Title: Someone to Live For
Characters/Pairings: canon couples
Genre: Drama/Angst/Romance/ Hurt/Comfort
Warnings: AU
Rating: T
Chapters: 29/41
Status: WIP

Disclaimer: I don't own Bones nor the characters. Just playing with them.

Summary: Brennan's trip to Maluku is cut off suddenly after she gets the devastating news of Booth's demise in Afghanistan. Knowing she lost him forever she decides to give the world one last part of him – his child. But life never goes as you plan and tragedy strikes once more in the most unsuspected place, changing not only Brennan's life but others too. AU. Post season 5 finale. There is BB.

AN Hello, here is another update.

Huge thank you to all that has reviewed. Each kind word is greatly appreciated and power my muse to work hard on the remaining chapters. Be assured they are coming. Just not as fast I'd like to due to my RL…

Now, onto the update! As always, enjoy!

xxx

Chapter Twenty Nine – Not Easy Being Lazarus

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Neither Booth nor Brennan had a chance to speak with Parker the next morning. They've overslept, and barely managed to get the boy to school on time. Brennan had a few important meetings with the administration that day and Booth needed to sort through his nonexistent financial, office and citizen affairs. So with a promise of a lunch date, both of them set on their own to a day full of meetings and obligations.

Sorting through his affairs was harder than Booth had anticipated. Before he could open a personal account at bank or sign any health insurance or even lease a car, he needed an actual ID and his driving license. But since he was considered dead, it was easier said than done. The Hall of Records was not cooperating, and even the documentation, that the Army provided, didn't hurry the process of getting the proper citizen IDs.

Also, he really wanted to pick up Parker from school, hoping for a chance to talk with the boy. But as he was still without a car, and then with his meeting at the Hall of Records extending more than planned, he had no other choice but to call Brennan to arrange for someone else to get his son. By the time he returned to the Jeffersonian it was well past five.

Booth had been really dreading his son's reaction, feeling worried how the boy will behave around him now, and fearing the pain if he rejects him once more. But Parker seemed fine. He greeted his Father with a smile and a hug and launched into a lengthy description of the experiment he did that day with Hodgins and the English Intern.

The three of them has just entered the Jeffersonian parking lot and Parker was skipping ahead of them to the familiar blue Prius, when Booth said with a surprising force. "I'm driving."

Brennan frowned. "We've talked about it before, Booth. This is my car, you drive yours, I drive mine; that was the arrangement."

Booth gritted his teeth, but took a deep breath. "But, Bones, I don't have my car yet. I won't have it for a while."

"Not my problem." Brennan shrugged, looking for the keys in her bag.

"Come on, let me drive." Booth pleaded, feeling the frustration from his unproductive day wash over him.

Brennan finally found the keys. "Nope."

Booth gritted his teeth. "I don't have my apartment, I don't have my car, I don't have any money and my IDs are not going to be ready for at least a week. Just let. Me. Drive!" Booth spat, making Brennan jump slightly.

She stopped, looking back at him, her eyes wide. Booth felt a surge of shame at the shocked look on her face. "I'm sorry, Bones, I didn't mean to yell." He apologized.

Brennan exhaled. "Ok. I understand it must be frustrating for you to not accomplish anything from what you've planned for today." She nodded, giving him the keys.

Picking them, Booth felt even more ashamed now. "It doesn't give me the right to yell at you." He said.

"So don't do it anymore, alright?" Brennan told him simply.

He still felt awful about his sudden and appalling behavior, but nodded anyway. "Alright."

They resumed their walk to the car in silence, Parker watching them curiously.

"Thanks, Bones." Booth said as they reached the boy.

"For what?" She turned toward him with a puzzled look on her face.

"For being understanding." He smiled tentatively at her.

She squeezed his arm. "You've been understanding to me through all the years we've known each other." She returned his smile.

He stared into her eyes, his heart full of tenderness. "I don't know what I did to deserve you." He said sincerely.

"You came back." She told him with a smile.

"Are we going?" Parker asked them impatiently.

They laughed, breaking the eye-contact.

"Sure, bub. Get inside." He nodded at him.

With an eye-roll Parker did as he was told. Brennan smiled at Booth over the car, before she got inside as well.

Booth sighed.

Coming back didn't seem as an enough reason to deserve those two.

xxx

Saturday was the next day and this meant the bi-weekly visit to Hank, which left Parker really excited. Booth on the other hand, taught from the experience with Brennan's and the Squints squad's reactions to seeing him alive, asked her to talk with Pops, before visiting him himself. Brennan, seeing his distress, called the Retirement Home. She informed the facility about the unexpected developments, expressing their worries about Hank's health.

With proper preparations made, the three of them left to visit Hank. Brennan and Parker entered the room first.

"Pops!" Parker ran up to his great-grandfather, who was sitting in an armchair near the window.

"Hello, Squirt! What have you been up to?" Hank smiled, hugging the boy.

Parker beamed then looked back at Brennan, knowingly.

"Hello, Hank." She said with a smile, giving a warning look to Parker.

"Temperance!" Hank called her, getting up from his chair to greet her properly. "You look more and more beautiful with every visit."

She blushed at the compliment from this old, charming man. "Thank you." She said, as he hugged her.

Still holding her arms with his hands, Hank stopped to look at her more properly. "There is something different about you, dear. You look happier. Did you get to know what the little one is going to be?" He asked with a small smile.

"We don't know that yet, Hank." Brennan shook her head as her hand sneaked involuntarily to her baby bump, yet the genuine smile bloomed on her lips.

"So what is it?" Hank asked curious observing her.

Brennan exhaled. "Hank, there has been made a mistake."

"A mistake?" Hank asked warily.

"Yes. And you better sit down before I tell you." Brennan pushed him gently to the armchair he has been occupying when they came in.

"That doesn't sound like a good mistake." Hank replied, but sat down obediently.

"It's a good mistake, Pops! You'll see!" Parker added exuberantly, swinging on his heels in obvious anticipation.

Hank looked at him then at Brennan. "Well, I'm sitting, what is it?"

Brennan looked him in the eye. "Booth is alive." She said observing carefully his reactions.

"What?" Hank rasped, his eyes widening, as he stared at her disbelievingly.

"Dad's alive, Pops!" Parker repeated.

Hank looked at him. "He is? Shrimp's alive? Where is he? When will he be home?" He asked looking from Brennan to Parker.

"He's home already." Brennan said, unable and unwilling to contain the smile on her face.

"Then why he's not here? You're not kidding, right? He's really back?" Hank asked, hopefully.

Brennan nodded. "I fainted when I saw him. We wanted to prepare you."

"Prepare?" Hank looked at her, his eyes suddenly focused, boring into hers. "He's here?"

She nodded.

"I want to see him!" He told her, getting up abruptly.

"Alright." Brennan smiled. "Parker!" She called but the boy was already at the door, opening them.

Brennan supported Hank's elbow as he staggered when Booth entered. With two big steps the younger man was beside his Grandfather, as tears spilled from their eyes.

"Shrimp…" Hank's voice croaked as he engulfed his grandson in a tight embrace.

"Hi, Pops." Booth whispered over his tears.

Brennan took a step back, her own cheeks wet. A small hand sneaked into hers and she looked down. Parker's head was turned up as he beamed at her happily. He squeezed her hand and she smiled, squeezing it back.

This time, instead of feeling lighter from the hurt, their hearts were soaring with pure warmth and happiness.

xxx

"Come on, Dad!" A happy voice woke up Booth from his slumber the next morning.

"Wha…?" He asked, lifting his head from his pillows.

"Come on, get up, or we'll be late for church!" The voice laughed at him.

"Church?" He mumbled looking around, but the other side of the bed was empty. "Where is Bones?" He asked, trying to focus on the boy in front of him.

"She's making breakfast." Parker said. "We're both ready, but you need to hurry up if you want to go with us."

This caught his attention. "Bones goes to church with us?" He asked, more alert now, as he tried to sit up.

"Of course!" Parker looked at him as if he said something stupid. "She's been taking me every Sunday since Mom's funeral." He informed him.

Booth blinked at his son. Bones has been taking Parker to church? Every Sunday? To the same parish? Once again he felt as if he stumbled upon an alternative reality. Maybe he was still dreaming? He pinched himself inconspicuously. Nope. Obviously awake.

"Did you wake up your Father?" He heard Bones call from somewhere in the apartment.

Parker turned toward the door, and over his shoulder Booth saw Bones peaking from the kitchen into the corridor leading to the master bedroom.

"Yeah, Bones! He's up." Parker replied.

"Tell him he has five minutes before I serve breakfast." She called, and disappeared from sight.

Parker turned toward him. "You heard, Dad? You have only five minutes." He smiled mischievously. "You better hurry, Bones doesn't like it when someone's late."

Booth groaned. "Tell me about it." He stretched and stood up. "Ok, I'm up, I'll be there in five." He shooed his son out of the bedroom and sighed.

For the next few hours Booth experienced another one of the out-of-place episodes that have become a familiar occurrence ever since his return to DC five days ago. He tried to ignore those unexpected changes that were spilling on him out of the blue time after time, but it was really hard to do so this morning.

The breakfast – which usually was a nice affair on itself with Bones and Parker smiling and laughing with him – was filled with Commandments reciting and repetitions of other Church teachings. And it was Bones who taught Parker, because like with everything else she did, she has done research to teach properly. Booth was sure she was more informed about his faith and religion than the nuns from his Catholic high school…

After the breakfast, the three of them have left together to his parish church, where they were welcomed by Father Damian with a bright smile. Father Damian had known Booth ever since the priest has came to serve at the parish years ago, and was genuinely happy (even though quite shocked, like everyone else so far) to see him alive. But what shocked Booth the most was the warm greeting the Priest and Bones exchanged. Apparently whenever she had some doubts or questions about the Church teachings she called Father Damian to arrange a discussion of sorts. Booth wasn't sure if he felt sorry for the Father or was impressed with his patience.

When the Mass started, Booth felt a little bit of panic sipping into his veins. All through the service he waited for Brennan to get up and call it all bullshit, but she participated like all the other members of the congregation around her and she even sang!

He was near a breakdown by the ending of the liturgy.

"Bones, do we have a meeting today?" Parker asked as they were leaving the church with everyone.

"No, it's next week, Parker." She said, moving out of the way so some teenagers could pass them.

"Ok." His boy nodded and skipped happily to their car.

"A meeting?" Booth asked Brennan as he helped her down the stairs. She shot him a look of disapproval at his hovering, but he ignored her, his hand neatly nestled at the small of her back.

"A Sunday School meeting." She told him.

"Sunday… School." He repeated softly, stumbling.

"Are you alright, Booth?" Brennan asked and he looked back at her.

He felt a pang of guilt, seeing her worried look, and smiled weakly trying to sound reassuring. "What? Yes of course. Why wouldn't I?"

She stared at him for a moment then nodded slightly. They walked to their car together, where Parker waited for them impatiently.

As they took their seats, Parker said from the backseat. "I'm going to receive my First Communion in the spring, Dad!"

Booth looked at his son in the review mirror. "You- you are? That's great." He smiled and started the engine, maneuvering the car from the parking lot. "How come you're allowed?"

Parker smiled. "Bones's been taking me to the Sunday School so I could be prepared."

Booth's hands tightened on the steering wheel. "She has?"

"Yeah." Parker nodded. "And I do good, right?" He looked at the woman in question.

Brennan smiled. "You sure are, Parker. But you still need to finish the Gospel of Luke before the end of the month." She reminded him.

"I know, Bones." Parker nodded. "I will. And we will do the summary together, right?"

Brennan smiled. "Just like the last time."

Booth was lost. He couldn't wrap his mind over the idea that Bones-Jesus-is-a-Zombie-Brennan was actually taking his son to a Sunday School and reading with him the Bible. It was too much. He tried to take a few deep breaths, but felt the sudden need to get out of this car.

Thankfully, he has just arrived at the Diner, where they agreed to eat their brunch. Booth saw a free parking place and swiftly parked the car. Parker and Brennan got out of the car, but he sat motionlessly. He took a few deep breaths once more, trying to calm himself.

"Booth? Are you coming?" Brennan bent over to look into the car, her hand on her rounded belly.

"Yes, of course." He told her quickly. He got up and marched over to her, before she even straightened properly.

"Are you sure you are alright?" She put her hand on his arm, her face worried.

He looked at her, into her big, beautiful eyes, and swallowed. "Yeah, Bones, I'm sure." He tucked her hand into the crook of his arm and kissed her temple.

At least I hope I'll be.

xxx

End of Chapter Twenty Nine

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AN2 I'm really looking forward what you think of this update as I've been slowly incorporating important signs of the upcoming developments. There are still ten chapters left of the story to tell, after all. And you know me, nothing is easy for the two in this story.

Real life has taught me that keeping a regular schedule will be tough, but I'll try to post next part in two weeks. The story WILL be finished, don't worry, I'm still working on it whenever I can. Next chapter is called: Mending the Center, in which Booth finally reach some semblance of normalcy. I had a lot of fun writing that chapter.

Review are always appreciated!

Wish you all the best!