ok, so this is a new story im trying. Basically its the story on Brennan's childhood that nobody has any clue about, and so hopefully i can create it. Im not sure if it will work but I'm giving it a shot. Now, to some people this first chapter might be really boring, but i promise you, the next and later chapters will be better.

Disclaimer: I do not own Bones

For everyone's information, just so you don't get confused, this chapter isn't from Brennan's ACTUAL POV, i mean, she's not really eye-witness - its sort of like she's describing the past. It sounds confusing but hopefully it will make sense. The later chapters will be from her actual POV.

Hope you enjoy.


I was born in 1976 to max and Ruth Keenan. They named me Joy, after the joyful smile on my face, and the sparkle in my eyes. My brother Kyle was ecstatic to have someone to hold. He was only four years old, but he acted like I was a special toy – he was always looking out for me, wanting to hold me.

They dressed me in shapeless clothes, sat a knitted hat on my head, and slapped a dummy in my mouth. After a month of being born, I was already sick of all the smiling, staring faces, all buzzing over me like I was the newest piece of clothing, or a piece of chocolate. I didn't like it – I just wanted to be alone.

But as much as I wanted alone, I wanted my mother. She was the one who got rid of the staring crowd if she could tell O wanted them away. I had learnt to scrunch up my eyes if I wanted peace. I was a fast learner.

My mother and I had many memorable moments. She would take me out into the backyard, and sit on the tire swing under the lemon tree, softly singing me my favourite lullaby.

Hush hush, dear, close your eyes

And let me sing you a lullaby

About clouds and hills and grazing sheep

And soon, with them in your mind you will sleep.

The lullaby always worked, and I would be asleep at the third line. This happened most afternoons, and once I was asleep, Ruth would sit there in the breeze, and stay there until I woke up, careful to make sure nothing happened to me. It was my mother who influenced me. She introduced me to the dolphin, and ever since she did the dolphin was my favourite toy, and I would cuddle it every night when I went to bed. My mother smiled as she saw her two of her favourite things together – a dolphin and her daughter.

I as also with my father a lot. He liked to make silly faces, and I would clap my hands and try to hold his nose. He would laugh and wave his fingers in front of me.

But after eight months, my parents started to go away, and I was left with the nanny, who sung the same lullaby as my mother, but it wasn't the same. I ended up in tears, screaming out my silent words to my mother. But she didn't come back some days, only dad did. But I couldn't voice my thoughts, so I had to endure the loneliness in agony.

My brother Kyle did everything he could. He played with me almost everyday. He made me smile when my parents weren't there, and he would run around, with me trying to crawl after him. I was a fast learner, and soon learned all his tricks of his circling running pattern, and so cut him off. He was amazed at my learning ability, and told his mother. But I was silent.

My first birthday was a disaster. My dad had bought a train cake – I didn't even like trains! The room was too crowded, and soon I was screaming for space, and my mother took me outside, hushing me in her soft voice.

A few days after my first birthday, I took my first steps. It was easy, like second nature. I was so glad I didn't have to crawl everywhere now – I had a new source of transport!

The years went by. Not too long after my walking I started to talk. Now my parents had heard me, they were truly amazed at my ability. My vocabulary expanded, and at two years I could talk staggered sentences – only using the basic "mama" and "papa" mind you. But I was happy. I could finally communicate.

My life was pretty good. I had many happy memories, and I had a big collection of dolphins. My only troubling memory was that windy summer afternoon.

Kyle was on the swing. I was in my mother's arms, watching him. My dad came out from the house, and went over to Kyle. He stopped the swing.

"Son, I need you to listen to me. You are no longer Kyle Keenan – you are now Russ Brennan."

"But why, Dad?"

"I tell you when you're older, son. Now just repeat after me. Russ Brennan. Russ Brennan. Russ Brennan."

"Russ Brennan. Russ Brennan. Russ Brennan."

"Good, son! Now, if anyone asks, my name is Matthew Brennan, and your mum here is Christine, and your sister, Temperance. Is that clear?"

"Ok, but why?"

"Never mind. When you're older. Now let me push you on the swing!"

Nothing more was said after that incident. My parents called us by our new names, never saying why or bringing up the change. I quickly forgot that moment, as they were replaced with happier, more joyful memories.

Before I knew it, I was 4 years old, and my vocabulary had expanded immensely. My parents and all there friends were shocked, yet excited. They knew I would grow up to be a smart child.

And then it was the day before I was doomed to start school. I was very nervous, and talked to my mum.

"Mummy, why do I have to go? Can't I stay here with you?"

My mother stroked my deep brown locks out of my face. "You'll be fine, honey. Take your dolphin with you."

I still had my dolphin – the dolphin I'd had since birth. It had become my good luck omen, and I took it everywhere with me. I planned to take it the next day. "You might even make some friends!" she said, trying to console me. I nodded glumly, and walked to my room.

The next day mum dressed me in my uniform. I disliked it at once. She filled my black backpack with snacks and books, and tied up my shoes, then kissed me on the head.

"You'll be catching the school bus with Russ. He'll show you where to go." Russ had been going to school for a few years now, and came to hold my hand as we walked out of the door.

On the bus, everyone was whispering about me, the new kid. Until Russ spoke up. "Yeah, guys, this is my little sister, Temperance. You make fun of her, you're facing me." Everyone was silent after that. Russ was always the friendly type, but he liked to make sure his little sister was safe.

The first day of school was disastrous. I was scrawnier then all the other kids and they made fun of me. I didn't talk to anyone, and no-one came to talk to me. The only person I liked was the teacher, and she was the only one who received my smile. I didn't try to be mean or anything, but I was just nervous. I didn't like chaos or meeting new people. I just wanted to be at home with Russ, my mum and my dad. Our perfect family.

After a few months at school, I had a friend, Julie. She was polite, and though I didn't talk very much, we soon became very close. She asked about the dolphin I always carried around either in my hands or in my backpack. I told her it was a gift from my mother. She showed me her own gift omen – a giraffe, which she too held close. We became the best of friends, and our lunch times were often either filled with chatter or silence. She had a few friends as well, and she introduced me to them. I became close to them, too, but not as close as Julie. I knew that she would always be my friend.

My class work was neat, and I was often top of the class – especially in colouring. I had never been one for art, but I was the only one in my class who could colour inside the lines – not that that was really much of an achievement.

A few years went past. I made more friends, though I never had many more then three or four really close ones, including Julie. But I felt loved. Not in a way like my family, but loved like I felt included in the world, and not just an outcast. But as much as I felt loved, I also felt kind of lonely. Some days I wouldn't say anything at all, and for no reason. I wasn't angry at anyone or anything. But inside I just felt lonely, even though I was surrounded by my friends. The only person who could really bring me out of my shell was Julie, and I would be brought back to the real world of friends and life. She didn't comment on my silence, and accepted it, which I was grateful for.

But I knew that the troubles in my life were still to come. I was coming dangerously close to third grade – and it had been rumoured that the third grade was the grade where everyone made fun of you. I knew that I would be a main target – I was still very thin, and my brown hair was long down my back. I as the typical 'nerd'. But I didn't care. This was how I was, and if nobody accepted me that way, then that was fine.

But as long as I had my dolphin, I was happy.


Please review and tell me what you think, whether its worth continuing. As i said, the next chapters will be better - i just had to start from the beginning. So, yea, please click that little green button and write a comment, idea, critical comment, anything.

Thanks for reading!

P.s. Julie's little toy is a giraffe coz im obssessed with giraffes. Little bit of trivia for you there!