I'm glad to see you all enjoyed the first instalment of my previous chapter, and that a lot of you found it funny. Part 2 will be coming real soon. Special thanks to: Lauwy (they might be right… or wrong), RobinAngelena, 554Laura (good question, you'll find out soon), LoveShipper (they will be), MstgSzy, GalaxieGurl (thanks!, you're right it might be pricey), Vmf447 (that he had), kareneb, Bethalou, FaithinBones, hushedgreylily, mendenbar, ZinaR, FicFanofFanFic, regbride12 (patience, you'll find out soon enough, and yeah FOX should so have renewed them for more seasons), pasha54.

Set between seasons 8 and 9.

Pops

He had been forced to break her heart. When they had finally got together, he had sworn to himself that he never would but he did. There was no way he could chose her happiness over the lives of 5 innocent people. Even if he did, when she eventually found out, she would not be able to bear the burden of her happiness over innocent lives. He did not want her to live with that kind of guilt. And because of that, because of Pelant's clever manipulation of him, Booth had been forced to reject her marriage proposal.

She had said she understood but he knew she was hurting inside. Every day they spent together felt as if there was an growing invisible chasm between them. He had threw himself into trying to catch Pelant, because he was the only thing standing in the way of their happiness, of him living out his dream of marrying Bones. His hours in the office became longer and he saw less of Brennan and Christine.

He still played the dutiful role of father and boyfriend. He made sure that there was at least one day of the week where he put his efforts of hunting Pelant aside, and spent time with his girls. Little Christine could not detect the change in her father and enjoyed playing him with as if nothing had changed. However, Brennan was withdrawing herself from him and it hurt. They talked less and shared laughs between them were even lesser. Their conversations now centered mostly around work and Christine. They were less affectionate and made love less frequently. This wasn't the life he had wanted to build with her. Knowing that she was hurting and that he was the cause of her pain, yet being unable to do anything about it was the thing that ate at him the most. Their friends were all angry at him for breaking her heart and alone as he might feel, he didn't blame them. He knew he had to find Pelant soon. If he didn't, he risked losing both his girls and that was unacceptable.

It was one Saturday without a case when the family decided to make a trip to the retirement home to visit Pops. It had been awhile since Christine has seen her great-grandfather. The little girl was almost two and that morning was a welcome relief to the mounting tensions at home. On the long drive to visit Pops, the little girl babbled happily in her car seat, helping lighten the mood. As Booth pulled up to the retirement home, he climbed out of the car and moved to unbuckle Christine from her car seat in the back. He held his little girl in his arms as they entered the facility. Having mastered the skill of walking at an early age Christine wiggled in her father's arms wanting to be allowed on the floor to do her own exploration of the new environment.

Booth set her on her tiny feet and took one of her hands. Brennan came up to them and taking the her daughter's other hand they lifted her off the ground as they walked, swinging her. A child's laughter was rarely heard there and Christine's delighted giggles garnered many smiles from the residents of the home. Booth glanced over to Brennan who was also smiling. She caught his eye and they shared a smile, another rare occurrence these days.

"I could hear her angelic laughter all the way from my room." Hank said as the family arrived at the door to the old man's room.

"It's good to see you Temperance," Hank said as he welcomed her with a hug.

"You to Hank." Brennan replied, smiling.

"Hey Pops." Booth embraced his grandfather briefly. "Good to see you too Shrimp. But it's even better to see this little one."

He poked a finger playfully at Christine who was suddenly shy.

"Hey you remember Pops, right Pumpkin? Booth asked.

"Give her some time, she'll warm up to you Hank." Brennan said as she gathered Christine into her arms.

"So everything okay with you Pops?" Booth asked.

"Yeah."

"Your health? You're keeping up with your medications right?"

"You know I am."

"I'll have a chat with one of the orderlies on our way out to check on the supply of your medications. You're not smoking your cigars again are you Hank?" Brennan asked.

"Nope, I've been a regular boy scout. You don't have to check on me."

"It's her thing," Booth teased. "Checking on people. It's because she cares."

"I know."

"You wanna sit on Pops' lap Christine?" Booth asked, turning to his daughter.

"Say hi to Pops, Sweetie," Brennan said as he placed the little girl on Hank's lap.

"Oh you're as cute as a bug." Hank said as he tickled Christine, eliciting another round of giggles.

"I don't see how bugs are cute." Brennan said.

Booth chuckled. "Just an expression Bones."

Another shared smile. It was as if the visit to Pops made them forget their troubles. Christine quickly warmed up to her great-grandfather and started enjoying playing with him. The morning went by swiftly, and soon Christine got cranky as her routine nap time approached.

"We'll stop by again soon Hank. Christine would need her nap before lunch." Brennan announced.

"It was great seeing all of you." Hank kissed Christine on her head as she whined and reached for her mother. She held out her chubby arms, "Momma!"

"Come here Sweetheart." Brennan took Christine into her arms. "Say bye to Pops."

"Bye." Christine waved.

"Like Bones said, we'll come by again. You behave yourself okay Pops?" Booth said as he gathered their things, getting ready to leave. "You heard Bones. No smoking those cigars. They're bad for you."

"Me? What about you?"

"I don't smoke Pops."

"I mean behaving yourself."

"I'm always good."

"Really? I bet Temperance would beg to differ."

There was a sudden awkward silence. Brennan broke it. "I'll go speak with the orderlies. Bye Hank."

She left the room in a hurry with Christine in her arms. Booth was about to follow when Hank called out to him.

"Seeley."

"Yeah Pops?" Booth turned.

"A minute?"

Booth sat back down on the chair next to Hank.

"So what's this I hear about you not wanting to marry Temperance."

"Where'd you hear that from?"

"I may be old but I'm not clueless. I have my sources. I was an MP you know. I know how to conduct an investigation."

"What Camille told you? You interrogating me now?"

"Doesn't matter who told me what. What matters, is you do right by Temperance. You got her pregnant, she gave you a daughter, marry her!"

"Pops… it's more complicated than that."

"I don't think so. What's so complicated about getting married? Just get a couple of rings. Doesn't matter if she doesn't want to get married in a church. You can put your beliefs aside for her. I don't even care if you two ran off to Vegas and got married by some guy who dresses like Elvis."

Booth couldn't help but chuckle.

"Marriage is a big commitment, and I know what you youngsters think these days. It's scary but it's worth it. You're not gonna end up like your parents."

Hank's words struck a nerve. Booth knew they would never end up like his parents. He wanted to tell someone the real reason why he couldn't marry Brennan but he remembered the cellphone in his pocket. Saw the radio in Hank's room. He sighed.

"Look I'm not scared of commitment and I love Bones. I know we're not gonna end up like Mom and Dad. I really, really wanna marry her. Just… not right now."

"What the hell you waiting for?"

"Look Pops, I hear what you're saying."

"I don't think so."

Booth detected the annoyance in Hank's voice.

"She asked you to marry her. Since when did women have to do that? Can't you man up and do the right thing?"

"Pops… I'll do the right thing. I will marry Bones. I just… I can't right now."

"Seeley."

"Trust me Pops, you raised me to do the right thing. You gotta trust that I will."

"Well you better do it fast."

"Or I might lose her, I know."

"She's not Rebecca. Temperance is a keeper."

"I know."

Hank knew his grandson and in that moment, he detected a hint of regret in his voice. He always knew when something was bothering his Shrimp and this time he suspected something might be wrong.

"Something's bothering you."

"Me? No Pops, it's nothing."

"I know you. I know when something is up. Something's keeping you from marrying her. Whatever it is, you can tell me."

Booth didn't reply and Hank took his silence to mean tacit agreement. Something was wrong. Brennan reappeared at the door, Christine already falling asleep in her mother's arms. "Booth?"

"Yeah, we really gotta go."

"You remember what I said."

"I always do Pops."

…

Several months later…

Hank Booth sat on the chair, watching his grandson, so dashingly handsome in his tux, dance with his brand new wife, so beautiful in her white wedding gown, with their daughter in his arms. The family twirled in a happy circle and Hank smiled to himself. He was happy seeing his Shrimp so happy. The boy deserved to be, after the childhood he had.

Their dance over, Hank watched as the newly married couple kissed again for what seemed like the hundredth time. He watched as Brennan made her way to her friends, and Booth walked over to where he was sitting, Christine still in his arms.

"Someone wanted to say hi to Pops." Booth said as he pulled up a chair and sat next to Hank.

"Hi Christine. You look like you're having fun." Hank reached to caress Christine's cheek.

"Fun!" Christine slid off her father's lap. She tugged at Booth's hand, wanting to explore the floral decorations.

"Just a second, Daddy wants to talk to Pops."

"Go there!" Christine pointed to the distance.

"I'll take her Dad." Parker appeared.

"Okay but be careful."

"I will." Parker replied as he took his little sister's hand.

"He's a good big brother, like you are."

Booth smiled proudly at his children. "Yeah he is."

He turned his attention back to Hank. "I told you I'd marry her didn't I?"

"That you did."

"The real reason I couldn't, back when we visited you, I couldn't tell you because – "

Hank held out his hand stopping Booth from continuing. "Crazy serial killer. Max told me. I was right about something bothering you."

Booth nodded, smiling.

"She's perfect for you Shrimp."

"I know. I don't know how I got so lucky."

"I felt the same way when I married your Grandmother."

Brennan approached. "Everything okay?"

"Yeah everything's more than okay Mrs Booth." Booth grinned up at her.

"I didn't agree to take your last name." Brennan scowled.

"Yeah but doesn't mean I can't call you that, right Pops?"

Hank laughed.

"You're happy." Brennan observed, addressing Hank.

"Yes. One thing off my… what's that you call it? Bucket list?"

"Oh no Pops. You're still hale and hearty. You just wait, we might give you more great-grandkids."

Brennan frowned. "That is something we have yet to discuss."

Booth stood, taking her hand, he waggled his eyebrows suggestively at her. "Yeah, we'll definitely discuss that tonight. C'mon, let's dance."

Hank watched as Booth placed his hand on the small of Brennan's back, guiding her back to the small dance floor. He watched as he twirled her and they shared a laugh. Hank remembered when he took in those two small boys. They had been so scarred, physically and emotionally. He had feared they would not be able to lead happy lives when they grew up. He had tried hard to provide a loving home for them to grow up in, to erase the wrongs his son did to his grandsons. Jared had unfortunately chosen to follow in his father's footsteps, but Seeley, he lived to prove everyone wrong. And now seeing his Shrimp happily married with his own family, Hank was happy. Very happy.

Wish we had more episodes with Pops in it.