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I read somewhere that it's Christine's birthday this month. I can't remember the exact date the episode of her birth was aired. But anyway, this short chapter was inspired by this little fact.

Birthday

Ever since Booth became a father he always made sure his children had memorable birthdays. As an abusive drunk, his own father had always remembered to celebrate his and Jared's birthdays, he had wanted to prove that he was better than his old man, especially in this regard. He made sure every one of three children felt especially loved and important on their special day. Even for Parker whom he no longer saw as often as he liked, Booth always ensured he had a present shipped over to England and that they spoke over Skype on Parker's birthday.

Christine's birthday was even more special in Booth's eyes. Finding out that Max didn't go out of the way to celebrate Brennan's birthdays bothered him. Little girls deserved to be spoiled and treated like Princesses on their birthdays and Booth had always ensured that Christine knew that. Brennan understood how much Booth loved his children and though she thought that celebrating their children's birthdays didn't need such an extravagance, she went along with what Booth wanted.

Christine's ninth birthday was coming and Booth was just about ready to burst with excitement planning for it. As his little girl got older, Booth had made sure to check what she wished for rather than plan one for her. That night, at the dinner table, Booth broached the subject.

"Hey Pumpkin. Your birthday's comin' up."

"I know." Little Christine beamed.

"I want ice cream," Hank interrupted.

"You'll get some dessert after you've finished your broccoli Hank." Brennan addressed her son sternly. Unlike his sister, Hank was truly his father's son. He disliked vegetables much to Brennan's chagrin and like his father had a palate for all things sweet, oily and unhealthy, not to mention all things meat. He also loved pie.

"Daddy…" Hank whined.

"Do as your mother says." Booth replied. "And it's not nice to interrupt when I was having a conversation with your sister."

"When is my birthday?" Hank asked.

"Your sister's birthday comes first. Yours is several months away." Brennan replied. "Now finish your broccoli please."

Hank nodded glumy, poking at his vegetables with his fork.

"Did you think about what you wanna do to celebrate the special day this year Christine?" Booth asked.

"I'm not sure yet."

"We could have a barbeque at home like we did last year. You loved having your friends over. And we had that magician who could do all those funny tricks. Or how about the year before, like when we took you and your friends to the water park. You guys loved it, especially Michael-Vincent." Booth suggested. "This time round, if you like, we could see if we could get a pony and all your friends could take turns riding it."

"That sounds like a very large expense Booth." Brennan raised her eyebrows.

"Anything for my little girl Bones. Besides, birthdays only come once a year."

"And what about Christmas?" Brennan asked, knowing how her husband loved celebrating that particular holiday, often also with many presents for their children.

"That's not the same. During Christmas, Santa brings the gifts. For birthdays, I get the presents."

Brennan rolled her eyes.

"Mommy said Santa's not real." Christine replied. "Mommy said you and her get the gifts and that you put them under the tree. She also says you're the one who eats the milk and cookies on Christmas eve."

"Santa is real!" Hank insisted.

Booth glared at Brennan. "Remember what we talked about last Christmas Bones?!" He hissed.

Brennan sighed. "Santa is… real Hank… "

Christine giggled.

"But we're not talking about Christmas presents here are we?" Booth was quick to change the subject. "So what would you like to have this year Sweetheart?" He returned his attention to Christine.

"Remember that junior science set we saw at the mall?" Brennan asked. "Would you be interested in getting that? We can work on it together after school."

"I'll think about it Mommy." Christine replied.

"Okay but don't take too long to decide what you want." Booth reminded. "Mommy and Daddy need time to plan the party."

"I know Daddy."

The days to Christine's birthday grew nearer. Booth and Brennan constantly reminded their little girl that she would need to make her wishes known to them in order for them to plan the birthday in a timely manner.

About a week before Christine's birthday, Booth and Brennan were in the SUV, waiting for Christine to finish school.

"She sure is taking a long time making up her mind about what she wants this year." Booth commented. "And I thought they only got this indecisive when they became teenagers."

"Perhaps she is caught between choices she really would want and can't decide which she wants the most." Brennan replied, looking up from the case file she had been reading.

"Well, she better make up her mind soon. We're running out of time. I hate to disappoint her."

"You won't Booth. You love her and she knows that. That should be sufficient for her. What if she asks for something difficult to obtain, like an African tribal doll or a Maori carving. You'll have no choice but to give her alternatives."

Booth chuckled. "I don't think she'll ask for anything like that Bones. Besides, even if she asks for the moon, you know I'll do my damest to make sure she gets it."

Soon their little girl opened the back door of the SUV and climbed in, slamming the door behind her.

"How was school today Sweetheart?" Brennan asked.

"It was fun."

"Did you learn something new?"

"What's important is that she had fun." Booth replied. He changed the subject to more pressing matters. "So about your birthday?"

"I decided."

"You did?" Booth asked delighted.

"I'd like to have five presents but no party."

Booth and Brennan exchanged perplexed glances.

"No party? You sure?" Booth asked. "You've always had parties."

"Not this year."

"Five presents though? Why this specific number?" Brennan asked. "And what kind of presents in particular?"

"Things other kids could use. For kids who don't have a Mom and Dad like I have."

There was a silence in the car, both parents trying to comprehend what their eight-year-old had in mind. They knew she would explain herself.

"My friend Mabel hasn't been coming to school for some time. Today I asked Ms Gibson what happened to her. I thought she was sick. Ms Gibson said Mabel's Mom and Dad did something that wasn't right and broke the law and they were sent to prison. Mabel was sent to foster care. She had to move to another school that's closer to her new foster parent's house. I asked Ms Gibson what foster care was. She explained it to me."

"I see." Brennan replied. She had yet to reveal to her children that she had been a foster child too. She felt Booth reach over to take her hand, squeezing it discreetly before their perceptive daughter could see his action.

"Mabel was a good friend of yours wasn't she?"

"Yes." Christine nodded. "I didn't know her parents did something bad. Did you catch her parent's Daddy? Did you put them in prison?"

"I'm pretty sure I didn't Pumpkin." Booth replied. "If they did something to make me have to catch them…" He didn't finish the sentence. Christine had yet to be told that her parents only dealt with murderers.

"Mabel moving away made you sad." Booth stated.

"Yes."

"Mabel must miss her Mom and Dad. I don't know where Mabel moved to but I figured you would know Daddy."

"I don't know where she went, but I think I can find that out."

"I knew you could!" In the back seat, Christine perked up. "For my birthday, I wanna go see Mabel, and I wanna give her some presents. I remember a few years ago, Mommy gave cakes and presents to her friends on her birthday. I can do that too."

"You sure can Christine." Brennan turned, smiling at her daughter proudly.

"Five presents for Mabel?"

"No. Only two. Ms Gibson said the family Mable is staying with has three other children, like her. The other kids would probably be missing their Moms and Dads too. I thought they should get one present each."

"They would." Brennan affirmed, remembering her time in the foster system. She hoped Mabel's foster parents would be nothing like hers.

"You know what Pumpkin?" Booth grinned. "Tomorrow when I get to the office, I'll find out where Mabel's new family is and maybe we can go visit and give them the presents next week on your birthday. We can even have cake together."

"That's an awesome idea Daddy!"

Booth exchanged proud smiles with Brennan. Heart and brain. Their little girl was turning out to be the perfect mixture of her parents.

I apologize if the frequency of my new chapters are a little slower, like I said before, RL is busy.