(Sometime in the Future)

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I don't own Bones.

Oooooooooooooooooo

In his office, working on a proposal for a new gravity convection oven for the Lab, Hodgins was interrupted by his good friend, Dr. Brennan.

"Hodgins . . . Jack, I would like to invite you to a small social gathering this Saturday at my home." Brennan handed him an invitation and smiled. "I have already asked Angela and she says that you can both make it, but I didn't feel it would be right to exclude you from the decision-making process."

Wary that Brennan was actually handing him an invitation after she had given one to Angela, Hodgins opened the invitation and read it. "A recital?"

Brennan nodded her head and explained what was going on. "Christine's school is going to sponsor a play for the students. They are going to be doing 'Annie'. It's a musical. If you don't know what 'Annie' is about, the play is about an orphan . . . "

Hodgins held up his hand to stop Brennan from giving him an in depth detailed description about the play. "I've seen 'Annie' Dr. B. You don't need to tell me what it's about."

"Good." Brennan glanced over her shoulder as two rather loud technicians walked by in the hallway arguing over the final score of the Super Bowl. "Apparently the Superball didn't end the way most of our employees wished. I know Booth was upset."

"Super Bowl and the Saints beating the Steelers by 35 points was a little embarrassing." Hodgins had lost a bet over that game and he was still angry with the Steelers. "So, the recital?"

"Oh yes." Brennan was annoyed that she had allowed herself to become sidetracked over football. "Christine tried out for the play, but she wasn't chosen for any of the parts. She was heartbroken and Booth thought it might be fun if we had a recital at home. We are inviting our friends to come and Christine will sing several songs. We are also providing food and drink for lunch."

Feeling trapped like a rat in a trap, Hodgins mind raced with various possibilities that he could use to get out of going. "So, Angela said we could come?" Maybe he could fake a fall from his chair or a heart attack . . .

"Yes, I am grateful that you can attend. Christine will be so happy." Brennan still had several invitations to deliver. "I'll see you Saturday." With that she left.

Glaring at his friend as she left his office, Hodgins started to grumble. "Angela, I love you, but I'm going to kill you. I really am."

Oooooooooooooooooooo

Saturday came and Angela pulled up in the driveway and once Hodgins was out of the van, she followed him to the front door of the Booth/Brennan house. "Remember Jack, just because Christine is a terrible singer doesn't mean you can't clap after she sings. The poor child is tone deaf, but that isn't her fault."

Irritated that Booth thought it was okay to torture his friends, Hodgins rolled up to the front door and stopped. "I love Christine as if she was my own, but my God, she makes my ears bleed when she sings. She didn't inherit her mother's singing ability at all. Also, I think it's unfair that our sons get to hang out with Billy today and I have to be here suffering."

Annoyed, Angela slapped the back of her husband's head. "Be nice. It's just a couple of songs."

"Several songs, Brennan said several." As he was making his point the front door opened and Booth overhead the last comment.

"Yeah, I think she's planning on singing five songs. Come in." Booth was glad to see his friends. Wendell and his wife had cancelled at the last minute as did Daisy and her new husband. "Bones and I cooked all morning, so you guys will get a great lunch after Christine does her thing."

As he rolled his chair into the living room, Hodgins spied Aubrey sitting on the couch drinking a beer and eating a spinach puff. "Hey man."

His lips covered with brittle bits of puff pastry, Aubrey wiped his lips with the back of his hand. "Glad you could make it. Wendell and Daisy wimped out the bastards." Careful not to be overheard by his hosts, he leaned forward and lowered his voice as the entomologist moved his chair next to the end of the couch. "Shit, I love that little munchkin as if she was my own kid, but, come on." He couldn't believe that at nine years of age Christine's voice was so bad. He had always thought little kids were great singers and their voices just turned bad at puberty. Boy had he been wrong. "The only one I know that sings worse than she does is Booth."

Before he could respond, Brennan came by holding a bottle of beer and a platter of snacks. "Here Jack. I also made your favorite candied bacon."

Quickly grabbing the beer bottle and a handful of the candied meat, Jack grinned at his friend. "Thanks Dr. B. I love your candied bacon." After she left to go back to the kitchen, Hodgins sighed. "Well, at least we're going to eat well."

Ooooooooooooooooooooooo

Christine stood in front of the picture window and made a slight bow towards her audience. Her Daddy had told her that was how professional singers did it and she wanted to show that she knew the proper etiquette of singing to an audience. Her audience consisted of her family and several people that she considered family, so she wasn't nervous at all.

Caroline Julian sipped from her wine glass and smiled at her 'niece'. The child had inherited her father's singing abilities which was a shame, but at least the child didn't let it bother her. Her personal philosophy in life was always move forward even if you didn't know what you were doing. It worked for her and she has passed that sage bit of truth on to Christine and Hank.

Though he hadn't really wanted to come, Clark Edison and his new wife had decided that family events had to be attended no matter how much you didn't want to go. Booth and Brennan had become dear friends to him and therefore part of his family several years ago and he always made time for the kids when they had special events in the works. Leaning next to his wife, he spoke softly. "Now remember Babe, she's trying."

Cam and Arastoo sat on chairs near the back of the room and held hands. Their sons had begged to be allowed to go to a movie and they had both agreed, but Arastoo wasn't happy about it. They were never going to learn how to take the bad with the good, if they avoided it all.

Proud of his daughter, Booth clapped his hands and called out to Christine. "Okay, Pumpkin. Let's get the show on the road. We're having barbeque afterward and some cake."

Grinning, Christine waved at Hank who waved back and she began to sing. Her voice was strong and clear and if she ruptured the music along the way then neither she nor her Dad noticed. Brennan knew what a terrible singer her child was, but she was proud that Christine didn't care. Like Booth, when she wanted to sing, she sang. Her child was growing up to be a strong, confident human being and that made her so happy. She had never dreamed that her life would be so filled with love and happiness.

Ooooooooooooooooooooo

The recital had been a success as far as Booth was concerned. Everyone had clapped when it was over and that was all he had wanted from his friends. His daughter was happy and that made him happy. The barbeque had satisfied everyone and there had been enough leftovers for everyone to be able to take some home. Aubrey was still eating as he walked out the door and Brennan had found that very amusing. How a grown man could eat like that and remain skinny was truly remarkable. She envied his metabolism and so did Booth.

Christine was sitting in the kitchen playing checkers with Hank. "Mommy, I don't care that I didn't get a part in the play."

Surprised, Brennan turned from the sink to look at her daughter. "I thought you were sad that you couldn't be in the play."

Typical for a child, she had already moved on from that disappointment. "Well I was at first, but now I don't care. I would have just got a small part and no one would have noticed me, but today I got to sing for our family and everyone heard me and saw me. That was so cool, Mommy. I really liked it a lot."

Booth entered the kitchen, leaned over, placed his arms around his daughter and hugged her. "I'm glad, Sweetheart. I never got to be in school plays either and it didn't hurt me at all." Booth released her, walked around to the end of the kitchen island and held his hands up in the air. "When I want to sing I sing and you can too." Bursting out in song, Booth began to sing one of Hank's favorite songs. As he sang 'Take Me Out to the Ball Game', Brennan laughed as Hank sang along with his father, clapping loudly, in time. She was so lucky to have such a unique family.

Oooooooooooooooooooooo

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