FFnet was going crazy. I think it's still not entirely fixed. I hope the website doesn't mess up this chapter. Especially to FaithinBones and 554Laurawho persisted to read and review despite the website's nonsense, I really appreciate it. To the others who read and reviewed thank you too. NatesMama, angelena76, aadams00, GalaxieGurl (not sure if the Aubrey update below is what you were expecting), topaz270, adorkablesalad (thanks!), kareneb, mphs95, jsboneslover (haha no I won't), LoveShipper, gatewatcher, regbride12 and guests.

Most of you were concerned for Booth. You'll be glad to know it'll all be resolved in this chapter.

This was not how Parker had hoped his first Valentine's Day with Sophie would go. Never in a million years did he imagine this scenario. He cast a glance over at Sophie. She offered him a smile of encouragement. Parker checked his watch. The hour set by Brennan was almost up. He'd have to take his siblings home soon.

"Again, I must apologise for ruining your date with Parker. I would rather we had met over Sunday dinner as planned." Brennan addressed Sophie.

"I don't mind being here with you all. I've always wanted to meet you."

"She's read all your books Bones."

"Looks like your dinner date with Parker's Dad got interrupted as well."

Brennan glanced down, smoothing a hand down her dress. It was a shimmery blue, the one that Booth particularly liked. She nodded. "You're correct. I don't think we'll be able to have the dinner Booth's planned." Brennan closed her eyes, composing herself. "I'm just… It's been years since he's been shot in the line of duty."

"Yeah." Parker nodded. "Maybe he's getting too old for this."

"He still thinks he's as young as you are." Brennan shook her head, smiling.

"I'm sure he'll be okay Dr Brennan." Sophie replied, offering words of comfort.

"Aubrey, Booth's partner, said that he sustained a gunshot wound to abdomen. Gunshot wounds to the abdomen have varying outcomes… some not entirely favorable." Brennan looked at Christine then Hank. "But I'm sure your Dad will be fine."

Christine nodded. The little girl turned her attention to Sophie. "Are you Parker's girlfriend?"

"Yes." Sophie smiled. "You must be Christine. Parker's told me so much about you."

"He did?"

"Course I did." Parker nudged his sister playfully.

"She's pretty." Christine gave her stamp of approval.

"Thank you."

Christine yawned, obviously tired.

"Perhaps you should go home with Parker, Sweetheart. It's past your bedtime."

"I'll come with you Christine." Sophie glanced over to Brennan. "If that's okay with you Dr Brennan."

"Of course. You're both healthy young adults in good health, I would assume that after dating for some time the both of you would have engaged in intercourse by now. I must request though that you confine any such activities to Parker's room and only after Christine and Hank are in bed."

"Bones!" Parker groaned, trying to cover Christine's ears.

Sophie laughed. "Parker did tell me you were very direct."

At that moment, the doors to the operating room opened. "Mrs Booth?"

Brennan stood, not bothering to correct the surgeon in scrubs.

"How is he?"

"He's stable. Awake but drowsy."

"Can I see him?"

"Yes. The nurse will take you."

"I wanna see Daddy." Christine tugged at her mother's hand.

"Stay here with your brothers. Let me ascertain that your Dad's up for visitors first before I decide if you can see him. As you heard for yourself, he's okay."

"Go to him." Parker nodded at Brennan. "I'll keep an eye on them."

Brennan followed the nurse to Booth's room.

…

It was Valentine's Day. Booth's first thoughts as he became more awake and aware of his surroundings was that he had ruined the day for his wife. It had been years since he had been in such a situation, shot and needing surgery. Today was the not the day he had wanted to worry her.

"Booth." He heard her voice.

Propped up in the hospital bed at a slight angle, Booth cracked open his eyes. "Bones."

She hurried to his side, pressing a kiss to his forehead.

"Sorry I worried you."

"I certainly did not miss this aspect of our marriage."

Brennan studied his chart and the thick bandage that was wrapped round his abdomen, just below his chest.

"I'm… gonna be okay Bones." His voice was hoarse.

"You'd better be."

"I'm not going anywhere." Booth remembered that his partner had been injured too. "How's Aubrey?"

"He's fine. He received several stitches. I made sure that the care he received was appropriate for his injuries. Ms Warren came to take him home."

Booth closed his eyes, relieved that he didn't have to lose another close friend. Brennan bent down, resting her forehead against Booth's, a tear escaping her eye.

"I promise, I'll be okay." Booth said, knowing that she was thinking about how she lost Max. He raised a hand, cupping her cheek. Husband and wife shared a moment, simply in each others' presence. Both not needing words between them, both grateful that he had lived another day, grateful that their time together had not been prematurely ended.

There was a knock on the door. Brennan turned, hurriedly wiping the tears from her eyes.

"I'm sorry. They really wanted to come see you Dad." Parker stood at the door with Hank in his arms and Christine by his side.

"Just the people I wanted to see. Come here." Booth gestured to his children to approach him.

Brennan stepped back allowing them to see that their father was indeed alive and well.

"You have a beautiful family Dr Brennan." Sophie said from the doorway.

"I know." All this while she didn't take her gaze off Booth.

"That looks painful Daddy." Christine pointed at Booth's bandage.

"It's just a scratch Christine."

"Does it hurt?"

"Nah."

"Daddy's got a big boo-boo." Hank chimed in.

"It's gonna get better Tiger. Promise."

"Good to see you're okay." Parker nodded at his father. Booth's eyes met Parker's. "Brought a friend huh Parker?"

"Uh Dad. This is Sophie."

"Nice to meet you Mr Booth."

"Not the best time but I'm glad I finally get to meet you." He turned to Brennan. "You didn't ruin their Valentine's Day date did you Bones?"

"I might have." Brennan admitted.

"It's nothing Dad. You got shot. Bones needed someone to watch the two little monkeys. I'm their big brother. It's not a big deal."

"Yes. It's not a big deal." Sophie agreed.

"I'll make sure he makes it up to you Sophie." Booth said. He looked over to Brennan, staring intently into her eyes. "Now you guys get outta here and let me have some alone time with your mother."

"See you tomorrow Daddy." Christine kissed her father's hand.

"Bye Daddy!" Hank waved.

"Parker, a minute?" Booth called to his son.

"Goodbye kisses outside." Brennan ushered her two younger children out the door. She smiled as Christine reached for Sophie's hand.

Alone with his father, Parker no longer felt the need to put on a brave front. "I was so scared Dad."

"I'll always be okay Parker."

"You know Bones and I were talking. Maybe you're getting too old to be a field agent. Maybe it's time you accepted that promotion to Deputy Assistant Director huh?"

"That's something for me and Bones to talk about. So Sophie huh?" Booth asked, changing the subject.

"Yeah we were in the middle of dinner when Bones texted me. Soph insisted on coming with me."

"Well if she did, then she's a keeper. You treat her right okay?"

"I will Dad."

"All right, now get out of here. I appreciate you watching your brother and sister."

"Get some rest Dad." Parker squeezed his father's shoulder gently. "I'll come visit tomorrow."

Booth watched as his older son left, his heart swelling with pride.

Brennan returned shortly after, taking her place on the chair by Booth's bed.

"You know you should go home, get some sleep."

"You know I won't."

"You look great by the way. This dress just makes you look… wow."

"Thank you. I was getting ready for our dinner date."

Booth sighed. "Yeah. Listen Bones, I'm sorry. I had this whole dinner planned out. Then we'd go home, dance, make love."

Brennan laughed. "At least we still get to spend Valentine's Day together right?"

"Right."

"The last time we were in this situation was when Jared died."

"Yeah that feels like a long time ago."

"You getting too old for this Booth. We're getting too old for this. Do you know how it felt when I got the call telling me you were shot and in surgery?"

"I'm sorry Bones. But hey, I still don't have your permission to die right?"

"Booth…"

"Okay. Okay. I'll think about taking that promotion so I don't have to go out to the field anymore."

"You would?"

"Yeah. I love you. I hate to see you go through this again, so why not?"

"It will mean a lot to me."

"Seeing Parker with Sophie today just reminded me that we're not getting any younger. Maybe it's time for me to kick back and relax. With you."

"That sounds very nice." Brennan smiled and he smiled back.

"Oh I have something for you."

"Now?"

"It was in the car." Brennan handed the gift bag to Booth.

He pulled out a pair of tickets. "Tickets to watch the Flyers when they come play the Capitals. Thanks. These are really good seats. I don't think we'd be able to go though."

"We could give them to Parker and Sophie."

"Great idea Bones."

"What's this?" Booth pulled out a box from the bag. He opened the box, holding up a shiny bracelet. "Gee thanks Bones but I don't think I'm gonna find an occasion to wear this."

Brennan, relieved that Booth could still make a joke, rolled her eyes. "I have no idea who it belongs to."

"Wait there's a card…" Booth opened it. "It's for Sophie. From Parker. Where'd he learn to write all this mushy stuff? How'd that get in the bag?"

"Must have been Christine. Parker helped me pick her from school today… oh dear."

"What?"

"This means Parker has Hank's boxers. The store gave me the wrong size for Hank. Since Parker was in the area, I requested that he bring them to the store to exchange them before picking Christine from school. I hope he didn't inadvertently give them to Sophie."

Booth clutched his stomach, trying hard not to laugh. "Bones… I just had surgery." He grimaced as he let out a chuckle. "Can you imagine the look on their faces?"

"Yes that image is very amusing." Brennan laughed. "I'll call Parker in the morning. That must have cost him quite a sum of money."

Booth glanced at the clock on the wall. It was five minutes to midnight. The day was almost over and he was beginning to feel the effects of surgery and the painkillers in his system. He knew he would be dragged into sleep soon. He reached for Brennan's hand, pressing a kiss to her knuckles. "For what it's worth, Happy Valentine's Day Bones."

"Happy Valentine's Day Booth."

"I love you. And I'll make it up to you, once I can."

Brennan shook her head. "I'm just relieved you're okay."

"No I insist."

Brennan pressed a kiss to her husband's cheek. They had been together for so many years, she still believed they would make it to the fifty years he had promised her. "I love you too Booth. And when you get better, we'll go to the shooting range, shoot Tommy guns."

Booth grinned as his eyes closed, drifting off to sleep. "Sounds like a great idea."

…

Across town with his siblings safely in bed, Parker sat down on the couch with Sophie, finally relaxing. He wrapped an arm round his girlfriend.

"Your parents seem very nice."

"Told you."

"I see what you mean when you said they're still very much in love with each other. The way they looked at each other, no one could deny that."

"You think we could be like that?"

Noticing the pause, Parker quickly added, "I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable."

Sophie shook her head. "I think what they have is something everyone should hope to have someday."

Parker smiled, leaning over to kiss Sophie. "Happy Valentine's Day Soph."

"Happy Valentine's Day Parker."

... End ...

Hope you enjoyed this story Laura and that it was what you hoped for. I tried writing an annoying Christine but I just couldn't make that sweet little girl in my mind too annoying. And I hope the bit of angst was not too much. Again wishing a Happy Valentine's Day to you and everyone else in our little Bones fandom.