tAN- I'm back… I will eventually finish "The Shift in the Relationship," but I just wasn't feeling it… so much so that I found it difficult to write anything else. So, I thought I would try to get back to my roots in order to get those creative juices flowing. So, for this story I thought I'd start with something familiar. This is a follow-up to/continuation of the "Marriage in the Mission" and "Family in the Fieldwork" series. I don't know that you have to have read or re-read those stories for this one to work for you- but the "reality" in this story is much different than that on the show.
It's been so long since I've written anything, I'm really going to rely on you to let me know if this is something you want to see. The length of the story will be determined by your response, but I do know where it's going.
This will be a fluffy, family tale… with a bit of business, and a splash of teen angst.
Big props to Steph and Rose for helping with the title, even though they didn't know that's what they were doing! LOL
Chapter One – Smiley Face Pancakes
"Chocolate chip pancakes? Seriously, Dad? I'm not a little kid anymore."
"Parks, it's the first day of school! It's a tradition. And it's your last first day of school…"
"…and Amelia's first," Brennan said, walking into the kitchen.
"We know you've outgrown smiley face pancakes, Bub," Booth said with a chuckle, waving a pancake turner in his direction. "But we thought we might carry on the tradition for your little sister."
"If she feels like she's partaking in a tradition that was important to you, she might be less apprehensive about starting school today," Brennan replied, as she packed her daughter's lunchbox.
"Mimi's freaked out about going to school?" Parker leaned in to quietly ask his dad.
"I think it's more like Mommy's freaking out about Mia going to school," he answered, glancing over his shoulder in his wife's direction.
"Where is the little princess, anyway?" Parker asked.
"She's upstairs with Matty. I think she's worried he's going to be lonely when she goes to school."
"He's one," Parker said, laughing. "I think he'll be okay."
"She needs to eat breakfast," Brennan said. "We're going to need to leave soon."
"I'll go get her," Parker offered.
"Thank you, Parker," Brennan said, following him to the stairs. "If you can bring her down to breakfast, then I'll get Matthew dressed and ready for the day."
"You got it, Bones."
Booth watched as his wife and son made their way up the stairs to tend to the youngest members of the family. As he did often, he began to reflect on his family. He knew that he was truly a lucky man. Parker had really turned out to be a great kid. He was taking accelerated classes, planning to major in either physics or pre-med.
He was terrific with Mia, a miracle considering how most 12-year-old boys would adjust to having a baby sister. Four years later, they went through it all again when Matthew Henry was born. Matty had been a surprise to everyone, but as usual, Parker took it all in stride and continued to be a great big brother.
He couldn't contemplate the miracles in his life without his thoughts turning to his wife. Bones had become such an incredible mother. She was strong, and she taught the kids the importance of academia from a very young age. Being the mother of two young children hadn't changed her rational nature, she was still his Bones. But there were times when she was what you might picture as the typical mother. She was more anxious than Mia about her first day of school.
Mia was smart as a whip. She had a smart mouth to go along with it sometimes, but her mother insisted on keeping her grounded and making her behave. She was becoming a polite little girl… and she was very protective of her baby brother. Parker had taught her how to be an elder sibling, and she took the role very seriously. Mia was very serious about everything she did. Even at five years old, she was her mother made over.
Matty was a happy baby, and everyone said that his personality reflected his father's. Bones said the baby had his bone structure, that he was definitely a Booth man. Booth had to admit that he loved hearing that from her, but even more than that, he loved looking down at his little man and seeing his mother's eyes. He truly was a gift.
Brennan came out of the private bathroom in her office and made her way to the sofa.
"Oh my god, Brennan," Angela said. "Are you all right? You look a little green around the gills."
"I'll be fine, Angela," Brennan replied. "I'm just a little nauseous..." She leaned her head back on the back of the couch and closed her eyes.
"I bet it was the Indian food last night," Angela went on. "I thought it looked a little sketchy."
"It's not the curry, Angela," Brennan answered without opening her eyes.
"No?"
"No."
"What's going on, Bren?"
"It's my birthday present."
"Your birthday present?"
"Yes," Brennan told her friend. "At least that's what Booth is calling it. You know that Booth and I went to New York last weekend to celebrate my fortieth birthday..."
"Yes," Angela replied. "And you still haven't told me about that trip."
"It was on the trip that the nausea started," Brennan told her. "It felt familiar, but I didn't want to believe it."
"No," Angela said, bringing her hands up to cover her mouth.
"On our way to my romantic birthday dinner," Brennan continued, "we stopped at Duane Reade to pick up a pregnancy test. It was positive. I got a baby for my fortieth birthday."
"That's one hell of a present," Angela said.
Brennan stopped as she and Parker reached the doorway to the nursery. She reached out and touched her son on the shoulder, keeping him from disturbing his little sister. They watched as Mia talked to her baby brother as he stood in his pack-and-play. The little girl was so solemn and so serious, it was all her mother could do to keep from laughing at the cuteness of it all.
"Matthew," the little girl said. "I am going to school today. I have to go all day, but you will be okay. Mommy and Daddy and Kelly will be here to take care of you. They'll play with you, too."
She reached out and touched they baby's cheek.
"I will play with you when I get home."
Parker looked to Brennan, smiling as she nodded.
"Mimi, it's time to come down for breakfast. Dad and I have a surprise for you."
"Really?" the little girl asked. "A surprise? For me?"
"Yep," Parker answered, scooping her up into his arms. "Mom's gonna get Matty ready and you and I are gonna go downstairs 'cause Dad made us a very special first-day-of-school-breakfast."
Mia giggled when Parker tickled her on the way out the door.
"Mama!" she called between laughs. "Mama!"
"I'm not getting in the middle of this, Little One," her mother answered, laughing. "You go have your special breakfast with Parker and Daddy. Matthew and I will be down in a few minutes."
She watched as they left the room and then turned her attention back to her little boy.
"Hey Dad!" Parker called out as he reached the bottom of the stairs. "Look what I found in the baby's room."
"Hey, Princess! Are you ready for your first day of school?"
"Yep! Do you like my new dress?"
"It's beautiful, Baby Girl," her daddy replied. "Did Mommy help you pick it out?"
"Uh-huh," she answered. "She said I needed a very special dress for my first day of school."
"Well, it is a very special dress and you look very pretty," he told her. "Now we have to get you fed. You know, Mommy always says breakfast is the most important meal of the day."
"Yay! Pancakes!"
While Booth got his little girl situated, Parker plated her special smiley-face pancake.
"Not just any pancakes," Parker told the little girl as he placed her plate in front of her. "These are very special first-day-of-school smiley face pancakes. Dad's been making them for me since I was your age. Now, you get to have them, too."
"That's right, Princess," Booth said. "Smiley face pancakes on the first day of school are a special tradition… and now you get to be a part of it, too!"
"Thank you, Daddy," Mia said.
"Be careful not to get syrup on your pretty dress. Maybe we should borrow Mommy's apron…" Booth suggested.
"Or Matty's bib," Parker added with a wink.
"Nah, Mia's a big girl. I'm sure Mommy won't mind sharing her apron," Booth said, tying the garment around Mia's neck. "So, Parks, are you picking Stephanie up this morning?"
"Yeah," his son answered around a mouth full of pancakes. "So, I should probably get going." He leaned over to kiss his little sister on the head. "Have a great first day of school, Mimi. You're gonna do great."
"Director Booth, your one o'clock appointment is here."
Booth looked up from the report he was reading when he heard the voice coming through the intercom on his phone.
"Thank you, Karen," he said, holding down the talk button. "Send him in."
He stood up and walked around the desk to greet his visitor.
"Special Agent Hanson," he said, reaching out to shake the man's hand.
"Director," he replied.
Even after five years, Booth still had trouble with that title. He knew it was easier to just say 'Director' than use his full title of Assistant Deputy Director, but it felt funny somehow to be addressed as 'Director Booth.'
"To what do I owe the pleasure of this meeting, Hanson? The squints giving you a hard time?" he asked with a smile as he returned to his seat behind the desk.
He tried to maintain a casual atmosphere with his agents, especially the Special-Agents-In-Charge. He ran his departments with a firm hand and the agents knew he was serious, but they respected him, too. He got results because his agents knew that he respected them in turn. He also tried to maintain as much an 'open-door policy' as he could, allowing for the nature of their work.
"No," Hanson answered with a smile. "The team is great. I have really enjoyed working with them. That's why I'm here…"
"Why did that sound as if it's in the past tense?" Booth asked.
"Because it's going to be," Hanson replied. "My mother is very ill," he went on. "She's suffering from Alzheimer's Disease and she can no longer care for herself. My sister has been taking care of her, but she can't do it on her own anymore. She needs round-the-clock care, but we promised her years ago that she would never be placed in a nursing home. Even though she probably doesn't remember, I just can't do that to her. My wife and I have decided to move back to Denver. Mom will live with us, and my wife will be there with her when I'm working. She and my sister will be able to spell each other during the day…" he paused with a sigh and looked up at the boss that he so respected. "I think it's the best thing. I really appreciate the opportunities I've had working here, with you and with the Jeffersonian team. But right now, my family has to come first. I'm putting in a transfer request, but I wanted to tell you myself first."
"I appreciate that, Hanson," Booth replied. "And I have great respect for any man who puts his family first. Whatever you need, you let me know. Do you need a letter of recommendation? I would be happy to do that. I can talk to the ADD out there and see if they have an SAIC position, I'd hate for you to have to step down on top of everything else."
"Thank you, Sir. That would be great… although, I don't really know what the situation is going to be like out there. It might be better for me to be in the field, not as many responsibilities as far as managing other agents…."
"… but the hours are more tricky," Booth replied.
"That's also true."
"How long until you leave?"
"Well, I guess that depends on the Bureau, Sir. We'll go whenever the transfer comes through. My wife's best friend is a real estate agent, she'll be taking care of the house so that we don't have to worry about making sure it's sold before we leave…"
"Sounds like you've got everything well in hand," Booth answered. "I'd like your input on who we should put in your position. You've done a great job with the squints, and that's no easy task. No one knows that better than I do. I'll talk to Director Cullen and Dr. Brennan. We'll start looking for someone to take over right away."
Both men stood as the meeting came to a close. Booth reached out to shake the agent's hand.
"Good luck to you," he said. "And my best wishes for your mother and your family."
"Thank you, Sir."
"What a day, huh?" Booth said, settling in to bed as his wife reached over to turn off the bedside lamp.
"It was quite eventful," she replied.
"Nothing is ever simple," he said, wrapping her in his arms. "It seems like there's always something going on. I feel like that old Morton Salt kid, 'When it rains, it pours.'"
"I don't know what that means."
Booth laughed out loud. It was nice to see that amid all the changes, some things never changed. Long ago, he'd realized that Bones was savvier than he'd given her credit for when it came to common phrases and the like. But he could still get her on obscure, and sometimes not so obscure, pop culture references.
"It's an old commercial, Babe," he said, placing a kiss on her temple. "I just meant that it seems like it's always something with us. And change comes in waves… big ones. I never imagined that my son would be starting his last year of high school and my daughter would be starting kindergarten on the same day. And now, we have to find a new agent to liaise with the Squint Squad…"
They lay in silence for a few minutes before he picked up his line of thought.
"…and before you know it, we'll be sending Matty off to school."
"Life does seem to be in a constant state of flux," Brennan replied. "But you learned about the law of entropy a long time ago, Booth. The world around us is constantly changing, and as humans we must learn to adapt and change along with it."
"And we do know all about that, don't we?"