Thanks again for all your wonderful reviews! We admire the patience of some of you who told us to take our time bringing Booth and Brennan back together. Well, we're not rushing anything, as you may have noticed. Are you ready to meet 4-year-old Elena?


Chapter 11

There was a knock on the door and Brennan called, "Elena! They're here!" Her little girl came running on her little legs and insisted on opening the door. Brennan's face broke into a broad smile and Elena started jumping up and down. There was her uncle Russ and he'd picked up his girlfriend with her daughters. Elena had been looking forward to meeting girls who were also kids. Brennan kissed Russ's cheek and then welcomed Amy and her girls into their home for the first time. Max had yet to arrive, but he'd be there soon.

"Amy, this is my sister, Temperance, and her daughter Elena. Temp, this is the love of my life, Amy, and her two beautiful daughters Emma and Hayley." They entered and Russ assisted Hayley in taking her shoes off while Amy helped Emma. Their coats were put away and the girls ran into Elena's bedroom, where they would get to know each other and could play all they want.

Brennan greeted Amy. Her social life had been almost non-existent these past four years, and she felt excited to meet someone new. She was certain Amy would be wonderful, otherwise her brother would never have fallen for her like he did. "Hi, Amy. It's really nice to meet you. Russ can't stop talking about you and your girls. They're lovely."

"Your brother can't stop talking about you, either. I'm so happy to finally meet you." Amy embraced her. "It feels like I've known you as long as I've known your brother. Can I help you make dinner?"

"It's already in the oven. It'll be ready in about forty-five minutes. Would you like some tea?" They walked into the living room. For once, it was actually tidy. Usually, Elena's toys littered the carpet, but Brennan had put everything back in her room so she and Amy's girls could play there. Brennan invited Amy to sit. "My dad will be here soon. He's on his way," she told Amy. Her relationship with her father had improved a lot over the past years. With Brennan having to do internships and Russ working and spending time with Amy, they'd needed Max to babysit Elena quite often. Max had quit drinking altogether and really cleaned up his act. He was dependable, helpful, and, most importantly; he was nice.

"I would love some tea. Oh God, I'm nervous," Amy confided to the other woman. "I just want this to be perfect."

Russ went to sit next to her and he squeezed Amy's hand. "Relax, baby, it's just my sister."

Amy smiled. "Yes, of course, I know that. But I want her to like me. She's important to you."

Russ smiled. "Yes, she is. Very important."

"Don't worry about me, if Russ loves you, that's enough for me. I trust his judgment. He's told you what he did for me, didn't he?" Brennan tried to reassure Amy.

Amy became serious. "He did. And I'm sorry that you were forced to be a single parent. Russ is a good dad, though. He's patient and loving, caring and tender. He doesn't mind that he's not the biological father, he does what he can." Amy released Russ' hand and reached for Temperance's. "I've been a single mom for nearly eight years now and let me tell you this, you are doing great. I have a lot of respect for you, Temperance. You're a great rolemodel for your own daughter and I know you'll be a great aunt to my daughters."

"Thank you," Brennan smiled a bit shyly. "I do the best that I can. It's nice meeting someone who understands the situation. Do your daughters see their father?"

"No. He gave up his parental rights. They don't know him. He wasn't with me when I gave birth, he doesn't send cards for their birthdays, no presents for Christmas, either. If I understand the situation correctly, Elena's father doesn't know that you were pregnant?"

"No, he disappeared. I never got to let him know. But Russ has covered everything," Brennan smiled. "He was there when I gave birth to Elena and he's been there ever since. I've been telling him for years to go out and get a girlfriend. I'm glad he's found you and your girls."

"Me, too. Well, at least Elena's father has an excuse, Emma and Hayley's dad simply chooses to ignore his daughters." Their conversation was interrupted when the bell rang.

Elena came running out of the room, her pig tails bouncing on her shoulders. "Grampa Max!" she screamed excitedly and ran to the front door. "Mommy, Mommy, Grampa's here!"

"Don't worry, Max already likes you," Brennan told Amy before getting up to open the door. "Hi, Dad," she greeted him and kissed his cold cheek. "Amy and the girls are here."

Max didn't get much time to greet his daughter, since his granddaughter attached herself to his leg. "Grampa, Grampa, Grampa! I have new friends!"

Max chuckled, bent down and swung his granddaughter into his arms. "There is my beautiful girl. Well done, baby. You are going to have lots and lots of friends." He gave her a kiss and walked inside. "Tempe," he greeted her and carried Elena to the couch. She slithered out of his grasp and returned to her room. "And you, must be Amy."

"I'm going to make tea," Brennan announced and she left the others to introduce themselves. Amy would soon find out that everything would be fine. Brennan was so glad that Amy had little girls Elena could play with. She'd always regretted not being able to offer Elena a lot of contact with kids her age. Brennan had been able to finish her bachelor without delays. She'd attended practicals but not lectures. She'd studied at home and passed every exam while taking care of Elena. Since Elena had turned three, Brennan had been homeschooling her. Now that she was four, Elena could read and keep herself entertained with every library book she could get her little hands on. Since then, Brennan had had more time to study, Elena lying on the couch beside her reading her own materials. Brennan had managed to cram two master years into one and a half, so she was almost done studying. She had mixed feelings about looking for a job. On the one hand, she'd finally be able to provide for her family. On the other, she didn't like being away from her little girl, and little girls weren't allowed in the lab. Now that Russ had met Amy and her daughters, Brennan knew that the moment she'd move out with Elena was approaching. She would be facing another challenge, but she'd made it through university, which many people had told her would be impossible as a single mother, so she'd get through the other things as well. When the tea was ready, Brennan put it on a tray with cups and cookies, then carried it into the living room. "Everything okay?" she asked Amy.

Amy smiled, obviously relieved. "Yes. You have a wonderful family, Temperance." They chatted for a little while amongst themselves, sharing stories, swapping tales about their little girls and having a good time. When it was time for dinner, the girls were called and they enjoyed their meal in peace.

Amy's girls were well-behaved, even better than Elena, Brennan had to admit. Elena knew how to behave, but she had a mind of her own and made her own decisions, young as she was. She was different from Brennan, far more outgoing, so Brennan guessed that Zorro was outgoing as well. Like this, she deducted more traits of Elena's father. Her daughter had big, dark eyes, which had to be from her dad. She was athletic, as well. Brennan and Russ didn't have enough money to put Elena in sports classes, but Elena liked to copy gymnastics girls and baseball boys in the playground. She was a very active child, but she could concentrate as well. As they were eating desserts, Hayley started coughing.

"Mommy, I can't breathe again," she said. The girl's words alarmed Brennan and she looked at Amy, who dug into her purse and produced an inhaler. Hayley knew how to handle it and she smiled after taking a few deep breaths.

"What's wrong with you?" Elena asked curiously. "Why can't you breathe?"

"My lungs don't work the way they should, but my inhaler helps me when my lungs are getting a bit slow," Hayley explained to her new friend.

Amy looked at them. "Her illness is under control," she reassured Temperance and Russ' father. "It's not easy, but we make do."

"Aha," Elena accepted her new friend's explanation and continued eating. "If you feel sick you can tell me. I can help," she told Hayley.

Brennan smiled at her daughter. She acted too much like an adult sometimes. It was good to have friends her own age. "If you ever need any help, just let me know," Brennan told Amy sympathetically.

"I will," Amy smiled. "I've had a wonderful time. We should be heading home, though. I feel more comfortable at home when it gets bad for Hayley. Thank you so much for having us here, Temperance."

"Officially, this is Russ's place," she smiled. "I'm really happy I've finally met you and your girls. I'd love to meet more often, if that's what you want, too."

"Yes, very much. I think the girls would enjoy that. I'm very happy that they seem to be getting along. As a matter of fact, why don't you all come over to my place for dinner next week?" Amy offered.

"We'd love that. Thanks. I hope Hayley feels better soon. Again, don't hesitate to call if there's anything we can do. And you can have Russ come over, of course, if you need him."

"Actually, if I have to be completely honest with you, I would like it if Russ could stay the night. Hayley is calmer when she's around Russ. Would you mind terribly? Would Elena mind? I don't want to take the only father figure she has," Amy added softly.

Russ wrapped his arm around Amy and kissed her cheek. "Do you mind, Temp? I mean, Elena is okay and it would be just for the night. I'll be back tomorrow." Russ hadn't spent the night at her apartment yet, because he felt he was needed here, but change was coming.

"Of course I don't mind. There's another little girl who needs you," Brennan smiled. "It's Sunday tomorrow, I'll be home. Just take all the time you need. If we need anything, we'll call Max," she assured them.

Russ released her and went to hug his sister. "I'm going to get the girls ready and explain to Elena that I won't be able to tuck her in tonight." Russ left and Amy hugged Brennan. "Thank you."

Elena had followed the conversation and jumped off her chair, running after her uncle. "Are you going to leave us?" she asked him, a slightly panicked look in her eyes.

Russ sat down on his knees and wrapped his arms around his niece. "Hayley doesn't feel well. You know how Mommy and I help you to feel better when you don't feel so good?" Elena nodded slowly and Russ gave her a smile. "I'm going with them, to make sure that Hayley is okay. I will be back tomorrow, princess."

"Do you have more princesses now?" Elena asked him quietly. She really liked her new friends, but she felt apprehensive about sharing her uncle.

"You're my only princess. Hayley is my little angel and Emma is my fairy. You can't be all three, right?" he asked the little girl patiently.

Elena looked at him for a long time before she had to admit that no, she couldn't. She found the situation very confusing and it didn't feel so good, but she knew she couldn't be bad because of it. Quietly, she gave him a kiss and ran out of the room, to her mommy.

Brennan was surprised at Elena's sudden clinginess. She lifted her daughter in her arms and held her tightly, kissing her dark curls. "We'll have a girls party tonight," she whispered in her daughter's ear. "It'll be fun, I promise."

Elena nodded and rested her head on her mother's shoulder. "You're all mine," Elena said. "Yes," Brennan agreed, "I'm all yours."

Russ was about to run after her, but his father stopped him. "She has to learn, Russ," he told his son quietly. "Just go, going back to see her will only make it worse."

Russ nodded and together they dressed the kids and left. Max went to find his girls and he sat down next to Temperance. "Are you okay, Elena?" he asked her as he caressed her curls.

As soon as Elena heard the door close, she knew her uncle had gone home with the other girls and she started to cry. It tore at Brennan's heart; this was such a difficult thing to accept for a young child. Her own eyes filled with tears as well. She didn't want her daughter to feel such sadness.

Max looked up at Temperance. "I'll stay." He pressed a kiss to both of their cheeks and he got up. "I'm going to fill the dishwasher."

"See? Grandpa Max will be staying just for you," Brennan told her daughter. Elena sniffed and tightened her grip around her mother's neck. "Thanks, Dad," Brennan said as her father started cleaning up. "You want me to read to you, sweetheart?" Brennan proposed.

Elena nodded eventually. "About Moby." Moby was a whale, Elena's favourite animal. Russ had bought her a stuffed animal whale which Elena slept with every night. The book she was referring to was Moby Dick by Herman Melville. Brennan sometimes doubted Elena understood the sometimes difficult language, but the rhythm of the words and vivid situations always calmed her daughter down. "I'll read Moby to you," Brennan promised and they went into Elena's room together.

Max watched them go. It was moments like these when he hoped that this Zorro bastard would clean up his act. Maybe he would make a decent father. Max shook his head, getting rid of all of that wishful thinking. Russ and he would make sure that Elena had a father figure and that Temperance had the support she needed. The father wasn't there, and that was fine. Because they had never needed him. Max sighed. The years were coming, though. The years with questions for his daughter and heartbreak for his granddaughter. He sighed worriedly and started filling the dishwasher.

That night, Max had taken Russ's bed and Brennan had allowed Elena to sleep in her bed. Brennan found it hard to fall asleep. The reality of the situation began to hit home; Russ wasn't Elena's dad and pretty soon, he would be to Amy's girls. He'd be expected to spend almost all of his time with them. He'd have to leave Elena, and there was no way to soften that blow. Elena didn't have a father. She couldn't claim rights on anyone to always be there for her, to be the most important person in their life. Brennan hoped that she could afford it to be there for her daughter like her daughter needed her to be. Elena was the greatest gift, the best thing that happened in her life, but it wasn't easy. Brennan gathered her sleeping little girl in her arms and pressed kisses to her hair and her soft skin. "I love you so much, my perfect Elena," she whispered. "I wish I could find a real father for you. You'll always be the most important person in my life. I love you more than anything in the entire universe. I promise you, you'll be happy." Brennan dried her tears and snuggled up against her daughter. This was everything.


How do you like Brennan's little girl? Her life is about to change in more ways than one, and chapter 13 is the one you've been waiting for. Booth's on his way, and we'll check in with his progress next chapter. Stay with us!