Max opened his eyes and blinked a few times. A pair of dark brown eyes were staring at him, and mouth smirking, the corner pulled up, daring it to break into a grin.
He turned his head and saw his daughter walking towards him with a glass of water in her hand and an ice pack. He sat up gingerly. The back of his head was throbbing. He reached up and poked through his hair carefully. Temperance sat next to him and held up the glass of water and a couple of pain killers. "You've got a nasty lump on the back of your head. You hit the end of the couch when you fainted." Max winced as his fingers came in contact with the growing golf ball on the back of his head. "Thanks Tempe" he said as he took the water. He tossed the pills into his mouth and washed them down, draining the glass. "Can't remember the last time that happened!" he said.
Angel was still standing over him, his arms folded across his chest. "You went down hard Max. Guess our news took you by surprise!" he said. "I'll take that Temperance. Do you want to go pick the twins up from school. I'll look after Max." He added. He turned back to Max holding the ice pack. Max was staring out him, a quizzical expression on his face. "What?" Angel asked, unsure why Max was staring at him like that. Max took the ice pack from him and held it against his head "Since when did you start calling my daughter Temperance?" Angel swallowed "I don't know what you mean".
Max shifted the icepack around on the back of his head. "Well, you always called her Bones. Occasionally Brennan, but never Temperance. So why now?" Max continued to stare him down. Angel shuffled and finally turned to the bar and picked up his glass. He took a swallow of the amber liquid and frowned. He turned back to Max. "I don't know exactly when it started Max. It was after the surgery. To be honest, I didn't remember her at all when I first woke up. It was all kind of fuzzy and hazy. I heard a nurse calling her that. So my first memory of her was as Temperance."
He walked over to the chair opposite Max and sat down. He took another mouthful of his drink and put the glass down on the coffee table and stared at Max. "As my memory came back and things got clearer, I knew that I called her Bones, but I just liked Temperance. It suits her. So I just kept on calling her that. It just happened." he said shrugging. Max leaned back in his seat and nodded. "Well alright then. Although I always thought it was my special thing as her father to call her by her name. But I guess it's OK." He put the ice pack back on the coffee table and pointed at the bar. "I wouldn't mind that drink now". Angel jumped up and retrieved his glass. "Are you sure you should be drinking after that knock on the head?" Max waved him away with one hand as he took his glass with the other. "Just don't say anything to her, OK? She'll do the doctor thing and I'll get a lecture and really, right now, all I want is a drink. So, just between us men, hey Booth?"
The door flew open and a whirlwind of golden brown curls and cheeky grins came rushing into the room. The twins ran over to Angel and threw themselves into his open arms, smothering their fathers cheeks with kisses. "Daddy! You're home!" they cried out excitedly. They were used to their father coming home closer to dinner time. Angel hugged them both tightly and kissed their rosy lips and cheeks. "Guess what? We have someone special visiting us." Angel said. Seeley leaned his elbows on his father's knees, his chin in his hands, and stared solemnly into Angels eyes. His own wide and enquiring "Who is it Daddy?" he asked. Cordy was jumping up and down excitedly "Who? Who is it? Is it a king? Is it the president? Is it Uncle Sweets?"
Angel reached out and tried to settle his daughters jumping "No. It's not any of those. It's your Grandpa Max. Mommy's daddy. He has come to visit and to meet you." he said. Seeley was frowning, "But Mommy is too old to have a Daddy silly" he said thoughtfully. Angel laughed and ruffled Seeley's brown curls "Everybody has a Daddy sweetheart. Even Mommy. Cordy had stopped her jumping and looked at her father "Do you have a Mommy and Daddy?" she asked. Angel looked at his children.
Two hundred and sixty years flashed before him. She was sweet and gentle. She had warm brown eyes and dark hair that fell in ringlets to her shoulders. She smelled like brown bread and butter and washing soda. He was harsh and demanding, critical. He had hard blue eyes like metal chips. They only ever softened when he was looking at her. For him, they held only disgust and contempt and disappointment. And finally, fear. He closed his eyes remembering the fear.
"Why are you crying Daddy?" Seeleys voice broke through his memory. Angel opened his eyes, wet now with tears. He smiled at his children "Yes. I did have a Mommy and Daddy. I loved them very much. But. They died a long time ago. When I was a very young man. They would have loved you both very much." He pulled his children to his chest and felt their warmth. He kissed their curly heads and looked up to see Max and Temperance watching him.
Temperance took a step towards them "Ange" she pulled herself up suddenly "Booth. Did you tell them?" she said quickly. She turned to look at Max. His eyes narrowed for a moment, but he was quickly distracted by a small pair of arms wrapping around his waist. "Are you really my Grandpa?" He looked into his daughters eyes. He squatted down in front of the small boy who was a dead ringer for his father, apart from those eyes. "Well. Yes. I believe I am!" he said. He held out his hand "I'm Grandpa Max." he said formally. Seeley looked at the extended hand and promptly wrapped his arms around Max's neck and kissed his cheek.
Max felt a strange pull in his chest. He had not been hugged by a child in a very long time. it felt so good He allowed himself to return the hug, hesitantly at first, but Seeley's hug got tighter so he stood, lifting the boy with him and held him close. He felt his eyes start to well up. this is my grandson. my only daughter's child He opened his eyes and looked down as another pair of hands started tugging on his jacket. "I'm Cordy and I'm older than Seeley" she said proudly. He stared at the little girl. She was also the image of her father, including his dark brown eyes. But that attitude was all Tempe's.
He laughed and put Seeley down and picked her up. She pushed herself back from him, examining his face carefully. She touched his cheeks, traced the wrinkles beside his eyes and on his forehead. "You're pretty old, aren't you?" she asked matter of factly. Max tried to keep a straight face. "Cordy!" Angel started to speak. "No, Booth, it's a fair question." He looked back at his granddaughter who was now checking out the loose skin on his neck. "Yes. Actually I am pretty old. That's why I'm your grandpa. How old do you think I am?" he asked, curious to know what she thought.
"Hmmm" Cordy tilted her head to the side and half closed her eyes. my god, she really is her father's daughter Max thought looking at her and seeing Booth. "Well. I think you must be 104" Cordy announced confidently. Max was shocked. "Really? Why do you think I'm that old?" he asked. Cordy smirked "Well you have lots of lines on your face, and you have really funny skin under your chin and your hair is white. Only very old people have white hair you know." she told him. Max burst out laughing and put her down "Well I'm not quite that old yet" he told her.
He looked up at Angel and Temperance "They're great!" he said. "No denying who their father is, is there?" he said to his daughter. He looked at Angel. "You've done a good job Booth. Damn fine job raising them. They're interesting and fun. That Cordy is a character. And Seeley, well he reminds me of Tempe's mother. She was sweet and caring and quiet too." He looked at his daughter. "I'm proud of you honey. Of both of you." he looked at Angel and held out his hand. Angel reached out and grasped his hand and shook it. "Grandpa Max, come and see our rooms" Cordy was tugging on his jacket. He smiled and shrugged at Angel and Temperance "I think they like me!" He allowed himself to be led away by his grandchildren who were chattering away about school, and their toys and all manner of things.
Angel walked over to Temperance and wrapped his arms around her, kissing her on the cheek and nuzzling her neck. "I cannot believe that went so well." She stroked his hair "Except that I almost called you Angel! That would have been awkward to explain." Angel pulled his head back and smiled at her "I don't know. He probably would have just thought it was a pet name. I could call you Sugarcakes?" he added laughing at her face "I don't think so" she said frowning.
"You know he picked up on me calling you Temperance. He questioned me on that" Angel told her. She looked at him as she pulled away and started collecting the empty glasses to take to the kitchen. "Really? What did you say?" she walked into the kitchen with Angel following her. "I just told him that I couldn't remember who you were when I first woke up after the operation, and that the nurses were calling your Temperance, so that's what I assumed I should call you." She rinsed the glassed and loaded them into the dishwasher, "And he accepted that?" Angel handed her his glass "Seemed to. He didn't push it after I told him that. He can't argue with brain surgery recovery." he said tapping his forehead and grinning.
"Do you want to order in? Or shall I barbeque?" he added. Temperance stood up and rubbed her stomach. "Can we order in? I'm a bit tired tonight. I think Dad turning up has sort of taken a bit out of me. I'm really exhausted!" she said, suddenly realising how tired she felt. Angel stood behind her and rubbed her shoulders. He lifted the hair from her neck and let his fingers massage it gently. "You need to rest. Go sit down. Put your feet up and I'll organise it." He kissed the nape of her neck and smacked her bottom, sending her on her way out of the kitchen.
Max joined Temperance in the living room, taking a seat next to her on the couch. He looked at his daughter carefully. She looked tired. "You OK with me being here baby? he asked. Temperance smiled at her father and leaned against his arm, resting her head on his shoulder "Of course. I'm so happy. Cordy and Seeley deserve to know their grandfather." Max leaned his head against hers "And you?" She closed her eyes and smiled "I love you Dad. I'm glad you're here."
Angel stood in the kitchen doorway watching his wife and her father. He smiled sadly, knowing that he would never again know a parents love. He closed his eyes and saw his mothers face, smiling at him. I love you Mam. I'm so sorry he whispered.