I have no claim to the characters. I am content to know they are in much better hands and owned by Fox and Hart Hanson.

Chapter 10 – Hometown

Saturday morning found everyone in the kitchen getting ready for the day out. Saturday and Sunday was officially Frank and Martha's day off, so the Booth family and Max were on their own for the weekend.

For security, while the Booths' were in residence, Beth had arranged for part-time help working on the weekend to allow George and Bill to have rotating days off. George was always on the property in his private living quarters even when not officially on duty. George always took night duty to keep the family safe when they were staying at the cabin. He said he would take time off when they were in the city.

Bones did admit she had grown very fond of Martha, Frank, George and Bill and liked it when they would share meals with the family. Martha was an excellent cook and she and Temperance had found a comfortable working relationship in the kitchen and around the house.

Martha was fast becoming Christine's favorite person too. Martha was teaching Christine many of her recipes using fresh from the garden vegetables and herbs. Temperance was delighted Christine was experiencing garden to table cooking first hand. The taste of fresh from the garden produce even had Booth increasing his daily intake of vegetables. He was ready to admit that buying from the supermarket would be a real let down when they were back in the city. He promised to stop complaining about $12 tomatoes, when shopping at the organic market.

Bones curiosity was beginning to get the best of her. "Booth, you haven't mentioned the meeting with Sam and Caroline yet. Is everything okay?" Booth with a grimace said, "Ah babe, can we talk about it later? I'll tell you everything, but they had a lot to say. Let's talk after dinner. Would that be okay?" "Sure Booth,that's fine. By-the-way, Beth will be dropping by tomorrow."

"While you were gone yesterday, I emailed her the book outline, timing, the plot, the character sketches and the first draft of chapters 1 and 2. She is also bringing a copy of the new contract we signed." Booth wrinkled his nose, "Ya know I don't care about that stuff Bones. I will leave that side of this partnership to you."

Breakfast finished, dishes done, everyone dressed and lathered up with sun screen, the family Booth loaded in the truck for a trip to town. Max said he was going to hang by the pool and might take a tour of the area later. They all agreed to meet back for dinner at 6. Max offered to cook.

Huntsville was all dressed up in summer colors. Baskets of petunias and zinnias hung from every lamppost and in planters on the sidewalk. Each store front had a welcome sign out and the main street was closed to vehicle traffic so the artists could set up their stalls. On each corner, food trucks were open, with the normal offering found at an outdoor event: funnel cakes, corn dogs, popcorn, fresh fruit and soft drinks. Since the bridge opened and had traffic coming through town again there were a few diners and restaurants open to feed hungry tourists and visiting tradesmen.

In the parking area near the post office, there were games of chance; spin the wheel, duck pond, bulls eye, spill the milk, bean bag toss and ring toss. Proceeds from these activities were for the school booster club and helped students buy band uniforms, instruments or fund trips.

Booth and Parker both liked the football toss and donated their stuffed animal wins back to boosters. For the youngest Booth the treasure dig was a big hit. Like his mom he had a fondness for digging in the dirt and unearthing treasures. Face painting and temporary tattoos caught Christine's attention. She selected a butterfly for her cheek and a puppy tattoo for her hand.

"Mr. and Mrs. Booth, hello, over here." They heard their names called. Looking around to spot the person behind the voice, they spotted Jimmy Grant and Andy manning the bean bag and ring toss games. "Well hello," said Booth, "it's good to see you here. We were going to drop by a little later and introduce you to our children. Where's Carol?" "She is selling homemade fudge, cookies and bottled water on the other side of the square," said Jimmy.

Dr Temperance Brennan-Booth found she was extremely satisfied with her investment in this small community. The people were warm and friendly and they were adapting well to their new normal. No industry anymore, at least not yet, but artists and small business owners were thriving. That was bringing new homeowners to the area and increasing the tax base. It was a win-win for everyone. Mrs. Booth also enjoyed the anonymity of being an anonymous donor. Only Carol and Jimmy knew she had funded the bridge construction and they would not share that information with anyone.

Jimmy said, "While you are here, let me introduce you to a few neighbors." Jimmy waved over a few locals and with smiles and handshakes Seeley, Temperance, Parker, Christine and Tiger Booth was introduced to the local doctor, librarian, a few teachers from the high school where Jimmy taught and the Mayor of Huntsville.

Booth spotted the Parish Priest he had met the first week he stayed at the cabin and walked over to say hi and introduce his family to Father Mark. After introductions, Booth said goodbye to Father Mark and assured him, he, Parker and Christine would be attending early mass tomorrow morning.

While walking along the street Bones was delighted to find a florist, bakery, specialty coffee shop, dressmaker, children's clothing store and hardware store. For Booth there was a micro brewery that produced the local favorite beer. After shopping at the local stories, Bones asked Booth and Parker if they would mind carrying her purchases back to the truck while she, baby boy and Christine started looking at the art displayed for sale.

There was jewelry, watercolors, oils, ceramics, pottery, woven baskets, tapestries, wooden objects of art and toys and other beautifully handmade items from all over the state. Bones loved seeing such talented people display their works of art. She appreciated the fine hand work and creativity of their wares.

Bones pick out a few candles, and wood crafted desk items to take back with her. When she saw Cam, Angela and Jack, she would give them as gifts. She wondered if Angela would like to attend the next artist fair. Maybe she would even like to show some of her work. Probably not though, her work was selling for many thousands of dollars now and most of her pieces were commissioned. Bones would mention it to her; it might be fun for Angela to return to her roots as a starving artist for a weekend or two a year.

They stopped in at the diner for a lunch of burgers and fries, a soup and salad for Bones and milk shakes all around. The smallest Booth fisted a fry in one hand while his mom fed him soup for something nutritious.

The diner had the throwback 50's motif of red & black checker tile on the walls and floors and lots and lots of shinny chrome. Each table featured an original Seeburg Wall-O-Matic music selector and in the corner was an original Seeburg Select-O-Matic jukebox. Dropping nickels in the slot, Booth selected some favorite tunes from the 40's, 50's and 60'.

He reminisced to no one in particular; "this music filled the house when Pops and Grans would dance while making dinner or for just any reason at all." He thought they did it so they could hold each other close during the day and not have to explain to their curious grandsons. The closeness was not lost on Booth, he had longed for that closeness with someone special. He reached out to squeeze Bones hand and looked deep in her beautiful blue eyes. Speaking in their unspoken language, she returned the look that said, "I love you too, more than you will ever know."

Was he really seriously considering Sam's offer to return to the Hoover? Thinking to himself, Not now Booth, you do not want to think about that now. Just enjoy your day.

The Booth family dropped by to say hello to Carol. They purchased a pound of fudge and decided it was time to call it a day. BB Booth was tired and fell asleep on the way home. Daddy Booth unfastened him from the car seat and carried him to his crib so he could nap for awhile. Bones, Christine and Parker rummaged through the fridge to find a snack to tide them over 'til dinner. Booth joined them with baby monitor in hand. Puff had followed them upstairs and lay as silent sentry to BB Booth's door as he slept.

Max came in about that time and grumbled, "Can't wait for dinner? I have been cooking all afternoon and I expect you to be hungry." Max had managed to create a feast of fresh from the garden vegetable lasagna, cold sliced tomato and cucumber salad with dill, honeydew melon from the farmers market and he prepared his special dessert of tiramisu.

Hearing the baby boy stir, they decided they had enough time for a swim before dinner. They all participated in a game of Sharks and Minnows, Booth being the Shark as usual. Bones gave lessons on dive techniques to help improve Parker and Christine's mastery of entering the water without leaving a splash. Booth seemed determine to perfect his cannon ball technique and decided he should be considered expert when his last splash caught Max unaware as he watch from the deck.

After dinner, showers complete, with Christine and the baby boy dressed in PJ's, they entered the sanctuary of the man cave for a movie night. Parker found a suitable family movie, and fired up the DVR. Booth sitting on the couch motioned Bones to tuck in beside him. He was holding his baby boy on his chest with his head resting on his shoulder. Christine crawled up and lay next to her mom, and her mom pulled her over so Christine could lay her head on her mom's lap. Parker feigning a need to be closer to the popcorn sat on the floor between his parents knees.

Max coming into the room, saw lots of empty chairs, with room to sit at least 16 adults and here was this precious family taking up no more room on the couch than two cushions and a little floor space. Booth's head was laid back with his eyes closed, baby boy asleep on his shoulder, Tempe's head lay on Booth's other shoulder with eyes closed and little Christine asleep on her mother's lap. Even Parker had succumbed to the restful state and his head with eyes closed lay against his mom's knee. Max couldn't resist, and snapped a photo from his phone.

Parker started to wake when he heard Max enter the room and soon Booth and Bones, taking deep breaths began to stir. Booth first took a small sleeping boy to his crib and then returned for Christine. The youngest Booths all settled in their beds, Booth and Bones, with baby monitor in hand went to the porch swing to sit in the night air. It was a starry night and the cicadas were singing from the trees. You could hear a frog chorus from the pond and a few lightening bugs blinked on and off from the yard. To say it was perfect would have been a massive understatement.

Bones started the conversation, "It's after dinner Booth."

"Yeah babe, I know and I promised to tell you about the meeting with Sam and Caroline," sighed Booth.

"Well the short story is, they want me to come back to the FBI as Assistant Director. The long story is, Hacker is being transferred to the West Coast and his spot is open. Sam is concerned the solve rate has been dropping since we left and Caroline was more than a little miffed when she lost her last criminal case because the defense was able to poke holes in the forensics. They both believe I could put a team together for field investigations that would stop the trend of unsolved cases and they believe if I come back as Assistant Director, I can convince you to come back to the Jeffersonian in your rightful place as head of Forensic Anthropology."

A definite whine in her voice, "Would we still be Partners Booth? I could never work with anyone but you, you know that."

"Well it doesn't sound like we would be in the field much, but yeah, I think they want us to work together" continued Booth, "reviewing evidence working with the field teams, making sure we tie up all the loose ends to bring justice to victims and put the bad guys where they belong." "I would have desk duty and work mostly 9 – 5, but Sam wants me to be more involved with the investigations too. It would be a protype for an expanded role of Assistant Director."

Bones in just a whisper said, "I do miss being at the Jeffersonian."