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

Song clips : There She Goes and Kiss Me by Six Pence None the Richer, Away from the Sun by 3 Doors Down, Easier to Run Linkin Park, I Can See Clearly Now by Johnny Nash, and Lullaby by Shawn Mullins

Chapter 4

This was the most embarrassing moment of my entire life. I wasn't even completely sure whose hands I was holding as I slowly worked my way down the stairwell from the plane. They had blind folded me about twenty minutes ago right before we landed. All the windows had been shut. I really did not like not knowing where we were, but everyone was so excited about it being a surprise I just went with it. They helped me into some kind of car and caught the reassuring scent of my dad's cologne. I felt someone settle in on the other side of me, taking my hand again. I recognized the feel of the ring on their finger. Mom. I relaxed a little.

"Are you going to tell me where we are now?" I groaned, scratching at one of Aunt Angela's scarves. Apparently they hadn't thought of the fact I'd be able to see where we were once we got off the plane; and scrambled to find something to use.

"No." Everyone said together. I stuck my tongue out and they laughed. My dad handed me my ipod, already playing with music and I slipped in the earbuds. There she goes. There she goes again. Running through my brain. And I just can't contain. The feelings that remain. Grunting I pushed the next button. Kiss me out of the bearded barley. Nightly, beside the green, green grass. I sighed.

"Dad get it off sixpence, I don't want to listen to it." I stated.

"There it's on shuffle." My dad replied dropping the ipod back in my hand. I muttered thanks as another song more suitable for my aggravated mood kicked in. It's down to this I've got to make this life make sense. Can anyone do what I've done. I missed life, I missed the colors of the world. Can anyone go where I am? Cause now again I've found myself so far down, away from the sun. That shines into the darkest place. I'm so far down, away from the sun again. Away from the sun again.

I sighed quietly. Things were getting better even I had to admit that. Still there were nights I couldn't close my eyes for fear of waking up again in that metal box. I wondered briefly how Jackie had overcome it so fast. I knew about his artwork, it was still hidden in the bottom of my treasure trunk at home. Buried under old blankets and things my parents would never go looking for. He hadn't felt safe keeping them after his mom found them, and I had offered the hiding place. I hadn't looked at them, he'd made me promise not to; and I'd kept the promise. Still it seemed he had completely returned to normal. Where as I still had nightmares, I still got scared to fall asleep sometimes, I still slept with the bathroom light on.

Then there was my dad. I knew when he came barging through the door on the plane something was wrong. Aunt Angela had tried to down play it but I knew better. My dad had always been protective to a fault. Following Mom and I to school on my first day. I don't know what made me look back. But I had and I had caught him; and the look on his face showed he knew it. I had rolled my eyes and blown him a kiss. I smiled realizing I still remembered my first day of school, and I found that I was happy my dad was a part of that memory. I knew it hurt him every night he had to comfort me when I would wake up screaming. It hurt me too that I couldn't move passed it like Jackie had. I set my jaw, listening to the next song that had come on.

Something has been taken from deep inside of me. The secret I've kept locked away no one can ever see. Wounds so deep they never, show they never go away. Like moving pictures in my head for years and years they'll play. I bit my tongue, simultaneously pressing the next button. I needed to find a happy song and quick. I was not going to ruin this surprise they were so excited about by balling my eyes about in front of everyone. If my mother had taught me anything, it was to be strong for those around you not for yourself.

I can see clearly now the rain is gone. I can see all obstacles in my way. I can see clearly now the rain is gone. It's gonna be a bright, bright, bright sun shiney daaayy. I smirked and laid my head back; wishing the car ride would end. A few songs later I felt the car come to a stop, my mom releasing my hand. I reached out with my other hand and found my dad's arm. This was impossible. Why wouldn't they just let me see where we were? Get the surprise over with. I don't know how long we sat in the car before I felt my dad shift. He pulled my headphones loose taking my hand.

"Ok Princess no peeking and no pausing your ipod!" Dad's voice boomed into my mind.

I'm fairly certain I could FEEL him smiling. I nodded replacing my ear bud. It was difficult to climb my way out of the car. I was hit by light breeze and unusual smells. I had never smelled anything so odd. Unfortunately I didn't have much time to process it before it and the breeze were gone. I recognized Jackie's confident grip as he took my other hand and helped lead me what I assumed was steps. We moved through the unknown and into an elevator, which I only recognized as it lurched upwards.

"GEEZ!" I snapped. "WARN ME!"

Jackie just patted my hand. They are all going to pay for this, starting with my parents. I thought scowling. We moved forward out of the elevator into a slow walk through nothingness again. Jackie warned me this time and I was prepared for the sudden upwards rush of the second elevator. It was not a very long ride before we were walking again. I suddenly felt cool fresh air on my face again as Jackie release my hand disappearing into the nothingness. I was outside again. Then I felt someone removing my headphones and the world around me rushed into my ears. The low murmur of the city not much unlike DC, air softly running past my ears. I breathed in. I smelled something, something almost sweet, and rich. Then ever so slowly I felt the scarf being pulled from my eyes.

"Happy Birthday RJ/Sweetie/Mini B!" Jackie, Aunt Angela and Uncle Jack said together.

As impossible as I knew it was it felt like my heart stopped, before leaping into my throat. The sight before me was unreal. There was no way I could be looking at this. I felt like crying, screaming, and dancing around like an idiot all in one second. There stretching out before me, christened in all its splendor, stood Paris; the Eiffel Tower shining brightly over the shops and buildings older than even my great-grandparents. I realized I had forgotten to breath and gasped.

"I'm…we're….." I breathed.

"In Paris!" Angela squeaked, giving me a shoulder hug and guiding me forward away from my parents. "Uncle Jack, Jackson and I thought you would want to see the Louvre instead of just watching those lame virtual tours at school!"

"I'm…we're…" I said again unable to think beyond the sentence I was trying to finish. And then I felt myself let go. I launched into her arms, repeating thank you a hundred times over and repeated it again with Uncle Jack and Jackie.

"Oh my god you guys it's…its….pictures didn't do it justice!" I yelled, grabbing Jackie by the arms and jumping up and down. "We're in PARIS! OH MY GOD WE'RE IN PARIS!"

"GAH!" Jackie laughed holding me down by my shoulders. "Yes we're in Paris…you have NO idea how hard it was NOT to tell you."

I laughed hugging him again, my face fell though, as I suddenly became aware of my parents absence.

"Where's mom and dad?" I asked looking around frantically.

"They were right here a second ago…" Jackie said looking just as confused as I was. Then I heard the small tinkling of metal. I whirled around in every direction trying to find the source. And then there he was, standing between my mother and father, the most beautiful dog I had ever seen. He was snow white, with the deepest blue eyes I had ever seen. I squealed, at least I think I squealed, covering my mouth with my hands.

"His name is Sasha." Mom said.

"Happy Birthday Princess." Dad grinned. I wanted to cry, he was perfect. I moved forward slowly, not wanting to frighten him. He was still a puppy after all. Suddenly Dad muttered something and Sasha sauntered forwards me, I froze. He circled me twice, sniffing at my feet, and my hands. Then with an odd air of determination sat down beside me and looked up expectantly.

I lifted my hand to his nose and Sasha nudged it over his snout. I chuckled rubbing his head and sitting down beside him. He stuck his nose right in my face and gave me a solid slobbery lick from the bottom of my chin to the top of my forehead.

"Gah! Sasha!" I giggled giving him a hug.

"Well I think he approves." Mom smiled.

"And I think she does too." Dad added.

"Thank you!" I laughed running into their arms and hugging both of them. "He's perfect!"

Everything's gonna be all right
Rockabye, Rockabye
Everything's gonna be all right
Rockabye, Rockabye
Rockabye