Disclaimer : I do not own Bones but the characters are a joy to work with!

Song clip from Sunshine by Katrina and the Waves

Chapter 2

1 month later

"Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to RJ! Happy Birthday to you!" They sang, mom's clear voice perfectly on pitch, daddy's not so much. I pulled my pillow up over my head and groaned. It was still dark outside, I decided right then and there my parents, were evil. I felt a slight tug on my pillow and peeked out from under it. One little cupcake, with one little candle rested in my mother's hands. I sighed sitting up and brushing my matted hair out of my face.

"My birthday's not until Thursday…" I groaned.

"We know but make a wish anyway!" Daddy smiled. I held my breath for a moment, wishing upon everything I knew for a fact couldn't exist, for what I wanted. And then blew out the one small candle, on the one small cupcake.

"What did you wish for?" Mom asked.

"To go back to sleep." I muttered rubbing my eyes. My parents both laughed, although I found little humor in anything occurring at the moment.

"No can do Princess! Get up and get yourself dressed. You can sleep in the car." Daddy replied pulling my covers back and whisking me out of bed and onto my feet. I yelped, as my barefeet connected with the cool wood floor of my room. Instinctively jumping backward I landed on Daddy's feet.

"OW!" he complained picking me up and setting me onto the rug.

"Sorry." I slurred, shuffling to the bathroom; my mother already going through my closet to find me something to wear. "Where are we going this early in the morning?"

"It's a surprise!" his reflection in the mirror grinned as I set about brushing my teeth. I knew that grin. It was, what Aunt Angela called his leprechaun grin. It usually involved embarrassment for the recipient or on occasion something fantastic. I really, really hoped for the latter as I scrubbed my teeth clean.

I yawned as he left the room, yelling something from the living room about getting the car warmed up. I wondered why. Daddy and Mom's cars were parked in the garage and it was summer. I yawned again as my mom helped me get dressed. It wasn't that I couldn't do it on my own it was that I was simply to sleepy. I was vaguely aware that she had put me in my favorite pair of jeans and Einstein's Theory Tank top, before leading me out into the living room. I found the couch and snuggled into my blanket that Aunt Angela had made me; that I had somehow managed to hold onto.

It felt like mere seconds before I heard my daddy's voice again and felt myself being picked up gently. I breathed in deeply recognizing my daddy's cologne and settling my head on his shoulder. Had I been able to stay awake I would have asked again where we were going, but I hadn't.

OoOoO

The car ride was quiet. It wouldn't take that long to get to the airport. RJ woke up every few minutes mumbled something incoherent and nodded back off to sleep again. I looked over at my wife she was studying her cellphone watching for a phone call from Angela, she'd been calling since 4am and we didn't want RJ to get anymore suspicious than she already was. I chuckled quietly to myself as I pulled off the express way. The sun was peeking over the city skyline as we merged with the airport traffic. Max was waiting for us at the front doors like he had promised to be. I pulled up to the curb and climbed out taking the luggage trollie from him and moving to open the back hatch of the SUV.

"RJ. Wake up. We're here!" Bones said, opening RJ's door. RJ yawned and stretched. I heaved another bag into the trollie, waiting for the high pitched squeal I knew was coming.

"GRANDPA!"

I grunted, shaking my head to rid myself of the ringing in my ears. It was times like this I missed Pops and it killed me he wasn't here. I thanked god every day that he had at least gotten to see her, Hold her, wear his 'I'm the great-grandpa' button. I chuckled to myself that he carried the small pink button in his shirt pocket, right next to the blue he had from Parker's birth, from the moment I handed it to him to the moment he died. RJ had only been three when he passed away but I think she somehow understood what she'd lost, what I, Jared and Parker had lost. She had spent the funeral either tagging along behind Parker, or in my arms, or in Jared's. Angela had told me later it was like she was trying to figure out how to be in three places at once. I ended my train of thought. Today was going to be a happy day, and I was not going to be the one to ruin it by falling into a bad mood. Grabbing the last of the luggage I closed the hatch, walking around to join my family.

"What do you mean you're not coming?" RJ asked looking up at Max, a small frown playing on her lips.

"I'm going to spend some time with your Uncle Russ and your cousins." Max replied taking the keys I handed him. "Remember you have to share me, Pixie."

"I know but…it's my birthday." RJ whined.

"And when you get back we'll have a big family party ok Pixiestix?" Max offered smiling that well practiced smile of his. I knew it hurt he couldn't come, but as he had said when Bones had told him what we were planning, 'I made my bed and I gotta deal with it.' RJ hugged him goodbye reminding him to call her on her birthday. Max chuckled promising he would.

"Bye Dad." Bones smiled giving him a hug. "We'll call if we get delayed."

"Alright, get going you three." He muttered waving us off into the airport. I waved my silent goodbye and followed my wife and daughter into mayhem known as the Washington DC Airport. We maneuvered our way out of the crowd as Bones pulled out her cell phone again and started typing away. RJ looked up at me confused and I just shrugged. Suddenly a young man, well dressed and a smile plastered on his face appeared out of the crowd.

"I apologize for the wait Dr. Brennan." He breathed; he had obviously run across the airport. Quickly regaining his composure and taking trollie from me he ushered us forward. "Your jet is waiting just down the airstip."

We arrived at the courier desk a few minutes later and the young man disappeared into a side door. A moment later he returned with an older man, who too had a smile glued to his face.

"Ah Dr. Brennan we apologize for the delay. Please this way. " He spoke with a thick accent that I knew RJ had picked up on right away. Australian. I coughed to keep myself from laughing, Angela thought of everything. We followed the Australian through the side door and into an elevator. The luggage boy from earlier greeted us with our things and followed us out onto the landing strip. That was when RJ had gasped.

"Mom where are we going?"

"It's a surprise RJ. You'll have to wait and see." Bones laughed smoothing her air against the rough wind of the landing strip. As we neared the singular jet sitting all alone on the private airstrip, Jackie appeared in the door way.

"RJ! HURRY UP! THEY'VE GOT A PS3 ON THIS THING! MOM LET ME BRING GUITAR HERO! BUT DAD IS BOMBING ON THE SINGING! GET IN HERE AND STOP OUR EARS FROM BLEEDING!" He yelled.

"HEY! I HEARD THAT!" Jack's voice echoed from somewhere inside the jet.

RJ let out a cheer as my wife nodded her permission; our daughter actually seemed to fly up the staircase.

"Definitely your daughter." Bones said in my ear, before taking the stairs herself. I just chuckled following behind her. This had been a good idea all the way around. And I was glad Angela had thought of it. A few minutes later the plane rolled down the run way, and took off smoothly into the air.

I waved off the young attendant that offered refreshments. Settling into one of the unbelievably comfortable seats by the window I realized that being up for the last three hours with little sleep before hand was weighing on me. I closed my eyes prepairing to grab of few winks of sleep. I felt a whoosh of air beside me and cracked open one eye. Bones was sitting beside me adjusting her seat to her liking. I smiled to myself listening to the muted sound of my daughter belting out about walking on sunshine. My smile broadened momentarily before sleep over took my mind. Walking on sunshine just like she should be.

I'm walkin' on sunshine, woh-oh
I'm walkin' on sunshine, woh-oh
I'm walkin' on sunshine, woh-oh
And don't it feel good?
Hey, all right now
And don't it feel good?
Hey, yeah