Note: I had some trouble replying to reviews this time. If you left me a review (and you were logged in), I definitely tried to reply. If you didn't get the reply, I apologize. I appreciate all of the reviews everyone leaves me.

This one is much more traditional than I usually let them be. Also, I know people like the longer stories, but the length of this one just seemed right. Hope you enjoy it anyway.

Thanks to all who reviewed - and thanks to:

WhiteRose621, chucky89us, Nyre the Black Rose, pandarabbit, deb, 7, sleeplessinatlanta, tvnut014, Quirky-Misty, almostlikeTHElyn, queen-of-the-lab123, cricketmadalice, obsessedaboutbones, felixlee14, Viktorija, wellwritten, Poetgirl925, MonkeyFighter, Jen, Kevin The Burrito

who provided the following suggestions for N:

nightmare, nuisance, neopolitan ice cream, new moon, nurture, nature, no, never, nostalgic, nothing, naptime, noogies, nooner, nightmare, nuggets, noodles, nightlife, nose, Nintendo, Northwestern, nemesis, night, nonsense, nervous, narcoses, notes, narcohypnia, nausea, naïve, nil, nostalgic, neurons, nerves, nuisance, noisette, naïve, nagging, names, night, nasal tract, not rational, numb normalcy, nickname, noise, nuns, normal, narcissism, need, nice, nuclear bomb, nasty, newspaper, nag, nap, necklace, neighbour, nerd, net, news, numbers, newspaper, New York, nachos, notebook, needle, noodles, nod, neck, nest, new, nick of time, never, nickname, nonsense, note, nutriment, necktie, napkin, nudity, nationalism, nativity scene, night-lights, New Year's Eve, narcolepsy, neglect, nincompoop, no-show, nephew, nutcase, nutella, Neanderthal, nap, newspaper, nails, noise, novelty, nightshirt, nickel, norse

Disclaimer: I don't own them.

Relationship status: Established romantic relationship

It was a cool fall day, and the house smelled deliciously like a mixture of tomatoes, onions, and garlic. Brennan looked around the kitchen. It was her night to cook, and dinner was almost ready. The pasta was almost finished cooking, and the sauce was simmering on the stove. Carrots, broccoli, and cauliflower were cleaned, cut, and on a plate along with a small bowl of salad dressing as dip.

It had been a rush to get home in time to cook, and the meal was later than she would have liked. Balancing her domestic responsibilities with her dual careers was difficult, but she firmly believed it was worth it. Sure, she sometimes missed the days when she answered to no one, but she knew that overall she was much happier now. She liked knowing that she was needed, that someone missed her when she wasn't there.

She set the table and brought out the jug of milk and the pitcher of water. The pasta finished cooking, and she drained it and placed the food on the table. She called out "Supper's ready" as she did so, only to be met by a shriek from the living room.

"No! No, Daddy! Give it back."

She heard Booth laugh, saying, "Come and get it."

She heard a thud as though someone had toppled over, and then her three-year-old daughter came running into the kitchen, followed by her limping father. She hugged her mother's legs, saying, "Mommy, Daddy took my nose!"

Brennan looked down at her. "Christine, your nose is right there on your face."

Her daughter looked up. "No, Mommy, Daddy took it."

Ignoring Booth's laughter, she crouched down to face her daughter, touching her on her nose lightly. "Christine, your nose is attached. No one can take it from you."

Christine shook her head. "Daddy took it, Mommy. I saw it in his hand. All the other kids will laugh at me at preschool if I don't have a nose. Make him give it back."

Brennan stood and turned to her husband. "Booth, did you take her nose?"

Booth made an attempt to look innocent. "Come on, Bones, you said yourself that I couldn't take her nose."

Wanting to get this settled before the food was cold, Brennan asked, "Booth, did you tell her that you took her nose?"

He grinned. "Maybe."

Sighing, she asked, "How did you show her that you had her nose?"

Booth held up his hand, with his thumb between his index and middle fingers. "See? It's her nose."

Turning to her daughter, Brennan said, "Chris, Daddy didn't really take your nose, see? That's just his thumb." She pulled his fingers apart to illustrate her point before continuing, "Your nose is right here on your face where it belongs." Reaching out, she again tapped her daughter on the nose.

Her daughter looked up at her. "Really?"

Brennan nodded. "Really. Come on, let's eat."

Christine looked at her father. "That wasn't very nice, Daddy."

He smiled at her, a look of love on his face. "You're right, squirt, I'm sorry."

They all sat down and soon their plates were filled with food.

After dinner, it was time for Christine's bedtime routine. After she was bathed, read her two stories (that turned into three), and tucked into bed, Booth and Brennan sat on the couch. He had the TV turned to the sports highlights, and she had picked up a document to review for one of her grad students when she set it down and turned to Booth. "You really shouldn't have told her that you took her nose, you know."

Muting the TV, he said, "Come on, Bones, we were just having fun."

She looked disturbed as she replied, "It's a lie."

He turned to face her, saying, "Bones, my grandfather used to do that with me, it's just what you do with kids."

"You know she believes everything you tell her. She was really concerned that she didn't have a nose anymore."

"I'm sorry, Bones. If you're worried about it, I won't do it again."

"It's just … I want her to believe that you'll tell her the truth. It's very disturbing to find out your parents lied to you."

Reaching out, he put his arm around her and pulled her close. She rested her head on his shoulder. "OK, Bones, I understand. I'll tell her the truth."

He pressed the mute button again as she picked up her document. As she pushed her hair back behind her ear and picked up a pen, he reached over. "Bones? Got your nose."

Orangutan? Original? Oscar?