Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters or concepts. I am not making any money from this story.

A/N: I take full responsibility for any inaccuracies regarding forensic anthropology, FBI procedures, and inconsistencies with the show. I'm too lazy to do any research. This story is simply meant to be cute. So, enjoy, or read something else!

-

Dr. Temperance Brennan was in her office at the Jeffersonian doing exactly what Special Agent Seeley Booth expected from his favorite forensic anthropologist – squinting. Specifically, at what he could only assume was a bone fragment. Where her desk usually stood was a mound of textbooks and loose documents, three coffee cups, and a half-empty container of marshmallow Peeps. He shook his head and knocked twice on the door frame.

"Booth, I don't have time for a case right now," she said without looking up.

"What is that, mirrors? Radar? ESP?"

"Tin can telephone to Angela's office," she replied, eyes not leaving the specimen.

"Bones, did you just tell a joke? And what is this confection you're eating? If I didn't know better, I'd say we had an invasion of the body-snatchers on our hands."

Now she did look up. "I don't know what that means."

He sighed and grinned, walking to her desk to help himself to one of the yellow sugar-coated chicks. "Mmmm, a few days old, just the way I like 'em. How long have you been in this office, Bones?"

She shot him her customary glare at the nickname and tilted her head to the side to crack her neck. "I don't know, since Monday morning some time?"

"Well, it's Tuesday afternoon now, and I need a favor."

"Booth, I really don't have time for a case. These Guatemalan remains need to be identified, and I have to oversee a project for Zach, and my publisher has already called three times this week–"

He silenced her with a soft palm against her lips, succeeding more for the shock factor than the pressure. "Whoa there, killer. It's not a case, it's just a … favor. For an admirer."

"And just how did you select one out of your many devoted groupies upon whom to bestow said favor?"

"Funny!" he said sarcastically. "But this is actually for one of your admirers."

"Please, not another obsessed reader, I'm not in the mood for this."

"Well, unless you count Dr. Seuss, I wouldn't really say that…"

Booth's words were cut off by the cadence of sneaker-clad feet whose owner burst through the door of her office and wrapped one four-year-old arm around his father's leg as the other hand clutched a sheet of paper. "Daddy, the lady with the funny earrings drew this picture of me!"

Booth hoisted his son up with one arm and studied the quick but recognizable sketch with a smile. "Did you say thank you to Angela?" he asked. Parker nodded and turned his attention to Dr. Brennan.

"Are you the bone lady?" he asked. Brennan smiled at the epithet, but Booth turned to his son and pressed his forehead against the child's with a serious expression.

"Now, Parker, this is Dr. Brennan. Remember how I told you how smart she is, and how hard she worked in school so she can help us catch the bad guys?" Parker nodded again and wiggled out of his father's arms. Temperance came out from behind her desk and crouched so she could meet the gaze in his soft brown eyes.

"Hello, Parker," she said, extending her hand.

He shook it solemnly with his own slightly sticky fingers, then crossed his arms over his chest in a perfect imitation of his father. "Do you really have dead people in here, Dr. Bones?"

Temperance chuckled, and Booth sighed. "Parker's staying with me for the week, and he really wanted a tour of the lab. And I know you're busy, and I know … tours … aren't really your thing, but will you do this for me? Please?" He gave her his most adorable expression.

Brennan narrowed her eyes at him. "Don't even bother with the puppy-dog face. I'd love to give him a tour."

"How come you never say yes to me that quickly?" he asked.

"Because he's better-looking that you are," she countered, leading Parker out of her office by the hand.

-

A/N: Reposted to correct an obvious error in the first sentence, as pointed out by my 16-year-old brother. Thanks, K.