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Chapter 20

"What are we going to feed these kids?" Bones asked staring into the nearly empty fridge. Booth came and stood behind her and pulled a face.

"Pizza?"

"No more pizza...we need groceries. Good food. Healthy food."

"Ok." he said.

"I'll go." she said. "I'll take Parker with me. He can help and it will give Lance and Skye a minute."

"Good idea..sort of." Booth winced. He just new what the cart would look like with Bones pushing it by herself. Like a forest encased in a wire cage. With a few tidbits of packaged vegan crap thrown in to dull the colour of all the vegies. When they did it together it was more of a balance of brightly coloured cardboard and freezer products. The stuff that families were made and fed on.

"I really should spend some time with Parker...I'll take him." he wasn't going to admit to Bones that he didn't like her choice in food but she wasn't silly. "But there's the kids...I gave my word...I don't want to have to tell Skye's Dad that I didn't do what I said I would."

"I know Booth."

"Ok...but make sure you get..."

"Yes Bones I'll get your crap too." Bones frowned.

"You really shouldn't refer to healthy food as crap Booth. "

"I know... seeya." he said gathering up his keys and calling Parker. " Oh and Bones...promise me you'll watch the kids? " Bones rolled her eyes.

"I promise."

Bones took her laptop and sat in the family room where the kids were playing video games again.

"Really Bones?" Lance asked. His eyes pleaded with her and he was hurt that she didn't trust him. Booth had been adamant though that she should stay where she could see them. SHE would have much rather been working in her office where there wasn't the incessant sound of guns shooting and bombs exploding. Or that dreadful whirring of cars when they circled the track with the car racing games. It was funny how you didn't hear it when you were playing but it drove you crazy when you were just an unwilling spectator.

"I don't know Lance." His eyes clouded with disappointment.

"S'ok." he voice SAID but his eyes told a different story. Bones was conflicted. She hated to disappoint Lance, especially over something so silly. But she also didn't want to go back on her promise to Booth. It was so silly though. She could just leave them for a little while and then after a half an hour of writing she could go back into the kitchen and they wouldn't realise she was watching them. By the time Booth came back they'd all be back I the same room and he'd be none the wiser. She didn't understand why but she had a funny feeling in her tummy...

"OK Lance. I'm going to go into my office and work for a short while."

"Thanks Bones." Lance said, his eyes shining again. She sighed knowing she'd made the right decision.

Booth pushed the cart down the first isle with Parker standing on the end. Booth told Parker some stuff to collect and between them they had the cart loaded with the fruit and vegetables they needed in no time, enough that they would make Bones smile. Next the meat...ok that wasn't exactly going to make Bones smile but she didn't really mind that they ate meat. They now had enough meat for burgers, to make spaghetti and a chicken to roast. Parker even chose a package of vegan burger patties for Bones. Next came the fun isles.

Lance and Skye continued to play the game for a little while until they became bored.

"Now that we're not being watched...wanna show me your room?" skye asked. Lance looked at Bones closed office door.

"I dunno.." he said with a wince. He had a feeling Bones wouldn't like it.

"Common...you're Mom's cool. She needs to work on her book..."

"Yeah I guess she does. Ok.. just a quick tour." Skye tagged him on the arm and ran for the stairs.

"Got you last." she said. Lance ran up the stairs after her with a giggle.

He caught up to her when he reached the hallway.

"Got ya back." he said.

"Which room is yours?"

"This one he said opening the door and waiting for her to enter.

"Nice." she said. "Nice TV. You have cable in here?"

"Yeah." Lance said. Skye spied a pair of his underwear on the floor.

"Nice...superman..." she said with a smile. Lance's face blushed bright red. Now he wished he'd put his stuff in the hamper. Parents were right sometimes.

"What kind do you have?" he asked.

"Wow...very forward of you Lance." Skye giggled. If only Booth heard you ask me that.

"Oh God..." Lance just realised what he'd asked. He really was just looking for a reason to tease her back..but now he realised what she thought he meant he started to think that. Oh geez. He snagged the remote for the bed and switched it on.

"What you wanna watch?" he asked. He knew they should get out of there but all he could think of was changing the subject without coming across like the dork he was feeling like.

"MTV?" she asked. She'd always wanted to watch MTV.

Once in her office, Bones started to relax and her creative juices flowed. As she tapped away, time slipped by and she completely forgot her plan to only stay in there for a very short time. She forgot her plan entirely.

Booth and Parker tossed a few tubs of different flavours of ice cream into the trolley and they were done. They headed to the checkout.

The Reverend closed the front door and headed for the Booth's. He knew he said that Skye could stay a little longer but the truth was he missed her. He missed her and he was scared. As a man of the cloth he knew the kind of trouble young people could get up to. He'd tried to protect her from that. He wan;t stupid though, he could see that he'd kept the reigns too tight and inadvertently forced her to pull against them which was why he was making an effort. It wasn't easy though and Skye AND his wife would have to bear with him. Baby steps. He'd had to trust this Booth guy, to do as he promised but he seemed genuine. Still, he wanted Skye back now. She could go again. He'd get used to it eventually.

Bones pulled into the driveway and unloaded the groceries just as the familiar car from this morning pulled in behind his car. Uh oh. He thought as a feeling of foreboding swept over him.

"Hi." he said. Trying to not let the nervousness he felt creep into his voice.

"Hi. Where's Skye?"

"Oh she's inside. Bones is keeping an eye. Parker and I went to get groceries...he nodded at the bags in his arms.

"So I see. I know I'm early..." But you were hoping to catch us out? Booth thought.

"Parker open the door hon." Parker darted over and opened the door and popped inside. He could see immediately that Lance and Skye were no longer in the family room. He also noticed that Bones was in her office. He could sense impending doom and ran up the stairs as fast as he could. He flung open Lance's door and found them laying on the bed watching TV.

"Quick." he said to Skye..."You're Dad." Skye and Lance both fell off the bed in their haste to get downstairs. They all ran as fast as they could down the stairs. Lance pushed open the office door as he went.

By the time Booth walked in there were three panting kids and a confused looking Bones standing in the doorway to her office. She had a look of OH NO! In her eyes. Booth's were narrowed...on her.

"Daddy you're early." Skye said with a smile.

"Yes...a little." he said. Thankfully he was totally unaware of anything out of order. His daughter seemed to be fine and wearing her clothes and there was an adult in the room. "We'll get going. Thank you for watching Skye." Bones could feel Booth's discontent from where she stood and she didn't dare say anything to upset the apple cart any further.

"It wasn't a problem." she managed to say. No I just bet it wasn't Booth thought. He had a sneaking suspicion what had gone on here and as soon as their guests had gone he was going to confirm it. Bones said nothing as Booth waved off Skye and her Dad, neither did Lance or Parker. They all just waited for the bomb to drop. Someone was in trouble it was just a matter of who.

TBC