Disclaimer: I do not own Bones, but I am obsessed!
Author's Note: And I'm back. Here's a little more of Lucy and her newest family. Also, I passed 200 reviews. That makes me so happy. I'm sorry that I don't always reply, but each one is special. Enjoy.
Chapter 28: Good Old American Guest
August 12, 2006 Annapolis, Maryland
Rob opened a bottle of cream soda and handed it to Booth, before opening his own drink and taking a swig. "Ah, now that's the stuff. Sorry, I don't have any beer. I don't drink when Cat can't."
Booth shrugged. "Not a problem, it's been a long time since I had one of these. Brings me back."
"You sure? I know Mother's claimed the rest of the gin, but I've got some of the stronger stuff somewhere."
Booth took a long pull of his soda, "No, this is good, really." He relaxed further into the chair that he had claimed twenty minutes ago. "It's a nice night. I haven't had a chance to stretch out and relax in ages."
Rob leaned back in his own chair. "I know what you mean. I've been running around all summer and with the baby coming, I felt like I haven't even slowed down these past couple of months."
The two men sat in silence for several minutes, just enjoying the few moments of peace. The children had been camped out in the living room watching a movie, slowly drifting off to sleep one by one. The women had congregated in the kitchen, and Booth had to keep resisting the urge to go in and check on Brennan. He couldn't imagine that she would be comfortable sitting at the table and gossiping, but he was sure that she could hold her own. Booth took another drink from his soda and looked out at the slowly setting sun.
It was Rob who broke the silence, "So what's the deal with 'Bones?' Kind of a strange nickname."
Booth sat up a bit in his chair, "It's kind of a long story." He chuckled a bit. "Actually it's not. Temperance works with bones, her name's a mouthful, and it used to bug the crap out of her, so I kept using it. Now, it's just the status quo."
Rob wrinkled his nose, "Still, it's not the most flattering of names."
"We get some strange looks sometimes, but it's us."
Rob swung his legs over the chair and faced Booth, this was the opening that he had been waiting for. "And what exactly defines 'us?'"
Booth groaned, "We're partners, friends, great friends."
"I'm sorry. I don't mean to pry, it just seems like there is something going on between the two of you."
"Trust me. Everyone has an opinion; her best friend, her brother, federal prosecutors, Lucy. You aren't the first one."
Rob nodded, "I can see that. Look... it's just... Tom... you know... he pined after her too."
Booth paused to take another hit from his bottle. "I'm not pining."
"Uh huh, and you just begged to come and meet the family that abandoned your partner, force you to participate in awkward conversations with virtual strangers, and receive icy glares from a heard-headed society woman."
"Well, when you put it that way. You know I wasn't feeling awkward until just this moment." Rob chuckled as Booth finally polished off his cream soda. "I was actually surprised that you were all so warm and welcoming. In your mind, I've got to be the guy replacing your brother. It's got to be weird for you too."
Rob shrugged, "My brother's been gone a long time. Honestly, once I got over my shock about Lucy, I was just excited. I knew I'd never see him again, but once I knew that out there, there was a piece of him that survived, it gave me hope. And meeting Lucy, seeing her smile, I can't describe it."
Rob paused to sip at his soda. "I'm an excellent judge of character, I can tell that you're a good man. If my brother can't be around, I'm glad that there is someone like you looking out for my niece. And I'm glad that you're there for Tempe too. My brother knew that she was special, I'm happy that other people can see it too." Booth met Rob's gaze, as if testing the sincerity of the man's words. Rob continued to hold the gaze, unblinking. Suddenly, the man smiled. "Well, I'm empty, want another cold one?"
Booth smiled, "Why not? I live on the edge."
Two minutes later, Rob returned from the house and handed Booth another bottle. Rob gestured behind him. "Look what the cat dragged in. Or out, if we are being technical."
Booth nodded at the girl, "Hey, Squirt. I thought you were watching a movie."
She shrugged, "It's over, and all the other kids are asleep. I was in the kitchen, but I thought it would be nice out here."
Lucy stood next to Booth's chair, and he slid over slowly, allowing the girl to fit into the empty space. "What's your mom up to?"
"Talking about the cave paintings in Lascaux with Aunt Sophie. It was really interesting until they started talking about some fungus that has infested the cave. Still interesting, but I hear enough about slime and mold when I hang out with Hodgins. Uncle Rob came in just as I was learning some very colorful new French words."
Rob let out a bark of a laugh, "I figured it was a good time to bring her outside. I think her vocabulary is already impressive enough without exposing her to Sophie's salty language."
Lucy relaxed against Booth's side and stifled a yawn. Booth looked down at her. "You tired, Squirt?"
"No," Lucy lied. "Hey, Booth? Did you hear Aunt Eva invited Mom and me to come to France next summer? We are going to bring Aunt Angela, too. She loves Paris, and she and Aunt Sophie are going to get along famously. They are influenced by a lot of the same artists, and Aunt Angela has always wanted to show me the Louvre. We are even thinking of visiting Vienna or Prague, too, while we are out there."
Booth shook his head. "First Tokyo, now Paris. You want to know where I had been by the time I was your age?"
Lucy excitedly raised an eyebrow. "Where?"
"Pittsburgh."
Lucy scrunched her nose. "Well, I'm sure Pittsburgh is a nice place."
"Went to see my Pops and he took my brother and me to a Steelers game. One of the best days of my childhood."
Rob sat up in his chair, "You know, the Ravens are playing the Steelers in November. I can get tickets, my firm has a box. Booth, you should bring Lucy and your son. I'll bring the boys. Tempe can come too if she wants."
"It's not really a Bones kind of thing, but I'm in. Parker will go crazy, won't he Luce?"
Lucy nodded vigorously. "It'll be lots of fun. Thanks for inviting us."
The back door slid open, and a slim figured ventured out into the dark. Patricia walked slowly to the small group. "Do you mind if I join you?"
Robert stood and gave his chair to his mother, walking into his back yard to grab one of the other chairs that had moved throughout the course of the day. "Enjoying the night, Mother?"
"Yes, although, I'm far too rusty in my French to keep up with Sophie and Temperance. I thought I'd leave them to finish their conversation and that I'd see what is going out here."
Lucy looked up from her position snuggled into next to Booth. "Sorry about that. Once Mom gets going in another language it is hard to get her to stop. She consults with a forensic anthropologist in Montreal and she'll speak French for a week."
"How many languages does your mother speak?"
Lucy counted on her fingers as she went through them in her mind. "English, French, Spanish, German, conversational Japanese, a bit of Mandarin, enough to get by in Russian and various African dialects, oh she's good with Latin, but no one really speaks that anymore."
Rob chuckled, "That's it?"
Lucy's eyes lit up, "Oh, I almost forgot. She can say skull in almost every language."
At that comment even Patricia laughed. "Your mother is very talented."
Lucy responded seriously, "She is the best in the world at what she does."
Patricia sobered, "Yes, I can see that. Robbie, Eva and Catalina are putting the boys to bed."
Rob stood from his recently commandeered chair and finished the last of his cream soda. "Well, that's my cue. Cat can't lift the boys, and Eva shouldn't have to deal with all five of them. You guys stay out here, enjoy the night."
Patricia chewed lightly on her lip while berating herself in her mind. She didn't back down from anything, she shouldn't be intimidated by one little girl and a rather affable special agent. She had to say something to break the silence. "So, Lucy, what do you think of your cousins?"
"They're great! I can already tell Andre and Jean-Paul apart and we are going to Skype once they are back home. The time difference will be a little tricky, but we can manage. And I can't wait to meet Alex. I've never held a baby before, but Aunt Cat says that she would trust me. And Brady is really cute. He tried to share his Popsicle with me earlier, it was sweet. Tommy likes science, so I talked about ideas for his science fair this year. And I had fun playing soccer with Cole earlier. He's pretty good. He and Parker would get along really well. That's Booth's son. He's the closest thing that I have to a little brother." Booth swallowed the sudden lump in his throat and craned his neck at the older woman.
Patricia continued to sit in silence. Lucy had somehow bonded quickly with each of her cousins. She had talked art with Sophie, and architecture with Eva, babies with Catalina, even attempted sports with Rob. It was as if the entire family had always known her and it was Patricia that was the stranger. Patricia couldn't also help but notice that the girl had quickly adopted calling the adults aunt and uncle, but Lucy still referred to Patricia as Mrs. Andrews. Patricia had made an effort, she really had, but it seemed that she was the one person who couldn't crack Lucy's shell.
She finally spoke, "Yes, they are darling boys. They must really like having a girl to play with."
"I suppose. It was really nice just to have lots of people to play with. When I was little, Mom and I, we didn't really have anybody but Aunt Angela. But it's different now. I really like having a family, and now I've got three of them."
"Three?"
"Yes, my lab family, my Mom's family, and this family. It's nice to belong."
Patricia stared out into the distance as Booth held the girl just a bit tighter. The woman finally spoke after a few moments of awkward silence. "Yes, it is."
Booth silently nudged the girl towards her grandmother, and Lucy took the hint. Patricia let out a gasp as she caught the weight of the girl. "I love you, Grandma Pat. I know that we just met each other and that we didn't get to talk much, but I love you. I always wanted a grandmother, and now I've got one."
There was no other response that Patricia could make, but "I love you too."
The back door glided open, flooding the darkened backyard with light. Brennan's voice called out. "Booth, Lucy. It's getting late, we really should get going."
The group stood from their chairs and made their way toward the house. Patricia was surprised by a small hand reaching for and holding her own. Patricia was reminded of her youngest son. He used to like to hold her hand, too. Patricia wiped a lone tear from her cheek and squeezed Lucy's hand.
Good-byes were quietly made as the children were in bed upstairs. Temperance received hugs from Eva, Sophie, and Cat. She felt awkward, but an encouraging nod from Booth kept her from protesting. Rob warmly shook hands and wrapped Lucy in a bear hug, promising to keep her updated about the baby and other family events. Lucy made her rounds, hugging her aunts in succession as they promised to keep in touch.
Finally, Lucy reached her grandmother. She hesitated slightly, and Brennan looked a bit worried at the interaction between the two. Booth was behind her in an instant and squeezed her shoulder. He whispered in her ear for her not to worry and Brennan nodded as Lucy and her grandmother embraced. Brennan breathed a sigh of relief as the two hugged. Brennan couldn't catch what words were exchanged, but both were smiling when Lucy was released and came to join her mother.
The group made their way to the door, calling out final good-byes and promises. Lucy seemed to fall asleep the moment that she was in the car, leaning against the window and using her sweater as a pillow. Brennan and Booth were quiet as Brennan started the car and headed toward DC.
It was Brennan who spoke first, "Thanks again for coming, Booth. It meant a lot to me and Lucy."
"It's what partners do. I had fun. Rob invited Lucy, Parker and I to a Ravens game in November."
"Hockey?"
"Football. I think it will be fun."
"I'm sure it will be, you enjoy sporting events and you seem to get along well with Rob."
"He's a good guy, Bones. It will be good for Lucy to have him in her life. You know, positive male role model and all."
The car stopped at a red light and Brennan stared at Booth. "She already has a positive male role model in her life." She smiled her crooked smile and Booth couldn't help himself. He leaned forward, intending to kiss the smile off of her face, but the light turned green and the moment passed as Brennan focused again on the road.
Booth leaned into his seat's head rest and closed his eyes. It had been a rather good day.
