Mom (Doesn't) Know Best

A/N This is my first fanfic. The idea has been floating around in my head since I saw "The Party in the Pants". I did not like the way Booth's mom dealt with the reconciliation-from springing her new family on Booth, or her speech to Booth in his office, which to me seemed a little self-serving. This is my way to deal with it. Told from Booth's point of view.

Obviously I don't own Bones or its characters (although it would be nice!)

Another family. She's had another family, apparently for a long time now. And now she wants me to be happy that she has had another family basically all lined up. She actually wants me to give her away at her wedding. She hasn't said anything about this other family until now-until this wedding.

And she doesn't get it. She talked about how great Reggie's kids are, and how they needed a mom. Did she think Jared and I didn't? She left us with an alcoholic, abusive father and she doesn't think we needed a mom? Were we not worth it? I love Pops, and I'm extremely grateful that he ended up raising us, but it would have been nice to know for sure she thought about us. She said at the park she did—but the truth is I don't know if I completely believe that. I was willing to give her the benefit of the doubt before she told me about her second family, but now? I'm not sure I can-or want to.

There's a part of me that knows I should have talked to her more and asked questions when she showed up, but you know what? I was happy to see my mom after so many years-glad to see her safe and happy. She got to meet Bones and Christine and it was one happy family. I still want that-but I'm just so angry right now, that I don't see it happening soon. Particularly since there's another part of her family I haven't seen, or met, or heard of until now.

How can she not see how big of a deal this is? How the idea that she's been someone else's mom without contacting the kids she actually gave birth to is making me feel angry and disappointed? What does this say about her-or about me or Jared? What kind of mom does that make her-or what kind of kids were we that our own mother didn't seem to want to be our mom? I get that she wouldn't contact us right after she left because she was scared of my dad, but it's not as if we just moved away from him-Jared and I have been adults on our own for a while. And it's not as if I've fallen off the face of the earth-Bones and I have made the news with some of our cases-it's not like I've been THAT hard to find. Plus if she had really wanted to contact us, there's always Pops.

So now the only thought running through my head is she wants to move on to her new life and wants my stamp of approval on it. I pretty much told her that wasn't going to happen-and I have to wonder-why would she think I would be OK with it? I haven't seen her for decades-literally-and she shows up, says she's getting married and wants ME to give her away-and by the way he has kids she's been a second mother to.. Really? And I should just be happy about this? And maybe I should be, but the truth is I can't. And right now I don't want to. Those kids got the love and attention Jared and I needed. All we got were beatings from my dad when he got angry. Reggie's kids were safe and sound-we weren't (at least before we moved in with Pops.) Jared and I both have some pretty heavy emotional baggage from that-I would have thought Mom would have understood that-but she's not acting like it.

So yeah, I'm angry. I hate this anger-it feels like I'm turning into my dad-and I never want that to happen. I don't want that for me, for Bones, for Christine, or for Parker. So now I have to figure out how to deal with this-and how to let this anger go.

Mom showed up at my office. I would have thought we said everything in the park we needed to, but I guess she didn't think so. I'm not ready to deal with this situation-with her. She told me kids tend to see their parents as doing no wrong, and maybe I did have that kind of tunnel vision when it comes to her. Considering the complete failure of a parent that my dad was, it's natural, right? She said she doesn't expect my forgiveness, but she's going to forgive herself and be happy. So only her feelings matter when it comes to this situation? No, that's probably not a fair assessment of the situation-but I have to tell you, that's what it feels like. And all the disappointment, anger and frustration led to my just sitting there staring at her. Like my dad. Damn, I feel like I'm turning into him just sitting here. I can't forgive her yet-I can't even manage to talk to her about this. About how it feels to know your mom had this whole other family she's proud of while she basically ignored her original family. No doubt Sweets would have a lot to say about this whole mess, but I don't think I can even talk to him about it.

Thank God for Bones (I mean-she doesn't believe in God, so I'm sure she'd have some comment about THAT comment-it's what she does.) She tried, in her typical squinty/atheist/anthropological way to make me feel better (weird that she of all people would bring religion into the conversation…) But she loves me enough to reassure me that I am NOT my dad. And if anyone understands trust being broken by a parent, it's Bones. She said her herself-that she still gets angry. I know, though, that the relationship with Max is important to her, even if it's something I suspect they've both had to work hard at.

It gives me hope that maybe I can eventually get past this. I do have a wonderful family now-including a woman who will reassure whenever I need it that despite my childhood, I am a better man than my dad. And maybe, someday, Mom and I can work through this quagmire and have a good relationship again.

I want that for everyone. I really do.

Love to know what you thought-I haven't written any creative writing stuff in YEARS, so I welcome comments (please keep it nice-even if it is critical!)