Sweets stepped into the office, two days later, expecting an empty office. It was not empty. Angela was sitting there, looking upset.

"Angela?" He said, closing the door. "What's wrong?" She simple shrugged at him lightly, biting her lip as she looked towards the ground.

"Is this a... Gary thing?" He asked carefully.

"I...well kinda." She mumbled.

"Kinda?"

"Jack finished the book, he gave it to me to read." She mumbled softly.

"Oh..." Sweets shuffled to his chair, trying to look professional.

"Don't walk like that, all professional like, I'm here as a friend."

"Fine..." Sweets mumbled.

"It's a good book so far." Angela said in a small vioce.

"Well written." Sweets agreed with a toneless voice.

"You... Had a rough time, huh?"

"Could say so." Sweets nodded.

"Your not allowed to do stupid crap anymore." She poked his forehead. "Now when I look at you I see a beaten kid and it makes me want to adopt you so you can't be stupid anymore."

"That doesn't make sense!" Sweets pouted. "But fine."

"I'm serious. No more stupid crap." Angela said putting both hands on his cheeks.

"Fine." He said, trying to smile with a squished face.

"You look like a baby." She cooed , squishing his cheeks more.

"Stop!" He whinned.

"Stop what?" She giggled with a weary smile.

"Stop with the." He tugged on her wrists half heartily.

"But your face is so squishable!"

"Thank you?" Sweets mumbled with squished face.

"I could just adopt you." She squished his face more.

"I'm an adult, Annngela!" He whined.

"No you're not. You're a baby." Angela smiled teasingly.

"Angela!" He groaned, giving her baby eyes.

"My point: proven." She giggled.

"Mooom." Sweets said with a smile. "You're embarrassing me."

"That settles it, your mine now. I'm adopting you." She grinned playfully. Sweets rolled his eyes.

"Now that you got the crazy out do you feel better?" He asked as she released his face.

"A little." She smiled.

"Good." Sweets patted her shoulder. "I miss Gary to."Angela nodded with a smile."I hope you enjoy his book." He smiled back.

"I am."

"Hey, I'm here for Angela. Did you fix her yet?" Hodgins asked, walking in with a fussy Michael in his arms.

"I think she adopted me."

"Angela we don't have enough cereal for two kids."

"But he's so cute!" Angela pouted.

"Hush now Michaels jealous." Hodgins said

"Let me have him." Angela cooed, taking the fussy child into her arms. Michael smiled at his mother. "What had you so fussy, huh?" She cooed at the smiling child.

"Monster night." The baby whined.

"Nightmares..." Hodgins explained to sweets.

"Awhhh, poor buddy." Sweets reached over and rubbed the top of the baby's head softly.

"Seets." The baby grinned.

"Was it evil clowns again?" Sweets glanced up at Hodgins again.

The man shrugged in response, sighing. "He won't tell me. He just keeps saying 'beep' like a heart monitor."

"Awhhh... You wanna tell me what you're dream was about, buddy?" Sweets asked, letting the small child grip his finger.

"Hospital." The baby said the word slowly, like his mouth couldn't fit around it and even still he barely said it.

"Oh, that's okay, buddy, I have nightmares about hospitals to." He gave the child a smile and shook his little baby hand with his finger. Sweets smiled, ruffling his hair. The baby clapped.

"You... Still have nightmares?" Angela whispered worriedly.

"Yeah... What about you?" Sweets asked, glancing up at her.

"Sometimes." She shrugged.

"I'm sorry." He said, giving her a small, sympathic smile.

"What can you do?" Angela shrugged.

"I could have not gotten shot?" He shrugged back.

"Not your fault."

"I know." Sweets patted the baby's head again. Angela smiled, nodding. "See, little man, it's okay to have nightmares." Sweets smiled at the child and poked his belly. The baby nodded, smiling.

"Okay, so, we are going home for dinner and you, Sweets, are coming with us. You're still too skinny, you need a home meal." Angela said, bouncing her baby. Sweets was about to say something about to much work when Hdogins sent a 'dammit just do it or my wife will hit me with a stick' look and the psychologist resigned himself.

"Let's go." Sweets smiled as he stood up.

"Good." Angela stood as well before cooing at her baby as she walked from the room. "Hear that? Uncle Sweets is coming to dinner with us."

The baby grinned, kicking his chubby feet.

#######################

"Here, take the baby and watch him while Jack and I cook." Angela said, sitting her precious child into Sweets arms. Sweets hugged the child before bouncing him on his knee. The baby cooed and giggled happily as he was bounced.

"Cute!" Angela laughed, leaving the room, her husband close behind her.

"Just you and me, buddy." Sweets smiled at the baby. Michael Vincent grinned back.

"Let's watch some cartoons, huh, buddy?" Sweets cooed. An hour later Angela walked into the living room to find the TV on and Sweets sprawled out on the couch asleep with Michael Vincent giggling happily in the crook of his arm while the shrink snored. Angela giggled, covering her mouth as not to wake him. She walked closer, brushing the hair from the youngest team members face and smiling. She moved away to turn the television down, humming softly.

"Mama." The baby cooed softly from Sweets arm, kicking out one if his chubby feet. "Seets asweep." Angela put a finger to her lips, smiling. The baby mewled and put his hands over his mouth.

"What's taking you guys?" Hodgins huffed, stomping in. Angela swatted at him, effectively hushing the confused scientist. She pointed to Sweets, glaring at Jack.

"He fell asleep? Should we wake him up?" Jack whispered, gazing upon the snoring man. Angela shook her head and gathered her baby, snatching her husbands hand on the way out.

"Not unless he has a nightmare."

"Ange, he can't just sleep on our couch. He has his own place." Jack said with a small smile, shaking his head.

"He's exhausted, Jack, leave him be!"

"On what grounds did you determine that he is exhausted?" He asked, quirking a brow.

"He looks...exhausted?"

"We should wake him up."

"No." Angela said, dragging him off to the dinner table. A few minutes into the meal, they heard a yawn in the doorway.

"Sorry I fell asleep..." Sweets yawned and rubbed his eyes. "Your son is like a cuddly toy. What's for dinner? Spaghetti? Cool." Sweets said, going over to make himself a plate. Angela smiled at him and turned to find her smug husband looking at her. 'Exhausted?' He mimed, cocking his head. 'Shut up' she mouthed back.

"This looks great, Angela." Sweets smiled, walking over and taking a seat with his spaghetti and meatballs. She smiled, nodding.

"Tastes good to." He mumbled through his noodles after he took a bite. Angela grinned, getting up and pouring him a glass of juice.

"How was work honey?" She tossed the question to her husband, who was sucking in slurps of noodles and blinked stupidly at her.

"F-fine." He half choked on the bite, a crooked smile on his mouth.

Sweets stifled a snicker as Hodgins eyes went wide.

"That's great, Michael Vincent almost walked today." Angela smiled at the baby, who was making a mess out if himself. Hodgins grinned at his son, ruffling his hair.

"That's great." Sweets laughed as the boy grinned at his father and cooed softly.

"We'll get it down soon enough." Angela patted the top of her son head lovingly. Lance smiled at the family unit, nodding his head slowly with bright eyes.

"He's a happy camper." He chuckled as the baby laughed and giggled and jumped up and down in his seat before putting his face in his food with a squeal.

"Buddy..." Hodgins sighed, slumping his shoulders. Angela muffled a laugh with her hand.

"Awhhhh..." Sweets cooed, making no attempt to muffle his laughter. The baby lifted his head, grinning. "That's adorable." Sweets chuckled before slurping up a noodle, getting sauce in the corner of his lips. Hodgins grinned shaking his head. "Hey, Michael, you got something on your face." Sweets said, pointing to his own cheek. The boy was covered in spaghetti. Michael simply giggled waving his hands and grinning like a maniac.

"Awh, cute! I wish had a camera!" Angela cooed, clapping her hands together.

"I think someone is gonna need a bath." He cooed, poking the babies shoulder.

"I'll say." Hodgins snorted, slurping a noodle. Sweets laughed with a nod before eating another bite and noticing his plate is empty.

"Uh, can I have more?" Sweets blushed sheepishly, holding his plate up. Angela laughed, taking the plate and refilling it.

"Thank you." He smiled smally at her before digging back into the food. Angela laughed, ruffling his hair.

"See we must adopt him." She joked to hodgins who gave a sarcastic eyeroll and nod.

"What?" Sweets blinked at the couple, a noodle hanging out of his mouth. Angela laughed, shaking her head.

"Nevermind sweety."

"Okay then... Weirdos." Sweets mumbled under his breath, slurping the noodle up.

"Grounded." Hodgins said and Angela giggled.

"What did I do!?" Sweets gapped, eyes wide.

"Nothing sweety." Angela laughed.

"Your both bonkers." Sweets mumbled through his food.

"Double grounded." Angela said with a grin.

"You suck." Sweets glared at Angela.

"Triple grounded." Hodgins snickered.

"Stop that!" Sweets hissed. Sweets couldn't stop the small smile on his face, but tried to cover it with a scowl. Michael Vincent squealed with joy and giggled and laughed as he kicked his chubby legs out. Sweets smiled at the young man, then back at the family. "Thanks for dinner." He grinned.

"Your welcome."

"When I'm done I really should get going..."

"No no no! Stay, Michael Vincent is wound up like a eight day clock, you should stay and play with us after his bath. Maybe we can watch a movie!" Angela grinned, clapping her hands. Sweets smiled, checking his watch and sighing.

"Alrighty."

"Yay!" Michael cooed, clapping his hands and giggling.

"We are going to have fun with Uncle Sweets, aren't we, buddy?" Hodgins chuckled, smiling at his son. Michael nodded vigorously with a grin.

"He's just a ball of energy today, isn't he?" Sweets laughed, shaking his head at the baby.

"Certainly." Hodgina smiled, poking his babies side. The baby squeaked and gave him a surprised look of 'why did you do that daddy?' Hodgins grinned and poked the child again. The child gave an unhappy squeak and squirmed.

"Jack stop it, you're upsetting him." Angela scolded. Hodgins grinned but obliged. "Thank you." Angela smiled and so did Michael.

"I'm stuffed." Sweets said, leaning back in his chair and putting a hand over his stomach, but there was an easy smile on his face.

"Me to." Hodgins said, slapping the table.

"Me!" The baby screeched, slapping both hands down on his trey.

"Bathtime." Angela cooed, picking up her messy baby, who gave a croon of disapproval.

"Seets." The baby said with a leveled look that could rival his mother's.

"What's that, baby? You want Sweets to give you a bath?" Angela cooed at her baby.

The baby nodded with a smile, flailing.

"Say what now?" Sweets blinked as the sauce covered child was put in his arms.

"Bath time." The child's parents sing songed at the same time.

"You can't be serious." Sweets blinked at them. Angela nodded and Hodgins put an arm around her and grinned. "You both suck." Sweets pouted, standing up with the baby. "Wheres the bathroom?" Hodgins pointed towards the hallway, still grinning.

"How does a few episodes of Law and Order sound to you, baby?" He asked his wife, who grinned and nodded as Sweets walked away.

Sweets rolled his eyes and looked down at the baby in his arms.

"You're a little trouble maker." He glared at the smiley baby. The baby just kicked his feet and grinned. "Evil." Sweets grunted, sitting the baby in his little bathtub that goes in the big tub before finding a towel and sitting the baby on it and undressing him and starting the water. "There we go."

"Cold." The baby complained and when sweets turned up the hot water the child whined. "Hot."

"Are you serious right now?" Sweets groaned and the baby whined so he continued playing with the nobs. The baby screeched and Sweets fell backwards from the tub, holding his hands up. Michael grinned, splashing.

"Good."

"You happy now?" Sweets asked, grabbing a rag and wetting it. The baby clapped and smiled. "Good." He said, washing the sauce off the baby. Michael laughed and when little bubbles surfaced when he pooted, he giggled harder. "The simple joys of a child." Sweets sighed with a laugh. Michael grinned up at him. "Here you go, buddy." Sweets said, giving the child a few rubber ducks before filling a cup with water and pouring it over Michaels head to wet his hair. Michael splutter and squeaked. "Sorry buddy, I gotta wash the spaghetti from your hair." Sweets said, putting some baby shampoo on his hand. Michael flailed and pouted. "Just play with the duckies and it'll be iver before you know it." Sweets said, beginning to to lather the babies hair and Michael sighed deeply. "Don't sigh at me." Sweets said, poring water over the babies head to get the soap out, careful to not get soap in the baby's eyes. Michael whined, flailing. Sweets shushed the baby, squeaking a rubber ducky. The baby practically dove for it, splashing sweets.

"Ah! Dude!" Sweets whined as he got slashed before giving the baby a hard look. Michael giggled, splashing him again. "No." Sweets said, lifting the baby out of the water. Michael shivered and his lip poked out. "Don't make that face at me." Sweets said, sitting the baby on a towel and wrapping him in it. "Come on, let's go get mommy so she can cloth you." Sweets said, carrying the rapped up baby.

"Hello, guys! Oh, Sweets... Your all wet." Angela giggled.

"Apparently I needed a bath to."

"Awwwhh... Let me see my baby." Angela held out her hands and soon enough the baby was sat in her hands. "Hello... Hello nakedness... Hi." She cooed. "Let's go get you dressed, baby." She said, carrying her baby off.

"You want a new shirt?" Hodgins smiled at Sweets. Sweets nodded with a sigh, tugging at the soaked remains.

"Your son is evil!" Sweets hollered as Hodgins got up to get him a new shirt and Hodgins simply chuckled at him. "You think I'm kidding but I'm not." Sweets huffed.

"I raised him, I didn't expect a good boy." Hodgins teased.

"You're-" sweets rolled his eyes before he was handed a shirt. He went to go get dressed and when he returned, Angela had return and Michael was dressed in a blue oncie. Michael bounced and grinned, kicking his feet. "Hello, evil baby." Sweets said, coming in and sitting next to Angela and Michael in his new shirt. Michael grinned, diving towards Sweets. The psychologist flailed, hugging the baby in his arms so he didn't fall on his face. "Evil crazy baby."

"He's not evil." Angela cooed, poking the babies cheek.

"Beg to differ." Sweets scoffed with a roll if the eyes. Angela laughed, hugging her baby.

"Okay, my little bug, why don't you go pick us a movie to watch?" She cooed, picking her baby up and putting him on the ground. The baby crawled eagerly over to the movie shelf, pulling himself up to look at the movies. Eventually he held Lion King up with a squeak of triumph.

"Aye sevenna bubble leese moa" Hodgins sang.

"Weird!" The baby cried at his father and Angela laughed and went and plucked the movie from her son and looked at it.

"The Lion King? Good choice, baby boy." Angela smiled.

"What do you say, buddy? Do you wanna sit with Uncle Sweets during the movie?" Hodgins smiled, picking his son up. Michael grinned nodding, clapping his hands. "Yaaayyyy, here you go!" He cooed, sitting his son on Sweets lap. Michael giggled, then yawned.

"Tired?" Sweets laughed and the baby shook his head, rubbing his eye.

"I bet he barely makes it through 'I can't wait to be king'" Hodgins said.

"I don't think Sweets is either." Angela giggled as the grown man yawned.

"Shut up!" Sweets glared before laying down and putting the baby in the crook of his arm. Angela smiled and cuddled up to her husband.

The baby yawned again and snuggled into Sweets.

Before the movie even hit it's halfway mark, the couple heard snoring and saw that both Sweets and the baby were conked out.

"They're adorable." Angela whispered, turning the TV down a little and smiling at her husband.

"Do we want to put Michael in his room or just put a blanket over them both?" Hodgins chuckled.

"Michael will wake up if we touch him."

"And Sweets will have a canary of we don't wake him."

"Quite the predicament we are in." Angela laughed, laying a blanket over the boys.

"I guess we wait?" Hodgins offered.

"He's staying." She smiled softly, looking down at the young man and her baby.

"Alright if you say so." Hodgins smiled, shaking his head.

"I still say we should adopt him." Angela laughed.

"Yes honey but he's an adult."

"I don think so." She giggled. Hodgins smiled back, shaking his head.

"Look at him!" Angela pointed to the peacefully sleeping Sweets. "He's a baby."

"He looks really young." Hodgins mumbled, eyebrows drawn.

"He's a precious baby who needs care and love." Angela clasped her hands together.

"You're ridiculous." Hodgins sighed, kissing her cheek. "I love it."

"He had such a rough time, babe." Angela looked at her husband with sad eyes.

"I know Ange..."

"I just want to... Help him, be a good family for him. He needs it."

"He does." Hodgins sighed, ruffing her close and dropping kisses to her hair. "And we are and will be a family. Even when he's being ridiculous."

"Thank you." She hugged him, snuggling into his shoulder.

"We'll always be there for him." Hodgins said, more to the room then to anyone in particular.

"We will?" She smiled at him, batting her eye lashes at him.

"Yes." He nodded, kissing her once.

"Good." She smiled, hugging him closely.

"Cmon we should sleep, Caroline wants to talk tomorrow." Hodgins pulled his wife, smiling and kissing her cheek.

"About what?" Her brows knit together. Hodgins shrugged, looking confused.

"No idea."

"Okay then." She blinked.

"Cmon let's go to bed, Angie." He smiled, taking her hand and tugging.

"I can't watch them sleep a little more?"

"Take a picture."

"Oh? Will it last longer?" She teased, giving him a peck on the cheek.

"Yes." He smiled, pulling out his phone. Angela giggled as her husband took the picture before cooing at the sleeping pair. "Let's go to bed." Hodgins half pleaded.

"Okay..." Angela groaned begrudgingly. Hodgins grinned, taking her hand and leading her away.

#################

"Is this yours?" Sweets groggy voice break into the morning kitchen air. There he stood, Michael his arm.

"Yes but you kidnapped it." Hodgons merrily replied, plopping eggs onto a plate that must be Sweets.

"Haha." Sweets drawled, walking over with the fussy, bearly awake child.

"Not our fault." Hodgins smiled, pouring Sweets a glass of orange juice.

"Why didn't you wake me up?"

"You looked cute." Angela smiled, cutting up Michaels pancake.

"I got pictures!" Hodgins beamed as Sweets sat down.

"Delete them." Sweet grumbled, sipping his juice.

"I'm going to frame them." Angela beamed.

"Don't you dare." He glared. She nodded with a grin, taking Michael from him. Michael cried out unhappily when he was tooken away from his source of warmth.

"Shhh baby, mamas got breakfast." The baby blinked at his cooing mother, looking unconvinced. "Pancakes!" She cooed, sitting the plate infront of the tot. Michaels face lit up, and he grinned at the plate.

"Well that was cute." Sweets smiled at the child, who was opening his mouth wide to shove in a pancake piece.

"He generally is." Hodgins replied.

"He's like a tiny pancake monster." Sweets chuckled.

"Oh yes." Angela smiled, putting a little syrup on it.

"Adorable." Sweets smiled at the giggling child. Michael grinned throwing pancake on Sweets' plate. "Hey!" Sweets gave a playful glare to the tot. Michael flailed, smiling at him.

"He wants to share." Angela laughed.

"Of course he does."

"Cute." Hodgins laughed.

"By the way I'm sorry about falling asleep on your couch."

"It's okay, we're happy to have you man." Hodgins shrugged, shuffling food into his mouth.

"Well still." Sweets shrugged.

"Its alright." Angela said, starting on her own eggs.

"We should do this more often but, you know, with out the me sleeping on the couch thing."

"We'd love to have you over for dinner sometimes. Michael would be happy." Angela said, drinking her coffee as Hodgins checked his watch.

"Clearly." Sweets looked at the baby, who was giggling bouncing slightly.

"We have to leave soon." Hodgins said, pushing pancakes into his mouth.

"Leave for what?" Sweets mumble through a bite of eggs.

"Caroline." Hodgins said as an entire explanation.

"Right." Sweets nodded. "Good luck with that."

"Oh no, you're coming with us."

"What? Why?" Sweets groaned, slumping his shoulders.

"She said everyone." Hodgins shrugged.

"Oh this is gonna suck." Sweets groaned. Hodgins grumbled a sound of agreement.

"It might not be SO bad." Angela shrugged. Sweets and Hodgins raised their eyebrows in unison, looking completely unconvinced. "It could be about something positive." She shrugged.

"Yes maybe." Sweets agreed, smiling his shrinky 'I'm agreeing because your insane' smile.

"Shut up." Angela said, lightly smacking him on top on the head. Hodgins smiled, leaning forward and pecking her lips.

"Well I'll need to stop by my place on the way." Sweets mumbled.

"Oh the wrinkled clothes not your look?" Angela teased, finishing her egg and standing to rinse of the plate.

"Not really." Sweets laughed. Angela smiled over her shoulder, washing her plate.

"I should get going." Sweets stood up.

"We can drive you."

"No no, I'm fine." Sweets waved a hand.

"Alright just meet us at the Jeffersonian."

"Okay." Sweets said before smiling at Michael Vincent. "Bye bye, buddy." Michaels flailed, looking unimpressed.

"Come on, baby, give him some love." Angela cooed, picking her child up and holding him up to Sweets. Sweets sighed with a smile and pulled the child towards him. The baby happily pressed a piece of pancake to Sweets mouth with a joyful coo. Sweets spluttered, mumbling around the syruppy mess.

"Thank you." He mumbled after managed to chew and swallow the food before lifting the baby in the air and making airplane noises. Michael claimed around giggling and smiling. Angela watched them from the sink, scrubbing at Hodgins plate.

"Airplane!" Sweets cooed at the baby.

"A plan!" The baby squealed.

"Okay, time to land." Sweets laughed, sitting the baby back in his highchair. "I gotta go."

"Awe..." The baby pouted a moment. "Bye!" He decided on, waving a pancake covered hand at sweets.

"Bye bye, buddy." Sweets ruffled the boys hair before trotting from the room.

"We should have him over more often." Hodgins laughed.

"I know!" Angela smiled, bringing a cloth over to wipe the baby off.

##########################

"I'm here!" Sweets huffed, walking into the room where he was texted to go for this 'meeting' with Caroline.

"You're late."

"Excuse me for wanting to take a shower." Sweets stuck his tongue out at Angela. Angela smiled, and Brennan scowled at them looking the tiniest bit confused.

"Your excused now sit down." The anthropologist said, making her partner. smile behind his hand.

"So... Where is Caroline?" Sweets asked, sitting down.

"Right here." The woman in question walked in.

"What do you want, Caroline?"

"I need to know if a certian FBI shrink is back in the game."

Sweets' dark eyes went a little wide, but after a quick look around the room he smiled.

"Oh yeah."

"This is serious, Cherie." She scowled her Caroline scowl. "You have been missing days, skipping out on cases. It doesn't look good!"

"Okay, I've been having a tough time since Gary died, yeah, and I did briefly, erm... Fall off the the wagon. And land on my head. But I'm fine now!"

Caroline narrowed her eyes, looking towards Booth. The agent cast a glance at Brennan, who smiled. Booth looked then at Cam who gave a slow, approving nod.

"He's shrinking his way back into the game." The agent finally said, earning a surprised grin from Sweets.

"Are you sure?"

"Last night he spent the night at our house and he didn't even have a nightmare. Not that we saw." Angela said. Sweets blinked, looking surprised.

"I...didn't. I didn't!" His entire face lit up as he looked at his friends with joy. "I didn't! No nightmare! I remember dreaming about baby lions!"

"Baby lions?" Booth raised a brow.

"That's not the point! I didn't have a nightmare." Sweets chuckled, smiling brightly.

"Perhaps the lions being young symbolized a new beginning?" Brennan offered, earning her many dazed stares from the people around her. "What? Its possible."

"Dream analyze? Using some good ol' psychology, huh?" Sweets smirked, his shrink ego peaking out to play. Brennan scowled but didn't deny it, she had been reading the books for some time now. It all made sense, in a soft science illogical way. "Ha! I knew it! Awesome!" Sweets did a fist pump. Brennan tolled her eyes, sighing deeply.

"I think your dream means you should come to our house again tonight and watch the Lion King since you didn't finish it last night." Angela smiled. Sweets looked over at her and smiled, nodding.

"Can we come? The presence of talking animals in the film should entertain Christine." Bones said. Angela smiled, nodding with a laugh in her voice as she spoke.

"Yes of course sweetie."

"Well this is touching family-esc moment I gotta go. You better stay in you head, Cherie." Caroline said, walking out.

"So... What's for dinner tonight?" Sweets smiled at Angela and Hodgins.

"Maybe lasagna... Vegetarian of course." Angela smiled to Brennan.

" I thought we were having Mexican!" Hodgins pouted.

"We were but now we are having three people over for dinner and movie and our living room doesn't need to become a biohazard due to the release of noxious gas." Angela laughed. Hodgins grumbled but nodded, glaring at his wife's hair as she chatted with Brennan about food.

"Keep looking at her like that and she'll catch fire." Sweets teased Hodgins.

Hodgins grumbled, crossing his arms and saying something suspiciously close to 'maybe she should. Dammit ruining my Mexican night.'

"You hush." Angela giggled, hearing her husband and giving him an elbow in the ribs. Hodgins squeaked in response, crossing his arms and pouting.

"It was a good call, Hodgins, do you really want your living room fumigated?" Sweets laughed.

"No...but we get Mexican tomorrow?" He asked Angela, who nodded while patting his arm. Hodgins smiled at her, looking like a child.

Sweets watched the group with an easy expression. It was where he belonged after all, with them. With Brennans confused but sound logic, and Booths loud opinions. Hodgins experiments and theories, Angela's easy smiles and beautiful crazy babies wondering around, gabbing and grinning at him like he was something to be looked up to. It was a family, his family.

"You're looking thoughtful." Booth smiled at Sweets, a soft joy reflecting in his voice that matched the smile on his mouth and in his eyes. "Care to share, brain boy?"

"I love you all." Sweets blurted, turning pink.

"We love you to, sweetie." Angela cooed, putting both hands on his cheeks, making his face squish up. Sweets grumbled, and Cam clapped her hands gently smiling at the group.

"I would offer for you to come over to tonight, Cam, but I don't think the Lion King is your cup of tea." Angela smiled at Cam, not letting go of Sweets face. The psychologist flailed a bit, tugging on her hands and mumbling.

"What? Do you want me to let go?" Angela giggled, smushing him more. Sweets tried to nod and pull on her hands.

"Yesh." He mumbled through his cheeks.

"Fine... If you will play with the babies while Brennan and I cook tonight." Angela smiled, tilting her head.

"Mhmm" Sweets mumbled.

"I'll take that as a yes. And I'm gonna hold you to it." Angela smirked, letting go of the shrink. Sweets rubbed his cheeks, pouting.

"Don't worry, Sweets, Hodgins and I are gonna join you. It'd be nice guy bonding, over babies." Booth smiled.

"Sounds manly." Hodgins snorted.

"Totally manly." Booth agreed.

"Babies and lion king." Sweets nodded, "same as beer and football, I guess."

"Totally." Booth nodded. "They practily sound the same."

"Totally."

#################

"The babysitter is here!" Angela sang, dragging Sweets into the living room by the hand. Sweets smiled while shaking his head, sighing through his nose.

"Who else is here?"

"It's about freaking time you showed up !" Booth said from were he sat by Hodgins. There were baby blankets laid out along with several baby toys and Christine and Michael were sitting in the middle of it.

"Work." Sweets shrugged, collapsing beside the agent. He had three profiles and two agents to see, not to mention endless paper work. "So... What's up?"

"Christine farted." Hodgins snickered and Booth glared at him.

"She did not! My baby girl is a princess... Her butt growled." Booth crossed his arms.

"Her...butt growled?" Sweets said slowly, confused.

"Roared, more like it." Hodgins laughed. Booth covered his daughters ears, glaring at Hodgins.

"I don't think she cares..." Sweets smiled, looking down at the confused baby. Christine flailed a bit, pulling at the hands on her ears.

"Be nice." Booth hissed at Hodgins before uncovering her ears.

"Fine..." Hodgins drawled. "Hey, Sweets, you okay? You look tired."

"Like I said, work." Sweets smiled. "But I'm always up for playtime with my two favorite babies."

"Seets!" Michael squeaked, flailing towards him.

"Hi, buddy." Sweets smiled, picking the baby up. "You ready to play?"

"Chrissy to!" Michael replied, smiling at the other baby and the other baby giggled with a toothless grin.

"Of course." Sweets laughed, sitting the child down before grabbing a duck toy. "Duck duck duck. Quack." He sang, shaking the duck infront of Michael before moving it to Christine. "Duck duck duck. Quack quack."

"The baby duck is quacking." Hodgins said with a laugh. Sweets threw the duck at Hodgins, making the babies laugh.

"Okay, who wants to be an airplane?" Sweets smiled at the babies before picking up Michael and holding him in the air and making plane sounds. Michael squeaked and kicked, grinning with an open mouth at Sweets. A big glob of the babies spit hanging dangerously from his mouth.

"Let's fly to daddy!" Sweets laughed, seeing the spit and 'flying' the baby over towards his father, getting himself out of the spits line of fire. The blob swayed and tumbled towards a startled looking Hodgins.

"Sweets!" Hodgins groaned, whipping the spit away.

"What?" Sweets asked, the face of innocence. Hodgins wagged his hand at Sweets, his fingers glistening with spit as he looked a little sick.

"I think the plane leaked." Booth snickered.

"You aren't helping." Hodgins groaned.

"I think someone else wants to fly." Sweets smiled at Christine, who was flapping her arms. Christine nearly dove at him, and Sweets caught her with her face inches from the floor.

"I got her." Booth laughed, plucking her from Sweets. "You wanna fly, baby?" He laughed at the smiley child. Christine flailed at him in reply, bouncing on her legs.

"This is nice, huh? Playing with the babies?" Hodgins smiled and Sweets nodded.

"Yeah, but we should do something together without the ladies or babies. Like bowling." Booth said, lifting Christine the air. Hodgins nodded silently, smiling up at the baby. Sweets froze up beside them, causing both men to turn their attentions to him.

"I-I haven't called daisy in three days…" He whispered in the most terrified voice he could pull from his throat.

"So what, man? It's not like you are married or anything." Hodgins snorted, bouncing his precious son on his knee.

"Three days Hodgins, what if you hadn't talked to angela for three days straight when you were dating!" Sweets squeaked, turning to his friend who had frozen with his son in his hands.

"Call her."

"She's going to yell." Sweets whined, standing up and dialing her her number. "Hey, Daisy-" flinch. "I know, I'm sorry- I missed a date when? Th-that was yesterday? I thought it was- I'm sorry ! ... No! It's not about that! Trust me, that's the last thing on my mind- DAISY! Please, Calm down! I'm sorry, I'll make it up to you. I promise I'll make it up to you, babe." Sweets glanced back at Booth, Hodgins and the babies before starting to whisper into the phone. "Tomorrow, we can have dinner at my place, then I'll give you a message, then we can do... That thing you like... No, the other thing. Yeah, are we good?" Lance took a deep breath, giving a little smile. "Yes, babe, I promise. I love you, you know that. Yes-Yes, yes darling. Good bye."

"Whipped!" Hodgins whistled, grinning.

"Shut up." Sweets groaned, flopping down face down on the couch and burying his face in a throw pillow after he hung his phone up. Hodgins' grin grew and Booth chuckled. "It's not funny. She's mad at me. I don't wanna get dumped."

"Daisy isn't going to dump you." Booth rolled his eyes. "She's stuck around through all of this, your safe." Sweets grunted in response, making Hodgins laugh.

Later, the whole group was in the living room, waiting for the lasagna to finish cooking. Suddenly, there was a knocking at the door, a rapid, hard knocking.

"I got it!" Angela smiled, getting up and answering the door. There stood Daisy.

"I heard babies when I called Lance and thought he might be here? Is he here?" Daisy asked rapidly, trying to peer around Angela. Angela laughed a bit nervously, moving to let the girl past.

"Yeah in the-" Daisy started walking towards the living room with determination. "Living...room..okay."

"Daisy!?" Sweets squeaked, the smile that was on his face turning into shocked and frightened look. He sat Christine on the floor, who was confused and unhappy at this action, before standing up and walking over to Daisy. Daisy crossed her arms, looking at Sweets expectantly.

"Lance."

"What... Are you doing here?" Sweets asked slowly, a nervous grin on his face.

"We have to talk more Lance!" Daisy finally whined, lip poking out. "I want to be with you, all of you, and not only every few days!"

"Calm down, Miss Daisy." Sweets said in the most soothing voice he could muster up, holding her by her shoulders. He gave her a little smile, rubbing her arm.

"You have baby vomit on your shirt." Daisy squeaked softly, biting her lip and looking up at him. Sweets slowly turned red, the flush reaching his hair line but he didn't look away from her.

"You're upset..." Sweets sighed pressing forehead against hers.

"Baby, I know you like being with the team, and I'm glad you are rebuilding your relationship with them but... What about me?" She pouted at him. Sweets gave her the smallest tilt of his lips, bumping his nose against hers.

"You're with me even when you're not." He said.

"Don't you smooth talk me..." Daisy pouted, but she didn't pull away. Sweets smiled, kissing her cheek and squeezing her hand.

"C'mon Miss Daisy...Stay for dinner, m'lady?"

"If it's okay with them... I guess so." Daisy smiled.

"The more the merrier." Angela smiled at the couple, gliding by them. Hodgins sighed, rolling his eyes.

"Are we having a party? Because we don't have much booze."

"Not that we would need it." Booth said, casting a look towards Sweets in a less then subutle way.

"Looking at the recovering alcoholic, nice." Sweets gave Booth a flat look. Booth gave a shrug, obviously not caring about the offense. Silently Sweets knew Booth was stung by alcoholism, it did hit him at home.

"Hush." Daisy said, poking Sweets cheek and Sweets gave her a look.

"You going to stay for the Lion King?" Angela asked, picking up her darling son.

"As awesome as that sounds, I really should get going after dinner." Daisy smiled softly. "Grad work and all." Brennan nodded from the doorway.

"Yes it would be best if you could look at those bones for me as well."

"Can do, Dr. Brennan." Daisy grinned, wrapping an arm around her boyfriend. Sweets smiled at Daisy, and he wrapped his arms around her. "Watch the baby vomit!" Daisy squeaked, squirming away from the stain on her boyfriends shirt and breaking free. Then, a mischievous glint appeared in his eyes and her eyes widened. "Lance... Don't!" She squeaked and ran as he tried to hug her. Soon, Sweets was chasing Daisy around, trying to hug her, which made the babies laugh and giggle. Angela grinned as she watched them, clapping her hands. The other rolled their eyes, mumbling about puppy love.

Sweets eventually caught Daisy and hugged her, lifting her up slightly, and she squealed and kicked her feet out.

"Eeeek! Put me down!" She laughed, squirming. Lance grinned at her, squeezing her tight before placing her on the ground.d. "Bad boyfriend." Daisy smiled, swatting at Sweets head softly.

"No." Sweets poked her nose.

"Here, take back Princess Butt Roar, she wants her Uncle." Hidgins said, suddenly sitting Christine in his arms.

"Princess Butt Roar?" Daisy giggled.

"Well according to Booth Fart Princess would be incorrect." Sweets snickered.

"You hush. My baby girl is a princess, the picture of grace." Booth saidto his daughter, who was chewing on Sweets tie. "Look at her elegance." The group laughed gladly at the agents look if pride as Christine spat in Sweets nose. Sweets sneezed, making the baby jump and squeak softly.

"Why, baby, why." Sweets laughed, lifting her up to his face. Christine just grinned big at him, blinking her eyes innocently at he swore she knew what she was doing. Then, she sneezed, getting spit and snot all over his face. "Thanks for that." He glared at the tiny baby. Christine nodded with a smile kicking her feet and waving her arms. "Your baby is evil." Sweets grumbled, handing the child over to Booth and whipping off his face. Booth scowled at him.

"She's just a mad genius."

"She's certaintly something." Sweets sighed, looking to the baby, who looked all cute, squishy and innocent.

"The lasagna!" Brennan smiled when a timer went off before shuffling to the kitchen. Angela followed her, and Daisy looked a little out of place. Then she plopped down beside Michael, and started naming the bones in his hand while the baby giggled.

Sweets watched his family with a smile, realizing not for the first time recently that his family was perfect in its oddity. He would always be thankful that they had forgiven him for all he had put them through the last few months. Even if he didn't deserve it, he was happy they did because he needed them now, and then to. As odd as they were, they were his and they tried to be there for him. He knew he had failed them before, but they had forgiven him, even if he was struggling with forgiving himself. They will be there for him intill the nightmares stop completely and they could help lessen his guilt, and help him get over his lose of Gary. They would help, they did help. He was almost at the finish line, and they would help him get there.

"Lance, oh, Lance, I think he likes me!" Daisy laughed, picking Michael Vincent up and hugging him. The look of utter shock and excitement on her face made his heart flutter and he nodded.

"Please don't kidnap him." Hodgins teased, rolling his eyes.

"We might. He is pretty cute." Sweets smiled, sitting by his girlfriend. "And HE doesn't sneeze in my face." Booth glared at him, picking Christine up.

"Get him." The agent commanded, letting the baby crawl towards sweets. The baby squealed as she belly crawled over to him, laughing.

"NO." Sweets said, picking the baby up and sitting her on the floor. Then, in true baby fashion, she started to cry.

"Look what you did." Hodgins said, pointing at the baby. Sweets groaned, poking the baby gently. Christine hiccuped and blinked big glassy eyes at him.

"I'm sorry. Come here." Sweets smiled and picked the small child up. She hiccuped again, cuddling into his shirt. Christine sniffled and curled up in his arms, causing a squeak from daisy.

"That's so...I can't ...ahhhh!" Daisy squealed, making little Michael jump slightly.

"Daisy, calm down." Sweets laughed, holding the baby closer. Daisy flushed but smiled at her boyfriend.

"Dinner is ready!" Angela sing-songed, practically prancing into the room. Daisy hoped to her feet, then smiled to look down at her boyfriend. "Give me my baby back." Angela smiled, picking her child from Daisy's arms before looking to Christine. "Someone had an upset."

"Lancelot fixed it." Daisy cooed.

"Well she is a little cranky but that's because she is hungry." Booth said, walking over and taking his fussy baby from Sweets. "Bones! Get a bottle ready for Christine!" Brennan looked around the corner, waving her fingers at her baby before nodding and disappearing back into the kitchen.

"Let's get to dinner!" Hodgins grinned, clapping his hands and trotting to the dinning room. Sweets laughed and stood up, taking Daisy's hand and walking over to the room with her.

"Lasagna!" Daisy grinned, sitting down by her boyfriend. Angela lifted her head from where she was cutting the food to smile at the girl.

"Ah yes, secret recipe." She beamed.

"Goodie." Daisy smiled before looking to her Sweets. "Isn't this nice, Lance? It's like a family dinner!" Sweets stopped a second, causing his girlfriend to turn around and tilt her head. A brief, vivid memory of his mother and father sitting with him at the table, surrounded by his books and his mothers favorite chicken filled his mind. Lance gave a small, meaningful smile to Daisy and nodded.

"Yes, yes it is Miss. Daisy."

"You just had a little flashback didn't you, Lance?" She smiled, poking his shoulder. "Was is a good one?" Sweets felt an affectionate rush through his system at how well she knew him, and gave her the sincerest look he could manage to ensure she believed him.

"Yes, it was."

"Your parents?" She ventured, looking at him affectionately, rubbing his shoulder softly.

"Yeah just...Christmas dinner when I was 10." He said, taking her hand in his and bringing it to his lips to kiss. Their moment was then broken by a fangirlish squeal from the doorway. Both lovers turned to see a practically hopping Angela.

"You two are gonna give me diabetes!"

"Sorry." Sweets laughed, blushing. "Just had a... Moment." He shrugged, ducking his head down. Angela laughed, shaking her head as she finally took her seat.

"Let's eat!" Hodgins practically moaned as he picked up his fork.

"Please." Sweets squeaked, picking up his fork as well.

"Lance had a flashback about his parents. It's sweet." Daisy kissed his cheek. "But yeah... We should eat." Angela gave sweets a relieved looking tilt of her lips, and then nodded to her husband.

"Yes, yes eat!"

"Time for baby to eat to." Booth said, walking in, baby and bottle in hand, Brennan close behind. Christine's little eyes grew wide and joyful at the sight of her bottle, kicking her feet and waving her arms as she practically bounced out of her seat.

"She's hungry." Brennan laughed, smiling at her child.

"Yes." Booth laughed, sitting down and putting the bottle up to his daughters tiny mouth and she started suckling hungrily. The entire family laughed, and Michael poked his friend who shot him a deathly baby glare without removing her mouth from the bottle.

"Play nice." Angela laughed at her son, who looked up at her with big 'what?' eyes. She laughed her son before smiling at Sweets. "So... Does that happen often? Flashbacks of your parents?"

"Sometimes..." Sweets mumbled turning red. "Usually on holidays when I'm reminded of family."

"Other times it's just sorta random." Daisy said, smiling before looking at her boyfriend. "Baby, stop turning red, this isn't that embarrassing." Sweets muttered, and when realizing everyone was staring hid his face in his hands. "Lance?" Daisy giggled, trying to pry a hand from his face to look at him. "Lance, stop it."

"This is awkward…" Sweets sighed, trying to hide his face once again.

"It's not awkward." Daisy said before looking to Angela. "Tell him it's not awkward."

"Its cute." Angela said, leaning forward to pat his hand.

"No." Sweets grumbled into his hands.

"Someone..." Daisy groaned, waving her hands at her boyfriend and looking to the others with 'help me' eyes.

"I uh..." Hodgins piped up, studying his lasagna like it was a new found slime. "I sometimes have well flashback like things...from college when I finally made friends."

"You do?" Sweets mumbled, peaking through his fingers at Hodgins. The elder scientist glanced up and nodded.

"Yeah sometimes when you guys remind me of them..."

"Like what?" Sweets asked, finally uncovering his face. Hodgins shifted uncomfortably, picking at his napkin and sighed.

"Like the other day Doctor B came running in yelling at us about something and Booth followed her, arguing with whatever she was yelling about. Then Cam tried to calm everyone down and Angela kept asking where you were…" Hodgins stopped his rambling, shrugging. "It was like the week before finals all my buddies and I would study together and two would always argue and one was always looking for Greg, who never showed up, while Tina would try and control us all."

"I'm the guy who showed up? Wonderful." Sweets laughed, shaking his head. "Reminds me of time that my friends from the neighborhood came over to my place to study for their finals. They invited friends and it was... Yeah."

"Party nerd Sweets!" Booth cheered with a grin.

"It wasn't a party!" Sweets rolled his eyes. "My parents were home, granted they were so happy they let us have snacks... And listen to music... But it wasn't a party! It was a... Spirited get together with eight people I know and seven that I didn't. My parents also called it my first and only senior party but that doesn't mean it was party!"

"Your parents bought snacks for your party?!" Hodgins laughed, taking a deep breath. "That's adorable!"

"They were just happy that I was making friends. And it wasn't a party!" Sweets huffed. Angela smiled, reaching over to pat his arm.

"Hey weren't you like...7 in highschool?" Hodgins said, raising his eyebrows, a lasagna noodle hanging from his mouth.

"No. I was 11,12, 13 and 14 in highschool." Sweets rolled his eyes. "So what?"

"The finals were for your highschool year right?"

"They came over to study for THEIRS. We were same age so they had freshman finals, I was ready for mine. They liked to use me as a study tool so studying was over fast. They got bored and that's when the... Not a party started." Sweets shrugged. "They did invite some seniors though."

"You had a senior party at 14!" Hodgins grinned, "You're not as lame as you seem, dude."

"Lame!?" Daisy said, looking offended.

"It wasn't a party!" Sweets groaned, rolling his eyes.

"So a party." Hodgins smirked. .

"No. Not a party. Spirited get together." Sweets glared.

"Party nerd!" Booth laughed again.

"No." Sweets pouted.

"Party!" Hodgins cheered.

"Get together!" Sweets said, flopping into his chair but a smile was playing on his mouth.

"It sounds like a party." Brennan said, taking her baby into her arms to burp her.

"Not you to." Sweets pouted at her.

"Party!" Little Michael cooed, waving his hands and cheering. Sweets looked at the baby and groaned.

"Get. Together." He muttered and Daisy rubbed his shoulder.

"The baby agrees with me." Hodgins grinned widely. The baby giggled excitedly and grinned.

"Of course he does, he is your baby!" Sweets glared playfully. "It wasn't a party, end if discussion." Sweets punctuated by stabbing his lasagna. There was a silence long enough to make the young psychologist believe he'd won before...

"So a party."

"Stop it!" Sweets whined, chewing his lasagna stubbornly. "It wasn't a freaking party!"

"Chill!" Hodgins said, putting his hands up but smirking.

"Don't push him, Jack, I think he's going stab you with his fork." Angela teased, poking his shoulder. Sweets' lips quirked and he brandished the fork threateningly at the slime boy.

"Fine, it wasn't a party, no need for a stabbing." Jack laughed.

"Thank you." Sweets smiled, going back to his lasagna. Hodgins raised an eyebrow to Booth who nodded in return but Sweets did not notice. Brennan gave Booth a 'don't say anything stupid' look.

"So..." Angela smiled. "Have any other cool childhood stories, Sweets?" Sweets shrugged, eating a piece of lasagna with contemplation.

"Well the little gay crush thing." He waved that away even though Hodgins flailed. "Uhm, mom and dad brought me to a fair once but I got lost and spent the day with the funhouse operator."

"That's nice." Angela laughed.

"Little gay crush thing?" Hodgins gapped, flailing an arm out. Sweets raised an eyebrow at him and nodded.

"Yeah..." Sweets toned conveyed Hodgins should find this normal.

"A guy had a crush on you or..." Hodgins flailed his arms again. Sweets smirked at him, sitting back and miming zipping his mouth shut.

"Baby, don't torture the man." Daisy giggled. Hodgins eyes were so wide they could be dinner plates and Sweets' smirk grew.

"This is better than TV." Angela laughed. "Sweets, just tell him." Sweets tilted his head from left to right slowly, looking contemplative before shaking his head.

"C'mon man!" Hodgins huffed, leaning forward.

"Maybe it was both." Booth suggested, "like a mutual...thing?" Sweets snorted at him and Daisy and Angela giggled.

"Your a jerk." Hodgins glared at Sweets.

"Come on, Lance, tell him." Daisy laughed, rubbing his shoulder. Sweets sat forward like he was sharing a secret. Hodgins leaned forward excitedly, a smile lighting his face. Sweets gestured him to get closer and he did so. Then Sweets blew a raspberry in his face. Hodgins cursed falling backwards and whipping his face.

"Very mature."

"Thank you!" Sweets grinned impishly at him. Hodgins grumbled, pouting. "Fine, do you REALLY wanna know?" Sweets asked, tilting his head like a school boy. Hodgkin's grumbled something, looking away.

"Cheer up, babe, I'm sure he won't spit on you twice." Angela laughed.

"I'm not." The scientist whined.

"I won't. Promise!" Sweets said, his grin still impish. Hodgins shook his head, lips pursed.

"Maybe I could tell him?" Angela laughed. Sweets shook his head, and smiled at Hodgins.

"I'm waiting for him to ask nicely."

"I'm going to kill you." Hodgins glared at the younger man.

"That's not very nice." Sweets clicked and Angela laughed.

"You...!? I- You!... PLEASE!?" Sweets might have cackled and Hodgins might have had to beg but after a moment the psychologist broke.

"Fine fine!" He sighed, holding his hand up for silence. "He had a crush on me. I found out because I tried to steal his toy truck and broke my arm."

"Really?"

"Well, Angela had to tell me over ten years later but pretty much. It explains a lot. Like when he suggested he could go to prom with me when I didn't have a date." Sweets laughed. Hodgins eyes widened as a smile appeared on his face.

"You were so clueless!"

"Now I'm going to kill YOU." Sweets glared. Hodgins just giggled.

"It wasn't that bad." Daisy said, but she was giggling to.

"Daisy." Sweets whined.

"Baby you were a bit...uh...well you were young." Daisy said shrugging.

"Daisy!" Sweets whined again, slumping his shoulders.

"Sorry." She shrugged.

"How did you not know? Seriously?" Booth laughed.

"You're mean." Sweets tossed a piece of noodle at the detective and pouted.

"It's a real question." Hodgins said. "I mean, you really didn't know?"

"No..." Sweets mumbled.

"How?" He laughed, chewing on some food.

"I didn't.." Sweets sighed "I didn't think anyone would like me."

"Baby..." Daisy said sadly, giving him a hug. Sweets smiled, patting her.

"Seriously?" Angela asked, looking to Sweets with sad eyes. Sweets shrugged,mumbling something and picked at his nails.

"Don't do that, baby." Daisy said, pawing at Sweets hands so he would stop picking his nails. Sweets smiled at her.

"I dunno man, in a scientific view you certainly aren't ugly. You're smart, tall." Hodgins shrugged.

"Hodgins, I was ten!" Sweets laughed. "But you have a point, especially given how long that mindset carried on." Daisy rubbed his arm, smiling gently and hugging him.

"Swees." Little Michael said, his face as serious as it could be, motioning him to pick him up. Sweets chuckled at the baby, lifting him into his arms. "Good."

"That's a very serious face there, buddy." Sweets laughed.

"Wuv." Michael said, hugging onto Sweets. Sweets smiled at the baby, nodding his head while hugging the child.

"Yes. Love."

"Awwwhh!" Daisy squeaked, tilting her head at him. Sweets scrunched up his face and smiled at her.

"Yeah, my little dude knows what's up." Angela smiled, reaching over and ruffling her baby's hair. Hodgins smiled at his wife's slang, taking her free hand in his.

"He does." Sweets smiled. "Time to go back in the chair." He said, lifting the baby back into his highchair. The baby made an unhappy noise at this action. Sweets stuck his tongue out then shrugged. "Sorry bud, but a guys gotta eat."

"No." Michael pouted and Angela laughed at him. Sweets gave the boy a crooked smile.

"You just want some lovin', don't you." Angela smiled at her boy, rubbing his head softly. Michael flailed at sweets, pouting.

"He wants lovin' from his Uncle Sweets." Booth snickered. Michael nodded as if he understood.

"If I sit you on my lap, will you still let me eat?" Sweets asked the baby. Michael looked thoughtful before practically throwing himself at the man, squealing adorablely. "Okay, okay." Sweets laughed, lifting the baby up from the chair and sitting him on his lap.

"This is nice." Brennan said after the laughter died down.

"It is." Sweets said, watching as Michael laughed and smacked his little baby hands on the table. Christine giggled and copied the older boy, slapping her highchair.

"She learns." Booth laughed, patting his daughters head. Brennan smiled at her daughter who grinned back, still slapping the chair.

"They are both so adorable." Sweets laughed, bouncing Michael. Michael smiled back at him, then blinked a few times before yawning.

"Ohhh, tired. Tired face." Angela cooed at her baby boy. Michael squished his face up and shook his head, suppressing a yawn. Sweets chuckled and hugged the boy.

"I'll put you to bed, huh?" Sweets said to him, "I'll even sing you a lullaby." The baby looked up at him with tired eyes and nodded. Sweets smile then glanced at the child parents, who also nodded. "Say bye to Christine." Sweets said, standing up.

"Bye." Michael cooed and Christine opened and closed her hand like she was waving at them. Michael waved manically at her before cuddling against Sweets, sticking his head in the older mans neck.

"Good night baby boy." Angela said, standing and pushing a curl from her babies face. Hodgins followed, wrapping an arm around his wife and waving a finger at the baby.

"Sleep tight kiddo. Study the bed bugs."

"Night night mama...daddy." Michael yawned, turning away from his parents and Sweets gave a smile before making his way upstairs softly. After he was half way up the stairs Daisy pushed up from her seat, pressing a finger to her lips and sneaking towards the stairs.

"Here we go..." Sweets smiled as he lowered the baby into his crib. "Bedtime." Sweets covered the little boy in a blanket just as his girlfriend peeked in the door. "Here's a stuffed animal, huh? Rawr!" Sweets shook the tiny tiger before handing it over to the small child. Daisy muffled her giggle in time so Sweets' didn't notice and snuck around to the corner.

"Sing?" The baby yawned, hugging the animal and blinking up at his uncle.

"You wanna song?" Sweets smiled, rubbing the baby's head softly. He nodded and Sweets smiled before starting to sing a song. It was the song his mother sang to him when he woke up scared in the middle of the night. It was old, but it was soothing. The baby's eyes fluttered shut and he yawned. Sweets smiled into the tune, watching as the baby slowly drifted away into innocent dreams.

"Awwe!" Daisy squeaked quietly from her corner, making the man jump and spin around to see her.

"Daisy? What are you doing here?" He whispered with wide eyes. Daisy grinned, gliding over to him and jumping up to kiss his nose. He blinked again, raising his eyebrows.

"I'm just glad to see you happy baby." She pouted, dusting off the front of his shirt then smiling up at him.

"How can I not be happy puting this little guy down." Sweets said, looking down at the tiny child.

"He is adorable..." Daisy tilted her head.

"You really need to go to work..." Sweets said, sucking his teeth.

"I do... But you have fun with the others." Daisy kissed his cheek.

"I will..."

####################

"Dr. Sweets?" Sweets heard Brennan's voice called out and he looked up to see her with none else but Gary's book. "Angela gave it to me in hopes that I could get it published somewhere..."

"I assume you took a look..." Sweets sighed. Brennan nodded, tucking it under her arm and tilting her head.

"He was a brilliant writer, using interesting adjectives to describe facts and people. Though his point of view is biased, I still enjoyed it." Brennan said with a decisive nod.

"He was... And that's... All you found interesting?" Sweets asked, biting his lip and looking towards the floor. Brennan tilted her head, looking very confused by social norms.

"No but Booth told me a political answer may be the best in this situation." Brennan replied finally, inching closer. "I found that there is much about you I did not perceive that he saw."

"What do you mean?"

"You are much...stronger than I am, or ever hope to be." Sweets made to protest, but she held up a hand. "I told Booth once that I was not strong, and I have become stronger, but I see… I see that you have always been strong, even this past year. It was difficult for all of us, I will not pretend it wasn't, but it...taught me something."

Brennan took a breath, fidgeting slightly, Sweets smiled at the familiarity of her discomfort with emotions. "Sometimes people...You stop seeing them as people, you think they're impossible to break or hurt. Emotionally, obviously everyone can get physically hurt." She reached forward, putting a tentative hand on his upper arm. "I forgot that you have emotional scars," Brennan cringed at the word choice but pressed forward. "That you have been hurt and can still be hurt. I hope you can forgive me for it."

"You couldn't have know... What was going on with me... I've never been very open about my experiences. You couldn't know how badly I was hurt..." Sweets said, tilting his head at her with a gentle smile. "It's not something you have to apologize for... I never held it against you because I knew... You didn't know, you thought you knew, but now you really know. You know, everyone... Everyone knows. You all what's wrong with me. Why I... Am who I am... You, the whole team, knows... Soon hundreds of people will know, if you can get it published." Brennan sensed some kind of rising panic as Sweets went on, and drew her brow in confusion.

"Dr. Sweets..Uhm..Lance," She cleared her throat. "Do you want me to...Not publish it?"

"No no, you should publish it. Its what Gary wanted." Sweets smiled sadly. "I gave him a lot of trouble, the least I can do is make sure his book gets published. It's just... The book just brings up feelings, you know? Reminds me of things. What happens in that book still effects me, a lot. It's why I can't forgive myself for all the horrible things I did to the team, to Daisy... When I got drunk and yelled... That first fight Daisy and I got in when I shoved her... When I pushed Angela to the ground... All the yelling... I had turned into... Into my foster father and I never, ever, wanted to... To." Sweets buried his face in his hands. Brennan looked around automatically for Booth, like she always did when dealt something she was unsure of. Sweets-strong, brave, funny, child-like Sweets- crying and comparing himself to a wretched abuser was one of those things.

"That is...an incorrect observation." Brennan said, patting Sweets' shoulder. "While you did get violent and rude you never became...Something heartless. It's an illogical, scientifically improvable thing to say but...In your eyes there was never any evidence of such a thing."

"I treated you all so badly." Sweets shook his head. "Insulted you, pushed you. Just like him." He looked up at her with puffy eyes. "I was heartless. I didn't care. I never should have done those things to you. I was just as bad as he was for treating you like that."

"What you did was unkind." Brennan agreed, "But it...you weren't doing itit because you hated us. It was similar to a frightened animal, cornered by concerned humans. They tried toto help but the beast was scared and lashed out."

"That doesn't make anything right. The truth of the matter is that I was so wrapped in myself I didn't care wether or not the things I was doing was hurting you. It was selfish and... Mean. Heartless. I didn't care about what I was doing to you all and I... Don't know how I'm supposed to get over that." Sweets looked at her with big eyes. He desperately wanted to hug her but refrained himself, knowing she didn't like being touched.

Brennan was no expert, but her years with Booth and the team,and now with Christine, had taught he enough to know when someone needed love and not facts. She stepped closer, looking awkward and unsure, but soon pull the taller man into a bone crushing hug while on her tip toes. "I forgive you Sweets...I mean...Lance."

"I know you do... Thank you for that." Sweets said, wrapping her into a tight hug. He buried his face in her shoulder. "I don't deserve friends as good as you and the team but... I'm glad I have you. You make me feel less... Damaged." Sweets said, holding onto her tighter.

"I believe we are a, as they said in the Rudolf movie and Booth may have commented," she stopped her rambling and smiled. "The island of Misfit Toys."

"You can be the water gun who only shoots jelly, I can be the Charley-in-the-box." Sweets laughed, shaking his head.

"I'm not sure what that means." Brennan smiled.

"I know..." Sweets chuckled before rubbing at his eyes. "Hey, did you see that video Angela text out? The one of Michael Vincent waddling about their kitchen?"

"Oh yes," Brennan smiled happily. "He's gotten so big."

"I'm just glad he got walking down." Sweets smiled. "He looked so proud of himself."

"Like Hodgins." Brennan stated, "His jaw structure is very similar. Though his eyes are more like Angela's, in size and shape."

"Yeah-" sweets started before Angela walked in, carrying Michael Vincent.

"Hey, sorry if I'm interrupting anything. Michael really wanted to show his Uncle Sweets his party trick." Angela smiled, sitting her boy down.

"Walk! Walk!" Michael squealed, waddling quick, excited circles around the couch.

"Yes you are." Sweets smiled but the tot continued to waddle around the couch, repeating the word walk over and over like it was his mantra. Sweets stifled a laugh, raising his eyebrow. "Does he fall if he doesn't say it?"

"I don't know yet. He hasn't stopped." Angela replied with a laugh of her own. The baby looking determined as he repeated his chant.

"Anthropologically speaking soldiers would chant before battle to improve concentration." Brennan said, tilting her head at the baby.

"Okay." Sweets laughed before intercepting the baby and lifting him up to his face. "Hey, buddy, what are you doing?"

"Walk. Walk." The baby responded, flailing and trying to slip out of the mans hands. He then looked to brennan and an idea seemed to come. "Chrissie! Chrissie see walk!"

"You want to show Christine?" Sweets cooed. "Huh, you want to show her? What do you two say?" Sweets said, looking to Brennan and Angela. The women glanced to one another, a quick conversation made up of mouth tilts, eyebrow raises, and eyes bulging or squinting passed and the Brennan looked back to Sweets.

"I will call Booth."

"Great!" Sweets smiled before sitting the boy on the floor. "Better practice, buddy."

"So... Sweets, are you okay? You look like you were crying." Angela said as her son restarted his laps and chant.

"Yeah, but I feel a little better now. We hugged it out." Sweets smiled at Brennan, who was pressing a phone to her ear. Brennan nodded, though she looked confused before leaving when he answered.

"So...Is...uhm.." Angela fumbled with her words, which was oddly endearing. "Look Sweets I just... I wanted to say that you're one of my best friends. I mean it goes like Brennan, Hodgins, then you. so if you ever want to talk..." She sighed, blowing her bangs from her face. "I just want to make sure we never let you-and our friendship- get where i got. Make sense? So if you want to talk."

"Then I will. Brennan and I just had a moment... She brought the book over because she finished and... Yeah. I had a little meltdown but I feel a little better now." Sweets said before watching Michael start to circle him instead of the couch. "Oh no, he's going to trap me in a vortex." Angela laughed as her son chanted 'Walk' and grinned triumphantly. Sweets watched as the boy went, looking down at his feet and mumbling the same word over and over.

"Booth is bringing her." Brennan announced, walking in.

"Good." Sweets laughed. "Now someone stop him before get dizzy and and falls over." Angela plucked her son up, laughing when his legs kept going for a second before he pouted up at her, squirming to get away.

"Snack?" She asked to her boy, making him still immediately and grin with a nod. "Okay, now sit." She said sitting him on the couch before reaching into her purse and bringing out a Baggie of Cheerios. "There you go." She said, opening the bag and giving it to him. Michael clapped and stuck his chubby hand into the bag, slamming a handful of the honey flavored circled onto his mouth. Sweets chuckled.

"I hope you plan on cleaning up whatever mess he makes." Sweets said, tilting his head at Angela. She huffed but nodded, watching her son.

"So... What were you talking about before we interrupted?" Angela asked, taking a seat by her son. Brennan sat down also, but looked up at Sweets. He smiled at her, happy she would let him explain.

"We were talking about the book, my foster father... How he is linked to my lingering... Feeling about what I did... Before... That is why I was so upset because... Yeah." Sweets said, sitting down in his chair. Angela hummed in response, glancing at her friend.

"Well…." She sat back, absently brushing her babies curls with her fingers. "Sweets, you are far too sweet." She said teasingly, but tried to stay serious. "I understand why...I guess, you'd feel that way."

"Y... You do?" He murmured, ducking his head down and looking up at her with puppy dog eyes.

"Yeah," She shrugged, leaning quickly forward to take his hand. "But that doesn't mean I agree." She said cheekily.

"Evil." Sweets glared playful before softening his face. "What do mean?" He asked softly, squeezing her hand. She rolled her eyes fondly.

"I mean I think you acted rudely," He sighed, she gave him a pointed look. "And it hurt, but...you never stopped caring about us...did you?"

"D... Do I have to answer that?" Sweets asked, looking shamefully to the ground. Angela took his chin in her hands and smiled, squinting at him.

"Did you even read Gary's book?" She teased and he blinked. "He wrote in there that while you thought you hated us, he always could tell it was some kind of deflection or reflection or something. You thought we hated you but it hurt to much and you turned it around so you were the one hating us."

"Right... Yeah... That's right. Right?" Sweets eyes sparkled with emotion and Angela smiled at him.

"Yes." She assured, rubbing his hand. "So whenever you think differently, just remember that, okay?" Sweets nodded, swallowing his tears and silently thanking Gary for saving him a little bit yet again.

"Right." Sweets nodded before looking to Michael Vincent, who was cooing and flailing with tons if Cheerios stuck to his tiny hands. "That's adorable." Angela laughed at her son, about to speak before Booth came in with Christine.

"Bones said Michael wanted to show us something?" Booth asked.

"Walk! Walk walk walk walk walk walk!" Michael cooed, continuing to flail. Angela tried to calm him down, picking him up and setting him onto the floor. Michael then waved at Christine. "Chrissie look! Walk walk walk walk…" He chanted as he began to go in a circle infront of all of them. Christine clapped, giggling.

"Does he fall if he doesn't say it?" Booth snorted.

"That's what I said!" Sweets chuckled.

"We actually don't know." Angela said as he son continued his chant. "He hasn't stopped…" She blinked down at her boy, a bit concerned.

"Angela, don't freak out. He's not even two." Sweets said before looking to the child. "Hey, buddy, could you stop the chant? You are scaring mommy!" Michael looked up at Sweets.

"Walk?" He asked, looking extremely concerned.

"No chanting. Just walk." Sweets smiled with a nod. Michael frowned, flailing to get the floor. "Michael, no."

"Baby, can't you walk with out the chant, for Mommy?" Angela asked her son. Michael huffed, still not understanding the word 'chant'. He looked like a tiny, disgruntled hodgins. Angela sighed. "Walk. Don't say 'walk'" The disgruntledness of his look multiplied.

"Just walk without talking, okay, buddy?" Sweets smiled at the disgruntled child. Michael nodded unsurely then wobbled and went boneless to get away from Sweets. "Okay okay!" The man chuchkled.

"Is this something I should be worried about? Should I talk to his doctor about this?" Angela asked. Sweets glanced at her and shook his head.

"Children learn to do things differently. When I was young I had a foster mother who was sweet. One of the only ones," he gave her a pained smile. "She told my worker that I had to hold a pen in one hand or I'd fall over."

"Oh, sweetie..." Angela smiled, holding both sides of his face. "You had a really messed up childhood... A pen, seriously?"

"Martha assumed it was because I thought it balanced me out." Sweets shrugged.

"That's silly, you were silly." Angela giggled.

"I was a toddler." Sweets laughed. "I personal think it was because I was supposed to be a juggler when my birth had me, so I just liked having things in my hands. That was something else Martha noted, I always held things."

"Illogical," Brennan said, "but sweet."

"You were supposed to be a juggler?" Booth snickered. "I'm sorry, I just can't picture that."

"Really?" Sweets said before picking up some nick nacks and starting to juggle them. Booth blinked, nodding slowly as he watched the young man.

"Well I'll be a monkey's uncle."

"Yup." Sweets said, stopping his juggling with a grin as the babies clapped and grinned happily.

"When did you learn that?" Angela giggled.

"I was 8, my dad had a lot of strange hobbies." Sweets smiled at the memory. "I also know a lot of yo-yo tricks."

"Why did you hide this from us? Why?" She asked, squeezing his face again. "What else can you do that we don't know about?"

"Uhm, I sing." Sweets said, confused. "I play piano, i like photography, and I can ride horse? Western style, mostly."

"Oh, I like horses!" Brennan smiled.

"Why didn't you tell us that you could do all that stuff?" Angela asked, letting go of his face with a smile.

"You never asked before." Sweets said. Angela gave him a pout, but it faltered into a smile soon enough.

"I want to ride horses." Brennan said in her version of a petulant tone. Sweets laughed, shaking his head.

"I know a place we can go ride at, Dr. Brennan."

"That would be wonderful, Dr. Sweets." She said, smiling at him, blue eyes twinkling in that way they did.

"I have to ask, cause I'm curious." Booth said, bouncing his daughter. "Why wasn't your dad teaching you all that stuff in Gary's book?"

"I told him the things in the book in therapy. What was I supposed to say? 'My foster father beat me like an old rug and hey, I know how to juggle.'"

"Yes, that is exactly what you should have done." Angela nodded. Sweets lifted his eyebrows, but looked as if he were trying to glower.

"Because that's the way a rebellious, recovering addict talks to his shrink." The man deadpanned.

"Yes." Angela smiled and poked his nose.

"No." Sweets said, poking her back. "I think we have lost focus a bit..." He said before looking down at Michael. "Hey, buddy." Michael blinked at them, making a small noise that sounded like a question.

"Walk." Michael said taking a few steps with out chanting.

"Very good!" Sweets grinned at the boy as Angela clapped lightly.

"Great job, baby!" Angela praised.

"Quick learner, that one." Booth laughed and Christine clapped happily for her waddled up to his mother, arms waving.

"You did it!" Angela cooed, lifting her son in the air. "You did awesome! Yaaayyyy!"

"I di' i'!" The baby gurgled adorably. Angela clapped again, her smile blinding. "Uncle Seets I di'i'!"

"Yes you did." Sweets laughed. "You did good." He tousled his hair. "I'm proud of you, buddy."

"Go baby, go!" Angela said, punching the air. The baby smiled as he was sat on the floor before tottling over to Booth.

"Unc' Boo! Chrissy! I di' it!" Christine clapped, flailing down towards the other baby. Michael stood up, wobbly on his feet, and reached up to her. "P'ay Chrissy! P'ay!"

"Okay, but play nice." Booth said, sitting his little girl down. Michael laughed and sat down by her and she fell foreword and hugged onto him.

"That's adorable."

"They are more adorable than kittens with yarn." Sweets laughed. Booth nodded, looping an arm around the younger mans shoulder.

"How about a game of monopoly, huh?" Booth said, smiling at the group.

"Oh please" Angela took a step back. "Do you want to tear us apart?"

"It's just a board game." Booth laughed.

"An evil evil board game." Sweets nodded.

"Why would a game cause us to 'break up'?" Brennan's very real worry made her partner laugh.

"Nothing bad will happen.."

"Until the bickering starts when someone buys a property they know some else needed." Angela said.

"Yeah, and then the yelling starts when you accidentally overcharge someone." Sweets nodded.

"Then before you know it plastic hotels are flying everywhere." Angela finished.

"Why would we throw buildings at one another?" Brennan asked, eyed wide with alarm.

"Nobody knows." Sweets shrugged.

"It's not that bad." Booth said, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"It sounds bad." Brennan said, eyes still wide. "I'd rather not lose you all for a board game."

"Oh sweety," Angela smiled at her, "You can't lose us."

"Very true." Sweets smiled.

"You two are fun suckers." Booth groaned, making Sweets and Angela laugh.

#########################

Sweets sighed as he flipped through the channels. He finally had a day off and Daisy was stuck in a class so he was on his own. Suddenly, he heard his door unlock and he jumped out of his skin, grabbing a trinket off his side table and holding it like a weapon.

Booth sauntered in, easy as you please, grinning in a ridiculous shirt with FIFA on the chest. He started at the young man, who was menacingly raising an arm with a scented candle in hand.

"Gonna kill me with," the agent leaned forward, squinting. "Spicy Cinnamon Sprinkle there, kid?"

"How did you get in my apartment?" Sweets asked, sitting the candle down.

"I had a key made." Booth shrugged as if that was the most normal thing in the world. "I didn't want to keep bothering the super when I want to break in. Pepsi?" Booth asked, holding up a six pack of Pepsi cola.

"Uh, sure..." Sweets took the drink slowly, eyeing him. "Why are you committing a felony?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Booth said, gesturing to his shirt.

"That you stole my FIFA shirt when I was staying with you?" Sweets lifted a brow as he sat back down on the couch.

"Soccer!" Booth shouted, grinning.

"Booth, you hate soccer." Sweets smiled, sipping his Pepsi. "And I want that shirt back."

"Yeah, but YOU like soccer." Booth said. "And I promised I'd watch a game with you."

"Six months ago. You promised me six months ago."

"Never to Late." Booth grinned, cracking open his own soda.

"I guess not." Sweets chuckled. "You sure you want to do this? I thought soccer was 'Un-American.'? You are Captain America after all." He smirked.

"Who are you ? Lanky Tony stark?" Booth returned, smiling still as he plopped down onto the couch.

"Shut up, man." Sweets laughed. "You sure you want to watch with me? I can get pretty into it."

"Yeah, yes." Booth nodded, glancing away. "I mean its something you enjoy, and I'm your friend. I mean...I, uh, know I can be an ass some-well alot- of the time, but I care man. So let's watch some British men kick around a ball."

"They aren't all British."

"They, I mean its a lot British."

"The team on right now is from Bolivia."

"Okay, yeah Bolivia!" Booth smiled, pumping his fist. "Or whoever Sweets likes, yeah!"

"Booth, stop, just stop." Sweets laughed, settling into his seat, eyes looking distant for just a second. "D-... Do you think Gary liked soccer?"

"Wha-Oh man..." Booth sighed, pulling his finger through his hair. "Well the guy was British, and its a thing there. He seemed like a soccer guy."

"Yeah, he did have a soccer vibe about him." Sweets smiled. "Did I ever tell you that I played soccer as a kid?"

"What? No, man that's crazy!" Booth laughed, smacking his arm. "I thought you were just a swimmer!"

"Well I played as a kid, it was the first social thing I ever did." Sweets chuckled. "Kenny and Bob talked me into it."

"Who?" Booth smiled, picking his drink up and turning to the younger man.

"Two neighbor kids." Sweets smiled, looking to be thinking back to something.

"Right...?"

"So, uh, we going to watch a game or what?" Sweets cleared his throat awkwardly, a small smile still gracing his lips.

"Yeah, turn it on." Booth grinned, relaxing back in the couch.

"Alrighty." Sweets smiled, clicking the game on. "Cool, it just started."

The two fiends sat there, watching the game, happy to hang out with eachother, like friends. Everything seemed to be right with the world and for awhile, they could forget their problems.

After awhile, they got Gary's book published, much to Sweets happiness and slight discomfort. Everything was fine, because they had eachother.

THE END

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

THAT'S ALL FOLKS! Me and my cowrite worked on this for over a year. I'm sorta glad to be done with it, but sad at the same time.

This chapter isn't my best work but, eh... It's certianly something right?

Just a friendly reminder to check my new story Bones Works and make a request! Though, I'm already thinking of a one-shot to add already, but still, would love some requests on that story.

REVIEW!... If anyone is still reading at the this piont.