Chapter 53 Memorable
A/N 1: I have to take a moment to thank the readers who don't have profiles by which I could thank them for their reviews via PM. Especially JSBonesLover and Guest, an anonymous kindly fanfiction follower, who've both left me numerous thoughtful encouraging reviews, and I can't respond individually. So this note of appreciation will have to suffice. There are several Guest readers whose considerate reviews mean a lot and give me ideas to improve, so, all y'all please consider yourselves greatly thanked for your responses to my writing efforts.
A/N 2: For the purposes of this chapter, I've borrowed some relatives of Brennan's from KEScrubbed's story The Family in the Tree. If you haven't read it, do so; you're in for a treat, I promise!
Mother's Day this year would be memorable for Bones, even epic, Booth chuckled to himself, picturing Brennan's reactions in his head. He had made airline reservations, secretly packed weekend clothing for her, Christine, and himself, alerted Cam, Dr. Goodman, and Cullen that the partners would be taking vacation days Friday and Monday, and recruited Hodgins to drive them to the airport. On Thursday afternoon, he popped into the Jeffersonian, pulled Brennan's lab coat off, grabbed her messenger bag, and waltzed her out the doors with the declaration that he had a surprise for her. Christine was already waiting in Jack's car. Hodgins headed for Reagan National Airport as Brennan sputtered with surprise, "Booth, where are we going?"
"You'll see," he promised her. Arriving at the airport, he steered her to the proper concourse and gate.
"Jacksonville? Do we have a case of which I'm not aware?" Brennan's eyebrows rose higher than ever.
"Nope, this trip is strictly for pleasure, I hope, anyway," Booth answered, mentally crossing his fingers.
"Then, pray tell, why are we going to Florida?"
"To spend Mother's Day with the next best things, or people, if you will, Bones. We've spending the weekend with your aunts! We keep saying we're going back for a visit. Well, this is it! We'll be back at work on Tuesday."
"Booth!"
"Lydia, Esther, and Judy gave me the idea. They said since you couldn't spend Mother's Day with your momma, they'd fill in for their sister. I thought it was a sweet gesture, and didn't have the heart to turn them down, Bones. Besides that, they want to see Christine. Said they weren't sure how much longer Mema had left on this earth, and she oughta get to see her great-grand-daughter again, now that she can talk for herself."
Brennan rolled her eyes at him, but smiled widely. "Yes, if she can get a word in edgewise."
A few hours later, she was standing in the kitchen of her aunt's small house, squashed in embraces from multiple relatives, who were all chattering at once. Brennan watched Christine talking quietly to her Mema in the corner of the living room. Disentangling herself from the group hug, she pulled Booth out onto the small front porch.
"Thank you!" she whispered into his chest as he hugged her. "I'm glad we came."
