Summary: AU, Booth and Bones are married with kids, this story is through point of view of their fourteen year old daughter about the death of her three year old brother and the effect it's had on the members of her family.

Joey

The house seems so empty without him around, his joyous laughter used to fill our home with such life and now with him gone, the house has a sombre air to it and some days I don't think it'll ever be okay I don't think it'll ever sink in; Joseph's dead.

Joseph was my little brother, he was a sweet and funny kid, so full of life and now he's gone. Taken from us all long before his time. Joey was just three years old, too young for it to have been his time. He was the clown of our family; he was the one who could make anyone smile.

And now this house smiles no more. Mom and Dad don't talk about him, but I know that they miss him so much, I hear Mom crying at night and I see the pain in my Daddy's eyes. Kerry and Lee are too young to really understand it but I know the miss him too, they never fight anymore, not like the used to.

Parker took it hard, he never comes around anymore; he's always at his Mom's house I think it's too hard for him to be here, it's so hard for us all, but Parker and Joey had a bond stronger than anything, they were brothers in arms.

I guess in some ways I took it the hardest, I guess I blame myself, if only I had been watching him better, if only I had caught him faster, if only, if only.

It was all so sudden, Joey and I were playing outside when the ball rolled into the street, Joey chased after it and I called after him, tried to get him to stop but he just ran right out into the street, he was so small that the driver never saw him.

The sound of his tiny body colliding with car is forever etched in my mind, I can still see him all crumbled and still on the road, the sound of the sirens still echo through my head, I know it's something I'll never in this life time forget.

My little brother was taken from us and I know it was my fault, no matter what they tell me, I let my three year old brother run out into the street and he never came back to me again. And now I stand here, dressed in a long black dress, my hair done up all neatly, my eyes red from the constant crying, ready to walk out that door, to say goodbye to my brother.

I look around at the tear stained faces of my family, Mom was leaning against Dad, Kerry in her arms and Lee in Dad's. Parker and his Mom Rebecca stood next to them, Parker was sobbing and clinging to her, I felt my heart break just that little bit more.

Pops was crying too, standing next Mom's dad Max, I could see the tears shining in his eyes. Uncle Jared stood hand in hand with his new wife Padme, he was shaking and I knew he too was sobbing. Uncle Russ and Aunt Amy stood close by, their two girls Emma and Hayley hugged between them, all four crying.

The Jeffersonian family stood close together, there was not a dry eye in sight, and there was such a sense of pain and loss that surrounded us all. Music played and the priest spoke, but I didn't hear a word, my eyes were now glued to the photograph of Joey's smiling face.

It was time for me to go up there and talk, my mouth was dry, how could I do this, what would I say that could help at all, but my Mom's eyes on me made me get up there, made me move.

"Joey was my baby brother, he joined the family just after I met my Dad and gained my wonderful Step-Mother" I started my speech "when I held Joey in my arms for the first time, my world changed, he taught us how to live our lives with joy in them and now I don't know how I'm supposed to go on, how I'm supposed to live without him there to cheer me up, to make me smile when I'm down" I was sobbing now, Dad had left Mom's side, handed Lee to Pops and was now hugging me close.

"Shh, it's going to be okay, we can get through this baby, we'll do it together" he whispered in my ear and it made me cry harder, Joey's death was my fault and here was my Dad comforting me. Mom handed Kerry to her Dad and joined in on the hug.

"It's not your fault Darcy, it's not" she told me and I wanted to believe her, I really did but I couldn't, how could I? The tears kept coming, I didn't think they'd ever stop, but as the months went by, the tears dried up.

I sit at his grave; my fingers trace the words;

Joseph Henry Brennan Booth,

2007-2010

Much loved and missed brother and son, you were our world Joey.

"I miss you Joey, I'll love you always" I whisper as I walk away, and for a second I could have sworn I hear him say "Lub you Dee" but I know it can't be true, but I would treasure the words anyway, forever and always, Joey would be alive in my heart and mind.

A/N: so what did you think? Do you want more, perhaps the family's life going on after Joey? Review and let me know.