Autumn:

Sunrise:

It was Thanksgiving Day, and the Booth household was a cacophony of sights, sounds, and smells.

Upstairs, ten teenage girls laughed and talked, running back and forth from room to room getting their hair and nails just right. Between Emma and Haley, Russ' step-daughters, and the Booths' eight foster daughters, there was enough estrogen to frighten the bravest of men. Between them all, every topic known to adolescence was being covered; boys, fashions, movies, music trends, and when the next group shopping trip was being planned.

Downstairs, in the basement, testosterone was king, where guttural sounds emanated from the four men and two boys that had gathered around the television. The football game was in full swing and the men were in high spirits. Booth and Hodgins rooted for one team, while Max and Russ rooted for the other. Ten year-old Parker and five year-old Jack Hodgins Jr., were running around chasing each other and throwing Parker's new toy football around, pausing every once in a while to take in the game.

In the kitchen and dining room, Angela, Amy, Rebecca, and Dr. Temperance Brennan-Booth were busy putting the final touches on the Thanksgiving feast they had been preparing all morning. Amy and Rebecca focused on getting the place settings- which spanned three tables in both the dining room and living room- in order. Meanwhile, the good doctor and a very pregnant Angela were in the process of putting everything into serving dishes that would be placed strategically throughout the tables. Angela had laughed when her friend had showed her the diagrams of where and how the meal would be served, but it seemed to be well-thought out, and- so far- was turning out just as expected.

Two year-old Kayli Hodgins was running back and forth between the kitchen and the dining room, trying to help where the adults would let her. Little Jeremy Brennan, also two- and looking more like his father, Russ, every day- followed Kayli around like a little lost puppy dog. After about fifteen minutes, however, the toddlers tired of 'helping' and decided that the toys their mothers had set up in a corner of the living room for them looked much more inviting.

"Well," Angela and Temperance set the last of the food on the tables, "I think that's it."

"Yes," her long-time friend nodded, satisfied.

"We're ready on our end too," Rebecca announced.

"I'm going to clean Jeremy up quickly," Amy said, "Then I'll go get the girls."

"So who gets the boys?" Angela grinned.

"I will," Temperance volunteered.

"Brave woman," Rebecca remarked.

"Very brave," Angela agreed, sitting down heavily in her seat, "Though I think sitting really is the best place for me at this point."

Temperance smiled at her friend and shook her head, not understanding why they thought the task would be so difficult. As she reached the top of the stairs that led into her husband's 'Man Room', a roar erupted from Booth and Hodgins; groans from Max and Russ.

"Dinner is ready," she announced.

The men continued to stare, fixated on the game, while Parker and Jack Jr. wrestled around on the floor for control of the football.

"Excuse me," she tried again, still to no avail.

She stood, arms crossed over her chest, evaluating the situation and trying to formulate the best strategy for getting their attention. She decided that subtlety would be lost on this group, and decided on the direct approach. Alighting the steps, she descended them swiftly and silently, snatching up the remote, and turning off the television before anyone had registered her presence. A chorus of complaints went up and six heads turned and noticed her for the first time.

"As I was saying," she set the remote down on the end table and looked each of the older men in the eye, "Dinner is on the table. It is cooling as we speak. I, for one, do not like cold food," she turned to the younger pair, "Boys, please go wash your hands and go to the table."

"Do we have to, Tempe?" Russ teased her.

"It would be advisable, yes," she replied, "I'm sure Hodgins can tell you how many hazardous particulates are most likely on your hands right now."

Hodgins opened his mouth to do just that when Booth clapped him on the shoulder and interrupted, "Hey, let's go wash up and eat, why don't we?"

"Solid idea, Booth," Max said to his son-in-law, "Let's go, Son," he steered Russ in the direction of the stairs, while Booth did the same with Hodgins.

The two boys raced up the stairs, with Max, Russ, and Hodgins right behind them. Booth lingered a minute, stealing a kiss from his wife.

"That was a pretty smart strategy, Bones- going for the remote."

She nodded, "I ascertained that it was the best way to get your attention," she traced her fingers down the front of his shirt, "I had already called you twice."

"Didn't hear you," he murmured, leaning in for a deeper kiss.

"I noticed," she murmured back.

"I'm listening now, Bones," he whispered in her ear, heightening her senses.

"Good," she breathed, pulling him to her and assaulting his lips with her own.

"We should probably go up," he said when they came up for air.

"It is our house," she agreed reluctantly, "So we do have obligations to our guests."

"Yes," he captured her lips in his once more.

She deepened it. Unconsciously, they moved as one to the couch, settling down together, hands roving. The rest of the world melted away as the couple melted into one another. He marveled at the smoothness of her skin; she at the firmness of his chest muscles.

"We're going to get caught if we don't stop now," he warned, breathless.

"Angela will take one look at us and know anyway," she pointed out.

"Yes," he nodded, "She will. Rebecca will too."

She pulled back, "Do you think so?"

"Oh I know so, Bones," he grinned, "Rebecca knows my tells as well as Angela knows yours."

"I suppose so," she turned herself around, so that her back was against his chest.

His arms moved around her and she leaned back further. His heart rate was extremely high and she smiled slightly at the thought.

"I love your smile, Bones," Booth commented.

"Truly?"

"Yes," he nodded, "It used to bother me that you never smiled when we first met. Then once I saw you smile for the first time I made it my personal goal to help you find that smile as often as possible."

"I would say you have been successful," she grinned up at him.

"Yeah," he smiled down at her, "I think I have too. You smile a lot more now than you ever did. You seem a lot happier now."

"I am happy, Booth. And I am content as well. We've built a good life together."

"A great life, Bones," he agreed.

"Hey," a voice called from the steps, "Are you guys coming?"

"Yes," they chorused.

"Good," Russ materialized at the top of the stairs as they stood to go up, "You know, it seems like I end up doing this every year. They've got a pool going on upstairs as to how deeply you two were, um, involved."

"Just talking," Booth said nonchalantly, "That's all."

"Liar," Russ grinned, "But you don't look flushed to me so we'll go with that."

"Food is getting cold," Temperance pointed out.

Booth put his hand on her lower back and escorted her back up the stairs to their waiting company. The love of his life was happy and content to be in love with him. Considering where they had started all those years ago, it was something to truly be thankful for.