Welcome back! Are you in the mood for some Elena cuteness? Well, we were, so here you go ;).

Chapter 22

After Pops had intensely enjoyed the mug of hot chocolate milk, he turned towards his great-granddaughter. "My dear Elena, Jared and I have another surprise for you. We know that you are a young lady already, so we knew that you'd want your own bedroom. I asked Shrimp what you were like and he said that you were a real princess, so Jared decorated your room, so it would fit a princess." Hank held out his hand to her in a cordial manner. "Shall we go look at your castle, mylady?" Hank loved spoiling his great-granddaughter already.

"You made a princess room?" Elena asked Jared disbelievingly as she took Hanks' hand.

"Yup," Jared nodded. "I did most of the work and your Grampa Pops told me what to do. You should go up and have a look."

Hank chuckled. "Just be patient with your old Grampa Pops, dear. I'm not twenty anymore."

Happily, Elena nodded and followed her new grandfather upstairs. She made sure not to rush him.

Brennan rose. "Can we look as well? I'm curious," she said.

"Of course," Jared got up, "Seel has never even been here, so why don't I give you a tour of the house?"

Booth nodded. "That sounds great, can we start in Elena's room?"

Jared smiled. "Sure. Come on, this way."

They followed Elena and Hank upstairs and joined them in the doorway of a small but cozy room. Jared had made a real princess room. Pink was definitely the dominant colour. Overall, the room had a soft, fluffy feel to it. A reading corner had been created in the window sill. The small bed had thick white covers adorned with flowers. Elena was speechless. This room looked like a little girl's dream. "Wow," was all Brennan could say.

Slowly, Elena took a few steps into the room. She stopped in the centre of it and slowly spun around, gawking, enchanted. Brennan could tell her little girl felt like an actual princess.

"Do you like it, dear?" Hank walked over to her and went to sit in the reading corner. "All of Jared and Seeley's favourite books are here. And when Shrimp told me your favourite book is Moby Dick, we made sure that was here, too."

"I feel like a princess..." Elena told them, still very much impressed. She jumped on the bed and lay down, feeling the luxurious softness of the covers. "I love it!"

Brennan's heart soared. Her little girl seemed so blissfully happy. Elena climbed off the child-sized bed and went over to the bookcase, reading the titles.

"We'll let you enjoy your room," Hank smiled, ushered all of the grown-ups out the door and went back downstairs.

Jared took Booth and Brennan on a tour of the rest of the house. Finally, they arrived at the room a few doors away from Elena's. "And now," Jared announced, "Your room." He swung open the door and let them inside.

Immediately, Brennan saw it. This room was for her... and Booth. To share. She also realised she wouldn't be sleeping with Elena, which made her feel ill at ease. What if her daughter needed her mommy during the night and she couldn't find her in this strange house? What if she had a bad dream and Brennan wouldn't be there? What if there was a fire... Brennan halted her train of thought right there. Perhaps she could talk to Booth about it later. Yet, even now, she felt the urge to go back to Elena's room to get her. She soothed herself with the thought that her daughter was probably sitting in her reading corner, enjoying her favourite book.

Booth sensed her anxiety and he looked at his brother, who got the hint and left them alone, closing the door behind them. "So, what do you think?"

"About what?" she naively asked him, pretending she didn't know that he knew exactly what she was thinking.

"About the room," Booth said, forcing himself not to address the issue, she had shown him that she didn't react positively to that. "I know we're not really a couple yet."

"I wouldn't mind, if we can promise each other we won't do anything but sleep. I mean, I was expecting Elena to sleep with me, but your family's given her such a beautiful room..." She wasn't sure how to express her feelings to Booth, and if he'd understand them.

"Nothing will happen. I agree. It's too soon. We've actually only known each other for a few weeks. I wasn't expecting this, either. They gave her a beautiful room, didn't they?" It upset him that once again, she wanted their daughter to sleep with her, as if she was only her daughter and not his, but he decided not to comment on that. Not now anyway.

"It's a dream, it's perfect," she agreed. "She's so happy with it."

"Yes. That's what's most important... Right?" Booth asked her gently, hoping she'd be honest with him, even if he wouldn't like her answer.

"Well, the most important thing's that she's safe. But yeah, being happy is next. I – she'll probably want to sleep in her new room. I'm afraid it will be harder for me than for her," Brennan admitted.

Booth embraced her. "Yeah, I think you might be right," Booth rubbed her back. "She's just next door, Captain," he tried to reassure her.

"I know. I just like to have her close. It feels safe. I'll know for certain that she's all right. I tend to worry a lot if she's not within my sight."

"You're a good mom, that's why you worry. Elena is safe. She's in a room where the sharpest thing is the edge of a page in one of her books."

"I know, but what if there's a fire, or another burglar..." Brennan held him a little tighter. "I know I'm crazy," she said, not even joking. "I go through all the what-ifs. What if she gets scared and she can't find me? What if she has a bad dream and I'm not there?"

"We are in a house filled with responsible adults. Someone will help her. And if we go through the what-ifs together, that is the answer, that someone will help her. Whether it's you, me, Jared or Pops, she won't be forced to fend for herself."

"It's just - I'm all she has. I know that's not the case anymore, but it still feels that way. It's going to take a while to get it out of my system." She was glad that he was here, and he was listening to her, even if what she said wasn't easy to hear for him, she was sure. He was so eager to be a family with them, to take responsibility - it was a confusing situation for both of them.

He had to stifle the urge to shake her and point out that she had never been alone. That he would've been there for her if she would've just looked and that he was there for her now. Instead, he felt his muscles tensing the slightest bit. "Okay. Why don't we go ask her. Let her decide?" He knew it was a bit mean, because Booth was convinced Elena would choose her princess room, but then again, maybe this would be able to reassure Brennan that it wouldn't all be that bad.

She nodded against his shoulder. "Booth? Aren't you angry with me?"

"You want what is best for her. For our daughter. I get that." Booth released her and took her hand. "Let's go ask her. If she wants to stay in her room, we will make sure she knows how to find us... I mean, you," he mumbled quickly.

Not having missed his comment, Brennan stopped him before he could open the door. "Booth, you'll have to be patient, I know that, but in the end, I want the same as you. So does Elena. It's just going to take a while. I won't wait too long with telling her that you're her father. Or do you want to tell her?"

"I'm sorry, Temperance, but the way I see it, neither of us is ready to have that conversation with her. Not at this point."

"I didn't mean now, but I don't want to wait another year. It would be too confusing for her. Also, I think we - I, particularly - need to show her that we want to be together."

"We will cross that bridge when we get there, okay? I'm happy that that is something you want, but I don't think it's our highest priority right now." He'd have a very difficult time letting her make all of the decisions if Elena knew that he was her daddy. She would constantly be undermining his authority and they wouldn't be able to have a healthy family life.

"One more thing," Brennan said. "I really like your family," she smiled, wanting to give him something positive.

"They really like you, too." Booth kissed her cheek. "What's not to love?"

She turned serious. "I'm far from perfect, Booth. People have always told me I'm a difficult person, except Russ and Angela. I understand you might get angry with me sometimes. And that's okay, I just really want you to talk to me, then, because I don't want to find you after four years only to lose you again."

Booth looked into her eyes. "I'm here, by your side, because I want to give it a real try. And if you want the same, then I think we'll be okay. Let's talk later, okay? I think we should go and ask Elena if she's fine to sleep in her room."

It was nice that he didn't let go of her hand, and they found Elena immersed in a book that was almost as big as her. She didn't even look up at them before she'd finished her page. "I love this book," she told them seriously. "It's about an orphan girl from a long time ago. She wore strange clothes, but she looked okay."

"That's nice, sweetie." Booth sat down on her bed, Brennan doing the same. "Mommy wanted to ask you something."

Elena checked her page and then closed the book. She got onto Brennan's lap and looked at her mother expectantly. Brennan pressed her little girl against her for a moment, then kissed her hair and let her sit upright. "This is a real princess room, isn't it? And you're a princess, so if you want, you can sleep in your very own bed here. I can show you where Booth's and Mommy's room is so you can find us if you need anything. What do you think?"

Elena shrugged. "Okay."

"You want to sleep here, by yourself?" Brennan checked to make sure.

Elena smiled. "Of course, Mommy. It's a princess room. I'm a princess, right, Booth?"

"You are, sweetie. Come on, Mommy will show you how you can find us and where we will be if you need us during the night." He stood and let Brennan take the lead, hoping that she'd feel better if she'd show Elena herself.

Brennan stood and took Elena's hand to show her the way. "It's very simple, Elena," she said. They went around the first corner they encountered. "It's the first door. If you want, we can put something around the doorknob so you'll be able to find us even if it's dark."

Elena nodded. "That's really smart."

"Good," Brennan smiled. "And here's the bathroom." She showed it to Elena, telling her she could also just call for them. "Are you comfortable sleeping alone in your princess room, now?" Brennan asked her.

"Yes!" Elena said excitedly. "I can always come to you if I don't want to be alone."

"Exactly," Brennan confirmed her daughter's words. "So now we know what we'll do tonight." She picked Elena up and held her close, then kissed her soft cheeks. "You're such a brave girl. I'm proud of you," she smiled, her heart filled with love for the little human in her arms.

"I'm proud, too," Booth meaningfully kissed Brennan's cheek. "Come on, let's go downstairs and ask Grampa Pops if he will make his famous grilled-cheese sandwiches. Have you ever had grilled-cheese sandwiches, princess?"

"Yes! I love them!" Elena said enthusiastically. And so they went downstairs, and Brennan's heavy feeling didn't get the chance to consume her because her daughter exuded such sheer comfort and pleasure.

They enjoyed their delicious dinner and when both of his girls started yawning, Booth suggested that they all get to bed a little early. Pops took his time cuddling his great granddaughter, then sent her off to bed and went to his downstairs bedroom. Jared announced that he would be staying up late, watching TV, so not to get scared if they heard noises and wished them a good night. Booth and Brennan went through the bedtime routine with their daughter and ended up on her bed, sitting next to her as she read in her new books. After a half an hour, when she could barely hold the book open, let alone her eyes, Booth kissed her cheek, whispering a soft, "Sweet dreams, princess," into her ear.

Instinctively, Elena snuggled up to her mother as her eyes fell closed. Brennan's arms went around her and they lay down together. Brennan looked at Booth. "Just until she's sound asleep?" she whispered.

Instead of pointing out that she was not helping her daughter develop, Booth chose to make the best out of the situation. "Can I stay, too?"

"Of course you can," Brennan smiled and made some room. There they were. Wasn't this what she'd always dreamed of? To be complete as a family. A feeling of happiness, or things being right, washed over Brennan, and she pressed a kiss to Booth's cheek. If she could only allow herself to let go, just like she'd done that fateful, amazing night, she'd fall in love with him instantly.

We hope you liked it! Booth and Brennan get their turn to have a good, long conversation (in bed) next chapter. If you can leave us a few words, that would make our day!