A/N: Alright, this is the second to last chapter. I know, it's been a REALLY long fic. On Microsoft Word, it's 109 pages. Unreal since I haven't written a fic over 62 pages in the past. This one just kept going and going, but I have had a blast writing it! I hope you all have enjoyed reading it. So, here you go. Read, enjoy, and review!
CHAPTER 29
~~~~~AUGUST 14, 2015~~~~~
"Ama-zing grace, how sweet, the sound. That saved, a wretch, li-ike me. I once wa-as lost, but now a-am found, was blind, but now, I see. 'Twas grace that taught, my heart, to fear. And grace, my fears re-elieved. How pre-cious did, that gra-ace appear, the hour I first be-lieved." The words echoed throughout the church and the beautiful voice touched the hearts of everyone.
Booth, Brennan, Russ, Amy, and Max sat in the front pew watching Emma continue to sing. All were dressed in black. Tears stained Brennan's cheeks and she had given up on her tissues. She didn't care if her cheeks were streaked with black. Booth had managed to keep the tears at bay, but his eyes were burning. Brennan sat between Booth and Russ. At some point during the middle of the song, Russ looked over to his sister and placed his right hand on her left, squeezing gently. Without looking at him, she squeezed back. Seeing his tears would only make her cry more.
"When we've been here, ten thou-sand years. Bright shi-ning as the sun. We've no, less days, to sing God's praise, then when we've first be-egun. Ama-zing grace, how sweet, the sound. That saved, a wretch, li-ike me. I once wa-as lost, but now a-am found, was blind, but now, I see." Emma finished the song and the preacher took his place at the podium, inviting everyone to the Booth home for a "celebration of life."
The front row of family filed out, Brennan leading the way. She caught a glimpse of Angela, whose cheeks were also streaked with black tears. They locked eyes for a moment as Brennan continued to walk. Her eyes scanned the assembly quickly and she spotted Zack, Goodman, and out of the corner of her eye, she thought she saw Cam, but she couldn't be sure. After a good 5 seconds, she resumed looking straight ahead as all eyes were on the family. She sped up her pace in response to the staring faces. Once outside the church, Russ turned to her.
"We'll see you at the house. You all go on, we'll be right behind you," he said as he gave her a peck on the cheek.
"Alright," Brennan replied. She then turned to Emma and pulled her into an embrace, "That was beautiful."
Emma managed a small smile. "Thank you, Aunt Tempe."
Brennan smiled through the tears and then turned to give Amy a hug.
"See you in a few," Amy said, her eyes wet.
"I'll go ahead and get a ride with them," Max spoke up as he hugged his daughter.
"Okay," Brennan replied simply.
Booth mimicked his wife's actions and embraced Amy before saying something to Emma, which Brennan didn't hear. She was in a bit of a daze.
They left the rest of the family and made their way to the car.
Brennan stared out of the window for the first few minutes of the ride. She was lost in a daydream filled with images of children…hers and Booth's, Russ and Amy's, Angela and Hodgins'. Emma, Davey, Emily, Haley, Abby, Tanner, Parker…and then her face curved into a frown as a thought reentered her head for perhaps the thousandth time.
"I still don't understand why you didn't want Parker to come," she blurted, her eyes fixed on Booth.
Booth sighed. "I told you, he's seen too much death in his life. I still don't think taking him to Rebecca's funeral was wise. He was in a funk for a while. Remember? He kept talking to her and she 'told' him he could use the scissors to cut his own hair," Booth explained. "Gashes, blood, crying…and a lot of blonde ringlets," he added.
"Yes, but this is different. This isn't his mother, it's-" Brennan began.
"YOU'RE his mother," Booth said and he looked her straight in the eyes.
Brennan softened a bit and stayed quiet for a few moments.
"I just think it's healthy for a young person to be able to grieve and a funeral is the perfect opportunity to do so," Brennan explained and Booth reacted as though it were the 100th time she had said that…and it probably was.
"Look, it's over. Done. He stayed home with the babysitter, we can't change that now," Booth replied.
Brennan sighed and closed her eyes for a moment before reopening them.
"I know. I'll stop, I'm sorry," she said as she returned to her daydream.
Booth glanced over at her as he stopped at the stop sign down the street from their house.
"Don't be sorry. He'll grieve in his own way," Booth said, his eyes soft.
Brennan looked to him and nodded.
They rode the next couple of blocks in silence and in less than a minute, they were pulling into their driveway. Two vans labeled "Cravings Catering" were parked by the garage.
The first thing Brennan heard upon entering the house was the high pitched scream of a baby. The house was busy as the catering crew of 5 buzzed about as they put the final touches on the food. Brennan had no doubt that this was the reason her baby was crying. She looked to Booth and made her way to the den.
Samantha Goodman was holding the baby, trying desperately to stop the shrieking. She saw Brennan walk in.
"Oh, Dr. Brennan, she just started fussing. One of the catering people dropped something and it was loud," Samantha said as she handed the baby over to her mother.
"It's okay, Sam. Thank you," Brennan said as she took the wailing child into her arms. "Shhh. You're okay. You're fine, baby girl," Brennan soothed as she bumped her butt with her hand. Within a minute, the little girl was cooing in her mother's arms.
"Hey, Sam. Where are the rest of the kids?" Booth inquired, taking his daughter's hands and making faces as he smiled.
Samantha rolled her eyes. "Parker locked himself in his room and he won't come out. Before little one started crying, I heard pounding," Samantha replied, clearly on the brink of a breakdown. "At least little Tanner is out cold. He's 2 months old and he's been the best one!" she exclaimed.
"Angela will be glad to hear that her baby boy was on his best behavior," Brennan commented with a smile.
"Sam, don't worry about it. They're kids, they're supposed to cause trouble," Booth said, smiling widely.
Samantha managed a smile and then nodded her head.
"She needs changing. You want to go see what's going on before everyone gets here?" Brennan asked Booth.
"Yeah, I'll go see if I can get him out of there," Booth said, sounding a bit worried as he remembered his wife's concern over proper grieving.
Brennan bounced Abby and locked eyes with her husband for a moment before turning towards the kitchen, on her way up the front stairs and to Abby's changing table.
"Anything I can do, Mr. Booth?" Samantha asked.
"You've already done so much. Thanks, Sam. Your dad and sister will be here with everyone else in a minute. I'll go see what's going on upstairs," Booth replied with a smile and a raise of his eyebrows.
The sight he came across at the top of the back stairs was not exactly what he had been expecting. Parker's door was closed and Davey sat on the floor a foot from the door. Duct tape hung from the doorknob and dangled down to the floor, something indiscernible attached to the end. A number of plastic forks, knives, and spoons littered the ground in front of Davey. On his left sat a fake credit card, which had been broken into two pieces. Three American Girl dolls stood against the door, facing Davey. And to complete the scene, Davey wore a Spiderman mask.
Booth stood for a minute before speaking.
"Hiya, Davey. What's going on?" he asked the child.
Davey looked up, but he didn't take off his mask.
"Parker won't let us in; he's being a big meaniehead!" Davey exclaimed.
"Us?" Booth inquired, glancing around.
Davey ignored the comment.
"It's just not fair! He yelled at me. I was just trying to help him wif his dinasars and he kicked me out!" Davey said as he dug both hands deep into his armpits. Booth could envision his bottom lip sagging underneath the mask.
Booth stepped forward, snickering slightly.
"Alright, Davey, let me talk to him, okay?" Booth said.
"Okay," Davey said, dejectedly. He scooted his butt away from the door and backed up against the wall in the hallway.
Booth knocked on his son's door. "Park? Whatcha doin' in there?" he asked in a friendly tone.
A few moments passed…and then, "I wanted to be alone," Parker replied through the door.
"I get that, bub, but Davey's pretty upset and I think you should come out and say you're sorry," Booth reasoned with his son.
"Davey's a baby!" Parker yelled.
"I am not!" Davey protested.
"Where's Emily to protect you, baby?!" Parker screamed as he flung his door open and the dolls toppled to the ground.
"HEY! That's enough!" Booth bellowed.
Parker stared wide eyed at his father, somewhat in shock. But his eyes showed that he knew he had crossed the line. Davey, on the other hand, started to cry.
"What is all the screaming about? Abby is already fussy," Brennan asked, appearing with Abby at the other end of the hallway.
All of them stood still for a few moments, none of them sure of what to do next. A moment later, the silence was broken.
