Chapter 11

"I don't care what your mother told you Cece is your sister. She is my daughter and she is always going to be my daughter whether you and your mother like it or not. I don't want you to ever treat her that way again do you understand me?" He was so angry

"Yes sir. Can we go and play on the swings now?" Parker tried to use him infamous smile to get out of trouble. It usually works on his dad.

"No I'm taking you home and we are having a talk with your mother. Let's go." He took his son by the hand and pulled him towards the SUV.

Parker was quite all the way back to his mothers' house. Meanwhile Booth was on the phone trying to convince Brennan to let me come over to see Cece after he gets this mess sorted out. "Come on Bren, please don't take my daughter away from me. You said it yourself its only been 24 hours. There are going to be hurdles for us to get over. This is our first one. "

"I don't know Booth, she cried all the way home. Why would Parker be so cruel? I don't understand he just met her for the first time today it can't be jealousy, he's never seen the two of you together."

Looking at his son through the rearview mirror and seeing his son watching him, "He got it from his mother. I'm on my way to take care of that problem right now. Bren don't give up on me not yet please baby. I'm begging you to fight for us because I'm not giving up. Can I call you when I leave here?"

"Yes you can call me. But I don't know about you coming over. I'll talk to you later."

"Bren"

"Yes"

"I love you"

"I'll talk to you later Booth."

Signing he closed his phone when she didn't say it back. He got out of the truck and opened Parkers door and helped his son out. Walking up to the house he banged on the door.

Swinging the door open Rebecca took in the faces of the Booth boys and knew something happened. "Go to your room Parker until I call you. I want to talk to your mother."

After he heard Parker shut his door he turned on Rebecca, "What the hell is wrong with you? Why did you tell him that Cece is not his sister? What did that little girl ever do to you?"

Shock covering her features she faltered trying to come up with something to say. To defend her actions. So she decided to play dumb. "What are you talking about Seeley?"

"Don't fuck with me Rebecca. Parker was intentionally cruel to her today. He has never acted like that before. When I questioned him he said you told him she wasn't his real sister. Why would you lie to him? You know she's my daughter. You know what lengths you went through to keep me from finding out. How can you look at your son and lie about something so important?"

"That woman and her child are messing up everything. Seeley I'm losing you and I won't lose my son to them to. I want my family back. That family does not include that little girl."

"You are truly delusional and I think you need professional help. We, as in you and I along with Parker, we are not a family. We are his parents and only his parents. You never had to me to begin with. You knew that already. You are going to tell him the truth. You will not talk bad about my daughter again. Don't speak of her ever. She is not just some kid that belongs to the woman I'm with. She is my daughter, my DNA, my blood, just like Parker. After everything you have done, Bren has never said one negative thing towards my son. She has never done anything to force me to choose. That is a real woman. She puts her child first. You are putting you first. I don't want you Rebecca. I never wanted you. "

Turning away from her so he could call for Parker to come and join them, to his surprise Parker was already standing in the room. "Parks? What are you doing in here? I told you to wait in your room."

"I heard you and mommy yelling." Focusing in on Rebecca he asked her if it was true, "Is she my real sister?"

Exhaling rather loudly, "Yeah Parker. She is your real sister. I shouldn't have told you that she wasn't. I'm sorry baby." She saw his eyes well up with tears.

"Parker why are you crying? What's wrong honey?" He looked at his mother as tears rolled down his face, "I was mean to her and told her that he was just my daddy and not her daddy. I told what you told me, that her real daddy didn't want her."

They both turned to Booth when they heard him gasped. His face turned crimson red with anger. He walked over and looked out the window to try to calm himself down. Unaware of the tension in the room Parker continued, I made her cry and now her mommy is made at me and daddy. Its all my fault." He ran to Booth and wrapped his arms around his leg and said, "I'm sorry daddy. I'm sorry I made her cry and now her mommy won't let you see her." Booth kneeled down in front of Parker and said, "It's not your fault son. But from now on, when I tell you something and then somebody tells you something different, come to me first. I will never lie to you Parker. It was very important to me and Bren that you and Cece get along. I don't care who likes it or not she is your sister. She is also older than you are so that means, she was born first. Having you does not replace her in my life and because she is in my life now she cannot replace you. Do you understand?"

Nodding his head yes. He said, "Can I tell her I'm sorry?"

"That's a nice thing for you to do but I have to get her mommy to agree to let me see her first. Okay?"

"Yes sir. I want to tell her mommy sorry to." Booth smiled at his son and told him to go in his room and not to come out this time until he is called.

"I won't have that woman playing mommy to my son. You can pretend you have the perfect family all you want but it will not include my son."

When he turned around to face her she had to take a step back from the anger radiating on his features. His hands were in a tight fist hanging down by his legs.

"I have put up with your interference in my life one to many times. You stole my life, my family and your still trying to control it. I'm tired of fighting with you when it comes to my visitations with Parker. I'm tired of you thinking you can call the shots and get your way. I'm going to get a lawyer and file for joint custody with set court appointed arrangements. I want time with my son that does not come with his mother in tow."

"You must be crazy if you think I'll let that happen." She sneered

"Just try to fight me. I can promise you it won't end well for you Rebecca. I may even suggest you get a physiological review."

"Parker buddy come on out here."

Running to his father he looked at him when he entered the room. "Yes daddy."

"I'm leaving now buddy. I'm going to go and try to smooth things out with Bren and Cece. We will try this again soon. But no more telling her she is not my daughter or your real sister. She is as real as she can get ok?"

"Yes sir. Can you tell them I'm sorry?" He looked at him with hopeful eyes

"Yeah I can do that for you little man." He hugged his son and kissed him on the top of his head.

"You'll hear from my lawyer." Without saying another word he turned and walked out of the house.

He thought about calling Bren but decided against it. She would just tell him now wasn't a good time. So he drove over to her place anyway. Knocking on her door he waited for her to answer. Pulling the door open she said, "Booth what are you doing here?"

"I came to see how my little girl is doing? I'm here now Bren may I come in?"

"I really wished you would have called."

"I didn't so are you going to let me in or are we going to discuss this in your hallway for your nosey neighbors?"

Stepping aside she let him in. Looking at her with a raised brow she motioned to her daughters room as to her whereabouts. Walking over to her door he knocked two times before he opened the door and spied his little girl playing with her dollhouse.

"Hi Princess!"

She wouldn't look at him when he spoke. Bren stood in the door way and her heart broke for both of them. He looked from Bren back to Cece and forged on. He sat down next to Cece and said, " I had a long talk with Parker and he explained why he behaved so badly. He felt really bad after our talk and he wanted me to tell you that he was sorry he made you cry and for the mean things he said. He also wants to try again to be your friend. But before any of that can happen you and I need to have a talk." He waited to see if she would acknowledge him and when she wouldn't he put his hand on top of her dolls to stop of movement. "Cece I'm talking to you and I want you to listen to me. Do you understand?" He said sternly

She turned and glared at him just like her mother. He was taken back by that look that he had to look at Bren to see if she also witnessed it. She shrugged her shoulders at him letting him know he was on his own with this one.

"Don't look at me like that young lady. Now lets go and sit over here and have this talk."

She threw her doll down and stomped over to her chair and sat down. Booth stood also and went and sat on the edge of her bed. "Go pick it up and put it away properly right now."

She sat there for a few seconds before she thought better of it and did what she was told. Sitting down in her chair she looked at him to begin. "Cece, I love you very much. I am so lucky to have you for a daughter. I want and need you in my life. I understand that Parker hurt you and for that I am so sorry baby. I never want to see you hurt ever again and I will try my best to always protect you. You are my daughter and I am your daddy. When I found out about you, I wanted you and I wanted to know everything about you. I would never lie to you but you can ask your mother if that is true. I haven't always been here for you. That has nothing to do with me not wanting you baby. I didn't know about you but if I knew sooner, I would have been there sooner. You're a very special little girl and I want everybody to know you're my daughter and I'm your father. I love you Cece. I love you just like I love Parker. I hope some day that you and your brother will learn to get a long and love each other. Can I have a hug now?"

She stood up and wrapped her little chubby arms around her fathers' neck. She kissed him on the cheek and whispered, "I love you to daddy." Booth didn't realize he was crying as well until the tear dropped from his face into his daughters' hair. She pulled back and wiped his tears away. 'Does Parker hate me?" Her little voice was so soft he had to strain to here her.

Wrapping her up in his arms he pulled her into his chest, " No baby he doesn't hate you. He was given the wrong information. That's why he is sorry for what he said. He knows now that was he was told wasn't true."

"Okay daddy."

"Alright you can go back and play with your dolls. I have to talk to your mommy for a minute. "

Sitting next to Bren on the couch he reached out and took her hand in his as he laid his head on the back of the couch. "Rebecca told him a bunch of lies. And he took it out on Cece. Parker also asked me to tell you that he's sorry for hurting Cece."

Nodding her head in acceptance she still kept quite.

"He's a good kid Bren. Really he is and I want to them to get to know each other. I won't choose between them and I'm not going to allow their mothers to keep me from them or from each other. Can you handle that?"

My first priority is my child Booth. I just want her to be happy and safe. His mother has been causing problems before either one of them were born. I don't see her stopping now just because you make this declaration."

"I agree with you all the way. But we can't allow her to control our life. I told her that I am going to meet with an attorney and file for joint custody. I should have done it a long time ago. She's been pulling to many strings and I've been going along. That all stops now! I have a daughter that this is going to affect and I won't have her hurt. I love you and I need your support. I need you to stop pulling away from me every time something rocks the boat. Bren I need you to be all in with me on this. I want and need to be a father to my children. I love you Bren. I am so sorry things turned out this way. I swear if I had known I would have been there every step of the way. I can't change what's happened but I'm trying to be there now."

"Are we in this together?"

Before she could answer Cece came out of her room. "Daddy mommy I'm starving!" Laughing Booth said. "Me to Princess how about we order something?"

Been went and got the menus and they decided on Chinese. After placing their order and promising to call her as soon as the food arrived, Cece went back to her to her room.

"I'm going to try Booth but this isn't easy for me either. For the record I have never asked you nor expected you to choose between those children. I know that your love for her is not conditional on the love you have for Parker. I just wish his mother understood that. If I refused you would you take me to court also?" She thinks she knows the answer but she needs to be sure.

"Yeah I would Bren. If you keep insisting on keeping me out of her life I would do the same thing to guarantee me access to my daughter. Thank you for not forcing my hand. "

His phone ringing the same time there was a knock at the door. He answered as Bren went to answer the door and pay for their food.

"Hi mom!"

"Daddy I'm hungry is the food here yet?" Cece asked while she pulled on his pants.

"Hold on for a minute mom."

"Yeah Cece go into the kitchen with your mom so she can get you a plate. Tell her I'll be in there in a minute."

"Okay" she yelled as she ran off

"Was that the newest addition to the family Seeley?"

"Yeah mom that was Cece. What's up?"

"Rebecca called and asked if she could come up in May for the family get together. She said that she knows she hasn't made an effort to be apart of the family in the past and wants to change that for Parkers sake."

Rolling his eyes he said, "She's only doing that because Bren and Cece may come with me and Parker. I extended the invitation I'm just waiting to see if she can work it out."

"Did you tell her that we celebrate you and your sisters birthday and how all of the family come together? It's a very important time Seeley and I want to meet my granddaughter."

"Its not that she doesn't want to come mom. Cece birthday is on the 16th of May. She was planning on having a party here for her with all of her friends. Cece has been looking forward to celebrating her birthday with her friends. Its not fair that she has to celebrate it with virtual strangers."

We are not strangers Seeley Joseph Booth we are her family as well. There will be plenty of other children here. We can make some changes and make it special for her. It might be the ice breaker that we need."

I'll talk to Bren and we'll see what we can work out. If she can't make the changes then I won't be coming up there for that weekend. I will be here in DC celebrating my daughters' birthday. It will be her first birthday that I can be part of and I'm not missing it mom. It's too important to me.

" Just let me know sweetheart. And I trust you can handle Rebecca? I really don't want her here. Nobody wants her here. She was only tolerated because of our grandson that's it."

"Yeah mom I'll take care of it. I have to go I can see Cece looking at me. They are waiting for me so we can eat. I'll call you when I get home."

"I love you son."

"Love you to mom"

"Did my girls save any food for me?" he asked

"Daddy…course we did. But you took a long time and mommy said we had to wait for you. Can I eat now?"

Laughing at her seriousness he said, "Dig in princess."

And that she did!

"Is everything alright Booth?"

"Yeah, yeah that was just my mom. She was just calling to check on a few things."

"Did you really mean it when you told her that if I couldn't rearrange a few things you would be here in DC instead of with your family for your birthday?"

"Whether I'm in Philly or here in DC I'm with my family. Yes I meant what I said. I've missed out already on so much with her I won't miss another thing."

"What's Philly?"

"That little one is where I was born and grew up. My mommy and daddy still live there."

Her eyes grew wide and she said, "You have a mommy and a daddy?"

"Yes I do. And I have a brother and a sister, and nieces and nephews, cousins and aunt and uncles. And a grandfather we call Pops."

"Wow daddy that's a lot of people."

"Yeah it is and they are your family too."