Disclaimer: Don't own Bones, otherwise Caroline would be a helluva lot more puckish and would have BB going at it under the mistletoe!

A/N: This is the 1st story in my new universe, which remains unnamed by now. This is set in a near future, like a year from now. The following stories will follow the lives of our favourite characters as well as the new character I'm introducing. The future will be more focused on Parker and her, so…if you don't like futurefics, you can still read this one and some more, but probably won't like the rest. I know this particular story may seem a bit unoriginal but I have to set the bases for the future! Please understand! Where I'm taking this story, it's really needed for the readers to know the bases, so…:P

To hear about my other story in progress, see the end of this chapter.

This chapter is dedicated to all of my friends I met thanks to Bones. Thanks for being in my life, guys! (and thanks for beta'ing, Kerry and Manu:P)

Thanks for the awesome title suggestion too, Kerry!

And thanks, K, for being the best friend a girl could hope for and for being always so supportive! Love you!


She shrunk even more in the corner of the little dark room when she heard the locks. Resisting the will to cry and assuming the most challenging stance a 5 year old could muster, she prepared herself for the pain she knew was coming.

When the door finally opened, a kind-looking woman entered, instead of the tall blonde man she was used too.

The woman got closer to her carefully, crouched at her level and looked at her with concern evident in her eyes.

"Are you okay, sweetie?" The girl nodded. Although the woman had a kind and caring voice, she sounded unsure, awkward.

"Can you tell me your name?" Although the little girl sensed she could trust the woman, she wasn't about to just do anything she wanted. She knew better than that now.

"I'm sorry, sweetie, I didn't introduce myself. My name is Tempe, and that-" She pointed to a tall man who stood by the door. "-is my partner, Seeley."

The man smiled kindly at her and she had to push down the urge to smile back. 'You know better than that, if you're nice, they'll probably just end up leaving. Just like Mommy did.' That thought brought tears to her emerald eyes.

The woman tried again.

"We work with the FBI. We arrest the bad guys, just like we did with Tommy."

The girl looked up hopefully and pushed a lock of her red hair behind her small ear.

"Really?" Her voice was weak, probably due to the lack of use.

The woman smiled.

"Really. He won't hurt you anymore." For the first time, the little red haired girl smiled. "Can you tell me your name?"

The girl nodded, this time a little less fearful.

"Andie. My name is Andie."

"Nice to meet you, Andie!" She looked at the man behind her, who nodded encouragingly. "Now, Andie, I'm a doctor and I'd like to see if you're hurt…do you mind if we go outside? There's an ambulance and all I need, okay?" She offered Andie her hand, which the girl took and got up.

The nice-looking man smiled at them brightly again before leading the way. This time the girl smiled back.

"So, Andie, what do you like to play?"

He has a soothing voice, she thought.

"I like cars…and soccer." She looked down embarrassed. "At least I used too. Tommy says I'm a girl and so I should play with dolls and stuff. But he really doesn't let me."

The man's eyes grew dark and the woman squeezed her hand reassuringly.

"Well, Tommy won't be around anymore, so you can play with whatever you want, okay?"

The girl smiled brightly. "Really?"

"Really. When I was a little girl, I always liked my brother's toys better than Barbies and stuff like that. There's nothing wrong with being different." Tempe smiled warmly at her and Seeley let out a throaty chuckle.

"Well, I have a son just a little older than you, and I'm sure he won't mind if you play with him!"

"Okay…are you sure he won't mind?"

"No, don't worry. He's a nice kid."

"And cute too." The woman joked, making Andie blush.

"That doesn't matter. Boys are gross!"

Seeley looked at her, faking hurt while Tempe nodded emphatically.

"That they are."


A/N: So, should I continue? Tell me what you think, because otherwise I will write a whole universe based on this!

2nd chapter will come soon, hopefully, as it will the 5th chapter of Bets in the Office. My school term ends in two weeks and I'll try to wrap that story in the Holiday break, 'cuz I'm kinda tired of it. I'll try and update this one earlier, though.