This is a Veteran's Day/Remberance Day story. I wish to thank all of you who have served and their families that serve with them. We owe our freedom to your sacrifice.

Thank you for reviewing my story. I really appreciate it.

I don't own Bones.

Ooooooooooooooooooooooooo

They were sitting in the Royal Diner looking over their menus, trying to decide what they wanted for breakfast. "Okay, Christine, do you know what you want?"

Carefully studying her menu, Christine shook her head. "Not yet Daddy."

The waitress standing next to him, Booth turned towards Brennan and hoped she knew what she wanted. "How about you?"

Placing her menu down on the table in front of her, Brennan smiled at her partner. "Since they don't make pancakes as good as yours or mine I think I'll just order the fruit plate with a glass of milk."

Pleased with Brennan's compliment, Booth looked at Marge and placed their order. "Okay, one fruit plate with a glass of milk, one three egg special, over easy with extra bacon and coffee . . . Oh and throw in some sour dough toast too. Thanks."

Christine placing her menu down, turned towards Marge and ordered her breakfast. "I would like the three egg special, over easy with extra bacon and coffee and sour dough toast. Thanks."

Amused with his daughter's oder, Booth shook his head. "No coffee Christine how about some milk?"

Sighing, Christine looked at Marge with very sad eyes and changed her order."Milk please."

Marge wrote down the order and patted the child's shoulder in sympathy before she walked away.

Concerned about her daughter's order, Brennan leaned closer to the child. "Don't you think that's a lot of food, Christine? That is more than you normally eat in one meal."

Shrugging her shoulders, Christine tried to understand why her mother was questioning her. "Daddy ordered it."

Rolling her eyes, Brennan glanced at Booth's amused face.

Booth decided that it would be fine and tried to assure his partner. Patting Brennan's hand, Booth used his charm smile. "Don't worry about it Bones, that's what they invented to-go boxes for. We'll take the left overs with us."

Oooooooooooooooooooooo

They'd watched the parade and when the Honor Guard had marched slowly past them Booth had placed his right hand over his heart to honor the flag and what it represented. Christine, watching her father, placed her right hand over her heart and tried to look as solemn as he did. After the Honor Guard had passed by, Booth had removed his hand from over his heart and grimly stared straight ahead, his thoughts on fallen comrades. Christine, seeing her father remove his hand from over his chest, removed her hand from her chest as well.

Christine looked up at her father and pointed across the street. "Daddy, why didn't that man over there put his hand over his heart?"

Reaching down and picking up his six year old daughter, Booth answered her truthfully. "I don't know Baby. Maybe he doesn't know he's supposed to do that."

Huffing indignation, Christine hugged her father. "I know Daddy. I know what I'm supposed to do."

His hand rubbing small circles on her back, Booth assured his daughter. "I know you do Sweetheart."

Ooooooooooooooooooooo

Brennan and Christine stood in the shade of the large oak tree while they watched Booth stand in front of the gravestone a few feet from where they were.

"Daddy is very sad, Mommy."

Sad for her partner, Brennan looked at Booth and then towards her daughter, "Yes . . . He misses his friend. Teddy was a very brave young man and your father liked him a lot. That's why he named your brother after him."

Holding her mother's hand, Christine looked at the little flags on the gravesites. "I like the little flags. I hope Teddy likes them too."

Booth, crossing himself after saying a small prayer for his friend, turned and walked back towards his family. Christine, seeing her father moving towards her, released Brennan's hand and ran towards her father. Booth leaned down and captured his daughter in his arms and swung her up. Holding her in his arms, he hugged his daughter.

Her gaze roving over the cemetery, Christine asked her father,"Daddy, can we go see Pops now?"

Nodding his head, Booth held out his hand to grasp Brennan's hand in his as she walked up to him. "We sure can Baby."

Puzzled, Brennan let her gaze move around the cemetery and as they walked away from Teddy Parkers' gravesite she observed, "Teddy's girlfriend didn't meet you this year."

Feeling a little sad, Booth shook his head. "Yeah, she called me to let me know that she had to be in Ohio today for her job, so she couldn't be here today. She said she'll see Teddy when she gets back."

Brennan felt she needed to clarify Booth's statement. "She'll see his gravesite."

Shrugging his shoulder, Booth glanced back at Teddy's gravestone. "She'll remember Teddy and see him with love."

Ooooooooooooooooooooo

Placing Christine on the ground next to him, Booth stood before the new gravesite. A tear falling down his cheek, Booth patted the gravestone trying to rein in his emotions. "Thanks Pops. Thank you for looking after me and Jared. I know you didn't have to do that, but you did it anyway . . . Thanks for being there when we needed you. I love you so much and I'll never forget what you did for me, never."

Booth wiped the tear from his cheek, stepped back a pace, stood up straight and saluted the gravestone.

Christine, weeping softly for her Pops, stood up straight and tried to salute like her father was doing. Holding her salute for as long as Booth did, she finally lowered her arm when Booth did.

Brennan, watching Booth and Christine honor Hank Booth, felt tears start to fall down her cheeks as well.

Turning, Booth saw Brennan weeping and walked over to where she was standing. Sad for her and for himself, he wrapped his arms around her. "It's alright Bones. Pops had a long and happy life. He had a lot of people that loved him and he was honored by his friends. He was loved and not everyone gets to say that."

Her tears still falling, Christine moved closer towards her parents and reached her hands up towards them. "Mommy . . . Daddy, I need a hug too."

Breaking away from each other, Booth leaned over and picked up his young daughter and held her tightly against his chest.

The child feeling a little smothered, complained, "Daddy, don't mash me!"

Her complaint caused him to laugh and for that Booth was grateful. He loosened his hold around Christine and looked at her indignant face. "Sorry Baby, Daddy got carried away."

Patting her father's cheek, Christine assured him, "That's okay, Daddy. I'm a big girl. You didn't hurt me."

Solemly, Booth stared into his little girl's bright blue eyes. "I'll never hurt you Pumpkin. Daddy loves you."

Hugging her father, Christine promised him, "I'll always love you, Daddy."

Ooooooooooooooooooooooo

She was standing in front of the gravesite. Seeing the little flag whipping in the wind, she felt a sense of pride at the things her parents had accomplished in their lives. Her mother had helped get justice for those without a voice. Her father had served their country in three wars and had risen up in the ranks of the FBI to eventually become the Deputy Director.

Proudly standing before their graves, Special Agent in Charge, Christine Booth stood up straight and tall and saluted the gravestones before her. "Thanks Mom. Thanks Dad. Thanks for serving your country and thanks for loving me and taking care of me. I love you . . . I'll always love you."

Oooooooooooooo

Happy Veterans Day and Remembrance Day.