Thank you all for your patience...Hope you all enjoyed the holidays and I wish you all the happiest and safest of New Years! xoxoxoox

Chapter 26

"You guys look nervous." Lance said with his eyes narrowed. "What's up?"

"Well." Bones started.

"We, well we have something to tell you." Booth added. "I think you'll be pleased."

"You gonna have a baby?" Parker asked.

"NO." Booth chuckled. That's not the news.

"No." Bones giggled.

"Although one day maybe."

"Maybe." Bones said with a questioning glance towards Booth.

"Well..."

"You said that." Parker said.

"Last night I asked Bones to marry me and she said yes."

"Really?" Lance asked, his eyes alight with excitement. "You mean we're really gonna be a family?"

"You're gonna get married?" Parker asked.

"Yes we are." Bones answered, aware that the little boy was less than overjoyed. "Are you happy about that Parker?"

Parker shrugged. "Kinda." he said. Although his wobbly lip told another story.

"What's wrong Parker?" Bones asked the little boy, her eyes though studying Booth's. He had no answer. He was obviously just as confused as she was.

"Parker?" he added.

"Leave me alone." Parker blurted as he dropped his cereal spoon into the bowl and ran upstairs.

"Ok, that wasn't the reaction I was hoping for." Booth said.

"No." Bones said. "Maybe it's too soon."

"NO!" Lance said. "It isn't too soon Bones. I dunno what's up with him but you can't not get married because of Parker! He's just a little kid."

"What he said." Booth said. "Bones, I know Parker loves you Bones. I'll talk to him."

"No, I'll talk to him." Bones said. "He obviously has a problem with me."

"He has a problem with everyone." Lance grumbled. "He smells happiness and he has to find a way to ruin it."

"That was mean." Booth said.

"Sorry, Booth." Lance said. "But why couldn't he just be happy about it."

"I don't know. But like you said. He's just a little kid."

XXX

Bones got to the top of the stairs when she could hear Parker crying.

"Parker." Bones said sitting on the edge of the bed and tentatively putting a hand on the little boy's back. He didn't flinch so she allowed herself to rub gently circles. "Are you ok?"

"I don't know!" Parker sniffled.

"Do you not want me to marry your Dad?" Bones asked. "Maybe you thought that your Mom and Booth might get married one day..."

"No." Parker said. "It's not that. Mom said that was never gonna happen. Ever."

"Oh." Bones said. "I don't know why, your father is an excellent husband and a very attractive mate..."

"Yeah that may be far enough to go with the whole mate thing Bones." Booth said from the doorway where he'd been listening.

"Oh. Ok. I was just explaining to Parker that I understood if he would rather you married his Mom."

"Yeah...his Mom already has a boyfriend Bones and although I love Rebecca, because she's the mother of my child, I don't love her like that. I love YOU like that. Parker understands that."

"It isn't that." Parker said sitting up to face them.

"Then why don't you tell us sport, what's upset you."

"You two and Lance, you're gonna be a family now. A real family."

"Oh." Booth said, the penny finally dropping. "The FOUR of us will be a family." he corrected.

"But I won't live here with you. I'll be livivng with my Mom."

"Don't you want to live with your Mom?" Bones asked. "Would you rather live here with us?"

"Hold up Bones." Booth said. He could just imagine if Parker went home with that little suggestion. He and Rebecca seem to have figured the visitation out finally, he didn't want to piss her off so she made it difficult for them. "Parker loves his Mom."

"Yeah I do." the confused little boy said. "I want to live with my Mom. I love her." he looked at Bones. "But I love being here too. I want to live here too."

Bones giggled. "That's not possible Parker.

"Well not technically." Booth added.

"No." Bones said. "But we've been happy haven't we? You sleep here on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and you sleep at your Mom's on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday."

"Yeah I guess."

"Well us getting married won't change that." Bones said.

"No." Booth said. The only thing that happens here on the weekdays is homework and school."

"You won't miss a thing."

"You promise?"

"We promise." Booth said. "I'll talk to your Mom, if anything is happening here through the week, I'll ask her if you can stay on those nights. The same on the weekend. Anything that's happening on the weekend at you Mom's and you don't want to miss it, you can stay there so you don't miss out."

"You mean it?" Parker said brightening.

"Yes." Bones said. "That's an ideal solution."

Parker through himself into Bones arms. "I'll be glad to have you as my second Mom Bones."

"And I already am proud to be your second Mom."

"So does this mean we're gonna have some kind of celebration?" Lance asked from where he was leaning in the doorway.

"Ang is gonna be so excited." Booth chuckled.

"Yes she is." Bones said.

XXX

"I brought Champagne!" Ang said bouncing into the house several hours later. "I can't believe it. We're actually going to have a wedding!"

"Hi Ang." Booth said. "Jack."

"Ang, I don't know about a big wedding." Bones said. "I was thinking, just a registry office. Something small and quiet."

"No way!" Ang said. "We have GOT to have a party. A BIG party."

"Ang..." Bones started.

"No point... she 's on a roll." Jack chuckled.

"OH definitely Cherie." Caroline said, having joined the party. "This is a momentous occasion. We need to have a party."

"Hi Caroline." Bones said looking curiously at Booth.

He shrugged. "I never would have heard the end of it if I didn't invite her." He whispered.

"I know. I don't mind." Bones said.

"Bones and Dad are getting married." Parker said to the room in general.

"I know Sweetie." Ang said. "Isn't that great."

"Uh huh." Parker agreed.

Lance was grinning from ear to ear.

"I can see your happy Lance." Ang said.

"We're already a family but it'll make it kind of real. You know?"

"Yeah." Jack said. "We get it Dude."

"You two are gonna make the cutest little ring barers." Ang said not noticing the look of horror that crossed Lances face.

"Come on there Miss Montenegro, the little one maybe. The big one we're trying to steer away from a life of crime not towards it." Caroline said, her face screwed up in disgust. "The big one could be the best man or an usher or something."

"Um." Jack said clearing his throat. "I think the position of best man has probably already been filled."

"That's ok. I'll be an usher. What's an usher?" Lance asked Booth.

Booth rolled his eyes. "Not sure there'll be enough people to require an usher." he said.

"Nonsense Cherie." Caroline said.

"Just let us know the time and the date." Booth said grabbing Bones' hand and towing her into the kitchen.

"Where are we going?" she asked.

"To celebrate in the kitchen on our own." he said taking a bottle of champagne from Jack on their way to the kitchen.

TBC

HAPPY NEW YEAR!