Thank you so much for the encouraging reviews and for going with this story idea.
As they walked towards the marquee, Temperance started to look at the people around them. It was an odd mix. There were lots of men, which she supposed made sense, but they seemed to come in all shapes and sizes. There were big hulking guys, well over six foot four; but there were also short, squat men with muscular legs and no discernable neck; and plenty of others who frankly looked like they needed to get on a Stairmaster. She wasn't sure how these disparate looking people could play the same sport. She glanced briefly at Booth, and decided that he looked fitter than quite a few of the other people she could see, but his physique definitely fitted with one of the groups of body types all around them.
She also noticed that there seemed to be lots of families, most people seemed to be walking with a partner or a handful of kids. It was a relaxed atmosphere and every few moments there would be a shouted greeting, and then shaking hands or hugs as people bumped into friends. They had almost arrived outside the marquee, when an ear-splitting whistle cut through the air and someone yelled, "Booth!"
Booth stopped and turned towards the voice, his arm sliding round her back and his hand coming to rest at her waist. Temperance saw one of her short, squat types, wearing a red shirt and wide grin, pushing through the crowd towards them waving his arm. She looked across at Booth, who was also smiling.
The red shirted man was still about ten feet away from them, when he shouted, "Sut mae Booth! Sut rwyt ti?"
"Iawn diolch, Huw. Sut rwyt ti?" Booth replied as his friend came to a halt in front of them. He barely reached Temperance's shoulder.
His friend grabbed his hand and started shaking it enthusiastically as he said, "Da iawn diolch."
Temperance was watching the exchange in astonishment, she had no idea what language they were speaking. Booth's friend turned to her expectantly and smiled.
Booth made the introductions flexing his fingers gingerly after a crushing hand shake, "Huw, this is Temperance. Temperance, this is Huw." Huw offered her his hand, which she took somewhat tentatively.
"Lovely to meet you, Temperance." Huw said expansively and his eyes flicked between her and Booth, assessing. "Booth buttie, you've been keeping secrets."
Booth raised an eyebrow but didn't reply.
Temperance was about to explain that she and Booth were just co-workers, when she realised that Booth had his arm around her. She felt wave of heat rush through her body and she became acutely aware of every millimetre of his body that was pressed against her side. She wondered why she was only noticing now, but the truth was that it had felt so natural for his arm to be around her she had simply enjoyed the sensation without thinking about it.
She was brought back to the present by another shouted greeting, looking up she saw a dark haired woman in a loose jersey dress, with a long knitted cardigan waving at Huw and then turning to walk towards them with a wide smile. A little girl with a mass of dark curls was clutching her hand. Suddenly the little girl spotted Booth and pointed. She let go of her mother's hand and ran over calling, "Uncle Seeley!"
Booth smiled, and after gently disengaging his arm from Temperance, crouched down. He swept the little girl into the air and she threw her arms around his neck.
"Bore Da Carys. How's my favourite god-daughter?" Booth asked smiling at her.
"I'm fine. Daddy's going to win today you know." She informed Booth with the solemn certainty that only a four-year can manage.
"Is that right?" Booth replied, grinning at Huw over the top of her head. Huw shrugged, palms facing outwards.
Carys nodded vehemently and then she spotted Temperance, "Who's that?" She asked pointing.
"Carys, cariad, don't point. A low pitched, amused voice spoke just next to them. It was the woman in the long dress.
Booth leant over and kissed her on the cheek, "Hello Nia. You look great, how're you feeling?"
The woman smiled and gave Booth a warm hug, before holding her arms open for him to hand over her daughter, "I'm good thanks." She put Carys down on her feet and then patted her stomach protectively, "This little one isn't giving me too much trouble. Yet." She paused and smiled warmly at Temperance, before turning to Booth, "So are you going to do the honours?"
Booth smiled, "Sure. Temperance, I'd like you to meet Nia. Huw's wife. Nia, this is Temperance."
Nia laughed slightly and then shook Temperance's hand. Her eyes swept Temperance up and down appraisingly, "Seeley, don't think that you're going to get away with such an uninformative introduction."
She gave Temperance a conspiratorial look, before turning to her husband and Booth, "You both need to register. And get changed." She pointed towards the marquee.
"We'll wait here for you here."
Neither moved.
"Come on, off you go." She raised an eyebrow and then gestured to Temperance, "Don't worry about us, we'll have plenty to talk about."
Temperance was aware that Booth was watching her closely. She didn't really want to be left alone with a stranger, however friendly she seemed, but she wasn't going to cling to Booth's coat tails all day. She shrugged, "Go on Booth. See you in couple of minutes."
Booth smiled encouragingly and then moved off into the crowd with Huw. Carys had decided to accompany them and her father hoisted her up onto his shoulders.
Temperance watched at Nia warily, who smiled apologetically, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to chase Seeley off like that and embarrass you. It's just men's introductions don't tell you anything about anything." She pursued her lips slightly, "Did Seeley explain who we were?"
Temperance shook her head slightly.
Nia rolled her eyes and looked over at a drinks stall, "Let's grab a coffee and I'll fill you in."
(TBC)
(The shorts will appear in the next chapter...)
For translation: It's the equilvalent of "Good morning. How's it going?." and "I'm good thanks." in reply.