A/N: I know Booth's mom was not a very popular character on the show, perhaps with good reason, but Reggie's kids looked at her as their mother figure, and I think that's perfectly natural. They were not at fault, so I decided to show some things from their point of view...

"Thanks for the coffee, Seeley." Reggie slumped at the table, looking much more frail than he had earlier in the day. "I feel better since we've talked things over." He stirred some sugar into the fresh cup of coffee the waitress had poured for him. "I mean, I knew things were bad, and I tried to hold it together a couple of weeks ago while Marianne was sitting next to me in the office when the doctor gave us the bad news. Today, though...today it was different. For some reason, it was so much more real…"

"I know." Booth stared out the window of the hospital coffee shop as he absentmindedly scooped up a bite of pie. "You'd told me what to expect when you called, but hearing it in person...Jesus. It's...I can't explain it. I guess I'd say it's a shock, even though I knew it was coming…" He shook his head as he glanced at the older man. "I'm sorry you have to go through this…"

"Just a part of life, you know? 'For better or for worse'...but I didn't think the worst would be so soon. We've only been married a couple of years. We've been together a long time, but it's different when you're married...well, you know that, don't you, Seeley?"

"Yeah, I do." Booth nodded in agreement. "I told Bones...my wife...well, I guess you know that, right? Her real name is Temperance, so Bones is easier sometimes…" They both chuckled as Booth continued. "We'd been together for a while before we got married, but somehow, after we got married, I felt like the sun shone brighter, the birds sang better, and the flowers smelled sweeter. Of course, she's a scientist, so she said that was BS, but I know what I know…everything was better after we got married."

Reggie studied Booth closely, listening as the strong, no nonsense man in front of him waxed poetic about the love of his life. This badass federal agent was a true romantic, just like his Marianne was... "I'm glad you've found someone to make you so happy. It's a grand thing to love someone like that, and to have them love you in return." Sighing, Reggie sipped his coffee. "I'll be able to remember that kind of love even when your mother can't, and that's what's gonna keep me going…I'm never gonna give up on her. I love her too much..."

Booth smiled as he watched Reggie square his shoulders and stick out his chin. This gentleman was a strong, resolute man, and his mother was lucky to have him on her side. "I'm glad to hear that, Reggie, and I appreciate it." Booth glanced at his phone. "Listen, I'm gonna go check in at my hotel…"

"You don't need to go to any hotel. We've got plenty of room at the house…" Reggie glared across the table as he folded his arms across his chest, daring Booth to argue with him.

"Nah...I don't want to impose…" Booth finished his coffee. "I'll see you tomorrow morning...about nine, right?"

"Well...my kids want to see you while you're here. Why don't you come to the club tonight and have dinner with us? On me? Please?" Reggie tilted his head and grinned in a teasing manner to one side as he waited for an answer. "We've got some of the best steaks in town at my place…"

"I appreciate it, but I gotta avoid the strip…" Booth hesitated for a few seconds before deciding that honesty was necessary at this point in the conversation with his stepfather. Exhaling slowly, he continued. "I have a gambling problem, and I can't be around the action at a casino."

"That's not a problem, son. My place is down on the boardwalk away from that kind of action. It's a supper club. We don't have any card rooms, dice tables, or slot machines. It's just me plugging away on my old piano, trying to entertain the folks while they eat their steaks and chops. Marianne sings...I mean, she sang…she used to sing..." Reggie brushed away a tear as he explained in his best Jersey accent. "It's a family joint, okay? No cardsharps and crapshooters allowed. So come for dinner, say about seven. That'll give you time to check in at the hotel and call your sweet wife. Come on, no more arguments…"

Finally, Booth smiled, realizing he was in no position to refuse. "Fine. Seven this evening. I'll see you then…"

Oooooooooo

Booth sat back on the bed in his tiny hotel room, closing his eyes as he leaned against the headboard. God, what a day...there was no getting around it. His mother's diagnosis was going to alter the lives of everyone she knew in a negative way. They'd all have to adjust to a new normal, because things would never go back to the way they'd been before.

He glanced at the time on his phone again and smiled to himself. Hitting speed dial, Booth called the one person who would be his anchor in this storm.

"Hiya, Bones…" Booth felt himself relax as soon as he heard her answer the phone.

"Hello, Booth. How did your meeting with the doctor go? I imagine it was difficult…"

"Yeah, it was very difficult to hear what the doctor had to say. My mom's prognosis is not good. Dr. Whittaker thinks she'll lose all of her memory and other cognitive stuff in about 18 months. Reggie is taking it hard...he's trying to be brave, but I know that even though he's trying to keep himself together, it's eating him up inside."

"Oh, Booth...that's so sad…" Booth heard Brennan sniffle a bit. "I feel so sorry for him."

"Yeah, I do, too. I mean, it's kinda weird, you know? I didn't have my mom in my life for a long time, and I felt like I'd done all my grieving over her already, but now I'm gonna lose her all over again, and I have to grieve for her all over again. Reggie is losing a woman he's loved for years, Bones...I know how horrible I'd feel if something like this happened to you. The fact that we can't do anything to help my mom makes it that much worse. We just have to watch and wait until she leaves us…." Booth sighed as he thought about how they would deal with the next few years. "Hey, Bones...what was the name of the doctor who did my brain surgery? Dr. Jersey?"

"Dr. Jurzik? He's a neurosurgeon, Booth. He doesn't specialize in geriatric neurology…"

Booth could practically hear Brennan rolling her eyes as she spoke. "I know, but he might know someone who is…someone who could look over my mom's records to give us a second opinion..."

"Booth, I looked up Dr. Whittaker on the internet. She's very well respected, and she's written several papers on the subject of various treatments for dementia. She's one of the best in her field, and I'm not sure Dr. Jurzik would know of anyone better…"

"Yeah, okay, but maybe you could ask him anyway?" Booth added a tiny amount of pleading to his voice.

Brennan smiled to herself. Even though she couldn't see him, she was sure that Booth was making his sad puppy eyes as he asked her to call the neurosurgeon. "Okay. I'll call him next week. So what are you going to do this evening? I'm assuming you will be avoiding the casinos…"

"Of course I am." Booth chuckled. "Believe me, I'll be on my best behavior. I'm going to Reggie's supper club for dinner tonight. My stepbrother and stepsister want to see me for some reason…"

"Well, that sounds entertaining. They probably just want to reconnect and share some memories. What time do you think you'll be home tomorrow?"

"I'm gonna go with Reggie in the morning to see the place, and we're gonna have lunch with Mom...I'll probably be back about 5:30 or so. Tell Christine and Hank I love them. And I love you, Bones...more than I can ever say."

"I love you, too...Booth. I'll see you tomorrow afternoon…"

Oooooooooo

Booth strolled down the boardwalk toward the supper club, watching small knots of people slowly move along as they talked or looked in shop windows. It was hard to miss all the bright lights and sounds that were associated with the casinos on the boardwalk, but Booth had left little time for sightseeing in his plans for the evening. He picked up his pace as he saw the flashing neon sign that marked his goal.

Reggie's Steakhouse

Fine Dining

Live Entertainment Nightly

Booth smiled at the hostess as he entered. "I'm supposed to meet Reggie and his family here tonight. My name's Booth, er, Seeley Booth."

She smiled in return as she cast an appreciative eye his way. "Of course, Mr. Booth. We've been expecting you. Right this way…" She led him to the table where Reggie and his children were sitting. "Enjoy your meal…"

"Hey, Seeley...glad you could make it." Reggie nodded to the man and woman sitting with him. "This is my son, Dan, and my daughter, Melinda…" Smiles, handshakes, and pleasantries were shared as they all seated themselves at the beautifully set table.

Booth glanced across the table at his stepsiblings. Dan was probably in his late twenties, taller than his father, and he seemed somewhat reserved. Melinda was in her early thirties, chatty, and heavily pregnant. She grinned at Booth as he took in his surroundings.

"This place probably doesn't hold a candle to some of the nice restaurants in DC, but we like it…"

Booth chuckled as he looked over the menu. "My favorite place to eat is what you'd call a greasy spoon diner. This place is just fine, and the menu looks great. I think I'm gonna get a rare New York strip steak and a nice baked potato with butter and sour cream. My wife's a vegetarian, and she's always after me to watch my cholesterol, but maybe what she doesn't know won't hurt her...or me."

They all laughed at Booth's joke as they got ready to place their orders. Finally Dan cleared his throat. "So you're married to Temperance Brennan, the author? Man, I love her books…"

Melinda giggled as she sipped her water. "I've always wondered where she came up with that Agent Andy guy. I'd sure like to meet someone like him." She arched her eyebrow at Booth. "You don't know anything about that, do you, Seeley?"

Booth nodded as he pursed his lips, recognizing the teasing tone of Melinda's question. "You mean, am I the inspiration for the superhero agent in her books? You know it!" Laughing, Booth explained. "My wife insisted for years that he was completely fictional, but I knew better, and she finally admitted it. I guess you're all really impressed now, right?"

"Oh, definitely." Reggie smiled. "Hey, look at the time. I need to get ready for my first set. You guys eat, and I'll catch up with you later." With that he walked over to the raised platform where the piano was located and began to play a compilation of old standards.

Dan, Melinda, and Booth all sat nervously as their meals arrived at the table. None of them had planned on having to carry on much of a conversation, and there were a few minutes of awkward silence before Melinda spoke up again. "You have two children, Seeley?"

"Three. I have a son, Parker from a previous relationship, a daughter named Christine, and a son named Hank." Booth got out his phone and showed them the pictures of his kids that had been taken the previous Thanksgiving.

Dan smiled as he looked at the pictures. "You're a lucky man. You have a beautiful family."

"I know. I've been blessed." Booth took another fond look at his family before he put his phone back in his pocket. "When's your baby due, Melinda?"

"In six weeks. It's a girl. One of the reasons I wanted to see you is...well, I was wondering...would you be upset if I named my daughter Marianne? Because if it bothers you, we can choose something else, but my husband is really fond of your mom, and we want to honor her…"

Booth inhaled sharply. This is so weird. My mom was their mom, too…and I'm just now getting to know them...and she loves my mom so much she wants to name their daughter after her…."I think that would be wonderful, Melinda. My mother will be so honored. My daughter is named after my wife's mother, and I think it's a fine tradition to carry on."

"We know this must be weird for you, Seeley." Dan focused on his plate as he spoke. "My mom died when I was really young, and when Marianne came along, she sort of filled that void for me, but I know...I know that you missed out, and I'm sorry for that…"

"It's not your fault, Dan...no use to rehash it, I guess." Booth bit his bottom lip, trying to keep his emotions in check. "I'm glad you have happy memories of my mom. How did she and Reggie meet?"

"Dad said he saw her singing in a club one night, and he said it was like getting struck by lightning...love at first sight, he always says. It took him about six months until he could convince her to form a work partnership...to be her permanent accompanist. Once she agreed, they started touring the Northeast...the Catskills, the Adirondacks, the Borscht circuit." Melinda smiled as she remembered those days. "We'd get to go with them when school was out. It was a lot of fun for us, wasn't it, Dan?"

"Yeah, if you like listening to the same songs over and over again every night." He pretended to grimace as he reminisced. "Your mom would make us read and recite the multiplication tables or state capitals as we went from gig to gig. Every day was an adventure during the summer…"

"Dan and I...we feel bad that we have these memories, and you don't, so we have some things for you, if you want...some pictures, press releases, stuff like that…" Melinda handed Booth a large manila envelope filled with old photographs and newspaper clippings. "Your mom was saving that to give to you, but she was afraid she'd forget, so she asked me to take care of it. And then there's this…" Melinda put a large album on the table between herself and Booth. "She kept a scrapbook about you...I guess your Pops would send her stuff from time to time."

Looking through the pages of the album was like traveling back in time. "Here's my Army portrait after basic training...the press release about going to the Rangers...news of my capture and release in the war...me and Bones and some of our cases...Jesus, this is unreal." Booth was speechless for a few minutes as he turned page after page. "Thank you for bringing this to me...you have no idea…" He was too choked up to continue.

Melinda reached across the table to pat his arm as she nodded toward Dan. "We'd like very much to be a family with you...if you want…"

"Yeah...it'd be nice to have a brother to help me when my big sister is bossing me around." Dan grinned slightly at his sister. "We'd like you to be part of our lives, if you want, but we would understand if you didn't want to, or if you want to think about it. We want you to be comfortable with the situation, too."

"I'm kinda overwhelmed right now with everything that's going on." Booth exhaled slowly as he thought about the idea of having an extended family. "I think it's a good idea, but I may need some time to get used to the idea. I really respect your father, and I appreciate how kind you've been to me, and it would be nice to have you as my family, but I may need to get rid of some old emotional baggage. Is it okay if we go slow on this?"

"Sure." Melinda smiled, obviously relieved that Booth would even consider the idea. "Whatever you want is fine with us. Take your time. We promise that we won't all surprise you for Christmas dinner. We'll call thirty minutes before we get there." They all laughed again as they finished their meal. At least these people are fun to be around, Booth thought. It might be good to have family members like this…

"Oh, listen, Seeley. Dad's about to wrap up his set."

"Ladies and Gentlemen," Reggie began as he played an arpeggio, "I want to dedicate this song to my lovely wife. It's one of her favorites. She can't be here tonight, so you're gonna have to put up with me singing it…" He played the opening chords and then began in a quavering voice….

Try to remember the kind of September

When life was slow and oh, so mellow…

Melinda glanced over at her stepbrother, and was surprised to see tears streaming down his cheeks. "Seeley, what's wrong? Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine." He tried to swallow the lump in his throat. "It's just...I remember my mom singing that to me as we danced around our basement when I was a little kid...She loves that song..." He picked up his jacket and phone, trying to brush his tears away. "Listen, could you make my apologies to your dad for me? I've gotta go. Tell him I said thanks, and I'll see him in the morning." With that, Booth turned and quickly left the restaurant before Dan or Melinda could stop him.

Melinda looked up at the platform where her father sat, and noticed the tears streaming down his face as well. She sighed as she turned to her brother, Dan. "With all that's going on, I'm afraid the tears are just beginning for all of us."