I don't own Bones, I know I have 206 in my body, but the Bones from Fox isn't mine.

Thank-you for all the story alerts and reviews, I think I am going to enjoy writing this one.

Kelsey

They both knew what they had to do. They had to help the child. It was possible that they would be done in time; it was possible that they could still go to the museum; it was possible that Kelsey's first day of vacation wouldn't be ruined.

However, possibilities didn't always work out.

As they arrived at her bedroom door, Booth looked at Brennan.

"Remember we made a deal when I went back to field work, she doesn't need to know what happened."

"But how are we going to explain our need to work?"

"I'll think of something."

"What?"

"I don't know, just let me do this."

"As you wish."

Booth stopped and looked at her.

"Did you just use a metaphor?"

"I don't know did I?"

Booth saw a sly smile cross her lips, as she turned and knocked on Kelsey's door.

.

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As they entered her room, they noticed that she was lying on her stomach, and writing in her journal. Just what I need another author in the house, Booth thought. He sat on one side of her bed, as Brennan sat on the other.

"Kelsey, you know I don't like you slamming doors." Booth said.

"I know."

"What's wrong?"

"You're going to work."

"We didn't say that."

"But when both phones ring, you go to work. I'm not stupid, Dad."

She continued writing, not turning to look at them. Brennan ran her hand over her back. Kelsey twisted to knock it away.

"Kelsey, please don't be mad at me."

"Today was supposed to be our day. When you came back, I didn't get to skip even one day of school, because you said it was important., and then most weekends you worked on the case or were too scared to do anything fun. I have never had a fun day alone with both of you. It's not fair; work always comes first. I want to be first."

Brennan noticed tears falling onto the page in front of her.

"Kelsey, come here, I need a hug."

Brennan knew it was cheating, but she asked anyway. Kelsey never refused her a hug. She turned to look at her mother.

"That's cheating, Mom."

However, she moved into her arms, and held her close, the tears falling freely.

"Sweetheart, this one's important. I didn't tell Cam yes, yet, but I need to do this. Please let me go."

"You mean it's my decision?"

"Yes, I promised you that today was your day, so you decide."

Booth groaned and put his hand over his face.

"Bones."

"Then I want you to stay home, and take me to the museum."

"First, let me explain what's happening, and then you can make an informed decision. You know how important it is to have all the facts."

"BONES."

"Yes, Mom I do, but I also know that by the time we are done talking, I will agree with you, because you are way too persuasive, so just tell where you need me to go."

Brennan's heart sunk. Her daughter knew her so well in just the few months they had spent together.

"Kelsey, please listen, I don't want you mad at me."

"I'm not mad Mom, I really do understand. It's just sometimes it isn't fair. The dead get more time with you than I do. Parker explained it to me. I know you need to do this; you need to help the victims. I can understand, but still be disappointed."

Brennan realized that her child was way too pessimistic for her six years, and she wondered if her cynical nature came from the life that she led up to this point. How would she ever help her daughter regain her childhood?

.

Kelsey saw the look of devastation on her mother's face, and realized that she had upset her. She didn't want her mom to feel bad, but she wanted a family like other kids. The kids in school talked about their weekends with their parents, and the time they spent together. Time she craved deep within her heart.

She turned back to writing.

"Who's going to watch me?"

"Well you have a choice, you can go to Jack and Angela's and stay with their nanny, or you can go to the daycare at the lab."

Brennan thought she would pick Jack and Angela's, because she loved spending time with Michael.

"Can I come with you and wait in the car? I won't look."

She knew her dad would say no, but she had to ask.

"Kelsey, you know you can't come. It's not an appropriate place for children."

"I know Dad, I was just hoping. I thought we could leave from the crime scene and go straight to the museum."

"No, Kelsey."

"Then I guess I'll go to Aunt Angela's."

They heard the disappointment in her voice.

Brennan pulled her close again.

"I'll be quick, I promise."

"Ok. Can we still have pancakes?"

"I'll start them if you get dressed quickly." Booth answered.

She jumped out of bed, and started dressing.

Brennan followed Booth back to their room.

"Booth she's so cynical. Do you think it's because she knows too much about death?"

Booth stopped just inside the doorway and pulled her into his arms.

"I don't know. She really isn't exposed to it. I have kept her very sheltered over the years."

"I don't know. I just worry about her."

"So do I."

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Kelsey watched as her parents left the room, and then let the tears fall. She wanted a mother all her life, and now that she had one, it wasn't what she had dreamed. Her mom was obsessed with work. That was a new word that she learned this week, obsessed. It meant to preoccupy the mind excessively. Yep that's her mom; obsessed.

She pulled on her pants and shirt, dried her tears, and went downstairs. She didn't believe they would be doing anything today. Her dad would come home, but her mom would go to the lab. Her father was great, he always spent time with her, and he took her places, but she wanted a complete family; that was the reason she wanted her mother to come back.

Within minutes, Kelsey joined them in the kitchen. Her eyes were red, and Brennan knew she had been crying again. She wondered how someone learned to be a good mother. When her memories returned, she remembered how to be an anthropologist, but she had never been a mother before, and no matter how many book she read, she still didn't get it right.

If motherhood had been a class in college, she would have failed, and she never failed at anything before. Kelsey interrupted her thoughts with another one of her unusual facts.

"Did you know that you can't hold your breath until you die?"

Booth looked at her in shock.

"What?"

"You can't die from holding your breath. Without oxygen, you'll pass out in a few minutes. At that point, your involuntary breathing reflex will kick in, and you'll start breathing again, so if kids say they will hold their breath until they die, they are wrong."

"Whatever made you think of that?"

"I thought that maybe I could hold my breath until you decided not to work, but it doesn't work that way."

Brennan's heart hit the floor. Somehow, she had to figure out how to be a mother. They finished their breakfast in silence, and left to drop off Kelsey.

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