Vignette 4:
Christine had already been on stage for several minutes when Max arrived.
"You're late." Brennan's voice was louder than she intended. Several of the parents rolled their eyes, while others simply ignored her, having grown accustomed to the eccentricities of the scientist.
"I had an appointment."
"An appointment that was important enough that you put it in front of your granddaughter?"
"No, it was just an appointment that ran late, Tempe. But I'm here now and you know I wouldn't have missed this for the world."
"If you don't shut up Max, we're all going to miss it." Booth put an end to their conversation, earning him a mouthed thank you from the entire family of Emma C, who had been sitting in front of them and hadn't heard any of the recital since Max had sat down.
Brennan began to snap back at both of them but quickly thought better of it and decided to enjoy the moment now and argue with her father later. Then she realized Parker was pointing the camera at the arguing adults and not the stage. "Parker, please film your sister."
This had efficiently quieted everyone and they were able to enjoy the rest of the show, watching together as three year old Christine pirouetted and pliƩd her way across the stage. The ruffles on her purple tutu swirled around as she turned. Her brow furrowed with concentration, and her eyes squinted as she made each move with great effort. She had put in hours of practice that were currently being offset by still developing coordination. Her dad and grandpa laughed as she missed a step and mumbled under her breath. "She looks so much like Tempe when she was that age." "Bones still looks like that when she makes that face." Brennan shot them both a stern look to let them know they were being too loud again. They quieted down before Emma C's dad had the chance to turn around and shush them.As the soft strands of, "Sugar Plum Fairy" faded out, all the little girls bounced to the front of the stage to take their bow. They were greeted with applause and the teachers stepped back to allow the parents to approach the stage and present their daughters with presents.
And of course Christine's daddy was the first one there.
He scooped her straight off of the stage and into his arms; presenting her with a bouquet of yellow roses and daisies. It was bigger than she was.
"Wow, Daddy, they're so pretty! Are they all for me?" Christine looked around at her friends, standing with their gifts and her flowers were the biggest by far. Her face lit up with a combination of happiness and pride that can only be found on the very young. That look was exactly why Booth had sprung for the most expensive arrangement in the flower shop.
"Yep, they're all for you, Jelly Bean." Christine grinned even bigger; she loved when her daddy called her by her special nickname, even though her mom thought she needed a moniker that was more suited to her personality. Brennan understood Booth's need to assign alternate names to those he loved the most but she argued that Christine was nothing like the brightly-colored seasonal candies.
"And so is this one!" Her grandpa greeted her with a giant snow white teddy bear. Sitting at over five feet tall, the bear more than dwarfed the little girl. She shrieked in delight and leapt from her father's arms into Max's.
"I must've done real good!"
"You were the best dancer up there Princess."
"Dad, we're trying to develop a healthy sense of competition and respect for others. There were several girls with more precise technical work than Christine."
"Bones." Booth shot her a warning look.
"But, as far as I am concerned you were by far the best."
Her smile grew exponentially at her mother's praise and she crawled into her arms. It wasn't that Brennan didn't give her child compliments; it was that Christine realized that her mother did not often praise anyone else.
"Thanks Mama!"
"You did great Sis, and I got it all on video so we can watch it again." Maybe it was because he usually only got to spend a month in the summer and occasional weekends with her but Parker never minded going to his little sister's events. His Dad and Temperance always made sure to bring Christine to his games. There was nothing better than having a cheering section of four "parents" and his baby sister. His friends were all jealous because they usually didn't have more than just one or two people there to watch them. And because they thought Temperance was hot.
"Okay, people, what do you say we all go out for some ice cream?"
"Choc-walt?"
"Whatever you want JB."
"Booth I do not see why you need a nickname for Christine's nickname."
"It just felt right, Bones."
Booth wrapped his arm around Brennan, pulling her and their daughter close as he put a hand on Parker's back to guide him through the crowd with them. Christine was still awkwardly clutching the giant gifts she'd received, her mom having to hold both her and her presents.
As they walked away Max poked Booth in the ribs, "My gift was bigger."
