccer, she's crazy competitive, she likes to listen to all kinds of music, she loves chocolate pudding, and hates spinach."

Hank laughs. "She sounds like a great girl."

"I've only known her for about a month, so yeah, that's pretty much all I know about her, but learning new stuff about someone is always fun, well, not always, 'cause it could be something bad, but whatever."

"Hey, Bub, take a breath once in a while."

Parker looks at his dad and blushes.

Hank smiles. "Sounds like she's a keeper."

Parker shrugs.

Hank starts coughing and wheezing suddenly. He leans back and closes his eyes.

Brennan stands up and takes Henry from his great-grandfather's arms.

"Pops, you okay?"

Hank swallows and opens his eyes, his coughing subsiding. He nods and takes a minute to catch his breath. "I'm okay, Shrimp. Stop worrying about me."

Brennan looks down at the newborn and rocks him gently. "Shhh. It's okay, Little Guy." She kisses his head and walks towards the door. "I'm going to take him for a walk."

"I wanna come, mommy." Christine skips over to her mother and grabs her free hand. She opens the door and tugs her mother into the hallway.

The door clicks shut and Booth takes his partner's seat.

"I'm gonna go find Bones and Teeny, dad." Parker smiles and leaves the room.

Booth looks at his grandfather and takes his hand.

Hank swallows. "I'm fine, Shrimp."

"You don't sound fine, Pops."

"I'm just old, Seeley. I've lived a good life. The only regret I have is not coming to your rescue sooner."

"What do the doctors say?"

"There's not much they can do."

Booth nods. "Yeah, you sure?"

Hank nods. "It's okay, Shrimp. We've all gotta go sometime, right?"

Booth swallows, trying hard to keep his tears at bay.

"Take good care of your family, Seeley. Don't take anything or any of them for granted."

Booth shakes his head. "I won't, Pops."

"I'm glad you came to visit me today."

Booth smiles. "Thank Bones. It was her idea."

"I'll be sure to do that." Hank pauses. "How are things between you two?"

"We're great. It's been, this year's been tough, but we're got through it. She's been so amazing these last eight months. I don't think there's anything I can do to repay her for what she's done for me or for Parker."

Hank smiles. "Just love her, Shrimp. I doubt she's expecting anything."

"Oh, I do, and I will." Booth lets out a sigh.

"I want you to use some of your inheritance to take that lady of yours on a proper honeymoon, got it, son?"

Booth laughs. "Pops, I, we have jobs and three kids, we can't just—." He nods. "Okay, okay, I'll ask her about it."

Hank pats his grandson's hand. "I'm proud of you, son."

Booth looks away from a second and then meets his grandfather's eyes again. "I love you, Pops."

Hank nods. "I love you too, Shrimp."

Booth turns his head when the door opens again and Brennan, Parker, and Christine walk back in.

Brennan walks over to the bed and hands the newborn over to Hank. "We should probably get going, Booth."

Hank cradles him and kisses him on the cheek. "See ya later, Little Man. Just remember, your Pops loves you." He gives him another peck on the cheek and hands him to Brennan. "Enjoy him, Temperance. He won't be that small forever."

Brennan nods, fixing her son's hat. She kneels down and buckles him in the infant carrier, covering him with the blanket.

Christine gives her great-grandfather a hug and kisses his cheek. "I love you, Popsicle. The angels will take care of you." She climbs down, rubbing her eyes.

Parker steps up and hugs Hank. "Maybe next time, I'll bring Cody and you can meet her."

"I'd like that, Parks. See ya later."

Brennan squeezes her partner's shoulder and leans down, pressing her lips against his temple and whispering in his ear. "Take your time, Booth. We'll be in the car." She runs her fingers through his hair and kisses him again. She straightens and looks at Hank. "Goodbye, Hank. We'll try to come back and visit sometime soon."

"Send me updates, Sweetheart."

"I will." Brennan smiles. "Parker, Christine, let's go."

"Are we leaving daddy here, mommy?"

Brennan nods. "He'll meet us in the car, Honey."

"Okay." Christine smiles at her father. "Bye, daddy."

"See ya later..."

"Alligator."

"In a while..."

"Crocodile." Christine giggles.

"Bye, Princess. I'll see ya real soon."

Christine skips over to the door and opens it, holding it open for her mother and brother. "I love you, Popsicle."

"I love you too, Cheese Puff. Be good."

"I'm always good." Christine laughs and follows Brennan and Parker out of the room.

Booth listens for the click and then turns back to his grandfather. "We'll be back soon, Pops." He sits there for another ten minutes, a comfortable, yet sad silence between the two Booth men, which is only broken up by the older man's coughing and wheezing. He says goodbye and leaves when a nurse comes in to check on Hank.