I do not own Bones or Booth or even Parker or anything worth owning really except from their daughter's character.
"Dear Lord, thank you for every day, all the toys, the food and mostly for butterflies."
Seeley laughs at his daughter words.
"Daddy you didn't say prayer."
"Dear lord, thank you for every new day you give me, for every moment with my beautiful baby girl but mostly for butterflies."
This time it's the little girl's turn to laugh.
"Daddy loves butterflies too." She beams at the fact her Dad has just admitted to loving butterflies.
"Indeed he does but not as much as he loves butterfly kisses."
He tickles his little girl, placing butterfly kisses all over her forehead, rosy cheeks and her lips. Her laugh echoes around the room and Seeley laughs in between his attack of kisses.
"Daddy stopppp…" She manages between giggles, her brown curls bouncing at the side of her face.
"You don't like Daddy's butterfly kisses?"
"Your face is tickly." She giggles loudly as he places another kiss on her cheek.
"I guess Daddy needs a shave huh?"
She reaches her small hand up and strokes her Daddy's chin.
"Mommy wouldn't like that, she loves your tickly bits."
"I'll leave it a few days then. A few days aren't going to hurt are they?!"
The little girl looks lovingly into her Father's eyes, hanging on every word he says. He could tell her the sky is green and she'd believe him, even though looking out the window would in fact prove it is blue.
"Ok then little one it's time for bed."
He picks up the little girl and places her under the covers before showering her in the butterfly kisses he loves so much. She leans forward and plants a big kiss on his lips before laying back down. Her tired eyes flutter closed and he smiles, content with the moment.
"I love you Daddy."
Seeley stops in the doorway, looking back towards the bed.
"But not as much as butterflies."
Butterfly kisses after bedtime prayer
Stickin' little white flowers all up in her hair
"Walk beside the pony Daddy, it's my first ride
I know the cake looks funny Daddy but I sure tried"
Oh, with all that I've done wrong, I must have done something right
To deserve a hug every morning and butterfly kisses at night
"Daddyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy"
Seeley looks up from the kitchen sink to see his daughter running in with tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Chelsea, sweetie what's wrong?"
"All the flowers are gone."
"What? If that dog has been digging up my garden, I swear…."
"No Daddy all the flowers are gone from my hair."
She points to her curls and Seeley smiles, internally thankful that the dog he never wanted hadn't destroyed his garden. Years ago he'd never seen himself having a dog or even giving in to getting one. He'd constantly told Parker that he could not and would not get him a dog for his birthday but there was something about the look on that little girl's face as she pleaded with him. The simple fact is that Chelsea Angela Booth has him wrapped around her little finger and of course it hadn't helped that his wife had sided with their beautiful baby girl.
"Well Daddy can fix that for you."
"Not with those hands, you'll get all bubbles in my hair."
"Right, of course. Silly Daddy."
Chelsea giggles and runs outside as Seeley washes his hands off and heads into the garden. Their chocolate Labrador runs up to greet him, he still hasn't managed to teach him not to jump up.
"Get down. Down Butterfly, that's a good boy."
Of course after being convinced, no pressured into getting a dog he was less than impressed at the suggestion of calling him Butterfly. Well it wasn't a suggestion, it was more of a "Daddy, Mommy and I have decided to call him Butterfly." He would have quite honestly been more comfortable with calling him rover or even princess because Butterfly is not and never will be a dogs name.
Walking the dog in the park had caused him many embarrassing moments. Luckily for him Parker did not share the enthusiasm of the girls in their life for calling him Butterfly and he was equally embarrassed that one day in the park.
Butterfly had seen another chocolate lab across the other side of the park which had lead to a high speed chase. Seeley and Parker had run with everything they had to catch up with the dog and when they finally did they were totally breathless.
"Hey butterfly…." Seeley had managed to get out.
He was rewarded by a slap from the young woman who was trying to get her own dog back on the lead and away from the man in front of her with his lame chat up lines. Parker was hysterical as he tried to tell her the truth.
"Butterfly is the dog's name." He'd choked out through his laughter.
After some convincing the woman apologized and quickly left feeling embarrassed for slapping a total stranger in front of his child. Seeley and Parker were left to head back home and subsequently refused to ever take "that stupid dog" to the park again.
"Daddy!"
His daughter's voice brings him quickly back to present day.
"Sorry baby, bring Daddy those flowers."
He places the white daisies into her brown curls and watches her dance around the garden, her little white dress flowing in the wind and Butterfly yapping and running around her legs. He smiles and slips back inside to finish the dishes that had been pilling up for days. As he washes the dishes, keeping an eye on Chelsea and Butterfly from the window he realizes he got off lightly in having to get a dog.
"Mommy! Daddy! I saw a pony today. Can I have a pet one?"
"I'm not sure Daddy really wants another pet sweetie."
" Too right Daddy doesn't want another pet."
Luckily it was several months before Chelsea's desire to have a pony of her own resurfaced itself and Seeley was sure he was fighting a losing battle. Coming to a riding school was not on his list of things to do before he was forty but his wife had more than easily persuaded him after promising it would be worth his while and of course looking into his daughter's eyes he knew if he didn't agree he would break her heart. He stood at the side of the track, standing proudly behind his wife with his arms wrapped around her waist both were watching their daughter with joy.
"Walk beside the pony Daddy, it's my first ride."
Booth had protested to his wife that as much as he loved his daughter he did not want to walk alongside a pony called dewdrop, which of course in his mind was almost as stupid as the name Butterfly. She'd given him that look and pushed him towards the track, he'd dragged his feet in the dusty ground to prove his point but as soon as Chelsea smiled her amazing smile, his heart melted and he walked that stupidly named pony around the track with pride.
And as he washes up a mixing bowl he laughs to himself at the birthday surprise he got the year before and is extremely grateful for everything he has in his life.
"Happy Birthday to you, Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday my Daddy, Happy birthday to you."
Booth raised an eyebrow as his wife and daughter carried a cake over to him, complete with thirty-five candles. As the cake was put down in front of him he felt his wife nudge him in the side, this was a cue to pretend it looked perfect. He stared at the mess in front of him and cringed at the thought of having to actually taste it. The sponge was definitely burnt and the icing had evidently been put on when the cake was still hot as it had melted and was running off from the cake onto the plate below.
"Blow out the candles!"
He took a deep breath and blew out the candles, only managing half of them the first time causing his wife to chuckle and wink at him. With another deep breath he blew out the remaining candles and smiled at his daughter who had climbed onto one of the dinning room chairs and was resting her head on her hands with her elbows resting on the table.
"I know the cake looks funny Daddy but I sure tried"
"I don't doubt that honey. It looks delicious."
Chelsea screws up her face and looks seriously at her Father.
"You don't need to pretend Daddy….Mommy said it's the thought that counts."
" No it really looks yummy. I can't wait to try it."
He turned to his wife and stuck out his tongue.
"Get us a knife babe, I can't wait to try some of this amazing cake my princess made for me."
"I don't really think I fit the bill of a princess."
"I was talking about Chelsea."
He slowly cut the smallest piece of cake possible and braced himself for faking a good response. He lifted the cake to his lips and took a tiny bite, hid the reaction his face actually wanted to make perfectly and turned to the little girl. Her eyes were focused on him and she was praying that he'd like it.
"Mmmm this is the best cake I've ever tasted."
"Really Daddy, do you like it?"
"I love it"
Chelsea jumped up, totally unable to contain her excitement and did a little victory dance on the chair. Parker walked into the room, he grabbed the slice of cake from his Dad's hand and took a huge bite before almost choking and spluttering the remnants onto the table.
"Ugh that is disgusting."
"No it isn't Daddy lovessssssss it." The little girl whined.
"He must have lied, cause that is seriously gross."
Tears welled up in the little girl's eyes instantly breaking her big brother's heart. He'd run to her, wrapped his arms around her waist before picking her up and twirling her around in the air. She was soon laughing and kissing her brother's cheek, there was no doubting that she adored him and he adored her. As they ran into the garden Booth wrapped his arms around his wife and whispered….
"How do you feel about having another one just like them?"