Saturday night rolled around, and with the help of Josh's new friend, Booth, he pulled together an impromptu party for his sister's birthday at the Founding Fathers. Their friends were gathering early and Booth was bringing Brennan a bit later. The Squint Squad arrived and all were excited to meet the two hidden members of Brennan's family. It was dark out before the partners showed up at the bar. Her friends and family were gathered around a couple of tables and drinks covered the tabletops. The infamous duo made their entrance and ordered the usual glass of wine and beer. It was loud inside the popular bar and the group's laughter only added to the noise. The party lasted well into the night and it wasn't until Brennan spied Kathy talking to Booth near the end of the bar when she suspected something was going on. She watched her partner and the woman she thought of as her mother shout to each other over the other noise, but Brennan was too far away, and her other friends were too loud to hear what they were saying. She looked on, ignoring what Angela was saying to her, as Kathy hugged Booth and placed a kiss on his forehead. She had seen Kathy do that to Josh and Aaron but it seemed different this time. Something had changed.

"Earth to Brennan?" Angela snapped her out of her thoughts.

"Huh? Sorry, what were you saying?"

"I was saying your dad and brother are here," Angela whispered urgently, pointing to the door behind her friend.

Brennan turned around and saw Max and Russ coming toward her.

"Dad, what are you doing here?"

"I can't come say happy birthday to my little girl?" he asked.

"Dad, you of all people should know when my birthday is. How did you find out about this?"

"Hey, Max. How's it hangin'?" Booth said from behind her. His voice made her jump and she turned slightly to look at him. He seemed calm in contrast to the other patrons surrounding them.

"Hi, Booth. Thanks for inviting us."

"Eh, don't mention it. You two want a drink?"

"I'll take a beer," Russ asked.

"Same. How are you, Tempe?" Max asked as Booth walked away and pulled her into a hug.

"Uh, I'm good. I'll be right back." She followed Booth to the bar, where he was waiting for the drinks. "Why did you invite my dad and Russ?" she asked him.

"Josh asked me to. He and Kathy want to meet them."

"Don't you think that'd be…"

"What? Awkward? Nah, once I told Max what was going on, he said they'd be here."

"Oh. I suppose I should go introduce them."

Booth glanced over her shoulder. "I think you're too late."

Brennan followed his gaze to see Josh and Russ shaking hands and Max hugging Kathy. She looked back at Booth, who nodded. "I'll be right there, Bones. Go ahead."

She ignored the encouragement but walked toward her family anyway. When she reached them, she said nothing and only observed the interactions between the family that abandoned her and the one that took her in.

"I see you've already met each other," was all she could come up with.

Max smiled at her and then looked back at Kathy. "Thanks for taking care of her. Can I ask…how much has Tempe you two about me?"

"A lot," Josh answered.

"What has she told you?"

"Dad-ˮ Brennan tried to interrupt.

"I know that you both abandoned her, that you both came back into her life without really even asking permission. But I know she loves you even if she hasn't forgiven you- Ow! Baby!"

"Stop it," Brennan said through clenched teeth. Josh gave her a glare and then turned his attention to his bruising shin she had just kicked.

"Everything alright over here?" Booth asked, handing Max and Russ each a bottle.

"Just fine, Booth. Say, are we in time for birthday cake?"

Josh smiled at his sister's father. "Birthday cake sounds good. Russ, they have the cake behind the bar. Wanna give me a hand?"

Her brothers walked away and Kathy pulled Brennan toward one of the tables. "Baby, why is this hard for you?"

"He's a murderer. I just don't think Josh, as a lawyer, should be associating with someone like him."

Kathy chuckled. "Whatever, Baby."

When Josh and Russ returned with the cake, they lit the candles in front of her and they were the first two to begin singing to Brennan. She hesitated for a brief second before blowing out the candles and everyone cheered when the fire was extinguished. Kathy and Angela cut the cake and began to pass it out.

"What did you wish for?" Booth whispered in her ear.

"I don't believe in wishing for things, Booth. You know that."

His smile lit up his face and it was infectious; she smiled too. "You wished for something, Bones. You had that same look on your face Parker gets when he blows out the candles. What didja wish for?"

She could feel his breath on her neck. It sent shivers down her spine, but Brennan didn't let it show. "I haven't wished for anything since I was a little girl."

"What did you wish for tonight, Baby?"

"You don't get to call me Baby," she whispered back. She wasn't angry, far from it. But her mind was wandering the closer his lips got to her skin.

"Okay, Bones. I won't call you Baby. But you have to tell me what you wished for."

She turned her head slightly so she could get a good look at him without letting their lips touch. She gazed at his face and looked him in the eye. "I wished for you to find happiness."

"Bones, it's your birthday. You're supposed to make a wish for you."

"It's not my birthday yet, technically," she said with a grin that recharged his, "And I can wish for whatever I want."

"Fair enough. I'm not going to argue with a genius."

She looked at him again and then looked toward Angela and Kathy. They were watching her and they both averted her eyes when Brennan made eye contact. Brennan laughed slightly.

"You want some cake, Bones?"

"Yes, but I have a question for you."

Booth rolled his eyes, but smiled anyway. "What's that?"

"What was Kathy saying to you earlier?"

"Huh?"

"I saw you talking to Kathy just over there earlier. She seems to like you and I'd like to know what she said to you."

"You've become very observant."

"You've taught me to be observant."

Booth chuckled a bit. "She wanted to know how I feel about you."

"And?"

Booth shook his head. "You only asked me what Kathy said, not what I said back."

"Booth, that's not fair. What did you say?"

"I told her that I'm in love with you, but that I wasn't going to force it. I told you already, Bones, I'm that guy."

Brennan looked back at Kathy again, who was now flanked by Josh rather than by Angela. Josh nodded once to her as an urge to say something. She knew by the look in his eyes that whatever was happening was their work.

"Bones…"

She looked back at him. He was staring at her, his brown eyes darker than she had ever seen. Bones could feel the heat, the pressure, the need to say something to him.

"Come with me." She grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the doors. Looking back at her family, she realized Kathy hadn't smiled like that since before her own daughter had died. Whatever Kathy and Josh conspired to do, Brennan didn't mind. Instead, she led her partner out into the crisp night air to give him an answer.