Sorry! "Moments" has suffered a bit in favor of "Spiral." Here's a little something I just couldn't pass up. Thank you all again for all your reviews and alerts! :)
We'll say this one takes place about 5 and a half years from the beginning of Season 7.
He took the scene in like he often did when it had gone unnoticed that he'd come home.
They were sitting side by side, heads bent over the table in concentration. One in a pony tail, one with two perfect piggy tails, probably doing homework.
He couldn't hear them, partially because they spoke lowly, but also because he maintained enough distance to remain undetected.
It never ceased to amaze him, this vision of his partner and her tiny carbon copy. Although he could only see the back of them, he could easily imagine the identical furrow in their brows, their daughter with the Booth habit of sticking out her tongue when she was concentrating. He knew his little girl would be trying super hard to get it right, whatever "it" was and that her mother would have endless patience for her child's efforts.
Suddenly the five year old squealed with glee and clapped her hands as Brennan sat upright, peeling off her gloves. He could see from her profile that she was pleased and proud. "Very good, Hadley," she offered, cupping her little girl's cheek.
"What's going on over there?" He asked, finally.
"Daddy!" Hadley tore off her gloves and flew from the table over to him and jumped, forcing him to catch her and bring her up to his level for a hug.
"Hi Princess!"
"I'm not a princess. I'm a scientist."
"You are?"
"Yes. Mommy and I just dissected a frog."
He couldn't help but grin. "Oh, really?"
"Yes. It was so cool!"
"I bet, my little Super Squint."
"Hadley, even though we wore gloves, please go wash your hands." Brennan joined them in the doorway to the kitchen.
"Okay!" She wiggled in her dad's arms so he put her down and she scampered off.
"Was it everything you always dreamed?" He teased his partner gently just after he kissed her hello.
"She was quite skilled at it for her first time. She showed interest and knowledge well beyond her age and seems to have a keen awareness of biology in general."
"But was it as great as you always imagined?"
She smiled. "It really was."
~End~