Hey guys, I'm back. Author's note at the bottom to explain. Hope you guys enjoy.
Christine's Pov
I carefully snuck downstairs as to not wake my parents up, as I wanted to surprise them with breakfast. It was Christmas, so I thought it would be a nice idea if I did this – normally Dad made breakfast every day and he'd made it every Christmas, but this year I wanted to do it. The fact that I had the stupid brace off my foot now was helpful in my sneaking, 'cause that thing had caused me a hell of a lot of strife getting up and down the stairs. I had started to wish that with lived in a single-story house.
I made my way into the kitchen, going through the lounge that was decorated and housed a Christmas tree that had a lot of presents under it. I went in and gathered all the ingredients I needed to make homemade pancakes, which Dad had taught me to make growing up – he even taught me how to make the Mickey mouse ones. I didn't start making the mixture though; first I set the kitchen table with three plates, cutlery, glasses and all the toppings we'd need – I also quickly chopped up some strawberries and two bananas' as I liked fruit with my pancakes. I put the two bowls of fruit on the table, then went to make coffee for my parents and myself a milk.
I went back over to the bench and started to make up the pancake batter, whisking it up. I started up the stove once the batter was done and slowly started pouring it into the frying pan.
I cooked the pancakes one after another and as I started making the last one Dad came downstairs, stretching as he walked.
"What is that smell?" Dad asked and I waved my spatula as he came in.
"Pancakes. Is Mom awake?" I asked as I flipped the pancake over.
"Yeah, she's in the bathroom." Dad said. "You know, normally I do this." He pointed out.
"I know, but I wanted to do it this year." I said, because for once I wanted to cook Christmas breakfast. I really liked cooking, and that included decorating cakes and cupcakes.
"Well, what can I do to help?" He asked and I looked at him, before pointing the spatula at the table.
"You can go sit down. I already made coffee for you and Mom." I said as I put the last pancake onto the plate and I watched as Dad shook his head.
"My own daughter is telling me what to do. You sounded like your mother, though nicer about it." Dad said and I smiled as I grabbed the plate and followed him to the table.
"Well, kids do often take after their parents one way or another." I said as I placed the pancakes on the table, which is when I heard Mom coming. I turned to smile at her as she came in. "Merry Christmas Mom."
"Christine, did you do all this?" Mom asked and I nodded.
"Yeah, I wanted to. You two are cooking dinner tonight, so I wanted to make breakfast." I said as I sat down at the table in my seat. Mom sat down beside Dad and took a drink from her coffee.
"Well, thank you." Mom said and I smiled, before I thought of something.
We started eating our breakfast in silence, which we did for a short time until I spoke up.
"Hey Mom, Dad, I've been wondering about something." I said and they both looked at me.
"What is it Christine?" Mom asked me.
"I know your work is important, there's no debating that, but years ago you took time away from it and pursued other jobs that you loved. Why'd you go back to working on crimes?" I asked, because it had always been on my mind. I knew more than once that they'd desired to do something else and thought about quitting, and they had done other jobs when I was young.
"Well, your mother and I desired to do something else after a hard year." Dad started.
"I know, it was the year our house was partly destroyed because of Delta force, you were framed and put in jail for three months, Uncle Sweets was nearly killed and that whole conspiracy was revealed." I said, because I remembered all of it. (A/N I'm adding this in for a reason, 'cause I want to. Still not sure what I'm doing, whether I'm taking the twins out and putting Sweets son in or not.) "Why'd you go back?"
"We realized that, despite how hard it is at times and all of the death, that it's what Bones and I want to do with our lives. There's no telling how much longer we'll be doing this, but it's what we want to do." Dad said and I nodded. As I continued to eat.
"I agree with Booth. Granted, I'd prefer not worrying about your father being shot again now that we're older, but I enjoy solving crime. Like Booth said, we have yet to decide when we might leave the Jeffersonian, but for now we're glad to be solving crime." Mom explained and I had to say, I was proud that they solved murders, but I did worry about them. "What made you ask Christine, especially today? You have never had a desire to ask us this before."
"Michael told me that Hodgins brought a vacation home in Paris for Angela as a surprise for Christmas so they can holiday there whenever they want to; they have the money because of his invention. That just made me think about how Angela has always wanted to live in Paris full time, which made me think about you guys. I know Angela and Hodgins have considered moving there multiple times over the years and nearly did more than once." I explained, because it was what had made me think about it. Personally, I wasn't sure I could work around death for that many years. I'm sure I could do the job, but I wouldn't want to do it my whole life.
"Well, that was nice of Hodgins to do." Dad said as I started to eat my breakfast, which I made really well. The pancakes tasted good. "And of course they considered leaving Christine, death gets to people and Angela has always wanted to live in Paris, but we're a family Christine and we stick together."
"I know that, it's obvious." I said, because even though a lot of us weren't related, we were family.
"Technically, if Christine and Michael are able to defy the statistical odds of retaining a first-time relationship through high-school and remain together into adult-hood, and if they decided to marry, Angela and Hodgins would become Christine's in-laws, thus family." Mom said and I just looked at her, not knowing what to say. I know she was just being her logical self, like always, but somehow that didn't make me smile.
"Bones, don't say it like that." Dad said and I knew Mom looked at me, which made just look at me.
"I'm sorry Christine, I didn't mean to make it sound like I don't believe that your relationship with Michael won't work out. I'm glad you're happy." Mom said and I looked up at her.
"Mom, I'm well aware the relationships like ours don't work out often, but I know that I love him, and I also know what you are like. It's fine." I said because I was used to her being specific. "Besides, it's Christmas and I plan to enjoy it."
I finished my two pancakes then and stood up with my plate in hand, before smiling at my parents.
"I'm going to go get dressed for today since we're not opening presents till later." I said with a smile and I headed over to the sink, placing my plate in before I headed out of the room so I could go get dressed. Somehow, I knew Dad was going to say something to Mom.
Booth's Pov
I watched Christine leave the room, before looking at Bones, who was watching after Christine.
"I hope I didn't up upset her." Bones said and I sighed. She probably didn't, since Christine was very understanding about her mother. She wasn't as in sync with her mother as she had been when she was a child, which is when she listened to everything Bones said, but she still understood her; Christine was just her own person now.
"Well, you did just say that her relationship with Michael probably won't last, and on Christmas." I said and Bones looked at me.
"Statistically, it's unlikely that it will last, but that doesn't mean I don't want it to. I don't understand Christine as much now as I did as a child because she's changed as she's gotten older and isn't as interested in the things that I taught her anymore, though she remembers them, but I do know that she generally does love Michael and I don't want to see her get hurt." She said and I knew that she was being honest. The most important thing to Bones was Christine, with me coming in a close second of course.
"I know you don't Bones, but I don't think Christine and Michael can be seen as a normal couple. They're childhood friends and have grown up together, so they're not like normal high-school couples." I said, because even though I was worried as well because it was Christine's first relationship and they rarely lasted, I was happy to see Christine with Michael because he had always taken care of her.
"That's true. There never has been a study on couples who were originally childhood friends." Bones admitted as we continued to eat breakfast, the breakfast Christine had been kind enough to make. "Sometimes I wish Christine was still a little girl; we got along more back then."
"Bones, Christine loves you and you two get along great. Christine's just grew up and found her own passions, which kids are supposed to do. You two still have a lot in common and she's smarter thanks to your teachings, but obviously now that she's older she understands things more than she did back there. Christine knows you can be blunt and that you use logic a lot, and she doesn't take offense to things you say, but she's my daughter too Bones." I explained, because Christine had her mother's logic, but she also followed her gut and her heart like I did. She was the perfect mixture the two of us.
"I know, because like you she follows her heart and gut, and she believes in God, despite having no proof he exists." She said and I rolled my eyes as I stood up, gathering up my plate so I could start the dishes. Christine cooked, I wasn't making her clean too.
"How about we just leave this until after Christmas? Let's just have fun. You know that Christine still loves Christmas." I said because I also wanted Christine to have fun. It had been a rough year, especially for Christine.
"Alright Booth, though the mythology behind it is still wrong." Bones said and I just went back to doing because Bones was never going to change her mind on that.
Christine's Pov
I sat on my bed, pulling my boots on. I had already gotten dressed in a pair of white jeans and an off the shoulder thin red sweater top that was quite warm despite the fact that it was thin. I had a small silver snow flake with crystal's in it hanging around my neck on a thin silver chain and identical snow flake earrings hanging from my ears. My hair was brushed out and I was wearing a silver headband that had small silver antlers on it (what can I say, I was in the Christmas spirit and there's didn't look ridiculous, but they did look cut) I had a white fluffy jacket sitting on my bed, ready for me to wear.
I got up and grabbed my jacket and my bag. We wouldn't be leaving for Michael's just yet, but we'd be going soon enough. I'd have to grab the presents I brought for him before going and the present I'd brought Katherine. It had been as I'd been buying presents that I'd seriously started thinking about getting a job. I only had half a year of school left and next year was senior year, but I could start a job in summer and that way my money would be earnt by me. I was smart enough too that it shouldn't affect my schooling and I could work around soccer practice, though bringing this up with my mother was going to be a problem because she wanted me to focus on my education – she wasn't happy that I still hadn't chosen what I want to do in life. I was not going to give up soccer, even though Dad used to call it un-American, though he stopped that because Parker played soccer in London and I played it now.
I headed downstairs to see Dad cleaning up in the kitchen, while I went into the lounge to put in A Charlie Brown Christmas because Dad loved the movie and so did I – we watched it every year on Christmas. I also loved How the Grinch Stole Christmas, the one with Jim Carrey.
"You coming to watch Dad?" I called.
"Are you kidding? Of course I am." He said, leaving the kitchen to come join me in the lounge. It was obvious Mom was upstairs getting ready.
X
Once the movie finished and Dad got ready, we headed off the Angela's and Hodgins' house with the presents we had gotten them. It didn't take long for us to get there and we were greeted with a very happy Katherine, who was dressed in a white dress.
"Hey Katherine, you seem happy." I said, though I knew why.
"Of course I'm happy, it's Christmas." She said cheerfully and I smiled down at her, which is when she took my hand and pulled me into the house. Katherine was a generally always happy child who loved life. "Christine, I'm happy you're with my brother."
Well, that was sudden. "And why is that?" I asked because I was generally curious.
"Well, for one: you two fight a lot less now, so you don't try to kill him as often, and two: with you as his girlfriend, I don't have to deal with someone who won't like me." She said happily and I let out a laugh.
"Michael deserved every ass kicking I ever gave him and I'll never apologize for any of them. Also, if Michael had ended up with someone other than me, which could have happened because he went on dates before getting together with me, they'd be an idiot not to like you." I said, because there wasn't really anything about her to dislike. The only plausible reason I could see for someone not to like her would be out of jealousy, and that's because she means so much to Michael.
"While I agree with the second part, I don't agree that I deserved every ass-kicking you gave me." Michael said from where he was standing. He was dressed well in black jeans and a button up deep red top. I just looked at him. "Okay, maybe I deserved every ass kicking when I changed your password." I kept looking at him, crossing my arms now. "Okay, and when I was acting like an ass and needed a kick in the right direction."
"Now that's better." I said with a smile and he rolled his eyes, before coming over to me and leaning down, kissing my cheek.
"Merry Christmas." He said and all I could do was smile back at him.
"Merry Christmas." I replied, before I felt Katherine come to my side and I looked to the side to see her looking inside the bags, not that she could see what was in them because they were covered in tissue paper. "You're not going to see anything, I learnt long ago to cover them. You can see your present when we open them."
I saw her pout, but I still walked over to the tree and placed down the presents, before slipping out of my jacket because it was warm inside the house and I was already feeling way too hot.
"Here, let me take that for you." Michael said and I let him, before running a hand through my hair. Christmas music was playing on the stereo and right now I had the feeling to hum along.
"You know, since we've been dating, you've been a lot less devilish." I said to Michael as he came back over to me, grinning as he did.
"Well I could be a bit more devilish if you want me to be." He offered and I couldn't help but laugh.
"Well I'm fine with that, but stay away from my computer." I said and that he started laughing, which made me laugh too.
"Don't worry, I've seen your computer skills and I'm beginning to get far too afraid of what you'll do to my tablet or laptop or pretty much anything electronic if I do it. You're too good with technology and computers." Michael admitted and I was very glad that he was learning that.
"Then maybe you can help Angie get into our victim's laptop. She was at it till last night, she brought it home which is a first, and can't work out what she's missing." Hodgins said as he came in, carrying in a plate of food, and I looked at Angela.
"Hodgins, don't ask Christine to get involved it cases. Also, Angela has been doing this for years and Christine's in high school. Angela's capable." Dad said and I knew that he was only saying that because A) he hated me being around this stuff, and B) he had no idea how good I was with computers.
"I honestly don't mind looking at it if you want me to, though I'm sure you can work it out." I said, as it wouldn't be a problem, even though it was Christmas, and I watched as Angela smiled at me.
"Once we open the presents, I wouldn't mind if you took a quick look. I don't know how good you are with computers, but maybe fresh eyes will help." Angela said and I smiled back at her.
We sat down and together we opened the presents. I had brought Michael a few things. I had gotten him a couple of movies he wanted, a game and some carving tools since he was really getting into wood work and carving. He had brought me a new SD card for my camera, a set of high quality coloring pencils and two books I'd been looking for. I had gotten Katherine a movie I knew she wanted and a figure skater snow glob as she was obsessed with figure skating.
I was now sitting down and looking at the laptop of the victim. This was definitely a professionally made computer and the programing on this thing was definitely something homemade, as in the security on this thing was not your run of the mill security. This thing was made not to be hacked, so it was weird it was in the hands of a run of the mill banker. The algorithm was not what you would normally use, so whoever did this was smart, but unfortunately for them, I was smarter.
"How it going?" Michael asked as he came up behind me, peering over my shoulder as I typed away, taking down all defenses and hacking into this guy's computer. I saw our parents come in the other way then, obviously curious about how I was going too.
"Well, this guy has got some pretty advanced software on this computer, and the programming that was used to prevent hacking was obviously custom made. The algorithm and coding definitely aren't something you'd typically see, but I'm just about to get in. Still, this is very new aged and very advanced, so I can see why it's been such a damn pain. A genius did this, but fortunately, I'm smarter." I said and as I finished I was into this guy's computer. "I'm in." I said, before noticing a very big problem. "Damn it, all his files are encrypted. Who the heck was this guy?"
"From what everyone at his work said, he was a nobody, but obviously that wasn't true." Dad said and I sighed.
"Well I can run a decryption program, but it is Christmas so it's up to you what you want me to do guys. The encryption looks to be just as uniquely made as the rest of these damn programs." I admitted and Angela came over to me, looking over my shoulder.
"You're right. I haven't seen this kind of thing before, and I'd have to go to the lab to do it." Angela said.
"Well if I can take it home, I can start the decryption tonight and I can come with mom to the lab and give it to you tomorrow, if that's allowed. I know this is evidence." I said, since I was pretty sure I could decrypt it.
"Well Bones and I can of course, so there is no problem with that, but there will be no doing that till after dinner tonight." Dad said and I nodded, before looking at Angela.
"Is it okay with you Angela?" I asked and she smiled.
"Honestly, it'd be a relief not to look at it." Angela said and I felt Michael wrap his arms around my shoulders.
"I love that I'm dating a genius, it's rather hot." He said, though he said it low enough that our parents couldn't hear, and I smiled at he kissed my cheek.
"I dare you to say that louder." I replied and he looked at my dad as Dad left the room.
"Yeah, maybe when I'm less worried about Booth shooting me." He said and I laughed at that, shutting the computer and looking at him.
"Dad isn't going to shoot you, I promise. Even if you did hurt me, he wouldn't do it." I said, because Dad could threaten that all he wanted, but I knew he wouldn't do it.
"Well, while I believe you, I have no intention of hurting you." He said and I looked back at the computer, which of course was closed. "Hey, what is it?"
"Mom just brought up how many times high school relationships don't last this morning, which really was bad timing." I admitted and he moved to kiss my cheek, wrapping his arms around my shoulders.
"I'm aware of that fact too, but that's because couples give up. I don't know what we'll be in the future, no one does, but right now I love you and don't intend to stop anytime soon." He said and I smiled up at him, having to bend my head around.
"I love you too." I said and he bent to kiss me on the lips.
"Aw." Katherine said, causing us to pull apart and look at her. She giggled and ran off into the lounge.
"My sister is not normal. Aren't most kids supposed to go "ew" when they see that sort of thing." Michael said and I just laughed.
X
Once we finally left Michael's, we arrived home and I put the computer away as I promised Dad that I wouldn't touch it until after dinner. Grandpa Max was the first one to arrive, since he happened to love Christmas and loved spending it with us. He came every year to spend it with us. He loved me a lot, so he tried to see me as often, and Mom. I got a very big hug from him. Parker arrived not too long after, without his girlfriend because she was visiting her sister and parents in Orlando.
"Well, that's a shame." I said and he nodded.
"Yeah, but I'm flying to go see Mom in London tomorrow, so it works out alright." Parker said and I smiled at him.
"Well, enjoy that. I know you miss her, but I'm really glad you moved back to America." I said and he smiled, wrapping his arm around my shoulder.
"I'm glad I did too. I love spending time with my little sister." He said and I smiled at him as the two of us headed over to the kitchen table.
Dinner went really well, with Grandpa Max telling stories about what he could tell stories about – he tried to avoid talking about his years of crime around me, even though I did know about them. Honestly, more often than not, my family tried to keep the past as far away from me as possible, which wasn't too possible.
After dinner, we opened our presents and I got a lot of presents, including a new camera from Mom and Dad, which I needed because the one I had wasn't working all that well now.
I was now sitting in my bedroom, typing away at the computer that belonged to the murder victim. Grandpa had gone home a few hours ago and Parker was having a drink with Dad, so I just left them to it. I wanted to get this done so I could read the story Parker wrote, which he gave me on a USB to read.
I smiled to myself as the decryption program started to run, hopefully decrypting all the files on this computer. I left my desk and went over to my computer, knowing I had to make some time tomorrow to visit Kate or she was going to kill me, but knowing I could worry about that then. I grabbed the USB and put it into my computer, which I let load as I got up and put The Grinch into my DVD player. Under a year ago I'd have to watch any movies on my laptop or tablet, as I didn't have a TV in my room, but I got one for my sixteenth, so now I could.
I sat back down on my bed and pulled up the story Parker wrote as I watched The Grinch. It had been a very good Christmas, and this was a good ending.
The Next Day
I have to admit, for some reason, it felt weird being led into the Jeffersonian by both my parents. I had decrypted all the files, but I hadn't looked at any of them because my parents had told me not to. I think they didn't want me seeing anything that I shouldn't see.
We walked into Angela's office to be greeted by Angela and Cam. Mom had gone off to work with Arastoo in the Bone room.
"I decrypted it." I said, handing Angela to laptop.
"Christine, I didn't even know you could do that." Cam said and I chuckled.
"Well, I'm good with computers, and I've had a lot of practice decrypting them or hacking into them thanks to Michael constantly changing my password in the past, then refusing to tell me the new one." I said, causing Angela to smile a little. "He hasn't done it since we started dating though, so this is the first thing I've had to break into, and it's the first thing I've broken into that I didn't own."
"Well let's see what's on here." Angela said and I watched as she looked at the Angelatron. She brought up the files and considering the fact that I was smart, even I knew something was wrong.
"No wonder this guy's computer was so encrypted." I said, shaking my head. This guy wasn't just a banker. He was working for some very bad people and was basically just dirty. "Well, I think you have some more suspects Dad. And I'd say they have a lot of motive."
"It looks like I have a lot of work to do. Better call Sweets." Dad said and I laughed, before sighing.
"Well, now that you have this, I'm heading off the Kate's, hence why I brought my own car. If I don't visit her for Christmas she's going to get mad at me." I said. There was no point me sticking around, as they could handle this themselves.
"Thank you for helping Christine." Cam said and I nodded.
"No problem." I said, before kissing Dad's cheek. "See ya later Dad."
Kate's
I was engulfed in a hug by Kate, seeing smiles on Simon's and Amanda's faces. It was still very weird being here without Darius, but I was slowly getting used to it.
"I was wondering when you were coming around. You should have called to let me know." Kate said and I sighed.
"Sorry, I was helping Mom and Dad with something and wasn't sure when I'd be done. I sent you a text, but you didn't reply so I thought I'd just come by and see if you were home." I said, before handing her her Christmas present. "Merry Christmas." I said.
"Thanks. I have yours in my room." She said and she grabbed my hand, dragging me through the house. I just waved at Simon and Amanda as I went, since I hadn't had the chance to say hi.
Her room was Darius' old room, and it hadn't changed all that much. From what I knew, she was changing Faith's old room into the baby's room. She hadn't wanted to change this room, and while it was hard at first, she was happy staying in here.
"Do you have to go home anytime soon?" She asked and I shook my head.
"Nope." Was my simply reply.
"Then stay over and watch a movie with me." She said, handing me my present.
Kate's present to me was clothes, which wasn't a surprise. It was a white fuzzy sweater, which felt really warm, a pair of dark blue jeans that had white flowers on the pockets and a bracelet. I had gotten her a gray sweater dress and a white cardigan with a black belt to hold it together.
Needless to say, I got a hug from her and we ended up watching movies all day together in her room.
Well, that's it. Very much hoping the start writing and getting some more chapters out soon, as there's a part of this I really want to write and it's coming up soon. Also, want to get some chapters out to make up for the lost time, so I'm hoping I can write.
As for my absence, sorry I was gone so long. I had planned for this chapter to come out around Christmas, but things happened. I was sick at the end of last year, which was a really hard year for me, and that lasted after Christmas. In February I had a very bad hair mishap, where I lost my years worth of regrowth and got bleached streaks put through two coloured hair thanks to an idiot hairdresser who didn't listen. I've had a hell of a time trying to get it coloured over, but nearly there. However, I do have somewhat damaged hair now and a chunk missing, which wouldn't have happened if I was listened to, but what's done is done. Irritating that I have to start trying to get my natural back again with damaged hair. This triggered a depression episode, and I had no idea I had depression. Was in it for about two months and it was really bad, but I seem to be pulling through now and have had nearly one good week of me feeling like myself. So, that's where I've been. Wasn't much into writing for that time.
