Booth snaked his arms around Brennan's waist as she stood at Christine's crib watching her sleep. Brennan leaned into Booth, "I can't believe she's a year old today. It's gone by so fast. It seems like yesterday you were wrapping her in the blanket you keep in the SUV and giving her to me while you got the hospital bag and called Cam."

"I can't believe it's been a year either, it's been a good year."

"Yes it has all though I find I don't want her to grow up, as irrational as that sounds."

Booth chuckled and kissed Brennan's hair, "no parent wants their kid to grow up Bones, but they do."

"Yeah. I need to get her up."

"Let her sleep; it's her birthday and we don't have to work today."

"Only because Hodgins blew up the platform and it's going to take three weeks for repairs."

"So free vacation for us plus Rebecca is sending Parker home for a visit. Those are both good things."

"Yes they are. Are you okay getting the cake? I can ask Angela."

"I can do it Bones. I'm going to get Parker at the airport then we're getting the cake. We'll be back in plenty of time to help you set everything up. Let's go have breakfast before the birthday girl wakes up and demands to be fed an entertained."

"Okay." Brennan leaned down and kissed Christine's cheek before heading downstairs with Booth. A few hours later Brennan and Booth were hanging the last of the decorations. "That's the last streamer. I'm gonna go ice down the drinks and clean off the grill."

"Okay." Brennan headed upstairs to check on the birthday girl and her brother who'd been given the task of keeping Christine out of the way until it was time for the party. Brennan stopped in the doorway way of the nursery and smiled, Parker was building towers with Christine's blocks just so she could knock them down and giggle when they fell.

"You're her favorite right now, you're dad and I won't do that over and over again with her."

Parker smiled at Brennan. "She likes it and it's a lot quieter than that music thing that she likes."

Brennan nodded, "it is. That is from your uncle. It's quite obvious he has never spent a long period of time with a noise obsessed toddler; if he had he'd have chosen a quiet gift like books. Are you okay with her? I can try and get her to take a nap."

"We're okay."

"Okay. I'm going to get the food ready." Booth and Brennan decided on an indoor BBQ for Christine's birthday even though April was still cold. Booth was going to grill up the hamburgers and hotdogs outside. Brennan was making all the BBQ staples, potato salad, macaroni salad, coleslaw, deviled eggs, pasta salad, baked beans, and corn on the cob, a vegetable tray and fruit salad. Everyone was going to grab a plate and eat inside.

Brennan was sitting the bowl of fruit salad on the counter when Booth came in. "The grill is clean."

Brennan nodded, "The meat is in the fridge. Parker is building towers for Christine to knock down, she loves it."

Booth laughed,"That's good let them have fun. Parker has only seen her three times before today. "

Brennan nodded and started putting together the vegetable tray. An hour later Brennan took a somewhat unhappy Christine from her block towers and strapped her into her highchair, giving her some of the fruit leftover from the salad that she'd cut into smaller pieces and some plain macaroni along with some steamed carrots cut into tiny pieces. Once everyone had had their fill of lunch Brennan cleaned Christine up and Booth lit the single candle on her 'smash cake 'and put it on her tray. Christine turned and grabbed Brennan's shirt, she rubbed her back. "It's okay sweetheart. I think the flame is scaring her." Booth nodded and blew the candle out and removed it.

"Okay baby girl all the scary stuff is gone. Have at it." Christine grinned at Booth before taking two fistfuls or cake and sticking them both in her mouth. He laughed and moved to Brennan's side while Angela snapped pictures. After Christine had smashed her cake into nothing but a sticky mess Brennan cleaned her up and carried her into the living room to open her presents.

"Parker do you want to help Christine open her presents?"

"Yeah."

"Okay go sit on the floor and I'll sit her in your lap."

Parker nodded and sat on the floor and Brennan placed Christine in his lap and he took a present from the pile. Christine slapped the box and Parker slowly started to tear the paper, Christine giggled and began ripping the paper while Brennan tried to prevent her from eating it. After Christine scattered paper all over the living room and fell asleep holding her new pink rabbit from Max, Booth scooped her up and took her upstairs for a nap.

A/N: Three more chapters to go…