I don't own Bones, I know I have 206 in my body, but the Bones from Fox isn't mine.

Pops

Brennan waited for him to calm down; she understood why he never wanted to talk about these issues with Sweets. He was still too broken from his childhood, but she began to understand his drive for justice, and his innate need to help others. His father created an adult who felt the need to rescue those around him.

"Booth your father was a sick man, it wasn't your fault. No child should ever be hit, no matter what he does. Your father was the one to blame not you."

"I know that now Bones, but when you're ten it's very hard to believe. Pops showed up when I was twelve years old and I finally learned what a family was like. It must have been so hard for him to raise us. He was alone, my grandmother died when I was very little, and Pops took both Jared and I in. I was real messed up at the time. I would become very angry and take it out on my bedroom walls and doors. I never hit anyone, but I hit things instead. Pops was the one who told me to get into sports; he said I could take out my anger on the field instead of my room."

"I played every sport that was offered at my school, and I was the best at all of them. I always needed to be the best; I pushed myself until I was the star player on every team. I joined the army because I knew I needed the discipline, and the feeling of belonging that came with it. That was another area, in which, I excelled. That's how I was selected to join Special Forces, and how I became a sniper. Even now with the FBI, I feel driven to prove myself daily, to always be the best. I feel like I'm still trying to prove to my father that I can do things right." He had become much calmer now, and Bones let him go.

"Booth, how do you feel about your father now?"

"I don't know, I think talking about it helps, I'm glad you listened. I've never told anyone about my father, not even Pops. He tried to get me to talk about it, but I wouldn't. I couldn't. I just felt as if I deserved it and I was afraid that Pops would blame me and not want me around anymore if I told him. After a while, he stopped asking, and then the sports worked and I wasn't so angry anymore."

She wasn't sure if she should stop or continue with her objective. He seemed much calmer, but she didn't know if he would become upset again. She was still so bad at reading people, even after all the years of watching Booth. She thought maybe the time wasn't right, but she didn't think the opportunity would come up again. He was open and willing to talk tonight.

"Should we invite him to the wedding?" she held her breath awaiting his reply.

"I don't know Bones, I don't know. Can we go to bed, I'm tired and I really need to be held."

"Yes, I think that's a good idea." I don't know, was better than no, so she decided to go to bed and revisit this another time. That night she held him while he cried about his lost childhood. She continued to tell him it wasn't his fault; he never did anything to deserve that treatment. He finally fell asleep, and she just lay with him in her arms, and watched him. How could anyone hurt a child? She was thankful for his grandfather and the fact that he saved his life. The world was definitely a better place with Booth in it, and tomorrow she was going ask him if he wanted to visit Pops, and talk to him. She thought that maybe it was time to say thank-you.

They couldn't pick up Parker until the afternoon, so she asked him if he wanted to visit Pops today.

"I think that's a great idea, I need to tell him some things. I think last night made me realize that Pops never understood what he meant to me growing up. I can't believe he'd think that what he did was a bad thing. I know Parker wanted to come, but maybe we can come back another day with him. Parker doesn't need to know about my past."

"I agree Booth, let's go talk to Pops."

They went to the retirement facility to pick him up and take him out to lunch. While they were out, they were going to have him fitted for his tux.

"Hey, Pops, how's it going?"

"Great, I told you she was a keeper, and I'm glad you finally realized it. The wedding's in a few weeks, right?"

"Actually its two weeks from today, we are going to get you your tux today Pops. Then we'll go out to lunch. I want to talk to you about some things."

"What things? You better not change your mind, because I told you I know she's the one."

"I'm not changing my mind, Pops. We love each other, I don't want anyone else, and I never will."

"Good, because I like her."

"Thanks, Hank, I like you too."

"Well now that you're going to be family you better call me Pops."

"Ok, Pops." Bones laughed.

"Pops, Bones and I talked about some stuff last night, and I wanted to tell you how much you mean to me. I will never regret you raising us boys. My dad was a mean and violent man, and I want to thank-you for taking over when he left. Pops you saved my life, I will never forget what you did for me."

He looked at Brennan. "You told him?"

"Yes, is that ok?"

"Yeah, did you hold him too?"

"Yeah Pops, I held him."

"Hey, what are you two talking about, and Bones you don't need to discuss our intimacy with my Pops."

"Still, all shy about sex, huh?"

"Pops, we are not discussing this now. I want to tell you that I'm glad you threw my father out. If you didn't come that day and rescue me I would have killed myself. Pops you saved me, in more ways than you know. I don't think of that man as my dad, I think of you."

Hank was close to tears. "You're not mad at me for throwing him out?"

"Pops, I could never be mad at you. I love you."

"But you didn't have a father growing up. Every boy needs a father."

"Pops, you're my father, not him."

"Seeley, did you know he quit drinking? It's been six months now."

"No, I didn't know that."

"He called me a few weeks ago. He told me he is going to meetings and he wants to make it work this time. He wants to see you."

"No Pops, I'm not ready."

"Ok, I just wanted to give you the message."

"Thanks, but maybe someday."

"Is he coming to the wedding?"

Booth became very quiet, "We didn't invite him."

"Seeley, you need to invite your father. I told you he quit drinking, maybe it's time to see him."

"Oh, here's the store, let's go get your tux."

"Seeley, we need to discuss this sometime."

"Later, Pops, later, let's go get you a tux for my wedding."

They went into the store and had him fitted. No one brought up the subject again. Even at lunch, Pops didn't talk about it. They discussed his ladies at the home, and the new staff that was just hired.

Bones asked, "Pops, I didn't think to ask you if you want to bring a date to the wedding?"

"I didn't think of that, maybe it would be nice."

"Well if you decide just call me so we can have a place set next to you."

"I will, thank-you, Temperance."

They had arrived at Rebecca's to pick up Parker.

"Hey, is that the little squirt? He got so big."

"Yes, he wanted to see his great grandfather today." Parker ran out to get into the car.

"Hey Parker, how are you doing?"

"Great Pops, I'm glad to see you. I've been asking my Dad and Bones if we could go visit, but this is even better, you came to me. Are you going to the wedding? I get to be the ring bearer I can't wait. I got a real nice suit, it looks just like my Dad's, and Bones is going to be my new mother. Don't you like her, because I like her a lot? Its only two weeks away, then I get to call Bones, mom. Mom said it was ok, because she makes my Dad so happy. He smiles all the time now."

"Parker, slow down Pops can't even talk."

"Sorry Dad. I'm just real excited."

"We were thinking of going out for ice cream before bringing Pops back. What do you think Parker, want to come?"

"Of course, I would never turn down ice cream."

They all laughed. After they went for ice cream, they brought Pops back to the home. "Now remember Pops two weeks from today, I will pick you up on Friday, and you can spend the night at my house. We'll have a guy's night in, just you, Parker, and me."

"Ok, Seeley, and thanks for today, I was never sure if I did the right thing, but you really helped me to understand."

"I love you Pops, see you soon." He hugged his grandfather and got back into the car.

"Booth that was a good thing, you made him very happy today."

They drove home, had a quiet dinner, well as quiet as any dinner with Parker, then watched a movie and went to bed.