Thanks for giving my little story a chance. I really appreciate it.

I don't own Bones.

Oooooooooooooooo

Michael Hodgins had been invited to the Booth/Brennan home for a sleepover which was going to give his parents a little alone time. The kids were in the back yard playing in and around the small pool set up near the oak tree. Relaxed, Booth was sitting on a lawn chair near the pool playing lifeguard when the argument started.

Her hands on her hips, Christine started to yell at Michael. "There is too a Head Daddy."

Certain the whole thing was made up, Michael shook his head and sneered. "I bet you believe in Santa Claus too."

Their faces turning a rosy red, Joseph and Hank joined the argument. Joseph was outraged and took over the argument. "You better not say anything bad about Santa Claus. You'll get coal for Christmas, you big dummy."

Startled that things had deteriorated that quickly, Booth sat up straight and called out to the children. "Hey, no more fighting. You guys are supposed to be playing."

Furious with her friend, Christine huffily turned to her father and yelled back. "Michael says you made up the Head Daddy. He says he's make believe just like Santa Claus and the tooth fairy."

Annoyed at the boy, Booth crooked his finger slowly at Michael and glowered at him. Michael, a little afraid of what Booth was going to do, walked slowly over to where Booth was sitting and stopped next to his chair.

Booth realized the boy was afraid, so he was careful when he reached out and touched Michael's right shoulder. "Michael, why are you telling my kids that Santa Claus and the tooth fairy don't exist?"

He loved his uncle a lot, but he knew wanted to be honest with Booth. Looking at his feet, Michael cleared his throat and explained. "Daddy says they don't exist. They're just made up to amuse kids. They're for fun."

Sad that the boy was being deprived the fun parts of being a child. Booth shook his head and responded quietly. "Michael, I don't care if you don't believe, but I don't want you telling my kids that Santa and the tooth fairy don't exist. You believe or you don't believe. It's not your job to convince my kids that your opinion is the right one. Be a kid. Let them be kids. What you believe in and what you don't believe in will evolve as you get older. Would you like it if I insisted that you believe in dragons and that it didn't matter that you have an opinion about whether they exist or not? No you wouldn't. Let my kids believe in what they believe in and we won't insist that you believe in what you don't want to believe in. Okay?"

"I never heard of the Head Daddy." Michael stared intently at Booth. "Is he make believe too?"

Booth shook his head and continued to speak softly. "Nah, there really is a Head Daddy. Now you go play and act like a kid, you are seven years old you know."

Suddenly worried about their conversation, Michael placed his hand on Booth's knee. "Please don't tell my Mom that I told the kids that Santa and the tooth fairy don't exist. I got in to trouble last month when I told that to Mrs. Smith's son. I'm supposed to keep my opinion to myself."

Patting Michael's arm, Booth smiled. "Don't worry about it. Just don't talk about Santa, the tooth fairy or the Head Daddy around my kids and we'll be okay."

Relieved, Michael ran back towards his friends and started a game of tag. All was forgiven in the kid world since Michael talked to Booth and Booth was smiling at them. Christine, Joseph and Hank had known that their father would straighten out Michael.

Oooooooooooooooooo

The next Monday morning, Booth stalked in to the Lab and down the hallway to Hodgins' office. Entering Hodgins' office, Booth walked over to where Hodgins was sitting and slammed down a binder on the table next to the entomologist. Startled, Hodgins jumped up from his chair and backed away from Booth's glaring scowl.

"What the Hell, Booth? What are you so mad about?"

His arms folded across his broad chest, Booth spoke forcefully. "Michael tried to convince my kids this weekend that there isn't a Santa Claus, a tooth fairy or a Head Daddy. You can take your kids childhood away from him, but by God my kids are not going to be collateral damage."

His throat very dry, Hodgins swallowed. "Listen man, I did not tell Michael Vincent that there wasn't a Santa Claus or a Tooth Fairy that was his idea. When he told me he didn't believe in them any more he asked me why little kids are told about make believe people and I told him that it's just for fun. Michael has been told not to talk to other kids about Santa or any other make believe cultural figures in our society . . . Wait, what the hell is a Head Daddy?"

"That is what I brought you the binder for." Booth was in the least molified by Hodgins' explanation. "There is a guy out there called the Head Daddy. He makes rules that the Daddy's of this world are supposed to teach their kids to keep them safe. You will memorize the rules in this book. You will show them to Michael Vincent, you will get him to memorize them and you will do that today. I don't want any more bullshit from you I just want your cooperation."

Pursing his lips, Hodgins picked up the binder and flipped through the pages. Once he had read each rule, Hodgins looked up and complimented Booth, "Hey these are pretty good rules. Why do I have to pretend some Head Daddy sent them to you? I mean I wouldn't mind taking credit for this idea."

Unimpressed with Hodgins cluelessness, Booth shook his head. "Because if we aren't making the rules then our kids won't be mad at us when they don't like the rules. I know for a fact you hate to travel in airplanes because of all of the rules travelers are forced to follow. You don't know who made the rules, but you know you hate the guy, right? . . . If you knew who it was you'd probably be in the guys face complaining and telling him that you hated his rules and you didn't want to comply . . . Well you don't know who it is so you follow the rules because you were told you have to . . . Get it, the Head Daddy takes the flack, we don't."

Impressed, Hodgins grinned at the Agent. "Cool. How often do you add rules?"

Booth answered truthfully. "We try not to go overboard. I started out with the first three. Bones and me added one each after that."

"If I'm going along with this, can I add rules to the book?" Hodgins wanted to make sure he was a partner in this book.

Suspicious, Booth wasn't sure he liked the sound of Hodgins adding crazy ass rules. "Like what?"

Hodgins shurgged his shoulders. "I don't know. I just want to know . . . If I get an idea can I add to the rules?"

Unfolding his arms, Booth looked at the book and then back at Hodgins. "Tell you what, you want to add a rule, run it past me and Bones. If we can come to a consensus then we'll add it. I'll let you have a say in any rules we want to add."

Pleased, Hodgins jutted out his hand towards the Agent. "Deal, man. You know for a guy with average intelligence this is pretty good."

Certain he'd been insulted, Booth scowled at the smaller man. "You need to work on your compliments there pal. There isn't anything wrong with being average."

Withdrawing his hand, Hodgins started to worry that he'd pushed the wrong button. Swallowing, Hodgins started to stammer. "Sure, average is cool besides I don't really think you're average . . . not really . . . I mean you're probably above average, yeah . . . I don't know why I called you average, I was telling . . ."

Irritated, Booth held up his hand. "Stop . . . God, you really need to learn how to take constructive criticism. It's not like I'm going to shoot you when you say the wrong thing. If I was going to do that it would have happened before now. That boat really sailed a long time ago."

Giving Booth a sick smile, Hodgin glanced nervously at the door and wished someone would walk in. "Thanks, I think."

Oooooooooooooooooo

So, Hodgins is in on this one. I hope Booth doesn't regret it.