Booth pulled his handkerchief from his pocket and mopped at his eyes again.
"Oh Daddy, you old softie" Christine smiled and kissed his cheek. She walked over and sat in front of her dressing table and picked up a makeup brush and started touching up her face.
"I don't know why you wear all that stuff. You don't need it. You're beautiful just the way God made you baby." Booth said, sitting down on the chair in the corner of the room, watching her.
"Thankyou Daddy. Brian tells me that all the time. But, I like it, and it's my wedding day, and with all the photo's. Well, I don't want to look washed out. A little colour doesn't really equate to all that stuff" Christine said, laying down the brush and picking up her lipstick.
"Hrmmph" Booth grunted "And so he should" he said.
"Daddy?" Christine turned suddenly. "Can I ask you something?"
"Sure!" he replied.
"Well, you know we still haven't booked our honeymoon" she said.
"Your mother and I were talking about that this morning. Any reason? If it's money. Well, your mother and I can"
"No Daddy. It's not the money" Christine cut him off with a wave of her hand. "I promised him I wouldn't tell you. But. Well, we've been kind of arguing about where to go. We can't seem to agree on the same places. Every time we try to pick somewhere, it always ends up in a disagreement."
"But why? It's supposed to be a fun holiday!" Booth asked.
"I know. But you know Brian. He thinks that even though we are on our honeymoon, he could get in some research. I just want to go somewhere fun." Christine said, her bottom lip dropping.
"Why are you so angry?" she yelled.
"Why? Because sometimes I would just like us to do something without you having to ask some scientist if it's okay." Booth retorted.
" I don't want to fight in front of her." Brennan said, slamming her hand on the benchtop.
" Why? She won't be able to remember anyway according to you! Why are you so afraid to be spontaneous? Dou want Christine to grow up not being able to just jump into something feet first? " he yelled, instantly wishing he hadn't said it, but he was in too deep now.
"Oh, so now I'm a bad mother? " Brennan snapped.
"No! No. I'm not saying that at all. You always misunderstand what I'm saying." Booth said, sighing loudly.
Christine looked up at her father and then at her mother. Her bottom lip began to tremble.
" Well here's an idea. You put her to bed and I'll go back to work where being spontaneous isn't a requirement" Brennan snapped.
"No, wait a second. You're really not listening to me." Booth said, coming around to her side of the breakfast bar.
" Oh yes I am. You've been quite clear, Booth. Being rational makes me no fun and a bad mother. " Brennan's voice was starting to get pitchy as her emotions took hold.
Christine's blue eyes widened as she looked from one parent to the other, wondering why they were talking so loudly.
"I didn't say that! I said that you're not spontaneous. There's a big difference there!"
"Well how about this." Brennan grabbed her jacket and car keys and stormed for the front door. She turned and flashed her angry blue eyes at him " Is this spontaneous enough for you? Good-bye!" she yelled.
Booth ground his back teeth together and stared at his daughter. "Great. Just great." He muttered, looking down at his daughter. He noticed her eyes were glittering with unfallen tears of confusion. He took a deep breath and picked her up out of her high chair.
"Sorry baby. It's OK. Its all OK. Sometimes. Well, sometimes Mommy and Daddy have these talks that just get loud. We still love each other. It's nothing bad. Mommy just needs to cool off. " he said bouncing her up and down in his arms. "And Daddy just needs to learn to keep his big mouth shut sometimes."
Christine stared into his eyes. He felt as though it was Bones looking at him. "I know. I know! I shouldn't have pushed. But jeez. I just want us to have some fun time together. It shouldn't always be about working. We have a life here. At least I'm trying to have a life. I know Mommy is just dedicated. And she has a good work ethic, not that you know what that means, but it's a good thing. I don't think she knows how to just sit back and enjoy life, you know?" he said to Christine who gurgled and patted at his mouth with her chubby hand.
Booth smiled and sucked her fingers, making a funny noise. "Mnom, Mnom. Daddy's going to eat your fingers! Yes he is!" he said, making Christine squeal with laughter as she pulled her fingers out of his mouth then tried to shove them up his nose. "Woah! Perhaps not there." He kissed her cheek then blew a raspberry on it.
He sat her back in her high chair and strapped her in. "How about this? Daddy's just going to finish tidying up and then I'll clean you up. And then, how about we go for a drive to see Mommy and say sorry?" he said as he loaded up the dishwasher with their dirty dishes.
Christine giggled and banged her hands on the tray of her high chair in agreement.
Booth stared at Christine's disappointed face.
"Honey, I don't know what to tell you. Your mother and I had similar issues at times over the years, and it really isn't worth the angry words. You know, Brian is very much like her in that he's extremely driven and dedicated. And you have to admire that in a person. He'll come around. You just haven't found the right place yet." Booth said, smiling at his daughter.
Christine looked like her mother, but was very much like her father in personality.
"I just worry sometimes that he's not very. Well, spontaneous." Christine said, a tiny frown creasing her forehead.
Booth cringed at that word. "Oh baby, don't worry about that. Just get him to say yes, and you'll figure it out. Trust me. I know." he said grinning. "And that's enough of that powder stuff!" he added as Christine turned and picked up her makeup brush again.
