A/N: Just a reminder: this chapter skips ahead a month or so. Enjoy :)

Booth's lying on the couch, his head turned to the side, one arm hanging off the edge of the cushion and the other arm draped securely over Henry, who's resting on his father's chest, his tiny hand clutching the collar of Booth's black T-shirt. They're both asleep and they're both snoring softly.

Brennan finishes putting the last plate in the dishwasher after their late dinner and dries her hands. She refolds the towel and drapes it over the lip of the sink before walking quietly into the living room. She stops suddenly and glances at the lazy pair on the couch, then turns her focus to the little girl sitting on the floor watching them. "Christine, Honey, what are you doing?"

Christine turns her head and presses her finger to her lips. "Shhh, mommy. Daddy and Little Alien are sleeping."

Brennan takes another few steps closer and nods. "I see that, but what are you doing?" She asks again.

"I'm watching them, mommy." Christine pauses. "They snore."

Brennan walks the final distance to the couch and carefully removes her partner's arm from around their two and a half month-old son. She scoops Henry into her arms, pressing a sweet kiss to his forehead and rocking him when he starts to fuss. "It's okay, bud," she coos. She looks at Christine and smiles at her. "Would you like to help me give Henry his bath this evening, Sweetheart?"

Christine's face lights up, her smile reaching her eyes. "Can I?"

Brennan nods. "Yes. Come on."

Christine closes the book she had been attempting to read until she found something else to focus on, and then pushes herself up off the floor. She follows her mother upstairs and stops at the top, looking up at Brennan. "Is he gonna be nakey?"

"Yes. Do you take baths in your clothes?"

Christine giggles. "No!"

"So why would he?"

Christine shrugs. "I don't know."

Brennan walks into the bathroom and sets Henry down on a towel on the floor. She prepares the small tub, keeping an eye on both her children while she does it. She tests the water temperature and nods. She kneels down beside the baby and removes his clothing and diaper, tickling his stomach gently in attempt to put him at ease. She smiles when he does and then picks him up. She holds him, her hands under his armpits, and then draws him closer to her, kissing the tip of his nose.

Christine watches intently as her mother lowers her baby brother into the small tub. She steps closer to the sink and rests both her hands on the edge of the counter, leaning over and rising up on her tippy-toes just slightly in order to get a better look.

Brennan dips a washcloth in the water and gently brushes the fabric against her son's bare skin.

Henry curls his toes under and wiggles around in the tub, splashing and kicking his legs. He laughs, smiling wildly as he looks around.

Brennan can't help but smile herself as she continues to bathe him. "I know you enjoy bath time very much, buddy, but you're going to have to stay still if I'm going to be able to bathe you properly."

Christine runs her fingers through her brother's damp hair and smiles when his eyes meet hers. She pushes over her stool and steps up, leaning over and pressing a kiss to his forehead. She gasps but starts giggling when he accidentally splashes her. "Little Alien, you got me all wet!" She squeals.

Henry calms down long enough for Brennan to finish washing him. She lifts him out of the water and quickly wraps him in his monkey towel. "Thank you for cooperating tonight, bud." She looks at Christine. "And thank you for your help, Sweetheart," she says as she carries Henry across the hall and into his room.

Christine follows and opens a drawer in her baby brother's dresser. She pulls out some pajamas with little snowboarding frogs printed on them. She walks over to Brennan, who's now standing at the changing table. "I got him some jammies, mommy."

Brennan turns her head and smiles. "Thank you, Sweetheart." She smoothes down the diaper tabs and takes the pajamas from her daughter. She sets them down while she rubs the lavender baby lotion into his skin. She smiles at him as she snaps the buttons of his pajamas and sings softly to him. She plays with his toes before slipping on a pair of socks and scooping him up into her arms. She walks over to the rocking chair and sinks down onto the cushion. She grabs the pillow and props her feet up on the ottoman, looking at Christine. "Pick out a bedtime story and then you can read it to him after I finish feeding him."

Christine's eyes brighten and she skips over to the bookshelf, running her hand along the spines of the numerous books present there. Some are new, some are fairly new, and some are nearly two decades old, but all seem to be in pristine condition.

Brennan turns her focus away from her daughter and rubs Henry's back while he sucks on her nipple. She continues to sing to him, smiling down at him.

The door opens a little more and Parker pokes his head into the room. "Hey, Bones, I'm headed out."

Brennan looks up and smiles at him. "Have fun ice skating with Cody. Remember to be home by eleven and if, for some reason, you're going to be later than that, please don't forget to call."

Parker nods. "Yep, I know, got it." He looks at Christine. "Night, Teeny."

"Night, Parky." Christine smiles at him and waves before turning back to the shelf. "Tell Cody I say hi."

"I will." Parker pauses and looks back at Brennan. "I'll be home later." He leaves as soon as Brennan nods in acknowledgement, and then he heads down the stairs.

Christine finally grabs a book off the shelf and sits cross-legged on the floor by the rocking chair. She cracks open the story and looks up at her mother. "Are you and Little Alien listening, mommy?"

Brennan nods, getting settled and adjusting Henry in her arms. She rubs his stomach, something that usually lulls him to sleep, and listens as her daughter reads out loud. By the end of the story, Henry's fast asleep, but she remains seated and starts to glides forward and back in the chair.

Christine puts the book back on the shelf and kneels down beside her mother and brother. She leans over and kisses Henry's head a few times and smiles.

Brennan glances over at the little girl and smiles when she yawns. "Looks like someone's tired."

Christine looks around. "Who? You?"

Brennan stands up and heads over to the crib. She gives Henry a delicate kiss on the cheek before lowering him down onto the mattress. She traces his hairline with the tip of her finger and watches him furrow his brow before getting settled. "Goodnight, bud. I love you. Daddy loves you."

Christine tugs on her mother's shirt. "Don't forget me, mommy. I love him lots too."

"And your sister and brother love you too." Brennan locks the railing in place and switches on the mobile, the same one Parker had made for Christine years ago, only with a few additions. She turns around and looks down at her daughter. "Now, let's get you ready for bed, shall we?"

"But I'm not," Christine yawns and rubs her eyes, "tired."

Brennan laughs. "Of course you aren't." She nudges her daughter's shoulder and they head out of the nursery.

Booth's startled awake by his phone ringing, and he ends up rolling off the couch as a result. He hits to floor with a thump and groans, rubbing his head. He grabs his cell phone off the coffee table and answers it, still half asleep. "Booth," he grumbles. "Yes, this is Seeley Booth. Who's asking?" He straightens and leans back against the front of the couch. He nods, his heart plummeting into his stomach, his hand, the one clutching the phone, beginning to go numb. "Yes, I understand. Thank you for calling." He keeps the phone to his ear long after the woman on the other ends hangs up.

His throat burns, his breathing slows, and he can feel that uncomfortable and unpleasant feeling of the onset of tears. He swallows hard and brings his hand down finally, his phone dropping onto his lap.

Brennan walks down the stairs after tucking Christine into bed and reading her a story. She walks quietly into the living room, unsure if her partner is still asleep or not. She's about to head into the kitchen when she catches a glimpse of Booth on the floor near the couch, his legs bent and pulled close to his chest, his face buried in his knees. She pads over to him and sits on the coffee table. "Booth?"

He lifts his head and meets her concerned eyes, straining to see her through his unshed tears.

"Did you have a nightmare?"

He shakes his head and rubs his eyes, looking away from her.

She stands up and sits down beside him, placing her hand on his shoulder. "If you didn't have a nightmare, then what's wrong?" Her eyes drift to the phone on the floor between them and she picks it up, pulling up his recent calls. The number at the top of the list looks very familiar to her and it takes her a little more than a minute to figure out why. She squeezes his shoulder and looks at him. "I'm so sorry, Booth."

He lifts his head and stares at her. His eyes fall to the phone in her hand and then refocus on hers.

"When did it happen?"

"Fifteen minutes ago," he chokes out.

"Was anyone with him?"

"No." He clears his throat and looks away from her again, hugging his legs.

"Did they tell you what happened?"

He stays silent and fiddles with his watch, his lips pursed and his eyes now pinched shut.

She slides her hand to the right and massages his neck. She leans forward and pushes her lips against his temple, kissing him ever so gently. "I'm sorry," she whispers again, her voice barely audible.

He shrugs her away and rubs his eyes with his right thumb and index finger, sighing.

She starts to get up, figuring that he needs some space, but he tugs on her arm, causing her to sit back down. She slumps down against him and rests her head on his shoulder.

He turns his head and kisses the top of her head, wrapping an arm around her and wiping away a few rebellious tears from his cheeks. A sob escapes his lips regardless of his control and he sniffles.

She turns into him and hugs him, not sure what else to do. She closes her eyes, in attempt to keep her own tears at bay, and exhales against his neck.