Once in town, they noticed the lovely decorations and displays that only seem to be in small towns. It was beautiful. Tempe understood why her brother would want to live there. She had Seeley pull over to ask for directions.
"Excuse me!" Tempe called to a passing couple. "I'm looking for David Brennan's house, could you tell me how to get there?"
"Sure. Go straight ahead two blocks; make a right onto Cherry Street and it's the fourth house on your right. The one with the large snowman out front."
"Thank you so much. Merry Christmas!"
"How did you know that they'd be able to tell you?" Booth asked, surprised as they drove on.
"I grew up in a small town. Everybody knows everybody else."
Soon they had pulled up to a good-sized brick house with a giant snowman in the front yard. Tempe hesitated before getting out. It's now or never, she thought as she opened the car door. Seeley followed her lead and got out, then helped Alex out as well. The three of them walked up the driveway together. Both boys supporting Tempe in their own way.
At the doorway, Tempe stopped before ringing the doorbell. She needed time to get a hold of herself. Taking a deep breath, she pressed the button and waited with baited breath. The door opened to reveal a young girl, no more than thirteen. She looked very much like Tempe at her age. She smiled and wished them a Merry Christmas.
"Is your dad home?" Tempe asked.
"Sure. DAD!" The girl called into the house. "There's people here to see you!"
"Who is it babe?" David asked as he came to the door.
"I don't know. Who are you?" The young girl asked when her father had come up behind her.
"Hello David." Tempe said quietly.
"I'm sorry, have we met?"
"Yes, but we haven't spoken in years."
"You look so familiar."
"Davey, it's me."
"The only person who ever called me that was my kid sister. But…Tempe?" David asked utterly bewildered.
"It's me, David."
"Tempe! Oh, God. I can't believe it's you!" David exclaimed, pulling her into a bear hug. Openly crying. "I lost you when they moved you from the first foster house, I tried to find you but no one would tell me anything. I'm so sorry for leaving you!"
"It wasn't your fault David."
They were now in the house and David's family stood back, watching the startling display, completely lost. His wife came up beside him.
"David, are you going to introduce us?"
"Oh, sorry. This is my sister, Temperance. Tempe, this is my wife, Beth."
"It's wonderful to meet you. I've heard so much about you over the years."
"These are our children; Ann, Jack, and Suzie." The last being the girl who looked so much like Tempe.
"It's nice to meet you all." Tempe said to the kids. "This is my husband, Seeley, and our son, Alex."
"Pleasure to meet you all." Booth said, shaking David's hand.
Alex came forward. "Hi, I'm Alex. Let's go play. Da grownups are no fun."
"Yeah! I'll show you my room." Jack said. He was about the same age as Alex. They ran off upstairs together.
"Never the shy one." Seeley said, watching the boys disappear.
"Mommy! Can I go too?" The littlest, Ann, asked.
"Sure honey. Why don't we all go into the living room. Would you like anything to drink?"
"No thank you." Tempe said, following them into the room off the entranceway.
"I'll take your coats." David offered. When Tempe took hers off, he noticed her protruding belly and wondered. He didn't say anything yet incase he was wrong, but it made him happy to know that she was emotionally able to have a family, despite all that she'd been through.
The four sat down to catch up. Once they started, it seemed like they couldn't stop. They sat there for hours, telling one another what their lives had held. In the wee hours of the night, they realized that they all very much needed some sleep. With the promise of meeting again tomorrow, Tempe and Booth took a sleeping Alex to the hotel. As they settled in for bed that night, everyone thought about how this would definitely be a Christmas to remember.
The end.
A/N: Just a short little fic to fit my mood. Hope you like it.
Wishing you all a Christmas to remember,
SSidle