Disclaimer: I don't own the Bones characters, just borrowing them for some fun! But I will be introducing my OC later in this fic and I'm super excited to write her in.

A/N: So, I started this fic about four/five months ago and originally posted it on Ao3 but, like I said in my bio, I've been thinking about moving my stuff on too and after much thinking and debating, decided to start posting this here. I'm not sure if I'll keep it up on Ao3, for right now, I will and I'll decide where I'll edit it/update it. Maybe I keep it up on both platforms so more people can read it. By reposting here, I'm also going in and making some edits, fixing some continuity errors I've found and expanding certain moments.

I also started this with the intention of getting a look at everyone's life post series finale so sometimes I'll be switching back and forth between homes, but I think generally moving forward, it'll be focused on Booth and Brennan a lot. Anyways, that's my little speech. Also, I ask that you please don't replicate this or pass it off as your own. I'm silentlsworld on both platforms so people know it's me. Okay, okay, I'm done. I really hope you enjoy this!

"JACK HODGINS! Don't you dare!"

"But Angie, you know that with the Mass Spec I have here, I'd be able to help break down the particulars, play around with some samples-"

"NO Jack! Uh-uh. NO. You are not bringing a deadly disease/virus into our home just so you can play Dr. Jekyll."

"But-"

"No buts Jack. Uh-uh. Maybe when the Jeffersonian reopens fully, you can get in contact with the Virology department at Georgetown. And even then! Even then, that is a hard maybe." Angela shook her head walking away. Jack sat there in his wheelchair looking disgruntled but as he kept thinking, he realized his wife was right. Sighing in defeat, he rolled away going to find Michael Vincent and their daughter, Katherine Temperance. Hearing their giggles throughout the hallway, he figured they were in the media room watching reruns of the Flintstones.

Angela shook her head as she walked into the kitchen. Jack had some nerve and always managed to shake her up beyond belief sometimes. She picked up the phone with the intention of calling her best friend. It had been four months since she had seen Brennan and while she knew it was for the best to keep them, their families and everyone around them safe, she still missed her still socially awkward best friend and their girl time.

Brennan walked into the kitchen absolutely drained. Christine and Hank had been at again and she had just about had enough of her children's bickering. At just three years younger than his sister, Hank was even more energetic and had pent up, what Booth called, "chaotic energy". He often found himself overwhelming his sister or getting them both in trouble. It was only 11 am but she went ahead and opened the cabinet and pulled out the new bottle of wine Booth had bought yesterday when he went grocery shopping. Pouring herself a glass, she looked out the window above the sink. Booth was in the backyard working on setting up a tree house for the kids after they had spent an entire month begging for one. Christine so she could have a place to escape Hank for a bit and Hank so he could have his own 'Ninja Turtle' hideaway.

The phone rang. Seeing the caller ID, she smiled.

"Hey Ange, how's it going?"

"Oh sweetie! I am going to kill my husband." Angela exclaimed.

"Why? Not that you wouldn't get away with it. I mean we both could get away with murder. However, judging from the last time you called and said Hodgins had been finding creative ways to sexually satisfy you even with the kids at home and with his condition, I can only conclude that you are being sarcastic."

Angela chuckled. God, she missed Bren so much. From the day she met Brennan, her friend had always had this blunt demeanor. She said things as they were. It was one of the things that drew Angela to her. Brennan was unapologetically honest. She could never forget the first time she met Brennan at her gallery opening. She had observed her for quite some time as Brennan stood there looking at the piece. She walked over and Brennan had outwardly told her that it made no sense to her and she hated when things didn't make sense. But before Angela could rebut, Brennan had added with teary eyes, "I think that's what makes it so beautiful. You simply can't understand it, all you can do is feel it and know that it represents what the artist was feeling. It's... It's so human."

They had exchanged numbers after that and had gone out for coffee a couple days later. Through art retreats and international digs, they had kept in touch until Brennan had brought Angela on at the Jeffersonian. Angela herself had always been a free spirit. Not wanting to stay in one place for too long, wanting to go to Paris and then wherever else after but as she sat leaning on the kitchen counter, talking to the woman who had become her sister, she couldn't imagine a better turn out for her life.

"Yes, sweetie. I'm kidding but he was talking again about trying to contact one of his colleagues in the Virology department at Georgetown to try and get samples of the virus strain and poke and prod it with some tests. Says he could help figure out a vaccine."

"Oh. He might Ange. But-"

"Bren, not you too. It's dangerous! And with Katherine being in and out the hospital right now-"

"I know Ange." Brennan interrupted. "I was going to say that I understand your hesitation and fear. I understand it from both points but you're right. Being in and out of a hospital right now does put you and Katherine at a higher risk of exposure. How is she by the way?"

"She's hanging in there. The doctors have given her special corrective glasses to help right now," Angela sighed. Every day she tried to hope that she and Hodgins would get the news confirming what was wrong with their little girl, but they still sat in the unknown.

"They still don't know if it is in fact LCA?" Brennan questioned. Her heart going out for her best friend. Metaphorically of course.

"No. That's the thing, they don't. They have no idea what it is and it-it… it's just really frustrating sweetie. They keep saying that it could be one or the other, but no one has given us any definitive answer yet."

"I'm sorry Ange. I really am. I wish I could embrace you and be there for you during this time of extreme emotional distress."

"You are sweetie. Just being here talking to me on the phone is enough for now. Thank you."

"Of course. I'm always going to be here supporting Ange. Always."

Angela smiled as Brennan spoke. Her best friend had really come a long way. It felt like it was just yesterday she was forcing Bren out of the lab to go with her to a club and like fate, they had stumbled upon a dead body mummified within the club walls. She was just about to remind Brennan when she heard a shriek on the other line.

"MOOOOOOOOOOOMMMM HANK IS AT IT AGGAAAAAIIIIIIIINN! HANK NOOOOOOO!" Christine shouted so loudly Booth came tumbling inside, hammer still in hand.

"Ange, I'm sorry to cut this short but my children are being extremely difficult, and I swear I'm going to metaphorically explode if I have to separate them again." Brennan huffed.

"It's okay. Believe me, Hank and Christine are a duo and with both inside at the same time during quarantine. Let's just say I'm glad I'm not you." Angela joked trying to ease Brennan. It worked.

"Ha-ha I can imagine you are. I'll call you back Ange. Tell Hodgins and the kids hello for me."

"Will do. Bye Bren."

"Bye Ange."

"Bones." Booth huffed confused. "What's going on?"

"Our children have been very dedicated to breaking the laws of physics with their antics today Booth and I've just about had it trying to talk to them."

Placing the hammer on the floor by the door, Booth walked over to his wife. He could see the energy dissipated from her eyes and the half-drunk glass of wine on the counter confirmed it. In part, he felt bad that a part of her exhaustion was because of what happened last night. With that and trying to handle their children, he could see that she had really reached her last.

"Bones let me talk to them. Top off your glass and go take a bath. Take some time for yourself, I'll deal with our tyrant children."

"Booth, are you sure? They're both the exact same level of cranky and intolerable now."

"Yes. Go. I'm their father. The load to discipline doesn't only fall on your shoulders." Booth confirmed. Smiling Brennan hugged her husband, giving him a quick kiss.

"Thank you, Booth. If you need help, come and get me." Booth pulled her back for a longer hug.

"It's okay, Bones. I got it." He watched as she topped off her wine and grabbed the book that she had hastily discarded on the couch walking into their room.

"HANK!" Christine shriek filled the house again.

"Christine Angela Booth! You know how your mother feels about yelling in the house." Booth chastised his daughter walking down the hall to their room. He thought he would be dealing with another case of Hank either going through Christine's journal or using her dolls as plungers. What he didn't know was that he wouldn't be prepared for the disaster he was about to walk into.

Booth could hear his son's giggles and what sounded like Christine muttering to herself. He opened and his eyes went wide, and he had to try his best to not laugh at the sight in front of him. Hank had apparently gotten hold of the baby powder he had bought yesterday and stored in the bathroom cabinet. Even though he and Christine were already five and eight years old respectively, Brennan still purchased baby powder for them regularly to use after showers and baths. It helped them stay fresh and prevented chafing which was always a plus. Hank had other ideas of its use though. The two entire jumbo containers had exploded over Christine's room. Her floor was drenched in powder and Hank was currently in it making a snow angel. Christine had powder stacked on top of her head that looked like it had been dolloped there like whip cream on a cupcake. He chuckled involuntarily.

"Daddy! Look! I made Christmas!" Hank shouted from his spot on the floor. He was drenched in it and looked like Casper the friendly ghost.

"DAD!" Christine whined.

"Okay-okay-okay!" Booth chuckled again. Bones would have lost it and blown her top he thought.

"It's not funny Dad! This is like the third time this week Hank's come in here and wreaked havoc." Christine stared at her father indignantly. A stare she had inherited from her mother and it didn't help that she had the same blue eyes. Just before lockdown, Angela had come over with Katherine and they had a girl's day lounging around the house. There had been a lull in cases for the FBI-Jeffersonian duo and so the women decided to take the day off together. It was then Angela had offered to cut Christine's hair giving the little girl bangs. She looked so much like her Mom did when she first returned from Maluku and was the splitting image of Temperance Brennan right now as she stood with her hands on her hips, lips pouting, and eyes narrowed.

"Okay. Hank, why did you want to make Christmas?" Booth tried to reason with his son.

"Because I'm bored, and Christmas time means fun in the snow and then Auntie Angela and Uncle Hodgy comes over and we get together with the whole family and go see the lights and then-and then we won't be stuck in the house by ourselves."

Booth sighed. He had figured Hank's restlessness was because of being in quarantine but they couldn't help it.

When the news had broken that the virus had spread across the country, he and Aubrey as SSAs had made the executive decision to leave the division under Aubrey's control so Booth could be home with his family. He offered to consult with Aubrey virtually if needed and to come in if absolutely necessary but thus far, the department had been running smoothly under Aubrey's administration. It helped that he also had Caroline backing him up.

Brennan had made a similar decision. With the Jeffersonian museum closed to the public and the lab going under a case-by-case operational schedule, she opted at staying home with her children too. She wanted to be with her family during this time and saw no reason why she couldn't consult with the interns virtually for cases and to observe any questions they had with their dissertations. It had only been a month since the kids were back in school, but it was a no brainer that Christine and Hank visibly missed routine. Hank especially. He was a very energetic boy, a lot of that energy released with him going to preschool and running around with his friends. With nowhere else to release his energy, Christine had been on the receiving end for the past couple of months.

Booth looked at his son and his heart melted just a little. He knew Hank meant no harm, but he also knew he had to try to explain to Hank why it wasn't okay to explore powder all over his sister's room.

"Okay bub, but I don't think turning your sister's room into winter wonderland was necessary was it?"

Hank stopped making his snow angels and looked at his sister who gave him the Brennan stare.

"No. But I wanted Chrissy to play with me."

"Hank, you just had to ask. I was almost finished with my ballet practice anyways." Christine shook her head. "You didn't have to explode powder all over my room."

"I'm sorry." Hank apologized. Before he could think twice about his actions, he got up and engulfed Christine in one big Casper hug.

"Oooooooo! Haaaaannnnkkkkkk!" She squealed trying to squirm out of his reach, but Hank just ended up hooking his little legs around her right leg and hanging on. Giggling at the powder that was now covering both of them and shaking down to the floor.

"Okay. Okay. Let's go tiger, Bath time for you." Booth chuckled, pulling his son off Christine and sent him to the bathroom. Little puffs of powder dropping on the floor as he went. Clapping his hands, he turned to look at his daughter who still looked less than amused with everything.

"Okay pumpkin, I need your help trying to clean up. Mom is in the bath right now trying to relax and I don't want her coming in here finding this mess."

"What do I do?"

"Try your best to scoop the powder in one spot and shake it off you. I'm going to go get the broom and when I'm done giving Hank a bath, you can go take one."

"But what if Hank comes back in, Dad? I love him but he's been getting on my last nerve lately." Christine huffed.

"That's where I come in angel. I'll send him to go take a nap. Then while you're in the shower I'll finish cleaning up okay."

"Okay…"

"Good. Thanks Chrissy." Booth hugged his daughter and walked into the bathroom to deal with his son. The whole ordeal took about thirty minutes. Telling Hank that he had to stop acting out with his sister and instead use his words to ask her to play and spend time with him. Christine gathered the sno- the powder in one corner and then off to shower herself while Hank went to take a mandatory nap and Booth to clean up the floor. By the time Christine had finished, Booth was all done. He told Christine that she could either go watch TV outside or spend time in her room, Christine opting for the former because she had seen last week that there would be a Rainbow Rangers marathon this week and it was only so often, she got to binge watch mindless TV.

Booth, satisfied that he had solved the crisis before Brennan could walk in, went to go check on her. He found that Brennan had taken his advice. She was chin deep in water with bubbles rising up to the edge. Her hair was pulled up in a messy bun and her wine glass sat on the edge of the tub almost finished. Her head tilted back resting on the back edge of the tub, eyes closed. The book she had been reading was sitting on the bathmat opened faced down to where she had probably been reading before falling asleep.

He smiled.

It was the little moments like these that made him eternally grateful he and Brennan had found each other. It hadn't been easy and even when they tied the knot officially, there had been bumps in the road but looking at his wife, her face make-up free and for the first time in a while stress free, he wouldn't trade it for anything. He thought back to the night before at how stupid he had been. They had both been on edge and he knew something was up with her and he made a mental note to get her to try and talk to him about it today. He loved and cherished this woman with everything in him and it pained him when she was stressed or upset. Last night she had been both but instead of offering his support, they had ended the night on a sour note. He hated it. He had once told Brennan that his life with her and the kids was better than any hand he could ever be dealt, and he meant it. Then, now and always. Through the good and bad. Right now, he was concerned with getting through the bad, whatever it was.

Thanks for reading! I really hope you like it :) Leave me a review and let me know what you think!