A/N: Hi! I thought I would get this short update to you before Christmas. Merry Christmas to those who celebrate! As always, thanks for your reviews!
"Seeley, Dr. Brennan is happy. It is written all over her face. She isn't going anywhere."
"Thanks, Cam. I do plan on asking Bones to marry me. I just want to be sure she is ready, and I want to do it in a way that is really special."
Cam laughed, "Always a romantic."
"You bet," Booth said as he felt a tap on his shoulder.
He turned to see Max behind him. Booth sighed softly, wondering if he was coming to ask Booth the same question Cam had..
"Booth, I want to get a family photo with Russ," Max said.
"Oh sure, I can take it for you," Booth replied.
Max shook his head, "No, I want you to be in it. Unless you don't think of my daughter as family?"
Cam stifled a laugh.
"Of course I do! Bones, the babies, and Parker are the most important things in the world to me."
Cam piped up, "I would be happy to take the picture."
"Great," Booth said hurriedly.
Booth strode across the room to Brennan's side. He greeted the man he hoped would someday be his brother-in-law and his stepdaughter.
"Are you ready?" asked Cam.
The small group arranged themselves. Max stood behind Bones and Russ, putting his arm around both of this children. Russ and Emma held twins.
Booth slid his arm around Bones' waist and said, "Yeah, we're ready."
Cam got only one shot of the group before Samara started wailing, and Emma quickly handed the fussing baby over to her aunt.
"Do you need help?" Booth asked.
"No, I will just give her a bottle, so I don't have to leave the party."
"I'll take care of it," Booth said, giving her a kiss on the forehead and scooping up the infant from her mother's arms.
Bones opened her mouth to protest.
"He just wants to help out, sweetheart," Max said, "I felt the same way when you were a baby, and your mother was breastfeeding. There is only so much we fathers can do."
Bones nodded, finding her father's explanation reasonable. Booth returned in a minute with Samara, who was happily sucking on a bottle.
"Cam, can we get one more photo with Parker in it?" Bones asked.
"Yeah, of course," Cam said with a smile, appreciative of how Bones always included Booth's son.
"Parker!" Bones shouted and the blonde haired boy came tearing into the living room.
"What's up, Bones?" he asked.
"We are taking a family photo," she explained.
"Oh, okay," Parker replied.
"Why don't you stand next to Emma, Bub?" Booth instructed.
Parker took his place beside Bones' niece. Although he was only three years younger than her, Emma was more than a head taller.
"All set?" Cam asked.
The group nodded, and Cam took two photos.
"Thanks, Cam," Booth said with a smile.
Parker tugged on Booth's shirt, "Is it time to open presents now?"
"Presents?" Bones asked.
"Yeah, sweetie, since you wouldn't let us have a shower for you. Everyone brought a present – a sort of post-baby shower," Angela said with a grin.
"Ang, that is really unnecessary. I am of considerable financial means -."
"Well, so am I," she retorted playfully, "and the presents have already been bought, so you might as well accept them."
Bones conceded Angela's point, and Russ and Hodgins brought in the presents that had been stashed in another room.
"Open mine first!" Parker shouted.
"You didn't have to bring a present, Parker," Bones admonished.
"Just open it, Bones," Booth prodded.
Bones nodded and carefully tore the wrapping paper off the box that contained two onesies that read "little sister".
"Thank you. That was very sweet of you, Parker," Bones said getting up to give her boyfriend's son a hug.
"Thanks, I got one purple and one pink, so you know who is who," Parker explained.
Bones chuckled, "The girls aren't identical twins. They are quite easy to tell apart."
Parker looked at her skeptically, "They look A LOT alike. It is easy to tell them apart now, because Sophia is bigger. But, if they are the same size, it wouldn't be so easy."
Booth smiled at Bones, "You're right, Bub. Thank you."
Booth shook his head slightly, seeing that Bones was ready to contest his assertion. Parker handed Bones another present; this one from Jared and Padme, who were unable to attend the homecoming celebration. The package contained a layette set and baby blanket. By the second to last package, there was a small mountain of baby clothes and accoutrements. The final gift was from Angela and Hodgins.
Bones gently tore away the paper revealing a painting of Bones, Booth, and their daughters. Taped to the back of the framed painting was the photograph that had inspired the work of art. It was one of the first photos that had been taken of the new family.
"Oh, Ang! It's beautiful," Bones said, rising from her seat to hug her best friend tightly.
"Yeah, Ang," Booth said, giving the artist a peck on the cheek when Bones released her, "Thank you so much!"
Booth looked at the painting again and smiled. Angela had certainly managed to capture the awe that he and Bones had felt – still felt – holding their newborn daughters.
Booth encircled his arms around Bones' waist and whispered in her ear, "I love you."
Bones spun around in his arms, "Love you, too, Booth."
Shortly after the opening of the presents, the food was served, and the group disbanded thereafter. Angela was true to her word. She did not let Bones or Booth lift a finger to clean up from the gathering.
"Thank you again for the painting," Bones said as Angela and Hodgins were about to leave, "We are going to hang it in the nursery."
"I am glad you liked it," Angela said.
"I love it, Ang," Bones said embracing her.
"Thanks for the party," Booth added, "Our girls are lucky to have such a great aunt."
Hodgins cleared his throat in the background.
Booth laughed, "And uncle."
"I am so happy that our girls are going to grow up together," Angela said.
Hodgins gave her a pointed look, and Angela clapped her hand over her mouth.
"Shit!"
"You're having a girl?" Bones exclaimed excitedly.
Angela nodded, her eyes welling up with tears, "Yes. Jack wanted to keep it a secret, but -."
"It's okay," Hodgins said, giving his wife a kiss on the cheek.
"That's great, Ang," Bones said embracing her friend.
Booth clapped his hand on Hodgins' back, "Congrats, man."
Booth looked around to ensure that Parker wasn't in earshot, "Having a little girl, it's just special, so special."
Hodgins nodded, "We can't wait."
Bones gave Hodgins a hug, congratulating him on his news. Then, Booth walked the couple out.
When he returned, Booth suggested, "You look tired, why don't you take a nap? Both of the girls are sleeping and have just eaten recently. You have an hour before either of them should need to eat."
Bones considered Booth's suggestion, "I suppose it would be prudent to rest, since I will probably get very little sleep tonight."
Booth chuckled, "Well, you don't have to handle all of the feedings and diaper changes, baby."
"I know, but you have to work tomorrow."
Booth shook his head and smiled, "I took off until the 26th, Wednesday."
"I thought we discussed that that wasn't necessary."
Booth wrapped his arms around her, "I know, but I want to be home with you and the girls. Nothing at work is as important as my family ever."
Bones looked up at him, her eyes twinkling, "I think that catching murderers is very important."
"It is, but nothing is as important as my family. You, the girls, Parker – you're my number one priority. Now and always."